Who here is surprised? Levi Johnston says he's been treated like an outcast since the election

[LynneSin]

When will Levi realize he was nothing more than a tool to trot out to the masses to show what a 'loving couple' that he and Bristol were and to hopefully make her teenage pregnancy less of a 'mistake'.

Levi Johnston was nothing more than a prop, no different than the $150K worth of clothing the RNC bought for Sarah Palin and the ideal that Ms. Palin had Foreign Policy expertise because she could see "Russia from her back door". Now that the election is overwith there is no more need with this prop.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090408/ap_on_go_ot/palins_baby_boy

WASHINGTON – The father of Bristol Palin's baby boy says he's been treated like an outcast since the end of Gov. Sarah Palin's run for vice president.

Appearing in an interview broadcast Wednesday on CBS's "The Early Show," Levi Johnston said he felt a need to "get my side of the story out there."

A worsening feud has developed between the 19-year-old Johnston and the governor's family in the wake of Johnston's complaints about not being able see his young son Tripp, often enough. Now there is a dispute about whether Johnston had actually lived with the Palins.

Bristol Palin is Sarah Palin's daughter, and at one point she had agree to marry Johnston, but that is now off.

Johnston said he "wouldn't call any baby a mistake. I love him more than anything. I wouldn't trade him for the world." Tripp was born Dec. 27.

[baldguy]

1. And Bristol & Tripp are better off for it.

[TwilightGardener]

4. ??--this is the child's father. He's not been shown to be unfit. The Palins are awful--

he's just a hapless white-trash teenage boy.

[baldguy]

15. He doesn't have to be hapless white trash.

Same goes for Bristol, and her mom probably wouldn't let her. (Both Sarah and Todd have college degrees.) Levi should work on growing up, getting an education & getting a job.

He should be trying to get get his GED, not get on The Today Show.

[TwilightGardener]

17. Um...Sarah Palin took six years to get a degree in communications, and

Taahhhdd I don't believe HAS a college degree. And it doesn't matter, because degrees don't mean you're not trash. And the Palins are 100% low class trash.

[LynneSin]

22. Having a college degree does not save one from being 'white trash'

And Sarah Palin should be governing her state not using the public to air her dirty laundry. If anything it was Sarah complaining to the press about the upcoming interview that Levi was doing on the Tyra Banks show that tossed all of this back into the limelight. Perhaps if she just ignored it and worried about the state of Alaska we wouldn't be making such a big deal about it today.

[Top Cat]

68. I agree with you 110% Sara Palin started this shit so she need to get over it.

As the old saying goes be careful what you ask for. Sara Palin made this bed now she has to live with it. I cannot stand that woman

[jberryhill]

73. "if she just ignored it"

It's not in her nature.

It's why I love her so much.

The "what if they polish her for a couple of years, so she can present as a better candidate next time" thing, makes me laugh for the same reason.

There are certain things that can be done, but a character transplant is out of the question, and she has deep, deep character flaws.

And, her character flaws are no greater than anyone chosen off the street at random, but we do not generally choose people off the street at random in order to run for national office.

Say what you want about his performance as a "candidate", John McCain, like most Senators, is a person of exceptional character and achievement. The Palin pick was a deep reach into the barrel.

[RollWithIt]

65. While I agree about getting an education, why shouldn't he get PAID?

I mean the GOP trotted him out in front of the world and made him famous. So now he should just go back to Alaska, expose the lie, and made a little money?

[mitchum]

88. Tawwwd DOES NOT have a college degree...

his bio lists the carefully ambiguous "attended college..."
I see that cheapjack deception all of the time in wedding announcements, etc...
Who in the hell is that supposed to fool?

[cbc5g]

37. yeah lets call rural voters white trash...that will help us win them over

[TwilightGardener]

40. Who said anything about "rural" (sez this rural gal)? Levi refers to himself

as a "fuckin' redneck". And the Palins are trash no matter where they live.

[jberryhill]

74. Please have a chat with this lady...

[LynneSin]

8. Are they?

I mean, I realize that Levi's mom has an arrest for dealing drugs (oxycontin) and that the Johnstons pretty much come across as white trash. But we've seen what Sarah Palin is capable of doing. Both Bristol and the oldest, Track, have had issues with drugs and Track didn't join the army to make Mom look good but to deal with a juvenile record from vandalizing buses. And we've seen Sarah Palin's mothering skills with her infant Trig. She treats that baby like it's a hand bag being lugged around. Trig has special needs and yet there is Trig being toted all over the country up at all hours. Not a good way to take care of an infant especially one with downs Syndrome.

