Going Rogue: An American Life (88 page)

“Yes, I read that this morning,” I answered, then said I wished we
weren’t
pulling out of Michigan-that every single person and every single vote mattered, and I sure didn’t wanr anyone to give up anywhere. No harm giving a little shour-our to the Great Lakes State, I thought. No one had mentioned to the VP staff or me that the campaign was even considering pulling out of Michigan, much less that we already had. So when I was asked about it, I was caught a bit off guard, but I answered truthfully about having read about it in the newspaper. We moved on to the next question and wrapped up the interview. No big deal.

But we soon heard that back at headquarters, it
was
a big deal. The word came hurtling down that I had been “off script” with Cameron. Of course, it’s pretty easy to issue candid, off-script messages when there is no script to begin with. It wasn’t the end of the world, though, and I hoped headquarters would forgive me and move on.

They didn’t. One or more McCain senior staffers would later anonymously tell reporters that I was “going rogue.” The VP team had been scheduled to do another evenr in Michigan, but it was canceled, disappointing a lot of us who had

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appreciared that September 17 town hall meeting with John. Still, we understood thar funding was limited, so I suggested to rhe VP staff rhat the next time we had an official event near Michigan, we pass the hat for gas money and just do a quick trip across the border to snap one off-the-record photo at a or gas station, maybe hold a quick grassroots rally. I thought we would send a positive message to the state that way, show the people that our campaign really did care about their votes. It would be fast, it would be free, it would be … mavericky. What was the worst that could happen? We’d maybe get a few more votes? Headquarters said no. With the strange pushback we were getting by then, we were tempted just to sneak across the border. More rhan once, Nicolle had summarized the campaign organization well when, during chaotic moments, she turned to the B Team and said with a resigned smile, “Welcome to the pirate ship.”

But we didn’t want our throats cut, so we dropped the road trip idea and tried to find a copy of the script so we could stay on. it.

When we first got on the campaign plane, it was just a plane. But by the time the staff got through with it, the interior was like a flying motivational poster. All through the rope lines, people would hand us stickers, signs, and pins they’d spent their own money to make.

PIPER FOR PRESIDENT!

HEELS ON, GWVES OFF

TRIG IN THE WHITE HOUSE

I’M JOE SIX-PACK

.COME BACK TO MICHIGAN!

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SARAH

PALIN

Dad presented our JetBlue pilots with a pair of moose lers, which rhey proudly displayed in rhe cockpit throughout the campaign, like the bull horns some Texans liked to wire to their Cadillac grills. Jason taped a U.S. map to the ceiling, and it was tradition that every time·a visiror came aboard, he or she would reach up and sign it upside down with a Sharpie.

The Democrars had quire a bir

extra posirive media coverage thanks to the various celebtities appearing at their events, and the steady stream of liberal stars beating a path to Obama’s door had the B Team asking why we weren’t doing the same with the common senSe conservative celebrities who had offered to help our ticket. There were plenty who sent us word that they would do so. I don’t subsctibe to the idea that celebrity ments ate necessarily weighty or significant to public policy, but neither do I think politicians can ignore the influence of popular culture in the age of the instam image and streaming sound bite.

Staffstarted working the phones, and within a few houts we had a number of events lined up with some coutageous, independentminded actors, musicians, and athletes. Kid Rock, for instance, is very pro-America and has common sense ideas. We heard he was going to come out and do a rally us, but headquarters

said he could patticipate only in a McCain rally, so that never. materialized. Still, the kids were happy-they got to talk to him on the phone.

We very much appreciated Robert Duvall and his wife helping at our events, and Jon Voight blew us away with his articulate and passionate reasoning for the teal change America needs. Actress Janine Turner was an eloquent supporter, particularly on the subject of women in politics and the strength and value of single moms who are committed to raising solid citizens. We also welcomed “Redneck Woman” Gretchen Wilson aboard the cam
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Going Rogue

paign plane. We knew all her songs, and I loved rhar she loved to ralk about her daughter.

Along with other patriots, Hank Williams Jr., John Rich, Naomi Judd, and Lee Greenwood joined us on the trail. When Lee jumped onstage with us the first time, Kris Perry, who would wrestle a grizzly bear if it got too close to one of her kids or her BlackBerry, just about melted when she heard him sing his famous song “Proud to Be an American.” We all choked up. Mike Ditka, Brady Quinn, Aaron Tippin, the Bellamy Brothers, and many others also joined us on the trail at different points. And some fund-raisers would attract big names-supporters not as visible to the national media but wildly appreciated by us. The Orange County Choppers guys were outrageously boldwhich is why people love them. They roared up to a Media, Pennsylvania, rally on a hot, custom-made bike that they honed to honor POW and MIA vets. Senators Lieberman, Lindsey Graham, and Arlen Specter were onstage when John highlighted the rally with his promise that “Sarah and I are going to get on that chopper and ride it right to Washington and raise hell when we get there!”

After the event I looked at the bike, then at the campaign bus, then back at the bike … it was so tempting. What do you think headquarters would have said to that?!

Seven months later, Orange County Chopper fOunder and Vietnam Vet Paul Teutul Sr. and his sons-all tattooed up and looking good-visited Alaska to honor our state’s fiftieth anniversary. I invited them to come back and we’d go ride together … on snowmachines.

Meanwhile, other people called. I talked to Bono. And John’s friend Warren Beatty. These were interested folks with good intentions who wanted to share ideas and insights, and I was happy to hear from them.

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JOI

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SARAH

PALIN

One morning, I was showering when Bexie knocked on rhe door. “Rick Warren’s on the phone again,” she called out. “He’s been trying ro rrack you down and has called rwice.” She handed me the phone in the shower, and I turned off the warer so it wouldn’t be so obvious where I was standing. The well-known author and pasror shared some encouraging words, then offered ro pray right then for srrength during the campaign. I said, absolurely! Pray away! I would never turn down prayer even with limited hours in a campaign day, standing in a few inches of warer with a shower currain for a wardrobe. You do whar you’ve gOt ro do.

Without a doubt, though, the real stars of the campaign were the people who contacted us along the trail to encourage McCain and those who packed the rallies-everyday, hardworking Americans. Bexie, Jeannie, and other staffers would collect notes from supporrers on the rope lines, and it was an absolure joy-sometimes heartbreaking, always heartwarming-ro read them. On the plane I’d read them one by one. Parents sending pictures of their precious children. Prayer warriors writing ro say they were interceding for us. And, so tragically, a Blue Star mom writing to tell me she had become a Gold Srar mom.