Big Fat Story
Did Sarah Palin's sister-in-law rob a house with her four-year-old kid?
The Johnston family aren't the only in-laws giving Sarah Palin grief this week. Last week, Governor Palin's sister-in-law, Diana Palin, was arrested for allegedly robbing a house—with her daughter at her side. According to police, Diana Palin, half-sister to Todd, broke into a Wasilla, Alaska, home twice—once on Tuesday and again on Thursday. The house's owner, Theodore Turcott, told the cops that he saw a strange car pull up to his driveway Thursday morning. Suspecting that the driver might be the same person who robbed him of $2,200 just days earlier, he hid in his bathroom with a gun and confronted the woman when she headed into the bedroom looking for cash. While Turcott waited for cops to arrive, however, Palin's four-year old daughter entered the house as well. Palin told the police she had never been to the house before and had merely confused it with a friend's place, but police say her daughter told them she had been there before. The local district attorney is considering adding child-endangerment charges to the current felony burglary, misdemeanor theft, and criminal trespass charges.
Photo: Al Grillo / AP Photo
Levi Johnston's TV appearance put Sarah Palin on the hot seat.
Governor Palin's family dramas, for better or for worse, were always at the center of her political appeal, but Levi Johnston and his family took TMI to new heights on Monday. In an appearance on The Tyra Banks Show, Johnston admitted sheepishly that he used protection "most of the time" during his relationship with Bristol Palin. But it was what he had to say about Sarah Palin that has put the Alaska governor and champion of small-town values on the defensive. According to Johnston, Palin looked the other way even though he believed she was aware that her daughter was having premarital sex. "I'm pretty sure she probably knew," Johnston told Banks. "Moms are pretty smart." Johnston also showed off his "Bristol" ring tattoo and accused the Palins of trying to keep him from freely visiting his child, Tripp. Sarah Palin went on the offensive in response, blasting the 18-year old father of her grandson as well as his family. In response to Johnston's TV appearance, the governor put out a statement saying the Palins were "disappointed that Levi and his family...are engaging in flat-out lies, gross exaggeration and even distortion of their relationship."
Photo: Warner Bros. / Karl Giant
Sarah Palin's mother-in-law said she wasn’t sure who she’d vote for in 2008.
Sarah Palin had to work hard to earn votes as John McCain's running mate—starting with her own family members. Immediately after being picked for the VP nomination, Palin's mother-in-law, Faye Palin, told reporters that she was not sold on the governor's qualifications and that her vote was still up in the air. "I'm not sure what she brings to the ticket other than she's a woman and a conservative," Faye Palin told the New York Daily News shortly after her daughter-in-law was picked in August. "Well, she's a better speaker than McCain." Explaining her wavering support, Faye said: "We don't agree on everything. But I respect her passion."
Photo: Gary Miller, Splash News / Newscom
PALIN FAMILY FEUDS
Bill Clinton had Roger Clinton, Jimmy Carter had Billy Carter, and now Sarah Palin has an entire supporting cast of relatives and in-laws making the news for the wrong reasons. Levi Johnston's high-profile breakup with Bristol Palin after their awkwardly public, highly politicized engagement during the primaries has led to an outright family feud in the media, and lately Todd's family has been making headlines for less-than-flattering reasons as well. How are Palin's family members making life difficult for the Alaska governor?
Sherry Johnston, who accompanied Levi on his latest media appearance, has faced media scrutiny as well, thanks to her recent drug arrest. Police arrested Johnston after she allegedly admitted selling prescription drugs to a police informant. In January, she pleaded not guilty to six felony counts of possessing and selling OxyContin. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Johnstons have said that Sarah Palin has sought to keep her from spending time with their mutual grandson, Tripp. Johnston told People magazine that she became addicted to painkillers after suffering through several surgeries.
Photo: Al Grillo / AP Photo
Part of the reason that Sarah Palin's family drama has become such a media sensation is that so much of the Alaska governor's political appeal comes from her support for "small-town" and "family values.” One issue that immediately came up in the press in response to Bristol Palin's was the governor's support for abstinence education instead of comprehensive sex education. Asked about whether she believed in abstinence education, however, Bristol told Fox's Greta Van Susteren that such an approach is "not realistic at all" given the pressures facing teens. Seemingly papering over her daughter's words, Sarah Palin recently put out a statement saying that Bristols' focus was on "raising Tripp, completing her education, and advocating abstinence."
Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images
Sarah Palin faced an ethics investigation over efforts to fire her former brother-in-law.
One issue that dogged Sarah Palin during the 2008 election season was an investigation into whether or not her staff pressured Alaska's Public Safety Department to fire her former brother-in-law, a state trooper. The Public Safety Commissioner, Walt Monegan, told reporters that he had been fired himself after he refused to dump Mike Wooten, who was previously married to Sarah Palin's sister. While Palin initially denied charges that her office had anything to do with the move, she later acknowledged that "such pressure could have been perceived to exist, although I have only now become aware of it," after calls to Monegan from aides, as well as Todd Palin, surfaced. A legislative probe later concluded that Palin abused her power by not stopping Todd from going after Wooten, but a separate ethics investigation launched by Palin herself said she didn't know what her family or staff were doing and was therefore not responsible. Nonetheless, she paid a hefty price in the process, racking up some $500,000 in legal debts.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
cook1974
SP is common trash who happens to be pretty & inexplicably confident. If she ever even comes close to the presidency, I'm so moving to Europe.
Ruckus
Yeah, but she is good shot.
Hawnzz
There isn't anything to say really. We suffered through 8 years of a man who nearly took this country to the brink. The country is falling apart at the seams! And that president that followed is having to try and put it back together. Are we dumb enough to do it again?
I don't think I could take another 8 years under a president like that.
kc8911
As an independent, I am simply disgusted with the liberal media about the Palin family.
On and on ceaselessly - especially on the liberal/democratic websites and blogs.
I have yet to hear the media say anything about Ashley Biden, nor Obama's aunt, who disregarded her deportations not once but twice and is now applying for legal status as a resident.
Go to any of the Republican websites and blogs. They don't discuss any of those things. Their silence sounds good to me.
Marti7
Silence or hope it goes goes away?
pricklypear
cook1974:
What makes you think Europe would want you?
steff47
this is just a poor white trash family, you know it's bad when
Mccain says he will not vote for her in 2012, yes Sarah Palin is officially finish in politics not that we are going to hear the last of her I'm sure she will be around for a few laugh
pricklypear
steff47:
Just because you fling hateful words around, does not make it true.
If your lack of punctuation and unimaginative choice of words is any indication, I picture you as an uncharitable, lazy dullard.
shortcourse
At least we can laugh at this tragi-comedy of the Palin family. What Obama is doing and will do to this country is not funny!
cbeenthere
People who call themselves independent are becoming a pain in the neck. Please, no need to describe yourself(ves) your statements always give you away, and you are no mediators.
Martyz42
I am going to send a donation to Sarah for 2012 & 2016, with her on top of the Religious Confederate Right Wing republicans the nation might be able to move ahead with things that are good for the people & not for the rich, powerful, religious & elected folks who just want to be elected & the hell with the people. We should all gather together & send in money so, Sarah, Bachman, Newt, Sean, Rush, Laura, Anne, Steele, Chinless, Glen & the rest stay in the headlines.We the people need these lunatics to stay in front of all of us just to show the American people how totally incompetent these republican are.
msn04061960
I only have one thing to say to cook1974...... Good bye.
Brucie61
The worst thing about Sarah Palin and her tribe is the absolute hypocrisy--preaching abstinence when you have a pregnant teenager!!! She thinks everyone else is an idiot but she has an inside track. She never took responsibility for her asinine replies to many interviews. I've got a dog smarter than her
Bulldoglover100
The Wack Job from Wasilla enthralls the idiots of this country. LOL She will never be President because the educated? out weigh the stupid.
Bulldoglover100
Hey Martzy42...use the money on an education fro your kids so people dont look at them with pity the way people do you.
Bulldoglover100
The MEDIA may have gone after PALIN? but IF THE facts had not been there to begin with they would have had noting to report. She is a liar and a thief and a bad person. The media? pointed out her lies.
Thank you.
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