Lavish Spending For University Talk By Sarah Palin Spurs Investigation

Celebrity guest speakers at colleges are a common event. Often, speakers give such time for little or no money. However, outrageous lavish spending for a guest speech by former Governor Sarah Palin at a California university has spurred an investigation into spending by the college and accusations of paper shredding to cover up the high spending and lavish demand details of the speaking engagement. Further, the outrageous demands make the former governor look like a major diva as bad as any super demanding rock star.

Wizbang Pop has in their possession a copy of March 16, 2010 contract addendum between Washington Speakers Bureau, the agency hired by Sarah Palin, where a Lear 60 or larger private luxury jet was demanded. In addition, a $25 million dollar liability insurance policy on the luxury aircraft was also demanded. Three room luxury hotel suite accommodations were also demanded. Photo opportunities were only granted upon permission by the speaker. All questions were also to be carefully prescreened by staff of the speaker. And water bottles needed to have bendable straws among other demands. The college was thought to have paid as much as $100,000 to pay for all lavish demands and speakers fees for the event.

When rumors of the lavish spending by the college on the speaking event began to circulate, stories of document shredding by college administrators started to surface. However, some students at California State University, Stanislaus, found the copy of the contract in the trash, and with news tips that get Emailed daily to Wizbang Pop, our blog was eventually able to get a copy of the contract and read the terms of the contract and report the story.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown made it clear that the state investigation was not into Sarah Palin, but the university's use of funds and accountability. Earlier this week it was reported that the former governor has made around $12 million through speaking engagements, TV contracts and book deals since resigning her office as the governor of Alaska.

At one time it was just rock stars who seemed to ask for outrageous contract demands and get paid outrageous sums of money for appearances. Now, former public servants are doing the same thing. Who knew?