Sarah Palin and her "Women of Joy" speech - "Connecting" with the Christian fundamentalists - Part 2

Here is the second and last part of Sarah Palin's speech at the "Women of Joy" conference in Kentucky on April 16, 2010 (clips 4-6 and transcripts). Our brilliant reader Tildama has once again completed a fantastic job of transcribing the speech. She probably won't be able to listen to Sarah Palin for the next few weeks, but it was definitely worth the effort. ;-)

Click HERE for the first part with clips and transcripts 1-3.

Download the complete transcript of the speech as a Word-document HERE.

Video-clips of the speech: Overview HERE.

We feel that Sarah's speech in Kentucky is important, because it's another example of her not only trying to boost her "street cred" amongst the Christian fundamentalist base, but also another example of her creating an alternate reality - a version of events which exists to a large extent only in "Sarah's head".

In December 2009, we posted an article with a documented example of this alternate reality which Sarah Palin presents in "Going Rogue": The real version of events is on video tape! I keep coming back to this post because it so clearly illustrates what Sarah Palin constantly does since she has published "Going Rogue": To present to the public a highly distorted version of events - and to sell it as the "real deal". Steve Schmidt didn't fall for it, when he called her book "100% fiction", and many others didn't fall for it either. However, a frightening number of supporters take Sarah's word for gospel, especially those who think that God speaks through her.

I would like to highlight two parts of the transcripts we publish today:

1)
Sarah tells the audience a heartwarming story about reading parts of the Old Testament to Piper:

Now I was trying to make a point about preparation with Piper the other night and I’m reading her the book of Esther out of the Old Testament. And I’m telling her all about Esther. See honey, I’m telling her, she’s the underdog, and she’s the orphan, she’s working hard preparing to be judged by others. Essentially Esther, she was out there on the stage wondering if she’d be chosen to have opportunity to really help change her world and Piper’s listening and she’s kinda dozing off and finally she rolls over and she says “Wow, that’s just like ‘American Idol’”.

So, Sarah - you read Piper the Book of Esther "out of the Old Testament"?

Let's take a look at one of the most "easily accessible" versions of the bible, the "Good News Translation". What does in actually SAY in the bible in the Book of Esther?

Excerpt:

Esther 2

Esther Becomes Queen

1 Later, even after the king's anger had cooled down, he kept thinking about what Vashti had done and about his proclamation against her.2 So some of the king's advisers who were close to him suggested,
Why don't you make a search to find some beautiful young virgins?3 You can appoint officials in every province of the empire and have them bring all these beautiful young women to your harem here in Susa, the capital city. Put them in the care of Hegai, the eunuch who is in charge of your women, and let them be given a beauty treatment.4 Then take the young woman you like best and make her queen in Vashti's place.

The king thought this was good advice, so he followed it.

5 There in Susa lived a Jew named Mordecai son of Jair; he was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei.6 (A)When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jehoiachin of Judah into exile from Jerusalem, along with a group of captives, Mordecai was among them.7 He had a cousin, Esther, whose Hebrew name was Hadassah; she was a beautiful young woman, and had a good figure. At the death of her parents, Mordecai had adopted her and brought her up as his own daughter.

8 When the king had issued his new proclamation and many young women were being brought to Susa, Esther was among them. She too was put in the royal palace in the care of Hegai, who had charge of the harem.9 Hegai liked Esther, and she won his favor. He lost no time in beginning her beauty treatment of massage and special diet. He gave her the best place in the harem and assigned seven young women specially chosen from the royal palace to serve her.

10 Now, on the advice of Mordecai, Esther had kept it secret that she was Jewish.11 Every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the courtyard of the harem, in order to find out how she was getting along and what was going to happen to her.

Read the rest in the "Good News Translation" HERE.

As some of you will certainly know, the story shortly afterwards becomes very cruel, when King Xerxes issues "the instructions that on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, all Jews—young and old, women and children—were to be killed. They were to be slaughtered without mercy and their belongings were to be taken."

Queen Esther then risks the death penalty by revealing that she is Jewish and trying to stop the slaughter against the Jews.

It's apparent that this is the comparison Sarah Palin wants to draw to herself. The woman who is "chosen by God" and who stands up against her "enemies" and "adversaries", as she calls them in her speech. Sarah also duly mentions the "Trig Birthers" in Kentucky. ;-)

2)

In the speech she gives another example of one of the conflicting versions of her pregnancy story when she says:

"And here all along after I finally got to tell Todd and it was a few weeks after I had the test results (of the baby having DS) I finally got to tell Todd, and he had come home (I didn’t want to tell him over the phone). And my first question to Todd after he looked at the sonogram pictures too, I said, aren’t you asking “Why us?” and Todd looked at me and he says “Why not us?” And right from that moment *applause* my destiny began to change."

As it may come as no surprise, the story that Sarah tells in "Going Rogue" is different. In "Going Rogue" Todd didn't come back after a "few weeks", but after a "few days" (p. 178).

However, will any journalist pick up on this fact? Most likely not, because the media already has given Sarah a pass with her monstrous lie, the fact that she faked the pregnancy with Trig. That Sarah now tries to pass off her alleged pregnancy as an "experience of biblical proportions" is in my opinion another reckless act of her megalomania.

+++

Part 4:

And I would surely be wise to put my life in His hands, in the creator’s hands, and let Him direct my path, that from that day forward putting my life in God’s hands, that’s why I was saved and I found that faith has sustained me through some tough times and certainly strengthened me through joyful times. *applause*

The surest measure of that truth was that year of the, the tumultuous and full and fun times, and that that fullness it continues today. But I know we all have our battles, we all have our challenges and maybe the enemy is doing to you what the enemy is never going to let up trying to do to all of us, to proclaim our faith in Christ. Because he wants to knock us off our rock, so that we’ll give up, so that we’ll sit down and shut up and we wont go forth seeking the destiny that God has for us. But we’ll just concede and say no, it’s not worth it, I’m tired, I’m sick of gettin beat up, I’m gonna sit down and shut up. That’s what the enemy wants to do to us. And maybe what you’re going through, in fact I know that everybody is going through something a battle, a challenge, some are being played out on the front page of the newspaper but most are not. *laughter*

And we with all of our battles know that what we’ve experienced. For instance with Trig and with Bristol, and any other thing that happened that year that I don’t have time to talk about, then it only reaffirmed really and strengthened my resolve and my beliefs. With Trig and with Bristol it has been the unwavering support for the sanctity of life. The gift of life that is at every stage and choosing life may not be easy path but it really is the right path *applause and cheering* What the enemy means for good, what the enemy means for bad, to harm us, it it is what God is going to turn into good. And that only happens when we put it into God’s hands. God promises that. And the timing or the circumstances perhaps not perfect, not ideal, what we had planned for, but God sees a way where we cannot. And He does not make mistakes. We may say “oops” but God does not, and he does not look away from us.

