It's pretty rare, given all of her handlers, to catch Sarah Palin in an unscripted exchange with a critic. But here's an uncomfortable clip showing Palin confronting an Alaskan teacher who'd welcomed Palin's crew with a "WORST GOVERNOR EVER" sign.

Palin was in Homer, Alaska to shoot parts of her Discovery Channel documentary/travel show, Sarah Palin's Alaska. A local teacher named Kathleen Gustafson caught Palin's attention there with her "WORST GOVERNOR EVER" sign. The audio can be difficult to hear — especially with Todd Palin and another flack comically trying to block the videographer for a while — but here's a transcript of the first part (via Think Progress):

GUSTAFSON: You swore on your precious Bible that you would uphold the interests of this state, and then when cash was waved in front of your face, you quit. PALIN: OH, you wanted me to be your governor! I'm honored! Thank you! GUSTAFSON: I wanted you to honor your responsibilities. That is what I wanted. I wanted you to be part of the political process instead of becoming a celebrity so that you could (inaudible). And if that's the best you could do, then good for you. If that's the best you could do. PALIN: Here's the deal. Here's the deal. [...] That's what I'm out there fightin' for Americans to be able to have a Constitution protected so that we can have free speech…And also there… GUSTAFSON: In what way are you fighting for that? PALIN: Oh my goodness! GUSTAFSON: In what way? PALIN: To elect candidates who understand the Constitution, to protect our military interests so that we can keep on fightin' for our constitution that will protect some of the freedoms that evidently are important to you too. GUSTAFSON: By using your celebrity status, certainly not by political status.

Many folks who've seen this clip are focusing on the moment when Gustafson tells Palin that she's a teacher, and Palin supposedly "rolls her eyes." It's hard to tell if that's specifically what she does, but she definitely gives Bristol Palin a knowing look of some sort, like this explains everything. Sarah Palin is a child.

The best part, though, may be when Bristol cuts in to defend her mom, saying "she represents the United States" now, not just Alaska. TAKE THAT, TEACH.



Click to view