Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Clinton to Skip Event After Palin Confirms Attendance
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 18, 2008
Modified Sep 18, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 18, 2008
Modified Sep 18, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
It would have been the first time Senator Hillary Clinton and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin appeared together (for real, not for funny). But once Clinton learned that Palin would be attending the same rally at the U.N., organized by a number of Jewish groups to, per Newsday, "show U.S. opposition to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad," Clinton decided she rather not go.
Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines said, "[Palin's] attendance was news to us, and this was never billed to us as a partisan political event. Senator Clinton will therefore not be attending," which gave the McCain-Palin camp a chance to say, "Governor Palin believes that the danger of a nuclear Iran is greater than party or politics. She hopes that all parties can rally together in opposition to this grave threat."
Some Democratic strategists think Clinton's decision was wrong, noting how she has many Jewish constituents. And City Councilman Dov Hikind said, "This is not about politics. This is demonstration. This rally is about unity against Iran that is a sponsor of terrorism."
However, Newsday reports "organizers admitted Wednesday they probably didn't think through the political implications of giving a platform to Palin or that Clinton's camp would see it as violating the nonpartisan spirit of the event." An adviser to one of the sponsor groups said, "We did not see that coming, but that may be right, and that's our mistake." Organizers are reportedly considering whether to invite another Democrat to balance the event.
Additionally, Palin may attend the U.N. General Assembly--it'll be Barracuda in the City!
Tagged
hillary clinton
iran
mahmoud ahmadinejad
sarah palin
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
A reliably Republican part of NJ, until ICE came to town
The Trump administration’s plan to convert a warehouse in Roxbury into an ICE detention center has upended local politics ahead of the midterm elections.
By
Mike Hayes
Published Oct 20, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
NYC school integration debate exposes tensions between Black parents and Mamdani
Some see a blind spot when it comes to the representation of Black New Yorkers in Mamdani's administration and agenda.
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC school integration debate exposes tensions between Black parents and Mamdani
Some see a blind spot when it comes to the representation of Black New Yorkers in Mamdani's administration and agenda.
By
Elizabeth Kim
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
By
Giulia Heyward
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .