What Happens When a Film about the Anti "Chicago Politician" Plays in Chicago

I had the opportunity to attend the screening of "The Undefeated" in Chicago on Saturday. The screening was announced late on Wednesday night and was shown on Saturday at noon, meaning that there was roughly 60 hours between the announcement and the screening itself. In spite of this, a lack of traditional advertising, and its liberal Chicago location, even known Palin critic, Roger Ebert, noted that the 200 seat theater was nearly full. The location of the theater was particular interesting, as it was situated just across the street from where Bill Maher would be “performing “later that evening and only a few blocks away from President Obama’s reelection headquarters, placing the theater in the symbolic midst of both Governor Palin’s personal attacks and her political opposition.

The reaction to the film has been a delight to see. As the Chicago Sun Times noted, even Chicago Democrats came away with a new found respect for Governor Palin:

Eddie Bryant, who attended the screening of “The Undefeated” at downtown’s Gene Siskel Film Center, is an African-American and Chicago Democrat. The retired 67-year-old Union Pacific employee said he was surprised to find he actually likes Palin.

“I came because my friend is always talking about Sarah Palin. People say this lady is brainless. She’s not only smart, but she’s a clean-government person. I gained respect for her,” Bryant said.

Roger Ebert, known for tweeting and writing rather hateful comments about Governor Palin, wrote a review that was relatively mild by the standards of any harsh critic of Governor Palin. If anything, the most revealing aspect of Ebert’s review is his inability to understand the difference between conservatives and Republicans. Yes, Mr.Ebert, sometimes the protagonist and the antagonists are on the same team.

Ebert also noted that the audience was attentive and began cheering when a clip from Rick Santelli’s now famous “rant” on the floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange was played. Applause erupted about a half a dozen times throughout the film particularly when memorable lines from Governor Palin’s speeches were shown. All in all, a very receptive audience in Chicago. Stephen Bannon engaged in a nice question and answer session with attendees following the film.

From my personal perspective, I had the opportunity to see a rough cut a few weeks ago, but seeing the finished version with nearly two hundred other individuals in a theater is completely different than watching it on your couch in front of a 20 inch TV screen. The spirit of The Undefeated showed throughout the film. Governor Palin took on the oil companies and won. She took on the political establishment and won. She took on corruption and won. It was not only her accomplishments that make the title “The Undefeated”, but the attitude which Governor Palin and the Tea Party movement carry themselves. Though I do not want to give away too much, I have to say that the final several minutes of the film provide a cinematic crescendo to the movement of the film with great commentary about Governor Palin, the political establishment, and the Tea Party from Andrew Breitbart, Tammy Bruce, Sonnie Johnson, Mark Levin and others.

Organize4Palin’s Illinois group and Students4Palin were at the screening handing out palm cards and signing people up with Organize4Palin before and after the film. Below are a few volunteers still ready for action, just after most attendees had been seated:

One of the individuals who signed up with Organize4Palin simply identified herself as “Chloe’s Mama Grizzly”. She had come up from Marion, Illinois—more than four and a half hours from Chicago. She spoke to me about her own personal story about an overreaching government and their neglect of parent’s rights. Her experience and the example of Governor Palin had planted a seed in her to possibly run for elected office.

Governor Palin’s story of reform and fighting corruption is likely why many Illinoisans, including Democrats like the aforementioned Mr. Bryant, have respect for her. Illinois has a bipartisan corruption problem and a massive spending problem. Just as the country as a whole needs Sarah Palin as a leader, so does the state of Illinois. As I drove back to Springfield from Chicago on I-55, I passed the Exxon Mobil refinery in Joliet, and it reminded me of how the film highlighted Governor Palin’s firm stance against the oil giant in holding them accountable to their lease. Additionally, the sometimes harsh Illinois winters will benefit from the completion of the natural gas pipeline that Governor Palin championed which will bring North Slope natural gas to the Midwest. Just as the cinematic story of her achievements came to Illinois, so do her political achievements themselves as well.

Crossposted here and here.

