Local Hospitals invite anti-universal healthcare advocate to speak at fundraiser
 

Sarah Palin to speak at hospital fundraiser

One-time Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin will speak at a Hamilton hospital fundraiser April 15.

December 11, 2009
Daniel Nolan
(Dec 11, 2009)

Sarah Palin is coming to Steeltown.

The Republican who shook up the 2008 U.S. election when she was picked to be John McCain's vice-presidential candidate will be in Hamilton on April 15 for a fundraiser for two hospitals.

Former HECFI head Gabe Macaluso, a member of the committee organizing the dinner at Carmen's Banquet Centre, said confirmation of her attendance just came in. More details will be announced today at a noon news conference at Carmen's.

"This is quite the coup," Macaluso said last night. "She's one of the hottest speakers on the Speakers Bureau. The demand is huge."

The former Alaska governor recently joined the Washington Speakers Bureau, which represents former president George W. Bush.

Palin will speak at a fundraiser for the Juravinski Cancer Centre and St. Peter's Hospital. Organizers hope to sell 1,000 tickets at $200 a plate, but raise more via photos with her.

Reports say Palin makes $200,000 a speech. Macaluso couldn't say the exact amount, but said that's "around the ballpark."

[email protected]

905-526-3351

Couldn't believe this when I read it.

Hey, you know, if you guys want to hold on to her for a while, that's cool...

At least money will be raised for the Juravinski Cancer Centre and St. Peter's Hospital.

If she was Canadian I bet this blue-collar city of Hamilton would go ape nuts.

This is what makes it so appalling. If she were speaking on behalf of almost any other charity, I wouldn't be so livid. This is a woman who has not only spoken out against universal access to healthcare in her own country, but in ours as well. She would deny women access to reproductive healthcare. She charged rape victims for their own rape kits when she was the Mayor of Wasilla. She advocates for abstinence-only sex education even though the disastrous results for girls and young women has touched her own family. Do I need to go on? This woman is a walking healthcare disaster. I cannot imagine what these hospitals are trying to achieve by associating themselves with her. Neither hospital will get a penny out of me in the future.

They're paying her around $200,000 and expect to bring in about $200,000 from the dinner plus a little extra from photos, minus the cost of the dinner. Sounds like a good use of health care $$ :koko:

That too. And they call this a 'coup'. Coup de grace more like. I can't imagine what they're thinking.

Holy fuck. Is the engagement set in stone? Can there not be a protest?

What if you are a higher-up at one of those two organizations, and you so violently disagree with the nitwit's politics that attending her appearance would be anathema to you? Could you refuse to attend? Or would that jeopardize your career there in terms of "office politics"? Do people have to swallow their disgust, pride and nausea and simply put on a brave face and attend this do because it's for raising cash?

Spec's got a poll up. Funny results.

http://thespec.com/

Just seen the CH news and the report is, she is not getting anywhere near what has been reported for her fee. For legal reasons they cannot disclose the amount.

To me paying this bimbo a dime would be a crime. There are many more interesting and intelligent people who would be better suited to speak at this fundraiser.

Take a peek behind the Palin poll
December 12, 2009

Wondering about the numbers behind the percentages in our Sarah Palin poll? To the question "Would you pay to hear Sarah Palin speak", 1,016 respondents (30.39%) said yes as of 10:30 a.m. Saturday. But 2,326 respondents (69.58%) voted no.

The controversy over Palin's visit is driving Spectator web traffic to unusually high levels, and tracking software suggests much of that traffic is coming from outside Canada, a rough indicator of how passionate people are on the subject of the former Alaska governor and possible Republican candidate in the next U.S. presidential election.Visit Have Your Say to join the lively discussion.

-- Howard Elliott, Managing Editor
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/689601

It's like having David Duke speak at the NAACP. :koko:

Oh lookie Sarah Palin ads invading SSP Local: Hamilton

http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/p...EyCKoYnLOP8mDk

A couple of lefty American blogs are covering this.

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/12/11/...nada-hospital/

Bonus Gabe Macaluso bashing in the comments!

You would think that they would at least get some of their facts straight. St. Peters does not perform abortions and it is not a public hospital. It is a rehab center.

Palin controversy pushes hospitals out of picture
 

December 18, 2009
Dana Brown
The Hamilton Spectator
(Dec 18, 2009)

Amid a barrage of criticism, organizers of a fundraiser featuring former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin have decided the event will no longer benefit public health care.

Instead, funds from the April 15 gala will go to the Charity of Hope, an organization that helps children.

"The attention became a health-care debate when the attention should've been on ... an event that benefits the community," said Dennis Concordia, one of the co-chairs of the event.

Concordia said organizers felt the Juravinski Cancer Centre and St. Peter's Hospital, the previously named beneficiaries, were "unfairly being made targets of a lot of negative publicity."

Pearl Veenema, president and CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, said it was notified on Wednesday that organizers would be considering the reaction to the event and that the beneficiary might change.

The hospital was notified of the decision yesterday through a press release.

"It's unfortunate the funds will not be directed to Hamilton Health Sciences, the two hospitals that they wanted to raise funds for, but we're appreciative ... of (their) intentions," Veenema said.

Palin has spoken out against Canada's healthcare system, causing some upset about her stand to feel she was an inappropriate speaker to raise funds for a Canadian hospital. Others feel she's not a good fit for Hamilton, a city with five social democrat legislators.

As of mid-week, HHS had received about 60 angry calls and e-mails from residents, about 10 of which involved donors who said they would not give again.

In a Spectator poll asking if people would buy a ticket to see Palin, more than 4,300 of the almost 5,800 respondents said they would not.

"I don't think we could have predicted the backlash, not necessarily here in Hamilton but across North America," Concordia said.

"And we certainly want to respect Governor Palin's position and we didn't want to have the hospitals become unfairly commented on."

Concordia said a decision was made to change the beneficiary over the weekend. He said there was no political pressure or pressure from Palin's people to change the recipient.

But when asked if Palin's camp knew what the benefit was for when it agreed to have her speak, Concordia said he did not want to comment on a confidential contract.

Murray Martin, president and CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences, said the hospital respects the decision.

"It's their decision," he said. "It's a third-party event. We respect whatever direction they want to go. I know they were concerned if it would have a negative impact on us. But we very much realize that it should be their decision."

Healthcare philanthropist Charles Juravinski said he had not been informed of the change before being contacted by The Spectator.

"Quite frankly, you're taking me by storm ... There just seems to be a lot of kerfuffle over nothing," he said.

"Anything ... that helps fundraising for any worthwhile organization or charity is certainly worthwhile."

Ted McMeekin, MPP for Ancaster,-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, said in an e-mail that this was a strange situation and he had never seen anything like it.

"Clearly there was some negative feedback on Palin being associated with health care and the hospitals. Word on the street was that some base donors were angry with Palin's choice as speaker and that created the potential for some backlash."

McMeekin said he was not familiar with the newly designated beneficiary.

The concept for The Charity of Hope, according to a message on its website from its president Sam Mercanti, started among friends at the local YMCA. They hope to grow the charity each year.

The founder of Carmen's, which hosts the annual Charity of Hope fundraiser, is Peter Mercanti, Sam's brother.

--With files from Danielle Wong

[email protected]

905-526-4629

Palin to take deer-hunting timeout in Hamilton
Former Alaska governor has 'a couple hours to kill'

By staff
News
Apr 01, 2010
http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/news/article/206314

Sarah Palin will be hunting deer in Iroquoia Heights Conservation Area today as she scouts out Hamilton ahead of her speaking engagement later this month.

A spokesman said the former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate will spend time this afternoon bow hunting at the west Mountain park.

"She's heard there is a need for a cull in your city and she has a couple hours to kill," said spokesman April Sloof.

Palin will not be firing from a helicopter, a practice she has supported for the aeral hunting of wolves in her home state, said Sloof.

Palin is speaking at a fundraiser for Charity of Hope on April 15 at Carmen's Banquet Centre. Today is April 1.