Piper Palin Talks To "Today" Show About Missing School And 2012

Sarah Palin's youngest daughter and campaign sidekick Piper gave her first interview ever on Tuesday's "Today" Show. As the governor made halibut and salmon casserole in the family's Wasilla kitchen, Matt Lauer turned to Piper for her thoughts on the 2008 campaign. The 7-year-old reflected on the hardships of the campaign trail ("All the rallies"), how much school she missed ("A lot") and weighed in on the 2012 question.

**See Piper wear high heels during the interview**

WATCH:

**See more Piper Palin photos.

Comments

[OverIt]

As if we needed more proof that Sarah Palin has less respect for education than President George "ChildrenS Can Learn" Bush!

Her two eldest kids high school dropouts, her two school aged children on the road WITH NO TUTOR for two months.

Seeing that sweet, bright child's pained look about the hardships of the campaign trail and how tough it is to integrate back at school is yet another reason for me to celebrate that Gov. Mediocrity has --- for now --- been slapped down from her delusion of running our great country.

[clemenj98]

Really, is that true they didn't have a tutor? I just assumed they did. I think travelling around the country can be a good education for a kid, but you still need to learn your times tables, too.

[gifu]

Who needs a brain with "god" on your side?

[lib2dbone]

This bright little girl has a mother who has no respect for education, nor any regard for her children's upbringing. Sarah thinks that having fun watching mommy rant, trumps a 7 year old's education.
I was struck by the poignant clip of Piper smoothing down her baby brothers' hair while her mom was on stage. This poor child, who seems to have so much potential, is being abused. She should have been in school. She should have an opportunity to be a better person than her parents, unfortunately they believe she'll become "elite" if she begins to like reading. Will somebady please report the Palin Clan to the nearest children's abuse authorities in Alaska?

[CaptainStormfield]

She probably wont get much of an education in a fundie family. Too bad.

[lennix]

one thing i need to say enough move on thats more then one think msm and cable are doing it again buliding up somebody stupid and trying to fool the american people with the bs one thing i will like to say internet is the thing not you guys we doin"t trust you any more

[Bluebell123]

Piper is so adorable and smart. I felt sorry for her being dragged around like that by her mom. Sarah exploited her kids more than politicians usually do, she showed them off for the cameras while barely looking at them. Their feelings don't count I guess. Piper even said in the interview that she didn't enjoy the experience and is far behind in school because of it, but ambitious Sarah was getting antsy at the side and interjected, which made Piper say she would do it again in 2012. What a hard mother she is.

[old lady]

Nobody should be allowed to air anything about Sarah Palin without a lengthy discourse of her real agenda - the one that is driven by ultra-fundamentalist "religious" megalomania.

As to the children - they are treated like props and are the best argument against home schooling that anyone could present.

[Takae]

To all critics, don't put it all on Sarah Palin. There IS a father. If you don't approve of how these children's education is administrated, please knock BOTH parents, not just Sarah Palin.

[Shashi0224]

Okay. Knock Knock!!

[Pavane]

Triple knock.

[harriettubman]

Piper said she had to catch up on her homework. Does that sound like those kids were being tutored?

[hortonhearsawho]

The Voracious reader she is...

[diwdeesmom]

It looks like cute little Piper told the truth to Matt when he asked about 2012, and she answered "I don't know". But when Mom asked her if she would want to do it again, she answered "Yeah", and looked like she really didn't mean it. I think that Mom is not considering her family first, it is Mom first. I feel bad for Piper, I hope she gets back to school and normal life soon.

[AngelaQuattrano]

It's not that she is not considering her family first, it's that she is not considering the welfare of the kids at all. Obviously Todd wanted this, he has always shared power with her. What the kids want or need doesn't matter.

[MSJAMIET]

that's a damn shame she had that child out of school the entire time she was on the trail. i guess education isn't so important in the palin household....

[MsLiz]

Piper got to travel and saw the campaign from backstage. Not many kids have that opportunity. Now, she is home and needs to hit the books.

