by Mark Silva
Mooseburgers: $3.50
Dog-sled: $2,000
Dinner with Sarah Palin: $63,500
The virtual Internet competition for a real dinner with the former governor of Alaska and 2008 Republican candidate for vice president turned out not to be priceless, but rather closed at $63,500, the winning bid in an eBay auction to benefit a wounded veterans' charity, the auction closing Friday.
And a potentially awkward charity dinner at that was averted when Palin critic Joe McGinnis was outbid by Palin fan Cathy Maples of Huntsville, Ala., a defense contracting company owner who won the auction, saying she not only fully supports the military men and women fighting for the nation, but also is a "big advocate'' for Palin, who resigned as governor over the summer and is hard at work on a book that should be worth a few million dollars and a Facebook page claiming more than 875,000 followers, the list swelling since she quit her office.
"We eat, therefore we hunt,'' Palin has said.
Palin offered the dinner as part of a charity auction on eBay for the Ride 2 Recovery program, which supports wounded veterans through cycling programs. All told, more than $95,000 was raised. The winner foots the bill for travel to Alaska.
"Todd and I are so happy to help such a worthy organization,'' Palin wrote of the dinner auction raising money for wounded veterans at her Facebook page on Sept. 10. "100 percentof proceeds from this auction will benefit the Ride 2 Recovery program whose mission is to improve the health and wellness of wounded warriors by providing a life changing experience that can impact their lives forever.
Palin, who saluted America's veterans in her odd farewell from office in July, has written about their cause on Facebook - recently chiding the Associated Press for publication of a photo of a soldier. It was in honor of the veterans, she said at her farewell address, that the media should "quit making things up.''
McGinnis had bid $59,999.99, explaining that "such a dinner would be the perfect way to kick off the reporting for my new book: Sarah Palin's Year of Living Dangerously". (to be published by Broadway/Random House in fall of 2011.) " McGinniss is the author of "Pipe Dreams", an article which documented Palin's failure to deliver a gas pipeline in Alaska.
McGinniss upped his ante to $60,100 with four hours left in the auction tha t closed Friday. Palin was ready for the worst, with a disclaimer that read: "Governor Palin reserves the right to refuse dinner with a winning bidder if, in her sole discretion, the winning bidder is not a suitable bidder based on her subjective standards of suitability, professionalism, background and other factors.''
The Alaska Dispatch reports that McGinniss has sent a letter of congratulations to Maples.
Photo illustration of Palin dinner by Aaron Jansen, Alaska Dispatch.
Comments
Rephrase, McGinness was the author of "Pipe Dreams"
an article for the now defunct
Portfolio, which was replete with falsehoods and distortions
into the nature of the largest
energy project in a generation. Belied by the TC?Exxon deal
in June
Posted by: ian cormac | September 19, 2009 2:49 PM
A fool and his money will soon be ...I wonder if she'll show up ?
Posted by: Leonid Radzvilar | September 19, 2009 4:13 PM
At least Silva and the Trib win points for doctored photos.
Posted by: Matt J | September 19, 2009 4:21 PM
And the loons continue their attack on her, even when she is doing something very worth while.
Silva - why don't you outbid the guy and you can have your dream date. It would remind us of this old classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJJW7EF5aVk
Posted by: Terry | September 19, 2009 4:55 PM
Geez, isn't free enterprise wonderful !! Isn't democracy grand !! Talk about intelligent leadership, that's where it has gone !! Isn't it wonderful to see the Republican-Libertarian leadership, in action .
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | September 19, 2009 5:06 PM
It's hilarious how the Repugs whine and cry everytime someone writes about Saint Sarah the Moose Huntress.
What's wrong Wingnutter's, are you embarrassed by what passes for your "leadership" nowadays?....I'm embarrassed for you if you're not.
And speaking of Wingnut stupid - the best part about all of those pinch faced, doughy middle aged white guys who atteneded the corporate sponsored and Faux News promoted Teabagger shout-fest in DC last weekend?
