WASILLA, Alaska, April 6, 2009
Palin Popularity High Despite Latest News
Hovering At 60 Percent At Home; Negative News On Extended Family, Acquaintances Not Hurting Her
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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is riding high in the polls in her homestate desipte spate of post-election negative news about her extended family and acquaintances. (AP)
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Photo Essay Sarah Palin Alaska's youngest and first female governor tabbed to be McCain's running mate.
But, observes Early Show national correspondent Hattie Kauffman, it's been hard to ignore the negative headlines swirling around her extended family and acquaintances in recent weeks.
Eyebrows were raised when Levi Johnston, the ex-fiancé of Palin's daughter, Bristol, and father of their son, Tripp, told Tyra Banks on Banks' talk show he's "pretty sure" the Alaska governor knew he and Bristol were having sex.
Johnston also admitted, after some prodding by Banks, that he and Bristol only practiced safe sex "most of the time."
He also claims Bristol has been refusing to let him take their baby, Tripp, out alone, a charge flatly denied by the Palin family. A spokesperson calls the claims "flat-out lies, gross exaggeration, and even distortion of their relationship."
Bristol herself told Fox News abstinence "isn't realistic" for teens.
Word came last month that Bristol and Johnston had broken up.
Another piece of negative news hitting close to home involved the recent arrest on felony burglary charges in Palin's hometown of Wasilla, Alaska of her sister-in-law.
Ted Turcott told Kauffman he was home alone when he heard a stranger enter his home. So he hid in the bathroom with a gun.
"I said, 'Lady, you're in big trouble," ' Turcott recalled for Kauffman. "I kept telling her to sit down and she didn't listen. She was the coolest woman you've ever seen in your life."
Add to the personal drama a political hit from former running mate John McCain, who hedged on endorsing her for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination when given the chance on "Meet he Press" last month, saying he'd "have to see who the candidates are and what the situation is at the time."
Back in December, Levi Johnston's mother was hit with six felony drug charges in Alaska.
So, is all this airing of Palin-related real and alleged dirty laundry drown out her political message?
Pollster Ivan Moore told Kauffman Palin "brought this all on herself by making her kids an issue last year."
But, adds Kauffman, Palins' approval rating is over 60 percent in Alaska, so she's hardly out in the cold among her home state's voters.
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- In case you have forgotten, we are part of the United States of America. If Korea launches a missle, it could be heading our way. Sarah Palin is our governor and so it's kind of her responsibility to keep us safe. So in the interest of keeping my children safe, I'm very happy that Sarah is doing her job.
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- I live in Anchorage, AK and wanted to say that we love our governor! Alaska is a wonderful state and we are doing far better than the rest of the country is regarding the recession. Our housing market is doing great and the job market is still holding it's own. I'm an independent as far as politics are concerned but do feel that the Palin's have been brutally abused by the media over the past year and feel that Sarah has done some amazing things for this state and it's people and I for one am grateful for all that she's done. There are so many people that blast her, her family, and even the people of Alaska because they simply don't like or understand how people live up here. LIfe in Alaska is much different than life in New York (I know because I am originally from New York) so don't judge a person or a society until you actually learn more about them. If she ran again, I'd vote for her because I do trust that she'll do the right thing for the people of this country. Thanks for all you do Sarah!
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- This is suppose to be "news"? Why would Sarah Palin's popularity suffer when these events have nothing to do with her directly? Where is the logic? CBS News just like the rest of the media completely ignored every aspect of Obama's past and DIRECT associations during the campaign and still to this day. Has CBS did a story on
1. Barack Obama's Aunt still in the United States even though she is an illegal alien?
2. Barck Obama's half brother George Hussein Onyango Obama being arrested in Kenya on drug possession and that he lives on just $1.00 a month?
3. Barack Obama connections to the run down housing project Grove Parc that Obama had connections with in helping the builder obtain money from the federal government to build it when he was the State Senator in Illinois.
4. CBS News nor the rest of the media covered anything about Obama's two autobiographies "Dreams of my Father" and " The audacity of Hope"
4. CBS News didn't mention anything about Michelle Obama's about the racist content of Michelle Obama's thesis from Princeton.
5. CBS News nor the rest of the media didn't say anything about "OBAMA' ASSOCIATIONS with Louis Farahkan, Otis Moss, Michael Phelgher , Frank Davis
6. CBS News nor the rest of the media didn't cover anything about Trinity United Church of Christ during the campaign
7. CBS News nor the rest of the media covered the screwup of Obama when he said he visited 57 states.
8. CBS News nor the rest of the media didn't mention anything last memorial day when Obama was speaking in New Mexico when he said "TODAY WE PAY RESPECT TO ALONG LINE OF FALLEN HEREOS, I SEE MANY OF YOU ARE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE TODAY".
9. CBS News nor the rest of the media didn't expose Obama lying when he said last year that his "FATHER LIBERATED AUSCHWITZ concentration camp,
I0. Just recently CBS News nor the media didn't cover the anti Obama rally in Turkey nor did they cover a report mocking Obama in BLACK FACE!!!
The media's credibility is toast. As regards to Palin, why don't CBS create the "7 degrees to Sarah Palin"game. It could be something like the Kevin Bacon game. CBS could actually do a story on the frivolous laws suits being filed against Palin in Alaska. I won't hold my breath on that. No wonder the media's ratings are in the tank. The media in this country is no better then state run media in communist and socialist countries. CBS News is a flat out disgrace to journalism, and they should be ashamed of themselves for lying to Americans every day just so they can push their ideological leanings. - Reply to this comment
- Gov Sarah Palin puts God, Family and Country First--Now we have tax cheats, Bowing to The Saudi KIng, European Socialism,Biden scolding Israel and military cuts.These are sad and trying times for our country.Why do the people buy into to this far left agenda.
I pray Sarah Palin can comeback just like Ronald Reagan did--From the blue state of Massachusetts I support you Gov !!!! - Reply to this comment
- Maggie Rodriguez showed the depths to which she and CBS will stoop with her hatchet job on Bristol and Sarah Palin this morning. "Do you think you think your break up occurred because she ran for office?" ***? I realize the Early Show is bubble gum journalism but going after her kids 5 months after the election? Especially after B.O. bent over for the G20, called his own country ?Arrogant? and came home with NOTHING he went to accomplish, not to mention when Kim Jong "mentally" Ill successfully launched a ballistic missile he wrung his hands and deferred to the UN. Hope they don't write Korea a mean spirited letter. Oh the Horror!
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- erasmu s111: I do have a brain and a very good one and an IQ of 129, which is not a genius but is well above average! I just don't agree with you and that is my right as an American citizen!
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- Livinontheedge: Alaska might not be a sovereign state to you but it IS a state and part of the United States of America and it's citizens are human beings and Americans! There are also some major millitary bases there, especially in the Aleutian Islands and one at Anchorage, that would make prime targets for Korean missiles! Also Alaska is the closest state to North Korea and it's within easy missile range. Sarah Palin has a right to be a little worried about Korean missiles hitting her state!
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- skyk-2009: You don't even know the meaning of the word failure yet! Just wait until Obama's programs really take effect and you really see what's in them! Then you'll learn the true meaning of the word!
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- Chapeltepec: You are right, too! I totally agree with you!
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- algilbreath: You are Right! The media, cbs and abc at least, are no better now than the trashy newspapers that line the checkout stands in supermarkets! When I was a child the news media took a little pride in what they reported and they didn't gossip or smear people or deliberately try to ruin them. They reported news back then and they had integrity but now they don't care! If a polititian isn't a liberal and doesn't agree with them they will actively try to bring them down by any means they can, including smearing and attacking their family! I long for the days of Peter Jennings, Sam Donaldson, and others who actually reported the news and knew the meaning of the word integrity and didn't report trash!
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- You just honestly don't get it, do you? People like Palin because of her policies and in spite of the way the media seems determined to portray her. You worship Obama and never ask him any actual difficult questions, and yet you try to rip apart Palin, only finding normal family struggles as dirt on her. Your preference for one side is blatant, and though you got your man in the White House, what has it done for you?
I imagine viewership is still in steady decline for your news programs. You don't know true journalism, only tabloid tactics. You don't know how to be objective, you only know two things: prop up the left and tear down the right. I pity your closed mindedness, your digging your own grave in the business world because you've forgotten what it is to really report the news. - Reply to this comment
- Sarah Palin 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yea Sarah!!
Posted by RayKay123
PLEASE make her run. It's the best way to make sure the evangelicals lose the office again. - Reply to this comment
- I think it is time for CBS News, especially correspondents Maggie Rodriguez and Hattie Kauffman, to go back and study the journalistic standards and ethics of the great Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite. They were professional journalists, fair, balanced and truth seekers, not advocates of political biases and pre-selected points of view. The Johnston interview and the above article are classic examples of biased, leading interviewing aimed at not analyzing an issue, but manipulating subject matter to embarass Governor Palin and her family. Both correspondents also seem to forget the campaign statement by President Obama that families of political figures should be off limits from political attacks which Ms. Rodriguez and Ms. Kauffman conducted in the disguise of news gathering. When all is said and done the damage here is not to Sarah Palin, but to CBS news and its credibility as a non-partisan and unbiased source of news and opinion. Shame on you both and your network or trashing the memory and ethical standards of Mr. Murrow and Mr. Cronkite!
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- Gov. Sarah Palin is star and I love her!
Good for the Palin family to set the record straight. She is an awesome Governor in Alaska and has 100% of my support!!
Sarah Palin 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yea Sarah!! - Reply to this comment
- I can't find one redeeming thing about Sarah Palin. I can not understand how anyone thinks she would be a good leader for America. She is not well informed and doesn't appear to have any qualities that would make her a good leader on the world stage. Honest I don't get it. What do you like about this woman???? She seems like a female version of George W. Good ole boy and Good ole girl. Another step back to the dark ages.
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- Not being a Palin supporter, I still feel it is necessary to to say you did nothing but make your show look like trash tv with this interview. This is neither news or nor helpful information! Made your host look stupid participating in it. With felony charges pending, how did Levi's mother get out of Alaska?
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- Nice to see the left demonstrating their standard bigotry and intolerance.
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- zorar2: That is a lie! She is not in any way a pagan!
Posted by ladypirate2 at 10:32 PM : Apr 7, 2009
You know this how? LOL I know she's ONE sick wierdo who uses FEAR and DIVISION as all Radical Religious Leaders do. That alone disqualifies her to lead in my eyes! Been down that road once and we KNOW it's a failure. - Reply to this comment
- Who cares whether you are a straight heterosexual Christian woman.
Any woman with a brain would not vote for Palin.
She is an insult to all woman.
Posted by erasmus111 at 12:10 AM : Apr 8, 2009
LOL Failin Palin is about ONE thing and ONE thing only... the Radical Right BASE! - Reply to this comment
- I did vote for her and I will vote for her again in the future if I am given the chance and I am a straight heterosexual Christian woman!
Posted by ladypirate2 at 10:39 PM : Apr 7, 2009
Who cares whether you are a straight heterosexual Christian woman.
Any woman with a brain would not vote for Palin.
She is an insult to all woman. - Reply to this comment
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