Video: Palin on Today
posted at 10:06 am on June 12, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Sarah Palin turned in an impressive performance in an 11-minute appearance on the Today show with Matt Lauer this morning. She deftly handled both politics and economics when it came to the new natural-gas pipeline accord Palin reached, parrying tough but fair questions from Lauer. She also rose to the occasion when Lauer inevitably asked her about David Letterman (via The Right Scoop):
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
This interview shows both the potential and the peril of Sarah Palin. She has improved considerably in handling the national media. On both economics and politics, Lauer couldn’t dent her (and just to emphasize, Lauer was treating her fairly), and had the Letterman controversy not existed, that aspect of her performance would have been the headline here. Instead, the three minutes or so in the middle of this 11-minute interview that has nothing to do with governing or policy will be all that the public will remember or want to see.
That could be the overall aim of Palin’s opponents. If David Letterman has to eat some crow every few months for his personal attacks on Palin, does that really matter to him? He has a contract with CBS for the next three years, at which point he’d probably retire anyway. Letterman and his ilk can continue to make all of the coverage about Palin revolve around her daughters, forcing her to respond and to look less serious as a politician, in a way that the media would never do to a man or to a liberal – as Palin said, no one did it to Obama, nor should they.
If enough of them do it, the downside for her attackers will be small, and the upside will be to kneecap Palin before she can threaten Democrats in a future election.
Update: Just to make clear, I’m not suggesting at all that Republicans distance themselves from Palin. At some point, we will need to let the Letterman-like provocations go and have her focus on national politics, where she has clearly improved. Promoting Palin as a victim (although entirely justified) won’t make her a compelling force in politics.
Blowback
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Barry’s “TV” non teleprompter.
portlandon on June 12, 2009 at 11:47 AM
It’s clear Palin is receiving some media training, but she still has a long way to go. While her voice is improved, she continues to lack credibility. It isn’t that she is inauthentic, although there is a hint of that, it’s that she comes off (forgive the choice of description) bush-league.
Halli Casser-Jayne
http://www.thecjpoliticalreport.com
The CJ Political Report on June 12, 2009 at 11:47 AM
I don’t buy that Ed. . . Lauer was wearing his
letterman pom poms trying to make him the victim.
Matt. . .Your still a puke.
Texyank on June 12, 2009 at 11:47 AM
First Obama used a Teleprompter but it was in front of the room and everyone made jokes. So at the next press conference they put to wide screens at the back of the room. Like no one would notice. LOLOLOLOL
Geochelone on June 12, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Not a Lauer fan, but that was a very fair line of questioning and a surprisingly tasteful, professional interview. He belabored the Letterman thing some, but for good or ill it’s the burning issue of the day and he let Sarah fully explain her perspective. Sarah scored points today.
bigjack on June 12, 2009 at 11:47 AM
we either resist the trespassing or we give up our right to do so! I wrote about that here:
Justrand on June 12, 2009 at 11:48 AM
http://bejohngalt.com/2009/06/the-cost-of-freedom-12/
Justrand on June 12, 2009 at 11:49 AM
I seem to recall at that time or near it at least, Ed saying he would actually have preferred The Fred. I could be wrong, though.
Either way, we DO want Ed on our side. Very smart, very fair, and not one for hand-wringing over trivial matters. I too would hit Captain’s Quarters several times daily. I never commented over there, because in most cases, what Ed said about the topic at hand was pretty much spot on, and nothing I would say would have added to it. The Boss made a great move.
JamesLee on June 12, 2009 at 11:50 AM
This idiot says she “deplores partisanship” yet she has no less than 4 Obama hopenchange buttons of her shirt.
What a dolt plugging her site on HA. Too funny.
Geochelone on June 12, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Yellowstone Pipeline already services Montana, you know Domestic Oil Production so the Money theoretically doesn’t go into the pockets of state sponsor of Terrorism. How can Governor Palin’s proposal be a bad idea? Well GE owns NBC so Lauer has to push GE And Obama GREEN AGENDA.
