Washington (CNN) - Oprah Winfrey says America may "fall in love" with Sarah Palin as a TV star, but is dismissing the idea that the country would vote for the former Alaska governor in the future.
Asked in an interview with Parade magazine if the thought of Palin's running for office scares her, Winfrey responded, "It does not scare me because I believe in the intelligence of the American public."
Winfrey, who interviewed Palin shortly after her first book was released, said she was not sure if the former Republican vice presidential candidate would run for president in 2012.
"I don't know her so I can't speak to [whether or not she'll be a candidate]," Winfrey said in the interview.
But, Winfrey complimented Palin's new reality show and said of Palin's performance, "I would say that America's going to fall in love with her [from her reality series, Sarah Palin's Alaska.]"
"When I saw that first episode, I went, 'Whoa! She is charming and very likable.'"
Much attention was paid to Winfrey's political influence during the 2008 presidential election; she threw her support behind then-Illinois Senator Barack Obama early on in the race. Winfrey also hosted fundraisers and stumped for Obama on the campaign trail.
I love Oprah's comment, "It does not scare me because I believe in the intelligence of the American public."
misleading headline. came for oprah dissing sarah palin, left disappointed.
Yeah and then she said she would not be a show for political backing. Oprah is a moron. I am not a Palin fan but Oprah makes me want to puke.
Wow, thanks CNN! A story about Oprah and Sarah Palin!
Also, Oprah may be smart with her money, but betting on the intelligence of the American public is playing really long odds.
She has more faith in the American voting public than I do. You don't have to look further than 2 November of this year to see my point.
STOP IT.....OPRAH on the outside you say she's charming but on the inside you know she's dead as a doornail ! 80% of the AMERICAN PEOPLE thinks she's as sharp as a BOWLING BALL. So Ms.Winfrey you need to stop being sarcastic.
Watch out Oprah, you dissed her so you'll be next in her hit list. She's mean, vile, vindictive and a first class nincompoop. But then again, she may kind to you because you're having your own network soon, so you're a potential cash cow. She may soon come knocking at your door to peddle another reality show. But please don't stoop so low, Oprah.
I would not vote for Sara Palin but as for the intelligence of the American public how smart could they be when they voted for Barack Obama just because the Kennedy's and Oprah said so.
Unfortunately for the far right wing of the Republican party, California and New York still constitute almost 1/3 of the electoral college vote required to win the presidency...and they only carried 1 of the "big 5" states in the last election. She's going to have to appeal to more than one-eyed dorks in Alabama, South Carolina and 3 electoral vote states to win. There aren't enough people in West Texas that think the earth is 5,000 years old to vote for her to overcome the many other concerns she brings with her. Where is Ronald Reagan when we need him ?
I preface my comment re: this article by stating that I find Oprah Winfrey one of the most annoying public people in existence (ranking right up there with Larry King and Barbara Walters).
With that said, I concur with Ms. Winfrey's assessment of Sarah Palin. Truly, Ms. Palin is a sorely-dysfunctional person – narcissistic, self-serving, unethical, a failed parent and public servant, and miserably functionally-illiterate. She has no reasonable grasp of what is happening in our country, or our world.
Ms. Winfrey has struck out against the likes of Ms. Palin, and declared incredible optimism on behalf of the voters of the U.S. For this, she deserves credit.
Where is the news in this article? Oprah dissed Sarah during the campaign. Of course, she made it very obvious who she was supporting. Should have had to give equal time under the election laws. Glad to see you're going off the air, Oprah. You should have been neutral.
Oprah's opinion on politics? She believes in the intelligence of the American voter? The American people have somewhere in the range of 12-13% approval rating for their elected congress. They elected a president that doesn't know which way is up after 2 years in office. They only thing she right about is Sarah Palin's attraction to the people. Palin is a fresh attraction on the political arena that stinks up the land. In my opinion, the country is morally lower that whale dung. And its that way because Americans lost their way and their elected representatives no longer actually represent them, but do whatever they want as long as their pockets keep being filled.
Don't worry Oprah... Along with many other people......... The American people are not going to elect any Fox News Contributers to the Presidency of the United States of America......Can almost promise you....
I soooo wish Sarah is the GOP nominee.... it would be great for Obama.
America is truly a land of opportunities: Look at a semi-illiterate, know-nothing, irritating-as-squeaking-brake, dumb-as-moose and semi-woman named sara made it from mayor for moose, governor for ice-aged people, and, a reality tv to show America what is possible.
Would some body miss the moose and hit the real moose on your next hunting trip.
Or else, I am moving to Cuba or China or, even, North Korea
I think that is about right – people love to watch Palin as a spectacle. When it boils down to it, however, nobody really thinks she's qualified to be president. She's a political side show that at one time could get butts in the seats as a curiosity. No disrespect to Mrs. Palin, but she lost credibility as a viable candidate when she quit the governor's office and whined that it was the fault of the "liberal media." If she can't hack the "liberal media" as governor, how could she deal as president?
That's right, Oprah, you DON'T know her!! This wretched, attention-seeking woman has brought ridicule and humiliation raining down on Alaskans. She is an embarrassment, intellectually inferior, and most of us wish she would permanently disappear. It was a total disappointment that Oprah fostered Palin's career by having her on her show in the first place!
I agree with Oprah, the American people don't have to be told that the pretty lady is all show and no substance. Sarah continues to make money by staying in the spotlight, and if she was being honest with her followers she would let them know that elective office is really not her cup of tea. The people of Alaska already know about Sarah, and they don't really believe that she has the necessary capabilities to be in the White House.
Would you PLEASE stop starting all of your Ticker columns with an article about Mrs. Palin? I am not the least bit interested in anything about her. She is an egomaniac. Six out of ten of those polled wouldn't consider voting for her. Why do you continue to spend valuable time and space on her and not give coverage to more thoughtful, serious, real public servants? I AM interested in other items in Ticker, but I resent having to see the trivia about her in order to get to the real news. If CNN wants to be taken seriously, and that is certainly questionable, you will stop giving this silly woman so much attention, Thank you.
What?! I worried about the "intelligence" of Winfrey when she endorsed Obama in 2008! I wish the "public" would get over the influence Winfrey has in making simple decisions that they cannot make for themselves. I mean, who can't pick out their own book to read but need her to endorse one before they would even think about reading it? Pitiful. Oprah, some of us really aren't your little sheep. We can move forward without following you and your opinions.
Taking Sarah Palin seriously in the context of politics is absurd and laughable. However, if the GOP would like to put her forward as a canditate in 2012, that would be great! People would find the real and vast majority of American's KNOW this woman has no business being anywhere near the presidency and would step up to prevent it. The thought of Sarah Palin as President of the United States is preposterous, to say the least.
Gee, another slow news day. Can't get by without a Palin article though. We simply wouldn't survive without it.
Now those comments were classy as usual. Oprah is a great person and would never allow herself to get tricked into saying something that might stir up tth Palin supports. So as much as I would love to I will not comment either. Merry Christmas.
And this is news because? Please cover the real news and let the rest appear on talk shoes or reality television programs.
Can we get Oprah & Palin to negate each other into some sort of matter-less extinction? Maybe some sort of 'odd-couple' theme.