[2ndDivisionVet]

You do realize that the filmmaker has absolutely nothing to do with Governor Sarah Palin, other than making a documentary about her? This is Mr. Bannon and his film company putting on this premier. How is this different than paying police in Hollywood or New York City to provide security at an opening? Because Pella is small and they are big? Maybe that’s the point. Maybe Mr. Bannon wants to highlight middle America. He hasn’t phoned or e-mailed me to explain his business plan, so I’m just spitballing here. And do you think the taxpayers in fiscally conservative Pella, Iowa (home of Pella Windows, Vermeer and Ditch Witch) would allow their city to pay the freight for a private event? Then you don’t know anything about rural Iowa.

[freedumb2003]

>>Then you don’t know anything about rural Iowa.<<

There were many alternatives. Rural Iowa as a venue for this is merely provocative.

And a bit ham-fisted.

[ansel12]

LOL, have fun trying to reach that guy, it is impossible.

[Judith Anne]

“And you can eat your fill of all the food you bring yourself.”

Just remembering River City. ;-D

[Finny]

Then you don’t know anything about rural Iowa.

Love it! "But what the heck, you're welcome. Join us at the picnic. You can eat your fill of all the food you bring yourself."

Maybe ol' Meredith Wilson was on to something!

[SAJ]

"Join us at the picnic. You can eat your fill of all the food you bring yourself." -- Meredith Wilson, "Hawkeye Iowa" from The Music Man.

Right, 2DV?

[LS]

Ok, I'll weigh in. As many of you know, I'm not sold on candidate Palin yet. Nevertheless, 2nd Div Vet is right: this is Steve Bannon's movie. I know Steve. We briefly discussed him producing "A Patriot's History of the United States" before I decided to have another director do it.

Steve, not Palin, is deciding when and how to roll out his movie. This is "bidness" to quote Eddie Murphy. I know Bannon believes in Palin and her message, but he also has a hefty investment that he has to recoup. The more press buzz he can generate, the better. He knows he'll NEVER get a fair review from any of the mainstream news orgs, but he can get them to cover the story of how they aren't being let in . . . and thereby generate tremendous publicity.

I have no doubt that this will be a huge commercial success for Bannon. Whether it will change a single undecided vote or not, who knows?

And Vet, you're right: this is no different than a premiere event somewhere else, where the film company pays the police and security (I think probably as much hoping that the police will catch the lefties in some act of lunacy as in actually protecting the theater). It's quite common to rent an entire hotel, like the Palms, or a theater, like Graumann's, for a premiere event and for the company to put up the security.