Thursday, September 2, 2010

Anonymous sources?

Michael Joseph Gross gave a lengthy (for TeeVee) interview with CNN. They discussed his article, "Sarah Palin's Sound and Fury," which was published in Vanity Fair:



On the use of anonymous sources, this part of Gross' article was briefly discussed:
One person who has been a frequent houseguest of the Palins’ says that the couple began many mornings with screaming fights, a fusillade of curses: “ ‘Fuck you,’ ‘Fuck this,’ ‘You lazy piece of shit.’ ‘You’re fuckin’ lucky to have me,’ Sarah would always say.” (This person never saw Todd and Sarah sleep in the same bed, and recalls that Todd would often joke, “I don’t know how she ever gets pregnant.”)
"This person never saw Todd and Sarah sleep in the same bed, and recalls that Todd would often joke, "I don't know how she ever gets pregnant." Who is the source?

In "Me and Mrs. Palin," Levi Johnston appears to state:
After the nomination, Sarah and Todd wouldn’t go anywhere together unless the cameras were out. They’re good on television, but once the cameras would leave they didn’t talk to each other. In all the time Bristol and I were together, I’ve never seen them sleep in the same bedroom. (I don’t know how she got pregnant.)
Apparently, Levi hung-out with Todd, or hung-out within earshot, or talked with someone who did.

8 comments:

Joie Vouet said...

Let's be clear: I am not claiming that Levi Johnston was Gross' source. It could have easily been someone else if 'Todd would often joke, "I don't know how she ever gets pregnant."'

snowbilly said...

Withour an "attorney" in the crowd, let me play Devil's Advocate ...

What is hearsay? What is not?

snowbilly said...

Follow-up question ... Was the source present when Todd joked, "I don't know how she ever gets pregnant."

Last comment has a typ0 ... Without, not Withour ... too small a keyboare

Joie Vouet said...

Okey-dokey, Mr. Devil's Advocate.

Tell me what it means when a real attorney says something like, "We don't know for a fact that Sarah Palin gave birth to Trig."

snowbilly said...

Joie,

It simply means "we" weren't present at the event or "we" have not seen any evidence that would establish the fact. The evidence to establish the fact would depend on state law, if it is even something that could be litigated.

The attorney's statenebt is nothing to get excited about. Using it (the attorney's statment) as evidence that Sarah didn't give birth is an appeal to authority without understanding what the authority has said (it's a foolish thing to do). Any real attorney on earth would tell you the same thing. Attorneys are always careful about what they consider to be fact.

Joie Vouet said...

Thanks, Snowbilly.

Gryphen said...

Just for clarification. The sources that talked about the fight and Todd's joke "I don't know how she ever gets pregnant," were NOT Levi.

There are others besides young Mr. Johnston who have seen the dark side of Palins.

Joie Vouet said...

Thanks, Gryphen.