Palin says she's been exploited by Couric and Fey

[jdobbin]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090109/world/us_palin

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says CBS News anchor Katie Couric and comic actress Tina Fey have been "exploiting" her.

Palin also is questioning whether Caroline Kennedy is getting better treatment from the news media in her quest for a Senate seat than Palin herself received as Republican John McCain's running mate.

Just who was exploiting who? It is a symbiotic relationship. A politician needs the media and the media needs politicians. Couric did her job and I'm not sure what Palin's specific complaint about her was. Perhaps if she had made herself available to more media, she would not have depended on the perceptions from the one interview.

As for Tina Fey, there was not a politician that was not parodied. Palin was parodied by one of the best in the biz.

Do you think Bush complained about Will Farrell parodying him? Or how Leno or Letterman's jokes always revolved around Bush's intelligence or garbled speech patterns? If he has complained, I have not seen him say that he was exploited like Palin has.

As for Caroline Kennedy, she has already been parodied for her speech patterns and for silver spoon upbringing. The initial wellspring of interest that a Kennedy might take the seat in New York has given way to more scrutiny and yes, parody.

Palin has to get over the unfairness of it all. She should take the national exposure and use it to advocate for things she believes in rather than griping how she was targetted.

[M.Dancer]

Celebrities are resources which can be mined and exploited at leisure.

[WIP]

I wonder if some Republican RNC insiders have a Stop Palin strategy in the works, because it sure looks like she won't go away and she won't be getting any smarter, so there should be a slew of entertaining interviews in the future.

The Republican Party will have no chance of winning anything if they get stuck with her at the front of a ticket in 2012. She's the ultimate nightmare scenario: the intelligence and curiosity of George W. combined with the ruthlessness of Dick Cheney. Maybe they'll give THIS GUY a call if she doesn't get off the unofficial campaign trail!

[Shady]

God bless Sarah Palin. She continues to be crapped on, for reasons I'm still trying to figure out. She's been a great Mayor, and a great Governor. She was minding her own business in Alaska, when during a hot summer day in August, John S McCain decided to pick her has his Vice Presidential candidate. And because of the nerve of her saying yes, and because of the nerve of her to campaign, and fulfill the traditional role of a VP candidate, she's been castigated as a dumb, hatefilled person, when in reality she's a smart, successful, warm mother, wife and Governor. A mother and wife, who has to put up with the foulest and most disgusting rumors associated with her and her family. Not only that, she has the mainstream media and entertainment industry running with said rumors, and making vicious jokes directed towards her children.

Well, I for one have had enough. What I have learned in the last several months, is that candidates families are in fact, not off limits. And so, I have begun a great joke/story related to Obama's daughters 10 years in the future. It's quite funny, and I can't give it all away yet, but let's just say, they're starring in their very own porn film titled "Whitehouse Wh---s." When I've concluded my work, I'll make sure to submit it for the forum to read and enjoy, and of course, submit constructive criticism, on how I can touch it up to make it even better.

Whitehouse Wh---s: Starring Sasha Hope and Malia Change.

Coming Soon!

Edited January 11, 2009 by Shady

[BubberMiley]

Do you have any citations to include where Palin has been treated poorly? I'm not aware of anything nearly as bad as the slime you like to throw.

Edited January 10, 2009 by BubberMiley

[jdobbin]

God bless Sarah Palin. She continues to be crapped on, for reasons I'm still trying to figure out. She's been a great Mayor, and a great Governor. She was minding her own business in Alaska, when during a hot summer day in August, John S McCain decided to pick her has his Vice Presidential candidate.

The decision to pick her reflected more of McCain that her initially. McCain made a big deal about experience and then picked someone who had less experience than Obama. Given that line of succession puts the VP in the office of the President if something should happen, people wondered rightly if she was capable enough.

And because of the nerve of her saying yes, and because of the nerve of her to campaign, and fulfill the traditional role of a VP candidate, she's been castigated as a dumb, hatefilled person, when in reality she's a smart, successful, warm mother, wife and Governor.

