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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Palin vs. Levi -- again

Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:41 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's Norah O'Donnell and Matt Glick
Levi Johnston, the estranged father of Sarah Palin's grandson, told CBS in an interview that -- among other things -- Palin had joked about her son Trig, who has Down's Syndrome.


Palin has released this statement through her spokesperson Meg Stapleton, which appears to refer to Levi's agreement to pose for Playgirl magazine:


We have purposefully ignored the mean spirited, malicious and untrue attacks on our family. We, like many, are appalled at the inflammatory statements being made or implied. Trig is our 'blessed little angel' who knows it and is lovingly called that every day of his life. Even the thought that anyone would refer to Trig by any disparaging name is sickening and sad. CBS should be ashamed for continually providing a forum to propagate lies. Consider the source of the most recent attention-getting lies - those who would sell their body for money reflect a desperate need for attention and are likely to say and do anything for even more attention."

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As much as libs may hate her, does anyone actually beleive she would make fun of her own handicapped child?

who could be so sick?
Does Levi know whether Trig is actually Sarah's child and not Bristol's first? That's all I want to know from any of these Alaskan ignorants.
"attention-getting lies - those who would sell their body for money reflect a desperate need for attention and are likely to say and do anything for even more attention."
///////////////////////////////////

Sarah, Sarah.......Guess you would know thy own self!  Pot/Kettle....If you are so concerned about Trig.....why aren't you at home with your baby......HYPOCRIT!!!!!
More Palin distractions to cover up Barack's failures.


The DJIA just dropped 102 points today (10/28).
But that does not matter. Lets play the Where's Palin game?
And if you opt-out of the government run health care program, do you opt-out of paying for the health care program?
Let's see what CNN has to say - nothing - they're still talking about the ballon boy.
Trader Joes (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:31 PM)

How about using your name?  Chicken?  LOL!!

The politics of the opt-out proposal basically allows cowardly Democrats to pass the buck to statehouses across the country!!

I know exactly what the opt out is!! Try using your name next time, maybe then you'll get some respect!!
Hmmm... like I said earlier... nice to see the Palin/Johnston family fued continue...

Nothing like airing your 'dirty laundry' to keep us entertained... lol lol lol

Bible Spice BETTER watch herself - this kid knows A LOT of what went on behind the closed doors at the Hillbilly Hotel!

Personally... I'm waiting for him to spill the beans on her fake pregnancy!  There's plenty of secrets that will be forthcoming in the future... that's for sure!

Palin's Pity Party... your table is now ready!
This is why Sarah Palin will never be ready for a serious run at a national office...

By choosing to respond, you legitimize Levi Johnston.  If you honestly don't believe he has any credibility, don't give him any by releasing a statement about his interview.

Instead of fighting the big fights, you choose to fight the little fights.

PS - Sarah Palin QUIT!!!

PPS - Shout out to "Bad Chihuahua".
Levi should run for Alan Grayson's seat in Florida. He'd be perfect.
"...are likely to say and do anything for even more attention."   Wait...Sarah Palin is chastizing someone for this?  Really?
This is why Sarah Palin will never be ready for a serious run at a national office...

By choosing to respond, you legitimize Levi Johnston.  If you honestly don't believe he has any credibility, don't give him any by releasing a statement about his interview.

=============

I see what you are saying. It's kind of like Obama, with regards to Fox . . . . . .
I know exactly what the opt out is!! Try using your name next time, maybe then you'll get some respect!!
Pam, San Pedro, California


Oh, you are just so cute when angry! Just precious!
Maybe MSNBC should stop giving Levi Johnston oxygen, and these 'stories' would go away.  Oh wait-it's a useful club to bash Palin so they'll continue to take any crumb they can get, even from a teenager.
The Tea-Bag-Hag

The McCain campaign staff wasn't kidding when they called them Alaska Hillbillys

Don't Eat the Yeloow Snow !!

Another Republican 'Leader' Newt gingrich is a Dead Beat Dad who divorced his first wife while she was still sedated from surgery

Family Values !!!

The DJIA just dropped 102 points today (10/28).
But that does not matter. Lets play the Where's Palin game?
Groundskeeper Willie’s enemy Seamus


It's been dumping value all week. What's Obama do? Golfs, campaigns for Deeds, schedules a 20 minute meeting with the Joint Chiefs to talk about Afghanistan, or Iraq, or some god-awful hot country that's over there.
Sorry. Just following your example.
Pete Roleum, Detroit MI USA (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:53 PM)
______________

Never saw that response coming... *snark @ 110%* lol lol lol!
Hmmm... like I said earlier... nice to see the Palin/Johnston family fued continue...

