Levi Johnston: It's Not A Shotgun Marriage

Bristol Palin's Fiance Denies Rumors About Him, Discusses His Relationship And The Campaign

(AP)  Levi Johnston, who's having a baby with Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter, can't believe all the things he's hearing.

No, he wasn't held against his will on the campaign trail. No, he's not being forced into a shotgun wedding with 17-year-old Bristol Palin.

"None of that's true," Johnston, 18, said in a rare interview with The Associated Press. "We both love each other. We both want to marry each other. And that's what we are going to do."

Standing in the driveway of his family home in this small Alaska town, Johnston spoke about the rumors swirling around him.

The soft-spoken teenager discussed his relationship with Palin and how life has changed with fatherhood fast approaching. He agreed to talk despite the presidential campaign's advice in the days following Gov. Sarah Palin's nomination to avoid the media.

"They're not telling me anything right now," Johnston said as he checked his Blackberry. "It's pretty chill."

Not surprisingly, Johnston was a little shocked when he learned about Bristol's pregnancy, but he says he quickly embraced the prospects of fatherhood. The baby is due Dec. 18. Johnston has dropped out of high school to take a job on the North Slope oil fields as an apprentice electrician.

Johnston hinted he's expecting a boy, but he declined to discuss baby names.

"I'm looking forward to having him," he said. "I'm going to take him hunting and fishing. He'll be everywhere with me."

Johnston, a Wasilla heartthrob, said he wanted to set the record straight.

For starters, he said his much-maligned MySpace page was a joke -- the one that claimed he said: "I'm a ... redneck," and "I don't want kids." Johnston said his friends created the page a few years ago and he had nothing to do with it.

Johnston said he has dated Palin since his freshman year in high school.

"We were planning on getting married a long time ago with or without the kid," he said. "That was the plan from the start."

While Johnston provided few details about next summer's wedding, the planning has started: A cousin will likely be his best man, and he has asked two hockey buddies, Ben Barber and Dane Wilson, to be groomsmen.

Barber doesn't think anyone pressured Johnston into marriage.

"If he thought it wasn't the right thing to do he probably wouldn't do it," he said.

Johnston is an avid hunter. He's dark haired, tall and muscular, sports a bit of stubble and drives a red Chevy Silverado truck. He'd be the perfect cover for Field & Stream.

He's bagged bears, sheep, elk, and caribou. Some of the antlers are scattered about his yard. Last July on a caribou hunt he lost a "promise" ring that Palin had given him. He said he decided to tattoo her name on the finger and not bother with more rings because he'd just lose them anyway.

Johnston said he wasn't forced to campaign with Palin's mother. Bristol Palin invited him and Johnston jumped at the chance. It was a whirlwind experience for Johnston, who was seated with the Palins at the Republican National Convention.

"At first, I was nervous," he said. "Then I was like, 'Whatever."'

While Barber said his friend is a celebrity now, Johnston said it hasn't changed him.

"I'm still the same old boy," said Johnston. "I'm just a workin' man."

And now he's also about to become a family man.

"We're up for it. I'm excited to have my first kid. It's going to be a lot of hard work but we can handle it."

Wasilla hockey coach Bill Sturdevant, who was invited to the wedding, said he was sorry to hear Johnston wasn't going to return for his senior year of high school. But he said he believes Johnston, a talented hockey player, will find his way.

"He's a tough kid," Sturdevant said. "He's taking everything in stride."

What about Johnston's politics?

The young man said he wasn't an expert on politics by any stretch. Asked about Barack Obama, he replied: "I don't know anything about him. He seems like a good guy. I like him."

But Johnston still rooting for John McCain and Sarah Palin.

"I just hope she wins," he said. "She's my future mother-in-law. She better win."

Johnston hinted he''s expecting a boy:

No, Palin''s daughter who he impregnated (using the prescribed Republican abstinence, no *** education in school method)is having the baby.

For starters, he said his much-maligned MySpace page was a joke -- the one that claimed he said: "I''m a ... redneck," and "I don''t want kids." Johnston said his friends created the page a few years ago and he had nothing to do with it.

Righttttttt, and he never tried to stop it.

I''m still the same old boy," said Johnston. "I''m just a workin'' man."

That speaks well for his pursuit of education that Republicans love to bring up all the time.