So putting my faith in that fundamental belief and crying out for more faith, then you do that too, we are all going to learn together. And what seems like life’s greatest challenges at the moment end up being our greatest blessings. And we are also learning that our faith isn’t just there for us in the hard times, it is also guiding us in the good times. When we are calm and when we’re still, we can sense our purpose. We can sense our calling and those promptings of the Holy Spirit. For me the thing tugging at my heart was a desire (ever since I was a little kid) was to be of service to others my neighbours, my community, I did want to serve my state, even as a child and eventually beyond. And that desire pointed me in the right direction – at least some would say it’s the right direction, others would say “Get her the heck outta there. We don’t want anything to do with her”.

But it provided me with what has become my life’s work finding that path. And at first I didn’t know what to do with those passions, and those interests that were within me. I didn’t know where it would lead me but I was blessed with the support of family and a husband taking joy in my work, I knew I had options. And I knew that what stirred passion in me was that desire to make a positive difference for others and not just in family, but in community and in the wider world as well.

So I started out volunteering in schools and then served on the city council, then was elected Mayor and served as our City Manager and then I was Chair of the state’s Oil and Gas and then I became Governor. Those were the steps along the way. And then I joined the ticket with John McCain I knew events led to that opportunity along the way. I’d sought signs all the time that would confirm and affirm that I was on the right path, and throughout life always trying to be prepared because opportunities needing that preparation that’s when you have success that’s when you have progress and you have joy. But I honestly had no idea where the road would lead because we are never promised to know what the detailed results are going to be.

Now I was trying to make a point about preparation with Piper the other night and I’m reading her the book of Esther out of the Old Testament. And I’m telling her all about Esther. See honey, I’m telling her, she’s the underdog, and she’s the orphan, she’s working hard preparing to be judged by others. Essentially Esther, she was out there on the stage wondering if she’d be chosen to have opportunity to really help change her world and Piper’s listening and she’s kinda dozing off and finally she rolls over and she says “Wow, that’s just like ‘American Idol’”. *laughter/talking over the applause/laughter* my point there.
But I hope you too will take the time to ask yourself what is it within you, that tugs at your heart and makes you excited to wake up in the morning and be able to applaud that new day. Figure out what gets you excited. Is it art? Is it science? Is it working with children, or gardening, or cooking the best “something” in the entire world. Maybe it’s travel? Reading about history? Learning about government, maybe throwing a tea party *loud cheers/applause* Home for your children and your grandchildren. Whatever that desire of your heart is.

I love the words of Proverbs 3 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” Lean not on your own understandings. We don’t know what the heck to have is the plan for this. Lean on God and in all ways we should acknowledge Him and He’ll direct our path, that’s His promise. See God puts those interests, and those desires, those passions within you, not to tease and frustrate you but to give you direction. They are to put you on that right path towards your calling, directed to your calling, your destiny. So find your inspiration from the gifts that God has given you and stop and think about what it is that you would love to do and then you look for the signposts along the way that guide your path. Which means door opening and people with your best interest at heart supporting what you’re doing. And once you’re on that path, don’t give up. My Dad says we do a lot of (hunting or punching?) together. My Dad says don’t let them get you down when you’re tired or frustrated. Don’t retreat, just reload. *laughter/applause*

Don’t retreat and there will be challenges. You have to be realistic. Knowing that there’s going to be challenges just because you’re on the right path doesn’t mean that there won’t be bumps in the road. Whatever work we do in the world all of us have challenges to overcome and battles to fight. If we take the time to look around we get outside of ourselves and remember it’s not about me. We’re not here on this earth for me, me, me. And that’s a problem with our culture, it’s all about me have to get away from that *applause* get outside of our selves *applause* and know that it is about glorifying God that is our main purpose and we’ll find that there is more than enough inspiration from God and from others that is our purpose and we’ll find that there is more than enough inspiration from God and from others to see us through. And read Proverbs 3, 5 and 6 where it’s promised there too. “If we trust in the Lord with everything that we’ve got” that is our own understanding. He will direct your path, if you promises He will direct your path.
Now with what’s going on in the world today I know that good on in the world today I know that good news sometimes seems to be in short supply. Maybe, maybe you’re not just worried about what’s going on in the country but, but in your own lives and your homes, your business or about your lives, your families, trying to keep a business afloat, keep your job.

Maybe it’s about trying to be the best parent that you can be in these challenging times and raising kids, maybe you’re feeling like a “crap shoot” you know you’re doing the best you can in these challenging times in our culture but these are the times when we lean on His word and we draw nearer to God and then He draws nearer to us and he announced that promise in James 4. And when we truly say with the psalms(?) that we may endure for a night the joy comes in the morning. That’s what God taught me. *applause*

Even now there is a lot to be joyful about and inspired by. You can step outside yourself and your immediate circumstances which may seem overwhelming. You can find so many positive and life-affirming things because while these are troubled times, we still live in the best nation on earth and surely that is something to be grateful for? America itself is so inspiring *applause* the opportunities that we have and the freedom, the freedom to assemble in a place like this and worship, that is so precious and may we never lose that.

