Sarah Palin booed in Philadelphia before Flyers-Rangers game

The world's most famous "hockey mom" can now join the ever-growing list of icons booed by Philly fans. Move over, Santa Claus and Mike Schmidt, Sarah Palin was booed tonight in front of Willow and Piper as she was introduced to drop the first puck at the Flyers' home opener against the New York Rangers.

Despite pleas from the scoreboard at the Wachovia Center, which read "Flyers fans, show Philadelphia's class and welcome America's No. 1 hockey mom, Sarah Palin," ABC News' Jake Tapper reports that the booing was so prevalent that the music had to be cranked up to "deafening" levels in order to compete with the fans from the city of Brotherly Love.

Although Pennsylvania is often considered a swing state, the jeering is easily heard in the video above, and one can clearly see a few Obama/Biden signs in the stands.

The Flyers not only invited Palin to drop the puck, they had created a contest to find "the ultimate hockey mom" to accompany the GOP vice presidential nominee onto the ice. Earlier, the Flyers' founder, Ed Snider, expressed how excited he was that Palin was going to attend the game:

"Because of the tremendous amount of publicity she has brought to our sport, we invited the most popular hockey mom in North America to our home opener to help us get our season started," said Snider, the Comcast-Spectacor chairman who founded the Flyers in 1967. "We are very excited she has accepted our offer and we are very proud of the publicity she is generating for hockey moms and the sport of hockey." - NHL.com

This morning, The Times' top blog, Top of the Ticket, helped celebrate the NHL's opening weekend by pointing out that interest in hockey is increasing among young people, particularly girls. About 57,000 young females signed up to play hockey, according to USA Hockey, Andrew Malcolm pointed out. 

-- Tony Pierce

Comments

[KOD]

As the Mom of three hockey playing daughters, the wife of a hockey-playing husband and coach and a lifelong hockey (and Bruins) fan, I couldn't have been happier than seeing this woman get the greeting she deserves. You go, Philly!

[sharon]

Too funny--you can see hockey fans giving her a thumbs down in the background. Even the hockey players look unimpressed.

Good job, Philadelphia.

[Kim]

If Palin wanted to do an opener, she should have come to Dallas, where she would have been treated with respect. Philly fans are notorious for being rude, brash, egotistical idiots. They boo their own team. No class.

[Delaney]

Aint Misbehaving
Thank you Philadelphia! I know it was not nice to boo but then again she is not nice either. Thanks again.

[Mindy Gold]

This makes me feel very proud to be from Philadelphia.

[OBAMACRAT]

Way to go Philly fans !!!! Please, somebody send Sarah packing back to her igloo in Alaska !!!!

OBAMA/BIDEN '08/12

[Ralph Spencer]

Bet she doesn't try that again.
Those kids will remember forever that their Mom was booed by thousands of people while they stood unprotected and unsheltered in the center of a malstrom.
Thats child abuse.
This isn't what a Mom is suppose to be.

[Kim Moors]

I totally agree with Steve Barry, so I will quote him: "By loudly booing Palin Philadelphia did indeed show class. Palin is completely and utterly unfit to be Vice President or President. Good show."
Thank you Steve! Thank you Philadelphia!
Kim

[Votin 4 That One!]

Good Ole' Philadelphia known to never hide what its thinking, good she got booed. She and McCain have created their own separate political party it seems.This party stands alone as a bigoted, riot inviting, lynch mob full of 'Joe 6 packs wielding clubs, and bats who parade through the 'convention towns' screaming racial slurs and scream to 'kill' another American citizen, a Senator of the USA??!! Their ticket should be labeled McKKKain and Palin The Impaler their tactics make me sick.

[William Bennett]

Debra Watson was no more at that Flyers game last night than I was. Look at the video. There were TWO people holding Obama/Biden signs behind Palin, not one, and there were clearly a number of people standing with arms folded. Of course some were going to applaud, either out of politeness or because they agree with her positions.

This much was plain as I watched on tv. Palin was introduced. There was a cascade of boos (cheers, too, but the boos were the more prevalent). They cranked up the music to try and hide the sound the crowd was making. Jake Tapper's description was pretty much the same as what I observed. I don't know if he was there or not; his quote in the story doesn't make that clear.

So now McCain and Palin's people have to try and spin this. So we get "Philly fans always boo." And "the Associated Press said her reception was mixed." Well, the AP has been fairly deferential to McCain and Palin, so their report doesn't surprise me. No other news organization has described the reception as "mixed" that I am aware of.

And to those of you decrying the Philly fans boos because she had her kids with her: you are familiar with "human shields," aren't you? This is her version of a human shield, and it didn't work. She complains about attacks on people's families and then drags hers out for every public appearance.