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/03/22/news/state/18-canada.txt
The Letterman comments weren’t funny, jokes are supposed to be funny. NBC -MSNBC can’t stop insulting their audience or wouldbe audience remember all the Tea Bagging jokes? Oh how about anyone who attended a Tea Party were Racist, Right Wingers, Extremist, Radicals…should be put on the Homeland Security watch list. Uh huh this is just more in a long line of the GE agenda. The thing is they can have their Green Energy Campaign but if they drive the viewership away, who is going to know anything about it? So a big waste of our Tax Payer money. Our Government gave GE some of our money…So basically we are paying to have NBC and MSNBC insult us..Nice work if you can get SNARK.
There is no defending Letterman’s ugly insinuation about the Governor’s daughters, it doesn’t matter which one he meant, he tried to disguise it as a tasteless joke. It doesn’t wash.
Dr Evil on June 12, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Wow, when she had Matt Lauer agreeing with her at the end….
rollthedice on June 12, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Sorry Ed. No! I no longer can give these guys the benefit of the doubt. EVERYTHING these media guys do is for effect.
Lauer wants her back on so Today can gain ratings the next time his colleauges at NBC bash her and her family. Lauer is there to be the “good cop” and/or a flack to take advantage of the controversey. Don’t give Lauer credit he does not deserve.
Think about it Ed.
RobCon on June 12, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Gone. He or she, no one knows, has become a part of the problems, not part of any solutions.
Wade on June 12, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Young –
I hope you take this as a compliment – but you are truly “young” as in naive to the world of politics and communications.
I visited your blog, think you have a good head on your shoulders and write well – but there is a huge difference in what you think “works” and what really “works” in politics.
I champion young conservatives – as did my political mentors with me; but to think in todays media, being on the #1 morning show with know liberal hacks – Palin can just give a one liner and make it go away… is myopic.
Odie1941 on June 12, 2009 at 11:56 AM
I get the distinct impression from Matt Lauer’s comments & questions that HE DOES NOT SEEM TO THINK LETTERMAN’S WORDS WERE DESPICABLE.
Please call MSNBC and voice your opinions of Matt Lauer.
rightwink on June 12, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Ed’s subtext: We need someone boring like Pawlenty or Crist.
spmat on June 12, 2009 at 11:58 AM
I agree with whoever posted that Palin is a breath of fresh air in the face of the elitism that is destroying America.
She is what we (conservatives and the country) need at this time.
If she were to step in tomorrow as CIC……
-Majority of tax increase would be repealed and drastic business incentives would be put in place.
-Government spending would be slashed to the bare minimum and government would get out of the business of running corporations.
-Unions and Acorn would become irrelavent thus elections would no longer be corrupted and industry would become more competitive.
-The “giant sucking sound” of outsourcing would cease and the economic motto would become America First instead of last as it is under Obama.
-there would be NO….I repeat NO apologizing for America or for being an American and the pride that Ronald Regan ushered in would return once more.
-National defense would be bolstered while Chavez and Castro would once again become pariahs instead of looked at as pioneers or revolutinary leaders by an American administration….you wouldn’t see Sarah helping chavez promote an anti-American book or agree with Ortega after an hour long anti-American diatribe.
-Israel would be safe and NOT thrown to the wolves.
-Terrorists would be treated as such and not released on American soil and the truth would be told about Guantanamo….it is not the gulag the euros and American left try to portray and it is a fair solution to the problem of what to do with non-state actors who are trying to crush the west.
-America would get closer to energy independence than ever before and the war against American oil and nuclear devolpment would end.
The difference is as stark as the difference between Regan and Carter.
Goodeye_Closed on June 12, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Sorry – I forgot that MSNBC is a left-wing fifth column. They could care less :-(
rightwink on June 12, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Nice try, no cigar. Your elitism is showing.