Not nearly as humorous as the DNC Democrat debacle on display every day in Washington.

Come back now, you hear.
I am going to revert to my post-election days and refrain from commenting on former Governor Palin.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
“Clara, The military is well run in terms of defending and fighting.  It was never meant to be a profit making business and regarding the business end of it, the military is very cost-inefficient and wasteful. As much as I love the military, it is not a good example to raise to support another government run entity. Especially one that doesnt HAVE to be government run, unlike the military. Good try but sorry, sad but true.”  Jim (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 12:12 PM)
Well, Jim, at least you are honest about how you feel.  Why do you think it is acceptable that the HEALTHCARE of our citizens is MEANT to be a ‘for profit’ enterprise?  I mean, yes, everybody needs to get paid; but why exactly are we playing G-d and treating only those who have the good fortune of employment or insurance?  And yes, SOME children are insured through s-chip.  And yes, some adults are taken care of when proven disabled and indigent.  BUT WHY do we accept as reasonable that someone who has health problems and NO JOB is somehow unworthy of life?  I have seen more than one post stating that people can just ‘go to the hospital’ if they get sick.  True, hospitals are required to ‘treat’ critical medical emergencies; but you can’t pull up to the local ER and get a tumor removed (unless it is blocking your airway).  You can’t schedule ER appointments for chemo and radiation.  So, it is disingenuous to hear the STRAW arguments about healthcare and profits.
The facts are that MANY United States Corporations have gained their success at great Government Expense.  I would argue that Dick Cheney and Halliburton actually factored War into their profit models years ago.  Further, I find it disgusting that taking advantage of Government at the Corporate level is just good business; but those deadbeat welfare recipients are just ‘gaming the system’.  There is no end to the blight of waste and greed; but from the examples you cite, waste is only a one way street.  What a crock!
Someone else has been harping on Obama Admin for injecting themselves into the boardrooms and pay models of business.  Well, isn’t that just another example of steaming hypocrisy?  Bad Managers run their company into the dirt, they barter ‘shares’ to the government for bailouts and then the stooges posting on this FR board want to throw a hissy because the government, as a new shareholder, takes exception to continuing the business practices that upended the apple cart?  Wow, can’t live with ‘em can’t do without ‘em.  So I guess it is fair to say that we only hate government when it isn’t doing what WE want.  If you are a Republican, you hate it when government takes care of the populace.  If you are a Democrat, you hate it when government subsidizes the Republican experiment in capitalism (from farm subsidies all the way up).  I find it interesting that ever since Ronald Reagan’s “deeper than we could afford” Tax Cuts that Republicans somehow understand budgetary methodology and can separate the Fighting Machine from the funding.  We have been told for decades to never question Military Spending because our very security depends on it.  Then when we are shown to be vulnerable (on a Republican’s watch, I might add), money is not object – we will spend and spend and not even worry about the budget.  What was the quote on that?  “…I can’t imagine (sic the cost) it being more than $50 million…100 million…” wasn’t that what the little troll said about our misadventure in Iraq?
Read on for more misinformation from the right:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
PS.  Missouri has had tort reform since 2005,...no one's insurance has gone down.  We aren't the 'secret' state with the supposed BEST Insurance coverage and rates, that Dick Armey pretends exists. Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 11:34 AM)
-------------------------------------------------
So let THE GOVERNMENT step in and take it all over, right?

Run it as well as they run Medicaid, Medicare and the Prescription Drug programs which the GAO accounting office recently said will be INSOLVENT by 2017.

Do you honestly think the government can run an even larger health care program when they cant run Social Security and the health care programs they have now?

AND keep it "deficit-neutral" as the Liar-In-Chief claims he will. No new taxes on 95% of "working families" Obama claimed. Read the fine print "working family" is anyone working at a fast food joint or non-SEIU janitor job.

