By not even broaching the Sarah Palin subject, Oprah won't subject herself to the aftermath of criticism — since by refusing to book the Republican VP, the talk show queen won't put herself in the awkward situation of celebrating the first woman on a Republican ticket while also pointing out she's a lunatic. But Us Weekly did not take that route. Like Oprah, Us is usually fine sticking with celebrities and staying out of politics. But like Oprah, Us couldn't resist. Oprah backed Obama, and watched her ratings and popularity rating slide. Us did the same, but took the extra step of bashing Palin … and now some readers are furious. Backlash? Commencing.
While People and OK! went with more conservative Sarah Palin covers, Janice Min's rag attacked her — shamelessly — with its "Babies, Lies & Scandal" cover. Which explains why Us is said to be facing a nightmarish response.
The Scoop's Courtney Hazlett, a former OK! staffer, we should note, reports:
Us Weekly, which unlike People and OK!, chose a rather caustic cover line (“Babies, Lies and Scandalâ€) is said to have lost thousands of subscribers in just the first 24 hours following the printing of the issue.
“I’m hearing it’s 5,000, maybe more,†says one well-placed source in the industry. Another source claimed that as many as 10,000 readers have already cancelled their subscriptions. A spokesperson for Wenner Media, which publishes Us, says “it is completely false that we are losing 10,000 subscribers.†As for the 5,000 estimate, the spokesperson only said “that is false, too,†but wouldn’t comment further.
And then there's the possible advertiser backlash.
If readers really are canceling subscriptions, and advertisers threaten to pull out, the likely scenario is Wenner's pubs lay off the GOP bashing. But the Obama cheerleading? That's still fair game, since those covers are proven newsstand performers.
But we can't help think of this another way: Plenty of Americans, and Us Weekly readers, love them some Britney Spears — and are more fanatical about the pop star than they are any politician. But when Us runs a Britney-trashing cover and airs her dirty laundry, is anybody canceling their subscription? Uh uh.
Update: Or perhaps Us Weekly isn't losing readers at all. Some 1,000 subscribers may have canceled their subscription, but that's offset by the 1,000 new subscribers the Palin issue attracted. And the huge amount of free press coverage.
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It's an honest cover, what's wrong with that?
Funniest spam ever.
She's a nazi freak, and thank jeebus US Weekly is willing to reveal the truth about her.
Why won't she do any interviews?
The national enquirer broke the story about John Edwards and I have a feeling they are right about Sarah Palin. Why else would John McCain threaten a lawsuit to shut them up?
US entered new territory by printing something that is actually factual. I say the rag, for the first time, deserves congratulations and the undying gratitude of intelligent Americans.
Crappy mag that is sliding into obscurity thanks to the internet, CIAO!
US has the same publisher as Rolling Stone. At best it's bad journalish. At worst it's disgraceful.
Are you kidding? John McCain isn't threatening a lawsuit? And Sarah Palin a nazi? Really? Where are you getting your information? Unbelievable. Now we understand why US magazine's cover and story are so "out there" besides being absolutely disgusting. They get their information from sources like these yahoo bloggers. As far as why she hasn't given an interview? Ummm, let's see. She was just announced as the VP candidate a week ago and has been a little busy with the convention this week. No one has asked why Joe Biden hasn't given ANY interviews since the DNC's convention. I understand, I understand . . . there are higher expectations for women since we so often exceed the standards set by men. One last thing, that cover and its story in US is complete innuendo and junk - they put a bunch of gobbly goop together and call it a story! It is deplorable using a baby, Downs Syndrome or otherwise, on their cover with that trashy headline and the story is simply being thrown out there to try and detract (call it a little shell game) from the fact that she has her stuff together and the Dems are scared as heck! Read the article - it is absolute garbage supported by nothing but internet blogging? I guess this is the standard for article writing these days.
Teresa — you said it. It is so sad that Americans get their "information" from trashy articles like this and similar magazines. I don't even need to read the article. The cover tells me enough — its complete garbage. Have any of you nay-sayers actually read REAL stories and statistics about Sarah Palin? She's nothing short of an amazing and accomplished woman. Her approval rating is 80%, hiring than any other governor in the US today. There is no question this woman can handle a great many things, VP of this nation is one of them.