Wade on June 12, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Yea r-i-g-h-t… Small people like David Fricking Letterman will derail Sarah Palin by attacking her daughters. And that will cause us rubes in America to not support her…
I don’t think so!
sabbott on June 12, 2009 at 12:00 PM
What a class act! Try and draw a comparison to her and Granny Botox and then try and figure how one is Governor of Alaska and the other is the head of the House when one has an IQ probably of 140 and the other maybe 40.
How did we ever get here?
orlandocajun on June 12, 2009 at 12:01 PM
LettermanAllahpundit and his ilk can continue to make all of the coverage about Palin revolve around her daughters,forcing her to respond and to look less serious as a politician– in a way that the media would never do to a man or to a liberal – and then go right ahead and blame her for the drama……..Mcguyver on June 12, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Like that paragon of credibility, Barack Obama?
Chuck Schick on June 12, 2009 at 12:04 PM
We LOVE Ed.
But Ed should be able to take criticism, as he seems to have some of Sarah Palin.
I respect Ed’s opinion, as do most here. His logic is good which is why there in constructive criticism. While I like Allah…..the jury is still out. He fluctuates a little more. He isn’t as stable with his stances on subjects, but stubborn on others.
portlandon on June 12, 2009 at 12:05 PM
No, you are the one who comes off as bush-league as does your blog. And to claim nonpartisanship while wearing all those stupid buttons, is ridiculous.
Blake on June 12, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Apart from his ridiculous moral relativism in his questioning of her response to letterman, I came away a little dizzied and happily shocked at Lauer’s civility toward Mrs. Palin.
cjk on June 12, 2009 at 12:06 PM
I love Ed but I’m offering constructive analysis.
RobCon on June 12, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Michelle is clueless. Sarah Palin is certainly not tall.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/06/12/dear_david_letterman_96959.html
TTheoLogan on June 12, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Well done, but I really don’t think that ‘young girls suffer from low self-esteem (except when it comes to obsessive concerns about weight and beauty) which has nothing to do with dirty old Dave’s disgusting joke.
Quite the contrary, I think girls have been artificially elevated to heights they don’t necessarily deserve.
Buy Danish on June 12, 2009 at 12:09 PM
The CJ Political Report on June 12, 2009 at 11:47 AM
You’re about as non-partisan as MSNBC. You’ve fooled nobody. It sure is embarrassing to be you.
kingsjester on June 12, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Allahpundit did exceptionally well when Ed was on vacation. Apparently, working his a$$ off brings out the best in him.
A couple weeks ago, he posted a poll that favored the republicans and added a sentence at the end that all is not lost. It was great! And what a change from his usual snark.
He thinks we want to read only stories that confirm our beliefs. Not true. All we want is more balance which he is not providing. And less pessimism. He can be as pessimistic as he wants but it isn’t always necessary to share it with us.
Blake on June 12, 2009 at 12:10 PM
If Palin were a liberal this would be the take:
Has TV comedy gone too far?
The new woman hate.
A mother lion defending her cub
Why are men so scared of strong women?
RobCon on June 12, 2009 at 12:11 PM
I think the America people are going to start seeing through the attacks on Governor Palin and her family. The liberal media even crossed the line for NOW’s taste.
ice princess on June 12, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Why are Olbermann/Lauer/nbc/msnbc/cnn/abc/cbs always asking about the lack of a GOP leader? Who was the leader of the Dems six months into Bush’s term? Second term? NO ONE. At that time, Obama was sitting in Reverend Wright’s church and “organizing” ACORN. He was a nobody in the legislature, voting present on key issues. A NOBODY. Our ideas and anger will fuel our fire at the polls in 2010 and 2012. The “front runner” will carry OUR message. It’s coming.
marklmail on June 12, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Wait a minute here! On that website is says, and I quote -
I mean, isn’t that what we all want to avoid? Being mindless? Like Dan Q said, “A mind is a terrible thing to lose or to not have a mind is very wasteful” or something like that.