Part 5:

*applause* I see that my see first hand that yes, America’s finest our men and women in uniform. They’re a force for good in this world and there’s nothing to apologize for. And I know that so many of you to are married to, or the daughter of, or the mother of someone in the service. I, I connect with ya, I understand and I appreciate the sacrifice that you make too. So, learning that lesson through that and um our son that year going ??? so proud. And he’s a real clever kid. He, he like most soldiers, you know, he comes home and he’s gotta be really unique and different and show us a tattoo. Because every soldier gets a tattoo to be different and unique, right? Yep *laughter/applause* stand out from the crowd, yeah they all did, yup. *laughter*

He comes home all proud and he tells us that he’s got some ink. And I’m like oh, no, yeah right, this is gonna end up on youtube or somethin’ like that *laughter/applause* He’s so clever he chooses a design his Mamma can’t argue with, and his Granny, and he rolls up his pants leg and shows us he got a Jesus fish on his calf. Awwww *laughter/applause* He did it just ‘cause he knew I couldn’t argue. *applause* You know and say how dare you or somethin’.

But in this year though, this was happening then and then I (??spoke fit??) Todd and I we find out that we’re gonna have another baby and “woooo” talk about rockin’ our world. I’m, I’m, you know, I’m no spring chicken “woooohh” *laughter* “woooooh” ........ real
And I’m telling God “oh really, yeah, my name is Sarah but my husband isn’t Abraham” *loud laughter and applause*” it’s Todd”. *laughter/applause*

But you know I know what the critics would be saying in Alaska. I’m thinkin’ you know they’re gonna say “Yep they finally, the pioneers up there, we finally elect a little woman and she goes and gets herself pregnant you know, whatever, my God, there you go.
But whatever. You know, it takes me a little while to wrap my arms around it and and working and good, bringing up children and, yeah Todd’s like, “the more the merrier, yeah” It’s very easy for him to say. Yeah *laughter* You know there’s no better ingredient in this sometimes mixed up world of ours and the most promising ingredient is a child. So good we can embrace it and and we know that it will be treated well. Todd and I though we’re keeping it to ourselves we didn’t even tell the other kids, because it was like in such a public arena to have one thing that was personal and private and we just weren’t up to telling anybody about it. In fact I didn’t tell anybody until I was 7 months along. And, yeah, I wanted to get the record you know for going (to lunch?). But I know that they know that I was getting really chunky but everybody was just really too polite to say anything in the governor’s office. And yeah we’re in Alaska, winter time, we wear lots of layers and you know I’m thinkin’ they’re thinkin’ I’m just puttin’ on another layer of fleece to stay warm.

Anyway then the baby’s born 5 weeks early, so reporters are doing the math. They’re like this couldn’t be her baby she was only pregnant 3 weeks *laughter* and to this day we still have on the internet the Trig-birthers who still don’t believe that he’s my so. Don’t make me show you the stretch marks to prove it. Don’t make me prove it. But it was a very special time. And in this time early on, 12 weeks, I had an ultrasound and the technician tells me that she could tell it was a boy. And I’m just ?“marvinated”? and I start crying. Oh man, that this is so awesome. We dared not even pray for another boy, but that’s what we wanted and we were just so happy and I thought “Wow, God is so good and He knows what he’s doing to give us another son”. Then sh , the technician says well maybe his neck is a little bit thicker than what we normally see at this stage. And I’m still marvelling, thinking “wow, she can measure the baby’s neck at 12 weeks”. And God is so good he provides the technology, this wisdom, to create technology where you can measure a baby’s bones and you can see this child at 12 weeks. And I’m thinking it’s really great. And then thinking, that all of that was so awesome, I stopped real quickly though when I recalled with a kinda quick shot of fear what a thicker base of the neck could be. And in that moment, I’ll be honest, I, I was scared to death.

And you and I know that there aren’t any reporters in here. Even if reporters have snuck in well I’m going to say some things that I’ve never said before publicly. But again, knowing that you know, the spirit of Christ is in this place and there is protection there *applause* and I can share from my heart *applause* and I will *applause* If anybody misconstrues what it is that I say or we say, well good, then we’ll have an opportunity to clarify or get to repeat some of the messages that were talked about today. Yeah.

But I was really scared to death and um quickly though trying to shove doubt on that fear. Doubt with, no God would never give us something that we couldn’t handle. He he knows me. I’m busy and I I’ve got 4 kids and I want these overachievers who’ve gotta be outta the place, good grades, oh gosh. And think I know what’s really important, and the kids, they need my attention and I have a state to run. And “Remember God,” (I’m saying) “it’s my sister who can handle a situation like this. God you need to give to my sister Heather who I would think is, who’s more nurturing and more compassionate and patient. You gave her a child with autism, so one of us out of the family, right God? You would never give us something we could not handle. I just don’t know if I’m wired for that, right God?”

And I’m asking these questions and trying to shove doubt and fear though and then the doctor called though. And I’ll never forget, I glanced up at the clock and it was 2.22. And 2.22 has always been (a tape jump here) it’s good news God, I glanced at the clock and remember it was a freezing cold day outside, looking out from the windows in my Governor’s office in Anchorage um lookin’ out the office and the doctor says “Yeah the child will be born with Down Syndrome. And my world just stopped spinning at that moment. Because I thought at that moment “God are you in this? Is there a God? Didn’t you hear me God? I said I don’t think I can handle such a thing”. And I asked God “why?” And I wondered if perhaps he’d over estimated us this time.

I knew that my impression of babies with Down Syndrome, they are aborted so to me I had that kinda inkling. It was like, maybe these are not only less than ideal circumstances, maybe these are impossible circumstances to deal with. I don’t know if I can deal with this. And my faith faltered as I wondered “Does He really know what He’s doing? Why? What? This isn’t part of the plan.”

And I was very very scared of the unknown. And I had nowhere else to go in this secret place, in this private chapter in a very public setting; nowhere to go but prayer. And I cried out to God to change my heart. Quickly change my heart Lord. Make me ready for this. Prepare me for this because I hadn’t planned for it.

And here all along after I finally got to tell Todd and it was a few weeks after I had the test results I finally got to tell Todd, and he had come home (I didn’t want to tell him over the phone). And my first question to Todd after he looked at the sonogram pictures too, I said, aren’t you asking “Why us?” and Todd looked at me and he says “Why not us?” And right from that moment *applause* my destiny began to change.

