sarah. >> reporter: it very well may be that sarah palin is something of a rorschach test. >> thank you. >> reporter: people see what they want to see in her, depending on what side of the political spectrum they come from. >> the movie shows areas in which she was an incredibly powerful, magnetic, human element in the mccain campaign, where she performed extraordinarily well under bad circumstances. it also shows the way in which she fell short. >> reporter: sarah palin makes clear she'll never like it and never will see it. >> we discussed this. and we decided that hollywood lies are hollywood lies. >> reporter: and while team palin and team "game change," might not agree on everything, they do agree on one thing. this brouhaha proves that in this day and age, politics, elections, last forever. >> the funny part about that, john, is it almost felt like that campaign never ended. >> it feels like, at times, a little bit weird to be arguing over long-ago fought battles. >> sarah palin. >> reporter: yes, old campaigns never die. they just go straight to video. i'm john berman, for "night

palin for the. >> i was sarah palin yes. >> so you actually got to see this movie on sarah palin after your self sort of playing sarah palin, so how did you prepare and how did you do? >> i'm just -- it's so funny because i felt like there was a prism of like eight lenses, julianne moore playing sarah palin, watching tina fey, i was playing sarah palin for joe biden at the same time this was happening. i really did study very hard to understand her, and so that initial -- in the first part of the movie, there's a little clip there that steve schmidt sees her about her being in an interview. i saw that same clip studying her. she is very articulate, very persuasive, she went sort of unchallenged especially in areas that she was comfortable with like energy and alaska. obviously when you're running for governor, those are the things that are most important. i thoroughly enjoyed the debate prep. it was totally different than what sarah palin's debate prep was. [ laughter ] >> it was. when we saw as we were in the room watching the palin debate prep when we were in joe biden's debate prep,

essentially a last-minute decision selecting sarah palin. why such a lag between clinching the nomination in march and determining the nominee late in the summer? >> well, steve, that's an excellent question. it does go to the heart of the selection of sarah palin. senator mccain had been around presidential politics. he enjoyed, i think, kind of the opportunity as the de facto nominee to go through the rituals they get to go there, that is hiring someone or retaining someone, a respected lawyer, to go through the process of vetting the background of potential candidates. given it was a mccain operation, which tended to have relatively loose lips and a fair amount of leaking, this process was kept relatively confidential in realtime. they day we decided to come up with "game change" initially was the day he went on imus's program and talked about the vetting program and the lawyer helping him when he wasn't supposed to. that was one of the last times there was a public window into what was going on. they looked into the background in a norma

what john mccain and sarah palin said to each other, it was known to them. the questionnaire was the results of it we didn't have the insight on lack of preparedness. >> we have the gold standard of political drama. we have jay roach and danny strong. very tough audience. a lot of people played on screen, a lot of people who were extras and the lot of people who were there afterwards and many people told me it was realistic enough but gave them the creeps. people had good memory of the mccain campaign. depressing was what many people -- how did you decide to take this slice of this amazing book that don heilemann and "game change: obama and the clintons, mccain and palin, and the race of a lifetime" 11 wrote? -- the greatest primary of our lifetime? how did you decide? >> part of it was the practical reality that we only had two hours to make a movie and we learned from recounts that if you have a story where a specific group of people in a clear hunk of time and clear beginning, middle and end that can make a good political movie -- we did look at the rest

sarah palin was elected. we are all in it together in terms of plane and keeping it going as effective as we do. what is fascinating about this story is one of the guys, probably the main guy who fought the hardest to get her on the ticket, steve schmidt, started thinking, this is a great idea. this is how weak and trump obama. -- we can trompe obama. a few months afterwards, he goes on "60 minutes" and implies he made a mistake. he takes blame for being part of it. that arc, of a guy who was a main proponent and a couple of weeks later said, if she runs in 2012, it will be a catastrophe. he has said, he says a more directly nowadays, he wonders if it was too big of a risk. possibly even a reckless choice, especially when you think how little of vetting they did. whatever you think of her comment to take someone in who had never been on the national stage. half of a few interviews and say yes, she should be the person next in line after john mccain. tavis: i have been fascinated to watch this year's president

