Sarah Palin: Levi Welcome at Thanksgiving Table; Johnston Declines

by Amy Hatch (Subscribe to Amy Hatch's posts) Nov 13th 2009 5:01PM

Categories: Holidays, Celeb Kids, Celeb Parenting, Rumors, Behaving Badly, In The News

In her new book, Sarah Palin doesn't address the family drama with Levi Johnston, but said on 'Oprah' that she would welcome him to a turkey dinner. Credit: Amazon

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told Oprah that she is willing to bury the hatchet with Levi Johnston, baby-daddy to her first grandchild, and says that he is welcome at her Thanksgiving table.

Palin told Oprah that she's trying to move past the negative and concentrate on life without drama. Johnston, she says, is part of the family and she's willing to "bring him into the fold" and under her wing.

"And he needs that, too, Oprah, I think he needs to know that he is loved and he has the most beautiful child and this can all work out for good," she says in the interview, which is scheduled to run Nov. 16. "It really can."

But it doesn't look like he'll be taking a bite of her sweet potato pie anytime soon, according to Gawker. In an interview he did today with Playgirl, Johnston says of the former vice-presidential candidate's invitation, "You could tell by her laugh she was full of it." So much for that reunion.

The Palin family generates reams of tabloid coverage, and Johnston is among the principal players. From his mother's arrest for drug dealing to the infamous "Vanity Fair" interview wherein he did his best to further tarnish the already endangered reputation of the former vice presidential candidate, Johnston has done a lot to engender Palin's wrath.

Her willingness to forgive and forget got us thinking: What is it about the holidays that makes us open our hearts? The cynic in us wonders if all the warm fuzzies are just an effort to divert attention from the more sordid aspects of the Palin clan's family history, but the holidays do offer plenty of reasons to reflect on family and what it really means.

Susan Stiffelman, Califorina-based family and marriage therapist and ParentDish's Advice Mama, said that the costs of alienation must be weighed against the benefit of keeping our distance from family members who may upset us.

"Regardless of the who-did-what-when-and-why, in the end, no one wins when families splinter and disconnect," she says. "The holidays offer all of us a chance to weigh the benefit of maintaining our righteous position versus the cost, and inspiring us to -- hopefully -- discover that reconciliation and forgiveness offer us a chance to wrap up the year with more love, connection and more peace of mind."

Johnston and Palin are odd bedfellows indeed, but they are forever linked through DNA in the form of Palin's grandson, Tripp. Perhaps this unusual grandmother recognizes that fact.

We do, however, wonder what Bristol Palin had to say to her mother behind closed doors about the impromptu invitation.

Related: Bristol Palin on Life as a Teen Mom

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Comments (805)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 41)

Tom Cole 11-14-2009 @ 6:23AM

America, you have got to be dumb to think someone like this could lead our country.

Steve 11-14-2009 @ 6:36AM

Hey Tom, someone far dumber is attempting it now.

Dennis 11-14-2009 @ 6:56AM

Tom---I actually think it is YOU that is too dumb in this instance. While I think that Sarah lacked direct "national" hands-on experience, that is something that is easily reversed--and given the experience that Obama had going into his presidency, well---nevermind, that isn't a good comparison since he has pretty much screwed up everything he has touched to date. I can't wait to read the replies to my post---of course there will be a George Bush blame call somewhere in response; the standard answer to any criticism of Obama. Back to Palin though, you TOM have been brainwashed like so many Americans by the liberal media, Saturday Night Live, and the rest. You should actually read (if you can) her book which debuts next week. A colleague of mine who was sent an advanced copy has told me that the insight and detail of her understanding are quite shocking. For further evidence of her intellect--go back and look at footage of the VP debate. Sarah Palin absolutely smoked Joe Biden. Tom---stop falling into the same trap as the so many have--just because you hear pundits and entertainers say something so many times, it may not really be true. It could just be their agenda, jealousy, or even fear causing them to spout their hate and deception.

