Published: October 11, 2008 12:24 pm            

In Johnstown, Palin slams Obama on abortion

A big, raucous crowd greeted Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin in Johnstown this morning.

Delivering political slogans and pointed barbs in her trademark folksy tone, the Alaska governor used her half-hour speech to explain why she and U.S. Sen. John McCain should win on Nov. 4.

“Pennsylvania, I know that you are ready to help carry us to the White House so that we can shake things up,” Palin told supporters who packed into Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

While Palin addressed a wide variety of topics, she chose not to spend a lot of time talking about the nation’s troubled economy.

Instead, Palin focused mainly on social issues and chiefly on abortion, repeatedly criticizing Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama for his pro-abortion stance.

“Senator Obama is a politician who has long since left behind even the middle ground,” Palin said.

She also referenced a remark Obama made at Greater Johnstown High School during a campaign stop in late March.

“He said that a woman shouldn’t be, quote, ‘Punished with a baby,’” Palin said.

“And ladies and gentlemen, he said that right here in Johnstown. It’s about time that we called him on it.”

She pledged that a McCain administration would promote a “culture of life, where no one is above the law and no one is beneath protection.”

At least 5,000 people attended the rally, which also featured short speeches by local politicians and a performance by country music star Aaron Tippin.

However, many ticket-holders were turned away at the door just before Palin appeared. A Johnstown Fire Department official said the decision was made because the War Memorial was reaching the limits of its safe capacity for the event.

        

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