Just because she is Palin's kid doesn't mean everything about her is wrong.

[CalverH]

The comment was about the importance of education in the familly not about the poor kid. Of course there is nothing wrong with her

[PATina]

I agree. I also would like to point out there are different 'types' of education. Some of the best learning comes from experience... not books. While I wouldn't necessarily want to put my child through the all of the strenuous activity of a campaign... I would love for her to travel the coutnry and get something from the places she visited.

[bellabeach]

Why would you subject your children to the grueling travel and campaigning, if not for your own ego! Time to take care of those children you brought into this world, Sarah! Wink, wink,....

[gbrooks]

Geez, the kid didn't miss that much school. I missed half a year of 6th grade because I was in Africa, I had no problem catching up. But then again, I was a voracious reader.

That said, why the heck didn't they have a tutor if they absolutely had to drag the kids along as props? Obviously mommy isn't too concerned about education.

[MsLiz]

Who would pay for the tutor? The Palins don't have that kind of money.

[BLinCincinnati]

Are you seriously that uninformed? They earned $166,080 in 2007. That's more than enough. They could have hired a private teacher for two months for less than she spent on her makeup. And the RNC would have probably paid for it.

[rzan1]

She is 7 and in the learning new skills phase of her education. In 6th grade, you are not learning math basics or reading basics. She is missing out on an important time in her education, and now it will be on the school's back to make sure she "catches up."

[Ailidh]

Piper's a pistol. This is the cutest kid I've ever seen. Taking part in the campaign was an education in itself and any kid who has that kind of experience under her belt, has learned more than she would have sitting in second grade.

[anti-ignorance]

Nothing like learning that school's not as important as traveling around in private jets and shopping sprees at Neiman Marcus.

All seven year olds should learn the importance of a great campaign. To hell with homework, English, math, and reading. After all, colleges don't expect you to be well prepared and educated prior to entrance. They just want to know how well versed you are in campaigning for a Vice President.

[Mattie]

good god, her mother was running for the vice president of the United States, she got to experience something most children can't even dream about. She traveled across this country, the experience is a once in a lifetime event. Stop the hate, did you object to the Obama children missing school.

[PATina]

So you believe that all a child can learn from traveleing is that schools not important? That's a pretty 'ignorant' statement. There is so much to learn from so many different sources. Traveleing, meeting new people, getting a variety of perspectives... are all ways of learning. If she goes to a public school... believe me... she probably got a better education that will serve her more in life... than the kids she left behind in class.

[CaDeb]

Piper was reminded by her mom, quite quickly with the prompt that yes, she'd be ready for 2012. But, when talking with Matt she was more the honest kid she is. She's obedient and knows exactly what to say when prompted. How sad for her...

Wasn't it also alluded to that school work was going on during the campaign with the help of grandparents? Poor Piper.

[IMissAmerica]

I thought the same thing. Poor Piper... Mommy's little co-dependent. Growing up with the disease to please.

[Carsy]

What I find interesting is Piper is always the child that is interviewed by the press. Never her older children. Is Piper the one that is more willing to play along with mom?

[Jessegirl]

Good point.

[mclarek]

Yeah, Willow, Track and Bristol have bolted. Piper is the only one too young to truly understand. I agree that all the kids except for Trig should have stayed in Alaska until late October/early Nov. Only missing a week of school. Even Palin acknowledged that Willow "the 14 year old" saw and heard things she did not like. Traumatized no doubt, Sarah? Time to turn the cameras off !

I disgree with her not holding Trig. We do not see her in private with the baby and she appears to be very comfortable holding him swaying with him in this interview clip. She clearly knows how to hold a baby, i wish people woulddrop this gripe.

[AlaskanSuperVoter]

Wow. I feel sad for Piper. :(((

[Mattie]

I feel sad for you, she's a happy, healthy little girl, who loves her mom!

[macohmz]

My complaint about Palin has nothing to do with her looks or family style. I simply don't like her politics. I wish we could learn this: I have a body but I am not my body.