CBS Mocks Palin: ‘Resign from Office? You Betcha’

On the Saturday Early Show on the morning of July 4, CBS anchor Priya David mocked Sarah Palin’s famous phrase, "You betcha," as she introduced a report by correspondent Nancy Cordes on the Alaska governor’s decision to resign from office. David: "Resign from office? You betcha. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin dropped a political bombshell Friday, announcing that she's leaving her post, but her future plans remain a mystery."

Unlike her report on the CBS Evening News from the previous night, this time Cordes refrained from referring to Palin’s speech as "rambling" and "confusing," but she did run a soundbite of the Politico’s Mike Allen calling Palin’s decision "odd." Allen: "If you’re trying to promote yourself as a steady leader, this is an odd way to run for President." On Friday night, Cordes had run a soundbite of Allen calling the announcement "bizarre." Allen: "This is very unusual, even bizarre. Governors just don't stop in the middle of their terms when there’s no clear reason."

Below is a complete transcript of the relevant report from the July 4 CBS Early Show:

PRIYA DAVID: Resign from office? You betcha. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin dropped a political bombshell Friday, announcing that she’s leaving her post, but her future plans remain a mystery. CBS correspondent Nancy Cordes has the latest.

SARAH PALIN: I will not seek reelection as governor.

NANCY CORDES: In a surprise announcement from her home in Alaska, Governor Palin said she will resign from office in three weeks.

PALIN: I love my job, and I love Alaska, and it hurts to make this choice, but I’m doing what’s best for Alaska.

CORDES: The Governor said she decided not to run for reelection, and that being a lame duck wasn’t for her. Complained that the barrage of ethics complaints against her have been sapping the state’s attention and money.

PALIN: My staff and I spend most of our day, we’re dealing with this stuff instead of progressing our state now.

CORDES: Among supporters, the move has bolstered speculation that John McCain’s former running mate is planning her own run for the White House.

CHERYL JACOBUS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: This is a good thing, it’s a responsible thing, it’s a smart thing, and so the only thing she’s really signaling to the country and to the GOP is, I want to see what’s out there, I want to see what else I can do.

CORDES: But she’ll have to answer questions about why she’s quitting the job she was elected to do.

MIKE ALLEN, POLITICO: If you’re trying to promote yourself as a steady leader, this is an odd way to run for President.

CORDES: The timing of all this is curious. Typically, when politicians make announcements on a Friday at the start of a holiday weekend with no notice, it means they’re trying to bury the news, not herald the onset of an exciting new chapter in their political lives. Nancy Cordes, CBS News, Washington.