Palin says 17-year-old daughter is pregnant
Originally published Monday, September 1, 2008 at 8:59 a.m.
Updated Monday, September 1, 2008 at 2:14 p.m.
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ST. PAUL, Minn. -- John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, said Monday her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant, an announcement stealing even more thunder from McCain and a Republican presidential convention already overshadowed by Hurricane Gustav.
Adding to the day's drama, McCain aides said the announcement was aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin's youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter's.
The national convention, which a political party counts on to send its candidate surging into the fall campaign, already had been relegated to a distant second to the hurricane on TV, in newspapers and on Internet Web sites.
Monday's statement, attributed to Sarah and Todd Palin and released by the campaign, said that Bristol Palin would keep her baby and marry the child's father, identified only as a young man named Levi. The baby is due in late December.
"Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents," Sarah and Todd Palin said in their brief statement.
The disclosure came on the opening day of the Republican National Convention, which has been scaled back because of Hurricane Gustav, and three days after McCain named Palin as his vice presidential running mate. Coming after the randomness of Gustav, the revelation added to the sense of unscriptedness that is hanging over the convention.
"Life happens," said McCain adviser Steve Schmidt.
"An American family," added colleague Mark Salter.
Palin told McCain's team about the pregnancy during lengthy discussions about her background, and the senator knew about it when he made her his surprise pick Saturday, aides said. At several points during the discussions, McCain's team warned Palin that the scrutiny into her private life would be intense and that there was nothing she could do to prepare for it.
Prominent religious conservatives, many of whom have been lukewarm toward McCain's candidacy, predicted that the announcement would not diminish conservative Christian enthusiasm for the vice presidential hopeful, a staunch abortion opponent. In fact, there was talk that it might help.
The convention opened on time, though shortened out of concern that the party did not want to be seen whooping it up in St. Paul while thousands of Americans along the Gulf Coast were being threatened by the hurricane. From the convention podium, GOP officials asked delegates to take out their cell phones and text-message contributions to help in the relief effort.
McCain's wife, Cindy, and first lady Laura Bush were making their own appeals for relief help in the convention hall later in the day.
The delegates took up the party platform and other business, but most of the opening-day speeches - all of which had been expected to acclaim McCain and assail Democratic opponent Barack Obama - were scrapped.
Palin, the first-term Alaska governor, was in Minnesota preparing for her Wednesday night nomination acceptance speech when the campaign issued the statement from her and her husband; her family was home in Alaska.
"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family," the parents said.
The campaign said it was not disclosing the father's full name or age or how he and Bristol knew each other, citing privacy.
Sarah Palin's fifth child, a son named Trig, was born in April with Down syndrome. Internet bloggers have been suggesting that the child was actually born to Bristol Palin but that her mother, the 44-year-old Alaska governor, claimed to be the mother.
Palin spokesman Bill McAllister emphatically denied those rumors, and McCain adviser Mark Salter said the campaign announced the daughter's pregnancy to rebut them.
"Senator McCain's view is this is a private family matter. As parents, (the Palins) love their daughter unconditionally and are going to support their daughter," said McCain spokesman Steve Schmidt.
Reaction from religious conservatives was sympathetic.
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson issued a statement commending the Palins "for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances." He added: "Being a Christian does not mean you're perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect. But it does mean there is forgiveness and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord."
Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition of America called the pregnancy private. "It's a matter that should stay in the family and they have to work through it together. My prayers go out to them."
Added Combs: "We're excited about the governor and think she's going to do well."
Mathew Staver, dean of Liberty University School of Law, said: "We're all sinners."
"We all make mistakes. Certainly, the ideal is not to get pregnant out of wedlock. But she made the right decision after her mistake," he said.
McCain advisers said Palin told them about the pregnancy during lengthy discussions about her background. At several points during the discussions, McCain's team warned Palin that the scrutiny into her private life would be intense.
Advisers said Palin's daughter should be afforded privacy like the other candidates' children. Said Schmidt: "If people try to politicize this, the American people will be appalled."
In Monroe, Mich., Democrat Obama condemned rumors involving the children of candidates and echoed the McCain campaign argument. He said, "I think people's families are off limits, and people's children are especially off limits."
"Our people were not involved in any way in this, and they will not be," he said. "And if I ever thought that there was somebody in my campaign that was involved in something like that, they'd be fired."
Community Discussion
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it is a private family matter and it is the way life goes sometimes . But I am happy for them !
That's exactly right.
"Life Happens."
Just another real-life family dealing with real-life issues.
Just as they've been all along.
Another--if not the main--reason I like 'em so much.
Yep.. totally not the public's business.
I'm not a fan of Palin's stance on policies but I have felt very defensive of her when all the dumb rumors started up about how the baby might not really be hers.
It's very ironic that Bristol has turned out to actually be pregnant. Strange. The universe sure has a funny way of timing things.
