Art’s Campaign Diary: Sarah Palin in Alaska
The Bald Truth With Greta in Alaska; We interview Palin’s Parents minutes apart
By Art Harris, (c) www.artharris.com, all rights reserved
WASILLA, Alaska–What a political whirlwind…four weeks on the road reporting for Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, a Presidential campaign slugfest unlike anything I’ve ever covered, snapshots of history in the making, politics as bloodsport–and entertainment–with the future of the country hanging in the balance.
For starters, it was backstage with Barack Obama in Denver, where my featherweight Sony HD 1080i was the only news camera rolling as he met voters one-one-one, a charismatic personna who comforted one fan as she burst into tears in his mere presence.
“What’s wrong, don’t cry,” said the Democratic Presidential nominee, embracing her.
The next woman, from Alaska, handed him folk art, a clay sculpture of an Eskimo and a polar bear. Really. This before anyone knew her governor would burst on the scene as the new political Madonna of the rival party.
Later that night, I was embedded with “Veterans for Obama,” including the former Navy JAG chief, who told me he’d done a cameo in the popular series, tagging along as they headed backstage, then onstage to oggle Stevie Wonder just feet away, highly decorated heroes in bidness suits, taking bows to the roar of 84,000, warming them for Sen. Obama’s sendup…fireworks, balloons and confetti… Democrats basking in the wonderful madness of hope …
Earlier at the CNN Cafe, we caught up with “the best political team on television,” as the network calls its political superstars (former colleagues and old friends) like Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, Candy Crowley, John King, Jessica Yellin, Campbell Brown, Donna Brazile…unbelievable coverage…I said hello to early Obama backer Caroline Kennedy, who told me her ailing Uncle Ted was doing fine after a surprise speech that electrified the convention.
It made me flash back to the day her father was assassinated, remembering where I was, a schoolboy who understood something terrible had happened…thinking of the PT Boat 109 President as I shook hands with her two children, both gorgeous and polite, so much history in their souls.
Imagine, Hyannisport transplanted to the CNN Cafe, talk about a Rocky Mountain High, America’s political royalty, the Kennedy clan, eating burgers, laughing, catching up with each other, including California First Lady (and cousin) Maria Shriver, ex NBC star now married to The Terminator.
My ET colleague, Kevin Frazier interviewed Anderson; I got to interview Wolf…Kevin nabbed actor Dustin Hoffman on the floor. So many stars, so little time… Michelle Obama in the VIP box with John Kerry’s wife, Theresa Heinz, gesticulating and watching intentently as her senator husband conjured more pizzazz than he’d done in his own compaign.
Consider this the first dispatch, heralding Tails from The Trail, a campaign diary I’ll be filing, or if no time, maybe a quick video from the flip camera I’m using…
Can’t wait to share what it was like hanging with cops in gas masks in the funky Twin Cities a week later, gagging on surprise tear gas downwind from protesters…dancing with “Bushheads,” interviewing the Booming Baritone and ex-Watergate prosecutor-turned senator, Hollywood star Fred Thompson who put the GOP in the mood, warming the convention for a star to be born… catching the debut of firebrand Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin… hanging with Meghan McCain at a Chicks Rock the Vote party.. then onward to Alaska, bumping into old friend, Greta Van Susteren after her one on one with First Dude Todd Palin, shoulder to shoulder as she interviewed Palin’s wonderful parents, Chuck and Sally Heath, inches away from a daughter who’s proved to be far more white hot than some “Caribou Barbie.”
You can see my video diary here and watch our exclusives on ET and The Insider as we cover campaign 2008 through the personalities and the families of the candidates like we did in 2004, when our exclusive White House tour with the First Lady drew 30 million viewers over three days.
With the two shows combined drawing 10-14 million viewers a day, 80 % women 25-54, it’s a dream demo of swing voters: Walmart Moms and Nascar babes hungry to know who the candidates and their families are, eager for them to get real beyond attack politics.
We aim to make up for lost time; we just had to take a little time out to bag some big game.