sarah palin had a higher bar. she was unknown. she did not have the national experience, as john said before. she hadn't even been governor of a lightly populated state for all that long. i think it's pretty clear that senator mctan took into account the political considerations. i also, though, think it's clear that had sarah palin been given more time to prepare, had the campaign been given more time to prepare, outside of a handful of staffers, people working for senator mccain, even those in charge of figuring out how to launch his vice presidential pick didn't know about the choice, had they been given more time for those things and framed sarah palin as a maverick, someone who stood up to special interests, understood the real lives of real people based on her financial situation and family sitwaugs, i think she would have potentially been not just a strong political pick, but a strong pick in terms of projecting the image of the ticket for governance. but she did have, as we show in the book and as the movie shows on hbo, s

he was fascinated by the sarah palin story. not as political but as a human story and great american story. as they were trying to figure out what do we do about clinton/obama and do this in two hours, he said i would like to make it but do part of the book about sarah palin. >> so why is sarah palin the story of the race? >> we think there are a number of movies in the book and so does hbo. in this case there's a compelling case for her. >> as an artist you don't want to limit yourself. >> never. if you think about it, she's a relatable character to use jargon of showbiz. she was the every woman. she came out of nowhere. she was a small up to mayor for most of her political career. she's plucked from obscurity put in the most high pressure situation you could imagine. she's unprepared on a variety of levels and not well prepared by the campaign and not somebody with a lot of foreign policy experience. she didn't know a lot of things about foreign policy but expected to perform at the highest level. there's never been a situati

when we come back, the new sarah palin movie "game change," it's disastrous for sarah palin. but there is a bigger loser from that movie. >> if you're going to consider the governor of alaska, we have to call her now. ah, claim trouble. [ dennis ] you should just switch to allstate, and get their new claim satisfaction guarantee. hey, he's right man. [ dennis ] only allstate puts their money where their mouth is. yup. [ dennis ] claim service so good, it's guaranteed. [ foreman ] so i can always count on them. unlike randy over there. that's one dumb dude. ♪ ♪ the new claim satisfaction guarantee. dollar for dollar, nobody protects you like allstate. [clucking]. everyone wants to be the cadbury bunny. cause only he brings delicious cadbury crÈme eggs, while others may keep trying. nobunny knows easter better than cadbury! is on the new news network. >>welcome to the war room. >>jennifer granholm joins current tv. a former two-term governor. >>make your voice heard. >>detremined to find solutions. >>that partnership in order to invest in our country is critical. >>driven

sarah palin's 14-year-old daughter got knocked up by a-rod. i know it has been said before but if anybody said that about say the president's daughters it would be but it is sarah >> sean: or any liberal. the first lady or. >> the comments that rush made and apologized for. we already knew about the hate and hypocrisy. now, it is being highlighted and brought to the fore. >> sean: david axel rod dancing on razor's edge and parting words and threading a needle. >> they are perfectly aware of the double standard they have enjoyed for decades now and because of fox news and other media outlets the internet, talk radio these things are now being highlighted and brought to the fore, and people are saying this is not fair. if any one of those comments michelledirected to michelle obama, to nancy pelosi, to any left wing woman this would be a national cat chris many. the entire country would be engulfed in a national conversation about that person making that particular comment. the left has enjoyed protection by the media okay they have had wingmen