But through those months still difficulty wrap my arms around this. And it seemed a part of all this though was this constant whisper and all this asking. So you boldly tell others about your faith and you believe in the sanctity of life and you speak of the pro-life message and you talk of God’s sovereign plans, so are you gonna walk the walk, or are you just talking the talk? And I could only hold on to faith.

And then when he was born. Oh and he was placed in my arms and Trig just sorta melted right into me. And he was this quite tiny mellow, sweet little guy. On my chest up to my heart and he’s just like he felt, I felt he was saying “Aahh Mom. I’m here. Love me. God gave me to you.” *applause* And what Trig brought to me was this message, that God knows what he’s doin’. Part of the message was too – “Bug up OK?” *laughter* I knew though that God had heard me. He answered my prayer, because it was the miraculous heart change, and it was beyond anything that I could have ever imagined and really a miracle. From the second that he was born, I knew that God was in this because it’s a miracle to us. Trig is so perfect and I know I’m not the worldly standard of perfection. But we have been given eyes now to see God’s standard of perfection when we see this child *applause* and this gift that he is.

Part 6:

*applause* And hear me then, that you know, one of the ways, you know, that you’re going to be able to get something done in life, that you’re going to get joy in it. In the midst of all of it, one of the ways is really to have that “help mate” to know that you have somebody standing by your side. And for me it’s Todd. It’s nice to have someone who’ll stand by you and someone who can look at when you’re frazzled and you’re messy and you’re trying real hard and they tell you, “It’s cool”, “You’re doin’ fine” and “It’s gonna be OK”, and that’s Todd. Twenty eight years later and he’s still by my side *applause* through thick and through thin *applause* and it’s a lot of challenges and a lot of joy in life with him, it’s good.

So for me it’s like strengthening faith the key to keeping joy in life has been family first. And my kids keeping me grounded and keeping it real and they provide a healthy perspective on what really matters. And they are the reason that I do what I do. And like you, who love kids, you know, I breathe my children and I protect my children. And that’s why with all the political shots that sometimes we take, and serve as junk on the periphery, trying to distract from what the mission is at hand. And some people want to bombard and distract. But I can handle that, because of the perspective my kids bring.

But um considering considering the media, which really has changed ?them? drastically. When I was a reporter years ago, I was a sports reporter, and I had learned, in seeking and then receiving my college degree, the who, what, where, when and why of reporting and you keep your bias out of reporting this the er facts. But um it’s been a scary thing for me to see this cornerstone of our democracy that’s so important, kind of being atrophied and this erosion of ?criticism? and trust by citizens in our media. And there is much deception in the media and we got ??? there. But our adversaries though are kinda throwing away the darts and the arrows. I can use that prayer shield of prayer warriors to deflect that, and it kinda allows my skin to grow thicker (and I’m hoping that you’ll learn that too) allow it to grow thicker, your skin and go forth. That I know truth and I know what really matters, so I can deal with the misrepresentation any misreporting or mocking or whatever. That’s just the worldly reality that that’s what it is right now. And that also applied when the darts and arrows are aimed at me.

Now, when they’re aimed at my kids, oh, that’s a whole other story. That’s a whole other story. *laughter* ‘Cause you can imagine um indecent shots at kids. um . . I’m like the Mamma Grizzly bear like we have up there in Alaska. When they rise up on their hind legs they say “You leave my cubs alone”. *applause* So if any of you *applause* if any of you were inclined ever to want a prayer focus, for what it is you’re doing, please pray for grace in that area. Don’t let me just tear the head of some reporter who want to take shots at my kids. *laughter* no don’t dare, pray for me. But I did digress right there.

OK Gals. I want to talk about (?omens?) Take a quote from Notre Dame host Lou Holtz said “I can’t believe God would put any of us on this earth to be ordinary.” No. What God has done is allow us to be extraordinary by providing us opportunities that can really blow our mind, if we know where to look. I think, if we think that it’s OK to be complacent and accept ordinary, then we’re going to be stuck in a rut, and we won’t find joy. God has created every one of you with purpose and with a destiny in mind that it’s just so perfect for just you, only you. And there is going to be nothing ordinary about it, I can promise you that. And I know this. It’s our job then to be prepared for opportunity that He gives us. And preparation means working hard and working selflessly and seeking those divine appointments and the opportunities to reach out and to help other people. He expects us not to squander opportunity that He provides. And God doesn’t drive parked cars. He expects us to get out there and move and find opportunities *applause* and find inspiration. He expects us to act on the promptings that he gives us. And we do have to be still, every once in a while, and seek the Holy Spirit’s promptings to tell us which direction to go. And to know that nothing is coincidental. I still believe that nothing in this life, in this world, is a coincidence. It’s not an accident that we’re all here tonight. It’s not like things just happen to “work out” for all of us to get us here in Kentucky tonight. Here tonight seeking the tools that we can all use to find joy. But more importantly to ultimately know what our real purpose is. And our real purpose ladies on this earth, is to glorify God. *applause* It would appear at this conference seeking the tools to allow us to figure out how to glorify God. Ultimately that is our real purpose on this earth and it is no coincidence, no coincidence that it happened. Let me tell you why I know, that I know, that I know it to be true.

Let me tell you about a year in my life, what happened. It was only about a one year time span. It really strengthened my faith and affirmed and confirmed in me that God knows best. He’s given me hope and He’s given me joy after a year, of kinda tumultuous, very full, some fun times, but a pretty wild year.

I was very very busy as the Governor of Alaska. And I was the first woman elected, and the youngest governor so there was a little bit of a double standard I knew would be applied there. The largest state of the union and we were very focused on energy development in Alaska. My baby has been energy independence for our nation. We have such rich, vast, resources of oil and gas and other sources of energy here in our country and it is nonsensical that we rely on foreign regimes to purchase *cheers/applause* because many of these regimes involved don’t even like America and they would seek to do us harm. And yet we are beholden to them, because we ask them to produce our energy. When God has given us the resources here in the United States of America *applause* We’re spending hundred of millions of dollars, US dollars going overseas, to purchase these instead of creating millions of jobs here at home. And there is an inherent link between energy and prosperity and energy and security in a nation. There is an inherent link between energy and freedom, so that is kind of my platform that that I’ve worked on for all these years.

