WASHINGTON (CNN) – Todd Palin, the normally reticent husband of Alaska governor Sarah Palin, isn't hung up on the ups-and-downs of the 2008 presidential campaign.
He'd rather spend his time snowmobiling than politicking, according to a profile of the so-called 'First Dude' in the upcoming issue of Men's Journal.
But in an interview with the magazine conducted a few weeks before the 2009 Tesoro Iron Dog race - in which he ended up finishing in sixth - Palin did manage to offer up a few reflections on his wife's vice presidential bid.
For instance, his take on the anonymous sniping from McCain staffers in the final weeks of the campaign:
"I'm not going to get wrapped around the axles on a few people's comments - 'She's a diva,' or whatever," Palin said. "There was no name attached to that, so who knows if it's really true. I mean, all the little negative stuff out there that's been exploited? To me? I have nothing but respect for the McCains, because they're a class act."
As for Sarah Palin's detractors in Alaska, Todd said "they get bent out of shape."
"They're so full of anger, you know?," he said. "I mean, why wouldn't anybody be proud of one of their citizens being nominated to the VP? Unless you're just a real hater?"
The magazine said Palin became slightly defensive when asked about the RNC-financed $150,000 wardrobe provided to his wife during the campaign, a PR fiasco that undermined her image as an "average hockey mom."
"That was out of our control," he said. "She never went to Saks, or any of that stuff. You come into a campaign late, you put all your trust into the team, you got people who are working on VP ops for a long time, and we're just focused on debate prep."
Palin said he "couldn't give a rat's ass about clothes."
"Please. I mean these are my Sunday go-to-meeting jeans! We're just the opposite of all that, more like, 'Man, you better clean up.' Me, anyway."
Despite the rough waters, he stressed that he and his wife are hardly political neophytes.
"You got to remember, it’s not like they just plucked us off the fishing boat with scales still under our nails, you know?," he said. "My wife’s been in politics a long time. We’ve been through some tough campaigns.”
From CNN Politics
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
Scotty Palin says: "We're just the opposite of all that, more like, ....'Man, you better clean up.........' Me, anyway."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
How true.
That whole family needs a good bit of cleanin' up
.
I'm not a fan of your wife and her 2008 PR campaign.
But you seem like a real person, Todd.
And we care about TP's view on anything because....?
Let the Palin haters begin. Rush Limbaugh. Dick Cheney. Bush's war crimes trial. 5...4...3...2...1
Todd Palin is using the trm hater. Isn't that against republican values. No hip-hop talk.
That's one solid American there. Kind of fellow who would help someone with a faulty radiator on the side of the road.
The Last Patriot April 1st, 2009 4:43 pm ET
That's one solid American there. Kind of fellow who would help someone with a faulty radiator on the side of the road.
They still make cars with radiators?
He would be a great First Dude for the US.
The Last Patriot> Sure...as long as that person isn't someone who isn't a "Real American"...or a "Terrorist"...or "Socialist"...or black.
Whichever.
Since Todd has placed himself in the limelight, why won't he explain what's the up with him and the AIP.
The Palins pal around with secessionists!!!!!!
CNN has become faux news. Trying to make Palin to compete with Obama. They will never be the same. Get it or leave it!
Yeah, I view you in the same light as I view Joe the (not)Plumber.
Y'know, the Palins seem like nice people. I mean really. Sarah is a bit of a nut case, but there's a reason for it. She lives in Alaska. Todd reminds me of my inlaws. Huntin' , fishin', snowmobilin' kinda guys. Teenagers that have become parents. Good, church-going people. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I'd be happy to have them as my neighbors. But running my country? Not a snowball's chance in.....
And oh yeah, "Bob The Obeserver"? Why not stretch your intellectual prowess to its maximum, and write something besides the numbers you can count to?
Great. Another loquacious and eloquent Palin, Bogarting the limelight.
How are we supposed to heed these Rushpublican cries of "leave the Palins alone" (many of whom will no doubt be in this very blog), if they insist on spewing a stream of snowbilly yokelisms everytime they're within a three mile radius of a hot microphone?
Don't go away mad, Todd. Just go away.
He should keep his opinion to himself or tell the Mccain's not the country. We know where we keep each family, we have seen them on National stage.
Isn't the Palin's 15 minutes are up?
