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Sep. 01, 2008
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Nevada Republicans going lean

Recent disputes cut sponsors for national convention events

By MOLLY BALL
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Morgan Meis, a senior prompter operator, checks his cell phone Sunday during set-up while on stage at the Xcel Center in St. Paul, Minn. Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona announced Sunday that the party would cut back convention activities because of Hurricane Gustav.
Photo by John Locher.



Sarah Palin
Alaska governor's motherhood lured comments

Last week in Denver, Nevada's Democratic delegates trickled down each morning to a breakfast just for them, with tote bags and other giveaways provided by sponsoring Nevada corporations like Newmont Mining and Sierra Pacific Resources.

An unseemly parade of corporate influence, perhaps. But it beats what Republicans are getting in St. Paul this week: Nothing.

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    • The Nevada Republican Party, riven by internal disputes in a year when Republicans across the country have few reasons to smile, was unable to secure sponsors for the traditional delegation breakfasts, and so there are none, according to sources with the party.

    Instead, Nevada delegates can choose to join the Arizona delegation, which is staying in the same glamorous downtown hotel in St. Paul, for a $25 fee for its breakfasts.

    There will be a Nevada luncheon today, sponsored in part by Guaranteed Tax Relief, according to the schedule. That's if it's not canceled out of deference to Hurricane Gustav, as practically all the other events of this convention have been.

    SHOOTING FROM THE LIP

    Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie aroused outrage last week with comments that seemed to suggest she thought Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin shouldn't run for vice president given her family responsibilities.

    "I'm kind of surprised that a woman with such young children, especially one with a baby with Down syndrome who lives in Alaska, would jump into the fray of a grueling national campaign," the Reno Democrat told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "As a woman and a mother I don't understand that."

    Palin has five children; the youngest was born in April with the genetic disorder.

    Nevada Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Lowden issued a statement blasting the remark, saying, "Working moms all across Nevada should find the idea that a working mom can't be considered for our nation's highest office insulting. Would Sheila say the same if it was a man on the ticket with a young child?"

    Leslie said she regretted the comment, which she called "insensitive." She said she had just learned that fact about Palin and was astonished by the amount of responsibility the first woman on a Republican presidential ticket would be shouldering.

    "It was meant to be an empathetic remark," Leslie said. "I think it's going to be incredibly difficult for her, but it's her choice and I don't mean to disparage it. Women have to make hard choices every day."

    PORTER AID

    Rep. Jon Porter will be getting substantial help from his party as the Republican seeks to keep his suburban Las Vegas House seat. But not as much as his opponent will be getting from hers.

    The National Republican Congressional Committee has reserved $590,000 worth of local television ad time to air pro-Porter commercials. The amount was reported by the Web site Talking Points Memo last week and confirmed by sources.

    In contrast, it's been disclosed that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee plans to spend $916,000 on behalf of Porter's Democratic opponent, state Sen. Dina Titus.

    TPM noted that of the 14 districts the NRCC put money into, 11 are Republican-held, signaling that the committee, which was depleted by an embezzling scandal earlier in the year that only exacerbated an already difficult GOP fundraising landscape, will devote most of its resources to trying to hang on to current Republican-held seats. There just isn't cash to go after a lot of Democrats.

    Titus campaign spokesman Andrew Stoddard said the NRCC ad buy proved that Republicans know they have a fight on their hands.

    "The NRCC's support for Jon Porter is further evidence that Republicans are increasingly concerned about this race and Dina Titus' message of change that is resonating with voters across the 3rd District," Stoddard said.

    DEMOCRATS' DINNER

    The Clark County Democratic Party has announced that Robert Kennedy Jr. will be the "guest of honor" at its annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner, scheduled for Sept. 13.

    That's after the party previously suggested, in a passive-aggressive maneuver, that Illinois Sen. Barack Obama would come and speak, based on its claim that he had agreed to do so at last year's dinner.