A Call to Action--Boots on the Ground and Fingers on the Keyboard

In Governor Palin’s most recent eviscerating Facebook post, she said, “ [r]eal hope comes from realizing how God has blessed our exceptional nation, and then doing something about it”. What an optimistic challenge to us! After we have been subject to that “hopey changey stuff” for the past two and a half years, it’s time to continue to recognize where our real hope comes from—God and the extraordinary way He has blessed this nation. You may be thinking, “what can I do, as an ordinary barbarian or unruly peasant, to make a difference?” The revolution that founded this nation was fought by men and women who had different talents and different ways of contributing to the movement. Thomas Jefferson was not a great orator, but he could put quill to paper to write one of the greatest documents known to man—the Declaration of Independence. During the War for Independence, women such as Molly Pitcher (one of my personal favorites), carried water to soldiers in the Battle of Monmouth and even reportedly took control of one of the cannons when her husband fell victim to heat stroke. Benjamin Franklin was 81 during the Constitutional Convention and had to be carried in a chair to the convention due to his poor health and advanced age, but he contributed mightily to the blueprint of our nation’s government. Suffice it to say, people with various talents and flaws and in different stations in life contributed to the revolutionary founding of our country. What can that say for our efforts to assist in the fundamental restoration of our nation?

Over recent months and recent weeks we have discussed many ways to assist in efforts to support Governor Palin and her message. One key way that you can do this is to join Organize4Palin. On national, state, and local levels, Organize4Palin is acting as a great “tundraroots” way to support Governor Palin. Please do sign up, and see how you can best contribute to efforts nationally and within your state. As CharterOakie mentioned yesterday, you can contribute financially to efforts in the nation’s earliest primary state of Iowa where there are volunteers working tireless hours and sacrificing much to lay groundwork for a potential Palin campaign for the Presidency. As Organize4Palin volunteers have spearheaded, you can join in Voluteering4Palin’s efforts to bring people to see “The Undefeated”—a movie event that can both serve to set the record straight on Governor Palin and to empower the grassroots conservative movement. As Nicole recently mentioned, you can write letters to your local paper to encourage people to see “The Undefeated”.

The call to be boots on the ground extends further though. In addition to being boots on the ground, we can be fingers at a keyboard. Not too long ago, Tammy Bruce declared that Palin supporters should ensure that there should be no more free shots on Governor Palin, meaning if the media or another politician misrepresents or attacks the Governor, we should call them out and respond. Most days with the media it seems that we’re living in PeeWee’s Playhouse and “Sarah Palin” are the perpetual secret words of the day. If you are unfamiliar with the reference see here. Following Governor Palin’s recent Newsweek article and Facebook post, stories ranged from her challenge to Speaker Boehner to not cave on debt ceiling talks to how the outfit she wore on the cover of Newsweek supposedly made her unpresidential to how a photo in the Newsweek article taken in a field of flowers was a supposed signal to supporters that she was not running for President. Many of us visit Palin friendly blogs and comment there, but as some are doing already, we have the opportunity to visit main stream media sites and comment there. Let us change the dialogue and re-direct the narrative. Many open minded individuals visit news sites in search of just that—the news. They may not be the ones who comment on such stories, but they may read the comments. Well reasoned and supported comments may change the mind of the skeptics and plant a seed in the open minded. If an article misrepresents her record, correct them. If an article correctly states her position, highlight her boldness and consistency. If an article launches an unsubstantiated attack, call them out. There are several resources you can reference to arm yourselves with the facts. Organize4Palin has a page that outlines her stance on the issues and her record on many of these issues. US4Palin has an extensive collection of links regarding her accomplishments as Governor and throughout her political career. Connecticut for Sarah Palin has categorized her Facebook posts by policy topic. Commenting on articles often require a innocuous registration process, so jump in and get the word. Visit the sites of the general mainstream media news channels, the online news sites, political sites, the Republican and conservative sites. ABC, FoxNews, CNN, The Hill, the National Review, the Weekly Standard—whatever it may be. We have the greatest example of setting the media straight and get the truth out right in front of us—Governor Palin herself.

Whether your talents, funds, or time allows you to get involved with Organize4Palin, assist in encouraging people to see “The Undefeated” , donating money to these efforts, commenting on articles online, or doing all of above, we have the opportunity to contribute to the fundamental restoration of the country. The future of this country lies not in the Establishment, but in the grassroots—boots on the ground, fingers on the keyboard.

