Palin talks politics, family ahead of book release
The Associated Press
In this photo released by ABC, former Alaska Governor and Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, left, is photographed with ABC’s Barbara Walters at a New York City hotel Friday.
Published: November 17, 2009
Updated: November 17, 2009
NEW YORK — Sarah Palin wouldn’t reveal her political plans for 2012 in an interview with Barbara Walters, but when asked whether she’d play a major role replied that “if people will have me, I will.“
The former Republican vice presidential candidate said that election isn’t even on her radar screen.
“My ambition, if you will, my desire is to help our country in whatever role that may be, and I cannot predict what that will be, what doors will be open in the year 2012,“ she told Walters.
Palin is making the rounds to promote her new book, “Going Rogue,“ which will be released Tuesday.
On Monday, she appeared on the “The Oprah Winfrey Show,“ and ABC released excerpts of the interview with Walters that will begin airing on newscasts Tuesday.
The former Alaska governor said she’d rate President Barack Obama’s performance a 4 out of 10. She criticized the president for his handling of the economy and for “dithering” on national security questions.
“There are a lot of decisions being made that I — and probably the majority of Americans — are not impressed with right now,“ she said on ABC.
The title of Palin’s book refers to a phrase John McCain’s campaign used to describe his vice presidential running mate going off message. In the book, she criticizes the people who ran McCain’s campaign and says wished she had been allowed to speak more freely. But she told Walters the outcome probably would not have been different if she had.
“The economy tanked,“ she said. “(The) electorate was ready, sincerely, for change.“
Palin said she’s gotten plenty of offers during the past few months, including to open up her family for a reality show, that she has rejected. She also said she wasn’t sure whether a talk show would be best for her family. “I’d probably rather write than talk,“ she said.
During her interview with Winfrey, which was taped last week, Palin said that it’s heartbreaking to see the road that Levi Johnston, the father of her grandson, has taken and that the soon-to-be Playgirl model hasn’t seen his baby in a while.
Palin and Winfrey also talked about the controversy surrounding Palin’s possible appearance on the show last year. The two women embraced as Palin walked onto the talk show stage.
The new memoir doesn’t mention Johnston, who has sparred repeatedly with his former mother-in-law-to-be. Johnston and Palin’s daughter, Bristol Palin, are parents to son, Tripp.
When Winfrey asked about Johnston, Palin said she didn’t think “a national television show is the place to discuss some of the things he’s doing and saying.“
But Palin went on to say she finds it “a bit heartbreaking to see the road that he is on right now” and that “it’s not a healthy place to be.“
Bristol Palin and her son live at Palin’s home, she said, and have much family support.
“(Johnston’s) quite busy with his media tours and he hasn’t seen the baby for a while,“ Palin said. “But we will let that be the discussion between Bristol and Levi as they work out their relationship.“
Palin also said Johnston remains a member of the family and that they can work out any troubles. She said she prays for him and that he has an “open invitation” to Thanksgiving dinner.
Winfrey began the interview by asking Palin if she felt snubbed at not getting an invitation to “The Oprah Winfrey Show” last year. Winfrey said she didn’t have any candidates on her Chicago-based show during the campaign because of her support for President Barack Obama.
Palin said she didn’t feel snubbed and told Winfrey, “No offense to you, but it wasn’t the center of my universe.“
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Reader Reactions
SayWhat- “Now, now, fellows….If Barack can be president ...any idiot can.
what the heck has he accomplished other than some real elaborate parties at the white house. don’t kid yourself fellows Barack’s wife is running our country.
I hope Sarah does run. I’ll vote for her and I’m sure other affiliates with the democrates will also.
Go Sarah we need a change!“
I can never take anything you say seriously from this point on. i wonder what your resume looks like bc by your standards, i’ll bet YOU too can be president
OH-OH - “I don’t think Obama is an idiot. He is very smartr. He became prez without proving citizenship.“
lol, come on man… its almost like you named yourself that knowing that you were gonna make that stupid post.
ROFLMAO! not a birther!! yep, the 2 honolulu newspapers in 1961 who printed a notice of his birth KNEW he was gonna be president and they fabricated the records!! Darn Kenyan conspiracy!
I don’t think Obama is an idiot. He is very smartr. He became prez without proving citizenship.
SayWhat, Obama may be many things but he is definitely not an idiot. Do you have any idea what it takes to become editor of the Harvard Law Review? Of course you don’t. Sorry, for a moment I thought I was dealing with an intelligent person.
As an independent voter with distinctly conservative leanings on most issues, I urge Republicans everywhere to beware of Sarah Palin—she isn’t anywhere close intellectually to being ready to occupy the White House. She will not be a wise choice, in spite of her looks and all the winking manipulation. The party needs to move away from people like Palin, Limbaugh, Chaney, Armey, etc in order to win future elections, broaden their appeal to younger voters, and to begin to offer real solutions to our pressing national problems. The party has become associated by many voters with being in the pockets of big oil, the auto industry, the big pharmaceuticals, the insurance industry, and all the corporations who want to stop dead any progress toward realistic and affordable solutions. Palin will probably end up as a talk show host, unless the party is foolish enough to nominate her again.
SayWhat. If you vote for her, that will be you and about 23% of the population- it will be a landslide.
Our nation isn’t that stupid, anymore. As bush tried to say, “Fooled once, shame on you; fooled twice, same on my.“ We learned after 8 years of Bush; we now have a President who actually reads books and makes decisions after some thought, rather than shooting from the hip and letting the chips fall where ever they may (like with the Iraqi war with over 4000 dead Americans the result of Bush’s “shoot from the hip” policy).
If Palin is the Republican nominee, Obama would be a shoo in - in fact, my Democratic dog would win if she were of age - heck, how old is a 4 year old dog in human years? She may be old enough. Bring her on.
‘Nuff said. Peace.
Now, now, fellows….If Barack can be president ...any idiot can.
what the heck has he accomplished other than some real elaborate parties at the white house. don’t kid yourself fellows Barack’s wife is running our country.
I hope Sarah does run. I’ll vote for her and I’m sure other affiliates with the democrates will also.
Go Sarah we need a change!
Not only is this woman a jacka$$, she is creepy, too!
Well dind, I wouldn’t go quite that far. A genius she is not. But that never stopped George Bush. All you need is the ability to hoodwink the American public. Not too difficult a task of late. Read some of the posts on this blog and you will know exactly what I mean.
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