Political Hotsheet
By

David Morgan /

CBS News/ January 12, 2010, 7:34 AM

Palin Taking a Page From Reagan Playbook

(AP Photo/Al Grillo)
Fox News announced on Monday that former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin will be joining the network as a commentator.

In Palin's multi-year deal with the network she will appear as a contributor and host an occasional series.

Republican strategist Leslie Sanchez said Palin appears to be using Fox as a platform for launching a future political campaign.

"I think she's taken a page out of the Ronald Reagan playbook," Sanchez said on CBS' "The Early Show" this morning. "It's something he did in 1976 to 1980. He had a radio show. She'll have tremendous support, a lot of primary Republican voters watch Fox News. And she's going to be able to hopefully put together some cogent ideas on domestic policy issues, foreign policy. It's a between platform and could lead her down the road to 2012."

Democratic strategist Dee Dee Myers agreed, saying Palin is "keeping her options open.

"I don't think this means she's in or out of the race, but it keeps her in front of the public, particularly a Republican base that already loves her, gives her a chance to stay visible."

The two also discussed the drop in President Barack Obama's approval ratings. A CBS News poll released Monday said that Mr. Obama's job approval rating has fallen to 46 percent, his lowest mark yet in CBS News polling, with domestic issues (the economy, health care) pulling the numbers down, notably among Independents.

Myers said the drop is obviously unsettling to the White House. "I think what the president needs to do is finish health care and move on to a greater focus on the economy," she told "Early Show" anchor Harry Smith". "It's very hard for any president to stay popular when the unemployment is at 10%. This is no longer seen as President Bush's economy. It's now President Obama's economy. And he needs to focus on jobs, jobs, jobs."

When asked if Republicans are "salivating" at the drop in Mr. Obama's approval rating a year after taking office, Sanchez said, "Let's be fair about this: Republicans, like all Americans, are concerned about getting this economy back on track. Voters gave the president the benefit of the doubt in putting forward economic policies that would get the economy moving. He's proven that those were poor choices. You're seeing poor support with health care reform and increased spending. It's very alarming and people are showing it in the polls.

"But overall, I think the sentiment is frustration with Washington, and let's move forward with policies that spark the economy." (Watch the video at left)

There was also disagreement between the two about the future of Harry Reid, after his comments as quoted in the book "Game Change." Yesterday in an interview for TV One President Obama reiterated his support of the Senate Majority Leader. "For him to have used some inartful language in trying to praise me, and for people to try to make hay out of that, makes absolutely no sense," the president said.

Despite the back Reid has from the president and other Democrats, which would appear to help the Nevada Senator keep his leadership position, Sanchez did not think the matter is over and done with: "Not at all. It's just the beginning," she said. "It's actually compounding. You look at [Reid]'s declining poll numbers in his state, declining support for health care reform, and overall his ineffectiveness in leadership. Yes, they're moving forward with health care reform, but overall, it's dismantling in terms of the public support of these efforts."

Myers, however, was dismissive of the flap over Reid.

"Yeah, it's pretty much over, and it should be: Senator Reid has apologized," she said.

"I think it's important even in Washington to sometimes apply context here. African American leaders across the country have been largely supportive, including most importantly the president. His approval rating from the NAACP over many years is 100%. He's somebody who has been on the right side of the major issues of concern in the civil rights movement. He's not going anywhere.

"He is in a tough re-election at home, though, unrelated to these comments," Myers said. "But he has been an effective leader. He's gotten health care further than any Senate Majority Leader in 50 years."
© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
  • David Morgan

    David Morgan is a senior editor at CBSNews.com and cbssundaymorning.com.

27 Comments Add a Comment
linkicon reporticon emailicon
TXcardplayer says:
Wow- Alot of Angry (whinning) Opinions - Truth be know to all you donkeys - the inexperience of the Current Prez and the lefist leanings and appointments=coupled with the Overuse of LET ME BE CLEAR when he isn't ever Clear or TRANSPARENT - HAS led many conservative dem's and Conservatives off of his FAN BASE- No longer will people say he's a ROCK STAR because he isn't - as a matter of Fact - i would take Palin as leader over this CAMPAIGN PROMISE BREAKER ANYDAY- TRANSPARENCY-NO ! AND IF HE SPENT HALF THE TIME TRYING TO CREATE JOBS AND LOWERING TAXES AS HE DID ON VACATIONS AND BOWING INAPPROPIATELY -OH YEAH AND WHITE HOUSE TALKS WITH ANDY STERN = MAYBE his Polls would be better SERIOUSLY BIG MISTAKE-the only Hope & Change is in the NEXT ELECTIONS
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
ronaldr5-2009 says:
Look at the comments on this whack-job blog! She is cleaning up!!!
What an astounding move by Fox. She will put all the Libtards in cardiac arrest!
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
stillwaters6 says:
Oh no you didn't...