Crossposted here and here.

"The Undefeated" and the Volunteering4Palin

Georgia Organize4Palin volunteer, Rob Cunningham, has written a great piece at the American Thinker encouraging people to see “The Undefeated”, not only to get the truth about Governor Palin’s record, but because it empowers the grassroots movement as well. He writes in part:

During this anniversary month that marks America’s independence, and inspired by a personal sense of patriotism, I implore every freedom loving American to see Stephen K. Bannon’s documentary on the life and career of Sarah Palin. And furthermore, every conservative, Tea Party activist, free-market capitalist, persons of faith or no-faith, and all influential leaders, regardless of whom their preferred 2012 presidential candidate might actually be, should leverage all their talents, skills, resources and creativity to ensure the maximum number of people experience this movie in public theaters.

Stay with me on this, please.

Why do I make this claim? The simple clarity and raw truth offered in “The Undefeated” stands at the ready to educate tens of millions of citizens, perhaps influencing an entire generation of voters. This documentary deeply connects, on both an intellectual and emotional level, and stirs one’s very soul. This film brilliantly serves as a modern-day case study, and clearly illustrates how our agenda-driven news media, entertainment industry and political power brokers brazenly operate, in plain view and with cold-blooded intentionality, in a tireless attempt to destroy a very decent fellow citizen. When presented with basic facts, Americans will recoil in disgust.

If principled republicans, tea-partiers and libertarians choose to no longer remain silent, misinformed or “neutral” while one of our strongest and most influential “movement conservatives” is repeatedly and falsely attacked, we will empower every single person and candidate within our movement.

[...]

In no manner whatsoever is it being suggested that one’s movie attendance equates to support for, or an endorsement of, Sarah Palin. However, the entire conservative movement will become dramatically empowered, in direct proportion to, the actual number of people that witness this film. This movie delivers a liberating education and razor sharp awareness of the methods used both by the media and establishment politicians from the left and the right. It will awaken the senses for those previously unconvinced of exactly how the modern day “progressive” movement comfortably uses lies, ridicule, false narratives and intellectual laziness to mislead their audiences. This movie delivers a massive body blow to the media, it dilutes the effectiveness of liberal scare tactics and will vaccinate millions against infection from traditional “news” reporting. By powerfully highlighting the media’s methods of distortion, one of the most powerful weapons used against all conservatives, is damaged.

“The Undefeated” will be released the week of July 15th through July 21st at AMC theatres in 10 major US cities. A positive reception at each of these theaters is critical to ensuring a much larger national audience benefits from this film. Those interested can purchase tickets online athttp://theundefeated.cinedigm.com/tickets.html.

In one July week, our entire conservative movement can become enormously stronger if we work together and “get out the viewers.” Invite a few friends, visit with your neighbors or organize a youth group. By making a concerted effort to better educate ourselves and our fellow citizens, the best and brightest conservative leaders across our nation will benefit.

Cunningham has also put together the excellent and independent Volunteering4Palin project to implement the strategy that he discusses in his article. He and other Organize4Palin volunteers in Georgia and South Carolina have been working on this project, and all are encouraged to join them in getting involved in these efforts. Please check out the site here to see how you can be participate in this effort to not only set the record straight on Governor Palin's record, but to also help the grassroots remain empowered through this film. Please watch the video below that Cunningham and his wife have put together discussing how you can get involved in getting the word out about the film and inviting people to attend it in theaters throughout the country.



Again, please visit the Volunteering4Palin site to get involved.

Crossposted here.

Illinois Organize4Palin--Standing for Right in the Bastion of the Left

Illinois is often seen as one of the bastions of liberalism—the California or New York of the Midwest. Rather than cutting spending and reining in government growth during a time of economic downturn and period of massive deficits, our governor grew our state budget and increased state income taxes by 67% and corporate taxes by more than 40%. Especially with the conviction of former Governor Rod Blagojevich earlier this week (the 4^th Illinois governor to be convicted of corruption since 1972), we could quite possibly even change our state motto to “Illinois: where the governors make the license plates”. In 2004, we elected Barack Obama to the Senate, which propelled him to the presidency just four years later. We’ve all become far too familiar with his failed leadership and poor policies and the effects those have on our nation. Such a recent political history may have the rest of the country asking, “what’s wrong with Illinois voters?” Take heart. Not all of us support the incompetence, lack of leadership, and poor policies of those whom our state has elected. Actually, an increasing number of us have chosen to support someone who has effectively taken on massive spending and corruption—Sarah Palin.