Admit it. Jealousy is ugly. You haters are attacking the man because he's got a hot wife.
what a load of unadulterated crap. it's a documented fact the palins went on multi-thousand dollar shopping sprees at expensive stores. they are still lying even after the campaign. enough already todd...you ain't gonna ever be national first dude.
They are a good solid family who have dealt with REAL issues. She is a good govenor with a high rating. Libs are terrified of her. She sticks to her convictions and does not care what people think.
Unlike our "yes man" president and his cabinet.
who cares what he thinks. but it does sound like he can complete a sentence, unlike his wife.
"I mean, why wouldn't anybody be proud of one of their citizens being nominated to the VP? Unless you're just a real hater?"
Maybe because she is an incompetent, ethics violating, unintelligent, right wing extremist?
Very sad... the entire family and the entire party. Thank God for our President - he and the first lady are making us proud in Europe! The time for hillbillies is over and I hope to never see a resurgance in my lifetime.
To The Last Patriot–
This man wants to commit treason by having Alaska secede. The only time that was "American" was 1776.
Mr Palin's comments underscores the the fundamental difference between McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden.McCain/Palin's image was true,but not appealing to the image-driven voters. Obama/Biden's image was super inflated.Now the real characteristics have come out and we see that Obama/Biden's true image has less substance than McCain/Palin.Oh, what the hey..we have become accustomed to hardship and can take another zillion years of it.
Hey Ghost, what problem do you have with secessionist? What would you want the Federal Government to do to a State if they chose to secede?
Sarah Palin's detractors "...are so full of anger" says Todd Palin?
Pot. Kettle. Black.
Todd, get a real job!
Mike,Albany: If you clicked on the link to read this article, then you clearly do care about his opinion. As to why you care, that's up to you to figure out.
palin can't be any worse than Obama who is running this country into the ground
Obama worshippers like to use the saying I can see Russia from my house but fact is Russia bombers violates our airspace everyday while our president just sits and decorates and make mess on white house lawn
Reply to DB
thanks being as a hillybilly I'll wear it as a badge of honor and I know you only want free handouts from the government
to marc in virginia, who thinks people are jealous because todd palin has a hot wife:
i guess if that's all she has going for her, accentuate the positive.
but you need more than hot looking to be president or vice president.
i mean, at least you need to know which places are countries and which are continents...
honestly, though, you never did take sarah palin seriously for vice president, did you?
really?
it's the same myopic vision that got us into the mess we're in – only Bush was myopically focused on war.
and, how's that working for us?
Bob.......
Enough with the 5....4.....3.....blah......blah......blah.
That horse is dead, quit beating it!
Thank you!
ps. tell sarah, the jobs in juneau not anchorage (and definitely not dc!)
I don’t think Sarah Palin’s detractors (at least not nationally) hate Sarah Palin. We just don’t want a narrow-minded, theocracy-oriented, war-loving hyper-religious nutjob representing us in the White House, nor do we want someone who is of average to low-average intelligence. Americans have made it clear that they want someone in the White House who is not just smart, but brilliant. Americans have made it clear that we want someone in office who values and respects the perspectives of people of all faiths–as well as people of no faith. We have all of that in Barack Obama—and more. Publicly stating why Sarah Palin doesn’t have what the majority of Americans need or want in a Vice-Presidential candidate isn’t a form of hatred. It’s simply a matter of stating the obvious.
Well, at least the guy seems sincere, and definitely seems closer to the persona he portrays than his grasping wife.
@ Steve in California – Very well stated. I couldn't agree more. They probably are OK people out of the context of national politics. Not that I agree with his secessionist ideas, Sarahs extremist whacko right wing religiosity (or her monumental hubris), or the hypocrisy of her daughters out-of-wedlock contradiction to what they supposedly believe in, but hey, none of us are perfect.
Todd Palin or Michelle Obama??
You can betcha Todd would have picked a MUCH better gift for the Queen besides an IPOD upgrade. Perhaps a stuffed moose head or some new snowmobile trax for the Queen's ride!!
Instead we're suffering with the welfare king & queen of our own.
Ummmm....Let me fill you in, Todd. People are not happy to have their governor as a VP pick when she is undereducated regarding important issues, does not think she needs to know more, and is a right wing extremist who does not (and does not want to) represent the views of the majority of the country. People are "haters" when their governor promotes hate and division ("real america" vs. the rest of us) solely for the good of her political career and with no thought of how damaging such polarization is to our country, especially at a time of economic crisis when we should all be pulling together. I know you are too busy snowmobiling to worry about the issues facing our country and your wife is too busy promoting herself to worry about the REAL issues our country faces.
