For his part, Hirsh agreed with Turner Bell’s suggestion about "revisionist history," and called it "somewhat disturbing" that Palin responded to some of the criticism against her, calling it a "streak of vindictiveness toward her political enemies."
After the two theorized that the book was meant by Palin as a way of kicking off a presidential campaign for 2012, Turner Bell brought up charges of "revisionist history," which she tried to distance from herself by theorizing that others might call it that: "She seems to be trying to get her side of the story out. Some would maybe call that a little bit of revisionist history. Is that your take on this book?"
Hirsh agreed: "Well, there is. I mean, there are a couple things, you know, that were somewhat disturbing about Palin that appear in this book, this streak of vindictiveness toward her political enemies, which we see now include many in the McCain camp."
He soon added: "So Going Rogue is probably an appropriate title. Whether it's the kind of President America wants, assuming that Sarah Palin is gearing up for a presidential run, is another question."
And, even though there were gross attacks on Palin and her family early on as she entered the 2008 campaign – including the theory advanced by liberal bloggers that her youngest child, Trig, was really her daughter's baby – Turner Bell treated Palin's complaint about "character assassination" as a sign of "naivete" by Palin. Turner Bell: "Let's quickly take a look at some of the quotes that are in the book. One, she says about when she first got in, and she says, ‘Before my plane even touched down in Anchorage, shocking character assassinations of those I love began.’ So she seems to be surprised by that. Is this a reflection of her naivete?"
Turner Bell also characterized some of Palin’s words of admiration for her husband as "not very presidential," though Hirsh suggested that such "blunt" talk helps make her popular. Turner Bell: There was, of course, a rumor that she and her husband, Todd, might be divorcing, and this was what she said, "Dang, I thought. Divorce Todd? Have you seen Todd?" That doesn't sound very presidential, does it?"
Below is a complete transcript of the segment from the November 14 Saturday Early Show on CBS:
DEBBYE TURNER BELL: There's a lot of high drama surrounding Sarah Palin's memoir, Going Rogue: An American Life. The former Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor's new book hits the store shelves on Tuesday, but portions have leaked, and they're already stirring controversy. So what effect does all this publicity have on Palin’s future? Joining us now from Washington is Newsweek’s senior editor, Michael Hirsh, to talk about this. Good morning, Michael. How are you this morning?
MICHAEL HIRSH, NEWSWEEK: Good morning. Very well, thanks.
TURNER BELL: It seems to be an unwritten rule when any politician is gearing up to run for President, they write a book. Is that what this is about you think?
HIRSH: I think very much so. You know, I mean, there's a long and storied history there. And Palin has put her own particular stamp on this tradition. Whether it's going to get her what she wants, which is apparently, you know, a national stage leading into 2012, is another question.
TURNER BELL: She seems to be trying to get her side of the story out. Some would maybe call that a little bit of revisionist history. Is that your take on this book?
TURNER BELL: Let's quickly take a look at some of the quotes that are in the book. One, she says about when she first got in, and she says, "Before my plane even touched down in Anchorage, shocking character assassinations of those I love began." So she seems to be surprised by that. Is this a reflection of her naivete?
HIRSH: Perhaps. It, you know, again, she seems to be mainly out for repudiation of her critics here, and what you see is, you know, a lot of self-involvement. And, again, is that the kind of thing that the American people want in a presidential candidate with all of these other issues pressing?
TURNER BELL: And another quote – oh, I’m so sorry, Michael – I want to get another quote in, though, before we have to leave. There was, of course, a rumor that she and her husband, Todd, might be divorcing, and this was what she said, "Dang, I thought. Divorce Todd? Have you seen Todd?" That doesn't sound very presidential, does it?
HIRSH, laughing: Well, there have been those stories out there, and, of course, she abruptly quit the Alaska governorship, and the stories swirled that she was having personal problems with Todd Palin. But they're still together. And, you know, look, I mean, it's also what people like about her. She's very blunt. Whether that makes her a presidential candidate, again, is really something that people are going to have to decide as the book sells.
TURNER BELL: Certainly, no one can deny in certain sectors she's wildly popular. Is this book – in just a word or two – is this book going to help her or hurt her cause?
HIRSH: I think it's going to help her, you know, with her base, her relatively narrow Republican base. I don’t know that it helps at all with what she would need to actually be elected President, which is to appeal to something beyond the conservative base of the Republican party.
TURNER BELL: All right, we'll certainly see. Michael Hirsh, thank you so much for your time this morning. Appreciate it.
HIRSH: Thank you.