She was assessed on the few times she was made accessible to the media. Her record was analyzed in terms of what she had done and what would be required of her as VP. Questions were raised in her own party.

A mother and wife, who has to put up with the foulest and most disgusting rumors associated with her and her family. Not only that, she has the mainstream media and entertainment industry running with said rumors, and making vicious jokes directed towards her children.

And Obama was treated with kidgloves? Seem to remember the rumour that he was born outside of the U.S. Then there was going after Obama's wife as being this or that.

I think the gossip about Palin was outrageous. A lot of it started even before she ran for VP.

Well, I for one have had enough. What I have learned in the last several months, is that candidates families are in fact, not off limits. And so, I have begun a great joke/story related to Obama's daughters 10 years in the future.

Pretty disgusting piece of crap but then we have come to expect nothing less.

[bill_barilko]

Palin doesn't have the brains god gave a goose.

[kimmy]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090109/world/us_palin

Just who was exploiting who? It is a symbiotic relationship. A politician needs the media and the media needs politicians. Couric did her job and I'm not sure what Palin's specific complaint about her was. Perhaps if she had made herself available to more media, she would not have depended on the perceptions from the one interview.

As for Tina Fey, there was not a politician that was not parodied. Palin was parodied by one of the best in the biz.

She's right, of course. Both Couric and Fey surfed the wave of Palin's short-lived fame to great benefit for their own careers.

Fey's impression was, of course, a smash hit. It was well done (contrast the Canadian version in which Katie Holmes portrayed Palin on Air Farce, leaving the viewer to the inescapable conclusion that Holmes is even dumber than Palin.) NBC realized they had a smash hit on their hands, putting Fey-as-Palin on TV and in advertising as often as possible. Fey's impression provided a big ratings boost for Saturday Night Live, and more importantly for Fey, it also put her in the spotlight and revived interest in Fey's modestly-viewed TV show "30 Rock". You can't fault an entertainer for seizing the moment, and Fey seized the moment in a way the entertainment industry hasn't seen in years.

As for Couric, she knew going into the Palin interview that it was her opportunity to change the lingering perception that she's "that nice lady from the morning coffee show". Really taking Palin down would boost her reputation as a serious journalist, and the fact that she studied for the interview with members of Obama's team illustrates what her intentions were going in.

As for Caroline Kennedy, she has already been parodied for her speech patterns and for silver spoon upbringing. The initial wellspring of interest that a Kennedy might take the seat in New York has given way to more scrutiny and yes, parody.

Of course Kennedy has gotten an easy ride. Caroline Kennedy has gotten an easy ride because, quite simply, nobody cares. What could be less interesting than another Kennedy running for office?

The only way she could become a Palin-sized target would be if she achieved a Palin-sized piece of the public mind-share, and that's simply not going to happen. The only thing that might give her the same level of fame that made Palin such a target would be if she did something Kennedy-style, like driving her car into a pond, skiing into a tree, or crashing her plane.

Pretty disgusting piece of crap but then we have come to expect nothing less.

Pretty obviously he is referencing the Palin-themed porno that seemed to tickle many a funny-bone a few months back.

-k

[BubberMiley]

Couric was clearly trying to take Palin down with her hard-hitting questions, like "what magazines do you read?" Who wouldn't be stumped by something like that?

And as for Tina Fey, there isn't a politician alive that shouldn't expect a caracature from a politician. Didn't she exploit Tina Fey just as much, seeing as she used the show as a platform herself during the campaign?

As for the classic "Nailin' Palin", I think it was more likely created by Palin admirers than Obama supporters. Ultimately, that probably had a more of a positive effect on the campaign than its counterpart, "Ridin' Biden".

But nobody in the campaign was as outright disgusting as Shady in his last post.

[RB]

for someone who actually worked for the media it is a shame palin could not get it together. all she wanted to talk about is alaska pipeline even if you ask about newspaper...even now she messes up

it is her own doing.

too bad she can't see beyond her instant fame to capitalize.

