(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.
From CNN Politics
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Palin spent months dishing out lies, now she'll have to spend time defending herself from lies. As they say Sarah, "what goes around comes around" and you deserve every minute of it.You fooled a lot of people but there were a lot more that you weren't clever enough to fool. HA!
At one time I looked forward to reading "Ticker" which,so I thought, was more political (both sides) than anything else,
On the day you featured Johnstone and his up comming Playgirl layout, "Ticker" dropped a few levels on the 'scale of respsect.' And now you continue to run this Jerry Springer stuff with this latest Palin vs Johnston never endind feud.
How you consider this news worthy is beyond me.
Maybe you should start some tv show which features this type of crap.
By the way I'm Democrat so I really care not for Palin.My only reason for commenting is trying to point out the level CNN Ticker is sinking to.
I used to find you informative, but now it is trash,as in those magaizines one sees at the checkouts in markets.
Is there any chance that there is a newssite that doesnt report on John and Kate and Sarah the dysfunctional. If I wanted to know about mental disorders and those who suffer them , I would buy the tabloids while in line at the supermarket.
Stop. Please stop
Levi is quite a piece of work. Seems to be he is just cashing in and saying anything to get some attention! And anyone who is with Kathy Griffith has got to be slum! Shame on CBS for acting like it is a gossip talk show! What Bristol should do is slap him for child support for all the money he is making now!
I wish Sara Palin and her family well and I hope she just has all you Liberals just foaming and not sleeping at night!
Funny. I think people who are in politics are more likely to lie.
I think they are protesting a little too vehemently. Palin is more believable when Stapleton keeps her emails to herself. Funny, these quotes were attributed to Palin on another network. Is Stapleton speaking for her? And what would SHE know about it anyhow?
"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," .
The only thing worse than selling one's body is selling one's principles, ethics, and integrity. The body follows shortly. I believe politicians know the political meaning of "compromise" better than anybody.
When you have close to 45,000 dead Americans every year, those are lives that did not fall through the cracks but rather were compromised by politicians taking money from lobbyist in the way of "campaign contributions".
When it come to integrity, there is no difference between the body and principals.
Selling the image of Palin's baby as her "blessed little angel" is pretty sad also. This is the burden that many people with Down Syndrome have to carry as the public and their parents view them as eternal infantalized children, as some sort of religious justification for their developmental delays. Any baby with Down Syndrome should be viewed as having the same potential as any other baby, given the external conditions and expectations under which that baby is raised. That these prior "family members" are having this public debate is sickening and just underscores the low, low level of Sarah Palin and those associated with her in any way. I feel sorry for the baby, having to be the center of such a spectacle and used by Palin and her ungodly afffiliates for publicity purposes.
Wake up "news" people! Paris and (twit) add name of latest bff.
Stapleton needs to get a job, like the rest of these losers, and quit wasting time, media time, and the American peoples time. Please lose this lady / family / cronies (Stapleton).
If Sarah Palin is the best the GOP can do, we're going to have a long line of democrats running things.
Sarah Palin tried to win money by parading around in a bathing suit in a beauty pagent. Now she condemns Levi Johnston for making some money with his body? Oh, Sarah.
Palin he can not hurt you so why do you continue to bicker with him. Ignore him in an adult way; that will not make it go away but to continue to bring this more public does noone any good including a child that does not deserve this fight. This reminds me of the Hatfields and McCoys. I feel that you buried him under the bus in your book; two wrongs never make a right.
Wake up "news" people! Paris and (twit) add name of latest bff , Khloe and (twit) ad name of whoever is with her, Levi Johnson and whatever he says today, These are not the true morons, dumbing down the American people. Its the idiots who think this is news and report it as such, who really deserve the moniker.... Leave these idiots to the enquirer and such and stick to real news.....
She can sure dish out the hate and lies – but doesn't like it when it comes back to bite her in her butt.
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Future world leader? Don't think so.
Lets see.....who do we believe......
LEVI ! ! ! !
So the LIAR Barack....
How come the health care bill still pays for abortions with tax payers money.
How come the health care bill still pays for illegals with tax payers money.
I thought you said it would not happen Barack.
Still the same old liar shuck and jive.
OK but isn't Facebook "continually providing a forum to propagate lies" for Palin herself?
I believe Johnston on this one. Her body language whenever she held Trig gave her true feelings away.
That seems to be par for the course for Sara Palin.
"Pot" meet "Kettle".
Sarah Palin REALLY should NOT lecture anyone on the perils of lying.
REALLY.
Yeah, it don't seem they can get along, Palin and Johnston. Who knows how the relationship might have ended with the family but they've been going at it for quite an awful long time. I think Johnston is just upset at the situation and let's be fair, he has a child with her daughter. Maybe is payback or revenge for making him look bad but that's just a judgmental call on my part.
I feel bad for the family but this happens for every family in general, especially if it involves a daughter, maybe a son. Is just that they are well known through out the public and on the country. Johnston should just relax and take it slow, he's doing his thang. While the Palin is moving on with her new book and I'm sure her family is as comfortable as before, at least assuming.
PS: I'm sorry but the Governator is fu-nny! He took my game!
Good eve!
"We have purposefully ignored the mean spirited, malicious and untrue attacks on Sen. Obama/President!
Why all the attention on Palin? Meanwhile Obozo the POTUS continues his lack of leadership in sending reinforcements to support our Troops putting partisan politics before their safety!