Sarah Palin: 'Over My Dead Body'

That was the response Governor Sarah Palin gave to reporters yesterday when asked about Levi Johnston's claim that he lived with the Palins during Bristol's pregnancy:(via ADN)

"I know the truth about my family. I know details about whether Levi Johnston was allowed to live with my teenage daughter or not. By the way, it would be over my dead body that a kid would live with my teenage daughter," Palin said.

This is the latest volley in a very public, very ugly family feud. While Palin looked sympathetic early on, there is very little chance that she comes out ahead on this, and statement of this type are not going to help.

While there's no excuse for Levi's lack of discretion in this matter, he also has little reason to lie. Once he made the claim that Governor Palin allowed him to stay with Bristol, she should have focused on

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PD toolbar!the gross violation of trust, and refused to comment on the allegation. While not a great option, it was the best of several bad ones.

Admitting that he stayed with them was not really an option. While you or I might understand that, given the fact that Bristol was already pregnant, allowing him to be close to her was probably the best thing for mom and baby, there was far too much hay to be made by those at the extremes of the "family values" argument.

But by denying it, she can only end up being thought a liar. Sure, there's no way to really prove either claim, but it just doesn't make sense for Levi to lie. Palin, on the other hand, cannot be seen as that permissive.

If she simply maintained silence, refusing to dignify the question, her opponents might have assumed Levi was telling the truth, but her supporters would be free to ignore the question, and focus their ire on Levi for even bringing it up.

If Palin wants to run for President in 2012, she needs to put a stop to this. There's no other acceptable endgame than for Levi to stop talking to the press.

Read more about Palin's press conference:

Palin Compromises on Abortion, Stimulus, but Never Levi

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