Foundation cancels on Sarah Palin

A non-profit nixes Palin's appearance, citing "safety concerns"

Published February 7, 2011 10:27PM (EST)

Former Republican Vice Presidential candidate and Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin greets guests after speaking at the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara, Friday Feb. 4, 2011. Palin was the headline speaker for  the Ronald Reagan Centennial celebration opening reception hosted by the Young Americans Foundation.  (AP Photo/ Spencer Weiner) (AP)
Former Republican Vice Presidential candidate and Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin greets guests after speaking at the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara, Friday Feb. 4, 2011. Palin was the headline speaker for the Ronald Reagan Centennial celebration opening reception hosted by the Young Americans Foundation. (AP Photo/ Spencer Weiner) (AP)

The Denver Post reports that The Sharon K. Pacheco Foundation rescinded an invitation for Sarah Palin to make a guest speech in May. Pacheco is an apolitical non-profit, designed to help military families and at-risk youth. So, in a political vacuum, Sarah may have seemed like a good choice because she's a famous face with a serving son.

But, the organization may have gotten more than it bargained for. Fame has come with a price for the polarizing Palin. She's equal parts loved and hated, and Pacheco perhaps decided that benefiting from the former was not worth incurring the latter. The foundation noted that: ''no direct threats have been made against anyone, but the recent increase in negative rhetoric against the former Alaska governor raises concern for her safety and the safety of others.''

Regardless of their motives, this frees Palin up for what should be a massively entertaining May 2nd NBC/Politico Republican presidential candidates debate.

 


By Ethan Sherwood Strauss



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