Thanks for keeping the faith, and for coming back.
September 18th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Mr. Harris:
I am so disappointed in you! Judging by your outrage at the hell Howard K. Stern was put through and your common-sense reporting on the unfairness hurled at him, I never would have believed you could be so mesmerized by a piece of trash like Obama.
I just wish you had let your faithful readers know what had happened to you. It seemed as though you had washed your hands off us.
September 18th, 2008 at 1:43 am
Those people who cry and faint at the site of Obama are just doing what they were paid to do by the Obama campaign sleaze bags.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Oh what a wonderful day to see Art back, with so much to tell us! I just love it!
September 18th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
All these women coming out now and telling us they know what Hillary supporters want!
All these months they told them to shut up, now suddenly they now what Hillary supporters think and would want? Where were they when Hillary was treated with disrespect by Democrats and the media?
It is not that they care about Hillary supporters, it is still about their messiah Obama. Trying to get Hillary’s supporters to vote for Obama.
What they do not know, and what I have come to know, is that, as Hillary, her supporters are strong and independent thinkers, and that is exactly why they cannot vote for a cultlike personality like Obama.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Art i got the feeling that ET showed more respect and was more objective and kind to Sarah than the rest of the Obama media.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
It reminded me of how they (ET) treated Anna and Howard.
When the rest of the media and the public were out to crucify innocent people, ET had the integrity not to fall for the lucritave business of defaming people, but they took the higher road. For that I will always respect them.
Hope they will also take the higher road on Sarah.
It is easy to be nasty and defame, any fool can do that, it takes character to treat people fairly and with respect.
September 19th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I vaguely remember something about ‘roads’ and ‘crossing paths’ and stuff.
Maybe Leno and Art will come back someday, with a little help from their friends.
Reminds me of lyrics.
“Oh, What a Wonderful Day!”
I’m feelin’ spunky today.
September 19th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Wonderful parents, I’ve just gotta say.
Real people on what I hope is not the last state.
Any chance that Mexico might someday join us? What about Canada?
Guess I’m an optimistic person after all is said and done.
And, I don’t have enough money to move to Australia.
September 20th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Did you stop by Chilkoot’s and have a cold one?
September 20th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Sarafina:
You probably agree that it is truly sad to see someone as strong as Hillary,lower herself to the point of kissing the behind of all those who treated her like garbage while she was running.
I would have expected Hillary to have more self-respect. She must have money of her own to cover her expenses instead of taking dirty money from Ossama, if that is the purpose of her embarassing behavior in this “campaigning” for Ossama. If she runs for the presidency in the future, I do not think many people would have much respect for her. She is probably done.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Isabel, at least Art allows us to disagree with him.
That says a lot about him. And with politics it is difficult not to have a bias.
The way Art stood up for Howard is something I will always remember and therefor I can forgive Art anything.
At the Obama website they ban you if you disagree with them! But they keep sending you their spin via email.
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Isabel, of course in some aspects I am dissappointed in Hillary.
I think she does not fully realize the calibre of supporters she managed to attrack.
They won’t compromise their principals for politics, most of them won’t. The sooner Hillary realize that, the better her chance of winning any election in future. It will be Hillary’s own doing if she looses the respect of her supporters.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:17 am
Of course each person has his or her own candidate chosen for whatever reason. That is normal and to be expected, except when it comes to Obama. There is too much wrong with him mainly for his association with undesirables. Every single person of Obama’s association, including freaky Michelle, is a red flag of all the bad that continues to be discovered, but quickly shoved under the rug by his loyal followers.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:45 am
How outrageous that Ifill, another person in love with Obama, is going to be the moderator of Sarah Palin and the other guy, is allowed to go forward. When will this all end? The filthy rich providing Obama with money is taking over in all aspects and making sure he will the at the highest seat in the nation. This very obvious manipulation is more interested in destroying the United States. The obsessive mania with skin color, in my opinion, is secondary to the overzealousness of pushing Ossama Bin Laden to the presidency of the United States.