Levi Johnston: Palin Resigned Because Of Money

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The former fiance of Gov. Sarah Palin's 18-year-old daughter says he thinks he knows why the Alaska governor is resigning _ concerns over money.

Levi Johnston, 19, whose wedding to Bristol Palin was called off earlier this year, says he believes the governor is resigning over personal finances.

Johnston says he lived with the Palin family from early December to the second week in January. He claims he heard the governor several times say how nice it would be to take advantage of the lucrative deals that were being offered, including a reality show and a book.

"I think the big deal was the book. That was millions of dollars," said Johnston, who has had a strained relationship with the family but now says things have improved.

Palin has a book deal, but compensation details haven't been disclosed. The governor has said she is facing more than $500,000 in legal fees.

"It is interesting to learn Levi is working on a piece of fiction while honing his acting skills," Palin family spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Johnston made his comments at a news conference Thursday at the office of his attorney, Rex Butler.

Johnston came forward, Butler said, because Alaskans want to know why Palin has decided to resign. She made the announcement last Friday.

Johnston also is pursuing his own book deal. He is working as a carpenter while also pursuing a movie deal.

Comments

[ColoradoCool]

Editors: The following is a recreation of the comment I just wrote which you deleted. It complies with your Comment Policy. Sometimes your decisions are highly arbitrary.

That ought to rattle her cage.

There's finally someone who's willing to fall out of lock step with her and tell the truth.

I just hope the ones to suffer aren't Bristol and the baby since, as anyone familiar with Sarah's tactics already knows, she'll retaliate against anyone who doesn't sing her praises. Heads will roll.

[Phreejazz]

"sometimes" highly arbitrary? Lately it's totally arbitrary. Clear violations are all over the place but on topic, well reasoned and cogent is almost sure to get a comment removed.

[zyggy]

$arah has been after money, power and status all along,
http://alaskadispatch.com/palin-watch/1283-palin-how-she-gained-control-and-then-lost-it#top-toolbar-article

[CTtransplant]

This is a really good, informative article! Thanks for the repost! Great reading!

[Matt7]

Long article; but well worth the read. Goes a long way toward explaining this "post turtle."

[zyggy]

Whoops, I did forget to say it was long. I wish that msm would read this article, not getting much play since it's from a very small Alaskan paper.

[libatheist]

Levi would say anything for a carton of cigarettes why is anybody even talking to him?

[ColoradoCool]

Because, unlike Palin and family, he just might be telling truth. What a concept!

And what makes you think he smokes? I've never seen him photographed with a cigarette.

Is your comment just one more example of blind, simplistic, knee-jerk GOP attack strategy at anything resembling the truth being written about a Repug demigod?

[Just1Fan]

This kid has had his 15 minutes of fame, move on. Why would a journalist waste time writing this piece?

[JumpDownTurnAround]

Maybe because it makes more sense than the lame excuses Palin gave for resigning, that have ALL been refuted.

[Yvonne Weston]

Because "Bristol" and Sarah had no problem "talking to him". If you want to call Sarah's gibberish "talk"

[berrycooda]

Big mouth....bigger ego...small brain...no class.

Trying to keep his name out there so he will make money on his book.

[pumpkin]

Don't you mean "her name", "she will", "her book"?

Or better yet, "their names", "they will", "their books".

[ThirdSection]

I'd opt for the second choice. Those two probably deserve one another.

[ColoradoCool]

Funny, Palin liked him well enough when she thought she could control him. Who knew he's break with her spin machine and actually tell the truth? (Gasp!)

[Anonani]

Just like his almost mother-in-law, she smells the same blood in the water....money.

[Yvonne Weston]

I would think you "right wingers" would support his book. You know that "family values" superiority complex you "Palin lovers" possess. Afterall the money would allow Levi to pay "child support".

[Tuna Ahmed]

An interesting family history of Sarah Palin that commensurate with the Republican's reputation of sex experts activities. In future the world will have lots of fun, and will enjoy free sex life for all in America under a GOP beautiful Lady President. Oh! my Omnipotent have mercy on my beloved country!!

[exit116]

Go easy on Levi, he's exposing Sarah's lies; he oughta be thanked not condemned. The way Sarah forced Levi to show up at the RNC with Bristol and later trashed him in the media, he deserves to set the record straight.

[macbabe]

Agree, I might even buy his book, it might have more truths in it than hers!!!!!!

[CTtransplant]

So do I! It should make for good, honest reading! Looking forward to it!