Is her 15 minutes up yet?

[Debra]

If Sarah Palin is "is first a woman of GOD" do you think GOD and/or Jesus would approve of how she's conducted herself in this campaign? If she's a woman of GOD, what does GOD think of people in the crowd responding to her with "kill him", "terrorist", and "treason" and her allowing those comments to be made. Is this what Jesus, the Prince of Peace, would do?

[Matt]

Typical of Filthadelphia fans.

[jonesy]

once again, philly fans show what a bunch of class-free dirtbags they really are. oh, and i'm a flyers fan. sorry, philly fans. you really do suck.

[yurgus]

"Just exactly what has she done to deserve this hate? Did that crowd not see her 2 children by her side? Did they not feel that their own conflicts with her might possibly be conflicts within themselves? Governor Palin is first a woman of GOD then a Mother. How does one excuse themselves from this type of hatred and self indulgence just for ones own pleasure. Yes be Proud, this two girls will always remember this event. An event that they were so proud of to be a part of along side their Mom. America is about free speech but we should not take this freedom lightly. As for her "picking" on Obama. I think he is able to defend himself."

Are you naive? She has engendered hate throughout her campaign - she encourages racism and fascism at her rallies; she used her elected position as governor to further a personal vendetta; she can't answer questions posed to her so she attacks the media; she arrogantly wouldn't answer questions posed to her during her debate;; she consistently gets policy wrong; she flip-flops on almost all of her positions; she attacks community organizers and teachers; and she won't take any responsibility for any mistakes that she has made.

As for her girls attending, they were used as political pawns to shield her against disapproval. That's atrocious and that's obvious, because she is not popular at all in Philly.

But since she's got such a great PERSONALITY and she's a woman of GOD, that absolves everything!

I don't know you, so therefore I can only respond based upon your comments. I would suggest that you open your eyes. It doesn't pay to go around life ignorant to what is around you...how do you expect to make difficult personal decisions thinking this way? I wish you well.

[Charlie]

Glad she got booed, her only value to me is her stylists - any idea what designer she was wearing at this event? LOVE IT, WANT IT

[pogo]

maybe the rangers will now ask Obama to drop the puck-- he's probably fir enough to skate with the team.

[pogo]

sides that the rangers whupped the Flyers to show their displeassure, so if makes them tatke an early elad, palin can dump all the pucks she wants so long as the rangers win. seems that Gomez and Dubinsky aint so hot on the hot Alaskan motormouth. Come to think of it, they'd be called for fouls if they used that kind of rough talk on the ice. She's no sportsman.

[julie]

sorry blackburn, but Palin's kids are not boo insurance.

[Jeff S]

The lack of civility in politics, in sports, and in our society is disgusting.

I think Palin is a horrible choice as a VP and would never support her in this election but that is hardly the point.

The biggest problem in politics is the utter lack of respect either party has for the other. When ever issue becomes partisan there is never room to recognize good policy and to do what is right.

Ha ha ha, some Flyers fans had their fun. Now the philly fans can go back to dumping beer on visiting fans, shouting obscenities, and throwing batteries at visiting players. This is the model behaviour anti-Palin posters are supporting. Shame on you.

I kind of doubt Obama wants you on his "side" if he had a choice.

[anonymous]

You know, it's so typical for the hateful democrats and liberals to cause an uproar when someone they don't like is in their presence. They don't even have the common decency to "hold back" out of just plain courtesy, if nothing else, while there are children present. How awful for her daughters to have to hear the hateful remarks from such rude, crude and evil people. They make me sick!

[Steady Freddy]

Way to go Philly!! The uneducated McCain followers will continue to support this sinking ship.

[bulwark]

I heard much more cheering than boos. Where's the story, Times?

[J. Krumpter]

Yes there were boos, I was AT the game, but it was no where near as loud as the video I just listened to Makes me wonder if someone didn't adjust the audio levels after the fact. Let me tell you all something; I lived in Philadephia all of my life. If Barack Obama had walked out to drop the puck at a Flyers game not only would he have been BOMBARDED w/ boos, but the ice would have been littered with programs, trash etc. Obama is just lucky that the economy (which has been destroyed by the artificially propped up housing market-- thanks to the democrat party) tanked when it did. It amazes me that people refuse to see the person who lies beneath the slick speeches & rhetoric. A vote for "Obamanation" is a vote for a trojan horse that will eventually rear it's head.

[Jerry]

I have decided to vote for Obama so people will get what they deserve.

[Betty]

Have Palin's kids been withdrawn from school, because she seems to be using them for photo-ops everywhere she goes. I can't recall any nominee using their kids the way this woman has. Not a good mom.