At least, I would like to think that Levi whispered those words into Mrs. Todd Palin's ear at that moment.
I love this photo. I'd never seen it before someone tipped me off to a bucket (an obsessive-compulsive collection, really) of photos on a Christian, home-schooling, Obama-hating, mother's blog.
It's the only time I've seen this cluster of photos from this angle. Levi's eyeing the camera. I love it.
Now, let's take a moment to review what Levi told Vanity Fair magazine, shall we?
“Sarah told me she had a great idea: we would keep it a secret—nobody would know that Bristol was pregnant. She told me that once Bristol had the baby she and Todd would adopt him. That way, she said, Bristol and I didn’t have to worry about anything. Sarah kept mentioning this plan. She was nagging—she wouldn’t give up. She would say, “So, are you gonna let me adopt him?” We both kept telling her we were definitely not going to let her adopt the baby. I think Sarah wanted to make Bristol look good, and she didn’t want people to know that her 17-year-old daughter was going to have a kid.”
Vanity Fair
September, 2009
I was having a conversation about this very quote just the other night with someone. I know we've all hashed it out before, but I'm going to do it again. I've never really made my peace with it.
Seventeen, Levi. Really? Sarah would keep her oldest daughter's pregnancy a secret while on a national campaign? No one would ask where the teenager was hiding out? Or why a woman with five kids who had supposedly just birthed the last one that would need intensive intervention for a long time, would suddenly adopt another baby? For no good reason? Really? The rumors wouldn't have gotten the best of you all just as they did in real life and send a national press corp to discover the truth? Really?
Then how come Kathy Griffin said sixteen? How come sources in Wasilla say sixteen. How come nothing, absolutely NOTHING in this entire story adds up? How many puzzle pieces can there be that don't fit into a wedge created by the piece next to it?
So, any bets on what will be in Levi's book? He's sort of damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. Tell all. Tell nothing. It either won't be enough information, or the right information for just about everyone.
So who can Levi please? Did he write it to set the record straight for the child widely believed to be his?
Or does he forever regret sending that shot across Sarah's bow in the VF article?
Will he only spill as much as will make him money? Who's to say. Whatever it is, I hope his "ghost" does him proud, cleans up his grammar, and provides the perfect story arc and character development that will make readers applaud the book and encourage others to buy it.
Meantime, Levi's sister, Mercede, has gone for broke. Buck naked with new boobs...and she looks fabulous!!!
Gryphen has the first link to a page with some of the Playboy photos toward the bottom of his post. And at first glance, Mercede is a gorgeous girl with, I hope, a bright future ahead of her. She's got guts and stamina and I'd take her word any day over that pack of lies from the misfits to the north who squatted on her life.
Now, I know this might sound sexist, and I know the economy is shot to hell right now. But I'd like just one investment banker, or attorney, or software developer to take this girl out to dinner. I'm talking a man with money (or woman if that's what she's into). Someone Sadie can bedazzle with those blue eyes and that perfect skin. Someone who will help lift this girl out of the mess created by everyone around her and give her a chance. And I say this because I've seen it happen to others. And it could change her life far faster than four years of education will. At least for now. (Damn I wish I had Kathy G. on speed dial.)
So, I say fly, Sadie fly. (and I mean that literally: Jet Blue is adding 1,900 new jobs in the next year!!) Take those photos and work it girl. Go for the gusto and grab the brass ring and all the other cliches that apply. And if there's an investment banker out there reading this: take the girl to dinner for god's sake!
Sadie is beautiful and her brother is damned, no matter what he does. That's my two cents.