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Jake Tapper Launches Twitter Campaign to Get Sarah Palin as Guest on This Week

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On his uber-popular Twitter feed this morning, ABC News’ Jake Tapper launched a campaign to entice former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to “broaden her reach” by appearing on This Week. There’s no question that ABC’s Sunday morning talk show would be the perfect forum for Palin to reach beyond her loyal base, but will she do it, and will Fox News let her do it?

I asked Jake why he has chosen Twitter as the vehicle to entice Palin onto his show: (via email)

“We’ve been trying for sometime now to have Gov. Palin as a guest on This Week, so far to no avail. Knowing how connected she is to the internet and how responsive she is to her supporters, I thought appealing to her on twitter might work. We’ll provide a fair forum for her to share her thoughts on politics and policy; I hope she comes on.”

Under Tapper’s interim host-ship, This Week has implemented several innovations, the most buzzworthy of which is their partnership with Pulitzer winning fact-check website Politifact. The show has also made ratings inroads against its competition, once again gaining to 2nd place last week ahead of CBS’ Face the Nation. A Palin appearance would be a huge win for This Week, but it could also benefit Palin tremendously.

Since the end of the 2008 campaign, Palin has generally avoided appearing on any non-conservative outlets (some would say with good reason). She has managed to stay in the spotlight as a Fox News contributor, and by using her Facebook account as the world’s most cost effective and powerful PR tool ever.

However, if she hopes to narrow a credibility gap that even has conservatives questioning her ability to lead, Sarah Palin could not ask for a better crucible than Tapper’s This Week. As ABC’s Chief White House Correspondent, Jake Tapper has developed a hard-earned reputation for being tough but fair, from the left and the right. If Palin can handle Tapper’s questioning, and pass This Week’s Politifact test, it would go a long way in silencing her critics.

Spurning Tapper’s invitation would be an awkward proposition for Palin. Much of her rhetoric centers around the unfair treatment she feels she has received from “lamestream media” types like Katie Couric. This is a chance for her to set the record straight, and with a reporter who carries the Rush Limbaugh seal of approval. It’s tough to think of an excuse for her not to do it.

Of course, Palin does have a built-in “out.” Since she’s under contract to Fox News, the network would have to approve such an appearance. If she doesn’t want to venture out of the conservative media bubble, she can just claim that Fox wouldn’t let her. While few would buy such an excuse, it would allow her to save face.

The bottom line, though, is that if Sarah Palin wants to broaden her appeal, whether as a candidate for office or a media superstar, she honestly could not ask for a better opportunity to do so. Deserved or not, Palin is the subject of hostility from many in the media, but with Tapper, I think everyone would agree she will get a fair shake, and so will we, the public.

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  • Eric

    She wouldn’t know how to answer any of the questions given to her. You know – “the lamestream media” they’re way to tricky for Sarah – hell, he might even ask her what she reads.

    Palin 2012
    “Drill Baby Drill”

  • roxsteady

    Actually, there is one other place she could get to “frame the debate” and reach a wider audience than Tapper’s. That would be on Meet The Press which continues to be the ratings champ like it or not. Give it up Jake! She’s not interested in advancing anything but her bank account. We now know what she is and how much.

  • http://PoliticalGlutton.com PoliticalGlutton

    Good luck. She can’t even participate in anything close to a coherent conversation, what makes Tapper think she would actually be able to answer even the most simple of questions?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kam-Fet/572005492 Kam Fet

    Sarah should be careful as they may ask tricky questions!

  • http://PoliticalGlutton.com PoliticalGlutton

    Tapper might want to be careful. Palin and her mob may think this is an assault on her family and threaten violence on him. When will journalists realize that she doesn’t have to answer questions, tell the truth or even form a complete sentence? She is Simple Sarah, queen of the Simpletons and does not have to please anyone but the neocons who fund her and the idiots who follow her. Neither of these groups have an interest in getting honest answers to questions and both have a tendency to use violence when they don’t get their way.

  • TylerDurden

    I love this! Just seeing all the hate coming from the libs for SP. Such SPDD is always a sight to see.

    Keep up your hate, guys.

  • paulmdoro

    Palin is a lot of things but an idiot is not one of them. She is about as media-savvy as they get. You can’t say anything remotely negative about her now without cries of “liberal bias” or “being a hater” or being “scared of her.” She knows how to rally her supporters and blame everything on the media. She has also become quite financially successful as a result. You don’t accomplish that in such a short period of time by being stupid.

