Sarah Palin calls Johnston a liar and fame seeker

Entertainment Tonight Online ^

[Hawk720]

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is firing back at her grandson's teenaged father, Levi Johnston, for comments he made on TV about the circumstances surrounding his son's conception.

On an episode of "The Tyra Banks Show" to air Monday, Johnston, 18, claims that Gov. Palin did not think that he and her daughter Bristol were being abstinent when they were together.

"Bristol did not even know Levi was going on the show," Palin's rep tells People.com. "We're disappointed that Levi and his family, in a quest for fame, attention, and fortune, are engaging in flat-out lies, gross exaggeration, and even distortion of their relationship."

[swain_forkbeard]

I think you’re right that Palin ought not engage her grandson’s father in a public war of words.

But how did you know Levi was bad news? Many people around here thought he cut a fine figure at the convention.

[1_Rain_Drop]

I think she's just fed up with all the false allegations and back stabbings. OTOH, she can't just sit back and let this attack on her daughter be overlooked. She welcomed that young man on the stage with her, and this is the reward her family receives?

I think Gov Sarah is just stuck in the middle.

[Pox]

Good for her. It’s about time Republicans stood up for themselves immediately and quash smears such as this.

Ignoring this type of trash will not make it go away, nor will it make the recipient seem “above” it. Quite the contrary, it will make that person seem weak and likely guilty in the court of public opinion.

The Republicans better toughen up quick or they will become the permanent political minority in this country.

[saleman]

I wasn’t gonna comment but because of your post I just can’t resist.

Levi is a white trash piece of sh..!

And no, I was not in love with him when he was brought out as “a shining example of American youth.”

It must be tough being wrong all the time. Or are you just a smart-ass who has 20/20 hindsight and loves to say I-told-you-so? Or, maybe you knew what a piece Levi was and enlightened everyone here? Or maybe you just hate Palin? Or maybe you expect young women to be perfect? Or, just the Palins to be perfect?

So many questions, so little time.

[SoCalPol]

Those who are so concerned about Sarah commenting back are not her supporters in the first place.

The MSM and other Gov. Palin bashers are getting a clue that Gov. Palin won’t put up with lies and smears that
are continued on and on.

The Palin bashers are just sorry they don’t have and adult for a candidate

[Canedawg]

“I knew Levi was bad news the moment he stepped on the stage with you.”

I also KNEW he was not going to marry her, and didn’t even want to be there, but I didn’t post it so as to avoid creating a mini-flame war.

I love Sarah.

[wrighter]

This is a one or two day story and then it goes to irrelevency. I don’t think it matters how she responded. She’s a mother first isn’t she?

[Big_Monkey]

"Have you people been beaten down so long that you've lost even the will to defend yourselves?

This probably wouldn't have been covered by the more mainstream publications like NYT or WaPo. But, with Palin's rather lengthy response from her spokesman, they have to cover it now.

Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. A...

"no comment"

or even...

"We're disappointed in Levi. Beyond that, we won't be commenting."

...would have allowed the story to die. The statement they put out comes off as amateurish. Not surprisingly, it probably was crafted by someone who doesn't have the greatest amount of experience in managing national media.

[autumnraine]

It’s ok Bristol, my exhusband and father of my two oldest children is a jackass too.

[Texas_shutterbug]

Yes, the names Billy Carter and Roger Clinton DO ring a bell precisely because Carter and Clinton "were" saddled with their goofy relatives being in the news quite frequently. I'm old enough to have voted for Carter the second time, so I remember it well (well, pretty well. LOL).

And, remember, Sarah is the one who thrust her kids and Levi into the news. She could have left them at home, you know. :)

[upsdriver]

There's no way she is going to be our standard bearer. She's surrounded by trailer trash and doesn't seem to be able to hold her head up and rise above it.

Trailer trash? Is that another name for ordinary Americans? The ones that didn't screw up this country? You can keep the friggin ivy league, elitist a$$holes. As for me, I will take the "trailer trash".

[SolidWood]

This probably wouldn't have been covered by the more mainstream publications like NYT or WaPo. But, with Palin's rather lengthy response from her spokesman, they have to cover it now.

This is total nonsense. The entire MSM, including those you mentioned, would and will cover the Johnstion "allegations". They have used the most fringe stuff as long as it tarnishes Palin. Where have you been the past half year?

[areukiddingme1]

All I can say is thank God no one drove a car with a pregnant woman inside into Poucha Pond — that would be an embarrassing family scandal...Thank God that has never happened. Whew! Dodged a real scandal there.

[roses of sharon]

Yes, like battered wives, some just walk on eggshells hoping not to make waves with our masters.....the MSM.

Others, are simply carrying MSM/DNC water.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

I’m torn on this one. My first instinct was that Palin should have stayed as far away from this as possible. After a few minutes, I was asking myself if letting Levi and his family know that you’re willing to play hardball was such a bad thing.

I still don’t have a strong opinion as to which one is right.

[SolidWood]

How would she know that this guy and his hanger-ons were going to sell out themselves to the MSM and spread lies?

[9YearLurker]

I’m with you on average Americans over Harvard and all, but you’ve pretty thoroughly slimed average Americans by equating them with Bristol’s ‘out-laws’.

[Marysecretary]

FReepers continually moan about how our President Bush never fought back. NOW we have someone who does and they’re still not happy.

[Texas_shutterbug]

I lived in a trailer in a trailer park for a few years, so I know plenty about trailer trash. :) Most people aren’t, but - oh, my goodness - the ones that are...

[fr_freak]

The statement they put out comes off as amateurish. Not surprisingly, it probably was crafted by someone who doesn't have the greatest amount of experience in managing national media.

Exactly what do you think could be done to manage the national media regarding Palin, given the ridiculously hostile treatment she's received across the board so far?

Also, you call the statement amateurish, but I think you are mistaking the fact that her statement doesn't follow the usual media model for amateurism. Part of Palin's appeal has always been that she's "regular folks". A slick big PR firm-issued statement such as we get regularly from our politicians would have been contrary to that image. There is no winning for Palin with the media. Period. So she might as well just do what she thinks is right.