And who doesn’t want honest political analysis? It says it right on that website, honest political analysis, so it must be true.
MB4 on June 12, 2009 at 12:14 PM
She is a great disturbance to the liberal force. To them she is their Kryptonite. They know she is a threat, they know she can’t be defeated.
And if she ran for President they can’t attack her on experience because by then if she decides to run for 2nd term as gov. she would have more experience than obama as President.
jaboba on June 12, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Remember the coach of the Rutgers women’s BB team……having an open forum to talk about how those poor little girls will be wounded forever due to the harmful words of AN OLD WASHED UP RADIO GUY WHO HAS ALMOST NO AUDIENCE (compared to Letterman)
But Sarah, she needs to answer the question………”everyone knows this was just a joke….” and gets push back when Letterman trashes her daughter
Dpet on June 12, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Her accent was definitely less pronounced than usual. I know everyone will call me a snob, but it matters to the voters.
Speedwagon82 on June 12, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Ed, you sound like Yoda.
Amadeus on June 12, 2009 at 12:15 PM
I, for one, would watch more cable news if the talking heads all talked more like Yoda.
Snowed In on June 12, 2009 at 12:19 PM
I totally agree, she was very impressive.
Amadeus on June 12, 2009 at 12:20 PM
One word: BACKLASH
People are growing tired of this obvious manipulation. The Democrats are being way too obvious in showing their hand. The Soviets got away with their propaganda, because there was no real opportunity for the people to respond. But these Democrats are going to have their way for a couple of years, and in November of 2010, the people are going to respond at the ballot box, loud and clear.
The backlash is coming, and it is going to be a beaut!
gridlock2 on June 12, 2009 at 12:21 PM
I think the American mindset is not being portrayed fairly here. You say all that will be remembered by this, it the Letterman issue. I don’t think so.
It’s clear that people are afraid, concerned, worried, and angry over what’s happening in this country. An overwhelming majority don’t believe GM should be under Government control. I don’t think this is an issue solely exclusive to GM. In my opinion, a majority feel this way about Government taking control of ANY business.
With those kinds of majorities, and the crap that just keeps coming out daily, it will be very apparent soon, to Washington, that the citizens don’t like it, and probably won’t take much more, before they speak up, and out about it.
It’s also my opinion, that Palin is right where she should be, at the moment, and the left obviously feel threatened by her. She has time on her side. Obama? Not so much.
As for Letterman, who cares. He’s made it apparent, that his so called apology was just a show. He’s a dirty old man, with nothing better to do, than trash a woman whom he obviously feels threatened by, as well!
capejasmine on June 12, 2009 at 12:24 PM
I actually think the Letterman thing helped her. I doubt Lauer would have had her on without it, but it gave her a chance to talk about the pipeline.
I trust Palin’s political instincts more than any other politician, and if that’s the field she wants to play the game, I say let her.
jacrews on June 12, 2009 at 12:25 PM
LOL, I know, she’s infectious.
Amadeus on June 12, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Geochelone on June 12, 2009 at 10:57 AM
RepubChica on June 12, 2009 at 11:35 AM
They grow ‘em pretty hardy up there in AK. My sister-in-law has raised a family of four while her hubby worked on the pipeline and she worked in a bank. Her kids are all tough as nails but kind and have the same inner strength. Not surprisingly the oldest daughter had her first baby as a teen but they have since married and had another. It’s not all Trailer Trash News. Sometimes there are happy endings.
Good posts from both of you.
Mr_Magoo on June 12, 2009 at 12:28 PM
If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.
- Joseph Goebbels
MB4 on June 12, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Palin pwned Letterman.
I hate that Letterman jerk so this is all good.
The Final Cut on June 12, 2009 at 12:34 PM
Y’all quit focusing on Allah and Ed and make your points. If you don’t have an argument, you can’t win one.
Just the facts, folks.
