In Hong Kong, Palin touts 'Main Sreet, U.S.A'

(NECN/AP: Hong Kong) - Former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, criticized for her lack of foreign policy experience, emerged in Asia on Wednesday to share her views from "Main Street U.S.A" with a group of high-flying global investors. In her first trip to the region, the former Alaska governor addressed an annual conference of investors in Hong Kong in what was billed as a wide- ranging talk about governance, economics and U.S and Asian affairs. "I'm going to call it like I see it and I will share with you candidly a view right from Main Street, Main Street, U.S.A.," Palin told a room full of asset managers and other finance professionals, according to a video of part of the speech obtained by The Associated Press. "And how perhaps my view of Main Street -- representing perhaps a lot of other people -- how that affects you, your business." It marked Palin's first major appearance since she resigned as governor in July, and the speech's location and international scope could help boost her credentials ahead of a possible bid for president in 2012. While she's thought to be considering that, her Hong Kong trip bore no political overtones, said Fred Malek, a friend and Palin adviser. Palin left office in part because of the toll of multiple ethics complaints filed against her. Almost all of the complaints were dismissed, but she says she amassed more than 500-thousand US dollars in legal fees. Palin started off her keynote speech, which was closed to reporters, with a light talk about the links between her state and the southern Chinese territory, then touched later on economic issues and China. One attendee said she called on China to be a more responsible global citizen, allow greater freedoms and take a more active role in solving pressing world issues. She also criticized the U.S. Federal Reserve's massive intervention in the economy over the last year, arguing its actions only exacerbated the crisis, according to another attendee. She also praised the conservative economic policies of former President Ronald Reagan and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Earlier, she talked of Alaska's salmon exports and complimented Hong Kong as a "beautiful city," according to a third attendee. All three people spoke on condition of anonymity, because they did not want to be seen as speaking on behalf of their companies. Former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore and former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan have spoken in the past at the conference, hosted by brokerage and investment group CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets. A CLSA spokeswoman said that Palin was chosen to speak because she was a woman of news value and presented an opinion that CLSA felt would be of value to their fund managers. Palin, who burst on the U.S. political scene last year when she was chosen as Republican Senator John McCain's running mate, was ridiculed during the campaign after contending her state's proximity to Russia gave her foreign policy experience. Palin received her first passport in 2007, to visit Alaska National Guard members serving in Kuwait and Germany. Since leaving office, Palin has vanished from public view, ducking mainstream news outlets and communicating with supporters largely via her popular Facebook page. She also signed with the prestigious Washington Speakers Bureau and reportedly has been flooded with over a thousand offers. Palin aides refused to disclose her fee for the appearance, which has been rumored to be in the low six figures. CLSA requested Palin's speech be closed to reporters so she could make an " unfettered" presentation to investors, according to a spokeswoman. And Palin, whose supporters have long accused the media of bias and harsh treatment, agreed. <i>Material courtesy of The Associated Press, AP Television</i>.