Bristol Palin Custody Battle: Mom Sarah Weighs In, Calls Levi Johnston 'Deadbeat Dad'
Former Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin weighed in on the brewing custody battle between daughter Bristol and former fiancé Levi Johnston. Palin called Johnston a "deadbeat dad" in front of cameras; Johnston has not responded yet.
"That is the stupidest question I've ever heard!" Palin told TMZ when asked if she thought Johnston should have custody of 4-year-old son Tripp.
"Don't listen to him," her publicist advised, but Palin went ahead and responded, giving her honest and blunt opinion to the cameraman.
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"Yeah, deadbeat dads, more power to 'em," Palin said. "Get a clue," she said before entering Rockefeller Center for an interview with Matt Lauer.
Johnson was the on-again, off-again fiancé of oldest daughter Bristol. Their pregnancy caused a bit of a scandal for the Republican Party when it was announced during the 2008 campaign. The Palin clan was forced to go public with the pregnancy and John McCain's team had to do "damage control" with voters.
"Sen. McCain knew this and felt in no way did it disqualify her from being vice president," a McCain aide told CNN. "Families have difficulties sometimes and lucky for her she has a supportive family."
"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, why is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. [We are] proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents," Bristol's father, Todd Palin, said in a public statement.
Johnston and Bristol eventually separated and he married his current wife, Sunny. They have a one-year-old daughter, Breeze Beretta, together. He is reportedly behind in child support in the amount of $66,000 but has filed for joint custody of son Tripp. Bristol has said that she regrets having a relationship with Johnston but does not regret having her son, Tripp.