If you want a site whose opinions you agree with 100%, go to Sarahpac.
eaglesdontflock on June 12, 2009 at 12:36 PM
P-K-B Don’t like our comments, don’t read them.
Blake on June 12, 2009 at 12:41 PM
It would be a different story if Sarah Palin were a man. Palin’s biggest fight is the underlying sexism and elitism that permeates within the Republican party. No matter how well Sarah performs, rest assured that people within her own party will be right there to make sure she gets beat back down again. There’s a keep Palin in her place mentality. Beltway Republicans want to keep the status quo even though the party is aimlessly blowing in the wind without any vision or true leadership.
People like Letterman are not the greatest insult to Palin but so called Republicans who feed off of her and then throw her to the wolves over and over for their own career gain.
Christina_M on June 12, 2009 at 12:44 PM
I still don’t see how the left can continue condone these “jokes”. Now I know which party represents the misogynists and pedophiles. Open-minded my @ss.
stackedeck on June 12, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Ed, after watching, I must disagree that his questioning was fair. He would never take with a liberal the prosecutorial approach he did with Palin. It’s only fair when he does it with both sides.
rivlax on June 12, 2009 at 12:47 PM
“Bush-League”
How’s the view looking down your nose at an accomplished, capable sitting US Governor? Is anybody aware that Governor Palin is past chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission and currently chairs the National Governor’s Association’s Natural Resource Committee (slang title, Energy Committee)? These are position chosen by the state governments and Governors of those states. The energy committee is charged with formulating state-federal policy on energy development, natural resources and other matters.
When are people going to kick the tires, get some facts, and get over their snob snits about this woman? Would they have her jet to NY and hit 7th, 5th and Madison Aves for some designer duds and a slick down, so she can look like the rest of them? What a story that would make the next day, complaining about her trying to “put on airs” as if she was one of us.
When Harry Truman got to the U.S. Senate, he was given some advice. The guy was a haberdasher, for goodness sake.
He was told (sure the time is off and it’s paraphrased):
For the first six-months you’re here, you’ll wonder how the hell you got here. After that, you’ll wonder how the hell the rest of them got here.
Maybe we need a little more “Bush League” in Washington if that’s what Governor Plain is.
IndieDogg on June 12, 2009 at 12:47 PM
What is she going to threaten to do to us? Lose to us in a landslide?
With all due respect, this post by Ed Morrisey show’s how pathetic Palin truly is. When the conservative movement has set expectations for their favored political leader SO LOW as to celebrate the fact that she gave a national interview without completely blowing up, then it shows just how weak the candidate is.
Honestly, do you see liberal blogs posting every interview Obama does and discussing how “Obama survived”? It’s amazing how a simple thing like an interview is like leaping over fire for Palin.
If surviving an interview with Matt Lauer is considered a “big accomplishment” for Palin’s candidacy, then you nitwits are going to get CRUSHED in 2012.
Lizza on June 12, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Halli -
Just checked out your blog.
Don’t think I would ever use the term “bush league” if I were you.
bw222 on June 12, 2009 at 12:50 PM
It’s BAAAAAACK.
portlandon on June 12, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Obama isn’t conservative so softball interviews are to be the norm for him. Now conservatives have to be on their feet at all times because they will get the hard hitting questions.
TimeTraveler on June 12, 2009 at 12:52 PM
You mean… just like Ed did today, and AP does every day.
Ed’s articles are normally very thoughtful, which is why this disaster stood out so much.
AP is just a pathetic, angry little blogger when it comes to reporting on Palin… and I ignore is tripe on a regular basis.