palin of the great state of alaska. >> sarah, sarah! >> they love her. she's a bigger star than obama. >> we can really win this thing. >> "game change" premieres on hbo tonight. it is based on the best-selling book by mark halperin and john heilemann. the film features a star-studded cast and takes an inside look at the 2008 presidential campaign and sarah palin's rise from alaska governor to controversial national figure. joining me now, hank stuber, tv critic for t"the washington po " post." what did you think? >> i thought it was pretty good. after so much buildup and hyperbole from both sides about this movie, when you get a chance to see it, if you can set aside whatever you may feel about sarah palin it's a pretty good movie. it's very well made and very well thought. it will surprise you. >> here's what we know about sarah palin's interpretation of it all. she's disputed her characterization in the movie. she's called it a waste of viewer's time. so how does her character come across? >> you know, i really -- i think she will wa

you think the business of sarah palin has taken on a life of its own. >> i think she loves being sarah palin inc. she didn't like being governor very much. she wants to be the large personality. mega personality, that has a lot of influence in politics. she's having fun, making money she never had before. a lot of people are seeking her autographs. i think she's having fun out there and i think -- i don't think she's seriously wants to run. if she wanted to run, she would have jumped in. >> she seemed comfortable in the interview. and enjoying it. >> yes, she did. she seemed fresh too. the woman -- i don't think she was much of a governor, but she's got a remarkable flair for publicity. >> you heard sarah palin talk about the convention and we'll take you inside the virtual convention and how it might play out in august. progresso. it fits! fantastic! [ man ] pro-gresso they fit! okay-y... okay??? i've been eating progresso and now my favorite old jeans...fit. okay is there a woman i can talk to? [ male announcer ] progresso. 40 soups 100 calories or less. [ speaking in japanese ] yeah

. >> sarah palin finally heard what happened in japan. she is demanding that we invade tsunami. >> where is her apologetic phone call from the anointed one, former alaska governor sarah palin is here tonight to respond. >> our goal would be to seek international permission. >> sean: in a shocking exchange on capitol hill, the secretary of defense claims that we need u.n. approval to defend our homeland and our allies. liz cheney has reaction. and congresswoman jan can is caught on tape in hypocrisy. we will check in with brent bozell. our countdown to election day continues, hannity starts right here right now. former vice presidential nominee sarah palin is perhaps the most vilified woman in all of politics and despite the relentless barrage of personal attacks that she faces from the president's friends on the left governor palin is among the many outspoken conservative women who barack obama is unwilling to defend. however, as we have seen in recent weeks, things are much different when one of the administration's political allies come

sarah palin's 14-year-old daughter got knocked up by a-rod. i know it has been said before but if anybody said that about say the president's daughters it would be but it is sarah >> sean: or any liberal. the first lady or. >> the comments that rush made and apologized for. we already knew about the hate and hypocrisy. now, it is being highlighted and brought to the fore. >> sean: david axel rod dancing on razor's edge and parting words and threading a needle. >> they are perfectly aware of the double standard they have enjoyed for decades now and because of fox news and other media outlets the internet, talk radio these things are now being highlighted and brought to the fore, and people are saying this is not fair. if any one of those comments michelledirected to michelle obama, to nancy pelosi, to any left wing woman this would be a national cat chris many. the entire country would be engulfed in a national conversation about that person making that particular comment. the left has enjoyed protection by the media okay they have had wingmen

sarah palin's 14-year-old daughter got knocked up by a-rod. i know it has been said before but if anybody said that about say the president's daughters it would be but it is sarah >> sean: or any liberal. the first lady or. >> the comments that rush made and apologized for. we already knew about the hate and hypocrisy. now, it is being highlighted and brought to the fore. >> sean: david axel rod dancing on razor's edge and parting words and threading a needle. >> they are perfectly aware of the double standard they have enjoyed for decades now and because of fox news and other media outlets the internet, talk radio these things are now being highlighted and brought to the fore, and people are saying this is not fair. if any one of those comments michelledirected to michelle obama, to nancy pelosi, to any left wing woman this would be a national cat chris many. the entire country would be engulfed in a national conversation about that person making that particular comment. the left has enjoyed protection by the media okay they have had wingmen

