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May 24, 2011

12:05
P.M.

Former Sarah Palin staffer Frank Bailey, author of "Blind Allegiance"

About the hosts

About the host

Host: Frank Bailey

Frank Bailey

Frank Bailey was the Palin campaign administrator for the successful 2006 primary and general election campaigns. Once Palin was elected, Frank became deputy director of the Palin/Parnell transition team and later director of the State of Alaska Office of Boards and Commissions. Frank currently lives in Anchorage with his wife, Janeen, and their two children. He manages their small family business and serves as the interim music director for Rabbit Creek Community Church.

About the topic

Former Sarah Palin staffer Frank Bailey, the author of "Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin: A Memoir of Our Tumultuous Years," will take your questions at noon ET on Tuesday.

In "Blind Allegiance," which goes on sale Tuesday, Bailey writes that Palin was ready to quit as governor months before she actually resigned and was eager to leave office when more lucrative opportunities came around, the Associated Press reported Monday.

Related: The Top 5 Revelations in 'Blind Allegiance'

Take the Poll: Does Bailey's claim that Palin practiced the 'politics of destruction' change your view of Palin?
Q.

Frank Bailey :

Good afternoon!  This is Frank.

Q.

Frank Bailey :

Truth is tough.  It is sometimes negative, but I have to believe that no matter how difficult it is to speak it sometimes, truth is freeing.  There are many "owning" moments about myself in Blind Allegiance.  Many things I regret.

Q.

Frank Bailey :

The words in the book are her own candid words, unscripted.

Q.

tough questions

I find it ironic that you, Mr, Bailey, will face tougher questions in promoting your book than Sarah Palin did during the last presidential campaign
A.
Frank Bailey :

True comments.  I knew on the long drive that we describe towards the end of Blind Allegiance, when I felt compelled to tell my story, that this would be tough.  I have lost friends, some of which I admire deeply, but I hope that someday they will see the truth as well.

– May 24, 2011 12:12 PM
Q.

War

If she were president, how likely would Mrs. Palin be to lead us into war and would she do so based on religious convictions concerning Israel? Thank you.
A.
Frank Bailey :

Wow, we need leaders who are strong, principled, and honest.  With the turmoil going on around the world, I have to say that she would be a disaster as president, because she is none of these things.  Her principles are pushing her own ambition, she can not handle criticism, and we detail repeatedly in the book many instances where she was flat out dishonest.

 

The unfortunate thing, is that I carried on alongside her and pushed for her agenda.

– May 24, 2011 12:15 PM
Q.

Are you Ready?

Are you and your family ready for the personal attacks that will surely be directed toward you by Sarah Palin and her supporters? History has shown that vengence seems to be highly valued by the Palin clan - do you think you'll fare better than others?

A.
Frank Bailey :

The attacks are already starting, and I knew it would be tough.  Someone wrote me last night saying that "sometimes when you tell the truth you feel like you are standing alone in a room full of enemies".  I have strong family, strong God, and strong friends supporting me.  Hopefully people will see the attacks for what they are.

– May 24, 2011 12:17 PM
Q.

Palin reaction

If you were to run into Sarah Palin walking down the street, would you two stop and have a friendly chat? How do you think Sarah Palin is reacting to your book, and do you expect to hear from her again?
A.
Frank Bailey :

I do not hate Palin, I guess I hope that she could bring herself to read Blind Allegiance herself and OWN the reality of who she became.  It is sad in a way, someone with IMMENSE potential, much of it wasted on fame and chasing the limelight.

– May 24, 2011 12:18 PM
Q.

Who knew what when?

Alaska is a big land with a small population. To what degree was Palin's general weirdness -- and not showing up for your own meetings and not reading what you're signing are non-partisan deficiencies -- known outside her own inner circle? What could the McCain campaign have learned about her if they had conducted a thorough investigation before handing her the VP nomination? Or did she get where she is today because the people who knew her best -- including you, frankly -- kept quiet?
A.
Frank Bailey :

this is answered two fold, first, the McCain camp did NOT fully vet Palin.  we detail this in Blind Allegiance. 

 

But yes, at the time, I would have given her glowing recommendations or kept quiet had I been asked. 

 

It took quite a while to come to my senses and realize what I was doing was not in line with my values. 

– May 24, 2011 12:19 PM
Q.

Why write this book?

