Sarah Palin Book Rips Levi Johnston, 'American Idol'

NEW YORK (Nov. 18) -- Sarah Palin isn't done with Levi Johnston. And she isn't crazy about "American Idol," either.

The former Alaska governor and GOP vice presidential candidate writes in her new book that it was "disgusting" to watch Johnston, the estranged father of her grandson, exploit his sudden fame after she was chosen as U.S. Sen. John McCain's running mate in the 2008 election. She alleges that he was absent when her daughter Bristol Palin gave birth to Tripp and that he disgraced himself by repeatedly criticizing the Palins.

"Of course, we all had to bite our tongues - more than once - as Tripp's father went on a media tour through Hollywood and New York, spreading untruths and exaggerated rhetoric," Palin writes. "It was disgusting to watch as his fifteen minutes of fame were exploited by supposed adults taking advantage of a lost kid."

Bristol Palin has been featured on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," but Sarah Palin has a few words for Fox's "American Idol." She refers to "talent-deprived" contestants who suffer from "the cult of self-esteem."

"No one they have encountered in their lives - from their parents to their teachers to their president - wanted them to feel bad by hearing the truth," she writes. "So they grew up convinced that they could become big pop stars like Michael Jackson."

The Internet has been abuzz in recent days about how Bristol Palin, who has consistently landed at the bottom of the judges' leaderboard on "Dancing With the Stars," has been able to remain on the show. Some critics have suggested that voters - particularly supporters of her mother - have been voting in blocs and manipulating the system.

Sarah and Bristol Palin have denied any organized vote-getting tactics. Bristol Palin says voters support her despite lackluster performances because she started the show with no dancing experience.

Palin's book, "America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag," is not out until next week, but pages were posted Wednesday on the blog Palingates. Palin's previous book, the memoir "Going Rogue," was a million seller.

Johnston, who has feuded often with the Palins over the past two years, said last month he wasn't doing any more interviews for a while.