AMES, Iowa — “This is going to be so much fun.”
It didn’t take long for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to make her presence known Tuesday as she stood before thousands of potential caucus-goers at Iowa State University to endorse Donald Trump for president of the United States.
In her speech, Palin went on in Palin-esque fashion to bash “failed” Republicans of recent times before touting Trump’s own conservative values, which have come under attack from the likes of Ted Cruz in the GOP 2016 field with less than two weeks until Iowans put their finger on the scale.
“Now, what [the establishment GOP] is doing is wailing, ‘well, Trump and his, uh, Trumpeters — well they’re not conservative enough.’ Oh my goodness gracious. What the heck would the establishment know about conservatism?” Palin said, bashing Republicans in Congress for giving President Obama a “blank check” on a myriad of issues — including immigration.
“Who are they to tell us that we’re not conservative enough in order to make these changes in America that we know need to be made? Now they’re concerned about this ideological purity? Give me a break! Who are they to say that?” Palin railed before invoking Phyllis Schlafley’s name, who has been a supporter of Trump thus far. “He, being the only one who’s been willing — he’s got the guts — to wear the issues that need to be spoken about and debated on his sleeve.”
“These issues that Donald Trump talks about had to be debated,” Palin said, adding that he “brought them to the forefront. “That’s why we are where we are today”
The former governor, who’s become a political celebrity in recent years, also called Trump a “pro-constitution” candidate,
Palin, who tossed out a few blasts from the past in her nearly 20-minute address (“hopey changey,” “drill baby drill”), certainly didn’t shy away from the spotlight, saying she cannot wait to see the next president avoid “pussy-footing around” before telling the raucous crowed that Trump will “kick ISIS’s ass.”
The crowd, which had a great number of students from the nearby state university, seemed to enjoy Palin’s performance. She echoed many of the themes Trump talks about on the trail — particularly his message anti-political correctness and immigration.
“She speaks the truth. She’s speaks honest — same with Donald. There might be a few things they fudge on, but you know, for the most part I think they have the heart of America,” said Roger Kingsbury, 63, an Ames native who plans to caucus for Trump. “Restoring the middle class and also securing America [are important] … I’m not a racist. But you know what, we can’t keep letting people come in here and get free entitlements, whether it’s welfare or free medical. It is what it is: illegal. They can’t come in this way.”
“I think it’s a good endorsement … This country needs to be changed. We need to hear the truth. He’s a new voice [of conservatism], he isn’t any of the above” said Larry Stubbe, 65, a construction worker from Marshalltown who said he backs Trump. “I like the straight talk … the fact that the tells the truth, that he’s not afraid and that political correctness is not an issue.”
The event was Trump’s third of the day in the Hawkeye State, with another planned for Wednesday in Norwalk as he tries to stake his claim with voters as he vies with for the top spot with Cruz. Before he and Palin finished up, Trump fired off a final warning to his fellow 2016 competitors.
“We’re gonna give ’em hell,” he said.
