Celebrity impersonators Vernetta Jenkins as First Lady Michelle Obama, Dale Leigh as former President Bill Clinton, and Patsy Gilbert as former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin pictured at the Sunburst Convention of Celebrity Tribute Artists in Orlando, Florida, during the summer. The annual convention matches artists and agents. (Photo by Matt Stroshane / Getty Images)
by Mark Silva
Sarah Palin may not be able to see China from her home in Wasilla, Alaska. But the Chinese, or at least a few hundred influential Chinese, will get to see Palin this week.
The former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential nominee of the Republican Party will deliver her first keynote speech outside of North America, according to Chinese organizers of an event that has played host to Bill Clinton and Al Gore in the past.
She will address the CLSA Investors' Forum on Wednesday -- behind closed doors, the sponsors say, because Palin suggested that she would have to tailor her remarks differently if the media were invited.
"We have asked her to address US foreign policy, to discuss her views on governance, healthcare, and of course, China," Jonathan Stone, CEO of the Asian-focused brokerage, told Agence France Presse, explaining that Palin was invited because she is a potential GOP candidate for president in the next elections and because of her influential role in American politics.
"We are very pleased with her attitude towards us. Sarah could have come here and made a media circus," he said. "But we said to her, 'Look, we want you to give the most information to our clients. Do you feel comfortable doing that with the press around?' "She said, 'If I do that with the press in the room, I will have to say different things.'"
This way, the media will just have to make things up.
Comments
Trickledown free market, Saint Sarah the Moose Huntress - being paid big bucks to speak to a group of...Communists?
The irony here is hilarious!
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Posted by: moreofthesamefromtheright | September 21, 2009 3:07 PM
It's funny how the Repugs whine and cry everytime someone (Mark Silva) writes about Sarah the Pageant Queen.
What's wrong Wingnutter's, are you embarrassed by what passes for your "leadership" nowadays?....I'm embarrassed for you if you're not.
Posted by: ThepartyofOWE | September 21, 2009 3:11 PM
Absent media, and thus eliminating the possibility of any sort of confrontation or vetting by the media, regardless of whatever garbage she delivers, Palin should feel quite comfortable having a Chinese translator- morph her traditional word salad into some sort of Cantonese dialect.
Even though Origami arose from across the Sea of Japan, by the time Palin is done, all of those listening will be looking at their napkins for at least some flourish of art and intellect- or in the worst case scenario a means to relieve themselves.
Posted by: former Republican | September 21, 2009 3:15 PM
You will never see an invitation for Obama to seek his opinion on investment.
Posted by: Harold | September 21, 2009 3:29 PM
Trickledown free market, Saint Sarah the Moose Huntress - being paid big bucks to speak to a group of...Communists?
The irony here is hilarious!
.
Posted by: moreofthesamefromtheright | September 21, 2009 3:07 PM
That is hilarious!!! And so true!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | September 21, 2009 3:37 PM
Has anyone asked Palin why her first big speech overseas will be in a COMMUNIST COUNTRY where what she says will be closed to the media? I thought she was such a great patriot and defender of freedom? She needs answer this since she made such a protest about Barack Obama knowing Bill Ayers. Let's all ask her on her Facebook page.
It's awful mavericky of her to exclude the media. We can only guess what her contribution will be or what she hopes to add at an event attended by 1,300 fund managers from 32 countries managing more than $US10 trillion ($12 trillion)of assets. At least now she can pad her resume to include that she can see China from her house in Alaska.
Posted by: The Quitta From Wasilla | September 21, 2009 3:49 PM
I'm sure Sarah is going to tell, the Chinese that they are godless, heathen, torturing (not that there's anything wrong with that), communists and that they are EVIL. Certainly I would assume that she won't show the commie bastards any more respect than she does the President of the United States. I'm sure she's going to tell all the investors that they shouldn't be doing business with an evil, communist regime, won't she?
Posted by: Anti-Communist Crusader | September 21, 2009 3:52 PM
There goes Silva perpetuating the myth of quote the Sarah Palin said she could see Russia from her house in Wasilla. If you want to smear her, do it with facts.
More of the Same - do you mean those communists that are our largest bondhodlers?
Posted by: Terry | September 21, 2009 4:18 PM
She isn't pallin' around with Communists is she?
Posted by: Joe the Plumber | September 21, 2009 4:52 PM
How come when I do a name search for her on Facebook she's not there? I want to see these 800,000 friends of hers and want to post on her wall why she is doing this in a communist country and having the media barred?!?!