[Shady]

But nobody in the campaign was as outright disgusting as Shady in his last post.

Really? What about the Obama supporters who made up Palin t-shirts with C*NT on the front? Or how about the Obama supporters who hanged her in effigy?

[bill_barilko]

for someone who actually worked for the media it is a shame palin could not get it together. all she wanted to talk about is alaska pipeline even if you ask about newspaper...even now she messes up

it is her own doing.

Good point-this woman claims to have a degree in journalism but can't speak the language well enough to answer a simple question.

[jdobbin]

She's right, of course. Both Couric and Fey surfed the wave of Palin's short-lived fame to great benefit for their own careers.

The impressions of Bush, Obama and Clinton were also well done. It is exactly what you might expect from a TV series that makes its living on parodying politicians.

Palin thinks she got special treatment?

You can't fault an entertainer for seizing the moment, and Fey seized the moment in a way the entertainment industry hasn't seen in years.

However, Palin seems to think her parody or interviews were more pointed. Come on. Palin had better buck up if he wants to run for President in 2012.

As for Couric, she knew going into the Palin interview that it was her opportunity to change the lingering perception that she's "that nice lady from the morning coffee show". Really taking Palin down would boost her reputation as a serious journalist, and the fact that she studied for the interview with members of Obama's team illustrates what her intentions were going in.

Couric didn't have a very complicated interview. Any of the Republican candidates who ran against McCain could have handled it easily.

Of course Kennedy has gotten an easy ride. Caroline Kennedy has gotten an easy ride because, quite simply, nobody cares. What could be less interesting than another Kennedy running for office?

It seems it matters to someone. Some of the parodies of her have been brilliant.

The only way she could become a Palin-sized target would be if she achieved a Palin-sized piece of the public mind-share, and that's simply not going to happen. The only thing that might give her the same level of fame that made Palin such a target would be if she did something Kennedy-style, like driving her car into a pond, skiing into a tree, or crashing her plane.

All politicians are parodied. As VP candidate, Palin made it all too easy to parody her ticks and winks and quips.

She should stop thinking she was a victim and blaming it as a possible reason for her ticket's defeat.

Pretty obviously he is referencing the Palin-themed porno that seemed to tickle many a funny-bone a few months back.

You have no problems that the targets are children?

Palin was not unfairly targeted by the adult industry. They have done the politician thing a few times. In fact, according to MSNBC, the industry copies every cultural touchstone from politics to movies.

[jdobbin]

Really? What about the Obama supporters who made up Palin t-shirts with C*NT on the front? Or how about the Obama supporters who hanged her in effigy?

No, you just went after children.

[BubberMiley]

Really? What about the Obama supporters who made up Palin t-shirts with C*NT on the front? Or how about the Obama supporters who hanged her in effigy?

I never heard about them, but nope, not nearly as disgusting as you. But just because a supporter is an asshole, doesn't make the person they're supporting an asshole.

Just like I have no real problem with Palin, even though she has supporters like you.

Edited January 11, 2009 by BubberMiley

[kimmy]

And Obama was treated with kidgloves? Seem to remember the rumour that he was born outside of the U.S. Then there was going after Obama's wife as being this or that.

Unacceptable, Dobbins! As you'll recall, Michelle Obama introduced herself into her husband's political career while he was battling Hilary Clinton, as a means of providing a "strong female voice" to counter Clinton's appeal with female voters, and she remained part of the campaign. It's ludicrous to suggest that she should have been off limits when she was involved in the campaign to this degree.

Bristol Palin, on the other hand...

I think the gossip about Palin was outrageous. A lot of it started even before she ran for VP.

Doubtful, as nobody had heard of her prior to her selection.

The impressions of Bush, Obama and Clinton were also well done. It is exactly what you might expect from a TV series that makes its living on parodying politicians.

I can't recall the Obama impression.

American Woman remarked a number of times during the campaign on Obama's apparent imperviousness to parody.

