Published: September 02, 2008 11:27 pm         

Hurricane not preventing Republicans from getting message out, Valley delegate says

Palin has hired attorney in firing investigation

TERRE HAUTE — After several last-minute changes, including changing keynote speakers and shortening Monday’s schedule because of Hurricane Gustav, Republicans are poised to display the strengths of Sen. John McCain at the party’s national convention, several Wabash Valley delegates said.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was switched to give a keynote speech today, instead of Tuesday, when Democrat Joe Lieberman and former Sen. Fred Thompson gave keynote speeches.

James R. Bopp Jr. of Terre Haute, a national committeeman at the Republican National Convention, said the hurricane did not prevent the GOP from getting its message out.

“It really doesn’t matter if the changes in the convention affect the ability for McCain to get his message out because we are all Americans and we are all concerned about the hurricane and it was just appropriate to not be celebrating in Minneapolis when Americans are in harm’s way,” Bopp said of the convention’s abbreviated first day.

“We are going to be back to the original schedule and consolidate what was to be done,” he said. That included an eight-minute address from President Bush, via videotape, given Tuesday.

The president, Bopp said, “still has a job to do and is doing it and he does it from the White House, so I think [a video address] is perfectly appropriate.”

Other issues at the convention include one with vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, who disclosed that her 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, was pregnant and that the teen would marry the baby’s father. Also, the disclosure that Palin has hired an attorney to represent her in a state investigation into her July firing of the state’s public safety commissioner.

The Alaskan state Legislature is investigating allegations that the commissioner was fired for refusing to fire Palin’s ex-brother-in-law who is a state trooper, according to the Alaskan Daily News. A staff member allegedly made an unauthorized call that could have been perceived as pressure to have the trooper dismissed, Palin said, according to the state newspaper.

Bopp said he thinks Palin did not act inappropriately by hiring an attorney.

“I don’t see how that at all is inappropriate, but when you are investigated, whether you are guilty or innocent, it makes sense to hire an attorney,” he said.

As for Palin’s pregnant daughter, Bopp said, “It is not unusual for people that are somewhat new to the national scene, for them to rummage through all of their background. I think it is kind of scandalous that it seems that conservative women are held to a different standard than liberal women,” Bopp said.

“Chelsea [Clinton] was absolutely and appropriately out of bounds in terms of scrutiny, and now we have 17-year-olds whose personal life is being showcased to the world and I think it is disgraceful,” Bopp said.

Bopp had one statement about protests being made at the GOP convention.

“The leftists, socialists of the world really hate John McCain and I’m proud that they do,” he said.

Randall “Randy” P. Gentry is a delegate from the 8th Congressional District. He is secretary of the Vigo County Republican Party and vice chairman of the Indiana Parole Board.

Gentry said he and other GOP delegates are not shaken by announcements about Gov. Palin.

“There is still a very positive option of Sarah Palin. The fact that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant may or may not reflect directly on her parenting skills, and accidents happen,” he said.

Gentry said that while this is his first national convention, after talking with some veteran delegates, the changes in scheduling have created some excitement in the convention.

“It is not unusual to have changes. There is an extraordinary amount of changes in this convention due to the hurricane,” he said. “Scheduling changes have actually created excitement because there is this unknown, who will we hear from? So in a reverse way, it has added some suspense,” he said.

The convention has brought protesters, some who threw bricks at buses transporting delegates.

“There has been a heightened concern,” Gentry said. “I don’t know what people think they will gain by attacking the delegations. We are concerned, but at the same time we feel protected, there is a lot of security,” he said.

Richard M. Bramer of Sullivan is an alternate delegate. He is GOP vice chairman of the 8th Congressional District and a state deputy attorney general.

Bramer said he is not concerned with changes in the convention agenda or scheduling, the first of which was obviously changed for Hurricane Gustav, or with issues about Palin.

“The teen pregnancy is a non-issue and everybody, Democrat, Republican, Independent, will recognize that is a non-issue. That is something you can’t control unless you chain your child to your own body 24/7,” Bramer said.

“We’ve all had classmates or friends of their kids who have had that situation. Having that situation occur does not pass a moral judgment upon them [parents], it is how they handle it after it occurs. Kids makes mistakes and when you are 17, you are a kid. But, 17-year-olds do adult things that they regret, but it makes them grow up. That is the bad thing about it, it makes them grow up quicker than they should,” he said.



Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.