Sarah Palin. Oh Sarah Palin.
I, like thousands of other folks out there, swore I would not watch this interview. And yet, this morning, like thousands of other folks out there, I found myself glued to the TV. And while I secretly wanted more fireworks, it was an even-keeled and mellow hour. Oprah did a good job -- she is the maestro of handling controversial guests. Her audience is filled with people who sit in all areas of the political spectrum, and she didn't make any of us rage with self-righteous anger. Plus, there was so much backlash by the (totally fictional) snubbing of Palin during the election year, if she had cornered the ex-Gov (like we know she can!), there would have been even more fury. Still, I'll admit, as someone who isn't a huge fan of the Alaskan hockey-mom, I sure would have liked to see a harder-hitting interview. But that interview could only take place in an alternate universe where ratings don't effect television.
The main issue I wish could have been pushed harder: why on earth did Palin step down as Governor? I wish she'd just say, full out,"Because I want to run for President in 2012 and being head of the state of Alaska was getting in the way." Instead, she danced around the issue and while Oprah pushed a bit, she basically allowed Palin to do her boogie.
My favorite moment: When Oprah pressed for an answer about whether she'd be having Levi over for Thanksgiving. Palin, who clearly and understandably doesn't want him within 1000 feet of her family, blurted out that he has an open invitation to come to Aunt Katie's house to join the gang. Yeah. I am pretty sure that extra place-setting isn't going to get dirty.
I kinda loved that Oprah played the Katie Couric clip - when KC asked which periodicals Palin read and, like a deer in the headlights, she responded, "All of 'em." Oprah played it to give Palin the opportunity to defend herself, which she actually managed, I thought. She had rehearsed very well for this interview.t. She was prepared better than she was during the election, that's for darn sure.
I really am dying to hear what you thought. I'm trying to hold myself back as much as possible, because I'm more interested in your thoughts than my own, frankly. My own thoughts bore the heck out of me on this issue!
My strongest feeling, after watching this interview? ... Thank goodness her book (already a best seller) is on sale tomorrow and doesn't come out on January 4th, when my book is released. I have this feeling that if they were put out on the same day, the only reason anyone would touch my book would be to step on it in order to reach Palin's book on a higher shelf.
ADDENDUM: PLEASE share your feelings on the interview here on the site, if you would. I'm enjoying your emails, but if you feel up to it, I'd love to have a little discussion here. I want to hear from everyone - but I'm especially interested in hearing from folks who are fans of Palin. Your perspective on the interview will be really helpful.
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26 comments:
Certainly not an unbiased review on your part.
Hey Anon! I guess that's proof I must be human after all. Ugh. It'd be so much easier to walk though life without an opinion...I'd be SO much more relaxed! Did you like the interview? I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. It sounds like you might be a Palin fan...so I'm interested to hear whether you thought it was a fair and balanced show? Thanks a ton!
I saw the first 30 minutes, by accident, but will watch it all tonight (gotta love the repeats for Chicagoans!).
I LOVED how Oprah made the point, albeit a bit too subtly for my taste, about how that "the media should leave kids alone" that President Obama made was about SARAH's kids, not his own, after Sarah tried to say that Obama made it about his kids and there was a double standard for hers.
I also sat there thinking how well rehearsed Sarah was and how it must be nice to go back and rewrite history.
Finally, for all that I've read online from the excerpts (I won't buy the book bc I don't want to put money in her pocket, but if you put it online for me to read for free, I will), I am shocked that she's so eager to bite the hand that fed her so well. Without John McCain's plucking her out of Alaska, she'd still be sitting in that job, most people wouldn't know who she was, and she most certainly wouldn't have a $1.25 M book advance, much less a book.
LMS, I agree with you about the McCain issue. Although, I suppose if she felt abused by his staff, it's her prerogative to write about it. Still...I was surprised. I am also wondering - since people felt she was unprepared to be VP, how does leaving an executive office give her MORE experience?
I watched it! I'm not a huge fan of Ms. Palin, but I never really got all worked up about her. Also I would never expect a hard hitting interview from Oprah with a media personality of any kind.
I think that it is not at all unusual for a potential candidate to deny the fact that they might eventually run for a high office. In recent memory, Hilary C did this and so did Obama. I'm on the side of not admitting it too early because the campaign is already long enough... I think that it is more likely that she'll have a conservative political talk show in the near future than run for public office again.
Susie - I hope politicians come up with a new term besides, "Not on my radar at this point" when they want to avoid answering whether or not they'll run for President!
While I haven't/won't watch the interview (Oprah is on while I work), I did go watch the clips on Oprah.com. While this interview was better, I still felt like she could have used more prep. She seems to get lost in her thoughts.
I thought it was kind of interesting that Oprah was surprised that she journaled.
Has Anonymous explored the idea of what blogs are for?!
I was not planning to watch (I find the Tina Fey version less scary, more funny) but now I am tempted. I did feel like there was some dog piling on the rabbit during election season (as an east coaster fortunate enough to do extensive travel in the snottily-derided "flyover states" and other rural areas, I felt as though she didn't get a fair shake, but she didn't help herself either (it seemed to me that she may not have been the most willing student for the coaches either). Her politics and mine are different enough that I wouldn't vote for her, but I would like to have seen her more evenly portrayed in the media. The different narratives that men and women get in the media (Bobby Jindahl's "meteoric rise" to LA governor is heralded; her jump from school board to governor is regarded with deep suspicion) distress me.
Picking up on on LMS's point about th media staying away from politicians families, well, I think when you make policy that impacts the girls and women in other people's families negatively (abstinence programs, curtailing teens access to birth control and all women's access to abortion) and it turns out your own family members aren't practicing what you preach, they become fair game. I think a lot of people would like Palin to explain how come abstinence didn't work in her family but is supposed to work in their's especially if they'd rather their daughters had access to birth control. Malia and Sasha haven't done much to contradict their father's policies at this point so no wonder the press wasn't interested in them.
It just finished airing out here. When Palin first came on the scene I really wanted to like her but I am no longer a fan. I thought she did okay with the interview but it didn't change my opinion on her. Three majors thoughts:
1) The Katie Couric answer made her look even worse. She could have just said she was flustered and blanked, or that she heard the question as "what kind of periodicals do you get in AK?" Instead she acted persecuted and was very condescending about Ms Couric. Being asked about one's reading material is a very normal, boring campaign question. It's asked of every president every year and every person whom I have ever seen campaigning. Palin chose to hear that question as an insult-- I think that shows a lot about her character. She has a major persecution complex. Why she ever expected a fluffy interview with Couric is beyond me, but the fact that her major flubs were on fluffy questions makes the whole thing even worse.
2) The way she talked about the disclosure of Bristol's pregnancy made me sick. It sounds like she was upset that she didn't get the chance to publicly shame her daughter. McCain's camp did the right thing by making the press release solely, "Yes, she's pregnant and while this isn't ideal, we are happy to be grandparents." It made her look better than her apparent idea. And how is it that Bristol didn't know about the disclosure until she saw it on TV? Sarah and Todd should have called Bristol first thing. More shaming, just terrible.
3) The way she talked about Levi was classic mean-girl behavior. "I don't want to say anything bad but, subtle slam," over and over. Not classy.
I may be in the minority but I'm a fan. I admire her intelligence & spunk. She got the last word on Katie Couric, referring to her as 'perky' lol
I also have to add that anyone who thinks this last campaign wasn't run by the media has me dumfounded! Maybe they only watch one station? As for double standards, S Palin was surrounded by double standards from day one...and she still is today.
I love the fact that something positive is coming out of the experience for her and her family.
As for L Johnston, let's just hope he grows up and takes resposibility for his actions. Instead he's capitalizing on his 15 minutes of fame to make a name for himself however misguided it may be. (Where are his parents I wonder?)
What goes around...
God bless the Palin family
I didn't see it. I had to work. But Sarah Palin scares the crap out of me. I swear to God, if she is ever elected my husband will have to choose between being married and being an American citizen. If she gets elected I am freaking leaving. I TOLD that man we should leave when Bush got elected and he didn't listen. And by golly I was right. We should have left.
Sorry, I got all ranty and extra honest for a second. Anyhow, maybe O was soft pedaling the interview because she does not want to give Palin ammo for her next campaign. Especially since she will be backing Obama. Maybe she feels she has to be gentle for his sake?
Cathy, you believe the 2008 presidential campaign was run by the media. I'm sort of perplexed by that statement. Could you elaborate on that because I genuinely believe I saw two campaigns run by campaign professionals.
I didn't watch (yet, I taped it and hope that I don't cave). I have seen enough highlights but I still may in a weak moment watch. Not a huge Palin fan but really wanted her to do well, for the sake of women. It is fascinating to me how she has been skewered by "mean girls" regardless of her politics. Having said that, she quit the governor position for money. Pure and simple. She has a huge debt of around half a million in legal fees, got a large advance (I have heard anywhere between 1.5 million and 11 million), it gives her a chance to tell her side of the tale and keeps people talking about her in case she does run. Which I think she will and didn't BO stall for two years before Oprah came out and endorsed him? Wouldn't the democrats want her to run? Don't they feel as though she would be an easy target and beatable in 2012? James Carville (democrats poster boy) says he wants her to run (saw that annoying Larry King show last night), I feel as though she is a forced to be reckoned with and will be a factor. She may not be qualilfied in some peoples opinion but is BO? They both have very limited experience..which I am not saying is such a bad thing. Another interesting factoid, Palin's first printing on her book is 1.5 million copies...the same number of copies as Ted Kennedy. Harper Collins is not just printing these off, "in case they need them."
I watched about 40 minutes. I wasn't as angry as I thought I'd be, and I KNOW this appearance will help her book sell. I think she's dangerous and wish she was planning a talk show instead of a political career.
I thought it was interesting how she said that the KC interview really came down to bad editing. I'm not a Couric fan, but I think they both came away looking bad.
Haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but I want to share my impressions of Sarah Palin. I found her refreshing in a way that re-invigorated my hopes for our political process. Let me explain...there are no surprises in politics anymore. The candidates are chosen for us by professionals whose goal is to ameliorate our feelings and anesthetize our minds so we can accept the fact that we are being driven at high speed down a yellow brick road that ends not in the Emerald City but in widespread unemployment and lowered standard of living for all of us. I'm talking about both parties here - there is really no difference between then other than the clothes they cloak their power-hunger with. Sarah was rogue because she speaks her mind, she is inarticulate in the same way regular people are inarticulate, she may have blown that Katie Couric interview, but she blew it in a way many of us would have blown it, she lives her values. I thought she had more balls then any of the rest of them. And here she is, not slinking away in embarrassment, but re-loaded and ready to go. While I do not share her political views, and I don't think she would be a successful President or Vice-President, neither is Joe Biden. I think I would like her as a person.
I enjoyed the Oprah/Palin hour on many different levels. But I really wonder why we as a society think we have to know EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW! I don't like pushy or aggressive interviews. When it's clear that someone doesn't want to answer a question at this point, let it go! There could be many reasons, particularly politically motivated questions, that cannot be answered at this time and probably shouldn't. Should Levi come for Thanksgiving.????WHO CARES! Those are personal family issues that have to be sorted out only by the family, not the American public.
How do I feel about Sarah Palin as a political contender? To be truthful, I'm not sure at this point; it's too early in the game. But as a person, mother, wife, and a woman with a passion for life, she gets my vote.
To American Girl
JMHO and that of MANY I know actually. Yes, the campaign was run by professionals on both sides, I agree. Each doing their best to get the vote. However, the media chose a side early on and ALL the major stations, national newspapers and magazines ran commentaries and opinions, rather than facts. The slants and double standards were almost laughable if it weren't so sad. I'm from MA; more conservative than many in my state, but I do consider myself to be a moderate independent. The news was so slanted to the left during the entire campaign I was insulted. I watch all networks including the 'fair and balanced' Fox news...at least you know you get both sides of the story on Fox.
I just happen to be more of a fan of old fashioned journalism. Instead we were inundated with stories & views. The media higher ups allowed writers to spew their personal opinions and agenda's as truths.
Give me facts on both candidates, keep it clean and simple with no slants and double standards. Honestly I'm not a campaign lover. I keep myself educated and weed out the unnecessary info that streams by & is constantly surrounding us as readers and viewers.
Hope I answered your question. I won't be commenting further on this past election. Time to move forward for the sake our our wonderful country. God Bless
Like you i did not want to watch it as I am not a fan of SP - and am a former reporter....Yet I was pulled to watch too. And I am not the longtime watcher you are) yet I thought Oprah was canny - showing how "maverick" "straight shooter" Palin would keep sidestepping questions - like an old time pol.... especially that last one which I think is her real agenda and most likely option - becoming a talk show host (and/or TV commentator)... where Palin did the worst job in avoiding a straight answer... so all in all Oprah was adept at revealing Palin's tendency to slide around the topics she does not want to answer
Hey all - thanks for your thoughts! And Cathy, you're a brave lady and I'm really glad you posted. So, I have to agree with you about something - while I'm probably what would be called a "tree-hugging-bleeding-heart-liberal" (that's probably no shock - I'm a yoga teacher afte rall!) I do think the media is TOTALLY skewed. Some toward conservatism and some toward liberalism. It's my belief that because we now have 24 hour news, and there is more time to fill, there is much more editorializing. News show and networks are half news/half sensational entertainment. It's a blessing and a curse to have accessibility to news every moment of the day. The curse is that it has increased the polarization of Americans, in my opinion. But because I'm a stereotypical softy-liberal, I still love you all.
Wow, O! A person has to be a Sarah Palin fan to recognize that you obviously don't like her, even after you basically admitted your bias?
Oy! Sarah Palin gives me a headache. I think what bugs me is that she's just a terrible actress and comes off as a complete phony. I just don't buy that all of her folksiness is genuine.
Speaking of phony, apparently a lot of her books is fake as well:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/11/13/us/politics/AP-US-Palin-Book-Fact-Check.html?_r=1
Give me a break. Read Andrew Sullivan's or Gawker's live blogging of the Oprah interview to get more real info. Oprah had the POWER to do more. She does not need ratings for anything anymore. Frankly, she gave this woman a platform and that is just plain wrong. Thanks Oprah - you cried when Barack Obama won the election yet let this facade of a person (Sullivan's words - I agree) have a whole hour to lie, skirt real issues and the Katie Couric interview - come one, Palin is frankly, a well-trained and rehearsed idiot. Oh, and love that she keeps taking that poor down's syndrome baby to loud events. Nice.
Would that Fox News were part of basic cable up here then I'd be able to hear fair and balanced reporting of both sides of every American political issue with absolutely no bias. My loss.
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