Palin thinks she got special treatment?

However, Palin seems to think her parody or interviews were more pointed. Come on. Palin had better buck up if he wants to run for President in 2012.

Is Palin wrong in anything she says? She says she was under a microscope, and she was. She asks whether Caroline Kennedy is receiving a comparable level of scrutiny, and I think it's fair to say she isn't. She says that the manner in which the media focuses attention on some and ignores others seems arbitrary, and it is. She says Fey and Couric exploited her, and obviously capitalizing on Palin has been a boost to the careers of both women in a way that's probably unequalled at least during my lifetime. I can't think of a satirist who has ever benefited from a political candidate in the way that Fey benefited from Palin, and probably no news figure during my lifetime has benefited from a politician to the degree that Couric benefited from Palin.

As for running in 2012, that's not going to happen. She'll never recover from 2008.

Couric didn't have a very complicated interview. Any of the Republican candidates who ran against McCain could have handled it easily.

Sure. Palin was out of her league.

But again, if Couric wasn't out to put some notches on a belt that's desperately lacking notches, why did she get Sam Nunn to coach her for the interview? That doesn't exactly smack of unbiased journalism.

It seems it matters to someone. Some of the parodies of her have been brilliant.

Really? I haven't heard of any of them. Where would I find them if I wanted to see them? I certainly haven't heard whatever network they're on promoting them in the way that NBC promoted Fey's performances.

They could be as brilliant as anything, but they'll never attain the level of consciousness that Fey-as-Palin did, because put bluntly nobody cares about Caroline Kennedy.

You have no problems that the targets are children?

It's not something I'd have written. However, I'm sure that Shady's intent was not to "target children" but rather to illustrate what he feels is a double standard regarding the treatment of Palin and her family.

The Obama girls are lucky. Their age should shield them from the sort of attention that the Bush girls, or Bristol Palin, or Chelsea Clinton have had to deal with.

Palin was not unfairly targeted by the adult industry. They have done the politician thing a few times. In fact, according to MSNBC, the industry copies every cultural touchstone from politics to movies.

The word "unfair" is meaningless in this context. "Fair" is a completely irrelevant concept when it comes to politics.

It's fair for Fey to revive her career at Palin's expense, and it's fair for Couric to try to establish a reputation at Palin's expense, and it's fair for Obama's supporters to try to deflect criticisms with charges of racism, and it's fair for Palin to cry victim for the way the media treated her. Everything is fair. The only relevant question is whether people buy in or not.

As for the classic "Nailin' Palin", I think it was more likely created by Palin admirers than Obama supporters. Ultimately, that probably had a more of a positive effect on the campaign than its counterpart, "Ridin' Biden".

I can only assume that's a joke, since pornographers are in the business of making money, and a Joe Biden themed porno would be in the same category as dealcoholized beer, restored Ford Pintos, and NDP memberships... impossible to give away, let alone sell.

-k

[August1991]

What I have learned in the last several months, is that candidates families are in fact, not off limits. And so, I have begun a great joke/story related to Obama's daughters 10 years in the future. It's quite funny, and I can't give it all away yet, but let's just say, they're starring in their very own porn film titled "Whitehouse Whores." When I've concluded my work, I'll make sure to submit it for the forum to read and enjoy, and of course, submit constructive criticism, on how I can touch it up to make it even better.

It's already been done, in a way. Frank magazine ran a contest concerning the date Mulroney's daughter would lose her virginity.

Of course Kennedy has gotten an easy ride. Caroline Kennedy has gotten an easy ride because, quite simply, nobody cares. What could be less interesting than another Kennedy running for office?

I disagree. Kennedy's "ya knows" are now more fodder.

----

I'm no fan of Palin and watching reruns of her interviews make me wince on occasion. But it's hard not to draw the conclusion that women in politics have a hard time. Margaret Thatcher's success was due in part to her iron skin.

