NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin encouraged conservative activists Saturday to reject the policies of the Obama administration and to embrace the principles of smaller government.
Former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin addresses the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md., Saturday, March 8, 2014. (Image source: AP/Cliff Owen)
“The age of Obama is almost over,” she promised those gathered at the Conservative Political Action Conference outside of Washington, D.C. “This is the end of an error, he is the lamest of lame ducks.”
The former GOP vice presidential nominee continued, attacking the Republican “establishment,” arguing that its members have for too long behaved fecklessly.
She also admitted that it would be politically wise to sit back and allow government programs such as the Affordable Care Act to implode and force Democrats to defend their failures. However, she noted, Republicans need to get in the game.
“You do interrupt when they are in the process of destroying your country, and that’s what we’re gonna do in 2014,” she said, referring to the upcoming midterm elections.
Palin's speech was interrupted by enthusiastic shouts of, “Run, Sarah, run!”
She also criticized President Obama’s foreign policy, arguing at one point that a show of force is sometimes the appropriate response to provocation.
“Mr. President,” she said, referring to Iran and Russia pursuing nuclear arms, “the only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke.”
Former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin gestures while she addresses the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md., Saturday, March 8, 2014. (Image source: AP/Cliff Owen)
Palin was sure to throw some jabs at the Obama administration’s approach to health care as well.
“I love coming back here because there are always so many young people or, as you’re known by the folks across the river, Obamacare suckers,” she said. “Turns out you have the change that they were waiting for: You have the $5s, the $10s, and the $20s.”
“They said the train of history was roaring to the left,” she added, “but then, something happened. That ‘Hope and Change’ went from a catchy campaign slogan to a reality, and along the way, ‘Hope and Change,’ ‘Yes we can,’ it became ‘No You Can’t.'
"No, you can’t log on to the website. No, you can’t keep your health care. No, you can’t make a phone call without Michelle Obama knowing this is the third time you dialed Pizza Hut delivery.”
Former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin at CPAC in National Harbor, Md., Saturday, March 8, 2014. (Image source: AP/Cliff Owen)
Later, to the delight of her audience, Palin riffed on the Obama administration in the style of Dr. Seuss.
“I do not like this Uncle Sam, I do not like this health care scam. I do not like these dirty crooks, or how they lie and cook the books,” she said.
Her jokes were met with cheers.
“I do not like this spying man, I do not like ‘Oh, yes we can.' I do not like this kind of hope, and we won’t take it nope, nope, nope.”
The crowd ate it up.
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