Cue 'Barracuda'
As soon as this newsroom learned that former Republican vice-presidential candidate and soon-to-be-published author Sarah Palin is coming to Wisconsin, we made enquiries as to whether or not we’d be able to cover the event.
The announcement for Palin ‘s appearance at Wisconsin State Fair Park includes a lengthy list of items that will not be allowed inside, including cell phones, recording devices, video or still cameras, and laptops. And no photos or recording will be allowed. Just to make sure that these prohibitions were to apply to the media, I e-mailed Wisconsin Right to Life Executive Director Barbara Lyons, who confirmed that they did.
Well, we figured that at the very least, print media reporters would be allowed in with their notebooks. Wrong again. Dan Bice with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Lyons told him that the event is totally closed to the media. The only media representative in attendance at the $30 a head event will be Milwaukee’s very own answer to Jerry Bader, Charlie Sykes, serving as Master of Ceremonies.
If $30 seems a bit steep for a ticket to see Palin, that cost may be explained in part by Palin’s speaking fee, which is rumored to be in the neighborhood of $100,000. That seems like a lot for someone who just received a $2.5 million book advance. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson wrote more on that angle last week, as an Iowa group tried and failed to attract Palin to an event there.
Right to Life’s Lyons has agreed to an interview with WRN prior to Palin’s appearance here, so we’ll ask how much she’s charging, but my guess is that information’s not going to be made available.