I think that part of the explanation for this is found in the racks of popular magazines in newsstands. The faces of women are typically found on the covers of both men's and women's magazines. IOW, women are harsh judges of their own sex.

Polling data may correct me but I suspect that Democratic women won Obama the nomination. And McCain apparently chose Palin to inspire the Republican male base. Go figure.

[Shady]

No, you just went after children.

So what, Tina Fey did. And she won "enterainter of the year" for it. I'm just following her great example. And if you don't like it, tough shit. Ain't no more double standards gonna be tolerated anymore.

"I believe marriage is meant to be a sacred institution between two unwilling teenagers" - Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on SNL. (follwed by the 3 fattest, ugliest, dumbest members of the View, grinning likes she's speaking truth to power, after making a joke at the expense of a teenage mother, dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Maybe if Bristol would've just killed it like she's suppose to, they'd be more accepting. Nevermind that Barack Obama also believes that marriage is between a man and a woman, but we'll put that aside.)

YouTube

Minute 4:12

In my joke, Sasha & Malia bring a whole new meaning to Hope & Change! If you know what I mean! (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)

[jdobbin]

Unacceptable, Dobbins! As you'll recall, Michelle Obama introduced herself into her husband's political career while he was battling Hilary Clinton, as a means of providing a "strong female voice" to counter Clinton's appeal with female voters, and she remained part of the campaign. It's ludicrous to suggest that she should have been off limits when she was involved in the campaign to this degree.

I never said Obama's wife was off limits. It is ludicrous of you to suggest I did. I think she was as much a public figure as her husband and therefore open to commentary and yes, parody.

Bristol Palin, on the other hand...

Doubtful, as nobody had heard of her prior to her selection.

She was the fodder for Alaska gossip long before she was named for the VP slot. You can check if you like. I thought it was repugnant of the various bloggers.

I can't recall the Obama impression.

It was done numerous times. You can even re-watch it on Youtube if you so desire with the primetime political episodes of Saturday Night Live. The ripped him on speech patterns, his "change" speech and the far off look that he has so artfully mastered.

American Woman remarked a number of times during the campaign on Obama's apparent imperviousness to parody.

Impervious? No. No one is impervious to parody.

It was far easier to parody McCain and Palin though. McCain and Palin even parodied themselves on Saturday Night Live. I think they were trying to show a human face with humour but I think it reinforced the negatives that some people might have had about them. ie too old, too inexperienced.

Is Palin wrong in anything she says? She says she was under a microscope, and she was.

I never said she wasn't under a microscope. She was running for VP. Was she expecting no examination? She said she was exploited which indicates to me that she thinks she was a victim.

She should have been prepared for the media onslaught. Numerous interviews should have been done. She rolled the dice with the few she did.

She asks whether Caroline Kennedy is receiving a comparable level of scrutiny, and I think it's fair to say she isn't. She says that the manner in which the media focuses attention on some and ignores others seems arbitrary, and it is. She says Fey and Couric exploited her, and obviously capitalizing on Palin has been a boost to the careers of both women in a way that's probably unequalled at least during my lifetime. I can't think of a satirist who has ever benefited from a political candidate in the way that Fey benefited from Palin, and probably no news figure during my lifetime has benefited from a politician to the degree that Couric benefited from Palin.

Fey was a WGA, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning writer and actor long before Palin showed up.

As for Couric, she is the news anchor of CBS. Her career wasn't made on Palin. It won't survive on Palin either.

As for Caroline Kennedy, I think the scrutiny on her may well prevent her from being named. In fact, she faces more scrutiny than any of the other possible Senate choices. Certainly none are being parodied like she is.

As for running in 2012, that's not going to happen. She'll never recover from 2008.

The Republican supporters here are still infatuated with her. I'd say she is still in the running/

Sure. Palin was out of her league.

Which is why I say it spoke of McCain's judgment more than Palin's.

But again, if Couric wasn't out to put some notches on a belt that's desperately lacking notches, why did she get Sam Nunn to coach her for the interview? That doesn't exactly smack of unbiased journalism.