Palin handled herself very well on all the topics. As a mom, she SHOULD defend her family from a 62-year old pervert who made rape jokes about her 14-year old daughter. Not only does she stand up for what she (and us conservatives) believe, but it points out liberals for what they are… amoral jackasses.
dominigan on June 12, 2009 at 12:55 PM
portlandon on June 12, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Yeah, we noticed. On the other hand Roger Waters/The Wall/The Final Cut actually said something nice about Sarah Palin. Are dogs and cats sleeping together yet?
kingsjester on June 12, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Not really…. the economy is sick… very sick… it is going to take years for it to fix itself…. consumer spending is 70% of our economy, and consumer balance sheets have been blown up… consumer deleveraging is going to take quite some time. The economy will be an anchor for Obama. By the time 2012 rolls around, anybody is going to be able to beat Obama. Elections with incumbents are referendums on incumbents. Remember that.
BPD on June 12, 2009 at 1:01 PM
I don’t think they’re that Machiavellian, or at least that forward thinking. Letterman thought he could get away with it because he thought Palin bashing, in all its forms and targets, had gotten an unbreakable seal of cultural approval. He, clearly, was wrong.
This is not a subject others will want to stew on. If NOW has come out against Letterman, others between it and Palin on the political spectrum are not going to accept similar stuff in the future.
Patrick on June 12, 2009 at 1:01 PM
I’m willing to make a bet with you on that. ;)
Whadayawant?
The election in 2012 isn’t going to be about “expectations” … it’s going to be about getting Hussien the hell out of office. To do that – all the Republicans need to do is unite the base – they’ve already got the independents (look at the recent polls dear).
Obama is already out of steam – he has one shot left in him – he can nationalize healthcare but the indications there is it won’t be easy for him. You can forget Cap-N-Tax – ‘taint happening. Americans know they’ve made a big mistake – and you’re going to see the GOP in charge of the House NEXT year. I say that – not out of joy – I’m not a Republican anymore and I think they suck – personally.
And most Conservatives think the GOP sucks too and that is why we’ll sit on our arse again in 2012 if the GOP runs someone like McCain again.
But if you see Palin on the field – you better run girlie.
Yeah – I’ll take a bet with you.
HondaV65 on June 12, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Contracts can be broken!
CBS is losing money… and Dave is a leach.
upinak on June 12, 2009 at 1:03 PM
We need a comedian czar.
BPD on June 12, 2009 at 1:04 PM
No we don’t. Dave needs a ass whopping and maybe it will knock some common sense in him.
upinak on June 12, 2009 at 1:05 PM
LOL. Your messiah is never asked anything but fluff questions, yet still manages to putz himself out — most often when speaking, not even in an interview. Naturally, mind-numbed Obamabots never notice his failures — your programming won’t permit that!
As for Palin, she didn’t “survive” anything — she outsmarted the dimwitted Lauer. Moreover, she demonstrated, yet again, how classy and graceful she is, even when confronted by rape-joking, radical leftists.
Your crowd, who fell for ol’ Dumb and Dumber are the “nitwits”, something that has no doubt begun to penetrate your thick skull — this is why you’re here, right, to try to feel better by slinging some hate slime against a decent woman?
littleguy on June 12, 2009 at 1:06 PM
There was a day in this country when if you said something like that about someone’s daughter – you’d get a tail full of buckshot from her dad.
Ahhh … the good old days.
HondaV65 on June 12, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Spoken like a true Leftist – someone who doesn’t have to worry about the State Controlled Media because it’s always on her side.
Here in Mayberry however, every time one of our folks goes on a show like “Today” – they’re pelted with propanda and “gotchas” – and it’s not just Palin. How many times do we have to hear Chris Mathews ask … “Do you believe in Evolution?”. When is the last time he asked a liberal “Do you believe in the practice of partial birth abortion and sucking out the brains of a viable baby?”
You never hear that.
So yes Dear – Surviving an interview with the State Controlled Media is a victory for us. No matter what Conservative does it.
Now back in your hole!