it really does come off as the sarah palen story. even john mccain, a morrow moat figure than the star of the movie. at one point, steve schmidt, played by woody haralson saying they had smear after smear from the liberal media. looking back and since you both have heavily remped this, would you agree that the press in some ways was unfair to sarah palin? >> well, i think they were coming at her really hard. i think some of the allegations were false. i think many of the allegations were true, and in the case of what steve schmidt was talking about at the time was, you know, that the press immediately was jumping on her as the vice presidential nominee in a way that a candidate had never been jumped on before. what was actually happening was that the press was vetting her in those few days better than the mccain campaign vetted her. i feel like a majority of what was brought up not only was accurate, but it was information that the mccain -- that the campaign itself should have known but didn't. >> she needed to be vetted by the pres

. >> does the hbo movie "game change" mean game over for sarah palin? >> for me, and the experience on this campaign is that there are worse things than losing. >> political analyst richard wolffe on the "game change" fallout. >> the limbaugh controversy is spreading to other talkers. radio expert holland cook and eric bolert have the analysis. >> sean hannity's harvard conspiracy theory was a bust but smeared the good name of derrick bell. tonight the late professor's widow joins me to defend her husband's memory. >>> good to have you with us, thanks for watching. republicans have found their footing in their attacks on president obama. it looks like they are having an impact on the american people as well. it's all about gas. a new washington post abc new poll shows, 65% of americans disapprove of the way the president has handled gas prices. a new cbs news-new york times poll has president obama's approval rating at an all time low? it's only one poll. but that is a number and 54% of americans say gas prices are something that the president can do a

to bill maher. >> wow, you got him, sarah. but we're going to have a real debate as to what bill maher said. was it as bad as what rush limbaugh said? also, now conservatives are talking elizabeth warren because she's popular in hollywood. >> hollywood has a new "it" girl. hollywood has followed elizabeth warren big time 12,347 how about scott brown. why don't we look into his finances. do you know where he gets his money? from texas oil guys and wall street bankers. that's a lot worse. we've got that story for you as well. it's showtime. ♪ >> all right, the primary fight turns to kansas on saturday and on tuesday we go down south alabama, and mississippi. so mitt romney has got to try to reach out to those southern voters. he has a funny way of doing it. >> not turning me, into an unofficial southerner and i'm learn to go say y'all, and i like grits and strange things are happening to me. >> good morning, y'all. >> mitt, don't do it. don't even try. at least he's not pretending to do it for real. he said i'm trying to do it

this is about sarah palin ink. you want to keep that stock value very high and she's very good at it. >> do you see down the road a political campaign in her future. >> sure. >> or does sarah palin ink continue on? >> i think sarah palin ink rolls on. >> that's the business of the future. >> you know what, you never kno know. >> you disagree. >> i think she is an incredibly sincere political figure. she loves her country. she's concerned about it. she steps back. there are other ways to be important in the republican party other than run for president. >> i have no doubt. that was my question. do you see her running for an office. >> anderson, we're having such a hard time predicting what's happening this week and this month, who knows in four years. >> we have six hours. >> considering the volatility of the electorate, she can raise money. she has 100% name recognition and there's a lot of negativity and commands media coverage. >> when is the next time she will be on our air, we have to make the most of it. >> th

when we come back, the new sarah palin movie "game change," it's disastrous for sarah palin. but there is a bigger loser from that movie. >> if you're going to consider the governor of alaska, we have to call her now. i'm keith baraka and i'm a firefighter. and it's very physically demanding. if i'm sore i'm not at my best. advil® is my go-to. it's my number one pain reliever. [ male announcer ] make the switch. take action. take advil®. planned parenthood. anna talked to a conservative and it got a little contentious. drama, when we return. makes me look like my dad... in the 70's... man. now this makes me look a bit too...artistic! [ shivers ] in the winter i grow it out... but i keep it tight. it's not like i'm hibernating. [ male announcer ] master your style... even trimming, a close shave and accurate edging... with the new gillette fusion proglide styler. every bit of hair means something. ♪ ♪ is on the new news network. >>welcome to the war room. >>jennifer granholm joins current tv. a former two-term governor. >>make your voice heard. >>detremined to find solut

