The Rogue
Searching for the Real Sarah Palin
by Joe McGinniss


(Click for Amazon book review)

BOOK REVIEW by OnTheIssues.org:

This is the book written by the guy who moved in next door to Sarah Palin. The author didn't originally intend the focus of the book to be his residence, but having moved in right next door in the summer of 2010, that became the focus of the book, and the focus of the controversy surrounding the book. Joe McGinnis, a supposedly legitimate political reporter who has published about Palin and about Alaska previously, originally intended the book as an investigation of Sarah's background and the people who knew her before the vice-presidential race. But he stumbled upon the opportunity to move in next door to the Palins (by accident, he says on pp. 3-4). Hence several chapters are devoted to the Palin's reaction to discovering a hostile next-door neighbor, and to the national blowback (including hate-mails and death-threats) that resulted.

Ok, so getting past the silly next-door-neighbor issue, McGinnis' purpose is to elucidate Sarah Palin's true character by interviewing people who knew her well. But he only interviews people who didn't like Palin (admittedly, because those who DID like her wouldn't talk to the "stalker next door", as he points out on p. 207). Additional controversy about the book results from the even sillier issues that McGinnis raises as if they are legitimate political analysis:

We at OnTheIssues.org desired to explore Sarah Palin's background in the same manner that McGinnis claimed -- by interviewing Wasilla residents who knew her in her mayoral days. We did so in a respectful manner in our 2008 interview of a Wasilla resident. If you want some meaningful background, read our interview -- and throw McGinnis' book in the trash, where it belongs.

-- Jesse Gordon, editor-in-chief, OnTheIssues.org, jesse@OnTheIssues.org, Oct. 2011

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Pushed to ban 2nd trimester abortion at Wasilla's hospital.     Down syndrome child makes her saint of antiabortion movement.

Budget & Economy     2009: Rejected $300M in federal stimulus aid.

Civil Rights     1996: Disapproved of gay-parent books in public library.     2006: No choice but to comply with same-sex partner benefits.

Drugs     1996: Allow Wasilla bars to stay open until 5 AM.

Energy & Oil     OpEd: $40B AGIA natural gas pipeline isn't working.     Early 2008: Couldn't support McCain because he opposed ANWR.

Environment     1996: initial mayoral issue: Bike paths in Wasilla.     1996: Gave evangelical churches access to city parks.     2007: Opposed listing polar bears as endangered species.

Gun Control     1996: Allow concealed carry in bars, banks, & schools.     Open carry in city library and city hall.

Principles & Values     As child, joined "Missionettes" at Assembly of God church.     2002: Ran for Lieutenant Governor; came in close second.     Troopergate's one merited charge: shot moose without permit.     OpEd: Feels called by God; chosen to do certain things.     OpEd: Won election as fresh, feisty, girl-next-door.     2008: TrooperGate replacement asked to resign for harassment.     OpEd: McCain's moribund campaign pulsed with Sarah's energy.     2006 & 2008: Addressed convention of secessionist AIP.

Welfare & Poverty     Got churches to provide private aid for starving people.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Sarah Palin