Palins offer condolences to victims of Aurora tragedy

Condolences for victims of tragedy in Aurora, Colorado posted by Governor Palin last evening:

Sarah Palin · 3,441,984 like this

8 hours ago · 

_______________________________________________________________

• Todd’s and my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the terrible tragedy in Colorado. Our family joins others in praying for everyone affected by the evil that inexplicably took innocent lives. We wish to remind all to hold loved ones tight.

Andrew McLaren: Todd Palin “really earned my respect”

From an article by Holley McKay at Pop Tarts:

Andrew McLaren is a decorated Iraq War veteran and fast becoming an “it” boy in Hollywood, having been hand-picked over hundreds of thousands of contenders to star as an expert operative in NBC’s forthcoming “Stars Earn Stripes” competition series alongside the likes of Todd Palin, Dean Cain and Nick Lachey.

But given that “reality television” has become something of a dirty word in recent times, this devoted military man did take some convincing.

“When they said it was a reality show, I thought ‘I don’t want to do a reality show’ but they said it was for charity for law enforcement and military. It wasn’t your typical reality show,” McLaren told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column. “I was excited because we had weapons that I didn’t get to use when I was in the Marines. The military puts a lot of money into us, so they don’t want us doing ridiculous things where we could be hurt. On the show we do some crazy things and people are going to be shocked when they watch the show.”

“Stars Earn Stripes,” which debuts on August 13, is centered on eight celebrity competitors who gather at a training facility where they tackle complicated and difficult “missions,” and each is paired with an expert – an experienced member of the U.S. military or a law enforcement agency. Contests range from helicopter drops to long-range target shooting, with the star and veteran competing as a team. Each week, one team is given their marching orders.

And while audiences might be blown away by the skills and danger exerted on the highly-anticipated program, McLaren was personally blown away by Todd and Sarah Palin, and admitted that he thinks of them very differently now than before they met.

“I like hanging out with Todd and Sarah a lot. They walked into my trailer, and obviously we disagree on some issues. I am a libertarian guy – socially liberal and an avid supporter of gay marriage, but I am pro-gun rights and pro-life, and we made off like regular people. I was teaching Todd how to shoot grenades, we were hanging from helicopters together 60 feet above the ground and we were swimming together with full gear on,” he enthused. “The thing that impressed me most is that Todd is a commercial fisherman in Alaska, he is pretty hardcore. He even won a challenge with a broken arm! He really earned my respect.”

McLaren also noted that even though his friends are shocked that he has become such good friends with the high-profile Republican couple, the portrayal of the Palins in the media is often vastly distorted.

“Todd and Sarah Palin are the nicest people I have ever met,” he said. “I love America and they love America. They may not agree with me on my stance on gay marriage, but that is their personal view and I respect that. That’s what is so great about being American.”

However, this is hardly McLaren’s first brush with the lights and camera. In 2001, he put his burgeoning modeling  and acting career on-hold to enter into the Marine Corps, following in the footsteps of his father who was a Vietnam veteran. He soon became part of a new military group called the Anti-Terrorism Battalion in Iraq, and after years of extended service, received an honorable discharge as a sergeant.

“I was hired as a cop in New York but then had the opportunity to try out for Blackwater and was accepted. I ended up going to Baghdad guarding President Bush, John McCain, John Edwards and John Kerry,” he continued. “Bombs would go off all day, I’ve been almost killed so many times.  I was just trying to stay alive for my kids.”

[…]

McLaren is soon releasing the biographical book “American Mercenary,” about his time working for Blackwater USA, with one hundred percent of the proceeds going to families of his friends killed in action.

Danielle-Jones Wesley contributed to this report

Read more here.

‘Stars Earn Stripes’ Poster Released

From an article at AceShowBiz.com:

Hyping up the upcoming summer premiere of “Stars Earn Stripes“, NBC has released a poster for the new show. The one-sheet, which made its way out via Entertainment Weekly, shows the eight stars in action as they run away from an explosion and with some of them holding big guns.

Signing up for the inaugural season of the military-themed show are Sarah Palin’s husband Todd Palin, singer/TV personality Nick Lachey, boxing champion Laila Ali, actorDean Cain, former NFL player Terry Crews, Olympic gold medalist Picabo Street, “The Biggest Loser” trainer Dolvett Quince and WWE’s Diva Eve Torres.

Each of the celebrities will be paired with a former member of the armed forces or law enforcement agency who trains them for military-style missions that include challenges like helicopter drops to long-range target shooting. Every week, one team will be eliminated, and the last one standing wins a cash prize for a charity of their choice.