Ronald Reagan had class,integrity and discernment. For God's sake please do not denegrate the memory and legacy of Ronald Reagan by putting him in the same "FOX" camp as former governor of Alaska Sara "Going Rogue-Yet quit an elected office" Palin.

That's a PAIN in the AZ. (oops forgot the L)
reply
thesevenveils replies:
linkicon reporticon emailicon
True! Comparing Sarah to Ronald is like comparing a farm mule to a champion race horse.

The most obvious difference is Ronald Regan completed his term as Governor. Sarah did not. Because she quit, she is not entitled to use the title governor because she resigned that commission and abandoned all the people who voted her in to that office in order to persue her own selfish goals.
linkicon reporticon emailicon
beeker252 says:
Sanchez said, "Let's be fair about this: Republicans, like all Americans, are concerned about getting this economy back on track.
-----
HAHAHA, that's the best contradiction coming out of this party.
They have no intention in doing so because it benefits them and the leadership(Cantor) alway pivots it to the political calculation because they want to continue the same set of tonic that is to the detriment to this country for the past thirty years.
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
russelllewis says:
she should take a page from the play the Wiz and just, Move on Down the Road!!!
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
LZLD says:
I am a born-again conservative democrat. I admire her for her great faith in God. However, she is simply not prepared to become President of this country. She can't even be VP. She is not running against anyone right now. She is running against a world economy and terror threats. It takes someone with more than just a great deal of ambition and "get up and go." Bright and cute with a wink will not cut it when dealing with Iran and North Korea. "Learning" about urban spraw and issues of big cities and rural farmers (something she never had to deal with in Alaska) is not good enough. Besides, if she runs, she will be just the spark that the democratic base needs! And......she quit. With all of her great popularity, that fact has been forgotten about...until she has to face Huckebee and Romney and Pawlenty in the primaries. They will not let her live that down. Her "good looks" coupled with the fact that she is woman, AND she quit... plays too much into the sterotype of wimpy women! Sorry Palin.....do yourself a favor...build a great future on FOX (although I'm more of a CNN girl myself).
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
pubsrtoast says:
I don't know why CBS even keeps bothering to print stories on the showboating ditz. There is surly enough real news happening with depression 2.0 and the hardship it is bringing to families as well as a government immobilized from taking any action by the lobbyists that control it. CBS, please stop with the empty fluff and go back to how you did things under Cronkite.
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
leroymerch says:
"I knew Ron Reagan - and, ex-governor Palin, you're no Ron Reagan... you're a pimple on the backside of Faux News, and a quitter !"
reply
linkicon reporticon emailicon
bantamei says:
When she said she was delighted to join an organization with such "fair and balanced news" I puked. This just confirms that she is a hypocrital liar of the 1st order.
reply
michigander62 replies:
linkicon reporticon emailicon
bantamei;
While you?re upchucking why don?t you take a min and watch the Fox News Network. It is the only network that has both Rep and Dem apologist on at the same time. It is obvious they don?t have an agenda to run the US. And they are not anti America like NBC . You know the network that the president bought when he gave GE billions of dollars.
linkicon reporticon emailicon
SRdem says:
Hate her, call her mean names, make her stupid, greedy, anything you want. She is a political force in America and people like her. I like her. Her opponents refuse to acknowlege her politcal savvy, her ability to go where she wants. Would I vote for her, uh, probably not.
reply
michigander62 replies:
linkicon reporticon emailicon
Well let me see youn have voted in the last few elections I hope. And you obviously voted for loosers. Why not give a lady who had the guts to take on her party and big oil in her state make the needed changes and win. Please name me a gov who accomploished as much.
thesevenveils replies:
linkicon reporticon emailicon
Political savvy? Palin only attracts American fundamental Christians who belong to militant white supremacy groups.
See all 27 Comments