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Did Game Change Revelations Push Sarah Palin To Fox?

» 17 comments

It looks like on top of revealing all the dirty little secrets behind the lives of every candidate in the 2008 Presidential Election Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, the authors of Game Change, may be out to save the magazine industry. Following yesterday’s excerpt in New York magazine (where Heileman is a columnist) which focused on the Edwardses (oof) comes today’s Time.com (where Halperin is a editor-at-large) piece opining on the future of Sarah Palin. Interestingly the Time.com piece is not an excerpt from the book so much as a loosely pulled together extension of its Palin chapters.

The authors begin by rehashing the McCain campaign’s reaction to Palin’s Going Rogue back in November: “They saw in the book an array of the same qualities they had come to discern in her during the two months of the general election: the self-serving habits, the vindictiveness, the distant relationship with the truth.” And then suggest that the publication of Game Change has drastically shifted the playing field for Palin:

With the publication of our book Game Change and the appearance of Schmidt on 60 Minutes in a piece discussing our reporting, much of the truth about Palin has begun to emerge. The questions are how she might respond and what effect the turn of events will have on her future — a future which now includes a gig at Fox News.

Of course, this entire, somewhat skeletal piece was pulled together in light of that future gig at Fox News, just announced yesterday. In light of that announcement the authors ponder whether that fact Palin has once again been given an official public platform will she be forced to respond to revelations in the book the following issues revealed in Game Change? Answer? Not likely.

Her substantive deficiencies, even more dramatic than those that had previously been reported: her lack of understanding about why there are two Koreas, her ignorance about the function of the Federal Reserve, her belief that Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11. The fact that, at her lowest moments during preparation for her debate against Joe Biden, some senior McCain aides worried that she was mentally unstable.

All not nice things, clearly whatever restraint remained in terms of dishing on Palin was undone by the publication of Going Rogue and McCain’s camp was all to happy to reveal the worst. With that in mind, and knowing that most of Washington has been waiting for this book for months now, I suspect if nothing else (notwithstanding a healthy bank account) the motivating factor behind Palin’s choice to move to Fox News was that it provides the safest haven possible for her while still keeping her in the public eye. Even Palin must have known that the clock was ticking on her version of 2008′s events; it’s hard not to wonder whether her drastically pushed-up pub date had anything to do with Game Change‘s release. By getting out there early she could at least own the storyline for a chunk of time. Moreover, the timing of her Fox News announcement could not have come at a more apropos moment: instead of relying on Todd to watch the door at book events for errant bloggers she now has both the powerful Fox News platform and the equally powerful Fox News Pr team on her side. Seems like a win win to me. Almost makes you wonder how come the Clinton’s haven’t figured out something similar.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Chuck-Varrick/1170421091 Chuck Varrick

    The book is nothing more than a longer version of Page Six. From what I’ve heard & the excerpts I’ve read it seems a lot of made up stuff to clear the field for the Islamic guru, obama in 2012. Petty attacks on women like Palin & Clinton & Edwards cause they’re too wimpy to take on the real men. I watched Steve Schmidt being interviewed by pretty boy Anderson Cooper this past Sunday night on 60 minutes. Schmidt told Anderson Cooper on the program. “[She routinely said things] that were provably, demonstrably untrue.” The Funny part is that Cooper never once asked Schmidt to give specific examples. If he did I missed it. I am still searching for specific examples of where and how Sarah lied that are not an insult to adult intelligence. Would welcome any specifics anyone has come across.

    Sarah Palin has a promising future at FOX, or with whatever she chooses to do. Mark Halperin and John Heilemann are rats. And if they were smart rats, they would be attempting to leave the sinking TIME ship. But, with their style of journalism, they could only take up with another sinking liberal media like NewsWeak. And don’t you folks of the Jewish faith take this too personally but I don’t trust Liberal Jews like Halperin. I won’t apologize for feeling this way either because many of you left wing Hollywood Jews thinking types don’t trust us Conservatives and feel about us the same way we do you. Everyday, more and more, liberal Jews are hard at work in the media trying to tear down Christian believing people. What if the Christian media went after those who consider themselves left wing Jews? The difference is those of us that profess Christ as our savior are quick to forgive due to our continued support for the State of Israel. And my support for Israel has nothing to do with what is said in the Bible. I support Israel because they are a lone ally in the middle of Islamic evil and not whatever the Bible says we’re to do as far as Israel goes.

