Sarah Palin's public speaking demands, which include a "bendable" straw,
two bottles of unopened still water, first class flights and three hotel
rooms, have been disclosed.


By Toby Harnden in Washington
Published: 6:37PM BST 14 Apr 2010
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ivate-jet.html


Mrs Palin's public speaking requirements, reminiscent of those drawn up
by rock star managers on behalf of their more demanding protégés, were
included on the pages of a five-page contract allegedly found by
Californian students in a bin.

These include two bottles of still water, unopened by a wooden lectern
and accompanied by a "bendable" straw, three deluxe hotel rooms; and a
first class flight or private aircraft that "MUST BE a Lear 60 or larger."

Mrs Palin, 46, whose standing as John McCain's vice-presidential
candidate in 2008 was badly damaged when she stumbled over simple
questions put to her by news anchor Katie Couric, also stipulates that
all audience questions must be vetted.

***"For Q&A, the questions are to be collected from the audience in
advance, pre-screened, and a designated representative ... shall ask
questions directly of the Speaker to avoid delay time with a roving
microphone in the audience," the contract states in a clause highly
unusual for a politician.*** (Of course...Palin cannot answer
spontaneous questions... snerk )

The contract, drawn up by the Washington Speakers Bureau and refers to a
female speaker who will be aboard flights originating in Anchorage,
Alaska, also provides sketches of how people should approach if they are
to be photographed with her and how long the picture sessions should last.

The document, dated March 16, was discovered by students at California
State University in a bin when they went searching for material relating
to Mrs Palin's speech in June to the university's Stanislaus Foundation
at a gala 50th anniversary event after they heard that university
authorities were shredding documents.

The decision to invite Mrs Palin, the former governor of Alaska and
potential 2012 presidential candidate, to speak at the event sparked
controversy because of the cost at a time if budget crisis.

While the contract does not include the payment details for Mrs Palin,
she regularly commands speaking fees of $100,000 (£65,000) per
appearance. Her appearance at the gala is expected to draw a large
crowd, with tickets selling for $500 (£324) each.

Mrs Palin resigned from her $125,000 (£81,000) a year post as Alaska
governor last July stating she wanted to "fight for all our children's
future from outside the governor's office". Since then, she has earned
an estimated $12 million in 10 months from television and speaking
appearances and book deals.

Since then, she is estimated to have earned at least $12 million
(£7.75m). Mrs Palin does not disclose her earnings but she reputedly
landed a $7 million (£4.5m) deal for her first book Going Rogue.

She is understood to be receiving $250,000 (£160,000) per episode for
each of eight episodes of a reality show about Alaska for The Learning
Channel.

Mrs Palin has also signed a multiyear contract with Fox News and a
second book deal with HarperCollins.

Jerry Brown, California Attorney General, said that his office would
look into the finances of the Stanislaus Foundation and allegations that
the non-profit organisation violated public disclosure laws by keeping
details of the contract with Mrs Palin's secret.

The students said they acted on a tip off that documents were being
shredded when campus staff members were supposed to be on leave.

Russell Giambelluca, the university's vice president of business and
finance, said that no one at the university was told to destroy
particular documents and that staff members often shred and dispose of
papers that are no longer needed.

"I find it interesting that among shredded documents you find one that's
completely intact related to the contract," he said.

Leland Yee, a San Francisco state senator and Democrat who made the
original public records request, said: "My hat is off to these students
who had the courage to come forward and report such information. They
are to be commended for protecting our precious and limited public
resources."

He added: "This is our little Watergate in the state of California."


--
I'd love to see Palin on...Jeopardy.