Palin Claims She Did Couric Interview Because She Felt Sorry For Her

Palin Claims She Did Couric Interview Because She Felt Sorry For Her

By Noel Sheppard (Bio | Archive)
November 13, 2009 - 11:53 ET

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin claims in her soon to be released book that the reason she let Katie Couric interview her was because she felt sorry for the CBS "Evening News" anchor:

I almost started to feel sorry for her. Katie had tried to make a bold move from lively morning gal to serious anchor, but the new assignment wasn't going very well.

I'd say the assignment wasn't going very well given Couric's continually plummeting ratings since she took over the anchor position.

With this in mind, the excerpt of Palin's "Going Rogue" posted at the Drudge Report makes for fascinating reading:

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From the beginning, [Palin campaign adviser] Nicolle [Wallace] pushed for Katie Couric and the CBS Evening News. The campaign's general strategy involved coming out with a network anchor, someone they felt had treated John well on the trail thus far. My suggestion was that we be consistent with that strategy and start talking to outlets like FOX and the Wall Street Journal. I really didn't have a say in which press I was going to talk to, but for some reason Nicolle seemed compelled to get me on the Katie bandwagon.
"Katie really likes you," she said to me one day. "she's a working mom and admires you as a working mom. She has teenage daughter like you. She just relates to you," Nicolle said. "believe me, I know her very well. I've worked with her." [...]
Nicolle went on to explain that Katie really needed a career boost. "She just has such low self-esteem," Nicolle said. She added that Katie was going through a tough time. "She just feels she can't trust anybody."
I was thinking, And this has to do with John McCain's campaign how?
Nicolle said. "She wants you to like her."
Hearing all that, I almost started to feel sorry for her. Katie had tried to make a bold move from lively morning gal to serious anchor, but the new assignment wasn't going very well.
"You know what? We'll schedule a segment with her," Nicolle said. "If it doesn't go well, if there's no chemistry, we won't do any others."

Chemistry?

Yeah -- like a cobra and a mongoose!

Too bad no one inside the campaign understood the trap Palin was walking into.

After all, admitting it fourteen months later does nobody any good.

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.

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Oh, this is good

November 13, 2009 - 12:03 ET by CO2Maker

I'm waiting for Katie C**TUS to whip out the filleting knives and do some carving in a day or two.

And Sarah's assistant is Nicolle Kidman, as in, "I'm kidding, man. I thought she'd be easy."

But the compassion to help Katie's low esteem is beyond priceless. I see Katie's numbers plummeting as the unmuffled snickers echo down the halls at CBS headquarters. We can start referring to her as Katie Olbermann.

I know I won't be popular

November 13, 2009 - 12:10 ET by motherbelt

I know I won't be popular for not coming out with full-throated support of Palin, but here goes:

Frankly, I am tired of everyone in the public eye writing books (including this one) about their experiences.It's always done for the purpose of making themselves look good, so who's to know what the real truth is? Palin says she felt sorry for Katie; someone else might say she did it because she thought Katie, being a woman, would go easy on her. Couric might say Palin solicited the interview, not the other way around.

(And rather than feeling sorry for Katie, she should have known that, being eager to "make her bones" as a heavyweight newsperson, Couric would be out for blood).

This may be a great way to make some money and get more name recognition, but let's face it, in 2012 whether or not Palin wrote a book is going to be irrelevant.

Agree

November 13, 2009 - 12:26 ET by doug1950

If that was her only reason for doing the interview in the first place it was a very poor reason. Her campaign advisor sounds like a twit as well, amateurish at the very least. The advisor's dialog sounds like the kind of talking that goes on at a coffee claque while organizing the high school class reunion, not a strategy meeting when you are going after the BIG brass ring and a national election. "She wants you to like her"!!!! Who the hell gives a big RA? I have always faulted Palin for not seeing the forest for the trees on this. Her own instincts were correct and she should have listened to them. Personally, I have always loathed the fact that most politicians have to have "handlers" to tell them when they can break wind. Palin got tubed by the McCain campaign handlers and everyone knows it. In the aftermath of the election she was a convenient target for why he lost. He lost because he is an idiot and politically blind and tone deaf. A politician and not a Statesman. They always do and say what is expedient for them to stay in office and power, to hell with the final outcome or consequences down in the trenches where "the little people" live.

