Palin for president?
You betcha!, says a federal political action committee based in — where else? — Colorado Springs
by Pam ZubeckArticle Tools
- Debra Kelly
- David Kelly and daughter Shannon, looking ahead.
David Kelly's home office in Briargate is a typical middle-aged guy's hideout. It has a computer, two desks, books stacked floor to ceiling and maps on the walls. But at the foot of one desk sit a couple boxes filled with buttons and bumper stickers promoting Sarah Palin as a 2012 presidential candidate.
The full-time library district worker spends up to 20 hours a week collecting money and mailing political paraphernalia as part of his federal political action committee's effort to persuade Palin to run.
The 2012 Draft Sarah Committee is the only one of its kind registered with the Federal Election Commission, but it actually represents the second effort by locals to elevate the former Alaska governor's political profile. Adam Brickley, a former Peyton resident and political science graduate of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, set up a blog in early 2007 to push Palin for vice president, and made the talk-show circuit after her selection in August 2008.
Now, Kelly, 50, a Republican Party regular who's voted in every election since he was 18, is at the fore. He's undeterred that Palin's folksy lingo, wardrobe expenditures and perky winks make comedy writers rejoice.
"She's not part of the Beltway," Kelly explains. "She's a mother who got angry one day and decided, 'I'm going to do something.' She's real. She truly is telling us from her heart what she wants to do, rather than what party officials are dictating to her."
Randy Highsmith, the committee's chairman, saw a story on the Web about the committee and volunteered to organize from Florida. He raves about Palin in an e-mail: "Palin excited me and many other conservatives due to her proven and consistent conservative stances." He notes she's pro-life, pro-business and favors oil drilling in Alaska wilderness.
Even as some moderate-courting Republicans denounce Palin for espousing extreme conservative views, Highsmith says the committee has hundreds of volunteers and thousands of newsletter subscribers. And Kelly says her down-home style and values appeal to Everyman and Everywoman.
Kelly formally announced the PAC in January and was soon interviewed by Washington, D.C., political columnists. His Web site, 2012draftsarahcommittee.com, rocked with 10,000 hits a day. Now, it has slowed to about 200 to 1,000 hits daily.
And he admits the PAC has been fodder for joke-writers.
"We made Comedy Central, maybe not in a pleasant way," he says. "Jon Stewart reamed us. I got a lot of hate e-mails — people saying, 'You're an idiot. You're drinking the Kool-Aid.'"
Nevertheless, Kelly and other organizers are honest-to-god serious about trying to persuade Palin.
"Be sure to add YOUR NAME to this petition urging Governor Palin to run," the Web site says. "This is just one way we intend to show Governor Palin she has a large base of support."
The PAC's contributions are small potatoes: about $8,500 in donations ranging from $5 to $355, including a $2,100 loan from Kelly, who notes that none of the committee's members draws a paycheck. Support comes from Hawaii to New York, including from Linda Mims, a lifelong South Carolina resident who recalls learning about the PAC from a Christian group's e-mail.
"Sarah Palin is an outstanding leader," Mims says in a phone interview. "She has the values and morals to lead our country in a positive direction."
Kelly says Palin is "careful" not to communicate with his PAC, although the group's New York-based spokeswoman has met her. He adds that he's not doing this to build his own political career; in fact, Kelly has other interests, such as learning how to play bagpipes, and looks forward to cleaning up his home office and declaring "mission accomplished."
"The day she announces," he says, "our job is done."
Showing 1-5 of 18
Add a comment | All comments »
Helen, I suppose if you are going to have delusions you may as well go for the really satisfying ones. A Palin campaign isn't going to destroy the Republican Party anymore than the failures of the Obama presidency will destroy the Democrats. The majority of voters are hard right and hard left. Moderates are a dying breed in electoral politics.
Posted by Mister Mxyzptlk
on October 24, 2009 at 5:10 PM
| Report this comment
I really, really want Palin to run for President this next election. It could mean the demise of the Republican Party. I am an independent and know that the ideology that Palin espouses will be the death of that party. I think what is left in this party (now just 20% of the population) is the very narrow minded (and other anti-people adjectives that will just make them even madder) position and will eventually cause this political shift to happen. There will be a new party take it's place that will be more political central. I will be happy to see that happen.
Posted by helen
on October 24, 2009 at 7:45 AM
| Report this comment
No Zen, you aren't scared of Palin. You're very happy that she is out there so you can distract the public about how horrible your guy is doing by going on about her. Ignore the fact that we are still in both wars. Ignore the fact that he spent even more money than Bush. Ignore the fact that he is just as horrible at diplomacy as Bush. That's all fine because Sarah Palin is goof. Someone who not only didn't win the election but is no longer serving at any level of government is bigger news than all the failures of the guy you voted for. What would you do without her?
Posted by Mister Mxyzptlk
on October 23, 2009 at 7:49 PM
| Report this comment
Too Proud, Are you kidding me?? Is that what you tell yourself to feel better about your own bitterness? My friends and I who are Democrats tend to have GREAT lives and we love living them. We've got good educations, good jobs, strong relationships with family and friends, and connections with our community that extend well outside the home, whether through church, charitable and volunteer work, and service with non-profit organizations. We aren't the pathetic bitter losers who hate their own lives and fill cyberspace with vitriol and hate....we're the ones who get off our butts and do something about things that need work.
Posted by Conster
on October 22, 2009 at 3:23 PM
| Report this comment
Too proud to be a democrat...
Emphasis on the "proud". Egotism is not a noble character trait. Neither is selfishness.
Posted by Zen
on October 21, 2009 at 11:35 PM
| Report this comment
Comments (18) RSS