"It's going to be interesting to see how that plays out and I think that as we watch that we will perhaps be able to prove that there is a class issue here also that was such a factor in the scrutiny of my candidacy versus, say, the scrutiny of what her candidacy may be," Palin said.
New York news media have published or broadcast numerous stories containing criticism of Kennedy's lack of experience in elective office and whether she is the best choice to replace Sen. Hillary Rodham /*Clinton*/, who has been asked to join the Obama administration as secretary of state.
In a news release issued Friday, Palin's office said the governor was dismayed that her comments in the Ziegler interview were being taken out of context in the media "to create adversarial situations."
Regarding her remarks about Kennedy, Palin said: "I was not commenting at all on Caroline Kennedy as a prospective U.S. senator, but rather on the seemingly arbitrary ways in which news organizations determine the level and kind of scrutiny given to those who aspire to public office. In fact, I consider Ms. Kennedy qualified and experienced, and she could serve New York well."
In the interview, Palin criticized the news media's coverage of her and her family, telling Ziegler that CBS News anchor Katie Couric and comic actress Tina Fey had been "exploiting" her. Palin gave Couric a rare interview at the beginning of her campaign for vice president, and Fey frequently impersonated Palin on "Saturday Night Live."
Palin singled out the Couric interview as condescending, particularly a question about what she reads and, according to the governor, "What do you guys do up there?" In fact, Couric never asked that question but did press, unsuccessfully, for the governor to state specific newspapers she read, which Palin never did.
Palin also complained about reports suggesting that Trig Palin was not her son and said she was "frustrated" by rampant rumors about her and her family. However, mainstream media stayed away from such rumors, which were fueled by bloggers and others online and the supermarket tabloids.
"I wasn't believed that Trig was really my son," she said. She called it a "sad state of affairs."
"What is the double-standard here?" she asked. "Why would people choose to believe lies? What is it that drives people to believe the worst, perpetuate the worst?"
"When did we start accepting as hard news sources bloggers, anonymous bloggers especially?" she asked.