Make that AGREE 2, doug.

November 13, 2009 - 12:29 ET by MaximusBraveheart

Make that AGREE 2, doug. FYI, I like Palin & was happy to give $$ when she came on board. The only reason to like a McCain ticket. M-B

Same here

November 13, 2009 - 12:54 ET by doug1950

Had not Palin been on the McCain ticket I do not know if I would have even bothered to go vote. I have never liked McCain because I spent most of my adult life around many men just like him. He showed his true colors when, after the election, his own people threw her and her family under the bus and he uttered not a peep. They suddenly acted like her family were the stars of Deliverance and the sole reason McCain lost. He would have done significantly worse had she not been on his ticket. Most people I personally know who voted for him state they had to hold their nose while in the voting booth.

Agree 3 - there is only one reason the RNC received $$$

November 13, 2009 - 14:05 ET by Cape Conservative

in 2008 and that reason was Sarah Palin! She is the ONLY reason we voted for John McCain - otherwise we would have been voting against Obama. And yes, we held our noses, too! McCain should take his marbles and retire to spend the rest of his days in AZ with his wife and valley girl daughter! The country would be 1000% better off without him in the Senate. However, I'm sure he has the Kennedy belief that the world would collapse around us without their sage wisdom! HaHaHaHa Along that line, we are supporting the REPUBLICAN candidate, Scott Brown, a state senator and a man of STRONG CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES to fill the Kennedy vacancy!!! Wouldn't that be the best ever result of the January election?!?!

This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise designated by Homeland Security as a Domestic Right Wing Terrorist! And now by our president as a 'swiftboater' - both titles I'll wear proudly! It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams

202.224.3121 LET CONGRESS HEAR THE ROAR OF THE SILENT MAJORITY!

202.456.1111 WHITE HOUSE COMMENT LINE

McCain Mantra

November 13, 2009 - 12:37 ET by allanf

It was a huge mistake to put Palin out with Couric, Brian Williams or Charlie Gibson. The McCain campaigns mantra should have been.

Palin will sit down with Couric when Obama sits down with Hannity.

It should have been repeated over and over.

I couldn't agree more

November 13, 2009 - 23:51 ET by sozinho

Why they ever made this decision is beyond me. And why she decided to go on Oprah now is hard for me to understand. (After having been snubbed pre-election.) I realize she wants to be seen as brave in the face of adversaries, but these vultures want nothing more than to take her down in anyway they can.

And Obama never once took an interview where he might be cornered into giving an answer the people might not want to hear -- except with Rev. Rick Warren. He *still* can't bring himself to do it, and I wish he'd be called on it, but that ain't gonna happen.

Couric Interview

November 13, 2009 - 12:22 ET by Gothampc

I really like Sarah Palin. If she had not been on the ticket, I probably would have stayed home rather than vote McCain. But I voted McCain specifically for Palin.

However, she should have smelled the Couric interview a mile away. Palin has a background in journalism. Plus we knew her as a "barracuda". I understand that the campaign people had her boxed in, but I think Palin should have said a hell no to the Couric interview and been very firm. I think it was probably the only big stumble on her part.

Concur

November 13, 2009 - 12:42 ET by Kingfish17

Palin should have either refused to do interviews with Couric and Gibson or she should have insisted in a live format that prohibited editing and should have come out slinging and refused to play the MSM's gotcha game. Either way, she blew it.

Gibson

November 13, 2009 - 15:09 ET by Gothampc

I actually think the Gibson interview was ok. He tried to catch her in a trap about the "Bush Doctrine" but in the end it showed what a jerk he was and that she was much smarter than he was.

Yes, she showed what a jerk he was, but I was ready to take

November 13, 2009 - 23:52 ET by Cape Conservative

those glasses off the end of his nose and crush them with my bare hands! His jiggling of his foot as he looked down his nose at her in contempt caused me to send an email to ABC News immediately - and then a second one later in the interview informing them I would NEVER watch the evening news again because of his condescending, arrogant interview! And...ABC News has NEVER been on in our home since that date!