“Stars Earn Stripes” will debut with a two-hour episode on Monday, August 13 at 8 P.M. on NBC. Executive produced by Dick Wolf, Mark Burnett and and David A. Hurwitz, the show has tapped Entertainment Tonight correspondent Samantha Harris and former presidential candidate Gen. Wesley Clark as the hosts.

Kate O’Hare Interviews Todd Palin and Mark Burnett After Filming of ‘Stars Earn Stripes’

From an article by Kate O’Hare at Zapzit:

On Monday, Aug. 13, NBC launches “Stars Earn Stripes,” a reality-competition series from reality mogul Mark Burnett and “Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf. It pairs celebrities with military veterans and first responders, who train them for simulated missions in a contest to benefit national veterans, service and first-responder charities.

[…]

The show’s hosts are  General Wesley Clark (Retired, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO and one-time presidential hopeful) and TV personality Samantha Harris(“Dancing With the Stars,” “Entertainment Tonight”).

The celebrities are boxer (and “Dancing With the Stars” competitor) Laila Ali, actor and former NFL player Terry Crews, singer and TV host Nick Lachey (“The Sing-Off”), four-time Iron Dog Snowmobile Race champion Todd Palin (husband of former Alaska Governor and 2008 GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, with whom he appeared in Burnett’s TLC reality show “Sarah Palin’s Alaska”), actor Dean Cain, Olympic gold-medal skier Picabo Street, “The Biggest Loser” trainer Dolvett Quince and pro wrestler Eve Torres.

“I’m a little sore,” Palin tells Zap2it, calling in from his Arizona home, hours before flying back to Alaska to return to commercial fishing.

Asked what he did for the show — which just finished filming — Palin says, “You name it, jumping out of helicopters, running, rappelling walls, shooting all kinds of weapons. It was just insane.”

Today, NBC announces the operatives who worked with the celebrities. They are:

• Dale Comstock, who served with the United States Army’s 3rd Special Forces Group (Green Beret) and the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment — Delta (Delta Force).

• J.W. Cortes, a former United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant and veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom; currently a New York City MTA Police Department officer.

• Brent Gleeson, former United States Navy SEAL stationed at SEAL Team Five.

• Chris Kyle (nickname “The Devil of Ramadi”), former U.S. Navy SEAL and author of “American Sniper.”

• Andrew McLaren, a former U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant, who served in Iraq and Liberia.

• Grady Powell, a former U.S. Amy Green Beret.
  

• Tom Stroup, a SWAT Commander for the Orange County (Fla.) Sheriffs Office.

• Talon Smith, an active-duty U.S. Navy Corpsman and actor (“Friday Night Lights”); recently returned from deployment in Afghanistan, he’s currently stationed at Camp Pendleton in Southern California.

“As you know,” says Burnett, “I am a veteran and served in the [British Army] Parachute Regiments. I love the military. What this show is, and what you’ll see, is a love letter, in a fun way, to those who protect and serve us, showing how hard it is to do their job.

The takeaway for the public is the fascination with Green Berets and Delta Force and SEALs, and now they get to meet some of them up close and personal, watch them train celebrities and then do missions side-by-side.”

Todd Palin Completes Training for ‘Stars Earn Stripes’ Series

Along with the other contestants on ‘Stars Earn Stripes,”  Todd Palin has completed his training for the upcoming competition.

Erin O’Sullivan reports on an interview that Todd and Brian Terry had with Access Hollywood:

Terry Crews and Todd Palin recently braved military training to earn money for charity on NBC’s upcoming reality competition, “Stars Earns Stripes.”

Paired with actual armed forces or law enforcement members, Todd and Terry, along with Nick Lachey, Dean Cain and Laila Ali, got a gritty glimpse into the rigorous world of defense training.

“We did everything,” Terry—who stopped by Access Hollywood Live (along with Todd) on Friday – told Billy Bush and Kit Hoover. “We jumped off helicopters, we swam [in] full gear, we shot machine guns, we blew up buildings, we were doing everything and anything, and I have to say, I have an all-new respect for the military. It’s just incredible.”

Despite his ridiculously fit physique and rough and tumble roles in action films like “Expendables,” Terry – a former NFL player – said there were many moments during the reality competition where he contemplated throwing in the towel.

[…]

Kidding aside, the actor, 43, said he is now in awe of the members of the armed forces after spending time in their boots.

“You watch the military, you see what they do all the time, you think you know – [but] I had to experience [it],” he said. “And I’m like, I don’t know anything about this thing!”