Personally I think the best thing for baby Track is to put it up for adoption but this may be a case where the Johnston family might be just as capable as the Palin.

[jberryhill]

28. Adoption Candidate For Track....

I hear Madonna is looking again.

[Flying Dream Blues]

29. No, the latest ones are Tripp and Trigg. Track is in the army or something...it's hard to

keep "track", I know. :) And I'm not sure which is which between Tripp and Trigg.

[jberryhill]

75. Oh bloody hell...

...put the lot of them up for adoption, Trig, Tripp, Track, Truck, Tripod, Lugnut, Winch, Birch, Nipper, Ding-Dong... whatever and whomever.

As this family continues to devolve, the next generation is going to be named Ugh, Duh, Y'know and Grunt.

[Flying Dream Blues]

81. I think "Trogg" would be a good fit for the next one...keep the whole Tr thing going, huh? :) nt

Edited to put in the extra "g" in Trogg. What was I thinking?

[LynneSin]

34. I'd probably rate the Octomom higher than either of these 2 in Alaska

and that's saying a whole lot!

[Teaser]

19. oh, and you're such a prize?

.

[cbc5g]

36. Thats completely wrong

and you know it

[rateyes]

2. If only McCain/Palin had won the election, Levi...

Instead of an outcast in Alaska, you would have been living in the VP's mansion---in a separate part of the house, of course, but in the mansion.

[vaberella]

54. Ain't that the truth...probably sipping on a Alcoholic Pina Colada from tax payer money. n/t

[Dr.Phool]

62. Well, they did have plans for a trailer park behind the observatory.

[Rashel]

63. Palin wants to distant herself from the Johnstons for her presidential run. She already has a

guy vetted and lined up for Bristol. Everybody but Levi saw it coming, I guess...

[rainbow4321]

71. Doubt it...he'd still be in AK while Bristol/baby holed up in theVP house

Which is SP had hoped for...getting a few thousand miles away from Wasilla and the Johnstons..there'd be no way in HELL they'd get any where near them or get their phone calls taken by Bristol or SP.
Instead (whew!) the Palins' collective asses were sent back to AK and they are at SOME point gonna have to deal with this mess...cuz the drip, drip, drip of both the Johnstons media blitz AND discoveries like, oh, myspace entries WRITTEN by BRISTOL in May 2007 that say "my mom overheard us on the phone and now she is asking if I'm pregnant"...the "us" was NOT her and Levi, it was her and "Johnny", a boy she was with prior to Levi.

http://www.palindeception.com/blog/

[TwilightGardener]

3. They're done with him--they're baffled as to why he doesn't simply go away, I'm sure.

[polichick]

6. Lol - just like McShame wants Psycho Sarah to go away!

[firedupdem]

7. I wouldn't be surprised if he came up missing in a moose hunting

outing. I'm sure she wants him to STFU.

[TwilightGardener]

10. LOL! Shades of Scooby Doo: "I could have been President, if it weren't for these meddling kids!"

[Rashel]

76. Thanks for making me laugh!!!

:rofl:

[Lasher]

9. Same reason they won't.

He likes the limelight so he's making the rounds. This is so much like Sarah, which is why she's so upset about it.

[TwilightGardener]

13. Yep--she's met her match in the War of The Trashy Families.

[Brooklyndodger]

41. Methinks Levi wants to write a book

Only that would explain his ongoing desire to seek attention.

[TwilightGardener]

42. Well, I for one hope he does. To be published, oh, around winter of 2012...

[hamsterjill]

5. Levi was a prop

But so were all of the other Palin children.

It's almost impossible to make "disfunctional" look "normal" when all is said and done. Palin paraded the family around as if they were the typical American family. The truth is coming to the surface.

One commentator that I saw on television a couple of nights ago remarked that the only "sane voice" in all of this has been Bristol Palin's interview where she commented that abstinence didn't work. The commentator went on to say that at the very moment when that comment was made, "Mother Palin" swept into the room and took over the interview.