>> i think the people who love sarah palin are always going to love sarah palin and nothing will ever change that. and the people that aren't fans, i don't think anything will change that. our goal wasn't to influence people's opinions, it was to talk about the system how we elect presidents. >> was this one of yours most rewarding project? >> it was fantastic project and it's a great story and a crazy story, you know? this really happened. it did happen. >>> hbo tomorrow night. >> that's "the ed show" i'm ed schultz, listen me to sirius channel 127 where i do the commercials monday through friday, follow me on twitter and like the ed

but it's sarah palin. no question about it. if there is any silver lining to the unfortunate comments that rush made, we know about hate and hypocrisy but highlighted and brought to the fore. >> can you believe watching david axelrod and it's had i lar just. >> it's all on the left and not stupid. they are perfectly aware of the double standard they have enjoyed for decades. because of fox news and other media outlets, these things are being highlighted, being brought to fore, this is not fair. it's any one of those comments had been directed to any smell obama, to nancy pelosi to any left wing woman that would be national cat curriculum. national conversation about making that particular comment. left has enjoyed protection by the media. we in the media making excuses, they junior just comedians. >> billy cunningham. i want a full report. explain to me, sir, how does the left at play here. >> hate speech. not who says it but what is said. hate speech is only said by conservative like monica and me and you

you think the business of sarah palin has taken on a life of its own. >> i think she loves being sarah palin inc. she didn't like being governor very much. she doesn't want to run something. she wants to be the large personality. mega personality, that has a lot of influence in politics. she's having fun, making money she never made in her life before. a lot of people are seeking her autographs. i think she's having fun out there and i think -- i don't think she's seriously wants to run. if she wanted to run, she would have jumped in. >> she seemed comfortable in the interview. and enjoying it. >> yes, she did. she seemed fresh too. the woman -- i don't think she was much of a governor, but she's got a remarkable flair for publicity. and creating because round her. >> you heard sarah palin talk about the convention and we'll take you inside the virtual convention and how it might play out in august. in terms of delegates and the real live republican convention. >>> it's been a long road. getting to super tuesday, let me be honest. and my opponents have worked very hard. i want to congr

secretary clinton and sarah palin and did change the game. it still makes a challenge to raise the money and the experience but it did change the game going forward as governor romney running as a mormon has made it easier for himself. that is a great legacy. and and important barrier. >> one of the things that the movie makes clear but do have a future beyond the campaign, and the portion of the republicans and the populist grass-roots part of the party became a huge important part but then to see again and then she still speaks to those people but for the future of that and then in 2016 it is said huge story. sarah palin and will always be emblematic of that change in the party. amend then will be as visible as anybody. >> what ended up on the cutting room floor? >> besides my line? [laughter] did you get a cameo also? >> [laughter] there is one scene i wish we had time for. it is arbitrary limit of two stores by personally love to those pauses, the moments i don't want to cut it so quickly but not have the moments to think what the hell is

with not the normal due diligence to look at sarah palin's background and to decide in sarah palin's background to pick or even though, there were, as he knew, a lot of rifts involved. >> the co-author of game change, the 2008 book, looking at the obama and clinton's and mccain and palin and the race of a lifetime. convinced that he would be the nominee, barack obama wanted to start be dealing with the issues he was convinced to confront in which race was plainly one. they had set up a timetable. >> i -- for some nagging questions remain. did i know him to be an occasionly fierce critic of american domestic and foreign policy? of course. did i ever hear him make remarks that could be controversial while i sat in the church? yes. did i strongly disagree with many of his political views? absolutely. just as i'm sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you've strongly disagreed. but the remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren't simply controversial. they weren't simply a religious leader's efforts to speak out against perceived in

