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Watch out Obama - I'm a pitbull in lipstick, says barnstorming Sarah Palin
Last updated at 11:12am on 04.09.08
Sarah Palin recast herself as John McCain’s ‘pitbull in lipstick’ early today to defy her detractors and crown a rollercoaster week with a barnstorming speech to accept the Republican Party’s vice-presidential nomination.
With a bold mix of toughness and femininity, she quickly won over a rapturous convention crowd.
Shrugging off question marks over her lack of experience and a scandal over her pregnant 17-year-old daughter, the Alaska governor was determined to show America why Mr McCain plucked her from obscurity to kick-start his presidential campaign.
Sarah Palin takes the Republican convention by storm
Wearing a Jackie Kennedy-style off-white jacket, she fired countless jabs at Mr McCain's Democrat rival Barack Obama.
And she lambasted the ‘Washington elite’ for questioning her suitability as a small-town outsider.
The 44-year-old mother-of-five also faced the pregnancy storm over her daughter head-on by inviting the baby’s schoolboy father to join her family in the audience and then introducing her husband, Todd, and her children to the convention in St Paul, Minnesota, and millions more watching at home.
Egged on by thunderous applause, she described herself as ‘a hockey mum who signed up with the PTA’ and then joked: ‘You know what they say is the difference between a hockey mum and a pitbull? Lipstick!’
Vote of confidence: John McCain joins Sarah Palin on stage after her speech
After a week of unrelenting criticism for choosing the unproven outsider as his number two, Mr McCain, 72, joined Mrs Palin and her family on stage during a long standing ovation following her landmark speech to shout: ‘Don’t you think we made the right choice for the next vice-president of the United States?'
One independent commentator said: ‘Whatever you think about what she had to say, whether you agreed with her or not, there is little doubt that a star was born tonight.'
Late president Ronald Reagan's son Michael commented: 'Governor Palin would have made my father Ronald Reagan proud tonight.
'The last great speech I heard was delivered by my father. There seems to be a new Reagan - and she's a she.'
Greeted with thunderous applause before she even said a word, Mrs Palin quickly proved she was ready to go toe-to-toe with her Democrat opponents.
Family affair: Mrs Palin holds her Down's syndrome son, Trig, as her pregnant daughter Bristol and Bristol's 'redneck' boyfriend Levi Johnston join her on stage after the speech
Painting herself as a ‘small-town girl’, the former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska - population 6,500 - derided Mr Obama’s controversial comments during the primaries that people in small towns tend to ‘cling’ to guns and religion in times of hardship.
‘I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organiser,’ she said, referring to Mr Obama’s much-touted time as a community organiser in Chicago. ‘Except you have actual responsibilities,’ she added to a huge cheer.
‘I might add that, in small towns, we don’t quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they’re listening and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren’t listening.'
Mrs Palin takes the applause for a consummate performance
In another barb directed at the Illinois senator, Mrs Palin added: ‘Here's how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.'
She continued: ‘The American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of "personal discovery." This world of threats and dangers is not just a community, and it doesn't just need an organiser.'
‘Listening to him speak, it’s easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or even a reform, not even in the State Senate.'
Watching her from inside the convention hall were husband Todd, and their children, Track, 19, five-months-pregnant Bristol, Willow, 13, Piper, seven, and Trig, who was born in April with Down’s syndrome.
Introducing her son Trig, who has Down's syndrome
Bristol's bemused 18-year-old boyfriend and apparent fiancé, Levi Johnston, was seated with them and joined Mrs Palin on stage at the end of the speech.
‘Our family has the same ups and downs as any other, the same challenges and the same joys,’ she said in an apparent reference to her daughter’s pregnancy.
Noting that the couple's oldest son Track was shipping out to Iraq in eight days with the Army infantry, Mrs Palin paid tribute to Mr McCain as ‘a true profile in courage, and people like that are hard to come by'.
During a speech in which anti-war protesters attempted to disrupt proceedings, she said: ‘He's a man who wore the uniform of this country for 22 years, and refused to break faith with those troops in Iraq who have now brought victory within sight. And as the mother of one of those troops, that is exactly the kind of man I want as commander in chief.
