Bumped: Gov. Palin in Auburn, Seneca Falls NY; UPDATED: Governor Palin Takes NY State by Storm

Image created by Sinistar

Before taking part in Founder's Day celebrations in Auburn, Governor Palin and her family took the time to appreciate the history and culture of the area yesterday. Along with Todd, Willow, her sister Heather Bruce, and nephew Karcher, Governor Palin visited a number of historically significant sites, as well as mingled with the citizens of Central New York.

After a morning run, she started her day with breakfast at Bistro One, where she was able to interact with a number of supporters. Auburnpub.com reports:

Marc Schulz, who owns Bistro One with his wife, Dawn, said Auburn city officials contacted him approximately 24 hours before the breakfast to see if they could host it.

Schulz said he was flattered not only to have such a high-profile guest, but also that local officials suggested his business.

“You're honored any time city officials think of you,” he said. “And to host someone as high-profile as (Palin), that alone is what makes the decision easy.”

One of about 40 in attendance at the breakfast was state Assemblyman Gary Finch. Finch said Palin gave a nonpolitical talk, and she expressed gratitude to the local community for inviting her.

Finch said that Palin, who brought her husband, Todd, daughter, Willow, her sister and nephew along, made sure to speak individually with each person at the event.

“She certainly conveyed to everyone that she is very glad to be here,” said Finch, who will also participate in Saturday's festivities.

“She was very real, very genuine,” Finch said.

Gov. Palin leaving Bistro One. Courtesy of Chet Susslin / The Citizen

After breakfast, Governor Palin stopped by the Harriet Tubman Home for a tour. Dave Tobin at The Post-Standard via Syracuse.com reports:

At 10:15 a.m., a black SUV took her to the Tubman House for an unannounced tour away from the media pool. Palin's family was shown through Tubman's Home for the Aged, and site manager Paul Carter pointed out a print of a guardian angel leading a child. Carter said it reminded him that Tubman was "the guardian angel of us all."

"That's beautiful," Palin said. "That says it all."

In the Tubman visitor center, after hearing about Tubman's resilience as she fought slavery, Palin called over her nephew Karcher, who is autistic, and said, "This is something for you, anytime you go through something tough. Keep going."

Gov. Palin and Todd touring the Harriet Tubman Home. Courtesy of John Berry/ The Post-Standard

Gov. Palin, Willow, and Heather Bruce at the Harriet Tubman Home. Courtesy of John Berry/ The Post-Standard

Politico added:

“This is so good for our country,” she told the president of the foundation that manages the house, Karen Hill. She admired a 1960s-vintage painting of an angel hovering behind a young African-American boy.

“She knew something had to be taken care of and she stepped up and she did it,” Palin said of Tubman after leaving the house.

Next, Governor Palin visited the Women's Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls, which "commemorates women's struggle for equal rights, and the First Women's Rights Convention, held at the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, NY on July 19 and 20, 1848."

The Politico story noted:

Governor Sarah Palin paused Friday afternoon in front of a monument bearing the Declaration of Sentiments, an early feminist touchstone.

“We anticipate no small amount of ridicule,” she read, and remarked: “Some things never change.”

Syracuse.com reports:

At 11:17 a.m., Palin was led through the National Women's Rights Historic Park museum by Tina Orcutt, the park's superintendent. Orcutt described the obstacles and resistance Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony met in their struggle for women's rights.

"That's why I'm glad Willow's here," Palin said. "Getting to see those who have paved the way to allow me and others standing on their shoulders. I have such appreciation for their efforts."