And my busy ??? running this energy producing state and chairman of the nation’s oil and gas compact mission at the time, we were working out national issues. And Todd’s busy working up on the North Slope at the time. Alaska is so big that Todd’s work commute 1,700 miles from the governor’s mansion up to the oil fields where his job was. That’s how large it was, in this day too. So when he’s not on the oil fields though he’s a commercial fish. He’s out there on the waters of Bristol Bay as a commercial fisherman doing tough, dangerous, blue collar hard work.
And we’re really busy but you know things are pretty much under control. We got a plan. We think we got a plan. And the four kids, they’re doing well. Our son is thinkin’ he’s the next Wayne Gretzky and don’t we all, you know we all hoping the best for our kids and we don’t want to knock the dream outta them, life kinda knocks the dream outta them. So he’s living for hockey. He’s travelling the country with a couple of real strong teams and though life happened to my son and he got injured so badly, that finally after shoulder surgery he had to hang up the skates. And that was you know that was a bit dramatic for him. So barely 18 years old, he decides he still wanted that camaraderie of team and he wants the physicality. And he decides in his patriotic heart that he wants to serve something greater than himself. So on September 11th, he tells us that he’s enlisting in the United States army, as an infantryman. And yeah *cheers and applause* that was it.

It kinda rocked my world because that wasn’t really part of the plan. But ah, you know, I hear the news. And I go with him to the enlistment ceremony, I’m thinkin’ “Wow God, really?” OK you know you gotta trust, even more so when Striker Brigade gets deployed the next September 11th for their year long mission in Iraq. That was kinda rockin’ my world. But through that unexpected event, through it, I gained such an appreciation for country and for freedom and for those willing to sacrifice all for the rest of us, for our security. *applause*

Sarah Palin and her "Women of Joy" speech - "Connecting" with the Christian fundamentalists - Part 1

+++Read part 2 HERE+++

Download the complete transcript of the speech as a Word-document HERE.

Video-clips of the speech: See overview HERE.

Sarah Palin made an appearance at the "Women of Joy" conference in Kentucky on April 16, 2010. Who are "Women of Joy"? From their website:

"Women of Joy presented by Phil Waldrep Ministries is a conference ministry thoughtfully designed to enhance and energize the spiritual lives of Christian woman. With the very best speakers in the country, the brightest stars in the contemporary Christian music universe, and sound, biblical teaching, the Women of Joy conferences offer an exciting, spiritually fulfilling experience for today's women."

So Sarah was speaking to a potentially Christian fundamentalist audience - the same audience she already appealed to with her book "Going Rogue", in which she persistently mentions "God". Her speech in Kentucky on April 16 is a direct continuation of this strategy.

The media was barred from this event, a fact Sarah joyfully mentions at the beginning of her speech. However, an enthusiastic Palin-fan taped the complete speech and put it on youtube. This speech already caused a scandal after ABC reported that Sarah Palin stated in the speech: "Don’t let anyone try to convince you that God should be separated from the State."

However, there is much more in the speech. First, it is a classic example of the typical Palin word-salad. But second, there are some other very disturbing parts in it. For example, in Kentucky Palin tells the audience the "christian fundamentalist version" of her already disputed "McCain's staff didn't want to pray with me" story. This story angered former McCain staffers in the past. This time, she spins it even further:

But I’m heading out on stage looking around for someone to pray with and no one nearby on the campaign staff was real eager to (ah have/hold hands) ask the Holy Spirit you know to just fill us up. So I ran into Piper, at the time my seven year old. So I grab Piper and I say “Piper just pray for Mama. Pray pray that I win the debate” (I tried to keep it really simple for her but but you know just tried to keep it really simple for her) and I had to ask her “Piper, pray that God just speaks right through me”. And Piper looks at me and she says “God speaking through you? That would be cheating.”

How strange! In "Going Rogue", the story sounded very different (pages 295 and 295):

So she offers her Christian audience a "tailored" version of the story, so that they can identify with her. Sarah wants her audience to think that God can speak through her - and that's the scary part. She apparently sees herself as a "modern day Elijah". Sarah's "scripted" answers in the debate, the words of God? Yeah, right, only in "Palin reality"!

Sarah, if you want people to believe your version of events, you better stick to the same story! ;-)

Therefore I thought that it's important to get this speech "on the record", because it includes several good examples of Palin's insanity, her constant lies and her delusions of grandeur.

Read and watch the rest for yourself. Part 1 contains the first three clips and the transcripts. Part 2 with the last three clips will follow in due course.

Many thanks to our brilliant reader Tildama for making the sacrifice to transcribe Sarah Palin's speech! She will probably need to go into rehab now. ;-) Unfortunately the sound quality is not too good, therefore Tildama couldn't understand everything, and she has highlighted these parts in the transcript.

Part 1:



Transcript part 1:

*Loud applause and cheering*
Thank you. It’s my honour to be here. Thank you Thank you so much.
I can’t tell you what an honour it is to share this evening with you. And oh my gosh we will we will have fun tonight. I appreciate that Bill said that um there weren’t reporters in the crowd. *loud applause and cheering* Great. That’s really refreshing. Oh thank you so much for that big Kentucky welcome. It’s great to be here and um my husband Todd is here *applause and cheering* (turns face away from microphone – not audible) ......... they call bear (?) thank you all so much .......
Thank you Bill for the wonderful introduction and for the invitation. We’re we’re. Can’t tell you how much we appreciate getting to be here. So preparing for this conference, I was preparing at the same time for a political conference and trying to separate the two because this isn’t a political night, but while I was preparing for the political conference earlier, I couldn’t help but think of the story about politics and faith and how the two kind of merged ....?...... a story about a surgeon and the engineer and the politician. They got together and they got into a big debate about who was most important and really whose profession was the oldest. And the surgeon said “well the bible says that Eve was created by carving a rib from Adam, so you know that takes a surgeon that’s surgery is the oldest profession”. And no no no said the engineer, the world was created in just six days out of chaos and that’s a job for an engineer so my profession is the oldest. And then the politician chimed in “yeah but who do ya think created all the chaos”. *laughter* *applause*