  • Tony the Fist

    What did she say that was incoherent? Common sense conservatism is as coherent as you can get, and it’s not her fault if you don’t understand it. If she’s incoherent, then William F. Buckley is incoherent, Thomas Paine is incoherent. You have obviously never listened to anything Palin has said. Palin derangement syndrome reminds me of the catty girls in junior high who would spread rumors that the pretty girl was a slut. Keep it up, you only make her more popular. We’ll put you humanely down in November. Cheers, ladies.

    Obama 2012
    “Drill Baby Drill”

  • http://PoliticalGlutton.com PoliticalGlutton

    I dunno Paul. I think if you have a loud megaphone and say the “Right” things you will be richly rewarded no matter your intelligence level. (Even her daughter is commanding $15,000 a speech) All evidence I have seen says that she is an idiot – a rich one now but an idiot all the same.

  • BowenIsland

    paulmdoro says:

    I agree. She could teach Pavlov a thing or two , as she has them paw the lever over , and over , and over.

  • Averreauxii

    She’s a big pussy. Of course, there’s no way she would go on any show where she could actually get probing questions.

  • paulmdoro

    See above for what I mean. She is an expert at playing media victim and getting her supporters to defend her no matter what the issue is or her stance on said issue. That takes some smarts and media savvy.

  • TylerDurden

    And just which of her stances is “stupid?”

  • The Real Royal King

    WATCH OUT, SARA! This sounds like the “gotcha” meeting going after you. I’ve heard Tapper is planning to ask if you like ice with your Diet Dr. Pepper!

    Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that they’re not after “ya).

  • The Real Royal King

    TylerDurden says:
    June 1, 2010 at 2:12 pm

    And just which of her stances is “stupid?”

    From a philosophical or experiential point of view, Tyler. If the latter, Abstinence Only Education seems like a qualifier.

  • ImNotBlue

    Man… you guys are angry. Where are all the people accusing Sarah of “fomenting” hate? I wonder if they’ve seen how the left already treats her.

    Oh wait… they’re right here! It’s just more hypocrisy!

  • http://PoliticalGlutton.com PoliticalGlutton

    LOL I see your point Paul but I wonder if she has smart handlers who know how to exploit her unintelligence? Even her Dad says she doesn’t make decisions. Perhaps she is the Gary Coleman of politics – exploited for her looks, ability to please children (or child like minds) and just talented enough to memorize and parrot catchy phrases? Just a thought. No disrespect to Gary (RIP) intended.

  • TylerDurden

    If the latter, Abstinence Only Education seems like a qualifier.”

    Well, Alaska schools DIDN”T teach Abstinence Only classes.

    Try again.

  • http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

    I’m not sure why Fox would let her or even if her contract would allow it.
    What’s in it for them and why would they hand ABC a ratings bonanza?

  • The Real Royal King

    Well, Tyler, you asked about stances, and you didn’t qualify that by saying only stances which the Alaska legislature was stupid enough to act into law. And, as we all know, the Drop Governor of Alaska was trotting her unmarried, pregnant teenage daughter across stages all over Amerika whilst advocating Abstinence Only Education.

    I accept your apology.

  • TylerDurden

    And, as we all know, the Drop Governor of Alaska was trotting her unmarried, pregnant teenage daughter across stages all over Amerika whilst advocating Abstinence Only Education. ”

    Wrong!

    I accept YOUR apology!

    From her debate on sex ed:

    “No, I’m pro-contraception, and I think kids who may not hear about it at home should hear about it in other avenues. So I am not anti-contraception. But, yeah, abstinence is another alternative that should be discussed with kids. I don’t have a problem with that. That doesn’t scare me, so it’s something I would support also.”

  • lazzzlo

    When are ratings due?

  • JamesA1102

    Someone should tell Tapper he already lost the job hosting This Week. A foolish grandstand play like this is not going to change things.

  • The Real Royal King

    “No, I’m pro-contraception, and I think kids who may not hear about it at home should hear about it in other avenues. So I am not anti-contraception. But, yeah, abstinence is another alternative that should be discussed with kids. I don’t have a problem with that. That doesn’t scare me, so it’s something I would support also.”

    Thanks for the post. That heaping pile of rank and rotting gibberish is ALMOST as amusing as your soul-mate Righter comparing Glen(n) to an animated cartoon character and a stand-up comedian.

    Do you have any more non-sensible quotations you can share with us?

  • TylerDurden

    I just proved you were a liar!