    The Courics, Williamses & Brokaws and all the rest of their ilk are the most dangerous people in the world, mostly because of the stunning depth of two things, their stupidity and their hatred of all things Republican and conservative. There love for obama and his minions and his close tightness to all things Islamic bothers me immensely. It’s like obama is truly is the Manchurian Muslim just like the movie the Manchurian Candidate.

    Aside from all of this, has anyone noticed (and Don Imus certainly has noticed as he mentioned it with disgust this morning) that Anderson Cooper (of Tea Bag fame) did his “60 Minutes” piece last night almost entirely on Sarah Palin, even though Reid is in all the news. It shows once again the bias this once august news magazine holds and why they cannot really be trusted. As to Cooper, he lost me entirely after the tea bag comments and once I found out what it means. I haven’t watched “pretty boy” since.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill-Adkins/1585417987 Bill Adkins

    And who will call out Fox on the ethics of attacking 60 Minutes for its choice of content when stroking Palin into their fold? What about THAT conflict? Shouldn’t they have revealed their relationship? Fox Ethics =Oxymoronic.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill-Adkins/1585417987 Bill Adkins

    “Schmidt cited an ethics report on the then-Alaska governor from her home state on an investigation into whether she had improperly used her government position. “She went out and said, you know, ‘This report completely exonerates me,’” Schmidt said. “And in fact, it — it didn’t. You know it’s the equivalent of saying down is up and up is down. It was provably, demonstrably untrue.” ”

    http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31335.html

  • http://www.swissarmyjew.com Keeva

    @Chuck – I am unclear on what factor Halperin’s religion plays. Please note that this is not an accusation of anti-semitism. I am just curious what the difference is between a “Liberal” and a “Liberal Jew,” politically. Please note that most Jews (including me) respect Christians for their beliefs. We also respect Buddhists and Moslems. We DO NOT respect people that use religion as a weapon or insult. There are plenty of Christian Liberals, too. In fact, more Christian Liberals than Jewish Liberals.

    I am not a fan of Sarah Palin’s, but I am weary of the unending unjustified attacks on her. The ethics investigation is what it is.She reads it one way, some read it another. This does not make her a liar. And anyone that did not think Fox would eventually hire her has not been paying attention.

    @Bill – That is not an ethics issue at all. Poor journalism by both, but not unethical.

  • http://www.swissarmyjew.com Keeva

    Also, in all of this, nobody has the decency or honesty to mention the possibility that she simply took a good job that was offered to her.

  • puck30

    Good Morning Glynnis

    I just wondering, with all the pictures of Palin out there you had to pick that one?

    Agenda? Not Glynnis!!

    BTW: Since Palin decided to go on Cable where did anybody think she would land? MSNBC?

  • m

    >Her substantive deficiencies, even more dramatic than those that had previously been reported: her lack of understanding about why there are two Koreas, her ignorance about the function of the Federal Reserve, her belief that Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11. The fact that, at her lowest moments during preparation for her debate against Joe Biden, some senior McCain aides worried that she was mentally unstable.

    The best paragraph I’ve ever read in my entire life. Blows my mind. Absolutely incredible. Not surprised she got her priorities wrong and screwing with her constituents of quitting being a governor in order to just join Fox News!

  • http://www.swissarmyjew.com Keeva

    “the self-serving habits, the vindictiveness, the distant relationship with the truth.”

    That sentence can describe literally every politician on the planet.

  • ImNotBlue

    Bill Adkins says:
    January 12, 2010 at 10:19 am

    Is it possible, for you Bill, to look at this objectively… or have you completely lost that ability? Was it right for “60 Minutes” to completely ignore the story of a sitting Senate leader, using racist terms about another (at that time) Senator?