Todd, who boasts a bit more outdoor experience having won Alaska’s Iron Dog snowmobile competition four times, told Billy and Kit there weren’t any safe words or “lifelines” while filming “Stars Earns Stripes” – just trained professionals helping them push through the sometimes terrifying training exercises.

“No lifelines – we worked with military operatives who are the best of the best, you know, Delta Force, Navy SEALs, State Troopers, and they trained us and would give us the confidence,” Todd said.

So what was the most difficult challenge for Todd?

“Jumping out of a helicopter,” he told Billy and Kit. “It’s easy to shoot a gun, but jumping out of a helicopter a hundred feet above a building or a lake – that initial step is a challenge.”

[…]

“Stars Earn Stripes” premieres on August 13 at 8/7c on NBC.

Read More.

Ladonna Hale Curzon, who interviewed Todd on Sarah Palin Radio, writes this at Big Hollywood:

Former Alaska Gov. and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s husband Todd Palin exclusively told Sarah Palin Radio this week he jumped out of helicopters, shot a .50 caliber WWI machine gun and rappelled into buildings and water for the upcoming NBC reality show “Stars Earn Stripes.”

“It’s kind of scary jumping out of helicopters, but at least we’re not being shot at like our military men and women,” said Palin, whose son Track Palin is currently deployed in Afghanistan. “To hang out with Navy SEALS, Delta Force operators and police and fire, first responders is a true honor.”

The show, which Palin described as intense and emotionally charged, challenges contestants physically and emotionally as they compete to earn a cash prize for military, veterans and first-responder based charities. Palin has chosen the Armed Services YMCA of Alaska.

Each week, the contestants will be matched with a military op or first responder in a competition that will feature complicated and difficult missions inspired by real military and first responder exercises. A new person will be eliminated every episode.

The show, which will debut with a two-hour special Aug. 13, will be hosted by Gen. Wesley Clark, the former Supreme Allied Commander in Europe for NATO. Other contestants include four-time, undefeated world boxing champion Laila Ali (Muhammad Ali’s daughter), actor Dean Cain, former NFL player Terry Crews, recording artist Nick Lachey, Olympic gold medalist Picabo Street, trainer Dolvett Quince and World Wrestling Entertainment diva Eve Torres.

“It’s all for a good cause to honor our Armed Forces and first-responders,” Palin said. “This show is going to shed light on our finest, who save lives and defend our freedom every day.”

Palin said he hopes his son Track will be able to watch the show in Afghanistan and have a good laugh at his expense. Sarah Palin hasn’t been able to cheer him on location because the competition involves military-like logistics and dangerous situations with live ammunition and high-risk situations.

Read more.

We at SPIB wish Todd great success in this competition and God’s protection during the challenging and sometimes dangerous exercises ahead.   Go, Todd!

Todd Palin to Compete in Military-Inspired “Stars Earn Stripes” Reality Show

Article by Lisa Morales at the Washington Post (h/tp Jews for Sarah.com):

Posted at 12:49 PM ET, 06/19/2012

Todd Palin among those competing in NBC’s reality series ‘Stars Earn Stripes’

By Lisa de Moraes

Pictured: (l-r) Front row: Nick Lachey, Dean Cain; Standing: Terry Crews, Picabo Street, Eve Torres, Todd Palin; On top: Laila Ali, Dolvett Quince. (NBC – CHRIS HASTON/NBC)

Sarah Palin husband Todd is among those competing in NBC’s new reality series “Stars Earns Stripes,” the network has revealed Tuesday.

[…]

Palin, meanwhile, is joining a list comprised mostly of celebrities who are serial reality series participants, including: boxing royalty Laila Ali, actor Dean Cain, former NFL player Terry Crews, singer Nick Lachey Olympic gold medalist Picabo Street, NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” trainer Dolvett Quince, and WWE star Eve Torres.

Each week on “Stars Earn Stripes,” the celebrity competitors, teamed with members of the military of law enforcement, will attempt to complete “missions” inspired by actual military exercises.

“This new series pays tribute to members of our dedicated armed forces and civil law enforcement and I know that the winnings, which will be donated to first-responder charity and veterans groups, will make a difference and send an important message,” Clark said in a statement about the show, which Burnett is exec producing with Dick Wolf; and which debuts in August.

Palin: Endorsement of Deb Fischer for US Senate

Earlier today, GretaWire broke the news that both Governor Sarah Palin and Todd Palin have endorsed Deb Fischer (R-NE) who is running for the U.S. Senate.  At time of writing, neither SarahPAC nor Palin’s Facebook page has been updated to reflect this newest endorsement.