    But you are a lib, so what’s new?

    Again, you are trying to change the subject!

    Come on libs, tell me what “stupid” positions SP holds you disagree with?

    The King just crapped out on this, so someone else give it a try!

  • writer

    More comments from the hate filled, racist Royal King, about that woman who doesn’t bother him at all.

  • writer

    And King, even though the article is about Palin, it’s not about her kids. Aren’t you breaking your ‘Farrakhan rule’, about the person having to be ‘present’ before you can comment?

  • RichS

    trrk has no rules that he follows except to follow his jerking knee. If you want to know what stupid and dirty tricks are his favorites, just read what he accuses others of doing. As for his “That heaping pile of rank and rotting gibberish is ALMOST as amusing as” reference, that could fit just about any comment he makes.

    trrk is a waste of skin.

  • DonnaK

    I just read that she has a new facebook note out, all about how McGinniss ruined her Memorial Day, because she had to email back & forth with NBC. Of course, she is furious with NBC about the interview, warning her fans not to trust the “lamestream media”. My God the woman is a public figure now, she needs to grow the hell up, and answer back, instead of always wa-waing about everything. She’s making the big bucks, and if she is serious about staying relevent, she needs to go on Jake Tappers show and answer some questions.

  • The Real Royal King

    Sorry, Tyler, but I honestly don’t know what the woman is saying in that snippet you copied and pasted. Until you come up with something understandable, even a paraphrase by you, I’ve called the question.

    Righter, I didn’t say that whatever her silly name is trotted herself out onto the stage, I said her loony, self-serving mother did. Despicable thing that was, too.

  • TfT

    Jake wants a ratings bump, which he would get if Sarah agreed to come on, but Jake wouldn’t be fair to Sarah…no one in the lamestream media is fair to Palin. No sense for her to agree to go on with Tapper; it would benefit him not her, and no matter what she said ABC would edit/slice/dice/repeat her comments just like Katie did.

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    She doesn’t owe Tapper or anyone shit. What office is she running for? She’s a private citizen you ass hats.

  • The Real Royal King

    … if she is serious about staying relevent, she needs to go on Jake Tappers show and answer some questions.

    You’ve set a trap for her, Donna. The Drop Out Governor of Alaska isn’t interested in being relevant. She’s interested in money for herself, not the interest of her nation, state or family. The DOGA’s motto: “All Sarah, All the Time!”

  • writer

    But King, Bristol Palin was not the subject of this article. You’re violating your ‘Farrakhan rule’, aren’t you, about the person having to be present before you can comment on them? Or does that rule only apply to your minister, since you’re afraid that if you criticize him, he might kick you out of the Nation of Islam? BTW, are you wearing your robe and pillbox hat today, or going with the black suit and bow tie?

  • The Real Royal King

    TfT says:
    June 1, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    …. no one in the lamestream media is fair to Palin.

    Does anyone have a tissue?

  • writer

    Ladies and gentlemen, don’t be fooled. The King is actually a black Muslim, and his hatred for anyone (White) knows no bounds.

    (Yoke of oppression, Ace of Bass, Christian Slater…..LOL)

  • paulmdoro

    Politicians of all political persuasions try and have it both ways with their kids: exploit them for political gain and denounce those who they feel are unfair to their kids. Unfortunately, sometimes people do cross the line and hit below the belt. But kids have been props used by many politicians from both sides of the aisle.

  • The Real Royal King

    Indeed, the question involved stupid positions by the Drop Out Governor of Alaska. I can’t imagine what might be any more stupid than advocating Abstinence Only Education when you are trotting the ultimate proof it doesn’t work around the stage. Stoopid! STOOPID!! S T O O P I D ! ! !

  • Tony the Fist

    I can understand if you don’t agree with her political views, that’s fine, but I see a lot of personal animous (that means hate) towards her that is beyond the pale, beyond reason. I’m against nearly all of Obama’s policies, but I find it offensive if people make fun of his ears or race or something superficial like that. Sarah speaks just fine, and you know it. You hate the message, because you hate conservatives, and her clarity of said message combined with her mild personality and attractive appearance threaten to rock the liberal plantation, so you demonize her, mock her intellect. When will women learn their place, huh, guys? Also absitinence works whenever it is applied. Kinda hard to get pregnant when you dont have sex. Our “betters” pushed indiscriminate “safe” sex on us and there’s more abortion and pregnant teens now than ever. I forgot of course, that abortion empowers women, and if Sarah had any sense, she’d have her children slaughtered today, you know, late-term. She’d be Oprah and Joyless Behar’s best friend tomorrow.

