From the Drudge Report:
BIG DILEMMA: OPRAH BALKS AT HOSTING SARAH PALIN; STAFF DIVIDED
Fri Sep 05 2008 08:55:46 ETOprah Winfrey may have introduced Democrat Barack Obama to the women of America — but the talkshow queen is not rushing to embrace the first woman on a Republican presidential ticket!
Oprah’s staff is sharply divided on the merits of booking Sarah Palin, sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.
“Half of her staff really wants Sarah Palin on,” an insider explains. “Oprah’s website is getting tons of requests to put her on, but Oprah and a couple of her top people are adamantly against it because of Obama.”
One executive close to Winfrey is warning any Palin ban could ignite a dramatic backlash!
It is not clear if Oprah has softened her position after watching Palin’s historic convention speech.
Last year, Winfrey blocked an appearance by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, timed to a promotional tour of his autobiography.
Oprah and executive producer Sheri Salata, who has contributed thousands of dollars to Obama’s campaign, refused requests for comment.
OPRAH’S STATEMENT: “The item in today’s Drudge Report is categorically untrue. There has been absolutely no discussion about having Sarah Palin on my show. At the beginning of this Presidential campaign when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates. I agree that Sarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, and I would love to have her on after the campaign is over.”
ABC News has a story up posing the question, “Is Oprah Biased?” while Newsday has an article stating “Five Reasons Why Palin Should Appear” all of which would benefit Oprah.
As Rush Limbaugh said today, he’s glad that Gov. Sarah Palin won’t be going on Oprah. All it would do is turn Palin into a “pop culture icon” as he put it.
I agree. Gov. Palin is a serious person and frankly, appearing on “Oprah” would be demeaning to her and the Vice Presidency. Could you imagine Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatcher appearing on such a program? I’m getting sick of seeing our political candidates appear on Jay Leno, David Letterman and Saturday Night Live as guest hosts. (And I say that as someone who as one of Steve Forbes’ campaign attorneys in ‘96 signed off on him guest hosting SNL after he ended his campaign. My advice — if you want to do such a show, do it AFTER you’ve gotten out of your race.) Whether it be Richard Nixon on Laugh In or Bill Clinton on The Arsenio Hall Show, there is just something about such appearances that diminishes them as leaders — sacrificing part of their dignity for votes.
I hope that Gov. Palin NEVER goes on “Oprah” or any other such show and instead helps bring class and dignity back into fashion.
Filed under: 2008 Elections, Entertainment, National Politics, Sarah Palin
I am wondering if Palin will appear on PMSDNC (esp with Chris Matthews).
[...] Palin for not having invited her to appear on Oprah’s television show. As reported here on Virgnia Virtucon there was pretty good agreement that not going on Oprah was a good thing. Not to push the snub [...]