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Palin’s parents in the dark

by Lori Tipton
Friday, Aug. 29, 2008

WASILLA, Alaska -- Gov. Sarah Palin's family members say they're surprised, just like the rest of the world, at the news their own daughter could become the first female U.S. vice president.

Palin's parents also say they're "shocked" and very, very excited.

Thursday, Chuck and Sally Heath were in the mountains on a hunting and gold panning trip, but high waters kept them from making it to their camp so they came back home.

Had it not been for that turn of events the proud parents would have probably missed out on the big announcement.

The phone has been ringing off the hook at the Heath household since early Friday morning.

"At 3:55 a.m. we were awake and Sally said, we had just been hunting, and she said if we don't go to sleep in five minutes we'll turn on the news. At about that time we got a call from Atlanta that said, ‘Turn on Fox News.' This was a total surprise to us, a total surprise," said Palin's father Chuck Heath.

"I'm speechless," said Palin's mother Sally.

The Heaths, along with the rest of the world, watched as Gov. Sarah Palin was named Sen. John McCain's running mate.

The Heaths had heard rumors about the possibility but say they never dreamed it would happen.

"But those rumors didn't go away and they kept getting strong and more widespread," said Sally Heath.

"I don't ever remember her telling us that she talked to McCain, maybe she did, but I don't think so. I don't think so," said Chuck.

Even though the Heaths are very close with their daughter this isn't the first time she has kept them out of the loop.

"I didn't know Todd was gone until I saw him on television. They all hid that pretty well," said Chuck.

"She knows mother might get stressed out, so she doesn't like to bother us.  Just wait until things are for sure, and then, and then spring it on us," said Sally.

The Heaths spent Friday morning glued to the television as media outlets talked about Sarah Palin.

The Heaths say most of those speaking about her simply don't know their daughter.

"Obviously they don't, Palin, they kept calling her 'Palun' today, McCain's spokesperson, yeah, 'Palun' this, 'Palun' that. They'll get to know her, though," said Chuck.

Along with all the phone calls close family friends stopped in to congratulate Chuck and Sally Heath and to help share the good news.

The Heaths will soon head south to meet up with their daughter. Chuck Heath said unfortunately the trip south will cost him a moose hunt.

The Heaths told us their daughter has always shown an interest in government and politics since she was a young girl.

Chuck Heath says the governor has always been very determined. Anything she undertook, whether it was her studies or playing basketball or even local politics here in Wasilla, she put her nose to the grindstone and gave 110 percent.

The majority of calls the Heaths received were from family and friends, but there were also plenty of media outlets from all over the world trying to talk to Chuck and Sally.  There were journalists from as far away London and India.

Gov. Palin did call the Heaths this morning.

Contact Lori Tipton at ltipton@ktuu.com