Why did Palin choose Couric? Did she feel she would get a soft touch? Who is exploiting who?

Really? I haven't heard of any of them. Where would I find them if I wanted to see them? I certainly haven't heard whatever network they're on promoting them in the way that NBC promoted Fey's performances.

NBC was the only one to run a political comedy show in primetime. The parodies ran on Leno, Letterman, MadTV and other late night shows.

They could be as brilliant as anything, but they'll never attain the level of consciousness that Fey-as-Palin did, because put bluntly nobody cares about Caroline Kennedy.

I'd say someone cares enough to parody her and this has brought questions of whether she should get the job.

It's not something I'd have written. However, I'm sure that Shady's intent was not to "target children" but rather to illustrate what he feels is a double standard regarding the treatment of Palin and her family.

It's not something you should feel a need to defend either. It does target children.

The Obama girls are lucky. Their age should shield them from the sort of attention that the Bush girls, or Bristol Palin, or Chelsea Clinton have had to deal with.

Chelsea Clinton was 12 years old when she moved to the Whitehouse. She did get lots of attention even then and not all of it nice.

The word "unfair" is meaningless in this context. "Fair" is a completely irrelevant concept when it comes to politics.

It is why I don't know why Palin is complaining.

It's fair for Fey to revive her career at Palin's expense, and it's fair for Couric to try to establish a reputation at Palin's expense, and it's fair for Obama's supporters to try to deflect criticisms with charges of racism, and it's fair for Palin to cry victim for the way the media treated her. Everything is fair. The only relevant question is whether people buy in or not.

Fey's career was doing just fine. She had just come off an Emmy win the year before and a movie even before she did the parody.

As for Couric, her softball interview should have been no toughie for most VP candidates.

No one should buy Palin's victim story.

I can only assume that's a joke, since pornographers are in the business of making money, and a Joe Biden themed porno would be in the same category as dealcoholized beer, restored Ford Pintos, and NDP memberships... impossible to give away, let alone sell.

I think the joke was movie. I doubt it hurt Palin in the least.

[jdobbin]

So what, Tina Fey did. And she won "enterainter of the year" for it. I'm just following her great example. And if you don't like it, tough shit. Ain't no more double standards gonna be tolerated anymore.

Fey went after the kids? Seems to me that she was going after Palin and how she put her own daughter in the spotlight.

As for the repugnant crap, I'm not surprised. It's what happens when the gutter is a step up.

Edited January 11, 2009 by jdobbin

[BubberMiley]

So what, Tina Fey did. And she won "enterainter of the year" for it. I'm just following her great example. And if you don't like it, tough shit. Ain't no more double standards gonna be tolerated anymore.

In my joke, Sasha & Malia bring a whole new meaning to Hope & Change! If you know what I mean! (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)

It has been discussed many times on this forum how we in Canada don't have the free speech to discuss children in a sexual context. Some of us even agree that free speech shouldn't be allowed to go this far.

I guess it's just "tough shit" until the RCMP is inquiring about your ISP and getting this forum shut down.

[Shady]

It has been discussed many times on this forum how we in Canada don't have the free speech to discuss children in a sexual context. Some of us even agree that free speech shouldn't be allowed to go this far.

I guess it's just "tough shit" until the RCMP is inquiring about your ISP and getting this forum shut down.

Wow, that's more of a fabrication then my story, which by the way, takes place 10 years in the future, as I originally stated. It's funny how some of you get a serious case of the vapors when it comes to Obama.

[BubberMiley]

I would be just as offended if you discussed Palin's children in a sexual context. It's disgusting and just shows how your hatred of Obama is clouding your better judgement.

[Shady]

I would be just as offended if you discussed Palin's children in a sexual context. It's disgusting and just shows how your hatred of Obama is clouding your better judgement.

Nope, I'm just skillfully making a point.

[jdobbin]

Nope, I'm just skillfully making a point.

By trolling around in the gutter.