Chris Matthews On Palin Book Deal: "What An Embarrassment"

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On "Hardball" tonight Chris Matthews sat down with Mike Allen of Politico and Jennifer Donahue of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics to discuss the news that Sarah Palin has signed a book deal. The panel agreed that it's part of Palin's attempt to rehabilitate her image after a disastrous series of interviews during the campaign trail, and Tina Fey's indelible impression of her on Saturday Night Live, gave the public a decidedly unflattering portrait of her.

However, Matthews seemed upset that she had even gotten a book deal in the first place. He opened the segment with this statement:

What is Sarah Palin up to? She's got this book deal; she's obviously not going to write it, they've already announced somebody she's going to collaborate on it. What an embarrassment. It's one of these "I told you" books that jocks do... Why do they do it like this? She can't write; we got a collaborator for her. What do you make of this?

Matthews also worried that a book would "rip the scab off" all the drama that has surrounded her family. Mike Allen agreed with Matthews but said that Palin wants to revisit all those issues in order to put her spin on it. Palin feels she hasn't gotten a fair shake in the media and this is way to correct the record.

While Palin will surely be able to get huge amounts of press when her book comes out, Matthews makes the good point that the questions that haunt you are not the ones that you give an honest if unpopular answer to, but the ones to which you should know the answer but don't. Matthews thinks these will be problems when Palin does press for her new book because she'll be asked questions like "How did you write this book? Did you write it by long hand, on a laptop? Or actually did you not write this?"

Matthews' ultimate advice to Palin is to play to her strengths giving speeches instead of "pretending to write a book."

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Comments

[yellowmj6]

This woman can't even finish a complete sentence, let alone write a book. Two words.....toilet paper.

[BIG JOHN]

BOOK TITLE. SARAH PALIN THE WHOLE TRUTH, REALLY.

[speakyourmind]

Or how about "I Can Name a Newspaper...Really."

[psb6571]

How about "The Audacity of Hype"?

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

Me ..Russia and my front porch or The brain to no where!!!

[BIG JOHN]

I SAID IT AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. IN WHAT RESPECT CHARILE?

[eagledavey]

Palin should borrow Obama's ghostwriter and title the book,'The Audacity of Earning your Own Way in the World,' as opposed to never having a real job and having the Presidency handed to you on a silver platter by a puppy chow media.

[MackenzieLyn]

The Presidency handed to you? Really? Single mother, raised by poor grandparents, working your way through school, working hard enough to become president of the HARVARD LAW REVIEW, working in the community to organize to get rights to people who's rights were being violated for next to nothing, working as a lawyer and a professor. Right, life as just given to him.

You know, I wonder when you people are going to turn Rush and Sean off and start to think for yourselves.

[lenoirlady]

Now THIS will never happen. They are spoon fed hate daily. Don't expect them to think!

[ativanmjs]

Another white, republican male still angry at the election outcome? Don't suppose you've done any research on the facts regarding Mr. Obama's accomplishments since he graduated from high school to the present? We FINALLY have a President that has a brain, vision AND some class and you still want to bitch about someone who's only been in office for less than 4 MONTHS?!

[eagledavey]

I'm not angry. I'm just not fond of double standards, especially in the media.

[speakyourmind]

what is your lofty position? Are you a Senator? Are you a Harvard grad?

[frantaylor]

Why? Is this what is required to have an opinion in your world?

[al]

Don't you mean the W's ghostwritter?

[4 Real]

Obama penned his book and did not use a ghost writer. I know it's hard for you to understand but try knowing the facts before you make a comment that makes you look stoopid,

[eagledavey]

I'm not convinced it's a fact he wrote that book withou assistance.

[pk4obama]

Two books - Dreams of My Father and the Audacity of Hope

[emmasvoice]

I agree with Chris Matthews on this one. Nothing Palin tries to say, either on her own attempt at writing or via someone else's handiwork would interest me. Palin is a dredge on female intelligence. It is my opinion that she is out for vengeance against anyone that she feels doesn't respect her "importance" and way of life. The fact is she has NOTHING to say, and couldn't say it coherently if she did have something to say.

[uniquelyme]

I wholeheartedly agree. She's a legend in her own mind.

[eagledavey]

She should borrow Obama's ghostwriter. They could call it the 'Audacity of Earning Your Own Way in the World.' As opposed to never having a real job or running a business and having the Presidency presented to you on a silver platter by a puppy chow media.

[greylox]

**Shouldn't you be out hunting for mice and rabbits?

[SoccerNana]

President Obama wrote his own books; he truthfully told his life story. Truth is not a part of Goveror Palin's DNA; and obviously not yours.

[pk4obama]

Smack - that was good!@

[uniquelyme]

The presidency "presented to you on a silver platter." You mean because McCain handed that platter to him and buffed it with his own sleeve? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Get over it: Big John lost and dug his own grave. Try therapy.

[BJD44]

Has it even been decided yet as to whether it's even LEGAL for her to write a book while she's still governor?

[triplets]

It must be legal, as Gov. Deval Patrick in Mass. is writing his. What is good for a liberal should be
good for a conservative.

[PopeRatzo]

Ah, but the law in Massachusetts is different than the law in Alaska. According to Alaska law, she cannot accept any outside sources of income while governor.

But Alaska law never stopped her before.

[BJD44]

For once, I agree wholeheartedly with Chris Matthews on this one!!

[solarian]

yikes a book that I can burn

[davidwayneosedach]

The true embarassment is for whoever pays for this book and gets a piece of trash.

[larmarch5]

These book deals, like Newt's, are a way for Murdock to funnel money to these people. Murdock wants to own these mouthpieces to advance his king of the world agenda. Many of these books are not actually bought by real people but by fronts for those funneling money for bribes.

[jaim57]

You people just shout too much. Please turn it down.

[emmasvoice]

Don't listen. Log off and you won't hear the shouting.

[BIG JOHN]

OUCH.

[LITU]

I wonder which book, GWB or Palin's, will win the sales race? Of course, GWB's book will appeal more to the younger set, say 4-7 year olds, while Palin's will strike a chord with the Danielle Steele crowd.

[grailknight]

You give Palin too much credit.

[LITU]

I'm a progressive fer chrissakes. I was trying to be somewhat polite.

[BOin08]

Palin has a degree in journalism so she must have SOME writing skills and besides I bet most famous peopleve have ghost writers, too...Pelosi, Clintons, Gore, Kenndys, no under writers? For Chris to say he's "embarrassed" because she isn't writing every word shows a huge lack of understanding of the publishing business.

[LITU]

Her writing skills were never evident at UI. The only journalism major who didn't actually do any journalism.

[johncopeland]

When will Palin have time to write this book even with a "ghost" writer? She's too busy shooting wolves from her helicopter! Somebody's got to put food on the table; right?