If Americans would read and watch real news and not rely on the liberal media, celebs and the like as our source for political information, this country would be much better off. Bono and Oprah are in a much different league than the average American — they live a completely different life and have completely different views. Wake up people.
I LOVE Sarah.
NOT!
Zzzzzzzzzzzz.
She's a by the numbers scumbag complete with her own corruption scandal already.
Loves that pork barrel money so how will she reform Washington? By getting more money! That's why Alaska is highest per capita in government handouts.
Looks as if she'll be drilling for caribou if she still gives a rat's ass about the little people.
Slimy and a good liar. McCain/Palin/Bush/Cheney
more of the same
Oh yeah, did she tell you she's just like you yet?
Extremist views, devoid of ideas, people in her own state say she's not ready. All she's accomplished is taking of the pork. Don't drink the Kool Aid.
Poor Obama! He smears people by PROXY (Hillary and now Palin) and then speaks from on high taking moral "high" ground.
Now he is whining, whining that his "hillary" tactics aren't working now.
As for people that are supporting him, a good many are the products of a failed education program that is incapable of teaching kids to think critically.
Anyone can be spun if that person is sufficiently, intellectually impaired.
Whine!
Teresa & Trish- It is perhaps a bit unfair (and I stress only a BIT unfair) to pin all the negative things the Republicans stand for on Sarah Palin. She was as you say, only nominated a week ago. But she is a politician, they are supposed to be fair game and she did align herself with the Republicans. If she is going to parade her family in photo ops then it is fair game. If she wants her family off the table, then stand alone for photos. The Republicans after all say same sex anything will ruin the country- why isn't is ok to talk about illegitimate children by an unwed minor mom? Underage - is it legally rape too if he's over 18 and she was possible 16? So much for "family values". As to the "liberal media" - you guys are Rush Limbaugh fans I'm sure since that is one of his favorite phrases. He has his moments but listening to him, (and I've done so for many hours) one wouldn't think there were two sides to any question, only his side! Funny, the same media that trashed Bill Clinton wasn't liberal- it is only liberal when they say things you don't like? Grow up and read some facts. I'm not defending the US article, I haven't read it. But Sarah Palin governed a tiny state, didn't return the money for the "Bridge to no-where", basically lobbied Washington for money so that Alaska has more per capita aid than any other state in the country. I would go on, but find out for yourself, since you won't believe me anyway. She is not St. Sarah by a long shot.
In response, to the comparison of the reaction people have between Britney Spears and Sarah Palin's story, I believe that people have found some sort of personal connection with Sarah Palin. So insulting her is like a slight to them. Britney on the other hand is a distant star that is more surrealistic than Sarah Palin. So, having trashy covers about Britney is just another chapter in her celebrity saga.
I am sure happy people are looking into this issue of Sarah Palin's lack of experience. Lack of experience is a serious problem amongst this year's passal o' candidates.
However, I'm glad Sarah is not as unqualified and untested as Obama; if Sarah had as much inexperience as Obama, then she'd truly be unqualified to become Vice-President!
'US' should be called 'US Christian bashers' or 'US Left Leaning Loonies' or 'US new age aquarians' I thought about buying this copy to use for kindling this winter or to pick up my cat's puke, but decided not to spend the money. Keep in mind that new age Oprah interviews occult channelers and their channeling spirits (the Hicks–famous for starting The Secret Law of Attraction garbage) which invaded them after using a oujii board. One new age channeler who channels Kuthumi, also called Koot-Humi, the same spirit that H.P. Blavatsky channeled in the 1800's (she was the foundation for the Nazi third reich movement), channeled a spirit in support of Obama. Marianne Williamson, an Obama worshipper, got her fame on Oprah pushing the channeled new age Course in Miracles mishmash. Don't knock Palin's hunting skills either…we may all be hunting for food if Obama is elected.