  • germ

    DonnaK:”she needs to grow the hell up, and answer back, instead of always wa-waing about everything.”

    Maybe you should read her comment:

    “NBC responded to thank us for our statements and again promised that they would “make sure” that the Today Show airs both of our statements “as a fullscreen graphic during the segment tomorrow.” We were grateful because we knew that our statements would counter any accusation of “inciting hatred.” And boy was it necessary because in his interview on NBC this morning McGinniss doubled down on his accusation to actually compare us to the Nazis!

    But there was just one problem: NBC broke their promise and didn’t run our statements after all.”

    link

  • paulmdoro

    I agree that she has no obligation to grant anyone an interview. At the same time, it’s totally naive to think that someone who generates headlines and interest wouldn’t be courted aggressively by the media.

  • The Real Royal King

    But kids have been props used by many politicians from both sides of the aisle.

    So true.

  • writer

    King, you seem to be getting awfully worked up over someone you deem so inconsequential. Why don’t you have the attendant bring you some extra meds so you can do some more ‘world traveling’?

  • The Real Royal King

    but I see a lot of personal animous (that means hate) towards her that is beyond the pale ….

    Actually, ANIMUS means hate. I’m not at all sure what ANIMOUS means. Perhaps, that braying comment?

  • The Real Royal King

    Fortunately, no more world travel until 29 June.

  • writer

    Couldn’t get the Thorazine in on time, huh? LOL

  • DonnaK

    Someone is always “breaking their promise to Palin” aren’t they? That’s what I mean about grow up, hey the world is not always fair–deal with it Palin, like everyone else in the public arena, goes with the territory. Why does she always think she is special, and has to engage her supporters to stay in the game. She was the one that brought this all into the public anyway, not McGinniss.

  • The Real Royal King

    DonnaK says:
    June 1, 2010 at 3:21 pm

    Someone is always “breaking their promise to Palin” aren’t they?

    Indeed, they are. In fact, everyone is out to get her. People were even staring at her when she was Grand Marshall of the Wasilla Canned Meats and Fish Parade.

  • germ

    King, they were looking for you because you had your legs open again.

  • paulmdoro

    It’s too bad that these heated discussions always turn nasty and personal. Takes all the fun out of it.

  • writer

    Tell us all about how smart you are, King. And about all those ‘world travels’. We’re all really impressed.

    “I’m smart! I can do things!” Fredo, in The Godfather

  • TfT

    Germ: Thanks for that info. So NBC flat out lied to Palin “But there was just one problem: NBC broke their promise and didn’t run our statements after all.””…..why doesn’t that surprise me?

    Not only does NBC propagandize for the left, now they flat out lie too?

    NBC/MSNBC the place for DNC operatives to have they way.

  • Tony the Fist

    Animous, animus, kind of off point, but point taken.

  • The Real Royal King

    So,, let me see if I understand this, Germ and TfT, a self-serving statement about the Drop Out Governor of Alaska, by the DOGA, on the DOGA’s Facebook page is proof of the veracity of the statement? Wow! That’s a pretty low threshold, even for the DOGA.

  • Big_F-ing_Deal

    Sarah Palin is too stupid and cowardly to face a real interview.
    It wouldn’t be like a debate where she could answer in talking points and sound bites about “grizzly mamas” and “a college professor behind a lectern”.
    She would face serious in-depth questions. It would be the beginning of the end of her.

    Let her stick with Fox news and Facebook, She can handle that.

  • Bootleghaircut

    I think she should do it by the simple fact that Chris Wallace ran a clock as to how many days it had been since Obama was on FOX.

    Seems to me the meme was “Obama’s afraid to go on Fox.”

    Is Palin afraid of ABC?

    Obama went on FOX and got their toughest intervewer Big Bill-an interview he survived by the fact no soundbites came out of it.

    Palin on the other hand got punked by katie couric of all people.

    We all know she thinks the media is biased we get that-fine-but do you fight that by hiding behind a face book page?

    Or do you deal with tough media by quitting your job?

  • writer

    Getting apoplectic over every utterance of a ‘dummy’ who stands no chance of ever being elected to anything? Something doesn’t add up. As Shakespeare said, “Me thinks thou dost protest too much.”