The dumber than a brick Teabaggers whined that DC public (socialist!) transportation wasn't performing up to par, and some had to take private taxi cabs even though they were more expensive!
All that Wingnut Teabagger whining happened with zero sense of self-awareness or irony. It was freakin' brilliant!
.
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/ed-schultz-psycho-talk-tea-baggers-upset-about
.
Posted by: I wanna be a Republican idiot | September 19, 2009 5:09 PM
I wish my bid of $.01 would have won, giving me my moment to spit in her face and walk out. Enjoy THAT dinner, Sarah?!
Posted by: DS | September 19, 2009 5:21 PM
I think it would be truly fasinating to have dinner with Palin. I would be in awe.
I bid $100,000.00.
Would they take an IOU?
Posted by: Osobama | September 19, 2009 5:40 PM
If $63000 gets you dinner, what does $500,000 get you....
Does she leave the ear rings and glasses on?
Posted by: ornery | September 20, 2009 12:17 AM
THEY TELL YOU:
Insurance companies are evil.
Insurance companies make big profits so government insurance would be cheaper.
Insurance companies ration care, our government wouldn't do that.
Banks are evil.
Bankers make too much money,
We need to decid...e how much salary bankers should make.
ND YOU BUY IT.
You let them teach you to hate your fellow citizens.
They send criminal ACORN to harass bankers in their homes.
YOU APPLAUD.
They will lie to you
Turn you against your fellow citizens
Steal your minds
AND THEN
Steal your freedom
Obama and team despises you
They think you bare too many children,
they think you are too fat,
hey think you consume too much energy
Their dream of transforming you into a perfect citizen Is your worse nightmare.
I wouldn't lie to you
Sarah Palin wont lie to you
We love you the way you are
Posted by: Djmelfi | September 20, 2009 3:16 AM
Mark, It seems your obsession with Palin is whipping up hatred amongst your followers on the left. They can't even put together a sentence that doesn't have some vitriolic hate filled comment. I am amazed at the nastiness from the foaming at the mouth bloggers here.
Are you going to follow Nancy Pelosi's weaping advise and chill out? She seems to think that people like you cause violence.
Posted by: Gary | September 20, 2009 3:18 AM
At least Silva and the Trib win points for doctored photos.
Posted by: Matt J | September 19, 2009 4:21 PM
Is this your only source for news??? If so, you need to get out of your basement and look around a little bit. There are all sorts of resources just waiting for people to see them. This photo was all over the place on Saturday.
Posted by: lochnesssmonster | September 20, 2009 7:05 AM
"We eat, therefore we hunt,'' Palin has said.
Ever hear of "grocery stores" up there in Wasilla? It's called civilized society. You might want to join it some day.
Posted by: syj | September 20, 2009 8:31 AM
Mark Silva's articles about his Lord and Master BO seem to not be right.
If there was a Josef Goebbels School of propaganda er, I mean journalism he undoubtlessly would be its best teacher.
Posted by: Lou | September 20, 2009 11:07 AM
SYJ: Yes because meat magically appears on your grocer's shelf.
Don: This isn't "free enterprise," it's charitable giving. Free enterprise created the wealth to make available charitable giving, before government destroyed opportunity. On top of that, the proceeds are going to wounded vets. Once again you contradict yourself with your blathering.
Ornery: maybe the earrings, but definitely not the glasses. She'd have to look at you.
And finally Idiot: You should be camping outside at the mailbox, waiting for your government check rather than constantly posting the same nonsense under dozens of names. If you think anyone with an elementary education can't recognize your rants, you are foolish.
Posted by: ThegreatBambi | September 20, 2009 1:09 PM
What a waste of good money! Course moose burgers ARE expensive...
Posted by: kaye c. | September 20, 2009 1:58 PM
KC,
Waste of money to make a donation to wounded vets? We can see the hatred of the libs when it comes to Sarah Palin
Posted by: Terry | September 20, 2009 10:28 PM