Organize4Palin is a grassroots organization supporting Governor Palin and her commonsense conservative message all across the country. Illinois Organize4Palin is one of the many state groups who are meeting and organizing all across the country. In the past month, we have held three meetings at locations throughout the state—from a local restaurant in suburban Chicago to a church classroom in the central part of the state to a bowling alley lounge in Chicago. A local restaurant, a church, and a bowling alley—just where you would expect down-to-earth, hard working Palin supporters to meet. The bowling alley where we met just last week is co-owned by one of our great volunteers. Check out the marquee at the bowling alley, in the heart of Chicago no less:

We have met to discuss various ways to support Governor Palin both on an individual level and on a group level. We’ve discussed specific events where we will be present in support of Governor Palin during this summer. Volunteers from Illinois have assisted with efforts in neighboring states over the past few months—from Governor Palin’s Tea Party speech in Madison, Wisconsin in April to the premiere of “The Undefeated” earlier this week in Iowa. We’ve supported Governor Palin through new media as well. One of our volunteers, Ellen, is instrumental in running the site Students4Palin—another group of Organize4Palin volunteers representing a constituency that President Obama once owned. Along the way, we’ve met more and more people who support Governor Palin. Another one of our wonderful volunteers shares this story from her cab ride following our Chicago meeting:

After I left the meeting, I caught a cab to the train station. The cabbie was friendly and talkative. In his heavily Greek accented voice, he asked why I was going from a bowling alley to the train station. I explained that I was at a meeting. He followed up, "A meeting at a bowling alley? What kind of meeting is held at a bowling alley?" I replied, "Political."

He queried, "Democrat?" I shook my head, nope, more like... independent. He gave me a puzzled look as he could tell I was reluctant to give him more information.

After he stared me down I somewhat sheepishly replied, "It was a meeting to help organize for Sarah Palin."

He asked, again, "At a bowling alley?" I replied, "The owner is a supporter, too." He nodded as if it all finally made sense to him.

He smiled and said, "I really like her." He said, "I'm a Republican but the field is full of no-goods like Romney and Gingrich." (And, he pretended to spit.) "Good for you, do you think she'll run?" I responded that we're hoping she does and will be ready to help if she does.

Despite what the main stream media wants to tell us, there is no such thing as an “unlikely Palin supporter”. We cannot be labeled, nor placed in a box. We’re unique individuals supportive of a woman who binds the three legged stool of conservatism with the seat of integrity and character. Illinois Organize4Palin is comprised of former Hillary Clinton supporters, Republicans, independents, and formerly apathetic non-voters. We’re a polychromatic group of varying religious, educational, and backgrounds. Our diversity is not only seen in our backgrounds, but in our reasons for supporting Governor Palin. Don’t take my word for it though. Let me introduce you to some of Illinois Organize4Palin’s volunteers and let them tell you themselves:

Organize4Palin volunteers in Urbana, Illinois (hometown of noted Palin Derangement Sufferers, George Will and Roger Ebert)

Organize4Palin volunteers in Chicago, Illinois

If you have not signed up with Organize4Palin yet, please do so here. You can also follow Organize4Palin on twitter here and Illinois Organize4Palin here.

Game on!

Thank you to Stacy for her assistance with video editing.

Crossposted here, here, and here.

Get Out the Vote for Palin Endorsed Candidates!

Election day is fast approaching! After primary elections, fundraisers, and speeches, it now comes down to the will of the people during a short window of time on Tuesday. The months of a grueling campaign and a the blood, sweat, and tears poured into getting a candidate elected are meaningless unless people go to the polls and vote! There are several ways to you can help support Palin endorsed candidates in the waning hours before Tuesday's election. You can wave signs, paint your car in support of a candidate, make phone calls, and offer to drive people to the polls. You can contact the individual campaigns to see best how you can help in the final hours. Here are the Organize4Palin profiles for each candidate listed by state. Please check out each individual profile for links to see how you can best help these campaigns!

