Capitol punishment: Sarah Palin pays the price in GMB interview

Love him or loathe him, you can’t deny Good Morning host Piers Morgan provides some memorable TV moments.

The latest came during an interview with Sarah Palin on the day Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial in the US senate was due to begin.

Palin, the ex-governor of Alaska, kept avoiding questions about the trial and the US election result and, not surprisingly, Morgan ran out of patience.

He finally snapped when Palin, a former vice-presidential candidate and leading Trump supporter suggested there has been “shenanigans” with the vote.

An incensed Morgan told her: “The vote wasn’t stolen, was it, Sarah Palin? Let’s be honest. Let’s be clear. The election was won… fair and square by a thumping win by Joe Biden. Do you accept that?”

Palin tried to dodge the question, but Morgan was determined to get an answer, telling her: “Sarah you can’t filibuster us. Let’s go back to the question.”

Eventually, Palin responded: “Well, evidently Biden did [win the election] because he is sworn in as our president, but no one will convince me nor anyone else with common sense and a sense of justice… that there were not shenanigans going on.”

Palin claimed there were “more votes than voters in certain districts” and that the names on some of the ballots were those of dead people.

Morgan responded by telling her there was simply no proof of election fraud and that her claims were “bonkers”.

She replied if anyone was “bonkers” it was him and the Democrats for suggesting Trump incited the Capitol Hill riot, and so it went on.

Sarah Palin had appeared on Good Morning before and was clearly expecting an easier ride, which was a big mistake, especially given Morgan’s recent history of skewering politicians.

It was yet another example of a person in authority being over-confident and ill prepared and showing little respect for the interviewer and the audience.

Palin had clearly given the interview little thought. She had no evidence to back up her claims about the election being rigged and complained bitterly when Morgan stuck to his guns and insisted that she address the key issues.

The lesson is, if you want to make a positive impression and win over the audience, don’t do a Palin – do your research, make no assumptions and take nothing for granted.