‘I’m just one of many mums who will say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm’s way.'
Enlarge
Warm greeting: McCain made a point of saying hello to Levi Johnston, 18, who is having a child with Palin's daughter Bristol
Largely unknown outside her home state before this week, Mrs Palin told the convention: ‘I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town. When I ran for city council, I didn't need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and knew their families, too.'
Introducing her youngest child, Trig, to the audience, she said: ‘To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message for you: For years, you’ve sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. And I pledge to you that, if we’re elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.'
In line with the quirky nature of her meteor-like rise, she introduced her husband as a commercial fisherman and oil worker and ‘proud member of the United Steelworkers Union.
‘And Todd is a world champion snow machine racer,’ she added.
Security guards eject an anti-war protester who tried to disrupt Mrs Palin's speech
Claiming she shook up the governor’s office when she was elected to power in Alaska two years ago, she said she went on an ethics crusade to clean up government.
She also said she got rid of some of her perks.
‘I got rid of a few things in the governor’s office that I didn’t believe our citizens should have to pay for. That luxury jet was over-the-top. I put it on eBay,’ she joked.
‘I love to drive myself to work. And I thought we could muddle through without the governor’s personal chef, although I got to admit that sometimes my kids sure miss her,’ she added.
Attacking the Obama campaign policies she said: ‘America needs more energy; our opponent is against producing it. Victory in Iraq is finally in sight, and he wants to forfeit. Terrorist states are seeking nuclear weapons without delay; he wants to meet them without preconditions.
Mrs Palin blows a kiss to her family
McCain leaves the stage with Mrs Palin, her daughter Piper, Levi Johnston holding hands with her daughter Bristol, her son Track, husband Todd carrying baby Trig, and daughter Willow
‘Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America, and he’s worried that someone won’t read them their rights.
‘Government is too big; he wants to grow it. Congress spends too much money; he promises more.
‘Taxes are too high, and he wants to raise them. His tax increases are the fine print in his economic plan.'
After congratulating his deputy, Mr McCain was formally nominated as the Republicans' presidential candidate and returned to his hotel to polish his acceptance speech to close the convention tonight.
Reader views (27)
It is crystal clear that the amount of venom being spewed by the evil-minded, mealy-mouthed liberal media is proportionate to the fear the liberal media has for the McCain/Palin ticket.
They are SCARED!
- Tangomike, Kensington, London
Good on her!
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
What a pair Gulliani and Palin made last night. Two savage Pitbulls on the loose. This election has sunk into a " I can degrade you better " campaign thanks to these two.
Their back biting, remind me of that " select " few kids in school, who taunt and make life hell for the less fortunate students.
A point to consider in this race, is, IF something happens to McCain ( God forbid ), she will become President overnight. I shudder at the thought of this loose canon ... A.K.A " Pitbull with lipstick " sitting in the Whitehouse.
She may look very attractive to the eye, but in my short 68 years of life, I learned a long time ago, to steer clear of her type. They can castrate you with a single bite!
According to Gulliani, she is either a Saint of God. So why bother to run for office, she is apparently the " All knowing " and will, when she becomes President, lead us all to ....
God knows where !
Amen
- Dave Miller, Gallatin.TN.USA
What a sad bunch of left wing losers most of the posters are here. Minds brainwashed by a press what might as well be the official arm of the far left liberal labour party. We have all seen the results of that. Brilliant speech bright future this woman.
- Nigel Frost, Sarasota USA
Another redneck. Who cares.
- Alan, Islington
You see girls, there is no glass ceiling, if you act like a man haha. She is set to ruffle the Eco Mentalists feathers if she gets into power, it will be interesting.
- John, London
That's just what's needed a women with some balls! Just like good old Maggie.
- Dee Zagurski, Chesapeake USA formerly W4
I have been defending this woman's selection until now for the most part because the torrent of abuse being levelled at her was utterly unfair and without reason - and certainly with minimal factual evidence to support it - less it be that the abusers had nothing but their own pet hates and prejudice's to spend their idle time with. Now I see that I wasn't wasting my time.