"Mother Palin" can't stand for anyone else to have the spotlight.

[Orsino]

45. Palin herself was a prop.

More so even than the rest of her family, perhaps. Hers was a Potemkin candidacy, all pretty, awkward surface without any underlying substance.

[Flying Dream Blues]

82. Now that's the truth! nt

[Mike Daniels]

87. Give me a break - Levi may have been a prop but he was a willing one

"I wanted to go hunting but was told I had to go to the convention?"

Punk. Couldn't find the balls to say "no" to Sarah? What the hell was she going to do if he told Sarah and her daughter to jump in the lake? It's not like Palin could sidetrack his career (what career) and prior to the convention he was a nonentity and would have remained so had he manned up and gone hunting. It's not like most jobs have "are you banging the gov's daughter" as a pre-requisite for being considered.

I refuse to take him seriously as long as he continues to say he'll still vote for Sarah if she runs again.

[NRaleighLiberal]

11. My view on this non-story - he and she are kids - they are doing what kids do.

The limelight is unfortunate. Which brings me to the real problem in this...she who I will not lower myself to name. SHE alone is the big time problem here. Her 15 minutes are long, long expired.

[WI_DEM]

12. The Palins are awful and Johnston and his parents aren't much better

I feel bad for that baby.

p.s.
I feel no sympathy for Levi Johnston. I think he just wants to cash in and get his fifteen minutes of fame.

[terisan]

14. He admits to being open to an acting or modeling job; he admits to only paying support sporadically.

In his recent interview he attested to giving what he can to help his son and admits to being able to visit with his son.

He is free to go to court to br able to regularize his support and to get unsupervised visits or overnight visits.

The judge night suggest that he get a fulltime job and pay regular support.

He is a 19 year old able-bodied adult in the eyes of the law . Fathering a child is a serious and support is a n obligation.

Bristol Palin seems to be assuming her responsibilies even though it has interfered with her life plans--he needs to assume his responsibilities.

[WI_DEM]

16. He could get a reality show I suppose. I think the Palin's and Johnston's need to go on Jerry

Springer and be done with it.

[terisan]

20. We could include Obama's undocumented aunty and his cousin in the Kenya hut-

would make great reality tv. Bring in Roger Clinton re his drug arrest and pardon, add Neil Bush and his Silverado scam plus messy divorce, Edwards and his (it's my sex life but not my baby)--Reagan's kids' complaints re cold parenting. Ah the show would go on forever/

[TwilightGardener]

24. Wow, you really have it bad for Sarah Palin, don't you?

[blogslut]

38. ...

[jberryhill]

27. Jerry Springer Could Match Him Up With Octomom!

Tabloid heaven.

[TwilightGardener]

18. How do you know that Bristol is "assuming" any responsibility?

[terisan]

21. What would you call pregnancy and childbirth, postponing your education and

raising a child.

I am using the self-reports of both parents in forming my opinion.


Certainly they could both be telling lies but in the absence of evidence to the contrary I choose to use self-reports.

I also consider pregnancy and childbirth to be major life experiences for a woman of any age and each, although natural experiences, always have negative effects on the bodies of women.

[TwilightGardener]

23. Squeezing out a baby and living with it aren't heroic actions.

Animals do that--it's pretty basic. We have no idea what kind of mother she'll end up being--jury will be out on that one for a while. Living with mommy and daddy in the Gov's mansion or wherever isn't really "assuming responsibility" in an adult sense, either. Her own mother is terrible, exploiting her children for political gain and ignoring them the rest of the time, so she has a poor example to overcome. I give this stupid-ass kid some credit for at least trying to be somewhat of a father, though he doesn't have custody.

[kiranon]

25. I am assuming you had a baby when you were a teenager and raised a child. Otherwise . . .

you haven't a clue how hard it is even while living or because of living with her mom. Your body changes, your dreams change and there is no going back. Instant adulthood and good bye to what she could have become. Listen to Bristol talk about what happened. She doesn't sound as if she would do it again if given the chance and warns other teens not to get pregnant so young.

[TwilightGardener]

32. Yeah...life is hard all around. We all have our crosses to bear.

[LynneSin]

44. That's bullshit - dreams do NOT change

If one believes in the dream they can make it work. I know women who were 'teenage statistics' and still made the dream happened. Sure sacrifices were made but they never lost site of the goal.