How will Obama pay for all these give aways? How?
Tax the rich? I will believe it when I see it.
Groundskeeper Willie’s enemy Seamus (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 11:48 AM)
A little background history here, folks.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_(United_States)
Social Security was designed to be a ‘Trust Fund’.  In order for the program to work, it first needed a reserve pool.  If you don’t allow for the reserve pool to build, you will invariably run shortages and risk of underfunding.  When you create and alter programs without budgeting or funding them, you guarantee the program’s ultimate failure.  I give you George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan.
I believe it is intellectually dishonest to ‘claim’ that government run programs don’t work.  By sheer virtue of the competing political parties, certain programs are designed to ‘succeed’ or ‘fail’ based on ideology and policy.  Can we all imagine where we would have been a year ago if the Republicans had managed to privatize Social Security?  With ALL of the Trust Fund tied to the stock market that lost 50% of its value in a matter of weeks?  And you are surprised that the Pharma Giveaway in the form of a Republican change to Prescription Drug Benefits isn’t properly funded?  Medicaid is NOT a government RUN program – blame the states.  Ask anyone on Medicare if they want it cut?   You know your answer.  Tri-Care manages to please most of the people, most of the time.  The simplest, easiest Healthcare Reform is Medicare for Everyone that allows for an ‘opt in’ for a reasonable rate.  Due to the inherent flaw of government being able to be simple (which is not the same as refuting that Government works, nuance – look it up) – we are getting a bunch of watered down BS that will appease the lobbyists or ‘this’ party and ‘that’ person.  It is ridiculous what passes for legislative competency.  But hey, we had “W” as President for 8 years and he wasn’t competent either.  You have such a limited grasp of the issues and an even more limited grasp of reality that I’m not sure you can be reasoned with.
watching msnbc all day.

mike mullin london ontario canada

_______________

Punishment?
Oh, you are just so cute when angry! Just precious!
TJ (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:55 PM)

Not angry, wondering why people are so ill-informed and ignorant!! Looking at you!!
Maybe MSNBC should stop giving Levi Johnston oxygen, and these 'stories' would go away.  Oh wait-it's a useful club to bash Palin so they'll continue to take any crumb they can get, even from a teenager.
Let's move on, please (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:55 PM)

But it was just swell when McC was hugging him at the Convention and Fox was plastering his photo all over the place, commending him!!  OR when Palin paraded him and her children all over the place!! Yeah, that was just swell!!

LOL!! Oh, the hypocrisy continues.........
Judas Goat,

And when the unpriveleged rise up against the priveleged and take over everything falls apart!! (Nigeria for example)  Why?  Because the priveleged for the most part are the people who know what they are doing and how things work.  So to keep things working smoothly and correctly you need the priveleged.  That is why in America someone can come from dirt poor to wealth and privelege.  They can do this by knowing how something works and move into a position to keep it working.  Some electrical engineers who keep power plants working make tons of money.  Are they some of your priveleged?  Should we take them down a few pegs?  Then maybe they don't want to work at the power plants anymore so there is noone to run them and keep them serviced.  Then you have no electricity.  Is it not good that this group is priveleged and has more than another person?  They provide a great service that others can't provide should they not be priveleged in some way?  The process you are suggesting has been tried many many times and it has failed every time.  Are you saying the untrained, unskilled, and uncaring to work should be treated the same as an oncologist or a communications expert?  That would only breed an underachieving ordinary populace with no encouragement to be better.  Are there not enough examples of that in the world right now to correct your ideas about pie in the sky socialist utopias?  
I believe Levi- and now Sarah Palin want to bash him.

She keeps it up - I am sure he will unleash all the other things he allegedly knows about her and said may even harm her politically.

We'll see?

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA
More Palin distractions to cover up Barack's failures.


The DJIA just dropped 102 points today (10/28).
But that does not matter. Lets play the Where's Palin game?
Groundskeeper Willie’s enemy Seamus
======================
You're hilarious!  It matters when it drops and that's President's fault, but that it broke 10,000 from where it was 9 months ago, those are the forces of capitalism at work?  What a joke.
Not angry, wondering why people are so ill-informed and ignorant!! Looking at you!!
Pam, San Pedro, California


Nah, you're looking in mirror - it's just cracked.
Oh, please.  To the news media, must we all be subjected to the soap opera that is Palin and Levi Johnston.  I find both sides of this fight to blame and the whole thing disgusting.  It's supposed to be news only it is like watching an Alaskan-based reality show about a disfunctional family and an irresponsible teenage boy who almost was family-- none of them behave as adults or have a brain the size of an ants.
Oh please!! NO ONE had to politicize Katrina;

Pam, San Pedro, California


Oh, geeze! Do you do standup? You are funny. Deranged for sure. But very funny.
Hmmm... like I said earlier... nice to see the Palin/Johnston family fued continue...

