The Sarah Palin agreements: there must be bendy-straws

August 30, 2010 · Posted in People, Sarah Palin 

If you want Sarah Palin to speak at your tea party, you’d better have $75-large, one hell of a hotel booker, and a Costco card, because there had better be straws with elbows.

From ThinkProgress comes word that the infamous California college speaking contract dug up by a couple of students has been ordered released in full by a judge. It contains an insight into just what happens when a little known gal from Wasila becomes a bona fide celebrity. The perks of being Sarah include:

– Jet: Not just any private plane will suffice: “The private aircraft MUST BE a Lear 60 or larger (as defined by interior cabin space) for West Coast Events; or, a Hawker 800 or Larger,” for East Coast events. But even if organizers arrange for a private jet, if Palin “changes her mind and opts to fly via commercial flights for US events, the Customer must be prepared to cover the cost of first class round trip airfare for two, and full, unrestricted round trip coach for two.”

– Visiting with heads of state: For international appearances, Palin “reserves the right to visit privately with the host government’s Head of State,” as well as “accept the invitation of [the] host government to overnight at an official residence.”

– Hotels: All hotels have to be “deluxe” and pre-approved by her representatives, with the room booked under an “alias.” Even non-overnight stays require hotel rooms, including a “holding suite” and “one or two single rooms.”

– Stage: The contract has very specific instructions about how the stage and lectern should be arranged. Lighting should be “comfortable, but at an appropriate production level for the Speaker,” and the lecterns should be made of wood — “no Plexiglass or thin lecterns.”

Psst! … that last one is to hide the hand-notes …

So, what about interaction with the audience, fans, the media, you know … the “little people…”

– Questions: All audience questions must be pre-approved, and can only be asked by a moderator or “designated representative,” who must be approved by Palin’s party.

– Media: “All requests for press or media coverage” of the event must be submitted far in advance for approval. “If media coverage is approved,” Palin’s Representatives need a complete list of “media outlets expected to attend” 10 days in advance.

– Recording: The media are only permitted to record the first three minutes of Palin’s speech, and then just for B-roll (no audio, video only). Recording of any other kind is strictly prohibited, unless authorized by Palin, and all personal recording devices, including cell phones, have to be turned off “at all events in which Speaker is present.” Only a campus photographer is permitted document to entire speech, and then only approved photos can be published.

– Autographs and photo ops: “Unless agreed to” early on, organizers “shall not permit or assist in the request for autographs while the speaker is on site.” Photo opportunities have to be pre-approved, and photos are for personal use only and can’t be re-printed. The contract provides very specific instructions, including a diagram, of how the photo opportunity should be conducted.

– Face-time: Paying the $75,000 for Palin’s visit won’t buy you access to the half-term governor. Palin, her “traveling party, and the plane crew will be the only passengers onboard the private jet.” And “[o]nly representatives of the Speaker or WSB are to meet the speaker at the arriving/departing airports.”

There’s more, which you can read at ThinkP.

Meanwhile, there is one thing that Sister Sarah’s contract writers can’t deliver: and that’s a broad belief among the American public that she’s fit to be president. But hey, those bendy-straws are still a sweet deal.

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Comments

One Response to “The Sarah Palin agreements: there must be bendy-straws”

  1. Flo on August 31st, 2010 8:21 am

    Her Saturday (“nonpolitical”) speech must have been a real bomb; since the big Revival in DC, they are all talking about Beck, not Sarah. But I’m sure she already cashed the check.

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