What a damned hypocrite!! I can only imagine the froth over this if it were Obama doing this! OMG This is just not a stable thinking person we're dealing with!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | September 21, 2009 5:36 PM
Attention Palin-bashers: Palin's speech is in Hong Kong, not in China. Hong Kong is a capitalistic metropolitan area of China. Also answer me this: Why is a losing ex-Vice presidential candidate and a former Governor is getting this invitation in the first place? Could it be that she is now more influential than the guy sitting in the White House right now destroying our nation? Put down the koolaid.
Posted by: Brian | September 21, 2009 5:38 PM
More of the Same - do you mean those communists that are our largest bondhodlers?
Posted by: Terry | September 21, 2009 4:18 PM
Yes Terry more of the same. Chumming it up with the rich guys. Great example she's setting up. Same one over and over that fails each time.
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | September 21, 2009 5:58 PM
There goes Silva perpetuating the myth of quote the Sarah Palin said she could see Russia from her house in Wasilla. If you want to smear her, do it with facts.
Posted by: Terry | September 21, 2009 4:18 PM
*********************************************
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Poor wittle Terri...:(
Mark can't report on one of his right wing leadership heroes (Palin) without Terri crying....waaaaah!
Go have your mom shave your back hair Terri, this thread isn't for kids like you anyway.
Posted by: anti terry | September 21, 2009 6:31 PM
Attention Palin-bashers: Palin's speech is in Hong Kong, not in China. Hong Kong is a capitalistic metropolitan area of China.
Posted by: Brian | September 21, 2009 5:38 PM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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Palin is giving a speech to COMMUNIST LEADERS, you moron.
And from what I hear, she was invited there to provide the comic relief.
Posted by: Edgar | September 21, 2009 6:34 PM
Wow....14 posts....maybe her 15 minutes are up.
Posted by: bill r. | September 21, 2009 8:58 PM
OK, that does not look like Michelle or Clinton!
Can Sarah see China from her house?
""We have asked her to address US foreign policy, to discuss her views on governance, healthcare, and of course, China,"
What!? What is this dude on?
Hilarious.
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | September 21, 2009 9:27 PM
Trickled On,
Just want a journalist to use facts, for a chnage.
Posted by: Terry | September 21, 2009 10:15 PM
She is going to make a deal with the commies to help her win the election in 2012. She will have an chinese run on her ticket.
Posted by: Hemlock | September 21, 2009 11:03 PM
How ironic! Not long ago, some people on this board were accusing their own fellow Americans that they were Communist just because they didn't agree with them.
Suddenly, Sarah is giving advices to the Chinese Communists! But, I don't mind because. . .that's the only thing we can export from America- bad advices and speeches! hahaha
Posted by: HmongRodneyKing | September 22, 2009 1:15 AM
Hopefully,Sarah Palin has perfected her Yukon comedy act for the CLSA conference in Hong Kong this week.
But seriously, bless Rupert Murdoch’s heart. Sarah Palin's handlers had one heck of a job trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
Posted by: fashionplate | September 22, 2009 1:24 AM
JEEEEEEZ, this SEE RUSSIA FROM MY HOUSE thing is ENDLESSSS!!!
Palin said you could see Russia from Alaska, so I have experience in foreign affairs. It was an IMPLYED MORONIC statement on her part. That is what she said and that is why she said it. IDIOTIC? I think so.
Sarah Palin-Tonya Harding 2012
Posted by: DEO | September 22, 2009 3:37 AM
Hemlock,
Would what Palin is doing resemble anything like this?
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/05/23/clinton.china/
or this
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=16720
Posted by: Terry | September 22, 2009 11:13 PM
Hong Kong has a capitalist system with it's own governmernt and legal system seperate from greater China.
If you don't know this than you are an idiot.
Palin is speaking to fund managers not communists.
Posted by: Shawn S | September 23, 2009 12:05 AM
Hong Kong has a capitalist system with it's own governmernt and legal system seperate from greater China.
If you don't know this than you are an idiot.
Palin is speaking to fund managers not communists.
Posted by: Shawn S | September 23, 2009 12:05 AM
I totally agree with the true fact that these bailouts did nothing good for anyone. They just helped the rich get their “Bonuses” and in stack of million dollars at a time. That’s where the money went. It didn’t help the “little people” the citizens of the US keep afloat.
Posted by: susan banks | September 23, 2009 4:42 PM
She should shut her mouth already and just get on In life...
Posted by: chris brown | September 23, 2009 4:49 PM
sarah palin was invited to speak in Hong Kong simply because the business people attending wanted someone that would speak honestly about the subjects they chose not an obama lover that has tendency to smooth talk around the subjects. how many democrats or republicans do you know that tell it like it is.
Posted by: bill curtis | September 24, 2009 6:41 PM
The more personal attacks made against Sara, makes many more of us want to hear her, she is a brave woman, a mother, and a former gov. And she is very wise about the media.
Posted by: lorita | September 26, 2009 6:41 PM