HondaV65 on June 12, 2009 at 1:10 PM
And Conan could use the help. I watched his Tonight Show last night. Brutal. No laughs. One bomb after another, just him making ape faces to the camera. He’s dreadful. If this was typical, Tonight Show ratings will tank in short order.
james23 on June 12, 2009 at 1:10 PM
When you turn on a television you have the choice of channels, your choice is tracked and given as ratings which tells the advertisers if they are getting their money’s worth. Just don’t tune in to Letterman and go a step forward and get a listing of their sponsors, email them you are not going to view the show anymore. Once they lose the sponsors, the show and letterman will go away.
Make your choice and make it heard loud and clear. If anyone can supply a list of their sponsors, post it and give them your thoughts.
workingforpigs on June 12, 2009 at 1:11 PM
LISTING OF LETTERMAN’S SPONSORS WITH POINTS OF CONTACT.
Thanks to Red State!
Should be no problem for us to shut these guys down with email and letters.
HondaV65 on June 12, 2009 at 1:17 PM
I might add – that thanks to an assist by the Obama-Economic decline we’re currently experiencing – a couple of these companies are going to be particularly hurting – and are going to be fairly thin-skinned when it comes to ANY boycott (Best Western comes to mind).
May want to target them in particular.
HondaV65 on June 12, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Excellent job Governor Palin. Where are the trolls? Axelrod must be slow with the talking points. Was nice to read through three pages of comments without them. I am sure they will find a counter argument to this great interview. It is a shame the era of Reagan is dead because she sure speaks his language, and mine.
chief on June 12, 2009 at 1:21 PM
If that’s your idea of a “fair” interview then there is no hope for Palin to EVER get support from conservatives.
Lauer was obviously trying to trap Palin into calling Letterman a pervert. Which she had every right to do because he obviously is a pervert. But she’s politically astute enough to know that if she had said anything that could be used as a sound bite in that direction, then THAT would be all over the internet in 5 minutes and THAT would be the story.
Considering the mental hoops Palin has to jump through during every interview she gives, it’s astounding that she can form any sentence at all. That interview was confrontational from the start, she had to defend everything she said when confronted with “the other side”.
Interviewing Palin has turned into a game where even conservatives have bought into the line that if she doesn’t embarrass herself she did good.
She has never embarrassed herself and it’s too bad that some conservative bloggers can’t seem to get past their own embarrassment to support her.
Jaynie59 on June 12, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Excellent Ed, you are right on the money.
AprilOrit on June 12, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Well……..they did act like he won every single debate and the Saddleback forum just because he didn’t fall on his face. They acted like McCain failing to crush him unconditionally was some big victory.
Speedwagon82 on June 12, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Imagine if Palin had said, “I don’t want to talk about Letterman.” Do you think Lauer would have not tried to hector her into talking about it, making her look incapable of dealing with the controversy? Palin handled it well and with some humor of her own, suggesting that Willow would kneecap Letterman if she had the chance. Plus, she got her own message out about the AGIA deal and even got Lauer to agree with her toward the end.
RedRedRice on June 12, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Plagiarism!!!!
BPD on June 12, 2009 at 1:23 PM
So true. Look how the GOP governors treated her, it was almost like they were jealous of her.
AprilOrit on June 12, 2009 at 1:25 PM
If Letterman and his ilk keep on attacking Sarah and her daughters, then they are guaranteeing that Sarah will win a huge share of the women’s vote. NOW and other feminist groups are already rallying and defending the Palins. Women of all political stripes are ticked off in a major way about this (except for Obots like Huffington who never ever side with Sarah on anything). If Sarah wins the women vote, she wins period. It’s a sister thing doncha know?!
If Letterman keeps this up, he will lose sponsors right and left which hurts his show and CBS eventually. I’ve heard that some of his sponsors are jumping ship already.
sarahpalinfan99 on June 12, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Right after McCain announced Sarah as his pick for VP, there was one of those 1000+ comment threads here on HA, and I tried to read most of them. What struck me, overwhelmingly, in page after page of comments is–this Lady really fires people up! And brings out the optimism in a normally very skeptical crowd. I see it in the comments again today. Hope for our side.
