Palin Talks with Oprah About Katie Couric, Levi Johnston

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Republicans

(CBS)

Sarah Palin did not believe her 2008 interview with CBS News Anchor Katie Couric would be a defining moment in the presidential election, she tells Oprah Winfrey in an upcoming interview -- but she knew it was bad.

The McCain campaign, however, thought the interview went well, Palin tells Winfrey in an interview that will broadcast Monday.

"The campaign said, right on. Good. You're showing your independence," Palin said, according to an excerpt from the interview. "And of course I'm thinking, if you thought that was a good interview, I don't know what a bad interview is because I knew it was a bad interview."

Palin was lampooned by Saturday Night Live for the interview, which some called a "turning point" in the campaign.

Palin Says Oprah "Gracious"; Book Details Leak

The former Alaska governor also told Winfrey she'd like to tamp down the feud she has with Levi Johnston, the father of her grandson. Winfrey asked if Johnston would be attending Thanksgiving dinner with the Palins.

"It's lovely to think that he would ever even consider such a thing," Palin said. "Because of course you want -- he is a part of the family and you want to bring him in the fold and kind of under your wing. And he needs that, too, Oprah. I think he needs to know that he is loved and he has the most beautiful child and this can all work out for good."

She added, "We're not really into the drama... We have other things to concentrate on."

You can watch video from the interview below:

On Levi Johnston:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

On Katie Couric:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

More Coverage of Sarah Palin:

Book Excerpt: Sarah Palin's Brutal Education
Washington Unplugged: New Palin Book Dissected
Sarah Palin Commends "Future Citizen-Candidates"
Palin Speech: No Phones, Laptops, Photos?

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

197 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 197 Comments


by NVhere November 17, 2009 11:42 AM EST: Sarah Palin is a strong woman. Expect great things to come!!; Reply to this comment


by reveal4 November 15, 2009 1:15 PM EST: Sarah is going to do what anyone would do. She's gonna make millions, and then laugh. Tanning in the Bahamas, private yacht, perhaps, Ferrari, opulent mansion, exquisite lifestyle...The lady Limbaugh. She'll literally be rolling in dough. Her family will be well taken care of, and she'll sit back, and laugh...; Reply to this comment

by boatguys2 November 15, 2009 11:01 AM EST

I'm so sick and tired of Sarah Palins face and voice that i will not turn on the tv. From what i heard before i tuned out, she is all sour grapes and lies about every one she has come into contact with since Mc Cain chose her as a running mate. I was listening to him before he did that, i realized quickly that i would not sleep nights if she became our vice president. I just hope this book bombs and she fades back into the Alaskan sun set quickly. I thought when the election was over that we would not have to see her any more but she is a fame and power crazed "wack job" (in the words of the Mc Cain aids )

Reply to this comment


by Omni-Present101 November 15, 2009 12:56 PM EST: Sarah Palin is and will Forever be a ...

Hollow, Floating, Bubble.

Just Air Up There and Nothing Else.

________________

Levi Johnston stated that "Obama is doing a Far Better Job than if Palin was in office and that he gave him Props"

Sarah Palin left her Responsibilities to the Tax Payers who Voted her their Governor, Just for Riches, Popularity and Mass Main Stream Media Attention and Adulation, the "Main Stream Gotcha Media" she Decried last year, during the Campaign.

Palin's Lies and Inaccuracies are being Chronically Highlighted before her Book's Release.

Neo-Conservatives, George Will and David Brooks also know Palin is [Hollow]


by reveal4 November 15, 2009 1:00 PM EST: 71% of Americans think Palin is unqualified to be President. Her favorability is somewhere around 30%, as an average. Rasmussen says Republicans see Sarah as one of two least favorable possible nominees for 2012. So the right wingers say she is a future President. She'll win in early primaries, if she runs. The other Repub. nominees will absolutely tear her apart for the unknowing, delusional, out to lunch statements she has made. It will be a Palin fricasee in the primaries, and folks who love her will say everybody is picking on her. Everybody else will say she got what she deserved, and should have known better. Will she run, probably not. She's in for the long haul and wants all the lovely money she can generate from her moments in the spotlight. What's for sure...she'll continue to make a complete arse of herself, say delusional and self serving things which ignore actual reality. She will be a laughing stock to a major portion of the country, and the right wing will absolutely love her for it.

See all 5 Replies


by boatguys2 November 15, 2009 10:55 AM EST: I'm so sick and tired of Sarah Palins face and voice that i will not turn on the tv. From what i heard before i tuned out, she is all sour grapes and lies about every one she has come into contact with since Mc Cain chose her as a running mate. I was listening to him before he did that, i realized quickly that i would not sleep nights if she became our vice president. I just hope this book bombs and she fades back into the Alaskan sun set quickly. I thought when the election was over that we would not have to see her any more but she is a fame and power crazed "wack job" (in the words of the Mc Cain aids ); Reply to this comment


by devilfly1 November 15, 2009 5:13 AM EST: Farewell to Sarah Palin!

Hello to Katie Couric!; Reply to this comment


by j_mcdonald-2009 November 15, 2009 12:52 AM EST: Wow, so many comments about whether or not McCain/Palin would be better than Obama/Biden.

I'll bet we could settle this if someone would just commission a poll or election or something similar to see who the American people prefer.

Get over it, nitwits. Your moron lost.; Reply to this comment


by LJAC009 November 14, 2009 3:31 PM EST: A message to Katie and CBS News. KATIE! You are fantastic and are loved by many! How pathetic that Sarah Palin did not/could not admit that she refused to prepare for your interview and did a bad job because of that. I watched the whole thing and you did not ask difficult questions! I could have answered them all - how could Sarah call these gotcha questions. It is ridiculous!!

PLEASE KATIE AND CBS, show the world the full videos of Sarah Palin. The parts that you left out that show the world how truly uninformed she is. You would be doing a great service to do this.

I also hope that you will ignore any nasty comments here made by her "fans." I have never seen such a group of people - they are so brainwashed and completely incapable of seeing Sarah for who she is. What they don't realize for some reason is that she is using them, taking money from them. She doesn't care about anyone but herself. And I a not a liberal yet I will be attacked by them for speaking the truth about Sarah. They never can back up their arguments with facts. Instead they always 1) call you a name; 2) call all liberals some name and 3) bring up Barack Obama and put him down. He has nothing to do with this conversation.

Sarah Palin has no class. Her book is petty and vindictive. A woman with real class would admit that it was all more difficult then she thought it would be. She would admit she should have prepared more. Instead she blames you and MAKES UP STORIES about you?? It is really sick.

Sarah Palin, the world is on to you now. STOP MAKING THINGS UP!; Reply to this comment


by JayAdlerMusic November 14, 2009 1:56 AM EST: Whether Katie Couric as a seasoned journalist befuddled Sarah Palin and went for the kill like a cheetah bringing down a wildebeest is something that stung the Alaskan Governor at the time but it is now yesterday's news. Levi I do not think graduated elementary school and his latest behavior toward Sarah Palin confirms my estimation of him as a worm boring into her family. It will end in Levi signing hold harmless and confidentially agreements at triple damages when Ms. Palin sicks the mouthpieces on him. If you look at current polls which are only snapshots Sarah Palin would not win the Presidency in 2012 between the Democratic and Republican electorate. Add independents and undecideds and she looks much better. The Left Wing of this country is terrified of her and that is one reason 100 lawyers were dispatched to Alaska during Election 2008 to bring back the dirt. She is currently the biggest celebrity in America because she played it slow and cool. I myself will vote for her in 2012 if she runs, hopefully the visceral malaise we suffer will be somewhat lessened by then.; Reply to this comment


by ilmxm November 14, 2009 1:56 AM EST: Please play the entire interview with Sarah Palin, either at this site or as part of the broadcast news and morning program. I am quite confident that she had nothing brilliant or substantive to say, so let's just look and listen. Everyone needs a good reminder.; Reply to this comment

by stevenga777 November 13, 2009 11:11 PM EST

How about some real news, not this tabloid trash.

Reply to this comment


by jentilpet November 14, 2009 10:03 AM EST: continued..."O" knows my mom's book was written when people didn't care about being served...the waitress,that is,but as long as people are "eating" the subject of "food" will always be number one..."O said "Twilight" author never wrote a word in her life..so what,how else does a person start..my mom was a born writer who wroye about what she knew,not "dream" like this author...Mary Shelly also had a dream,remember "frankenstien?" "O" didn't even connect them!She is a stupid woman,w/ some things learned along the way inbetween her fame..how much time did she have to read,anyway..To ask someone to read a book after she made an arrogant liar like "Frey" a millioaire,Jackie-O wouldn't have given it a 2nd look,forget a 1st edition...his book made her {"O"} cry?but a woman who supported her child alone in the late 50's,divorced,& me without a father,I had more than any kid "w" a father!still "O"'s heartless,display I knew all along!