But ...?.....politics...?... and I promised that as tempting as it is because you know there is something else in the political system and it’s talked about this is about being us being good moms, wives, good employee, and employers, and contributors to our community its about being good citizens giving us tools to allow us to being good citizens and much is at stake in our country today too an what’s going on in America culturally and politically it does affect us and I want you to know that you have opportunity to contribute in such a positive way just by being a good mom and a good wife and a good citizen of this country. Yes the greatest country on earth we are so blessed to be here *applause* *cheering* (inaudible)

God truly has shed his grace on me, on this country and blessed us - and we better not blow it and that’s why I’m talkin’ about politics; why I just can’t help it but (inaudible) .....?...things like a Judge’s ruling that our national day of prayer is unconstitutional *booing* Yes think we’ll be challenging that one. Go Jay (Sector?) on that one he’ll challenge that one *applause* Any leader declaring that America isn’t a Christian nation, and poking an ally like Israel in the eye, it is mind boggling for, to see some our nation’s actions recently. But politics truly is a topic for another day. Just know though ladies, just know, that General Macarthur was right back in ’62 he gave a speech at Westpoint and he talked a little bit about the importance of being involved as a good citizen, he said “history fails to record a single precedent in which the nation subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline there is that either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral act or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster”. I don’t know about you but I’m going to go for the former, I want that spiritual awakening in America. *applause cheering*

Given the chaos these days just kinda standing up and speaking out for common sense; that can become a full time job and it’s keeping me pretty busy. Some days are pretty crazy. And my faith and my family, they are what keep me grounded - keep me going. Prayer warriors all across the country and I know some of you are here tonight. You allow me to go forth you give out strength, providing a prayer shield that is the only way to put one foot in front of the other and get through some of these days rejoice *applause* I don’t know of any politician could or would want to do this without knowing that there were prayer warriors out there holding you up and and seeking strength and wisdom for you *applause* ......?....so appreciative of their efforts.

Sometimes ....?....... I confess as I walked out the door ........, to come to this convention and catch this flight for a couple of different events that we have on this trip. I step out onto this icy cold dry way/day(?) and I’m wearing four inch heels because I wanted to be 5.9, (I’ve always wanted to be 5.9) *laughter* And shootin’ around in my heels and hearing my Mom’s voice in the background. I know she saw me on TV in one of the events the other day and she’s like “Honey just be comfortable, why do you have to wear those shoes?” So I’m feeling really guilty about that and (running?) around.

And new snow. It’s still snowing in Alaska, and new snow falling and I’m still wondering if spring will ever arrive and they’re stuffin up on top of the truck and I notice I got baby food on one shoulder and over the other shoulder I grab my diaper bag and this little laptop bag and........ I’m running late. I remind myself of that race car great Mario Andretti he used to say “Hey if everything’s under control, you’re going too slow” remember that? *laughter* .... control, so I’m thinking maybe its one a those days already. I’m thinking aw maybe it’s not too late for Phil to nab a different speaker I’m not sure I have a lot of inspiration to share with this crowd of nearly 16,000 evangelical Christian women. You know these are “perfect women” *cheering* kind of intimidating y’know an some of those worst fears of other speakers I see them on tv and um kind of intimidating and then .....

So before I do anything big in life and work I gotta pray and I gotta find somebody to pray with. That always helps me, so I’m thinking up on the truck who can I pray with before I head out and no one around the kids are still sleeping. And this reminds me of a day on the vice presidential campaign. And it was kind of a big day it was a busy day. I was getting ready to go out on stage and debate Joe Bidan for the Vice Presidential first debate and I think that there were like 40 something million viewers tuning in and maybe many tuning in to see if I crashed and some hoping that would be the case. But I’m heading out on stage looking around for someone to pray with and no one nearby on the campaign staff was real eager to (ah have/hold hands) ask the Holy Spirit you know to just fill us up. So I ran into Piper, at the time my seven year old. So I grab Piper and I say I say “Piper just pray for Mama. Pray pray that I win the debate” (I tried to keep it really simple for her but but you know just tried to keep it really simple for her) and I had to ask her “Piper, pray that God just speaks right through me”. And Piper looks at me and she says “God speaking through you? That would be cheating.” *laughter and applause* I must always be cheating because that’s what I’m after, but um so we go outside and get in the truck and Todd pokes his head in and says Kentucky is gonna be great you’re going to have Sisters in Christ there you’re gonna love being there so...

Part 2:



Transcript part 2:

*clapping* .... so blessed to be in America. The stakes are so high and whatever your calling, know that what you do now is now is for a contribution towards a good citizen. Every little step forward that each of us takes, has the power to make a real positive difference. And today you may take your first step towards something good. Tomorrow you help your neighbour do the same. And the next day help the gal down the street. And pretty soon all this working together, our whole nation starts taking those steps towards that more perfect union, that destiny, that God has called America to reach. And no matter what your calling there is purpose in what you do.

As Lou Holtz said “I can’t believe God would put any of us on this earth just to be “ordinary”. Each person has the potential to make an EXTRORDINARY difference. And that’s why we’re created. And we are blessed to call this country “home”. And together we do have the power to set things right. Surely again America can be that inspiration for all of us.

So the third and final key to keeping joy in life has gotta be perseverance. Ya gotta get out there and get movin’. And I always think of that saying “Do to me whatever’s wrong, so you can live tomorrow while others can’t”. And I keep that in mind when I’m tired. Maybe I don’t want to write another chapter or read another report. Maybe I don’t want to do one more brutal interview or run one more mile or deal with the drama in the workplace (mumbles about dramas and some laughter from the audience) maybe I got to try to fight with a child to get her to do her homework or brush her teeth. It’s just easier to just say “OK. Let’s solve this. Go to bed.”
But no, for me the best practical preparation for the hard days, when I am tired has been my preparation, coming from a world of sports. And I come from a family of runners and I have no practical preparation for what I face in this sport. You don’t have to be particularly talented or co-ordinated to run. And that’s why I do it. You just put on the shoes and you hit the road. Thank goodness you don’t have to be too talented. I had a sweet run in Kentucky today, and runnin’ around, it was beautiful.
The roads, at least for me, they hold some really precious life lessons whether you walk it or you run it. And take for example the moment that, say you decide you’re going to train for a marathon. I know one summer I decided to do this. And you could only think about the first mile, because it’s impossible to look all the way down the road. It seemed to be endless and you wonder “How would you ever finish this gruelling task?” It looks impossible. But it is imperative that you pick a point to focus on. And then you go fence post to fence post, for me, it’s snow drift to snow drift *audience laughter* there too. And you stay focused because determination comes in the immediate presence.

