Christine O'Donnell is under fire for admitting to dabbling in witchcraft in a 1999 episode of Politically Incorrect. O'Donnell canceled TV appearances after the video clips surfaced, but says it was due to scheduling conflicts.
Sarah Palin is coming to the defense of her embattled protégée, U.S. Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell.
O'Donnell abruptly cancelled appearances on two network talk shows after an embarrassing video surfaced where O'Donnell said, "I dabbled in witchcraft. I never joined a coven."
Palin tweeted Monday: "O'Donnell strategy: time's limited;use it 2 connect w/local voters whom you'll be serving vs appeasing nat'l media seeking ur destruction."
O'Donnell is facing a political firestorm over the video from the TV show Politically Incorrect in 1999 when she was 30 years old.
On the show, O'Donnell said, "One of my first dates with a witch was on a satanic altar and I didn't know it."
Comedian Bill Maher released the video on HBO's Real Time. He jokingly threatened to show more old clips of O'Donnell until she appears as a guest on his show.
"It's like a hostage crisis. Every week you don't show up, I'm going to throw another body out," Maher said.
But O'Donnell is making light of the controversial video, saying, "I was in high school! How many of you didn't hang out with questionable folks in high school? But no, there's been no witchcraft since."
O'Donnell canceled appearances on Face the Nation, and Fox News Sunday but insists it was because of a scheduling conflict, not the witchcraft video that has everyone talking.
"She said, of all things, that she had once dabbled in witchcraft," Face the Nation's Bob Schieffer said.
Meanwhile, conservative commentator Glenn Beck is at the center of another brewing controversy. At a speech in Chicago, he ridiculed First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign to promote healthier eating, saying, "Get away from my French fries, Mrs. Obama. First politician that comes up to me with a carrot stick, I've got a place for it. And it's not in my tummy."
The First Lady wore a stunning red gown when the Obamas attended the Congressional Black Caucus Awards dinner in Washington.