[terisan]

30. Opos we seem to be drawing out your contempt for women.

[TwilightGardener]

33. Yes, I'm a woman who has contempt for women. LOL! No, just SOME women.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TwilightGardener]

53. Yikes! You Republicans are really, really worried about the damage

Levi is doing! The T-roll Palin fans are out in FORCE today!!!

[firedupdem]

56. You can defend the kids all you want and thats fine. But please

don't say Sarah is a:

She's a brilliant, exceptional person with extraordinary talent as well as a very successful governor.

She's not bright at all. She is unable to answer even the simplest of questions. She also whipped up the racist wing of the republican party into a frenzy during the election. And many in Alaska would disagree with you on how successful she's been.

[demabroad]

57. are nonmisogynist democrats allowed to post?

I say she's brilliant and it gets deleted. Nice. I'm not a troll. I'm a feminist Democrat who is a mother who happens to abhor misogyny especially within my own party. It's disgusting. If they are going to delete my comment, why don't they delete the original post. It is hateful and I'm sure hate is not allowed.

[firedupdem]

58. You're on the wrong site if you think sarah is brilliant. She isn't

brilliant or even smart. She proved it time and time again during the election period. If you feel that strongly about her, you should visit one of the sites that thinks she is so wonderful. This one doesn't. She doesn't hold any of the values that democrats do. She a hypocrite and a nut job. You won't find support for her ignorant, race baiting, winking at the camera as opposed to answering a question ass here! youbetcha!

[TwilightGardener]

59. I must be missin' the misogyny. I do, however, hate Sarah Palin--and that's ALLOWED HERE.

By the way, "misogyny" is an awful big word for a Republican--good for you.

[Flying Dream Blues]

83. Brilliant? Really? Where were you during the campaign? And,

do enjoy your all-too-brief stay.

[mitchum]

89. Fuck that noise...and fuck you also

[LynneSin]

43. I don't mean to toss a monkey wrench in all of this but I know gays who have done that and ....

still manage to get their education. I know a woman who managed to get her doctorate's degree after being a 'teenage statistic'

[Celeborn Skywalker]

61. It's a lot harder, though.

Yes, some people are extraordinary and are able to be successful despite odds against them. However for most teenagers with children, raising the kid is all the stress they can handle. It doesn't make them lesser for it.

[LynneSin]

78. If that's how we treat our daughters after going thru a pregnancy then I guess they are doomed

You make it sound like an impossibility which is downright dumb. I don't expect Bristol or any other teenage pregnant girl to go on to get their doctorate. Hell I don't even expect non-pregnant ones to do so - that does take extraordinary willpower.

However to treat a teenage mother in a way that says her life is 'done' then that is downright shameful. We have enough programs out there that will help any girl finish highschool and even move on to get a secondary education - whether it's a 4-year degree, community college or even a trade school. The only limitation that any teenage mother would have with achieving these goals is a closed mind and negativety from those around her.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

79. I understand and agree with what you're saying.

Of course, there are no limitations and they should definitely have people around them who believe in them and their abilities.

I'm simply saying that if they fail to measure up to these standards, they should not be considered a failure or anything like that.

[DevonRex]

26. Her responsibilities include dealing with the father of the child nad allowing

him HIS rights, unless and until a court says he has no rights.

[terisan]

31. Has no rights until the court gives him some. His right to choose ended with delivering sperm

He now is beholden to a court of law if he wants rights in addition to those the mother freely grants.

[jberryhill]

46. Ummmm... what country do you live in?

Because that's not the law in any state in the US.

[Politicalboi]

69. He should go for custody

Why does she get the baby?

[MiniMe]

35. Sarah probably blames Levi for McCain's loss

[PBS Poll-435]

39. Levi 2010 AK-AL!

Anything to get rid of Don Young.

[Hamlette]

48. Sounds like he might be sorry he got "Bristol" tattooed on his ring finger.

[marimour]

77. he said exactly that on the Tyra show lol.

He said he would tell everyone NOT to get some girls name tattooed on your finger. Says he should have listened to his sister.

[sfbabe3]

49. AT least we know Levi has no class and no manners

Who is funding his outbursts?
Immature kid who needs to be macho and go on national TV to explain his story? What story?
The so-called mainstream media should be covering real news.
The kid has no class, no manners, and no consideration for the child, much less for the mother.

