Hatfield-McCoy Feud continues on CBS: "Levi: Palins Treated Me Like Outcast After Election"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

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. Palin denies that he did; Johnston's family says the Palins are lying.

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.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/08/levi-johnston-on-cbs-trea_n_184544.html

[nxylas]

1. Please make it stop!

How long before "Joe" the "Plumber" weighs in, in a 357-part interview broadcast on every channel?

[Poiuyt]

5. What if Bristol has Joe the Plumber's baby?

You see, this could actually get worse!

[SpiralHawk]

11. ...and with Ann Coulter and Rush DraftDodger Limbaugh as the Godparents

...it could actually get a lot worse...

Republicon occultists must realize that the baby born Dec. 20 has Pluto conjunct Sun. That should quicken hearts in the vast netherworld of Republicon Homelander occultists.

[gratuitous]

29. The story says the baby was born Dec. 27

How does that change his astrological whatzis? (I'm not horoscopically inclined; but that's not unusual for a Feces).

One other point, from my days at working for the Support Enforcement Division of the Department of Justice: Visitation and Support are two separate issues. The non-custodial parent's visitation rights aren't linked to whether or not support is being paid.

[SpiralHawk]

56. yes - 27th is the correct date, not 20

Thanks for catching the typo. Pluto and the Sun were conjunct that day in early Capricorn, they say...

[gratuitous]

62. Probably makes him the Antichrist or something

"He is the Son of God."

"Oh, so that's Capricorn is it?"

"No, no! Just him."

"Oh, I was going to say - there'd be an awful lot of them runnin' around."

[Bunny]

2. The Palins are making a mistake and doing a disservice to their grandson.

Unless there is clear evidence that Levi is unfit, he is entitled to ample visitation with his son. The child is entitled to a relationship with his father.

Levi needs to get an ass-kicking lawyer and start exerting his rights. I'm not sure how many Alaskan lawyers are willing to go up against the Almighty Sarah, but that's what is needed.

[terisan]

20. He says he is able to visit his child. The child is also entitled to regular financial support

which the father, although apparently able-bodied, is not providing. See his comment re his sporadic support.

He needs to meet his responsibilities even if it interferes with his ambitions.

[CoffeeCat]

3. If Levi loves his child and feels that he...

...isn't seeing his son enough--then he needs to hire an attorney and get shared custody.

Otherwise, the manipulating Palins will squeeze him out of that child's life.

I don't know if there are any good guys in this scenario. They're all a bizarre bunch.

However, Sarah Palin is a proven liar and manipulator. No way in hell would I meander
these dysfunctional waters without an attorney. Especially if my child was involved.

It's obvious that the Palins only wanted Levi around as a prop--to help Sarah get elected.
Now, they're through with him, and they expect him to just conveniently slip away. What
a bunch of sociopaths the Palins are.

This is the child's father, and they're acting like a bunch of junior-high school bullies.

Sarah Palin needs to grow up.

[Ilsa]

6. I suspect an attorney needs to volunteer to help him out. I bet he doesn't

have much money himself unless he is getting paid for these interviews. Maybe that is why he is doing them: to raise enough cash for a good lawyer to get his custody rights established.

[KittyWampus]

15. Custody? Has he shown any compunction to actually support baby financially?

[Lance_Boyle]

30. Has Bristol?

I guess Sarah gets custody by your measure, since that's who's house mother and baby live in, and that's who's paying the bills...

[KittyWampus]

34. Is Bristol feeding the baby and changing its diapers?

[Bunny]

37. How do you know that Levi wouldn't do those things, if given the chance?

Fathers can actually tend to their children, and are not required to serve only as an ATM.

[terisan]

49. He has the chance to petition the court and let the court decide any number of possible

arrangements. Presumably the interests of the child will be the main consideration.

This young man, like all in his situation, had full decision-making rights when he engaged in unprotected or poorly protected sex. Their is always a potential price for making that decision.

The cost of raising a child to adulthood is immense.

[Lance_Boyle]

39. I don't know - do you?

If so, please share your sources.