Nothing like airing your 'dirty laundry' to keep us entertained... lol lol lol
---------------------------------------------------
What is 'nice' or 'entertaining' about this, Red?  This just makes me uncomfortable for all of them.

I don't know how someone could find this entertaining.
Another Republican 'Leader' Newt gingrich is a Dead Beat Dad who divorced his first wife while she was still sedated from surgery

Family Values !!!
MSierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:56 PM)

One correction; it was Newt's SECOND wife; she was recovering from cancer surgery; what a "family morals guy!!" Oh, and did I mention that this happened while he led the charge to impeach President Clinton!!

Nothing like airing your 'dirty laundry' to keep us entertained... lol lol lol
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
---------------------------------------------
Still it IS not as entertaining and funny as the Bill and Monica soap opera.

But I guess that depends on what your definition of IS is.

Obama has been in charge for over 11 months. For whatever that is worth.
Pete Roleum, Detroit MI USA (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:29 PM)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It's already Dec. 21st ?
Where did the last 8 weeks go ??
Please Levi, tell all the world about her fake pregnancy.  Tell everyone how she thought she could hide pregnant Bristol away with "mono" ( yea, sure) and then try to fake a pregnancy. Sarah must really think we are all dumb...to even think for one minute we would fall for her pillow padded fake pregnancy. I am pretty sure that silly, stupid sarah is scared to death of what Levi will tell the world.
One correction; it was Newt's SECOND wife; she was recovering from cancer surgery; what a "family morals guy!!" Oh, and did I mention that this happened while he led the charge to impeach President Clinton!!


Pam, San Pedro, California

That's right Pam! Put the truth out there.
FR: Companies like Verizon and J.P. Morgan Chase argue that the public option could drive up health care costs.



Gosh these companies, they don't stop lying! I trust my government, they have never lied to me.
Pete, Albany.  Exactly, right.  
Another Pot/Kettle analogy regarding Palin:  She blasts CBS for propagating derogatory lies, while reveling in the favorable lies propagated by Rupert Murdoch's Fascist Old Xenophobic(FOX)News channel. How come news pundits are not exocriating her for attempting to delegitimize a media outlet??  After all, she's also a public figure with a Bully-Pulpit.
Obama has been in charge for over 11 months. For whatever that is worth.
Pete Roleum, Detroit MI USA (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:29 PM)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It's already Dec. 21st ?
Where did the last 8 weeks go ??

Dennis, Columbus, Ohio
============
lol, that's sooooo funny!
You're hilarious!  It matters when it drops and that's President's fault, but that it broke 10,000 from where it was 9 months ago, those are the forces of capitalism at work?  What a joke.
Allen - Omaha, NE (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:08 PM)


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alan,

No greater joke my friend when you and your Democrat ilk blamed Bush and Cheney as single handedly manipulating oil prices to help their "Big Oil" buddies in Texas and the Halliburton interests.

Apparently the President of the United States, even though you labeled him a dumb Texas hick, ran a massive,sophisticated conspiracy with Big Oil and the Big Three to keep oil prices high and guzzling SUV's all the rage.

But by some divine miracle, when your buddy Osama Bin Biden came to power, despite his bow to the King of Saudi Arabia and his "amigo" Chavez, the price of oil was completely set by "the market" but still remained very high.

So why is premium almost $3 per gallon and where is all the E-85 and biodiesel and all the green energy renewable cheap fuel Obama was going to develop?

Where is it? Bush is long gone. What's your excuse now? Racism?
At least we know he was born here in the USA, unlike Obama.
Bertha Truther- Honolulu, Kenya (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:12

Or like Mccain who was definately born outside the US...show us all where the constitution gives that exception to being native born? The birthers only show ignorance when they continue to bring up obamas birthplace.
Not taking sides here with regard to Johnston vs. Palin or Obama vs. Fox; just making an observation. Politicians on both sides, Republicans as well as Democrats, learned a lesson from the 2004 campaign and Kerry's decision not to respond aggressively to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth lies against him. (And yes, they were lies, as almost every mainstream media organization proved beyond a reasonable doubt.)

The problem is that, if you allow misinformation to spread without fighting back, people will believe the worst about you. Even the media are no help because, although they will set the record straight, they continue to repeat the original falsehood and that becomes the defining narrative on the political agenda. At that point, you're screwed even when the facts are all on your side.