From GretaWire:

Lincoln, NE – Today, Senator Deb Fischer, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Nebraska, announced that she has been endorsed by former Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin and her husband Todd Palin.

“I’m incredibly honored to receive the endorsement of Governor Sarah Palin and Todd Palin. I greatly admire their willingness to stand on conservative principle and their resolve in standing up to the political establishment,” said Senator Deb Fischer.

“Our campaign is grassroots powered and focused on conservative policy solutions that will change the course of this nation. I’m a wife, mother, rancher, small business owner, and citizen legislator, not a career politician. To change Washington, we need to send a different type of person there. That’s why I’m running for U.S. Senate.”   More

How the Public School Creates Big Government Democrats

By Adrienne Ross – http://www.motivationtruth.com

I’ve been teaching for 16 years, and the longer I teach, the more I see disturbing trends. Never mind the lack of skills and total disregard for authority. The most obvious trend is students’ tendency to see the school’s role in the same way Democrats see the government’s: as a never-ending storehouse of anything they might need. Like big government Democrats, students put almost no thought into where these things come from, so long as they’re provided. Like Democrats, they possess a sense of entitlement where these things are concerned. And like Democrats, they do not take personal responsibility.

I see it every day. A student walks in, approaches the teacher’s desk, starts searching, and asks, “May I borrow a pen?” or worse, “I need a pen.” Or a student walks in, sits down, does nothing, and when questioned about the lack of productivity, looks at the teacher like she should know this already, and states, “I ain’t got no pen and no paper!” At the end of the period, they usually leave the classroom, not having returned what they borrowed. And because they feel entitled, they lack any understanding why the teacher is upset that her supplies are diminishing.

This wouldn’t be cause for concern if this were a rare occasion, but unfortunately, it is not. Day after day, the same students need the same things. It would be understandable, of course, if the reason for not having supplies is that the family cannot afford them. However, this isn’t a poverty issue. The same students have iPods, cell phones, and expensive sneakers. Surely, they can purchase a writing utensil. This issue is bigger than money. This is an issue of entitlement and irresponsibility. Why provide for themselves what can, will, and in their minds, should be provided for them? I submit that the public school has not only contributed to this mentality, but may, with the aid and consent of the family, be the very reason for it.

I always say children don’t raise themselves. They think the way they do because they’ve been taught to think that way. As uncomfortable as it is to admit that we adults hold some responsibility for the way our young people are turning out, we do. Again, I see it every day. We train students to live off of others. We train them that it’s okay not to take personal responsibility. We train them…to be Democrats. Thus, they become Democrats who vote for Democrats–because “Democrats believe in helping people.” We, the mean, selfish conservatives, only believe in helping ourselves, they come to think. The truth, of course, is we believe in helping others help themselves. But thanks to their school experience, we are the antithesis of everything they have come to associate with the way it should be, the way kind, caring, giving people function.

How do we send this improper message? Simple. When students don’t have what they need, we tell them to come see us to get it or borrow from a classmate. They do so–every single day. We tell those who don’t have their homework assignment done to bring it the next day, or the next, or the next, the fact that we’re past that lesson now and the fact that the assignment could have been done in 15 minutes are not to be taken into consideration. If a particular teacher lays down the law, sticks to principles, and wants to teach a student some life skills, like personal responsibility, consequences, and work ethic, any group of people–parents, guidance counselors, other teachers–may come to the student’s rescue, sometimes demonizing that “mean” teacher. This appeal, all with the good motive to take good care of that student, is usually accompanied by some story of why the teacher should accept an assignment ten weeks late (right before report cards go home, of course), excuse all displays of irresponsibility, and buy extra supplies so those who choose to come unprepared can get them from her. Then we wonder why in a few years we are still taking care of these people via our tax dollars. By then, many of these young adults are okay with that scenario. Why wouldn’t they be? It’s all they’ve ever known. Apparently, we’re also okay with it because we helped do it to them. And I, too, am not without fault.

We are creating monsters. No, even worse, we’re creating big government, entitlement-minded Democrats who grow up and declare that because someone such as President Obama occupies the White House, they don’t have to worry about anything. Their mortgage and gas bills will be taken care of, for example. We’re creating people who wonder what the big deal is when told that they should strive to have their own, rather than having to depend on others on a daily basis. We have made it so that those who come equipped with what they need are the exception now rather than the rule.