Gov. Palin, Todd, and Willow at the Women's Rights National Historic Park. Courtesy of John Berry/ The Post-Standard

NY State Senator Michael Nozzolio, Women's Rights National Historical Park SuperintendantOrcutt, Governor Palin and National Women's Hall of Fame Executive Director Chris Moulton in Seneca Falls. Courtesy of Linda Solan

Then Governor Palin took a short walk over to the National Women's Hall of Fame, which is also in Seneca Falls and "is the nation's oldest membership organization dedicated to honoring and celebrating the achievements of distinguished American women." From Syracuse.com:

Shortly before noon, Palin's party was led to the National Women's Hall of Fame by Executive Director Christine Moulton. Moulton pointed out a number of inductees (including Ruth Colvin, founder of Literacy Volunteers in Syracuse) who had made great contributions to society after raising a family.

"That's very hopeful for a lot of young moms today, who have to put things on hold," said Palin, whose 18-year-old daughter, Bristol, is raising a child.

At the Hall of Fame, Palin -- wearing a Blue Star Mom pin and bracelet for her son Track serving in Iraq, and showing red toenails in open shoes -- posed for pictures.

Moulton gave Palin flowers. Nozzolio gave Palin a DVD of Ken Burns' series on Anthony and Stanton ("Not for Ourselves Alone"). Palin congratulated Seneca Falls Mayor Smith for being "a good mommy mayor" and "setting an example for young women who want to affect positive change."

At one point, Palin said she shared with Susan B. Anthony a desire for the protection of women. "For me, that includes our youngest sisters, girls in the womb," she said.

Gov. Palin at the National Women's Hall of Fame. Courtesy of John Berry/ The Post-Standard

Gov. Palin at the National Women's Hall of Fame. Courtesy of Linda Solan

Politico recorded some of Governor Palin's reflections:

“I think the more things change, the more they stay the same in some arenas,” she told POLITICO of her own experience as a woman in public life, though she hastened to add that on the presidential campaign, “I don’t know if I was treated any differently.”

It was an honor, she said, “getting to be here and to see those who have paved the way to allow me and other women standing on their shoulders to progress . I have so much appreciation for all of their efforts, and their success.”

For lunch she went to Seneca Falls Downtown Deli.

Gov. Palin at Seneca Falls Downtown Deli. Courtesy of John Berry/ The Post-Standard

Later in the afternoon, Governor Palin dropped by a local beauty school to get her hair done. CNYcentral.com has the story:

Peter Brooks got an unexpected visitor to his Auburn beauty school Friday morning, one who came all the way from Alaska.

Governor Sarah Palin dropped by the J. Peter Brooks School of Beauty on Franklin Street Friday afternoon to get her hair done.

[...]

"She was amazing with our kids she wanted to know everything about them. It was fun. Real fun," say Brooks.

As for her hairdo, Brooks says the former vice-presidential candidate couldn't have been any easier. "She just said have fun with it. Pin it up. I don't want it to look like I had my hair done," he says.

(h/t anne) Gov. Palin at J. Peter Brooks School of Beauty. Courtesy of Missy at Team Sarah

The reactions from the citizens of Central New York to meeting Governor Palin are what we've come to expect:

"Oh my god," Kelley Cosentino said. "This is such an honor."

"Thank you for being who you are," said Martha Dygert, another Seneca Falls resident.

"She is basically as close to our class as anyone in politics," Loperfido said. "She didn't have the wealth. I think she's more in tune with where we're at."

As Palin talked to reporters on Seneca Falls’ main street, Norma Grant, 71, emerged from a beauty parlor with a simple message: “Run, please run.”

“Thank you - you are encouraging,” Palin replied.

Gov. Palin is greeted in Seneca Falls. Courtesy of John Berry/ The Post-Standard

Today, the city of Auburn is buzzing with excitement as they celebrate Alaska's 50th anniversary of statehood. Syracuse.com reports:

Adams and his daughter, Erin, got up at 5:30 a.m. to be in Auburn this morning. By 9 a.m., they were seated in folding chairs and talking with other Palin fans. John Adams likes Palin's politics.

"She makes me think of Ronald Reagan," John Adams said.

"For the first time since Reagan, I've found a candidate that ... sounds like Reagan and that has some Reaganesque qualities," said Adams, 56. "She's not the speaker Reagan was, but she believes the same things Reagan believed and talk that way, and that inspires me."