202.224.3121 LET CONGRESS HEAR THE ROAR OF THE SILENT MAJORITY!

202.456.1111 WHITE HOUSE COMMENT LINE

My thoughts are that Nicole Wallace set this one up - I believe

November 13, 2009 - 14:11 ET by Cape Conservative

she got what she wanted when all was edited and shown!

My guess is Ms. Katie won't be any too happy to hear that NW thought she had 'low self-esteem' and needed the interview. Good...the two of them are the lowest of the low in female television in my humble opinion. I'm sure she'll just lie and deny it!

I am not happy when Hannity has NW on his show...all I see or hear is a deceitful vindictive woman who enjoyed stabbing someone in the back - that someone being the running mate of her boss! I hope in the future, any Republican thinking of running for office will NOT consider ANY of the operatives in the McCain campaign.

Like Most in MSM, Couric Is a Snake

November 13, 2009 - 12:25 ET by BW222

Sarah Palin was a little nieve at the time she was first introduced as VP candidate. She had a very good relationship with the Alaska media (prior to her VP nomination) and mistakenly assumed that most "journalists" are fair.

Katie Couric was selected for the CBS anchor position for one reason - gender. If you recall, CBS went all out on launching her newscast and it has become pretty much of a train wreck and a ratings disaster.

Nicolle Wallace is a former member of CBS News and a personal friend of Couric. It's interesting to notice that Couric did not challenge Joe Biden during her interview when Biden talked about FDR going on TV to address the American people when the Great Depression started.

Think the best parts of Palin's interview with Couric ended up on the cutting room floor and anything negative was used? You betcha!

BW222

We need more "nieve" and

November 13, 2009 - 12:34 ET by MaximusBraveheart

We need more "nieve" and honest non-pro politicians in office that do the right thing based on the Constitution. And NOT based on getting re-elected. Thus the sell out and vote buying. M-B

M-B - Let's hope the Tea Parties and 912 rallies will bring out

November 13, 2009 - 14:15 ET by Cape Conservative

CONSERVATIVE 'citizen' candidates across the country - and if they do come out, let them get in their red pickup trucks and travel their districts/states. It worked for Fred Thompson and I believe it will work in today's climate! Money will NOT be the definer, no matter what the unions and George Soros think...AMERICANS ARE WAKING UP TO WHAT IS IMPORTANT and WON'T BE BOUGHT!

202.224.3121 LET CONGRESS HEAR THE ROAR OF THE SILENT MAJORITY!

202.456.1111 WHITE HOUSE COMMENT LINE

Sympathy for the Devil.....?

November 13, 2009 - 12:56 ET by mattm

Sympathy for the Devil.....?

Gov Palin has class.

November 13, 2009 - 13:18 ET by seven

I feel sorry for Curic but will not watch her. Palin is about all Mccain had going for him except Obama was soo inexperienced as we all now know.

Agree - but we all know that the majority of Obama voters were

November 13, 2009 - 14:18 ET by Cape Conservative

simply ignorant teeny-boppers (no matter their true age) who were in love with their idol. Sure hope they are enjoying having their cars filled with gas and mortgages paid now that he's in office! Or, just maybe, they are losing their homes due to FORECLOSURE since 'the one' has DESTROYED the American economy!!!!

202.224.3121 LET CONGRESS HEAR THE ROAR OF THE SILENT MAJORITY!

202.456.1111 WHITE HOUSE COMMENT LINE

CC

November 13, 2009 - 14:22 ET by MrShy

Seems my entire family (immediate and distant ones) and almost all my friends are teeny-boppers.

My sympathies to you, MrShy!

November 13, 2009 - 14:50 ET by Cape Conservative

202.224.3121 LET CONGRESS HEAR THE ROAR OF THE SILENT MAJORITY!

202.456.1111 WHITE HOUSE COMMENT LINE

I basically like Palin and

November 13, 2009 - 14:48 ET by Chris Norman

I basically like Palin and hate what the media and entertainment industry have tried to do with her. That said, I was never wild about her as many here are (to each their own). Her cutesy sing song delivery and folksy mannerisms sometimes grated on my ears and I grew alarmed when she repeated the same lines in almost the same way over and over again in the first part of the campaign (although I have an idea that it was the McCain handlers limiting her talking topics. I guess what I am trying to say is that while Palin was a breath of fresh air, her personality and national political inexperience made her more vulnerable to the sabotage and character assassination by the jackals in the media.

