(CNN) – An aide to Sarah Palin downplayed reports Tuesday about the former Alaska governor's use of a private jet during certain legs of a national bus tour to promote her memoir, "Going Rogue."
While it's not unusual for political figures to fly from state to state before hopping on a bus to head to events, Palin is taking heat for using a private jet for some of her travels, with one report claiming that the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee flew in style while leaving her staff behind to ride the bus during long journeys.
But Jason Recher, who is traveling with Palin and coordinating logistics for the tour, said that's not true.
Palin was joined by her family and a handful of staffers on each flight leg, said Recher, who noted that the jet was paid for by Palin's publisher, Harper Collins. He said the publisher originally wanted all of the book tour travel to be by plane, but Palin lobbied for a bus tour.
The private jet transported the Palin entourage for several legs of the tour, including from New York City to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the beginning of the tour last month. The bus then took them to book signings in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania before the group boarded the plane to Rochester, New York. The private plane was also used for flights from Rochester to Roanoke, Virginia; from Fayetteville, North Carolina to Birmingham, Alabama; and from Birmingham to Jacksonville, Florida.
Palin also took to the skies to visit with Billy and Franklin Graham in Montreat, North Carolina on November 22, but not on Harper Collins' dime. Instead, she was picked up in Roanoke on Franklin Graham's provate plane and flown to Billy Graham's mountaintop home. That plane took Palin on to Fayetteville after the private visit.
Recher calculated that Palin and the people traveling with her spent about 24 hours total on board the "Going Rogue" bus during the first seven days of the book tour.
From CNN Politics
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The Tax Man cometh for Sarah.
Just another example of what she wants you to believe is contrary to the truth. What a joke!
So What! Nancy Pelosi has a private jet fly her back and forth to the west coast on a monthly basis and it is paid for by the taxpayers, not the book publisher. But, does THAT make the news?
I don't put anything past Unethical Sarah. If she did use a private jet, she'll just lie about it like all conservatives do.
Jesus on a pogo stick you people are ridiculous. How about a little "Media Stops Up-Playing the Importance and Political Viability of Laughingstock Moron"?
She's as fake as can be...says she's taking a bus tour to the "real America" to promote her "non-fiction" book. In reality, she's on a private plane while her staff has to take the bus, and her book is pure fiction. Way to be one of the regular people Sarah!
By the way, I never saw anything about the charity auction of all the clothes the RNC bought her. I was really looking forward to buying those black hooker boots! Oh, I guess that was just a lie as well, you betcha!
How about you guys fix all of those typos
"but Palin pushed back and wanted to to a bus tour"
"Franklin Graham's provate plane"
Who is spell-checking these articles, CNN??
She's just such a mavericky little twit now, isn't she ?
Sad how some just can't seem to progress past their own inner hate..
Wow...what a user, what an opportunist this gal is.Leave her to her own devices and the day will come when her feet will be so planted in mud she won't be able to move.
Palin is taking heat for using a private jet for some of her travels, with one report claiming that the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee flew in style while leaving her staff behind to ride the bus during long journeys.
Sara Palin is a fake and a big liar. She will manage to try to stay in the news at what every cost. This week is too important CNN to be talking about a half baked cake like Sara Palin. We all know this woman is a liar.
Well, if this really was no big deal then why didn't Palin just TELL everyone that she was riding in the jet the whole time? Why did it take someone actually doing some investigation to find this out? And if Palin really "pushed back", again, why not just say so up front?
The comical thing is the so-called "real Americans" who worship Palin without hesitation have no clue that she is already planning on leaving THAT life behind.
Sarah Palin is the worst person in the world. She hates puppies and kittens. I also heard she eats babies and tears the wings off butterflies.
the bus tour via private jet.... she's a fraud and a hypocrite
Let them eat cake
Does it bother anyone else that Billy Graham, a religious leader, has a private jet to take politicians to his mountain top home? The questions WWJD comes to mind.
So she's no different than most other politicians; no surprise there. The Palin worshippers will be here to scream about it in three... two... one...
Why is she important? She is not a serious candidate for the PTA let alone the highest office in the land! I wonder if she can still see her foreign policy experience from Alaska?
Yet nobody bothers to say anything about how the large bag of carbon emissions, aka the Great Climate Liar, Algore travels around in a private plane no matter where he goes. He's even more hypocritical because he's yelling at everyone for polluting the air. You want to talk about an environmental risk, just look at him speaking.
But go ahead an comment on this story libs. We all know how scarred you are of Palin.
