When Sarah Palin and Donald Trump join 800 other guests in celebrating Billy Graham’s 95th birthday Thursday in Asheville, North Carolina, they will be heckled by anti-Tea Party protesters.
But activist John Penley, who grew up in Ashville but spent most of his adult life on the Lower East Side leading anarchist demonstrations, doesn’t expect he’ll be able to turn out a crowd of more than 30.
“People are scared of Billy Graham down here — scared of being struck down by lightning,” Penley told me. “But this birthday party is really just a Tea Party pep rally, and we need to get an alternative message out. We want the Tea Party to go away.”
Penley said Trump should pray for help in his legal battle with NY State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who accuses Trump of exploiting the students at his Trump University.
“If Donald prays together with Billy, God will forgive him,” Penley laughed. “Billy has a direct line.”
A friend of Trump’s told me, “In Schneiderman’s case, AG stands for Aspiring Governor.”