A copy of a tell-all book by Frank Bailey has been leaked to members of the media. In the book, Palin’s former director of boards and commissions gives an unflattering view inside the former governor’s rise to fame.
In the foreword of his 456-page manuscript, entitled “Blind Alliegance to Sarah Palin: A Memoir of Our Tumultuous Years,” Bailey says Palin e-mailed him, “I hate this damn job” days before she resigned as governor in July 2009. The book goes on to describe Palin’s staff targeting political opponents for personal retribution, through a variety of public channels.
“We set our sights and went after opponents in coordinated attacks, utilizing what we called ‘Fox News surrogates’, friendly blogs, ghost-written op eds, media opinion polls (that we often rigged), letters to editors, and carefully edited speeches,” Bailey wrote. “Nobody needed to be told what to do; we understood Sarah’s silent mandate to do something now.” (parentheses and italics in original)
Bailey says he regretted his actions on Palin’s behalf, describing them as contrary to the Christian principles in which he believed.
“I have no doubt Sarah's belief in God was real and passionate. Hers just wasn’t the same God I knew growing up, the one who preached the importance of love, honor, and charity,” Bailey wrote. “That I turned my back on these teachings and offered her blind allegiance is a cross I will forever bear.”
One of the co-authors of the book, Ken Morris, told Channel 2 the manuscript leaked was an “unauthorized draft.” Morris said the writing team’s intent was “to be 100 percent true,” but he said the whole book was subject to change.
“This was an unethical breach and I’m disgusted by it,” Morris said.
Morris said the book had no scheduled release date and currently has no publisher.
Bailey served on Palin’s staff during her gubernatorial campaign beginning in 2005.
Editor's note: This story has been edited to state that Bailey was Palin's director of boards and commissions, not chief of staff.
This is a developing story. Check KTUU.com and watch the Channel 2 News evening broadcasts for updates.
Contact Todd Walker at twalker@ktuu.com
