Palin slams Obama at first 'tea party' convention

Nashville: Sarah Palin declared "America is ready for another revolution" and repeatedly assailed President Barack Obama in a speech before adoring "tea party" activists. They make up a seemingly natural constituency if she runs for president.

"This movement is about the people," the 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee said on Saturday as the crowd roared. "Government is supposed to be working for the people."

Promises

Palin noted Democrats' US state electoral losses since Obama took office a year ago with talk of hope and promises of change and asked: "How's that hope-y, change-y stuff workin' out for you?"

Her audience waved flags and erupted in cheers during multiple standing ovations as Palin gave the keynote address at the first national convention of the "tea party" coalition. It's an anti-establishment, grass-roots network motivated by anger over the growth of government, budget-busting spending and Obama's policies.

Filled with Palin's trademark folksy jokes, the speech amounted to a 45-minute pep talk for the coalition and promotion of its principles.

The speech also was rife with criticism for Obama and Democrats who control Congress, but delivered with a light touch. But, aside from broad conservative principles like lower taxes and a strong national defence, the speech was short on Palin's own policy ideas that typically indicate someone is seriously laying the groundwork to run for the White House.

Indeed, Republican observers say she's seemingly done more lately to establish herself as a political celebrity focused on publicity rather than a political candidate focused on policy.

Catering to her crowd, Palin talked of limited government, strict adherence to the Constitution, and the "God-given right" of freedom. She said the "fresh, young and fragile" movement is the future of American politics because it's "a ground-up call to action" to both major political parties to change how they do business. "You've got both party machines running scared," she said.

Palin suggested that the party should remain leaderless and cautioned against allowing the movement to be defined by any one person.

Charisma

"This is about the people" and "it's a lot bigger than any charismatic guy with a teleprompter," she said, jabbing at Obama.

"Let us not get bogged down in the small squabbles. Let us get caught up in the big ideas," she said.

The ex-Alaska governor, who resigned from office last summer before completing her first term, didn't indicate if her political future would extend beyond cable news punditry and paid speeches to an actual presidential candidacy.

All she offered was a smile when a moderator used the phrase "President Palin." That prompted most in the audience to stand up and chant "Run, Sarah, run!"