[SuGee]

exit116,

Your comment sounds about right. Sarah Palin has never impressed me as an intelligent woman. By the way, she apparently didn't bother to instruct her daughter in safe sex and was that because Sarah's 1st child was born early?(Was it 8 and 1/2 months??). I'm not sure why John McCain picked her as a running mate. But then, John McCain used the fact that his father and grandfather were admirals in the U.S.Navy to gain better treatment when a prisoner in the Viet Nam War, so apparently he thought it would benefit him. There was a time that I might have voted for John McCain; but not in 2008 when he supported Bush in 2000 and 2004. He has been always more interested in what would benefit him and very little interested in helping this country.

[Yvonne Weston]

I may buy the book. Palin's will be filled with BS!!

[mmonarch]

And Levi isn't looking to cash in on his 15 minutes of fame? LOL. Taking down Bristol's mom is what? Revenge because his mom's drug habit made headlines?

[pumpkin]

Maybe it's revenge for not being allowed to see his son.
Or maybe it's not revenge at all, but just stating the truth.

At any rate, Sister Sarah shouldn't have started a public slap fight with a teenage boy.

[JumpDownTurnAround]

Exactly! She's always saying the kids are off limit. I guess that only means HER children. No one else's children matter and are evidently fair game to attack!

[mmonarch]

Maybe. Has his mother stopped using? Just asking. Should the baby be around a user? Don't know. I am not accusing. Just asking cause I haven't heard anymore about his mother. He is a teenage boy, therefore there is some motive involved. Sorry to other teenage boys, but I raised one. The operative word here is boy. Children, no matter how old, know how to manipulate. I do agree. Sarah would be better to stay mum. But I would imagine sometimes it is hard to do that. Human nature. How many times could you be dissed publicly without wanting to respond in some way? Or to head it off at the pass? Just human. The kids are off limit UNLESS they bring themselves into it. He opened his mouth to the press. Her daughter Bristol has taken things public. However, Willow has said nothing but was dragged into things by Letterman (in error albeit, but nonetheless).

[georgiaR]

So what if Palin resigned because she needed money. How far into debt was she suppose to go in defending herself against false accusations? All this legal trouble was taking up too much of her time and she couldn't do the job of governing Alaska. It was also costing the state and her personally way too much money. She needs to make more money to defend herself against false charges.

[doctorwang]

"So what if Palin resigned because she needed money."

Was that the reason she gave for resigning? I don't remember hearing that at her press conference.

[everythinginmoderation]

Really? I heard her say it a few times in recent interviews.

[JumpDownTurnAround]

Thank Gawd, Dreams are Free!

[Bitsko]

Isn't a politician who runs for an office, wins, and swears an oath responsible for completely that compact with the public? What you describe is someone who is cashing in, not facing their obligation to their fellow citizens. The dumbing-down of the US of A continues ever and anon.

[sheriwriter]

well said!

[CTtransplant]

It's not costing the state any more than what is already allocated within the budget! Another LIE! Do some research before you post!

[Yvonne Weston]

Then she should say "I'm resigning for the money". Or the money is my "higher calling". Then I would respect her.
A 14 minutes speech on "crap" is still a 14 minute speech on "crap".

[MisterHands]

Palin blew any chance she had with the Hispanic vote-- considering Levi and her grandson are part Mexican, and she's thrown them under the bus.

http://www.latina.com/lifestyle/news-politics/bristol-palins-baby-daddy-levi-johnston-half-mexican

[Bitsko]

They could be Polish and it would be the same thing, wouldn't it?

[vividnature]

In the picture it really looks like he has a full-on mullet. Alas it is only Bristol's hair behind him.

[jazzdrummerb]

This whole family drama revolving around Palin is like watching a train wreck

[tracerhaha1]

...in slow motion.

[Materazzi]

why on earth does anybody care about this kids opinion? surely there are much more important topics that need to make headlines than this. media people, youre a bunch of clowns grasping at anything to make you a buck. so sad to see america's standards declining in such a rapid downslide.

[Yvonne Weston]

Apparently the Palin's care of they wouldn't respond to everything he says.

[pxgabriel]

It is interesting, Palin created Levi and now she's dissing him. I thought we were suppose to leave the children alone. Instead of leaving those kids alone to go to school, she drug them all over the nation to make her look good. Now that he might capitalize on it a little bit, she is p*ssed, because everything has to be for her.

[Yvonne Weston]

Amen!!!

[S1m0n]

Dissing that young man was a major tactical error. I bet he's having fun.

[Virginia Plain]

I think the title of Failin' Palin's book should be :

"Bleats, Shoots and Leaves" (or How I whinged, whined, whimpered and wiggled my way into politics).

[lab221]

I think both the Johnson and the Palin family are both screw-up. Just please go away, and let us here in the lower 48 never hear of either family again.

[sheriwriter]

Yes! Yes, yes, yes!

[nik74]

Don't forget "winked"!