Levi 'Is Part of the Family,' Palin Tells Oprah

Levi Johnston "is a part of the family," and he "is loved," Sarah Palin says. But does that mean he's invited to spend Thanksgiving with the Palins? (Not so far, says his spokesman.)

In an interview with the former Alaska govenor that will air on the Oprah Winfrey show Monday, Winfrey asks Palin if Johnston, the 19-year-old father of her grandson, will be invited to the house for dinner.

"You know, that's a great question," Palin replies. "And it's lovely to think that he would ever even consider such a thing. Because, of course, you want -- he is a part of the family and you want to bring him in the fold and kind of under your wing. And he needs that, too, Oprah. I think he needs to know that he is loved and he has the most beautiful child and this can all work out for good. It really can."

In her chat with Winfrey, Palin also talks about her 2008 interview with Katie Couric, which most viewers thought she bombed.

Palin admitted it was a bad performance, but said it wasn't a defining moment for the campaign.
In fact, John McCain's staff told her she'd done fine. "The campaign said, 'Right on. Good. You're showing your independence. This is what America needs to see and it was a good interview.' And, of course, I'm thinking, 'If you thought that was a good interview, I don't know what a bad interview is,' because I knew it was a bad interview."

In a video teaser of the the upcoming interview, Winfrey's own performance is lackluster. "Governor Palin just left and it was really an interesting interview," says Winfrey, talking directly into an eye-level camera, giving the video a very web cam-esque feel with a dash of "Blair Witch Project" and a side of "Paranormal Activity."