Matt,
Please give three examples of how President Obama is running this country into the ground. I'm curious how he can do that in 60 days. I guess this country was completely perfect before he took office, right?
3 examples please
In Alaska they have no idea just how evil some Americans can be, they have no real libs like the ones here in the NorthEast. In fact I bet the first time they met a real lib was when Obama dropped 50 them into town to dig up dirt and start lies and distortions on Palin.
You notice most who fight for our freedom are from the midwest and south. If they seen how libs are on the coasts they might not think this is a country worth fighting for.
To arithmetic is liberal:
With regards to your question about cars with radiators:
You will have to ask our dictat....er I mean president Obama, as he has taken over the US auto industry. Going forward he will provide all the details in terms of car warranties and radiators. I am sure he is quite capable what with his community organizer background.
@ Doug, New Jersey, who said "You notice most who fight for our freedom are from the midwest and south."
That's because you're the ones who are easy to convince to put on a uniform and obey a moron who is claiming that there's a foreign threat to our freedom in a country that's not doing anything to us.
See? We can both be insanely insulting and insensitive. Now, if you 'd like to apologize to all the Northeast families of servicepeople who have lost loved ones for your comments, I'll gladly reciprocate.
Wow, most of the posters here are really funny. You're still intent on smearing Sarah Palin. If she's nothing, why put so much effort into it?
@ Bob the Observer, who said "Let the Palin haters begin. Rush Limbaugh. Dick Cheney. Bush's war crimes trial. 5…4…3…2…1"
No need for a countdown. You hereby have permission to consider it ongoing...because it is...and I love it.
Wow Todd Palin can actually speak..............Things that make you go hhhmmm!!
1. To much spending
2. kissing butt with our enemies
3. giving ipods away and telling everyone hes so proud of gordon brown prime minister and that we should a great gratitude towards him when nobody in the british government or people like him
CNN is really desperate to pull republicans headlines and keep them relevant. What a desperate move to this latest faux news!
I live in Alaska and I wish Todd and Palin can just go away. We don't like them here!
Seems like any network/cable news that doesn't espouse the extremest liberal line is considered as "faux news" in some quarters. Too bad they don't know what's going on in the real world. Get away from MSNBC, NBC, ABC, etc. to find out.
Said by the man guilty of trying to get his sisters ex fired because he doesn't like him. Sorry, he doesn't have a leg to stand on.
.... said the boob.
Do these Palins ever SHUT UP? Do they have a press corps surrounding them 24/7?
Is Todd Palin still trying to get Alaska seperated from the United States?
Robin,
You must be a teamsarah cheerleader. Sarah Palin has no convictions, unless you call her lying a conviction. It is your type of anti American, Un-Christian like name calling that has put your Rethug party in the toilet (where they belong). What a joke they are and by the way their April Fools Day joke of a budget still has me laughing out loud.
Doug, New Jersey: you suffer from the same 3 'D's that the rest of you unrepentant [R] suffer from: deranged, delusional, dumb.....and baby, you get in my crosshairs, you'll win the fourth 'D'. Time to weed out the chomosomally damaged.
Yes, it's nice to see that someone can say something nice about another person...unlike you liberals who HATE anybody you don't agree with.
You believe in "free speech" as long as it is the free speech you want to hear.
You liberals are a sad bunch.
Sarah keeps surfacing in periferal news. Are Republicans taking her seriously as any kind of contender for 2012? And if so, how can they? She is a total wingnut. Doesn't our country have enough problems without inviting a complete incompetent to participate in getting involved in them?
Why angry? Because someone so dumb she didn't know Africa was a continent, does not belong anywhere near a seat of power in Washington. The same idiot who, mind you, went to campaign rally's and called a man a terrorist, resulting in people calling for him to be killed.
I rest my case.
It wasn`t because he didn`t like the guy,that man was fired because he tasered his own 10-year old stepson,and threatened Sarah`s father.What else was Palin supposed to do? The guy`s a thug,and Palin was right to fire him.
Todd, Dumb Dems hate your wife because she is beautiful and very smart and a christian not afraid to own the fact that she believes in the Lord our savior. The dems do not recognize smart – they are masters of hate and destruction!!! And destruction is what they are getting with Obama!!! but we ALL pay for the idiotic mistakes Obama is making!!!