That is special. Whatever it is she has, it is unique and most pols would kill for it.
For this reason among many others, I’m hoping we haven’t seen teh last of Mrs. Palin on the national stage.
james23 on June 12, 2009 at 1:33 PM
C
I agree but don’t just point the finer at the republicans. The democrats treated Hillary Clinton horribly. And while I know many on the right laughed at her complaint of a double standard, she was absolutely right.
Blake on June 12, 2009 at 1:34 PM
I LOVE intelligent women. And Gov. Palin, to me, does a very good job in this interview (the portion regarding Letter-no-man).
madmonkphotog on June 12, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Look at how HotAir treats her yet we don’t hear you complaining about it. Heck, I dont remember you ever saying anything nice about her, so don’t be a hypocrite.
Blake on June 12, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Does anyone remember papa Bush taking on Dan Rather?
Ed is completely wrong on any possible “peril.”
For Gov. Palin, this is a free shot. She gets to stand up for the basic American family values, make an appeal to feminists about the dangers of major television show hosts cheapening young women for their own interests, and the like.
There is really no downside for Gov. Palin taking a principled stand here.
Captain America on June 12, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Sarah is 5′ 4 3/4″, which makes her very slightly taller than average for an adult woman, and almost certainly taller than Michelle (I don’t have stats on her, but seeing her standing next to Charlie Martin, I’d say she’s shorter than that.)
The Monster on June 12, 2009 at 1:39 PM
She resonated with moderate women and conservatives on this issue. It won’t hurt her in the least. In fact, she scored big.
Right timing to speak out.
I’m still a bit offended by “she’s improved.” Baloney. Couric and Gibson were determined to make her look awful and succeeded. They can do that to anyone.
AnninCA on June 12, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Another interview with Wolf Blitzer. She may not run for gov again. :)
What is you say? It’s On!
AnninCA on June 12, 2009 at 1:43 PM
There’s no “danger-free” way of hanging onto liberty (or, indeed, of winning it back). OK, so the media have a bag of tricks to use on Palin. It’s up to the infosphere on the right to beat them at their game, and help Palin get her political message out.
J.E. Dyer on June 12, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Again, if you don’t want to give them the ratings, I uploaded the interview on YouTube here:
http://nicholasjacob.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/sarah-palin-comes-out-swinging-on-the-today-show/
nickj116 on June 12, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Uh oh. She better not mention the whole Letterman thing or the Joe Scarborough/Laura Ingraham/Hotair wing of Conservatism is going to have a fit.
BPD on June 12, 2009 at 1:51 PM
I’ve never understood why so many people think of Sarah as some sort of pariah on society when she is anything but. Letterman and his ilk are showing just how easily they can be swayed and led rather than think for themselves.
Simply put, she is a natural born leader with a conscience. How many are there like that in Washington right now? She is good for this country no matter what role she chooses to play for our future, something I cannot say about Obama and his cronies given the mountain of evidence saying otherwise.
Miss Molly on June 12, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Great interview, and she is back and forming herself and her opinions…..but that last 2 minutes was the most impressive in my opinion. Her response shows just how legit and real this woman is, hence her appeal.
by the way Hot air. I really would like more positive Palin stories. Now when others have mentioned it your bias is kinda out there. Not totally your fault, as the attacks on her have been on the trivial side forcing trivial responses. Here’s hoping that pipeline and real policy arguments are in store for the future once Letterman and company get the message that she is a serious politician.
cayman on June 12, 2009 at 2:05 PM
FTFY.
tsj017 on June 12, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Why do you think she won’t run again? You think she acknowledges her flaws and wants to have more time to work on them?
TimeTraveler on June 12, 2009 at 2:12 PM
She just declined to commit to another term as Gov. Who knows?
My interpretation? She just officially threw her hat in the ring on the national level.
AnninCA on June 12, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Thanks for the link!
Cheney/Palin 2012!!
Game on!!
christene on June 12, 2009 at 2:15 PM
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