A Misplaced Hockey Mom Moment (NYT) -- The Boo Birds (Delaware Online) -- "A few boos..." (AP)

[jefferson_dem]

Bwahahahaha...

A Misplaced Hockey Mom Moment
By Lynn Zinser

Let me start this off by saying, I would object to this sideshow whichever political party it involved. Having vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin drop the ceremonial first puck at the Flyers’ opener Saturday night was problematic not because it was Palin — Flyers owner Ed Snider’s decision under the flimsy excuse of “honoring” hockey moms — but because it is injecting politics in a place it should not be.

The biggest problem: when Palin came out onto the Wachovia Center ice Saturday night — greeted by resounding (almost deafening) boos from the Flyers crowd — the two hockey players who had no choice but to appear with her in that photo op were turned into props in a political campaign. If Rangers center Scott Gomez or Flyers center Mike Richards wanted to make some sort of political statement, that would be fine, but in this case, they were thrust into a situation not of their choosing. Snider put them there with his ill-advised mixing of politics and sports.

The level of discomfort has been palpable for the Rangers’ two Alaska natives, Gomez and Brandon Dubinsky, as they have been asked questions about Palin and the election in recent weeks. Dubinsky, a 22-year-old who has shied away from nothing since he broke in with the Rangers last year, looks petrified when the topic is brought up. I think both would rather play goalie in a shootout than weigh in on the presidential election.

But Gomez was stuck. He took the ceremonial puck drop because he is from Alaska and he is an alternate captain. Captain Chris Drury was quite likely relieved to be taken off that hook. The Flyers’ Mike Richards was the other uncomfortable party in that center ice get-together. It was not the first or last time Richards will hear Flyers fans howling their disapproval, but this was for nothing he did.

http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/a-misplaced-hockey-mom-moment/

The Boo Birds

So, how did Philadelphia Flyers fans greet Sarah Palin, who was on hand tonight for the ceremonial puck-drop?

Watching on Comcast, it seemed like there was an avalanche of boos when she walked out -- boos that were almost immediately drowned out by blaring, bombastic music.

There is no doubt in my mind that that the music was ordered up to help tamp down what could have been an even more embarrassing moment.

The weirdest part of it was that Palin, who had to know she was going to be booed, walked out with her cutie pie 7-year-old daughter, Piper.

Why do I have a feeling that poor Piper will be discussing being booed by thousands with a therapist in about 10 years?

http://www.delawareonline.com/blogs/2008/10/boo-birds.html

Palin drops puck at Philadelphia Flyers' game

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — To a mixture of boos and cheers, Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin dropped the ceremonial first puck Saturday night at the Philadelphia Flyers' home opener against the New York Rangers.

The Alaska governor and self-described "hockey mom" heard a few boos when she walked onto the ice, but that soon turned to polite applause as she headed to center ice with Mike Richards of the Flyers and Scott Gomez — from Alaska — of the Rangers.

Palin waved to the crowd and smiled as she dropped the puck to applause and cheers.

Cathy O'Connell of Erdenheim, Pa., joined Palin on the ice as the winner of a team promotion for the "Ultimate Hockey Mom."

Last month, Palin visited a Philadelphia bar with Flyers owner Ed Snider, who has donated money to Republican presidential nominee John McCain's campaign.

The NHL said it did not view the Flyers' invitation to be politically motivated.

"Governor Palin is a supporter of the sport, which she has proclaimed publicly," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. "As a public figure who has a very public connection with hockey, her recent associations with the Flyers and other NHL franchises is not surprising and, in our view, not inappropriate."

There were no apparent signs of protest outside the arena, and one fan held a sign that read "Vote Obama" behind New York's net. A few other held "Obama-Biden" signs behind her.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ihg7NJwzXiVguKVLf3CBhB5DDTpQD93OK1180

Here's a video of the less-than-friendly welcome -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7TgDanmWkg&eurl=http://www.delawareonline.com/blogs/2008/10/boo-birds.html

[Bozita]

1. Don't miss the comments in the NYT link.

Worth the trip.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Wow. How skewed that AP article was!

:rofl: