TV personality Glenn Beck and former Gov. Sarah Palin, both controversial figures on the national stage, took an Anchorage stage for a rally at the Dena’ina Center Saturday with a packed house inside -- and a group of protesters outside.
By 10 p.m. the protesters had gone home, while ticket holders continued to take in the show.
Palin attended Saturday’s event to introduce her friend and fellow Fox News commentator Beck -- but before he joined her on stage, she had a few things to say.
Palin poked fun at what she calls the liberal media, accusing reporters of manipulating her words and news organizations of having their own agenda.
Both Palin and Beck said Saturday’s rally was about honoring America. The two say it’s important to move the country forward. Palin held a moment of silence for the victims of 9/11 nine years ago, after attending a remembrance rally in the Mat-Su Valley earlier in the day.
To the crowd’s enjoyment, the duo also addressed rumors that they would announce a 2012 political run at the rally. Beck said he would not be a candidate but Palin did not give a straight answer, claiming the announcement would come on local radio station KWHL’s “Bob and Mark Show.”
Palin told the roaring crowd that Beck inspires millions of Americans. She said he brought a message of hope and truth to her home state.
“He's out there on the front lines, in a tough and brutal leftist media world that takes their shots at him every single day. But he reminds me of a lot of good Alaskans: he's not retreating, he's reloading,” Palin said.
Before the show, the event caused an uproar outside the Dena’ina Center. Protesters and ticket holders stood on opposite sides of the sidewalk, with a line of police officers between them. Neither side shied away from voicing its disgust of the other.
Protesters accused Beck and Palin of using the 9/11 anniversary for money and political gain, while ticket holders claimed protesters were causing a scene at a peaceful event meant to honor Americans and the memory of the 2001 terror attacks’ victims.
“They do a lot of good things of a lot of people, so I'm just glad to support them -- glad to see that they are trying to do the right thing for the country,” said ticket holder Gary Laconis.
“Well, to be honest with you, I think that Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck are the No. 1 and No. 2 most hate, fear-mongering, hate-spewing people in America,”said protester Kathy Russell. “I think they've done more to discredit this country and to -- I don't know -- destroy the dialogue that we could be having than anybody else in recent history.”
Ticket prices for Saturday’s rally ranged from $73 to $225. Beck’s manager says he is donating his speaking fee to charity.
Contact Jackie Bartz at jbartz@ktuu.com