Never one to find much favour with female politicians generally, I have added this one to my extremely short list of women who actually prove their worth rather than just claim their individual unearned right to be seen as worthy. VP or president, I'm quite happy to vote her ticket.
- Rogan, DFW TX
How about America doesn’t really care what you think. I am so sick as am American about hearing how I have to care what the rest of the world thinks. I don't want our great country to end up like yours, forgetting my own great history and sense of pride. Your own media is so far to the left you wouldn’t know reality in the UK if it hit you in the face. Finally we have someone who will stand up to "Big" Washington and really and truly, go for 'change' in this country. Maybe you Brits should get out on the internet more and stop listening to your biased liberal press.
- H, ALexandria, VA
Regardless of whether she's any good for America, this woman is very bad for women everywhere. She opposes sex education and she opposes the right to abortion even when a person has been raped or attacked. She even signed up to a bill that slashes funding for centres to help teen mothers and her own daughter is due to be one soon.
- Louise, Essex
I saw part of the speech on SKY this morning and thought I was watch one of the lite night 'infomercials' that have the women talking about some great new iron or face cream.
At least the Obama and even the Clinton speeches sounded and felt like they knew what they were doing rather than reading a highly scripted speech.
- Gordon, Slough
Thank god pitbulls are banned in this country! However, in the USA she is already a pin-up, posing with a gun. Appalling that she might be "a heartbeat away" from the nuclear button one day - particularly as McCain has a dodgy heart. Obama for President has suddenly become an even more attractive proposition.
- Joe, London
What worries me about the presidential race is that none of them has yet shown me that they are capable of joined up thinking. Its seems to be all about sound bites and photo opportunities. Quite scary!
- Foxy, London
If McCain and Palin make it to Washington; I'm moving back to Peckham--I'll feel safer.
- Mike, Pottsville, PA. USA
Thank god. Someone with some substance. She has more qualifications than Obama and she is only running for the VP positions. I would vote for her for President! She did a great job!
- J. Dixon, Durham, UK
This is a woman who didn't hold a passport until last year, and voted against sex education in schools. It's a scary thought that she could one day have such power.
- Caroline, London
George Bush in drag? I hope so. Better speaker, though. Maybe a cross between George W Bush and Ron Reagan. I couldn't ask for more.
- Phil Jones, London UK
Is she telling us more than she realises? There's more than lipstick in her make-up bag. A woman's best angle as representative for woman is being a woman. I agree with the Pitbull bit, it would take more than the average make-up kit to hide that. And perhaps she's reached the end of her story instead of the start. Big switch off!
- Maria, London
The commentator who suggested several months ago that Clinton should quietly move aside and let Obama lose the election and then return unopposed as the democrat saviour and become the first woman president next time around might just be right except for the oversight - Mccain might die in office and Clinton then could only be the second woman president - what a tortuous election process this is. But it has suddenly become a bit more amusing - apart from the not so amusing fact that Bush has screwed up the world.
- Jim, brisbane
In a somewhat selfish manner I am trying to evaluate the influence of American Foreign policy with respect to the two contenders for the office of President.
I am really quite depressed to realise that these two candidates are the best that the most powerful country in the world can produce.
To me - I am simply not interested. I have my own domestic worries.
- Robert Palmer, London
I feel sick to the stomach - that this dreadful woman could one day be VP and even possibly President. The pictures of her toting guns and posing with them are absolutely appalling. Poor, poor America and its citizens. Please American voters - vote for Obama.
- Patricia, London
What we want from US politicians is intelligence. The world will need leaders with a bit of subtlety in the next few years. On first impressions, she lacks both. We shall see.
- Alex C, London
Is she George Bush in drag?
- Austen, London
I hope the American public are smart enough to vote for McCain and Palin. What a sensible woman!
- Clare, London
Sarah Palin claims it's time to have an ordinary American in Washington. We've had an ordinary American in the White House for eight years, and look where that got America and the world.
- Barbara, london
The sad and dangerous thing is that this gun toting fanatic will appeal to a lot of Americans.
- Giorgio, London
Lipstick pitbull? More like bulldog chewing a wasp.
- Bob, Cheam