Mr. Bailey -- I can certainly understand your disappointment and disillusionment with Gov. Palin. I have never been a fan of hers. Nonetheless, if I understand the book review correctly, your book contains many negative details about Gov. Palin. Whenever I read a book like this, I always wonder why the author wrote it -- so I ask you, why did you write this book at all, and why, in particular, did you take a negative slant? Is it to derail any potential of higher office for her?
A.
Frank Bailey :

This book shows how someone can worship a person, ultimately doing things that they know in their heart are not right.  I strayed from the values that I was raised with, and the book shows my journey from hope, through tough times, and back to hope again.

– May 24, 2011 12:19 PM
Q.

Alaska Attorney General's Investigation of Emails

Most every story about your book mentions that the Alaska Attorney General is investigating your use of Palin's emails in your book. Few if any, however, mention your efforts to work with the AG's office specifically to avoid any illegal use. Could you please describe what steps you took to insure that the emails in your book were used legally and if the current investigation is possibly a politically-motivated "flip-flopping" on the "vetting" you sought from the AG ? Thank you.
A.
Frank Bailey :

I did everything that I could to comply with the Attorney General's office as I did in the fall of 2008 when they asked for emails.  These are my emails, sent to and from me on my personal accounts.

 

We detail points in the book specifically where the Attorney General's office wanted specific emails removed.

 

– May 24, 2011 12:20 PM
Q.

Frank Bailey book on Palin

What is Palin's answer to your charges against her in your book?

A.
Frank Bailey :

Palin is doing what I did when I worked for her.  Avoid the meat of the details in the book, and demonize the messenger.  She personally has not commented, but her surrogates are.  In fact today before the segment on The View, Elizabeth Hasselback tried four times to get a statement from Palin and she simply would not comment.

 

It is difficult to argue with her own words.  They tell the story.

– May 24, 2011 12:22 PM
Q.

You betcha, or should we?

When speaking in normal conversation, does Sarah Palin talk with "you betchas" and "wee wee the liberals"and other great catch phrases? Did we see the natural Sarah Palin on the stump and on TV, or was some of that a political act?
A.
Frank Bailey :

A lot of "Palin Speak" is canned phrases she senses will fire up a crowd.

– May 24, 2011 12:23 PM
Q.

Kill a rumor (or not)

Here is a vicious, vicious rumor that maybe you can kill, or confirm. When Sarah Palin was pregnant withTrig, Bristol and Willow were removed from their school and sent to private school. This created rumors that Bristol was pregnant and not Sarah. Yet when Bristol became pregnant, that killed that rumor. Yet, and here is the vicious, vicious rumor: the dark secret was that it was Willow who was pregnant, and fears of that getting out might have hurt the Palin Vice Presidential campaign. Are you able to confirm that Willow was not pregnant and that Sarah is the mother of Trig?
A.
Frank Bailey :

This is just false. 

– May 24, 2011 12:24 PM
Q.

Redemption

Has the writing of this book provided you with any form of redemption?
A.
Frank Bailey :

It was painful to relive my bad moments and very diffucult at times.

I can't say enough good about Ken Morris and Jeanne Devon.  They labored through this process alongside me no matter our political differences.

They are a brilliant team. 

– May 24, 2011 12:25 PM
Q.

Regret.

When you say there are many things you regret, can you offer an specific example?
A.
Frank Bailey :

In Blind Allegiance I detail many things I did wrong, but I have to say the thing I regret the very most is NOT standing up and telling the truth when I learned that we had illegally coordinated with the RGA in October of 2006.  I was a coward.  I will have to live with this forever.  Had I spoken up, things may have been very different.

– May 24, 2011 12:27 PM
Q.

New directions

What gives you hope now?
A.
Frank Bailey :

My hope is that people will read Blind Allegiance and realize the importance of holding their leaders accountable.  We can't accept canned phrases.

On my side of the aisle, and get sad when I see commentators I follow and have respected, worship Sarah Palin.  Slowly I have seen some of those commentators start to ask her tough questions and demand an answer, but it is still very rare, possibly because she drives their ratings. 

– May 24, 2011 12:29 PM
Q.

Frank Bailey :

Thank you....excellent questions.  I have to call in to a radio show in my home town, the Rick Rydell Radio show.

Please...read the book and leave honest feedback on this site.  Again, HUGE thanks to brilliant writers Ken Morris and Jeanne Devon.  You guys are amazing. 

Q.

 

A.
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