Levi Johnston and Sarah Palin: Peas in a Pod?

ria-misra

Ria Misra

Contributor
Posted:
09/23/09
Bonnie, it's true that Levi Johnston has plenty of unflattering things to say about Sarah Palin in his foray into magazine journalism with Vanity Fair. But, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then she shouldn't feel too bad, because Johnston seems to be trying his hardest to follow her trajectory.

In between a series of not-so-shocking revelations designed to keep people reading (Todd Palin slept on the couch! Meghan McCain cursed at a hair stylist!) Johnston complains about Palin's ambition, or rather, her lack of it, saying, "She started talking about how nice it would be to quit and write a book or do a show and make 'triple the money.' It was, to her, 'not as hard.' She would blatantly say, 'I want to just take this money and quit being governor.'"

Certainly, not a proud political moment for the former vice presidential candidate, but it would resonate a bit more if he didn't make it clear that he also thought it would be "not as hard" to cash in, saying of his own prospects: "Not everybody has a chance to be a celebrity" and "you can't just do a movie -- I'm sure it's harder than it looks. But it's weird going to the airport and having people run up to you and ask for your autograph. I wouldn't say that I like it, but, at the same time, it's kind of cool."

So, being a celebrity would be cool, but movies might be tough. But, take heart, Hollywood producers! Dry your tears, modeling agencies! Moments later, Levi recants and decides that yes, he just might have the right stuff : "I could go out and do movies, maybe one day even end up as a celebrity."

There are plenty of legitimate criticisms of Palin's views, but having them delivered by her teenage daughter's ex-boyfriend -- who can't quite help tossing in a reminder that, if you have the right screenplay for him, he'd totally be up for it -- makes them seem less so.