[Ilsa]

51. Sorry, I meant shared custody. And a social worker can recommend

that Bristol maintain longer "sole" custody of a breastfeeding infant if she is solely nursing Trip. I assumed she had probably weaned him, but that is up to the social worker to determine. I don't want Bristol away from her young infant, either.

It isn't fair to keep the daddy from seeing his son. It sounds like he is trying to be as responsible for the baby as Bristol is. I'm surprised the Palins can't find a place at or by the home to allow him to participate in caring for the baby along with Bristol.

[katanalori]

53. not to worry...........

Levi's mom (awaiting trial for sale of oxycotin) has one of the top attorneys in AK! Rex Butler seems to be taking the case pro bono to help Sherry Johnson (and my theory is that he is also advising Levi) - all is well. Attorney Rex Butler? Let's just say he is NOT fond of the GINO (the public's pet name for Palin meaning "Governor In Name Only"). Yes, this is all tacky, but if it helps brings GINO down, GO LEVI!

[Ilsa]

57. Excellent news. Thanks for the insight! nt

[CTyankee]

27. Sarah Palin has no shame. The manipulation of Bristol and Levi is bad enough.

But to now involve an innocent baby is just beyond deplorable. Once again, "pro life" is anything BUT "pro child".

[terisan]

50. I think she is a tough cookie--maybe we need more such women. nt

[Binka]

59. You Have Been ALL Over the Board Spewing WACKY Shit

This is DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND not FR, we do not need more fucking assholes like Palin. Welcome to ignore.

[Binka]

60. OMFG IT Has A PIZZA!

Loveit!!!!!!

[TwilightGardener]

63. Wow!! He'd been on another thread trying to compare Obama's aunt/Kenya relatives

to the Palins, and I didn't even think to hit "alert". Good for the mods. This guy can go wank off to his Palin campaign poster and leave actual Democrats in peace.

[EOTE]

61. Who are you referring to?

You think we need more Palins in this world?

[ima_sinnic]

64. good riddance, a-hole

[xchrom]

4. america getting to see how ugly sarah really is. nt

[roesch]

7. He has learned his lessons

When at the end of the CBS interview Levi announced that might like to work as a model or actor, I thought he has learned well the lessons from the Palin family. Create a public image and milk it for all its worth.

[gauguin57]

9. He can put on his acting resume all his experience "acting" for the American public at the RNC.

All the Palin kids can, too. One big bunch of circus performers, ready for prime time.

[alcibiades_mystery]

12. You say circus performers

I say "grifters."

A family of fucking grifters.

[terisan]

17. You think tv gossip is factual?

[Mike Daniels]

23. Yet, dumbass Levi said just a day or so ago that he'd still vote for Sarah in 2012

Even w/ my general desire to see a "fit" parent spend time with their child I believe Levi deserves the Palins if he's still open to voting for Sarah down the road.

[xchrom]

32. well my point is that sarah has done a disservice

to the grandchild, her daughter, and levi.

levi is just a kid -- so is sarah's daughter -- but sarah isn't.

so there she is picking some weird fight with this very young man who is also the father of her grandchild in front of the whole world.

not good form.

sarah is just showing everyone her ass.

[rainbow4321]

55. His mom also said that if Palin did win

In 2012 that they would stand no chance of seeing the baby then....and Levi STILL went on about "I would have to vote for her".

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. Delicious trainwreck

:rofl:

[malaise]

67. Absolutely

I could have written this script. There was never going to be a wedding.
It was all staged.

[NeedleCast]

10. I Feel bad for this dumb kid

He got tossed like a dirty sock after the election, when the Palin's no longer needed him to rally the fundies. I don't have any idea what his politics are and I don't really care. I'm going to bet that he gets run right the fuck over in this proces though. He got used by the Palin family. Now he's getting used by the media and it doesn't seem like there's anyone in his life giving him good advice.

[terisan]

16. At the end of video it is reported he is open to acting or modeling job-so he appears to have

a the possibility of a new career. This interview should help him ---as it is he does not seem to be paying much in child support.