Obama – One and done, thank you God
Of course another Sarah posting from Peter Hamby. It just might be time for you find another topic ?
Oh please. Nancy Pelosi's Bogarting of extremely expensive government charters haven't gotten half the attention, even though her airline bills cost twenty times as much.
Media attacks.... more of the same.... The more you attack her, the stronger she gets. GO SARAH!
What's the big to do about this? Let's get into how much Obama has spent on the use of his tax payer provided jet to fly all over campaigning for his fellow Democrats. That concerns me more than Sarah Palin using a private jet we DIDN'T pay for. Obama should not be allowed to campaign on OUR buck.
Lets send Palin to the Appalachian mountains where they dine on fried Raccoon and Possum. BBQ to go!
Just Boycott Harper Collins.
I can't stand Palin, but I don't see why this would be an issue for her. There's no such thing as man-made climate change, and there is no shortage of energy resources, in her opinion. Flying a private jet everywhere, in Palin's eyes, would be what God intended. Is it really any worse environmentally than shooting wolves from helicopters?
Is a story about a book publicity tour part of politics, or is it a way to avoid talking about the US president taking a few months for making half measure decision and a war decision of three years, like you can predict the future so accurately when it comes to military campaigns. Politics over country– why you are putting a book story up there?
Why is this even news? She's a private citizen now, whether she takes private jet or not is none of our business. If she wants to create an image for people who buy her books, so be it.
Well, the bus appeared at all of Palin's events. So it's in keeping with her agenda that some legs of her journey should burn more than twice as much fuel.
A "bus tour" is more folksy, down to earth, common man/woman, it appeals to the base more than jet setting around the nation. Just another way to mislead people. It is all about appearance. The fact that she and her team spend so little time actually in the bus is just another calculation to mislead people. People who get excited over this woman amaze me and not in a positive way.
"He said the publisher originally wanted all of the book tour travel to be by plane, but Palin lobbied for a bus tour."....well isn't SHE just too nice.... Lobbying for a bus tour and then "Recher calculated that Palin and the people traveling with her spent about 24 hours total on board the "Going Rogue" bus during the first seven days of the book tour." spending 3 hours a day on it herself while the rest of the peons shlep around 24 hours a day on it. How typical of her highness, the lipstick Fido
Not a big deal. The scary thing is the number of true purist believers who want to read her book,
The woman has a pathological need to feel like she is important and special. I suppose if the publsher wants to pay that kind of money to ferry this loser of a non-writer around, it's their dime, but all it really does is feed her overlarge and undeserved ego. If she had ever done a single worthwhile thing in her 'career' it might be different, but as it is she has only won office when the opponent was even more objectionable and she has never achieved anything of significance. Really pathetic that this sort of incompetence and incoherence can net you a million bucks or more. Even sadder that there are people out there who have deluded themselves into thinking she is worthy. They actually think the Left is afraid of her! How silly. Of course they aren't. She'd need to have some substance before any thinking person could fear her. We do fear the pathetic sots who support her, though. If that's "real America" then it's a sad day for Americans.
Unlike Obama who flies to dinner on the taxpayers' dime in NY...or maybe the big billionaire scammer himself...Al GOREleoini...leader of the Green Scam.
I should care,why?.....
Who cares? Who really cares?
You have Al Gore, Mr. Green himself, who flies all over in a private jet to preach about global warming and then buys carbon credits from his own company to attone.
Our President sends Air Force One on a $300K photo op. Our President also hops on Air Force One for Date Night in NYC. We pay for that people. At least "we" the taxpayers.
Taxpayers are not picking up the tab for Palin's jet, Harper Collins is.
I don't care about Palin's jet.
I care about unemployment over 10%, an insane health care bill, and our $800 Billion dollar debt to China, among other things.
I'm no fan of Palin, but there is no issue with her being on a private plane, with her family. There was only a problem when this scum bag was stealing from the tax payers to do it. Now that it's funded by a company and not using tax dollars, hey, I will seldom say this to this air head, but more power to her!
YAWN..well I am sure glad none of the other political figures in this country use something at the tax payers expense for their own use. And I can't not comment on Palin without saying how fine this woman is...hahaha ROCK ON CNN you will print news one day...
This airhead is such a hypocrite!!! Please run, Sarah, run in 2012 so Obama will be guaranteed another 4 years. Only the far right wing nuts, the "real Americans " will vote for you. Hush Limbum can be your VP running mate. LOL
who cares, obamma flies private 100% of the time...
And this is news ? Why ?