And I learned that, the summer that my son Track got his driver’s licence and I was training for the marathon. And oh my gosh. Some lucky days Track would drive out ahead of me and he’d set water bottles that he’d “sharpied” a note on along the route. And he’d hid ‘em in the culvert or somethin’ for me to run to. And these were notes of encouragement. And (modified?might?) say “Run Mom Run. Love Ya” and (miles well ?) never know “Don’t give up. Don’t tack out” and (for the team?) “You’re old, but you can do it” *audience laughter* that summer I ran note to note. And I got tired and I would get thirsty and I’d get sick to death of taking another step forward and I would think “Gosh, gotta make it to the next one.”

Track taught me that the trick to tacking the big things, is he didn’t take one step at a time. In that case it was one mile, one note, one step at a time. And eventually though even the best runners they get tired, and there’s a mile where your head catches up with your body and there’s no thinking your way through the pain and you (fill up? *coughing nearby*) with every step. And it was at times like that that I’d remember in Hewbrews, Hebrews 12.1 “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of it all. Who for the joy that was set before Him that endured.” Remember what he endured he endured the cross, despising, the same. Remember He was so mocked and now He has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. He endured. So, *applause* get there (on ?) or state or Vice Presidential race, or whatever it is that you’re up to.

You know supporters along the way they can ease the pain. They can ease the way for you and just when things seem like they’re at their worst and you don’t know where you’ll get that second wind. You round the corner and there maybe someone there cheering you on and that helps. And it reminds us to cheer on others.
But that’s not where you show what you’re made of. That’s not where you show what God is capable of doing within you. Real inner strength shows up when no-one is looking and when no-one is cheering you on. If you really want to reach your goals in all things, you have to put in those tough, drudging thankless lonely miles. And Women of Joy I beg you to do that, even when it’s hard and especially when it’s hard, even when you don’t want to. Because I promise you that when it seems you can’t take another step and you’re out of breath, there will be a hidden reservoir of strength that you can call upon and endure and finish well. And it is God that provides that strength to all of us. And you must have that faith, so when you need it most it’s gonna be there, it will be there. Christ strengthens me. *applause* Call upon that faith *applause*

Much is at stake and God will equip you. He sees what we cannot. He knows that you have special skills, he created them in you. And He has something amazing to allow you to contribute wherever you may be in life. Our world needs your contributions now more than ever, so that others can find (??.........), so that others can find joy. Not just this group of Women of Joy, but the rest of the world can see what it is that we see and how within us what it is that Christ is offering. I beg you women of joy to bring light and be involved.

Loving America and praying for her, really it is our solemn duty. Praying for true spiritual awakening to overcome deterioration, that is where God wants us to be. Don’t let anyone try to convince you that God should be separated from the State. Our founding fathers, they were believers. And George Washington, he saw faith in God as basic to life *applause*
He wrote:
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity; religion, faith, morality are indispensible supports”
So women of Joy, remember that. And remember that even today the nation needs you. Know the facts, search them out, and call elected officials accountable and stand for what’s right and get involved as good citizens and don’t be ashamed or intimidated ever. Don’t be discouraged by any mocking by those who want to claim that we just “cling to our religion”. Because I would be the first to admit that I do. Yeah I do *applause* cling to my religion (all to God?)
*applause* Don’t be afraid to admit that “momma faith”. It’s kinda like a momma faith movement that I feel is coming on. It’s Mommas Faith. It’s felt somehow that this is all some kinda low cost brand of ignorance, because really it’s just the opposite and I think the more we’re involved, we’re gonna rock this world and we’re going open up a lot of the eyes of those who are kinda the leaders and kinda critical of the Momma Faith.

The smartest thing that you can do is help bring up the next generation in faith – our children *applause* The greatest and most important job in the world is being a Mom. And Moms have a voice. And women were very important in biblical times. They’re very important today. All kinds of women, young and old, married and single, those with children, those without children, (helping needy children?) single, divorced, widowed. Women we have a voice and I ask you to use that voice to keep praying for America and showing her your good courage. And more than anything, remember this, that no matter what you’re thinking, what your future looks like at this moment, perhaps it looks less than ideal, remember the words of Malachi that he wrote:
I the Lord do not change.
Malachi 3.5
Circumstances change, fortunes change, plans are not our own, but His faithfulness endures.

Part 3:



Transcript part 3:

*applause* and I know that I’m not the only one and and we talked about how blessed we are; that that Trig is born with other health problems but things are good. And Todd reminds me all the time. He says “well, think about”. I know there are many of you who are that Moms of special needs children or the daughters of, and raise you hand we want to honour you. And those of you who have someone in your family who *applause* have that special need *talking over loud applause* I truly believe that they make the world a better place. But it is our job to make it more a welcoming place for them.

And I want to tell you something about Trig. He has changed my world; teaching me compassion for those with greater challenges and more patience. And I really keep things in greater more healthy perspective because of him. He has already taught us many more lessons than we will ever teach him.