[NeedleCast]

19. How Much Does The Governors Grandchild Need?

Is Tripp or Trigg or whatever the kids name is not getting taken care of? I'm not saying Levi shouldn't be paying something in support, but I have no idea whether he is or not and I'm not going to speculate about it without any evidence.

Like I said, this Levi cat appears to be a not terribly uncommon 19 year old, he just doesn't appear to have anyone giving him any decent advice. I don't have anything against him because I have no doubt that he was pressured into doing all the RNC crap and when you're a kid, that kind of thing is hard to resist.

[terisan]

24. He himself speaks about his sporadic support. It is not a grandparent's responsibility to support,

it is the parent's responsibility.

[NeedleCast]

25. I don't disagree

Just saying that I doubt the grandchild of the Gov of Alaska is going without, ya know?

He should be supporting his child. At the same time, he should have visitation with that child, and it sounds like he's being denied that. If that's the case, he needs to find an attorney and get custoday and child support issued ironed out.

[Lance_Boyle]

33. Can you document Bristol Palin's employment status and income? n/t

[terisan]

43. I take each parent at their word-she states that she has postponed her education and is

instead parenting an infant full time.

Consider that family or parental leave so that one parent may devote his or herself to parenting after the birth of a child is a Democratic party ideal.

To have grandparents and sibling and friends assist is all to the good. That goes for the father as well as the mother.

[Lance_Boyle]

45. uh huh - and "octomom" says she can "give herself" to her brood

but that's not much tangible support, is it?

[terisan]

47. I think Nadya Suleman is the person to whom you refer. I don not see a connection. nt

[Blue_In_AK]

52. Who knows what Bristol is doing?

Some reports are that she's in school, some are that she's working. Some are that Levi may not even be the father. The whole family lies, so I have no idea. Sarah chose to bring these kids into the public realm, so any dirt that Levi is dishing at this point is justified, in my opinion. You all don't hear half the rumors we hear up here. This is not a black-and-white case.

[terisan]

46. I go by parent self-report. She reports that she is engaged in full time parenting of an

infant, and has postponed her education to do so, and is remaining in her parent's home and relying mainly upon their financial assistance. She may also be a contributing member of the household by engaging in upkeep chores-not uncommon for a woman in her situation.

Consider that parental leave for a mother or father after the birth of a child is a Democratic party ideal and one we fight for because we see the need and the benefit to the child.

The father in this case may petition the court for full-time custody, joint-custody, unsupervised visitation. His parents can appear as witnesses and attest to what they will contribute to help him care for he child. In short he has options bit the judge may also rule that the child stay in his current situation and the father begin full regual financial support.

[Pharlo]

48. The technical employment status and income of Bristol Palin

may not be readily apparent, but I will bet you that she is the primary care giver to not only Tripp, but also Trigg Palin. In short, room and board for Bristol Palin, and her young son, is probably MUCH cheaper than a full time hired employee to care for a Down's Syndrome child would be for Todd and Sarah Palin.

[Bunny]

35. And that includes the mother.

So tell me, what exactly is Bristol doing to support her son?

[TorchTheWitch]

38. Then what's Bristol paying?

She sure looks able-bodied to me. Obviously the financial support is coming from the grandparents anyway. She lives in their house, eats their food, they pay for the food, clothing and shelter of the baby, etc. If Levi has to pay financial support (which I agree he does) than so should Bristol. She is no more working to support the baby than he is. If he needs to get a full time job to support the baby, then so does Bristol. No, the grandparents are not responsible to support the baby or their daughter, but they obviously are and want to.

[terisan]

40. ..and Levi's parents/ What is their contribution to the child's support.

The mother has stated that she has postponed her eduction in order to care. This is is situation many single mother's face -no matter the income of the grandpatrnts.

Do you think Barack Obama's mother did not take responsibility?

[TorchTheWitch]

68. WTF?

You're the one crying that the grandparents aren't responsible for support, so what the hell does it matter if Levi's parents are helping to support the child or not? The Palin's are financially supporting both Bristol and the child because they're well off enough to be able to do so and they obviously prefer it that way.