Wasilla hockey coach Bill Sturdevant, who was invited to the wedding, said he was sorry to hear Johnston wasn''t going to return for his senior year of high school. But he said he believes Johnston, a talented hockey player, will find his way.

"he was sorry to hear Johnston wasn''t going to return for his senior year of high school."

Got that?

Ladies and gentleman, I present your possible VP''s family.

[dburfears]

Yes, this is the perfect trailer trash role model family. No kids in college or planning on college. Illiterate mom under qualified for the job she wants. Redneck dad. Teen Pregnancy. Lunatic fringe church preaching about witchcraft.

Yes- I can see why Palin is doing so well among a large number of lower middle class Republicans.

[armydog2]

this kid has no idea what end is up. He is in a bad situation and I highly doubt marriage and a baby wsere part of his plans for the near future.

[dnsallday]

he said his much-maligned MySpace page was a joke -- the one that claimed he said: "I''m a F**... redneck," and "I don''t want kids." Johnston said his friends created the page a few years ago and he had nothing to do with it.
************************************************************
Well, he should fit right in with the Republican party..... ALWAYS find somebody else to BLAME for what you refuse to take personal responsibility for.

[dnsallday]

"I just hope she wins," he said. "She''s my future mother-in-law. She better win."

******************************************************** and there are plenyy of bodies lying in the road (metaphorically) so that it is plenty clear what happens when "HER HIGNESS" doesn''t get her way.

[blondchic]

"For starters, he said his much-maligned MySpace page was a joke -- the one that claimed he said: "I''m a ... redneck," and "I don''t want kids." Johnston said his friends created the page a few years ago and he had nothing to do with it."

Sounds like he is getting his advice from Sarah Palin..%u201DJust tell them you didn%u2019t do it, no matter what the truth is%u201D .

And what a shame that these kids had to rely on their parents demands of abstinence rather than *** education and now she%u2019s pregnant and he is dropping out of high school. What poor advice and aspirations for your own children! Children raising children and a life without education is a hard life but hey its better than talking about *** and offering alternatives to %u201Cjust don%u2019t do it%u201D. I guess these kids were going to the barn instead of church to get their *** education!

[repforbarack]

Uh oh...he opened his mouth.

[repforbarack]

So he''s not going to finish high school?

[hypnotoad72]

Well, he felt it was the right thing to do to undress... give him some credit.

Besides, boys will be boys - what he said a few years ago might no longer be relevant.

[johnsonbjj54]

WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL LEVI JOHNSTON AND SARAH PALIN''S DAUGHTER (PLEASE USE HER NAME IN FUTURE
STORIES, SHE IS AN INDIVIDUAL) THAT LEVI DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL IS NOT A GOOD MOVE. YOU WOULD THINK THE PALIN''S AND HIS PARENTS WOULD ENCOURAGE HIM TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL SINCE THIS IS HIS LAST YEAR. I WOULD BESEECH LEVI TO DO WHATEVER HE CAN TO COMPLETE HIS SENIOR YEAR NOW AND NOT PUT IT OFF UNTIL LATER. HE WILL ALWAYS REGRET NOT HAVING COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT COULD EVENTUALLY AFFECT THEIR MARRIAGE, HIS SELF-ESTEEM, ETC.

THE WEDDING IS NOT UNTIL NEXT YEAR, HE COULD HAVE FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL BY THEN. DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL NOW WILL NEVER FULFILL THE INNER MOST DESIRE OF ACCOMPLISHING WHAT MAY SEEM LIKE A MINOR, YET VERY IMPORTANT NECESSITY/GOAL IN LIFE (HE HAS COME TOO FAR TO DROP OUT NOW).

REA

[dburfears]

Levi''s "It''s not a shotgun marriage" statement has as much veracity as any statement made by a hostage with a gun pointed at their head.

[actornaught]

Why does this crew always remind me of the Monty Python Lumberjack Song?....

[Cas2dy]

McCain said what he felt he HAD to say too, when he was a hostage over there in VietNam. As you can see, such denials are not exactly unheard of under duress.

[actornaught]

Listening to the radio this morning, i had to wonder how anybody would be impressed with that speech reader Sarah Palin. I don''t think can figure out what syllables are supposed to be emphasized. She sounds like a pod trying to assimilate to earth culture....

[repforbarack]

OneAmerican7,
Do you think it would be a good idea if he finished high school?

[bobnjersey]

["We were planning on getting married a long time ago with or without the kid," he said. "That was the plan from the start." ]

plans are good ... best of luck.