The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.

Sort of like "my friends" ???

November 13, 2009 - 15:54 ET by MaximusBraveheart

At least she is funny. I am sure the McCain people forced a lot of that repeat talk on her. She was not free to speak her mind.

But you mean sort of like "my friends?"

This IS enough to make you feel sick: http://www.youtube.c...

Wonder why we lost?

BUT this will make you feel better; Obama "uh" count 30 in interview: http://www.youtube.c...

OK you have to watch Obama lost when teleprompter goes down: http://www.youtube.c...

OR THIS 57 states and 2 LEFT TO GO!! http://www.youtube.c...

M-B

yes, she can be funny. But,

November 13, 2009 - 18:21 ET by Chris Norman

yes, she can be funny. But, like I said, she just didn't have the political senses to avoid the traps and attacks the SOBs in the media mounted. To be fair, I don't think many people in the GOP could have surmounted the biased coverage.

The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.

M-B - the next link you should add is Caroline Kennedy and

November 16, 2009 - 23:47 ET by Cape Conservative

her umms and errrrs ;-)

I never could understand why McCain's staff wouldn't tell him to STOP using 'my friends' - it made me sick to my stomach every time he said it. Was there something wrong with 'my fellow Americans'??????

Perhaps if he had used that phrase, there might have been a slight advantage since 'the one' never has believed he had any 'fellow Americans' - how could he be worshipped if that was the case???????

This comment comes from a proud Tea Party attendee, otherwise designated by Homeland Security as a Domestic Right Wing Terrorist! And now by our president as a 'swiftboater' - both titles I'll wear proudly!

It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue ~ Sam Adams

202.224.3121 LET CONGRESS HEAR THE ROAR OF THE SILENT MAJORITY!

202.456.1111 WHITE HOUSE COMMENT LINE

Katie Should Credit

November 13, 2009 - 15:22 ET by countmein5050

Couric was failing...badly. I recall the talk being Palin actually gave the network a reason to keep Couric.

Palin single-handedly saved Couric from cancellation. The very least she could do is thank her. And it's still only when Palin surfaces that Couric gets a much-needed injection of valid attention. Without Palin, Couric would only be a footnote in history.

Every bodys got one!

November 13, 2009 - 16:35 ET by thedailyzing

Excuses and books that is!!! HAHA Palin should have known better and should have been better prepared! Palins people had to know she was walking right into the lionesses den. Now Palin has a book and is gonna make a boat load. All I care about is that the Republican party pulls its head out and gets back to their core principals! Check this out its awsome! http://thedailyzing.com/446/we-marvel-at-carl-dome-edition/

Never feel sorry for a

November 13, 2009 - 19:59 ET by RR GOP

Never feel sorry for a rattlesnake...especially if the other rattlesnakes want nothing to do with her.

One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.

Palin was sabotaged as much

November 14, 2009 - 13:10 ET by countmein5050

Palin was sabotaged as much by her own party as she was by the liberal media mounting an all-out campaign to get a liberal elected...the first black seemed all the reason they needed over actual qualifications. Her campaign was managed by people who chose to hamstring her rather than mentor her. That's to their ever living shame and I hope they are confronted by that fact often. Vipers in her own party...deadly and vicious. This is politics and while it's one thing to be outside the beltway and not corrupt in the ways of Washington politics, we need to remember that we had one who was simply in it to forge a clean path into Washington and the vipers in her own party took her down as fast as any one in the media could have done. It happens. They just decided to eat their own.

I hope Palin will continue being a thorn in the side of liberals and an outspoken messenger on the issues before us. Unfortunately I don't think she'll be able to recover enough to run against liberals in 2012. What her purpose is appears to be simply a voice of reason and truth. Liberals wet themselves when they learn she's within 5 miles of them. That is purpose enough for me.

Palin should....

November 14, 2009 - 14:48 ET by Intellectual Honesty

... require the ability to record, via her own sources, any interview to ensure that any outrageous editing jobs by the MSM can be countered. The MSM will complain, say it is unprecedented but once one media outlet agrees the others will follow. She needs to take on the media in a smart way.