So let me understand this, Harper Collins (owned by Rupert Murdoch who also own Fox News) offered to fly her entire entourage and she actually lobbied to have her assistants take a bus while she flew? Yeah, stay classy there.
Look past the folksy facade, America. This political harridan will be yet another major hog at the public trough. If we are crazy enough to put this woman anywhere near the White House, President Obama will be a hero compared to her.
She's a lost cause. I sure hope she doesn't ever plan to actually try and get in the White House...
Who cares? That's the beauty of having money and no one to answer to. You can do whatever you want, and that is how it should be!
I hope Sarah Palin flies to San Diego however she can get here so we can cheer her on. Hopefully starting in January 2013 she and her staff will be traveling around on Air Force One!
Even though I disagree wholeheartedly with Ms. Palin, who cares how she travels. She is a private citizen now. This is not news. She is not receiving any taxpayer dollars. She is spending her own money or the publishers money, so everything is legit. Again, I don't like her, but this has nothing to do with anything.
Who cares how she travels now? My Goodness, there's more important things in this world to care about. Get a life.
Jeez! $$$arah $ure is making the round$!
So? If she were still using tax money people'd gripe. Now it's business expences having nothing to do with taxes and people gripe. Some people just plain have issues. It's her business, not ours.
Of course, she and her flying monkeys would down play it .... anything that reeks of the truth is completely foreign to this family ... by the way ... are the kids ever in school or is the former First Dude homeschooling? Be careful – you'll grow up like Mom and take 6 years to get a degree in journalism ...
I am not a supporter of Palin at all, but who really cares if she flew in a plane for part (or all) of her journey! The longer we make stuff like this news, the longer we have to listen to her uninformed ramblings.
WOW.... She rode on a private plane.....
You liberals are idiots.... That is the best you can come up with.....
What a bunch of morons.
now remember, she is part of the heart of America, the real America, one of us
she is so full of it
Wait a minute! She used a private jet?
WHO CARES?
Ahhh! the privilaged as you can see they take care of their own.No way she for the common man as most think she is.Window dressing for the next Cristian presidental nominie.
nothing out of her mouth has ever been the truth.. the idiot doesn't know how to tell the truth .. she is making money on her lies and whats funny is alot of people beleive her LOL LOL LOL .. makes me sick to see that many people in this country still can be followers of a radical bla bla carpet bagger .
I am so hurt and disappointed my hero did this. I thought she was an everyday person like one of us. I bet she don't shop at walmart either or clean her own house. I feel so betrayed and let down.
It's begining to be frustrating to read every story that has two sides, A liar and the truth.
Are we being serious here? She's a private citizen now! Gee Wiz Fanatic Liberals, or whoever you are! Who cares!!! There are bigger more important issues than trying to find anything and everything possible to destroy this lady politically. NEWS FLASH: She's not an elected official right now... She's a private citizen. Are you really THAT scared of her? lol, you guys make me sick. Republicans are just as bad at times... but I got to admit, Libs seem to whine much much more! I'm glad I don't take either side, because both suck and don't represent my views in an adequate manner. This kind of incessant "whining" further alienates people like me. Do you get that yet?
What do you expect from this hate monger,? she is fake.
I think the issue is not whether she used a plane. It's that she has made a deliberate and dishonest effort make people think she was traveling by bus in order to appear more "earthy". That's her gimmick, not that it's a new one (we still remember William Henry Harrison, but hopefully Palin will be forgotten 150 years from now).
Please....is this all we got to report on...
Let Sarah be.....
We all know she has too much going on to be bothered with riding a bus across the US....that is for the common person....NOT THE ELITE.
She just want it to look like shes on a bus tour.......just like she wanted it to look like she was a qualified VP candidate.
yeah...shame on Palin...after all, her book is far more popular than the left's attempts at publishing....already, she's the biggest threat and libs will say and do anything to discredit her; even lying and committing dishonest acts. Pelosi spends $2700 on bottled water, $2400 on flowers...at our expense...and you say nothing. CNN, you're so in the tank of being "anti-Palin," that it really ruins any credibility you may have remaining. Since the majority of the country is to the Right, or Center-Right, it's going to be a long ice age for this news(?) organization after 2010.
Her naxt book will be titled "PALIN'S PITSTOPS" and found in the comedy section. This woman is so funny. I have gotten more laughs from her than most other stand up comics. She is really good. I mean she really pretends hard to be a politician.
If she was a real politician I would really NOT vote for her.
Last time I checked Palin is a private citizen doing her own thing. Why is this news. Who cares if she flies or goes by bus. She is a private citizen using the free market to her advanatge...just like everyone else (the President included).