[gambi3]

Levi, Good luck to you but please stay in school, your education is so important to you and to your child. Set a good example for him.

[displeased]

Levi Johnston is a fine example of an American that stands up and takes responsibility for their own actions.
Posted by OneAmerican7

Really? How was he responsible when he got the 17 year old pregnant? Now he has to drop out of high school to support this child. A true role model, eh?

[hermitdave]

Amazing how Christians play that game. Born more than one time George preaches don''t do it until you are married. Along comes the Christian Palin and guess what all the Christian right wingers change their tune and claim their God makes a exception for the republicans.

[dagrandma]

Why wouldn''t Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska, do every thing in her power to keep the father of her grandchild in school? This is very telling.

[rudy654-2009]

Palin was so disgusting that she thrust the private lives of her daughter and this boy into the media just so she could explain having a child when no one saw her pregnant and so she could play victim of the media. Had she not done this for her own political gain, the lives of these two kids would have continued on without interruption.

[brianp55]

Truly, a match made in heaven. If this young man has any hidden aspirations about hanging out in the White House, I''d forget it. His future mother-in-law will get no closer than the White House tour reserved for the rest of us.

[canyoutellme-2009]

HAHAHAHAHAHA republiCONs are buying this hook, line and sinker. His FRIENDS made his Myspace page as a joke?? HAHAHAH RIIIIIIIIGHT. Now, why would they do that? What point would there be in doing that? Why would they take the time to create that page and post pictures and have friends comment on his page as if they were talking directly to this kid if it was all just a JOKE?

In addition... he dropped out of high school? He''s what... in his SENIOR year? Why wouldn''t he complete high school BEFORE getting married? Without a high school diploma, he''s more likely to be jobless than not in the future.... great role model for his kid, eh?

Sorry, this is too contrived... "This is my first child"... right... as if he had to say that? Is he planning on more? or is he trying to say that Trig is not his baby because the "new" pregnancy is his first baby? Watch... expect to hear about a miscarraige around December... AFTER the election.

[repforbarack]

Why wasn''t he arrested?
She is a minor...

[mtminds]

Yes when a redneck anti-American dad tells his sinning daughter''s intimate partner how its going to be and what he''s going to say, it makes it a shotgun wedding, with or without the gun

[ohiorichard1]

I''m sure he''ll pick a state job and good ol'' Sarah will just fire someone to create an opening.

Maybe the kid can be in charge of the state education programs.

[mtminds]

Why wouldn''''t Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska, do every thing in her power to keep the father of her grandchild in school? This is very telling.

Posted by dagrandma

Very good point Sarah and Todd make a combined income of around $400,000. You''d think they''d know the value of a higher education and what a dead-end world it is for high school drop-outs. Maybe his parents would want better for the couple too.

[neonink]

How about this?

Get out of their business. Nosy and opinionated people!

[usclimey]

As soon as the Election rolls around, Levi and Bristol will be "yeah, I heard of them - Why?"

[ohiorichard1]

Stay out of their business?!?!

Yea, I think that electing public official on what they tell us and not delving into their value system is an excellent process.

Hitler came to power in the same way.

[randycarol]

This is NOT the kind of example we need at the White House!!

[jones19501]

MEOW! Seems like many of the posters are judgmental and good at name-calling. Sheesh . . .

[credibility2]

Why don''t the rabid libs and Dems put this much emphasis on really important matters, like Acorn fraudulently going after voter registration for Obama? Or, how about this much emphasis and focus on the many unwanted pregnancies that result in welfare moms and kids and derelict dads? Or those that dispose of the kid once it''s born? I guess focusing on these types of issues would be an infringement on the rights of others, a very lib and Dem sentiments, but it''s OK to do whatever is necessary to trash and harangue Repubs.

[ohiorichard1]

MEOW! Seems like many of the posters are judgmental and good at name-calling. Sheesh . . .

So very true. But we''re not asking the American public to put us at the helm of the most powerful nation on earth.

People need to know who they''re voting for and what values those people have.

[erasmus81]

"Get out of their business. Nosy and opinionated people!"

Posted by neonink at 12:48 PM : Oct 13, 2008

Palin made it everyone''s business the moment she accepted the role of VP!

