Steve Schmidt Takes a Bite Out of Palin

When Sarah Palin's memoir, "Going Rogue," hit the bookshelves, former McCain campaign aides were up in arms. That includes former campaign manager, Steve Schmidt. Palin focused a lot of attention on Schmidt in the book. In one recollection she says he berated her for carrying Atkins bars on the campaign trail. (She said they were an easy snack to throw in her bag).

"I'm not on the Atkins Diet, Steve."

"Don't you know what a high-protein diet does?" he asked, ignoring what I had just said.

He then launched into a discussion of nutrition physiology, holding forth on the importance of carbohydrates to cognitive connections and blah-blah-blah. As he lectured, I took in his rotund physique and noted that he used nicotine to keep his own cognitive connections humming along.

I interrupted his lecture. "Steve, you know what I really need? Half an hour to go for a run in these beautiful cities we're visiting. Also, seeing my kids does wonders for my soul."

Those criticisms of Schmidt didn't stop when she finally hit the trail for her book tour. She told Barbara Walters on 20/20, "I guess I really, really disappointed him. And he's the one that was in charge of that vetting. That's what I was told, so...I guess everyone's entitled to their own opinions.

Well, Steve Schmidt's heading to 60 Minutes this weekend to tell his side of the story:


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