I’ve told my students over and over that life won’t accommodate their behavior, that they can’t live life like this–relying on others. But I’m starting to wonder if that’s even true. There are people who do live like this, or at least believe it’s okay for others to live like this. Why not? What’s wrong with taking from those who have and giving to those who don’t have, rather than teaching those who don’t have how they, too, can have? With the help of the public school, they see absolutely nothing wrong with it. After all, everyone has to do their “fair share.”

Is it any wonder, then, that when Governor Palin speaks about taking personal responsibility, people call her “mean”? Oh yes, it’s mean to want people to learn to fish for themselves, so to speak, when someone else can just give them one. Governor Palin has talked at length about her upbringing in rugged Alaska, about how her parents expected the same from the girls as they did from their son. They hunted, fished, hiked, chopped wood, and played sports. Todd also grew up in a family that made sure he worked extremely hard, played sports, and bought his own vehicles. Both families knew what it was to get their hands dirty and make things happen instead of expecting from others. They didn’t feel entitled to anything. They worked hard for everything because that was the expectation.

The Governor and Todd have taught the lessons they learned to their own children. Perhaps that’s why we see such strength in them, even when faced with less than ideal circumstances. Take their oldest two as examples. Track is married, has a baby girl, and is serving in the U.S. Army. He’s been to Iraq and is now in Afghanistan. Bristol has made no excuses but has taken responsibility for raising her son, working hard, and making a life for them. She’s written a book detailing her experiences so she can help others. Their stories didn’t come accidentally. I had a conversation with Todd once in which he discussed the need for youth to work hard and take personal responsibility. I remember listening to him and thinking, “Every young person needs to hear from this man.” If our families and schools would partner in teaching and enforcing these kinds of principles to students, we’d have a stronger America coming up. I fear that is not the case.

Being a conservative to me just makes sense–common sense. Who doesn’t want to provide for herself, get ahead, live out the American dream? More importantly, who doesn’t want to fulfill the purpose for which God created her? This is something we should all aspire to, not walking around depending on others day in and day out. Everyone needs help at some point, but as I tell my students, may it be rare–a hand up, not a constant hand out. The more we pamper, coddle, and enable our young people, the more we disable them. They settle in to become permanent squatters on the Democrat plantation, where the chief staples are need, resentment, and entitlement.

And then they vote.

Palin: Life With Trig

Photo Credit: Jack Kurtz / ZUMA-Corbis

He’s nearing his fourth birthday. He has Down syndrome. And he greets every day with a round of applause.

Yet again, Sarah Palin takes the opportunity to remind us all that life is sacred and that all lives have a purpose.

From The Daily Beast:

Last week, Rick Santorum and his family offered us a reminder of what really matters. When his 3-year-old daughter, Bella, born with Trisomy 18, was hospitalized with pneumonia, Rick left the campaign trail to be by her bedside. In the middle of this very heated campaign season, many of us prayed through tears for Bella’s health and added prayers of thankfulness for a public example of someone’s sacrifice made with the right priorities.

It’s a sacrifice every parent and caregiver of a child with special needs sympathizes with. Families of children with special needs are bonded by a shared experience of the joys, challenges, fears, and blessings of raising these beautiful children whom we see as perfect in this imperfect world.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, on rope lines at rallies across the country, my husband, Todd, and I met so many of these families and caretakers, and I’ll never forget them. There was an instant connection—a kind of mutual acknowledgment that said, “Yes, these children are precious and loved. Yes, we face extra fears and challenges, but our children are a blessing, and the rest of the world is missing out in not knowing this.”  More

H/T @tsot on Twitter

Wishing Todd Palin a Happy Birthday and Why

By Adrienne Ross – http://www.motivationtruth.com

I’m taking a moment today to wish Todd Palin a happy birthday. Not only does he deserve to be honored for so obviously being a wonderful husband and father, but he deserves recognition for being a fine example of what every man should aspire to be. My last conversation with him left such an impression on me. I remember listening and thinking, “Every young man needs an opportunity to sit and talk to Todd.” As an educator in a public school, I see the needs of our youth, so as he spoke of the integrity and work ethic that are so needed in our young people, I wished they all could listen and learn from this man.

Todd Palin is what we would call a man’s man. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty building houses, working on the North Slope, or racing his snow machine, certainly. At the same time, he’s never been too macho to style Piper’s hair and change Trig’s diapers. Furthermore, he’s secure enough to allow his wife to shine, but make no mistake: Governor Palin very much respects and honors him. He is, indeed, the complete package.

Happy Birthday, Todd.