Palin Book Deal Has Democrats Crying Foul

Several news agencies, including CNN and the Anchorage Daily News, have now confirmed Alaska Governor and former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has just signed a deal with HarperCollins publishing for a new tell-all book. Described as a memoir, the book will detail her rise from a small-town mayor to the national campaign trail.

"There have been so many things written and said through mainstream media that have not been accurate, and it will be nice through an unfiltered forum to get to speak truthfully about who we are and what we stand for and what Alaska is all about," Palin told the Anchorage Daily News Tuesday.

"I just really look forward to being able to relate to people through this book, those who are anxious to hear stories about people who are facing similar challenges perhaps," Palin told the newspaper. Palin, who has a degree in journalism, will be working with a collaborator but will reportedly be doing the bulk of the work herself.

Of course this is no charity project. There is no doubt that Palin will be significantly compensated for her story. The governor would not release exactly how much she is to be paid for the memoir but unconfirmed reports set the advance at a measly $11 million.

My first question is simply why is Sarah Palin writing a memoir already? Shouldn't she wait, at least, until she is out of office? Perhaps she should accomplish something that warrants a memoir besides going on a moose hunt. I'm not saying that achieving the office of the governor is not an accomplishment, it certainly is, but if every governor wrote a memoir just because they once held the office bookstore shelves would be brimming over with tell-nothing books that nobody would ever read.

The announcement about the memoir has already stirred up the liberal left about the validity of such a project. One commentary I read suggested, "Maybe Palin can get Katie Couric to help her with it." Another said, "This will be the best Republican coloring book ever printed." I had to laugh at that one. Most questions from the Democratic camp focus on the legality of Palin taking payment for such a project.

According to Alaskan law some state employees, like its citizen legislature, are permitted to take outside work. However, Alaska state regulation S 39.52.170 specifically restricts department heads, like the governor, from taking outside work. Section (c) of that regulation is quite clear on the subject stating, "The head of a principal executive department of the state may not accept employment for compensation outside the agency that the executive head serves."

In light of these regulations, Palin's acceptance of compensation for her autobiography has many Democrats crying foul. There may be a breach of both employment contract and ethics in this situation but I'd say that is a matter for the Alaska state legislature to figure out.

Either way, I doubt that there is a burning hunger for literature on this subject. In fact, I found that there are at least two books about Sarah Palin already in print. The more successful of these was a memoir called "Sarah: How A Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment on Its Ear," written by Kaylene Johnson.

Last November, Johnson's book skyrocketed to number 12 in all of books sold on Amazon and became the No. 1 bestseller in Biographies and Memoirs of Women. The book went on to be the No. 1 title in Biographies and Memoirs of Leaders and Notable People in the category of politicians.

Another book, titled "Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader," by Joe Hilley, found less success but is now available in paperback. Hilley's focus concentrated on Palin's religious and moral positions. During the height of the election last year sales of any material written about Palin were most likely fueled by widespread public interest in this relatively unknown vice-presidential candidate.

Whatever the consequences, Palin is apparently moving forward with the project. But what title might the 44-year-old bespectacled soccer mom turned governor begs choose for the book. I have a suggestion. How about, "I can see Russia from my house!" Palin's book is set to hit the shelves in 2010 just prior to nominations for the next presidential election - a coincidence? I don't think so. Hey, it worked for Obama.

Would you read a memoir written about and authored by Sarah Palin? Let me know. Send an email to gery@gerydeer.com and share your opinion of the project.

Gery L. Deer is an independent journalist and public relations specialist with GLD Enterprises & Productions. For more information or to read more of his work go online to www.gerydeer.com.