Palin praised by pro-life group at convention

ST. PAUL, Minn. — So what if she wasn’t there to accept her award? At Tuesday’s banquet put on by the Republican National Coalition for Life, all anyone could talk about was Gov. Sarah Palin.

“At 12 o’clock last night I was told that our guest of honor would not be here,” said Phyllis Schlafy, coalition chairperson.

The decision to hand Palin the 2008 Life of the Party recognition came well before U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., selected the Alaska governor as his vice presidential running mate. The cancellation of her appearance was disappointing, Schlafy said.

Even so, “You have to admit, we called it when we sent you the invitation,” Schlafy said.

Tuesday, every speaker, from radio personality Laura Ingraham to Republican Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, said Palin had them fired up and confident about the GOP’s chances come November. Palin’s credentials as a strongly pro-life Republican has been often cited since her nomination Friday as a big reason McCain chose her.

“There’s no greater threat to the elites in this country than a woman who is strong and knows her convictions,” Ingraham said.

The banquet-goers even used Palin as a means to shout down a protestor who rushed the stage and grabbed the microphone.

As the protestor was led away from the stage, those in attendance changed, “Sarah, Sarah, Sarah,” drowning out the protester’s message. An earlier protestor received similar treatment, though with an impromptu rendition of “God Bless America” in place of the Alaska governor’s first name.

“You are really important when you get the protestors to come,” Schlafy told the crowd.

Aside from coalition members and protestors, in attendance Tuesday were numerous convention delegates, their guests and other dignitaries from various states, not least among them members of the Alaska delegation.

Steve Colligan, vice chair of the Alaska Republican Party and a Wasilla resident, was among them. He said it is not a surprise folks are excited for Palin.

“Lots of people, I think, identify with her nationwide,” Colligan said.

Palin has yet to arrive in Minnesota, though she is on the schedule to speak at the convention Wednesday.

In her stead, a representative of RNC/Life from Alaska, Debbie Joslin, accepted the award. It bears the likeness of a baby and, according to Schlafy, an inscription thanking Palin for her support of the pro-life movement.

Joslin, Schlafy said, was the person who brought Palin to the group’s attention.

Accepting the award, Joslin noted the slogan of Palin’s gubernatorial campaign – “Take a Stand.”

“Governor Palin wasn’t just saying those words, she meant them,” Joslin said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.