How tragic. Now the kid has dropped out of high school. Palin, with all her influence and resources, couldn''t encourage Levi to stay in school? Early fatherhood, early marriage, high school drop-out... c''mon... we''re watching someone''s life be thrown away. Is this the lesson Palin will teach our children? If you get pregnant, or get someone pregnant, you should drop out of school?

[drputt45]

When Obama''s family was drawn into politics, he said leave them alone. Now it''s the other side and all of a sudden it''s fair game.

But, that''s what democrats are about, no original thinkers in the whole bunch. Just criticize and dig up dirt. Maybe we could use some of their energy at the Mexico border to build fences.

[veteran22]

Cute kids, but Levi bears a strong resemblance to a young John Wayne Bobbitt. You may remember that Bobbitt was a rabid womanizer who humiliated and abused his wife until she could no longer take it -- she whacked off his Johnston with a butcher knife one night and threw it in a field. Based on the logic of Sarah bulldog Palin, since someone looks like someone who is dangerous, he too must be dangerous so this young couple may be in for a lot of trauma and drama. Additionally, since John Wayne Bobbitt''s first name is the same first name as John McCain%u2019s %u2013 McCain must be just as much an evil womanizer as John Wayne Bobbitt. Anyway, I am hoping for the best for these two....

[oleander8]

It''s a shame that both families are allowing him to drop out of high-school.

[be_real]

Levi Johnston: It''s Not A Shotgun Marriage
Bristol Palin''s Fiance Denies Rumors About Him, Discusses His Relationship And The Campaign


LOL sure it is.. sorry bud, getting marry at 18-19 is not quite normal.

[ioweign]

How about this?

Get out of their business. Nosy and opinionated people!

Posted by neonink at 12:48 PM : Oct 13, 2008

Levi Johnston 18 "spoke" to the press.

Bristol Palin 17 (minor) was paraded on television by her parents.

Do not blame the posters here for the lack of parenting and lack of "family values" of these "children"....

[erasmus81]

"We both love each other. We both want to marry each other. And that''s what we are going to do."

It''s amazing what people will say and do to be around "celebrities".


"He agreed to talk despite the presidential campaign''s advice in the days following Gov. Sarah Palin''s nomination to avoid the media."

Of course he did. He likes being a celebrity.


"While Barber said his friend is a celebrity now, Johnston said it hasn''t changed him."

See, what did I say?

[navyjimfl]

red neck high school drop out impregnating his girlfriend......is Alaska like Arkansas?

[asteroid06]

OLA

[ahrats]

I guess they make poster parents for children of teen parents. What his future, is he good enough for a hockey scholarship? What''s her future stay a home teen mom? I suppose the U.S. govenments raising the age on consent to 18 does not mean a thing in Alaska. I assume they going to sign a pre-nupual that Gov. Palin gets the kid should they divorce. Maybe the should go to one of OBama''s *** education classes they might learn something.

[veteran22]

Obama did not bring this up ignorant ones - read the title Levi Johnston put this story out there.

[harbinger09]

remnants of carcasses and animal skulls littered around Johnston''s yard...you get the picture--"soft spoken" good ol'' boy--just a huntin'' and a fishin'' carcasses arund the cabin/trailer--never meanin'' no harm--knocks up the governor''s daughter and has no plans to even finish high school. I say we put a book in front of him and see if he can read---and let''s count his teeth too. LMAO--but this is really so sad on so many levels--all of which are too far above most Republicans'' minds to even matter.

[pvperson]

Pregnant teenagers, high school drop outs, dead animals in the front yards and this from one of the "first" families, yeah Wasilla sounds like a real cesspool, makes trailer trash look good.

[erasmus81]

There you are.

:-)

I''''ll bet if Little Bristol was living with a single mom on food stamps, Little Levi''''s attitude would be a lot different.

But, I''''ll bet it is a lot different a year from now when that baby becomes a reality.

Posted by tuckerndfw at 01:14 PM : Oct 13, 2008


Hi Tucker:)

I bet you''re right!

Just think, it hasn''t been THAT long since Palin accepted being VP, and look at all the cr*p that has come out. Can you imagine what people will have to look forward to if they actually get in? Never ending DRAMA!

[harbinger09]

Yep that is the perfect mirror of our youths trajectory:

knocked up teens with no education--all he needs in some crystal meth and a few beers and all Bristol needs is a diet and a chance at a pole....NICE. With all the republican base holding this up as the example the entire country/world should think is the "typical American family" NOT MY FAMILY.