Excerpts:
(…) I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town. I was just your average hockey mom and signed up for the PTA. (Cheers, applause.)
AUDIENCE: (Chanting.) Hockey moms! Hockey moms! Hockey moms!
GOV. PALIN: (Laughs.) I love those hockey moms. You know, they say the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull: lipstick. (Laughter, cheers, applause.) (…)Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska — (cheers, applause) — I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. (Cheers, applause.) I guess — (interrupted by chants of “Sarah! Sarah!”) — I guess a small-town mayor if sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities. (Cheers, applause.)
I might add — I might add that in small towns, we don’t quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they’re listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren’t listening. (Cheers, applause.) No, we tend to prefer candidates who don’t talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco. (Cheers, applause.)
As I for my running mate, you can be certain that wherever he goes and whoever is listening, John McCain is the same man. (Cheers, applause.)
Well, I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment. (Cheers, applause.) And I’ve learned quickly these last few days that if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. (Booing.)
But — (booing continues) — but — (booing, chanting) — now here’s a little news flash — (chanting and shouting) — now here’s a little news flash for those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this great country. (Cheers, applause, chanting.) (…)Now, I’ve noticed a pattern with our opponent, and maybe you have too. We’ve all heard his dramatic speeches before devoted followers, and there is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it’s easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or even a reform, not even in the state senate. (Cheers, applause.) This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting and never use the word “victory” — except when he’s talking about his own campaign. (Cheers, applause.)
But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed, when the roar of the crowd fades away, when the stadium lights go out and those styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot — (laughter, cheers, applause) — when that happens, what exactly is our opponent’s plan?
What does he actually seek to accomplish after he’s done turning back the waters and healing the planet? (Laughter, applause.) The answer — the answer is to make government bigger and take more of your money and give you more orders from Washington and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. (Boos.) (…)Here’s how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change. (Cheers, applause.) (…)
My fellow citizens, the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery. (Laughter, cheers, applause.) This world of threats and dangers, it’s not just a community and it doesn’t just need an organizer. (Laughter.) (…)
For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words. But for a lifetime, John McCain has inspired with his deeds. (Cheers, applause.) If character is the measure in this election, and hope the theme, and change the goal we share, then I ask you to join our cause. Join our cause and help America elect a great man as the next president of the United States. (Cheers, applause.)
Thank you, and God bless America. Thank you. (Cheers, applause.)
Watch the entire speech here: Sarah Palin’s Address to the RNC, September 03, 2008
Read the speech here