    Last year's dinner was held the night of a presidential debate in Las Vegas and was attended by the eight Democratic candidates who were then in the running. It was marred by logistical problems but raised huge amounts of cash for the party.

    Kennedy Jr., the third of Bobby Kennedy's 11 children, is an environmental lawyer and activist.

    Contact political reporter Molly Ball at 387-2919 or MBall@reviewjournal.com.

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    I'm the Father wrote on September 01, 2008 08:37 PM: I'm the father and I don't particularly care for you messing with my girlfriend.

    I'm talking about the Governor, not her daughter whom I accidentally got pregnant.


    Michael Green wrote on September 01, 2008 06:57 PM: Eddie,can we have a b-utt kissing contest some time?


    Tim wrote on September 01, 2008 06:43 PM: if you can't smear the canidate,smear their family,shows what class you have,none.if her husband said he's ashamed to be american,by all means attack.oh,but wait,he wears boots every day like most of the working people.got nothing there.elite snobs should not be allowed to run or lecture us, eddie.


    Michael Green wrote on September 01, 2008 06:37 PM: Eddie, I hope everything goes well for the Palin family and that Bristol Palin has a healthy baby and a happy marriage.

    I also hope that the Palins look in the mirror and see their utter hypocrisy. Sarah "Palin by comparison" opposes proper sex ed in schools and supports abstinence policies. Well, families indeed aren't perfect. But when you tell other people to be perfect and you aren't, you shouldn't be amazed if you don't get a very sympathetic hearing.

    Your reference to Clinton begs an interesting question. "Rev." James Dobson--the quotation marks are needed because I find it hard to think of anyone less true to the teachings of The Bible--said, oh, it's sad but we're all sinners, we must forgive. How would he have reacted to the same news about a Democratic candidate's daughter? How would you have reacted? My reaction would have been the same degree of hope, but less of a sense of hypocrisy if that candidate had not been calling for abstinence ed and not sex ed.


    raquel wrote on September 01, 2008 06:31 PM: re palins 17yo, dont judge, only god can, pay attention to her accomplishments as a leader, that's what she is paid to do, she is not your preacher.


    you got to laugh wrote on September 01, 2008 05:12 PM: All of the wealthy people in the GOP and the cheap b**t*rds can't fund a breakfast. The GOP is all about ME,I, and Me again.


    Eddie wrote on September 01, 2008 01:50 PM: Why are you even talking about an unwed pregnancy. We're talking about a 17 year old. No matter how good the parenting is, it happens. Lets see,how old was Clinton when he did his deed in the oval office?


    Mike R wrote on September 01, 2008 01:15 PM: family matter
    The issue of Palins daughter is very realivent. How can she be expected to function as a leader if she is not even able to lead her family. She chose to have these children and they should be her first priority, they will surely suffer with her inability to function as a mother if elected.
    John McCain needs to have his head examined for choosing her as a running mate, especially knowing that this was going to come out. He has betrayed the Republican party with this foolish choice, watch how many die hard Republicans will jump ship this election. Republicans may be loyal when it comes to voting, but we are not stupid.


    ed wrote on September 01, 2008 12:20 PM: Sara Palin is a breath of fresh air.She has experance in goverment and the private sector.That is not true with Obama,Biden or McCain.The liberal news is going nuts to find some dirt about her.This is how low these creeps will go.Thay accuse her not having her last baby,that it wsa her daughter had it.That my friends is how liberals work.


    Family Matter wrote on September 01, 2008 11:59 AM: I have just read that Gov. Palin's 17 year old daughter is 5 mos. pregnant (out of wedlock.) As a life long democrat I would like to say this is a non issue and it is a private family matter. She is not running for office so please, all of you can hold you negative comments, please. I know some of you, and others will try to bash the governor and her daughter, but any bashing will speak nonsense. Best wishes to Governor Palin & her family at this time.


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