The Associated Press today offered readers a 24-paragraph exclusive that practically promoted Frank Bailey's anti-Palin tell-all book that hits bookstores on May 24.
While the AP noted that "Palin’s attorney did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this story," it appears the news wire made no further attempt to provide balance to its May 23 story, which chiefly conveys the former staffer's perspective on Palin's tenure in office as Alaska governor.
The AP certainly did its part to pick juicy-sounding excerpts from Bailey's book, while at the same time carrying Bailey's insistence that he's disappointed, not bitter, in how Palin has gone from governor to private citizen-cum-itinerant conservative activist:
“Getting Sarah to meetings and events was like nailing Jell-O to a tree,” Bailey wrote. On the campaign trail and as governor, Sarah went through at least ten schedulers, with few lasting more than months. Nobody wanted the job because Sarah might fail to honor, at the last minute, the smallest commitments, and making excuses for her became a painful burden.”
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Bailey dismisses any suggestion he’s disgruntled or bitter; he said he got a front-row seat to state and national politics and was able to recommend judges and set up “hundreds” of board positions. “Yeah, there were some tough, tough times but hopefully I’ve learned from some of that,” he said. “Time will tell.”
He said he has no ill feelings toward Palin, with whom he says he hasn’t spoken since the fall of 2009. If anything, he said, he feels sad for her.
“I’m sad at a lot of wasted potential,” said Bailey, who believed she could accomplish more than she did as governor. “I certainly don’t hate her but I look at a lot of wasted opportunities on her part.”