    I know it’s simply easier to talk about FNC again and again and again… instead of address the issue. But can we break with that tradition for just a moment? What makes Palin’s story on “60 Minutes” more important than the Reid story?

  • DEO

    I watched Steve Schmidt being interviewed by pretty boy Anderson Cooper this past Sunday night on 60 minutes. Schmidt told Anderson Cooper on the program. “[She routinely said things] that were provably, demonstrably untrue.” The Funny part is that Cooper never once asked Schmidt to give specific examples
    ____________
    to CHUCK VARRIK:

    Anderson DID ask for an elaboration on the lies and Schmidt replied.

    a. After the Troopergate report came in and it DID NOT exonerate her, she went right out and said she was completely cleared. She was NOT. The report explained her culpability. It entered into Palin myth now.

    b. Palin wanted to issue a statement that her husband was NOT a member of the Alaskan secessionist group for 7 years when he WAS, indeed, a card carrying member for 7 years. Just issue a statement from the McCain Campaign with a flat out LIE.

    The exchange was in sequence, I AM NOT SURE HOW YOU DID MISSED IT.
    How many other things have you MISSED… this explains your support for Sarah Palin.

  • DEO

    Anderson Coper did his piece on GAME CHANGE highlighting Palin because he had the added guest Steve Schmidt, a REPUBLICAN. Anderson interviewed the two authors PLUS Steve Schmidt, a REPUBLICAN. Schmidt wanted to come on the show because he said Palin LIED EXTENSIVELY IN HER BOOK ABOUT ME AND THE McCAIN CAMPAIGN staff. He didn’t want to trash her, in fact, he said some kind things about her, but he wanted to set the record straight just as Palin said she wanted to do in her book. Schmidt said he wanted to dispel the sheer fabrications Palin put forth in her book. The piece then focused on Palin, because of the REPUBLICAN that wanted the spotlight to TALK about Palin LIES. With the added guest, speaking solely on Palin, that’s just the way it went down. You’re blaming Anderson Cooper just the way you blamed Katie Couric for asking, MRS. PALIN WHAT DO YOU READ?

  • DEO

    ….AND lastly, puck 30…

    What is wrong with the photo that Glynnis chose of Mrs. Palin?
    Palin looks perfectly lovely in that photo. Her hair is good, pink jacket good, make-up good, an expression of excitement and animation that is characteristic of her (when she is not being the OTHER Sarah)….like, WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT??? What agenda?
    Her looks aren’t the problem. The problem is there is nothing IN that lovely package.

  • TfT

    I must say the headline of this article is chuckle worthy. Oh how the press thinks they are so important — as Chuck Todd said (yesterday, I think)….”the smart people in Washington”! LOL

    I doubt seriously that Game Change had anything to do with Palin’s decision; although I do fully expect her to correct the Scmidt/Cooper/60 minute smear job on the air tonight. And I bet Bill O gets a pretty big bump in the ratings with her first appearance as a commentator.

  • roxsteady

    “Her substantive deficiencies, even more dramatic than those that had previously been reported: her lack of understanding about why there are two Koreas, her ignorance about the function of the Federal Reserve, her belief that Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11. The fact that, at her lowest moments during preparation for her debate against Joe Biden, some senior McCain aides worried that she was mentally unstable.”

    As for the Clintons, they do have more than $100 million dollars and a former President being a contributor on tv would be beneath him.

  • roxsteady

    Of course the networks may go after Schimdt for interviews and they’re ratings are larger than all of cable’s news shows. This could get ugly. GMA and The Today Show would also probably want in too.

  • RazorsEdge

    Well Palin will address those issues tonight on O’Reilly. Predict Mediaite will have some provocative story(s) tomorrow about her O’Reilly appearance:

    She’ll Chime in on:

    Harry Reid negro dialect
    Pres. Obama’s failling popularity in polls
    60 minutes interview related t her.

  • RazorsEdge

    Ohhh Mediaite. Just to get your troops ready. Next week, O’Reilly will have Palin segment on her favorite movies, books, cultural issues.

    Yeah, maybe over the top

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