At least we the taxpay are not paying for a world tour of speeches and apologizes regarding our great nation.
Again 'entertainment-news' Palin in this ticker ? Does the obsession continue ? Is this CNN ?
Its over now and there is nothing anyone can do about it. She is raking in boatloads of cash off the book and speaking engagements. I doubt she will ever run for office again. She laughed her way to the bank.
What are the liberals going to say when she becomes President and flys AirForce 1. The Democrats are getting more desperate day by day.
This is not news. Palin is an opportunist feeding on the IDIOTS who follow and believe in her. And because of this she is laughing all the way to the bank. As P.T. Barnum said, "there's a sucker born every second." Title of her next book..."The Quitters Guide To Being a Millionaire". Nope, I won't be buying that one either.
She is a user. The only reason her book is selling, is that people want to see her string more than one word together and make a sentence. She is the most stupid moron ever to live.
Go back to your hole in the ground .
Who cares?
Palin could probably double Bush's 8 trillion in debt in only one year and accomplish nothing. She hates socialism except that of her old state. Alaska is a socialist state and if you look at the checks they hand out you would know why they are a pro oil socialist state.
$ 4,000.00 an hour for her jet to show all her fans what a "real" person she is. Why she's just like one of them.
She is the Queen of the Grifters.
Her book is number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
P.T. Barnum was right.
Not a Sarah fan; but if there was no impropriety with the plane financing, so what?
Why is this even a news story? Honestly, people don't we have bigger things to worry about than whether Palin took a bus or a plane. Come on! Police Officers are being murdered in Washington State; Obama is sending 30K more troops to Afghanistan; the Senate is screwing up Health Care, and we're worried about Palin's "bus tour." Keep your eye on the prize people!
Who cares how she travels? Who ever the reporter was that made this huge finding should get a raise, man they are good.
Glad to see that CNN is giving Mrs Palin so much free advertising, she should be a shoe in 2012, Thanks for all the help
Her status has changed......people!! Traveling on a private jet is a minimum requirement. She's just doing her job to stimulate the economy.
this is getting old....
whatever – who cares...
And this is news why?
Who cares if she is using a private jet? Its her book, and if she is paying for it...then who cares?!
It's petty for the mainstream media to find nothing better than to pick on Palin on this matter. So what if she has to alter her traveling means?
Oh, for heaven's sake!! With everything else going on in the world, people are getting upset because, OMG!, Sarah Palin's PUBLISHER paid for a private jet for her to use.
This is a non-story, CNN. This is what I expect on Huffingtonpost or even Us Weekly.
How about some investigative reporting on Congressional corruption? How is the stimulus money being spent? Anything new on ACORN?
I don't understand the point of this ticker. What Palin does on her book tour is her business. Unlike the Rotund One, Al Gore, Palin does not run around promoting the great scam called Global Warming. She, like most sane people, does not get all misty-eyed about some fictional measurement called "a carbon footprint". Palin is no longer a public servant. She is a good, wholesome and successful capitalist who is doing what she deems necessary to make money. I realize that capitalism is to the democrats what Holy Water is to satan but I wish her the best as she continues to draw huge crowds on her tour.
REMEMBER FOLKS, THE HATERS HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF RULES FOR SARAH, when anyone else does this, which is done all the time, it is glossed over or ignored, but my oh my, Sarah is judged by a whole other set of rules. This makes me like her more, all the pointless Palin bashing. Gotta love her for having more cajones than our current Prez
We've reached a new low. A non-story (this plane business), about a non-story (a book tour), but ok, I'll play for a minute. Why is it news that a book publisher furnished transportation for one of their authors who is out promoting a book that was published by the book publisher who furnished the plane to take the author on a tour promoting her book......OW. Now my brain hurts.
As much as I cant stand her, this one is silly. Shes a pvt citizen and can fly however she pleases.
Sarah Palin will do whatever she wants so why give her millions of dollars of publicity about it? She was an ill-chosen VP candidate and
now she is showing the world "something" but it is difficult to categorize it and name it. She seems to be quite an elitist, which she would deny. However, we know her well enough to see that her words are not a good fit with her behavior.
She pretended this tour was on the bus. If she hadn't made that misrepresentation the plane would be a non-issue.
I predict Palin is about to do something drastic to get everyone's attention back on her instead of Obama's decision to send more troops to Afghanistan. Maybe she'll flash the media and scream "Don't look at me", at which point conservatives hearts will melt and they'll chant "Palin 2012"