Alabama:

Beth Chapman- Secretary of State

Martha Roby-Second Congressional Seat

Alaska:

Joe Miller-Senate

Arizona:

John McCain- Senate

Paul Gosar- 1st Congressional Seat

Janet Contreras- 4th Congressional Seat

David Schweikert-5th Congressional Seat

Ruth McClung-7th Congressional Seat

Jesse Kelly-8th Congressional Seat

Arkansas:

John Boozman- Senate

Tim Griffin- 2nd Congressional Seat

California:

Carly Fiorina- Senate

Chuck Wilkerson- 30th Congressional Seat

Star Parker-37th Congressional Seat

Colorado:

Scott Tipton- 3rd Congressional Seat

Cory Gardner-4th Congressional Seat

Delaware:

Christine O'Donnell- Senate

Florida:

Pam Bondi- Attorney General

Rick Scott- Governor

Marco Rubio-Senate

Steve Southerland- 2nd Congressional Seat

Allen West- 22nd Congressional Seat

Sandy Adams-24th Congressional Seat

Georgia:

Ray McKinney-12th Congressional Seat

Hawaii:

Scott Henderson-7th State House Seat

John Willoughby-2nd Congressional Seat

Idaho:

Butch Otter- Governor

Illinois:

Adam Kinzinger-11th Congressional Seat

Randy Hultgren- 14th Congressional Seat

Indiana:

Jackie Walorski- 2nd Congressional Seat

Larry Buchson-8th Congressional Seat

Todd Young-9th Congressional Seat

Iowa:

Brenna Findley- Attorney General

Terry Branstad- Governor

Kentucky:

Rand Paul-Senate

Massachusetts:

Sean Bielat- 4th Congressional Seat

Michigan:

Dan Benishek- 1st Congressional Seat

Rob Steele- 15th Congressional Seat

Minnesota:

Tom Emmer- Governor

Michele Bachmann- 6th Congressional Seat

Mississippi:

Alan Nunnelee- 1st Congressional Seat

Bill Marcy-2nd Congressional Seat

Missouri:

Vicky Hartzler- 4th Congressional Seat

Nevada:

Sharron Angle- Senate

New Hampshire:

Kelly Ayotte- Senate

New Mexico:

Susana Martinez- Governor

Steve Pearce-2nd Congressional District

New York:

John Gomez-2nd Congressional Seat

Michael Grimm-13th Congressional Seat

Ann Marie Buerkle-25th Congressional Seat

North Carolina:

Renee Elmmers-2nd Congressional Seat

Ilario Pantano-7th Congressional Seat

North Dakota:

Rick Berg- Congress

Ohio:

Bill Johnson-6th Congressional Seat

Jim Renacci-16th Congressional Seat

Oklahoma:

Mary Fallin-Governor

Pennsylvania:

Pat Toomey- Senate

Mike Kelly-3rd Congressional Seat

Tom Marino-1oth Congressional Seat

South Carolina:

Nikki Haley- Governor

Tim Scott-1st Congressional Seat

Mick Mulvaney-5th Congressional Seat

Tennessee:

Diane Black- 6th Congressional Seat

Stephen Fincher-8th Congressional Seat

Texas:

Greg Abbott- Attorney General

Rick Perry- Governor

Bill Flores-7th Congressional Seat

Francisco Canseco- 23rd Congressional Seat

Donna Campbell- 25th Congressional District

Blake Farenthold-27th Congressional District

Stephen Broden-30th Congressional Seat

Utah:

MorganPhilpot-2nd Congressional Seat

Virginia:

Robert Hurt-5th Congressional Seat

Washington:

John Koster-2nd Congressional Seat

Cathy McMorris Rogers-5th Congressional Seat

Dick Muri-9th Congressional Seat

West Virginia:

John Raese-Senate

David McKinnley-1st Congressional Seat

Spike Maynard-3rd Congressional Seat

Wisconsin:

Sean Duffy-7th Congressional Seat


Crossposted here.