Controversy has seemingly followed former Alaska governor Sarah Palin ever since she was selected as the Republican nominee for vice president in 2008. Palin and her running mate, Senator John McCain of Arizona, lost that race to Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and Palin resigned as governor of Alaska in July 2009.
Since that time, Palin has offered commentary on a variety of political topics in different venues. She’s also placed her support behind a string of Republican candidates running for office, often those espousing an anti-establishment approach to doing things.
Early in 2016, Palin announced that she would be supporting billionaire businessman Donald Trump for the Republican nomination for president. To emphasize that support, Palin appeared on his behalf at rallies and on different media outlets. One of the latter appearances came on NBC’s Today show on February 1.
In the midst of answering questions about her support of Trump and the Iowa caucuses that evening, Palin was asked by co-host Savannah Guthrie about a comment she had made at a recent campaign rally. Palin had seemingly blamed her son’s Track arrest for domestic violence on President Obama.
Track Palin had been arrested on January 18 at his parents’ Wasilla, Alaska, home after a dispute with his girlfriend. He was subsequently charged with domestic violence, interfering with a report of domestic violence and possession of a weapon while intoxicated.
Police indicated that Palin’s blood alcohol level was .189 shortly after the arrest. In addition, his girlfriend had a swollen left eye that was bruised and had been found hiding under a bed.
Two days later, Sarah Palin appeared at a Trump rally in Oklahoma City and discussed the plight of returning soldiers who struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Saying that she was speaking from personal experience, Palin then indicated that the Obama administration had failed to provide veterans with proper medical care.
Immediately after Guthrie’s question, Palin stated that she had been promised that she had been brought on to discuss the caucuses and that her son’s arrest wouldn’t be part of the discussion. She indicated that it was another example of the media going back on their promises.
Palin denied that she had blamed Obama for her son’s arrest, saying that she felt he was disrespecting those individuals serving their country. She cited examples of military budget cuts and for what she felt was his lack of leadership in fighting the terrorist group, ISIS.
Today co-host Matt Lauer first asked Palin if she regretted the remarks, to which she responded by saying that nothing she had said could be construed as offensive. She then asked for a specific quote that she had made, saying it would bolster the credibility of the media.
Lauer told Palin and the viewing audience that no boundaries with respect to questions had been established. He stated that the only promise made was that it would be her first interview since endorsing Trump.
Palin then concluded the interview by saying that her reason for coming on was to show how the potential for a Trump presidency would offer a brighter future for the United States.
With Trump having seemingly clinched the nomination, the role of Palin in his upcoming campaign against likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is still unknown. Some have speculated that Palin could again be a potential vice presidential nominee.
However, Palin dismisses such talk and says that her polarizing personality could cause some voters to avoid voting for Trump. Still, she indicated that she’s already been properly vetted for the job.