chris: in the power of that force was not lost on sarah palin. it was her first speech to the country the day john mccain presented her. >> hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in america, but it turns out the women of america aren't finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all! [cheers and applause] chris: you know, with all the progress of those two iconic developments, hillary clinton coming so close and sarah palin getting on the ticket for the first time in history, and here we are the last couple of weeks, i do think it's odd the way we're talking about contraception. by the way, as if that's only a woman's issue. it's a male-female issue, obviously. and treating women like they're not really voters. what's going on? >> well, i think republicans are forgotting that there was a 13% gap in 2008 independent in a lot of ways that's why obama was able to win the election. he basically tied among male voters and had that 13% gain among wome there was a point where women did prefer republican

sarah! >> reporter: the 2012 primaries may be winding down, but you always have 2008 to look forward to. >> i'm not going to washington to serve their opinion. i'm going to washington to serve the great people of this country. >> reporter: that's right. the slickest looking ad from the past week, a video from sarah palin's political operation. sarah palin, who isn't running for anything this election but is very much focused on the last one. and what's more, she's going negative. the object of palin's ire? the hbo film "game based on the book by the same name. a chronicle of the 2008 race when john mccain, here depicted by ed harris, and his campaign team, woody harrelson playing campaign chief steve schmidt here, decided to pluck sarah palin from alaska. >> who all have we vetted? >> romney, crist, pawlenty, trying to vet bloomberg. >> who can we win with? >> none of them. we desperately need a game-changing pick. and none of these middle-aged white guys are game changers. >> reporter: in t

you think the business of sarah palin has taken on a life of its own. >> i think she loves being sarah palin inc. she didn't like being governor very much. she doesn't want to run something. she wants to be the large personality. mega personality, that has a lot of influence in politics. she's having fun, making money she never made in her life before. a lot of people are seeking her autographs. i think she's having fun out there and i think -- i don't think she's seriously wants to run. if she wanted to run, she would have jumped in. >> she seemed comfortable in the interview. and enjoying it. >> yes, she did. she seemed fresh too. the woman -- i don't think she was much of a governor, but she's got a remarkable flair for publicity. and creating because round her. >> you heard sarah palin talk about the convention and we'll take you inside the virtual convention and how it might play out in august. in terms of delegates and the real live republican convention. >>> it's been a long road. getting to super tuesday, let me be honest. and my opponents have worked very hard. i want to congr

you think the business of sarah palin has taken on a life of its own. >> i think she loves being sarah palin inc. she didn't like being governor very much. she wants to be the large personality. mega personality, that has a lot of influence in politics. she's having fun, making money she never had before. a lot of people are seeking her autographs. i think she's having fun out there and i think -- i don't think she's seriously wants to run. if she wanted to run, she would have jumped in. >> she seemed comfortable in the interview. and enjoying it. >> yes, she did. she seemed fresh too. the woman -- i don't think she was much of a governor, but she's got a remarkable flair for publicity. >> you heard sarah palin talk about the convention and we'll take you inside the virtual convention and how it might play out in august. ♪ ( whirring and crackling sounds ) man: assembly lines that fix themselves. the most innovative companies are doing things they never could before, by building on the cisco intelligent network. i knew it'd be tough on our retirement savings, especially in this econo

you are, of course, a featured speaker, as is sarah. why is it important to take time out, at least once a year, if not more often, and gather? >> well, it's important. when women get together, it's just so humbling and so amazing to see, you know, what they do. and part of the conference tomorrow night, i will be celebrating the dbf awards. and what we do is that we celebrate five women, we give them exposure, we give them money, and who have the courage to fight, the strength to survive, and the leadership to help others. and it's so amazing to see these women, who themselves have gone through so much misery and adversit adversity. and yet, not only they have the strength to overcome, but then, after that, they use, and they use all their misery. and they help others. and the leadership of it. and it's an ongoing fight. and i think it is such a wonderful thing to celebrate, and today i met a girl from congo, that i have two years ago. and it was so little, what i did. but when she starts to tell you that you have helped 115 live, that