Via Ace, Megyn Kelly takes a senior editor at US Weekly to task for the magazine’s cover story on Sarah Palin: “Babies, Lies, & Scandal.” US Weekly‘s editor defends the cover saying that the “Lies” are the rumors peddled by the bloggers “who were speculating that the daughter had actually given birth [to Sarah Palin’s newborn, Trig], that there was a coverup there.” Might not the millions of people who see the cover while standing in supermarket checkout lines think those “lies” are lies made by the Palin family? “I don’t think we can talk about all that here,” replies US Weekly‘s editor. Apparently the US Weekly story repeats every bit of shoddy reporting in the mainstream media about Troopergate, the Alaska Independence Party, etc. Transcript after the jump.MEGYN KELLY: Us Weekly, the magazine, is under some serious fire today for its new cover. the headline grabber “”babies, lies an scandal”” is what’s causing all the stir. the story, not only focusing on sarah palin, but also on the governor’s 17-year-old pregnant daughter. it got a lot of attention. did it cross a line? here with us now, bradley jacobs, the senior editor for “”Us weekly.”” Hi, bradley. BRADLEY JACOBS: good afternoon. KELLY: the problem that a lot of folks have about this and we have gotten tons of e-mail over this, is that the headline in and of itself, we’ll start like this, it sounds like an attack “”babies, lies and scandal.”” what are the lies? JACOBS: actually, if you read the story, you will see it is actually very measured. it’s a very KELLY: I read the story. what are are lies? JACOBS: actually, the lies that we point out are some of the liberal bloggers who were speculating that the daughter had actually given birth, that there was a coverup there. we’re one of the few magazines that did call to task those liberal bloggers for this. KELLY: do you think the cover in any way suggests to viewers looking at your magazine while standing in the grocery store that the lies are about sarah palin, by her attackers? JACOBS: i don’t think we can talk about all that here. we’ve gotten a lot of press today, but a lot of people haven’t read this story. KELLY: i have read the story. JACOBS: it is a very balanced story. we interview strategists on both sides. KELLY: bradley, bradley — JACOBS: yes. KELLY: you point out her husband todd’s dui arrest. do you point out that that dui arrest came 22 years ago, in 1986? JACOBS: of course. the dui record is out there. KELLY: no, you don’t. that’s not in there. do you mention an official dr. you mention trooper-gate and i’m quoting from your article, an official who said she was under investigation for refusing to fire an official who refused to fire her sister’s state trooper ex-husband. do you point out that the allegations that that trooper she allegedly wanted fire tasered his own stepson who was only ten and made death threats against sarah palin’s father. did you mention that in the article? JACOBS: we didn’t have time to mention everything you mentioned. this story was breaking over the weekend. we cover the news. KELLY: you mentioned her, quote, involvement with the alaska independence party, a group that wants alaska to secede from the union. do you mention the fact that the mccain campaign has denied that and even alaska state officials have denied that and said that’s a lie? JACOBS: ok, we’re missing the point here. this is a big news story that everyone is talking about. it is a measured story. You are pointing out the few things in it that you are dissatisfied with. KELLY: Bradley, what i’m satisfied with is fair and balanced reporting where you tell the whole story. You make one accusation and tell what the other side is saying. JACOBS: It is very balanced. we talked to friends of the Palin family, talked to students who go to school with Bristol, talk with Sarah Palin’s deputy mayor. KELLY: One report is fair, the Democrats and one is unfair. JACOBS: Well, we hope people will pick up the magazine to make their own decision. KELLY: Thank you very much.
