Roger Ailes 'Thinks Palin Is an Idiot'

In the wake of President Obama’s 2008 win, Roger Ailes successfully built up Fox News’ ratings and raked in $900 million last year—but he still hasn’t found a 2012 candidate to throw his weight behind, according to an extensive New York magazine cover story. “You can’t run for the Republican nomination without talking to Roger,” one source tells author Gabriel Sherman, who the Daily Beast notes is writing a book on Fox News. “Every single candidate has consulted with Roger,” but he’s not impressed with any of them. “He finds flaws in every one,” says another source—particularly Sarah Palin.

“He thinks Palin is an idiot,” says another source. “He thinks she’s stupid. He helped boost her up. People like Sarah Palin haven’t elevated the conservative movement.” The piece paints Ailes as someone who’s very serious about politics, speaking almost daily with George HW Bush, and notes that his ideal candidate would be Chris Christie or David Petraeus. Sherman includes all sorts of behind-the-scenes anecdotes, including the fact that Michelle Obama particularly despises Sean Hannity and that Ailes found Glenn Beck “uncontrollable” and his show “too religious.” Click here for the full article. (More Roger Ailes stories.)