Sep 18, 2008 7:39 pm US/Eastern
Palin, Other Politicians Disinvited From UN Rally
Development Comes After Clinton Cancels Appearance
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin pauses during her speech at a campaign event at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Sept. 6, 2008.
Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and all other American politicians have been disinvited from an anti-Iran rally outside the United Nations next week, CBS 2 has learned. The development comes after Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton canceled her appearance on Tuesday.
Clinton decided to nix her plan to attend the rally after organizers blindsided her by inviting Palin, aides to the senator said on Tuesday.
"In order to keep the focus of Iranian threats and to ensure that this critical message be not obscured, the organizers of the rally have decided not to have any American political personalities appear," the organizers said in a statement on Thursday.
Several American Jewish groups have planned "The Rally To Stop Iran Now" outside the United Nations on Sept. 22 at 11:45 a.m. to protest against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Organizers had initially promoted on Tuesday that both Clinton, who nearly won the Democratic nomination for president, and Palin, Republican candidate John McCain's running mate, were expected to attend.
That would have set up a closely scrutinized and potentially explosive pairing in the midst of a presidential campaign, one in which the New York senator is campaigning for Democratic nominee Barack Obama while Palin actively courts disappointed Clinton supporters.
Clinton aides were furious. They first learned of the plan to have both Clinton and Palin appear when informed by reporters.
"Her attendance was news to us, and this was never billed to us as a partisan political event," said Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines. "Sen. Clinton will therefore not be attending."
A McCain-Palin campaign official, speaking on condition of anonymity because Palin's schedule for Monday has not been announced, said only that Palin had tentatively planned to attend the rally.
Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, did not immediately return messages Tuesday seeking comment, nor did other organizers of the rally. Other event sponsors are the National Coalition to Stop Iran Now, United Jewish Communities and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.
Both McCain and Obama have made strong appeals to Jewish voters, particularly in critical states like Florida. Obama has emphasized to Jewish audiences his commitment to Israel's security, and has worked to dispel doubts created by false rumors that he is Muslim.
On the campaign trail today, the focus was again on the economy and who should pay taxes.
Paying more taxes is the patriotic thing to do, according to Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden. He said Thursday its time for taxpayers to "help get America out of the rut." It's a message the Republicans are picking up -- and mocking.
"Senator Obama's running mate said that raising taxes is patriotic (crowd boos)," John McCain said. "Raising taxes in a tough economy isn't patriotic. It's not a badge of honor. It's just plain dumb."
"That's not patriotism. Raising taxes is about killing jobs and hurting small business and making things worse," Palin said.
The Democrats want to raise taxes on people making over $250,000 a year, but Sen. Obama wants to cut taxes for the middle class.
"Reform our tax system to give a $1,000 tax break to the middle class instead of showering more on oil companies and corporations that outsource our jobs," Obama said in a new ad.
The bickering over taxes came as several new polls show Obama creeping ahead of McCain.
A new CBS News-New York Times poll has Obama ahead by five points, 48 percent to 43 percent. Quinnipiac University has Obama ahead 49-45.
But pollsters say the race remains up for grabs. About a quarter of the electorate say they could still change their minds.
Meanwhile, the ad wars continued to focus on the economy and Wall Street's meltdown.
"The truth is that while you've been living up to your responsibilities, Washington has not," Obama said. "That's why we need change, real change."
McCain countered.
"Obama and his liberal Congressional allies want a massive government, billions on spending increases, wasteful pork," McCain said. "And we would pay painful income taxes, skyrocketing taxes on life savings."
Meanwhile, Michelle Obama appeared to be trying to neutralize the appeal of Palin. She told voters not to pick a candidate "because she's cute."
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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