Steve 11-14-2009 @ 7:30AM

Don't worry about it, Tom. Americans are smarter than that. She has as much chance of being elected President as does Fidel Castro.

zebo 11-14-2009 @ 7:54AM

Let's quit listening to the media, use our own analytical skills here: she was the governor of Alaska (guess that would imply the're all "dummer" than her since they voted her in and she fooled all of them)! She took on the oil industry and Alaskan residents now receive over $1000 annually from her negotiations from the industry. I guess their dumb too? Your accusation sounds unsubtatiated here as that implies you know more about her intellectual capacities than all these people that likely know significantly more about her than you!

debi 11-14-2009 @ 3:10PM

hey tom,
i'm not dumb and i would rather sarah palin as president than obama any day and year! obama has never run anything and it shows- in 11 months he has fulfilled 2 campaign promises- to get a dog for his kids and take his wife on a date! he is running the country into the ground and it's sad to see...on the other hand the people who dismiss ms. palin are the type who get their news from comedians. she was the highest ranked governor in the country, she got rid of the corruption in her state, she cut taxes for her constituents and gave them the money from selling the governors private plane and refusing a private chef. sarah palin is a hero who can make decisions and lead people- 2 things mr. obama has failed to do miserably!

jim 11-14-2009 @ 8:22AM

Agreed, like the nation is finding out about OBama!!! Where are the real leaders, seems America is going through a era without any!!!

Karine 11-14-2009 @ 8:30AM

I full heartedly agree - Sarah has the making of White Trailer Trash - and the IQ of a corrot to boot ... Levy is so lucky to be away from these hooligans .. I just hope that he will get equal custody for the baby .. Unfortunately the baby is in the middle of a big mess - created by adults ...

DEREK 11-14-2009 @ 11:49AM

Look at Joe Biden!

Sally 11-14-2009 @ 9:16AM

America is beyond stupid, Tom. We elected a man with no brain for president....barack ostupid.

Cindy 11-14-2009 @ 10:46AM

Tom, who Levi? Gov Palin is a gracious person to still consider Levi as part of the family.
Gov Palin is smart and knowledgeable and she looks good doing it.
If you could name one thing that she has said which you find as sub standard I would love to read it.

Randy 11-14-2009 @ 9:17AM

I take offense at your comment; I am not dumb nor are millions of other Americans who would prefer Sara over Obama any day!

wiley77 11-14-2009 @ 9:31AM

This guy lies more than Bush!. His bail out is a bust, nationalizing banks didn't work ( over 100 went under with him as leader THIS YEAR ALONE) AmeriKa owns GM and Chrysler, Insurance CO.'S, DICTATES pay for PRIVATE CO.'S, FIRES private co.'s employees, unemployment is NATION WIDE 10.3 %, 50% in the youth, 17% in the minorities, he's KILLING business, in 9 months, he's raised the deficeit 2 TRILLION ----------------------

Obama is by far the biggest BUFOON EVER TO LEAD THIS ONCE GREAT NATION!!!

k 11-14-2009 @ 9:31AM

I have to agree Tom

Greg 11-14-2009 @ 9:34AM

Yea, Tom, Obama is doing such a great job......NOT

Jeanne 11-14-2009 @ 1:04PM

Agreed. I've never seen anything more comical then watching Palin during an interview. It tends to make you wonder how so many would actually go out and buy her book. I know that it's not on my Christmas list. If the republican party is actually geared toward believing that Palin actually has the potential for being the President - then there's a very serious problem.

R.G.BROWNING 11-14-2009 @ 9:49AM

Tom,
Who's the dumb one? You are the one falling for all of this media crap. The media is scared as hell that someone may beat their liberal friends.

helensaintc 11-14-2009 @ 10:01AM

Levi is a punk. No class at all.

Greg 11-14-2009 @ 9:54AM

You go Dennis, they forgot about the head to head with Biden. Not to mention that McCains people had Palin's head spinning to keep her "in party". Let her go Rogue, that means "NOT A TYPICAL POLITICIAN". But liberals like to be lied to and told how to vote by the media.