Paulette Simpson also has a good guest editorial in the ADN, discussing the gala taking place at the Seward House Museum:

While I suspect there won't be many Alaskans at the gala today, as a member of the Seward House Circle of Friends, I received an invitation. Appropriately, Gov. Sarah Palin will be the guest of honor. The museum director reports that since the governor's attendance has been confirmed, the phones have rung off the hook.

UPDATE: Video of Governor Palin in the parade:



UPDATE II: (h/t Greg) Syracuse.com has more from the parade:

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is in town today to participate in Auburn's first Founder's Day, but she could not help looking back at the 2008 presidential campaign and taking a good-natured jab at actress Tina Fey's "Saturday Night Live" skit.

That skit poked fun at Palin's foreign relations experience with the line: "I can see Russia from my house."

During speeches outside Memorial City Hall, 123rd District Assemblymen Gary Finch, R-Springport, presented Palin with a painting depicting Auburnian William H. Seward and others signing documents for Russia to sell Alaska to the United States. Seward appears to be looking at a globe showing Alaska, Palin said.

"They're looking at a globe, and they're pointing to Alaska in this painting, and I'll betcha anything what Seward was pointing out was: 'Lookie there. You can see Russia from Alaska,'" she said.

Earlier, Palin took to the podium amid chants of "Sa-RAH ... Sa-RAH .. Sa-RAH," and "Run Sarah Run."

She touted Auburn and the Finger Lakes as one of the most beautiful areas she has seen, and noted the region was home to many of the nation's most famous figures, like Seward, Harriet Tubman and women's right's leaders Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

"There must be something in the water here," Palin said. "I told (daughter) Willow before we leave, drink it up."

The crowd greeted Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin with cheers and applause as she hoped out of her SUV and climbed in the back of a 1959 Cadlilac to start the Founder's Day parade today in Auburn.

Palin was the star attraction, and she didn't disappoint, waving to the crowd and posing for photos with two Auburn firefighters just before the parade began.

"She's really a lot cuter than on TV," said Anita Petrosino of Auburn

Petrosino was there to see her two granddaughters march in the parade.

The sidewalks were jammed nearly shoulder-to-shoulder in many places along Genesee Street as on-lookers jockeyed to get a glimpse of Palin, her husband, Todd, and daughter, Willow. At one point, the trio got out of the car to walk along the parade route.

Palin waved and smiled, connecting with the crowd and acknowledging their cheers.

"See you in four years," Art Carnicelli shouted, catching Palin's attention as her car passed by. She smiled, then saw Carnicelli had a Palin T-shirt on and shouted back: "I like your T-shirt."

Farther down the parade route, Bill Lee of Auburn shouted, "Glad you made it," to which Palin replied, "Thank you. We love it here."

Todd, Willow, and Gov. Palin in the Founders Day Parade. Courtesy of Stephen D. Cannerelli/ The Post-Standard

Gov. Palin at the Seward House Museum. Courtesy of Stephen D. Cannerelli/ The Post-Standard

UPDATE III: The Associated Press reports on what Governor Palin said at the private fundraiser for the Seward House Museum:

More than 20,000 people turned out to see Palin lead a parade through downtown Auburn and sign a proclamation honoring Seward, the 19th-century Secretary of State who negotiated the $7.2 million deal with Russia for Alaska, which is celebrating its 50th year of statehood.

Later, Palin spoke to several hundred people at a private fundraiser for the Seward House Museum, where she criticized the Obama administration for its policies on national security and energy and its handling of the economic crisis.

Governor Palin tweeted about the experience:

Amazing, gracious, hospitable city of Auburn spent the day honoring AK & our connections, via former Sec. Seward. Central NY is beautiful!

UPDATE IV: Syracuse.com provided video of Governor Palin taking part in the parade and speaking to the crowd in front of Auburn City Hall:



Here was Gov. Palin's complete speech in front of the Auburn City Hall: