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Palin: Levi Johnston ‘Part of the Family’; McCain Staffers Thought Couric Interview Went Well

November 12, 2009 4:34 PM

Klein ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: The first excerpts of Oprah Winfrey’s interview with former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin have been released -- and it looks like Palin is pursuing something of a ceasefire with the father of her grandchild, if not with former McCain campaign staffers.

TUNE IN: Tues., Nov. 17 - Barbara Walters Interviews Fmr. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Jokingly asked by Oprah if Levi Johnston will be invited to Thanksgiving dinner with the Palins, the former Alaska governor was diplomatic:

“You know, that's a great question. And 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. It really can. We don't have to keep going down this road of controversy and drama all the time. We're not really into the drama. We don't really like that. We're more productive.”

In the other piece of the interview released today, Palin said that McCain campaign aides thought her first interview with CBS’ Katie Couric went well -- though she says she knew better.

FLASHBACK: Sept. 11, 2008 - Palin's Interview with Charles Gibson

“The campaign said, ‘Right on. Good. You're showing your independence.  This is what America needs to see and it was a good interview,’ ” Palin said. “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.”

The interview with Palin will air on Oprah Winfrey’s show Monday. In addition, Barbara Walters will sit down with Palin for a wide-ranging five-part series of ABC News interviews to begin airing on "Good Morning America" Nov. 17, the morning her highly anticipated book "Going Rogue: An American Life" is released.

November 12, 2009 in GOP, Gov. Sarah Palin, John McCain | Permalink | Share | User Comments (37)

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I'm actually a little disapointed Oprah caved and gave this woman the time of day.

Posted by: dan | Nov 12, 2009 4:53:12 PM

"I knew it was a bad interview.” -- Well I'll be dammed. She DOES have a clue.

Posted by: Yukon Sam | Nov 12, 2009 5:02:52 PM

I think Oprah Winfrey should be interviewing Barack and Michelle.

Posted by: H1N1hysteria | Nov 12, 2009 5:02:52 PM

I think Sarah is a great role model for young girls. She is a real down to earth person and not pretentious like so many politicians. She is like a fresh breath of air.

Posted by: greenthumbx | Nov 12, 2009 5:05:02 PM

Role model! Be dumb and pretty and you to can have 15 minutes of fame!

Posted by: Palinisanidiot | Nov 12, 2009 5:07:30 PM

What a class act, she was very gracious towards Levi. If I had a fame hungry monster like that running around with no regard for my daughters feelings or my grandsons future I'd be tempted to be a little "less diplomatic"...to put it mildly.

Posted by: Debsy | Nov 12, 2009 5:11:30 PM

It's real easy to tell someone that you knew an interview was bad more than a year after the fact. It's especially easy to make yourself sound smarter than others when nobody really knows what you were thinking.

This woman should be treated as yesterday's news. If you think Goerge W. Bush was bad for this country, he'd look like FDR compared to what Sarah Palin would try to do. The Patriot Act would seem like the Bill of Rights under a Palin administration.

Posted by: Bob | Nov 12, 2009 5:16:20 PM

How many of us have not abandoned our relatives because of their youthful indulgence and inexperience in civil condut? Levi is still the father of her grandchild and perhaps one day will be wiser. A prodigal son-in-law? Much of the criticism is short sighted.

Posted by: TX_MBell | Nov 12, 2009 5:17:16 PM

Will Sarah be giving another interview this year while the guy kills turkeys in the background?

I would think Sarah would be more sympathetic to other turkeys.

Posted by: Doppelganger | Nov 12, 2009 5:19:50 PM

Typical liberal response for the first comment. At least Oprah, Walters are giving this woman her time, instead of the media who basically created her image for her. It's about time she speaks out about the truth, what really happened on the campaign trail as well as how the media made sure to trash her as she was a big threat to "the one".

Posted by: FightTheSmears | Nov 12, 2009 5:24:21 PM

Oprah should give Obama and Michelle an interview? Are you KIDDING? Haven't we had a year of media overkill on both of them? Obama has been on TIME's cover now, what, 36 times in one year?

Please...

Posted by: FightTheSmears | Nov 12, 2009 5:26:37 PM

did i hear someone poot?

Posted by: pooting for palin | Nov 12, 2009 5:27:08 PM

"What a class act, she was very gracious towards Levi. If I had a fame hungry monster like that running around with no regard for my daughters feelings or my grandsons future I'd be tempted to be a little "less diplomatic"...to put it mildly." That's why you are not a politician. Suggesting a cease-fire makes her look "gracious". What's more, who knows what more Levi knows about Palin. It definitely makes strategic sense to turn your former-friend-turned-enemy back into a friend rather than to further antagonize him.

Posted by: teddymaniac | Nov 12, 2009 5:28:21 PM

Oh please... killing turkeys in the background. Like most that are pushing their bigotry around they don't want to see how the sausage is made or how the turkey ends up in the freezer. When they cook it they don't see it as a one living breathing creature. Like most of the programs they are demanding from the government they don't see the lives striving to make an honest living; only to have much of their income taxed to support those that feel they are entitle to a government package. A package they don't consider or care is made possible by those that still believe in an honest day's pay and honorable living.

Posted by: TX_MBell | Nov 12, 2009 5:33:51 PM

Wouldn't Palin be a good Senator? I think it would make Feinstein, Boxer, and that lady from Maryland face reality. It would make Boxer think about just putting more cars on LA freeways as a solution maybe; Feinstein would realize that America isn't made up of a totatlity of San Franciscos. They would have to shake the dust off their boots.

Posted by: Ted | Nov 12, 2009 5:38:54 PM

Palin is one of us--she "gets" the working class.
Unlike the snobby elite millionaires in the WH/Congress who live in their tone-deaf bubble.

They get Wall Steet not Main Street.

Palin 2012

Posted by: ollie | Nov 12, 2009 6:03:45 PM

Sarah shows her rogue side by going on Oprah--Obama's buddy.

I'm sure Oprah was fair.
She wouldn't risk another backlash like last year when she snubbed Sarah.

It's great to see Palin again!!

Nothing scares the left more than Palin.

Posted by: bailey | Nov 12, 2009 6:10:40 PM

Please, Please, Please put Palin on the republican ticket.
Signed,
Educated Americans (aka Liberals)

Posted by: Nico | Nov 12, 2009 6:36:24 PM

Wow...look at the libs sweat!! I love it. They can't take her BECAUSE she's brave enough to tell it LIKE IT IS! You go girl. The leftist liberal media has trashed you long enough. The rest of the dissers on here are women-haters. If we've heard how clueless she was once...we've heard it a million times. Shut up already! She's a decent human being! It's better than the empty suit we have in the W/H right now. What a DUD!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Kristen | Nov 12, 2009 8:08:02 PM

Keep running you libs. We're right behind you! I'll defend Sarah anyday over the goofballs in the W/H we have to contend with now. We're not even half-way thru this administration. Ughhh!!!! We'll all be broke by the next inaugeration. Our kids and grandkids will owe for the rest of their lives. They will never be able to do anything but pay taxes.

Posted by: Kristen | Nov 12, 2009 8:19:06 PM

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