  • ImNotBlue

    TylerDurden says:
    June 1, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    You have to understand something… even King recognizes that he’s irrational and hypocritical when it comes to talking about Palin. Don’t bother correcting him, or providing him facts and expecting anything but more hate… he’s not rational enough to care:

    The Real Royal King says:
    June 1, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    Indeed, it takes a very big man to admit, more or less in public, that he has a shortcoming [an irrational and hypocritical hatred of all things Palin]. My profound dislike of the Drop Out Governor of Alaska has an irrational quality to it at times…

    http://www.mediaite.com/online/breaking-al-and-tipper-gore-to-separate/

    The Real Royal King says:
    June 1, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    See… you already proved that this is a lie by King… but he’s simply not rational. That’s why he’ll continue to lie, and thinks it’s okay to do so!

    DonnaK says:
    June 1, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    I just read that she has a new facebook note out…

    No doubt from an unbiased source, who isn’t trying to spin a story predictably towards their stated ideology… right?

    TfT says:
    June 1, 2010 at 3:11 pm

    Eh… I dunno. Tapper is pretty good… I think he could be fair.

  • LoganD214

    Best Sarah Palin video I’ve ever seen:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FKWOTBqG2o

    Complete with dinosaurs, nuclear bombs, Matt Damon, and mariachi music… LOL

  • TfT

    Tapper may be pretty good, but I doubt he could be fair. I don’t think he calls the shots on the Sunday show; I wouldn’t doubt that the previous host would give him some gotcha questions to ask and Tapper would ask them. I have no faith in anyone that works for the networks anymore….just look how George called out O’Keefe today.

  • paulmdoro

    No one in the “lamestream media” could ever be fair to Palin as far as her supporters are concerned.

  • ImNotBlue

    TfT says:
    June 1, 2010 at 4:10 pm

    Fair or not, Palin has to be able to stand on her own. I think an appearance with Tapper could do her well.

    The haters would continue to hate (because that’s what they do), and her fans would think she was great. It’s the people in the middle who could be swayed… and that’s important.

  • paulmdoro

    So true ImNotBlue.

  • BruceGoose

    I don’t think she’s ready to face Jake “The Octagon” Tapper in a free form question brawl but if they stick to one or two predetermined topics she’ll do ok.

  • TylerDurden

    The Real Royal King says:
    June 1, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    Indeed, the question involved stupid positions by the Drop Out Governor of Alaska. I can’t imagine what might be any more stupid than advocating Abstinence Only Education when you are trotting the ultimate proof it doesn’t work around the stage. Stoopid! STOOPID!! S T O O P I D ! ! !”

    You are the one being stupid.

    As her quote shows, she is not against teaching contraception, something, unfortunately, your mother did not practice.

    “I’m pro-contraception, and I think kids who may not hear about it at home should hear about it in other avenues,” she said during a debate in Juneau.

    Such statements could raise concerns among social conservatives who have been some of Palin’s most enthusiastic supporters since she was tapped for the No. 2 spot on the GOP ticket last week.”

    You lose again.

  • proudpatriotusa

    Tapper is a right-wing hack and ABC news is Fox News lite.

    A Tapper interview would be just more softball questions for Palin presented in advance.

  • philipjames

    Well, lets see… I think Sarah just mentioned in a Facebook post that she and Todd just got screwed around by Matt Lauer and his bunch over at NBC…
    so, tell me again why she should trust any of the friggin lame stream media types? what was the argument for her going on…. to help their ratings and generate more money for them… was that the reason?

    look, considering Sarah has shown she is pretty savvy on media workings, she will go on whatever show she wants to when she wants to and on her timetable, not Jake’s or this site’s suggestions… just checked and she soon will clock over 1.6 million followers on Facebook… I am laughing at the left wing wackos who called her stupid…laughing.

    by the way, here is her Facebook post re the NBC screw around….
    http://www.facebook.com/notes/sarah-palin/is-it-any-wonder-why-we-call-them-lame/394979258434

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Lars-Svensen/100001028197161 Lars Svensen

    Tapper is just another lamestream hack who wants to inject some Palin Power into his limp, flaccid ratings. Sarah doesn’t need him. ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN are all circling the drain. Let them sink.

  • JohnL

    Palin is a tool for the Right just as Hopey’s birth certificate is a tool for the moonbats.

    A slightly more effective tool, actually. Mention the birth certificate to conservatives and about 5% get tweaked. Mention Palin and 95% of the left froths at the mouth and spins out of control leaving smoking Birkenstocks where they once stood.

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