And here’s something that he teaches us, that I want all of you to learn too. I think his take on life and his take on each new day is something that God would want us to live out. Trig wakes up every morning and he rubs his sleepy little eyes, and he looks around and he applauds *laughter* and I just think he’s thinkin’ “Yep. There’s gonna be some challenges today, but come on world, whatcha got? It’s gotta be good. I applaud this new day”. And I believe that that is what our Lord would want for us too, no matter what. Get up in the morning and even if we’re forcing ourselves *applause* give it another applause, we can handle it with God’s help. Trig has been teaching me that. So all that would be met in your time span. And I’m thinking OK when it rains it pours eh? But that was enough, that was enough. Not yet though. A few weeks after Trig was born, our teenage daughter Br in case you missed it on the front pages *laughter* of the American newspapers. Yes our teenage daughter Bristol, she comes to us and she says that she’s gonna have a baby. And this is another curve ball. And those two were (enough) my circumstances. And my reaction was “no, no, no, no, no. How can this can’t be? She of anyone of everyone, she was not to be one that would end up getting pregnant. I was ( calling???) No, this couldn’t happen. And what would the Youth Group think? *laughter* *talking over the laughter* like she has no idea how tough it is and how tough it was going to be for her. And knowing that when the challenge is over, you know, ok, but this is going to be a whole new chapter. But she and I and the rest of the family kept holding on to faith, that things could work out realising we’re not the only family whose gone through this; there are a lot of others. And really what a blessing a baby truly is. We see the blessings even in those circumstances. And the lessons learned through this for me, a greater respect for life and greater respect for those taking responsibility for making decisions that they shoulda wished they could unwind or they woulda held off. And dealing with it though; not bucking up, not whining, making sacrifices, going forth. That’s what Bristol has done and it’s made me less judgemental because I see what Bristol goes through on a national stage. She’s called a hypocrite because her message is “Hey, other teenagers. Don’t do what I did. This ain’t fun. This ain’t easy. Pause before you play” is what the psa asserts *applause* She’s got an abstinence message and I applaud it too. But much of the world mocks her message and call it hypocritical. This is how upside down and backwards our society can be. But she’s clever about it too. She recently did an advertisement reminding kids that the only sure-proof way to prevent pregnancy is abstinence. And that’s the choice that she’s made. *applause*

So she’s a clever and a funny little gal. I starred on a national um ad and the psa message in the ad. She wrote on the palm of her hand “Pause before you play” *laughter/applause* Aw I don’t even get any respect even by my own kids. She’s even teasing me. *applause/laughter* She’s using the poor man’s version of the teleprompter *laughter* that’s what we do. *laughter/applause* (looks at palm of her hand) I’ve always done that. Since the media gave me a hard time for using a “sharpie” on my hand, I’ve, I been doing that for 20 years, and I’m gonna keep doin’ it.

And if it’s good enough for God in Isaiah 49 write the name of us on the palms of his hand *cheering/laughter/applause* you know that I got to tell a reporter that and I think it made her go look it up so But all this in that time span and you know nothing could get more dramatic. Nothing could be more tumultuous I think in a family you know and that was enough. But then a few weeks later when nothing can get more dramatic, surely, I get a call from Senator John McCain and he asks “Do I want to run for Vice President of the United States of America” *hooting/cheering/applause* Oh, and I’m thinking, “ooo just another little life (???) moment, you never know” and “You betcha” I said, “Yeah”. *talking over applause*

But confirmation with that call, the steps along the way were purposeful, that there was reason for everything that had happened. And too, by the time I got that call, for some reason, I just wasn’t shocked. It was just like, you know. There was preparation needing opportunity and much of my preparation like yours will have to be the family.

I grew up in a great family. My Mom and Dad, a school teacher, just (pure ??) good people who took joy in my siblings and me. Ah we were raised in a house where hard work was expected and love was never in short supply. We were expected to work. *applause* That’s right. It took me five years to get through college. I had to keep stopping and working and making enough money to go back to school.
But I was baptised Catholic as a baby then grew up to be Assemblies of God. So, you know, quite, yeah. So, you know, lots of diverse background there. But growing up Assemblies of God my family was and is a very tight-knit group. I’ve always known that they have my back. And even if I try and I fail, I know that they’re cheering me on. But a happy childhood, trust me, it’s not a prerequisite for success or future joy. Family is not just who you’re born to, it’s who you choose, it’s who you choose to be around. And I was blessed when I met Todd in high school and then we were blessed with Track, and Bristol, and Willow, and Piper and Trig and Tripp. I hope I got them all. But really it was the best thing that happened to me. Maybe I shoulda written their names on the palm of my hand.

But we’re a real busy and we’re a robust crew. We do a lot of things together. But still we were kinda surprised during the Vice Presidential campaign when people would ask, “Well how would I balance all if we were to win the race? How would I do this with kids and I thought they really don’t get it. I wouldn’t be balancing it, we’d do this as a team. And if we’d have won, we would have approached the White House like we do everything else, and that is as a team.

And I have been asked the same question for many many years throughout my career. People always asking, kinda double standards women get, you know well “How would you do it with children and still serve in office?” and I’d always ask the reporter, “Y’asking the guys the same questions that you’re asking me?” and they never would. But I let them know I handle my responsibilities the same way that they do, but perhaps things would be a little bit easier if I too had a wife. *laughter/applause* *talking over applause* But you got the solution to the life/work balance that we hear so much about. And um in our house we pitch in, we help each other. They’re unconventional roles perhaps, but we pitch in and do things together.
Professional is personal. Because whether it’s work or school or sports or some of Todd’s activities. He is the 4 time world champion of the world dog and snow machine race *applause/talking over applause* And all of those vocations and advocations, whatever it is, if it is important to one of us, then it’s important to all of us and we act as a team, getting through it and we’ve had a lot of practice with that the past years.
Keeping joyful then. First key, is the family comes first and the second key is making the time to find their inspiration. Alaskans are lucky. We never lacked inspiration, all we have to do is just walk outside our front door and there we see God’s incredible creation that is Alaska. The majestic peaks and the midnight sky and the wild waters and the wild (??). You can’t help but see and feel the Holy Spirit in Alaska. And still greater inspiration of what is even around me is the time that I take with the one that created that grandiose state. I think of (??) song 16.11 “That in His presence, His fullness of joy, is that joy that assures resilience and strength.”

And one summer when I was about 11 years old, when I was at an Assemblies of God christian bible camp, I, I looked around at all this beautiful creation and it hit me. If God knew what he was doing (I thought this as a kid) God knew what he was doing when he created all of this for us, then he certainly had some ideas in mind when he created a speck like me.

.