Man, you are going round in circles with this... first you're defending the Palin's and claiming as grandparents they don't have the responsibility to support the child, and now you're crying because Levi's parents aren't. Make up your mind.

And hope you like that big slab of pizza served to ya.

[Fumesucker]

65. Bristol has a job?

If not, then what is the source of her income other than her parents?

[kentuck]

13. I keep waiting for the Levi and Joe the Plumber Show on FOX...

A reality show, of course...

[SoCalDem]

41. Joe, Levi & Octomom.."Eight² Is Enough"

:)

[KittyWampus]

14. You may SAY you love that baby, but are you working and sending child support?

[Bunny]

21. How do you know he's not paying child support?

Maybe he's receiving payment for these interviews, and helping to support his son in that fashion. Furthermore, what exactly is Bristol doing to support her child, aside from living with and mooching off of her parents? She is an adult, and quite responsible for payment of child support herself.

The courts have, very wisely, divorced child support from visitation/custody, so that children will not be deprived of a relationship with their absent parent because that parent is unable/unwilling to pay child support.

[leftynyc]

26. I saw the interview on Tyra Bank's show

and Tyra specifically made mention that she paid him nothing for that interview. Don't know about CBS.

[Dr.Phool]

54. What's the unemployment rate in Alaska?

After the election, which he was part of, are there even any jobs available for a high school drop-out? Or is he like Ben Bernanke, and can materialize money out of thin air?

None of us know.

[Lilith Velkor]

66. He had a job lined up on the North Slope

Unfortunately, it was mentioned in the press, and all the good liberal netizens promptly freaked out and made a huge stink about nepotism, and he was canned.

Now they are all whining about him being unemployed.

It's a good thing there are no actual human beings involved in this sordid tale.

[terisan]

18. Hope they aren't holding his mom's drug arrest against him. nt

[Skidmore]

22. Why is this surprising anyone? Didn't Governor Get Even get called on the carpet

for using her office to go after someone she believed hurt one of her family members. I believe I read somewhere that the Palin family has a reputation for settling scores in vicious ways. I feel sorry for these young people, and have even greater sympathy for that baby.

[nxylas]

28. She has a reputation for vindictiveness

Even her much vaunted "taking on the corrupt GOP establishment in Alaska" was just her settling old scores agains people who had wronged her (sometimes merely by the fact of being better educated than her).

[Poiuyt]

36. "Merely by the fact of being better educated than her"

That doesn't narrow the field much, does it?

[nxylas]

42. No, and she knows it

The Repubs talk about Democrats as engaging in "class warfare" (boooo!), but Palin is a mass of seething class resentment. And not against those lower than her on the totem pole, unlike most Republicans. That's why she's such a figurehead for those who have somehow convinced themselves that the elite in this country is a liberal one.

[HiddenInVA]

31. Sad.....

The sad thing, really, is that this is making the news, and/or that the
various networks deem it newsworthy to talk about or air.

He was newsworthy during the election because he knocked up the potential
VP's daughter, and for whatever reason, he gets some air-time as the
purported fiancee. Okay, whatever.... fast forward a few months - the
election's over, the girlfriend/fiancee/"insert your choice of description"
has delivered the baby, her mother has lost the election and is back to
her old job of being a state governor. The two break up.:boring:

Media coverage should have ended w/ the election loss. Who gives a fuzzy
rat's butt? How many people break up a day? How many unwed couples get into
"he said/she said" spats over visitation rights of their progeny?

Dude, get a grip! Quit whining to the media about "Ewww.... they're being
mean to me..", go get a job (last I heard, he'd quit his oil field job),
get on with your life and support your son. Geeeeezzzz!!!!!!

[TwilightGardener]

44. Only Republicans are upset that this is making news, because it further

dims Princess Yup-Yup's star to have her trashiness and bad mothering exposed. I love it.

[Canuckistanian]

58. Don't take this lying down, Sarah!

If I were you, I'd issue ANOTHER press release and make it REAL nasty. Say some things about his Momma.

Don't let this punk ruin your good name!