|
|  |
 |
|
|
|
Sarah Palin to speak at US wine convention
January 14, 2010
 by Richard Woodard
Former US Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will speak at this year's Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) convention in Las Vegas.
The former Governor of Alaska has been named as the keynote speaker at the organisation's 67th annual convention in April, despite having no known affiliation with the drinks industry.
The announcement marks a break in convention for the WSWA's biggest event of the year, whose keynote speakers are usually important drinks industry figures.
'Governor Palin is a great supporter of America's free enterprise system and understands that industries like the beverage alcohol industry play a key role in driving our national economy,' said Craig Wolf, WSWA president and CEO.
The content of Palin's speech at the Caesar's Palace venue is unknown.
'We expect she will share with the convention attendees her analysis of the current political environment and her vision for America's future,' said Wolf.
Palin, who has just taken up a position as a political commentator with Fox News, was the running mate alongside Republican Presidential candidate John McCain in the 2008 election campaign, won by Barack Obama.
Although popular with many Republicans, she was derided by Democrats and many in the media, who have claimed that she had no idea why North and South Korea were separated, and believed that Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11.
Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska in July last year – and has been seen by some commentators as a potential Republican Presidential candidate for the 2012 race to the White House.
New video: How to Analyse Colour, with Steven Spurrier
Follow us on Twitter
Have your say...
To post your comment on this story, email us at news@decanter.com
 If she can pass the daunting test of telling the difference between white and red, she will be a shoe-in as Republican presidential candidate in 2012. Panos Kakaviatos
What a joke! This woman believes in the "end of days". When breaking with tradition, it should be for something important and meaningful, not just further inflate the ego of someone so far from the mainstream. David Lazarus
I would like to see the wine and spirits industry get someone who is significantly more intelligent to represent our industry. With the world of wine contracting significantly, the last thing we need is Sarah Palin to comment on it! Andy Berwick
This is absolutely ludicrous, especially because the WSWA is touting Palin's belief in 'America's free enterprise system' as rationale for her speaking engagement. Anybody familiar with our 50 state tangle of restrictions on alcohol beverage sales knows that the system is hardly 'free enterprise,' and that in many cases the restrictions serve the wholesale tier of the industry quite handily. The WSWA has been very skillful at protecting its interests at both state and federal levels for years, and much of this effort has been devoted to measures that effectively block anything resembling free enterprise. Peter Granoff
Perhaps Palin will talk about which wines go best with Moose steak. Jame H. Hartten
I wonder who is the knuckle head who came up with this idea. I don't think Sara Palin has one thing to say that is relevant to the wine and spirits world. Maybe she knows vodka as she can see Russia from her window. Joseph Linder
Why an obvious political hack is allowed to speak at a very non-political event is unbelievable to me. Do the leaders in the drinks industry adhere to the type of politics she espouses? If so this is not good for our industry. David Kmetovic
Sarah Palin couldnt give an analysis of a box of Captain Crunch, let alone the future of the American Wine industry. What absolute maniac decided to have her as a key speaker? There seems to be no limit on how absurd American politics can become. Alexander Lawrence
Maybe President Obama can come and speak. He will tell us when, how much and which wines the US government will allow us to drink. Simon Webb
|
|
Register on decanter.com absolutely free for news alerts delivered direct to your email inbox, and our fortnightly newsletter with advance notice of what's coming up in Decanter magazine, offers, competitions and more.
PLUS registration is a one-stop shop for the Decanter magazine Archive and Decanter Fine Wine Tracker. |
Search for similar news stories
Back to index
|
|
|
|
|
