Sarah Palin: We Won't 'Sit Down, Shut Up'

Sarah Palin told thousands of tea party activists assembled in the Nevada desert today that Harry Reid will have to explain his votes when he comes back to his hometown to campaign. Reid is "gambling away our future," she said, and "someone needs to tell him this is not a crapshoot." About 7,000 people streamed into tiny Searchlight to hear Palin, bringing their American flags, "Don't Tread on Me" signs, and anger toward the health care overhaul.

Palin, who earlier in the day campaigned for John McCain, told them the big-government spending spree of Reid, President Obama, and Nancy Pelosi is over. "You're fired!" she declared. Palin urged people to make clear their opposition on health care reform, though without violence. "We're not going to sit down and shut up." Reid, meanwhile, responded with sarcasm. "I'm happy so many people came to see my hometown of Searchlight and spend their out-of-state money," he said. The election will be decided by Nevadans, "not people from other states who parachuted in for one day to have a tea party." (More Sarah Palin stories.)