We don't know if there is a backstory to this tasteless display.

[TwilightGardener]

55. Another one!!!

[LynneSin]

60. Or he could just be the "Woman Scorned"

I get the impression that Levi and Bristol were just 2 kids having fun, doing some drugs and screwing without a condom - something that kids all across this country do all the time. Just happens to be he was screwing the daughter of the little known governor of a small (population-wise) state that was plucked out of obscurity to make John McCain lovable to all these women voters supposively disgruntled by Hillary not being Prez or VP.

Suddenly Levi goes from being a nobody to getting the shock treatment of suddenly 15-minute celebritiness where the clock stops and one doesn't know what happens.

Do we even know these 2 were planning on getting married or was this a wedding of 'convinence' to make a pro-abstinence only governor seem acceptable with her pregnant teenage daughter.

Levi is doing what any other kid trust into the limelight for 15 minutes. THe kid was 'used & abused' and tossed to the side once the powers-to-be realized that no one really about Sarah Palin's unwed teenage kid and making her look 'presentable'

According to National Enquirer (who btw was right about John Edwards), Bristol may have had more than one sexual partner. Perhaps Levi was just the most presentable. As for the tattoo - I know of dozens of kids who made foolish tattoo choices. I wouldn't read a whole lot into it

[jberryhill]

85. LOL....

Welcome to DU.

I think Tyra Banks is an entertainment program, and not hard news, but what did you find ill-mannered about him?

[Jennicut]

50. Poor Levi must regret the say he came in contact with Sarah Palin

That being said, the victims here are Levi and Bristol, two kids who made a mistake countless other kids make but because of Mommy's ambitions were thrown into the spotlight. I hope he continues his education and makes efforts to see his son, even if he has to go to court. My husband's father never saw him after he divorced his mother at age 19.

[applegrove]

51. Palin never said "I can see Russia from my house". She said "you can see Russia from Alaska". It was

the SNL comedienne who said "I can see Russia from my house".

[applegrove]

66. It was Tina Fey who said it on SNL.

[jberryhill]

72. You know what I liked about that?

It was payback for "Al Gore says he invented the internet".

Gore sponsored legislation that moved the internet from a de-funded DARPA program to the Dept. of Commerce, and internet protocol inventor Vint Cerf credits Gore with creating the conditions that allowed the public internet.

Everytime I heard "I can see Russia from my house" attributed to Palin, I got such a guilty revenge chuckle out of it.

[applegrove]

84. I was thinking the same thing. It is the birth of a myth and I don't like myths...

but yeah - they did it to Al Gore too.

[vaberella]

52. I'm not. If I were him I'd sue for custody...just in spite. n/t

[Geek_Girl]

64. He should sue for visitation rights,

He needs to get a full time job somewhere and prove that he can handle the responsibility of being a father, and sue them.
I believe that Pallin has totally screwed up this kid's life. Granted, the was kind of a fuck up to begin with, but I think he will have an uphill battle with the Pallin family and he may never get to have a any kind of normal relationship with his own child, unless he fights for it.

[BlooInBloo]

67. I did my best to treat him like an outcast BEFORE the election...

My apologies if I failed.

[JJ]

70. I say the boy dodged a bullet

Had McCain/Palin won, Bristol and Levi would certainly be married now.

[Blue_In_AK]

80. I'm on Team Levi.

He and his family are brave to speak out given Sarah's very well known vindictive streak. I hope he has a good lawyer.

[Mike Daniels]

86. Levi and the Palin clan deserve each other (he gets no sympathy from me)

C'mon, he (Levi) was "forced" to give up hunting and go to the convention?

Give me a break. Hey Levi, how about relocating your balls? How about telling Sarah and her spawn "hell no I won't go" or claiming you had an major intestinal illness a hour before catching the plane?

Despite what he wants to claim now he was probably all too glad to be along for the ride when it held the promise of being able to visit the White House had McCain pulled off some miracle.

Even now, what with his "poor me/victim" routine he still says he'd be willing to vote for his could have been mother-in-law should she run for office in the future.

Why do I see a "surprise" reconciliation as we get close to the next presidental campaign seson?

Levi deserves the Palins and they deserve his punk ass as well.