(CNN) – The national war of words between Sarah Palin and the man who was nearly her son-in-law flared up once again on Wednesday, as Levi Johnston accused Palin of frequently describing her son Trig, who has Down syndrome, as "retarded."
Palin's team shot back in an e-mail to reporters, calling the claim "inflammatory" and accusing CBS - the network that aired Johnston's latest interview - of "continually providing a forum to propagate lies."
"We have purposefully ignored the mean spirited, malicious and untrue attacks on our family," Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton said in the e-mail, on which Palin's lawyer Thomas Van Flein was copied. "We, like many, are appalled at the inflammatory statements being made or implied. Trig is our 'blessed little angel' who knows it and is lovingly called that every day of his life. Even the thought that anyone would refer to Trig by any disparaging name is sickening and sad."
Stapleton went on to blast Johnston, who is preparing for a photo shoot with Playgirl magazine, as desperate for publicity.
"Consider the source of the most recent attention-getting lies - those who would sell their body for money reflect a desperate need for attention and are likely to say and do anything for even more attention," she said.
Johnston first made the accusation in a September interview with Vanity Fair and expanded on his claim about Trig during an appearance on the CBS "Early Show" on Wednesday.
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"Consider the source of the most recent attention-getting lies – those who would sell their body for money reflect a desperate need for attention and are likely to say and do anything for even more attention," she said.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? this coming from the woman who goes around in tight-fitting suits, working people with her charm and makes calculated inflammatory remarks to stay in the political spotlight. I dont know if republicans know this, but America has caught on to the GOP doublespeak and hipocrisy.
C'mon, Sarah...everyone is a liar but you, right? Gimme a break!
I DO NOT believe for a second that Sarah Palin referred to Trig as "retarded".
Johnson is a low life piece of trash looking to make a buck and he'll do it at the expense of anyone....including this woman's child. Can't get any lower than that! Well, maybe you can....CNN gives this low life his moment of fame. That's pretty darn low.
Levi Johnson is the poster child for "trash". Sad thing is, many of you Palin haters are cheering him on. He seemed like a good kid, but he continues to let the Godless media vultures temp his very soul, in order to sell garbage for a few thousand. I will not be surprised, to see him go down the road of a drug addict before it's all over. Poor kid.
Isn't this "liar" the same all-american hero that was trouted out and given a standing ovation at the Rush-beck-palican National Convention? If he was so wonderful then, he must be telling the truth now!
bad karma for everyone!
Dear CNN,
Do you think if you keep Sarah Palin in the news that no one will notice the 50% increase in unemployment since Obama took office; or the doubling of the deficit; or the increase in attacks in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq as the terrorists sense the President's weakness; or the missle tests from North Korea; or getting nothing from Russia in return for abandoning our Polish and Czech allies; or the record price of gold as investors shun US treasuries; or the personal demonization of political enemies by the administration; or the $1 trillion cost of healthcare; or the nationalization of the auto industry; etc.? Ya think?
I beleive him and why hasn't Bristol spoke out against Levi if they were lies as Palin has had her spokeswoman say.I know I would if he was lying on my mother.The skeletons from this woman's closet is slowing comming out...Stay tuned
What a wonderful family of liars... or so they constantly call each other. They'll all make great Republicans with values like these. That's just what they're looking for to "lead"!
Ya gotta love this ongoing white trash soap opera.
Of course they would say they were lies. Hard to tell tho.. if he has something to back it up...But even if he did Palin lovers wouldn't believe it.
First Palin makes Johnston famous by trotting him out during the campaign as a political prop. Now Palin is mad that Johnston wants to cash in on his fame, even though that is exactly what Palin is doing by resigning the governorship and chasing the money. By issuing this press release, Palin only elevates Johnston's profile making him more famous and marketable as a celebrity.
By doing his best to be a responsible father and trying to make a living in an honorable way, Johnston is the one taking the high road, and by so doing serves as an excellent role model for the nation's youth.
The news that Palin would be using a derogatory term for her own child does not surprise me in the least. She has proven that her kids are "props" for her own personal/political agenda and has literally staged them for her own advantage- so there is already that perception that she in not the typical "protective" mother who loves her children unconditionally. Secondly, we know that she is a liar; she has proven that point countless times. She's also a redneck. That's what rednecks do- put others down and make fun of them. Finally, Palin is a hypocrite through and through. She spouts off one thing and does completely the opposite. So I find Levi's allegations that she frequently poke's fun at her little "angel of God", sad as it is to think of it. I totally believe Levi with all of what he says in the Vanity Fair article and these latest revelations. All in all, Sarah Palin is a disgusting individual with no credibility. I cannot wait to see the trainwreck of a campaign if she does decide to run in 2012! That will be better than any reality show on TV!!!
It is truly sad about her baby having Down Syndrome - but the way Palin uses people, she is playing the baby card again for her gains. She has showed this over and over - and to take the monies for her book while in office is unconscionable. She really needs to stay home with her son and give him mother love.
Who is this unemployed Sarah to have a spokeswoman?
))
Money well spent
Calling him "retarded" is a bit mean, but calling him "blessed" is just pure denial. He has down syndrome; you can't sugar-coat that.
yeah – does Levi know only Sarah is allowed to tell 'attention getting lies'
What a bunch of drama queens.
palin and wacko family getting little to much attention on cnn why
Ever since John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate, Palin has been spewing a lot of "attention getting lies" of her own.
Remember "Palling around with terrorists"? or "Death Panels"? or "There has never been a tax increase that Barack Obama didn't like"?
A pot should not call a kettle "black".
It sounds like something she would say.
I don't believe a word either of them say...
any news media that entertains a degrading name calling of a child does not show any compassion for the child nor the family. This is not news worthy. It is hard to emphatize until you are in the Palibn's shoes.
Mr. Levi strives in getting attention and the media cater to this un-mannered young boy. His parents should have taught him better.
The boy is a dolt
While I doubt the credibility of Mr. Johnston's statements, i have to point out the comment coming from the Palin camp about "those who would sell their body for money reflect a desperate need for attention and are likely to say and do anything for even more attention."
Ms. Palin flaunted her downs syndrome child and pregnant daughter around for political gain, which is more despicable.
who cares - i've enjoyed the relative palin-less media coverage of late