HOUSTON — Speaking at the National Rifle Association (NRA) convention on Friday, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin accused the mainstream media of allowing President Barack Obama to exploit tragedies like Newtown to push for more gun control and defended the pro-Second Amendment organization that has been vilified after the gun-related incidents.

Palin pointed out the same media that “tore apart” former President George W. Bush for using images of the 9/11 attacks in ads now serve as cheerleaders for Obama, whom she accused of using the victims of tragedies like Newtown as “backdrops in his perpetual campaign-style press events.”

“That same media is now a reliable, poodle-skirted cheerleader for a president who writes the book on exploiting tragedy,” Palin said.

Along with Obama, Palin also called out Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, and Dianne Feinstein for exploiting “emotions for their own agenda.”

“It’s not just self serving,” Palin said. “It’s destructive, and it must stop.”

Palin told the law-abiding, patriotic group at the conference that the “struggle to protect our Second Amendment rights is spotlighting once again how broken Washington is.”

“Leaders are in it for themselves, not for the American people,” Palin said while wearing an Under Armour ‘Women Hunt’ T-shirt.

This year’s NRA theme is “Stand and Fight,” and it was appropriate given how fiercely Palin has stood her ground against the attacks and has fought for gun owners without wavering.

Showing once again that she can use props to effectively deliver a message, Palin whipped out a tin of smokeless tobacco when addressing the hypocrisy of New York City Mayor Bloomberg, who wants to ban the display of even legal tobacco products.

“Don’t make me do it,” Palin said, of potentially dipping, which was also a reference to her CPAC speech in which she sipped a Big Gulp on stage to highlight the ridiculousness of Bloomberg’s proposed soda ban. The move was met with laughs and cheers, similar to the response her Big Gulp moment received at CPAC.

She joked that she swiped the dip from Todd, and he had been looking for it all morning.

Palin specifically singled out Bloomberg, who she said was “bitterly clinging to notion government must control the people and all aspects of life.”

She called him out for his hypocrisy for wanting to ban guns even though he has armed body guards.

Palin said those like Bloomberg have the mindset of, “What’s right for thee is not right for me.”

The atmosphere in the room turned even more serious when Palin used the Kermit Gosnell case as an example of how sorely the media lack integrity regarding the monstrous mass murderer” of babies. She said the media’s silence on the matter ultimately erodes the country’s freedoms.

Palin said the battle for the Second Amendment was personal to her, citing her son who is in the military.

“This fight is about what kind of people we are,” Palin said. She added that she wants her son Trig to grow up in an exceptional country, and the Second Amendment is a necessary component.

Palin said what drives her — and those who are likeminded — when they are scorned, vilified, and discounted is the spirit of Americans who stand up for the country’s freedoms even in the face of such relentless hostility.

“What keeps us reloading in this fight is the faces I see here today,” Palin said. “I love you guys.”

Palin closed out her optimistic speech while those in attendance gave her a thunderous and rousing standing ovation.

“Keep the faith,” Palin implored. “Stand up for our freedoms.”

Palin was speaking at the conference just weeks after the Toomey-Manchin gun control bill was defeated. Breitbart Sports was at the conference, and attendees were inspired and felt her words and resolve were needed and great news for the NRA, liberty, and, ultimately, for America.

Cindy Cassidy and Tony Lee contributed to this report