I'm no fan of Palin, nor am I an uncritical Obama supporter, but I feel a bit sorry for both of them in that they are in a no-win situation when it comes to stories like this. All that being said, they really can't afford to let these slurs against them go by unchallenged. This is what we get when the "marketplace of ideas" has become captive to the lowest common denominator of character assassination that has nothing to do with creating a single job, providing affordable health care to patients, or protecting our citizens from terrorist attacks.
What's the matter RePuks, I thought you like everything Palin?

Dirty laundry or not, it's funny to see the train wreck that is Palin/GOP.

As far as the market goes it's been up and it's been down we really don't  need to have Palin in the news to distract us.

Unlike Conservatives we don't need distractions to know we are still suffering from the BUSH legacy.
Can anyone with an honest bone in their body explain how Barack Hussein Obama is getting away with....

being the most liberal, do-nothing but spend money we don't have president,

leading to a continued failing economy after 10 months of his administration,

can't make a decision as Commander in Chief,

is out on the campaign trail again for at least the 4th year in a row producing lots of promises but no results yet again ......I think we could say honestly, he never really accepts leadership role, just enjoys campaigning for the office,

lost when it comes to leadership decoy of a president?
Unlike Conservatives we don't need distractions to know we are still suffering from the BUSH legacy.
Chris@SLC

Keith tell you believe that? Or was it Rachel? Chris?
Imagine Obama with no Bush

He would not be in the Whitehouse

4 sure!

So thank your lucky drawers that we had George Bush you strap hangers whining about him.
I am not a fan of Sarah but Levi is hitting a little low.Is he writing a book? It seems like all the news shows are just people plugging books that they wrote while taking a long soak in the bath. I expect to see balloon boy in print by the weekend followed by the chronicles of the pilots that overflew the airport.
One correction; it was Newt's SECOND wife; she was recovering from cancer surgery; what a "family morals guy!!" Oh, and did I mention that this happened while he led the charge to impeach President Clinton!!


Pam, San Pedro, California

That's right Pam! Put the truth out there.
John Edwards, NC


I'm on board too!
I don't know how someone could find this entertaining.
Emily in Natick, MA (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:11 PM)
____________

Well for starters… she PROCLAIMED herself the ‘POSTER GIRL’ for family values!!

When in FACT she’s just another hypocritical Republican’t!

Silly Sarah really should focus on getting her OWN family & house in order before she tries to preach to the rest of us!

Let's not forget that she is the ONE that refuses to exit 'stage left' and is nothing more than an attention whore! And the way she pimped her children for her personal gain is down right despicable!

Watching her and her klan is like watching a train wreck... you know it's gonna end badly...but it's what happens along the way the keeps you watching!

As far as I'm concerned as long as she keep herself out there... then she's fair game!
Where did the last 8 weeks go ??
Dennis, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:17 PM)
------------------------------------------------
Lemmie tell you- it went toward his sideshow, unconstitutional, 'Office of the President Elect' stunt that cost the taxpayers millions while Barack ran his little power trip "office" at the Federal Building in Chicago right after the election.

How about some accountability and cost estimates on that one MSNBC?

"CBS should be ashamed for continually providing a forum to propagate lies."

I agree Sarah! The media should be ashamed for covering stories of anyone that spread lies and malicious stories like death squads, and obama being a terrorist, socialist, hitler like and many of the hatred and fear mongering statements you have made in the past. You have no credibility at this point. I'm just more inclined to believe Levi, he has nothing to gain from this story. You have a lot to lose however.
I would like to know what kind of SS benefits these people who will lose $10K are getting?    I want to sign up for those....most people I know may be getting about $2K per month at the max.  A 3% COLA would be an additional $60 per month, or a total of $720 per year.  .....Who do you know who would be getting $10K less per year because of a freeze on COLA?  Whoever it is, let me know, cause I need their advice.

Cathy M, Newport, KY

Read carefully oh trojan horse, it says BENEFITS not $$. Know what turns you on don't we?
Or like Mccain who was definately born outside the US...show us all where the constitution gives that exception to being native born? The birthers only show ignorance when they continue to bring up obamas birthplace. Rick, NC (Sent Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:29 PM)
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Read your history books- the Panama Canal Zone WAS American territory at the time until Jimmy Carter gave it away.
And McCain was son of two AMERICAN born parents, one a UNITED STATES NAVY officer, on duty, serving the United States in the US controlled Panama Canal Zone. McCain's dad did not abandon the family and flee to Africa to father more children.


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