I wonder how long it will take the rumor mill to start up another stupid conspiracy to explain this.
let me get this straight: "life happens"??? yes indeed it does. we all make our choices, and then we all have the right to deal with what happens. or do we? I absolutely agree that the press should leave this kid alone. on the other hand the hypocricy of a party and a movement which is centered upon marriage, family values, etc., but then can simply shrug it all off when something like this happens TO THE DAUGHTER OF THE VP NOMINEE NO LESS is amazing. if this were Obama's daughter you folks would have a field day. yes, leave this girl alone -- and every other girl and woman who, on a daily basis, deals with the challenges of "life."
Yep! Life Happens.
Doesn't matter who you are or what your course in life is...
Congrats mom, dad, and grandparents!
I do hope that Bristol takes the opportunity to educate other teens on the difficult... BUT NOT INSURMOUNTABLE... issues this will bring into her life.
"We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents,"-I thought she (Palin) was PRO-LIFE..? Her daughter shouldn't even have a choice according to Palin's belief..
Maybe she should be at home being a mother instead of running the state..everyone praises her for being a mother, but what does this show the country??
How is she going to take care of a grandchild in the White House? If she can't even take care of her children in Alaska, how is she going to keep track of them in Washington and around the world?
Well, THANK GOD Palin is a Republican so that we can talk about how it's nobody's business but their own and how brave the girl is to have the baby and not get an abortion, etc.
If Palin was a Democrat we'd have to talk about how liberals' poor morals and bad family values lead to promiscuity and teen pregnancy...
"Senator McCain's view is this is a private family matter.... Life happens."
This is obviously an attempt to deflect any public discussion of the political implications of Bristol's pregnancy.
While generally I agree that Bristol's pregnancy is a "private family matter" and I hope the press can keep clear of intrusive reporting, there certainly are political implications -- or at least questions -- and we have every right to discuss them. For example:
(1) Is there a relationship between Palin's conservative Christian leanings and the fact that her under-age, unmarried daughter is now pregnant? What are the implications for national reproductive health education for children, when Palin's own model may not have worked so well?
(2) Will this cast any light on the abortion debate? When children from prominent and (ostensibly) good families still get pregnant, it's harder for us to cast teen mothers in a wicked light, and it may be easier for people to sympathize with those who seek abortion rights for teenagers.
(3) What does this say about the now-conventional model of having two full-time working parents? With Todd away on the North Slope and Sarah busy first in the Wasilla mayor's office then in the governor's office, how much parenting were they able to offer Bristol? While Bristol's parents doubtless love her tremendously, were they able to offer the *time* that is so essential to family stability and healthy development? Will this help shape the discussion of whether having two working parents is an acceptable model, and of why it is economically necessary?
"Bristol's decision to have her baby" sounds like there was family discussion over the matter and options!
Unfortunately for the Palin's, any wish for privacy in family matters is now gone when they entered this circus. Just how much time will she have for family? Not much to none at all! But she made this choice, and unfortunately her family will have to deal with her absence, quite often. I'm not sure she has it in her.
Newsminer,
Please do us a favor and eliminate the string from this story. This is a minor child and we have no business commenting on it. It will only lead to accusation, insinuation and comments that are way off topic. As the press release asks, respect the privacy of this personal issue.
Let's be real.. Life does happen. If it was anyone else No One would care .. But now here's some dirt and at age 17 they are going to do what they want . No Matter what, you can't always be there holding your 17 year olds hand!! How much parenting will a 17 year old listen too >? I Know Palin is a wonderful Role Model for her kids.
Excellent post, Paul!
I hate to break it to people, but when you're the vice presidential nominee on a major party ticket, you don't get to have "privacy" for "personal family matters."
Sarah Palin will be one heartbeat away from being the president of the United States of America. Particularly given McCain's age, if you don't think she's going to be rightfully gone over with a fine-toothed comb by the news media, you're deluding yourself.
I agree with Paul Adasiak. Without commenting directly on Bristol's situation except to say, I wish her the best, the topics he lines out warrant thorough and objective discussion on the national level.
Anyone who runs for public office and politics know that the press and opponents are going to dig deep into the family tree for any type of 'dirt'. From DUI, drugs, sexual indescretions, health problems, and even down to their current bowel movement will be flung around. Every politican's spouse, child, parents, and all down the line, not to exclude the family pets, get coverage. All the do-gooders and no-gooders are going to speculate and pass judgement regardless. Life does go on and this is not the first nor the last time it will happen, planned or unplanned. This is not, nor should it be a 'national issue' but a private family matter.
I agree with Paul and happy to hear that Sarah is supportive of her family. I also think that this issue needs to be discussed on a higher level.
Hello from Outside. Thanks for all the recent entertainment. Unfortunately, Palin likely will be off the ticket this week. Troopergate, weird pregnancy stories, ties to the AIP, husband as co-governor, bridge to nowhere flip-flopping, etc. Obviously McCain did not vet. And anyone who thinks McCain knew about the latest pregnancy "flap" ahead of time ....well, I have a bridge in Alaska I want to sell you.
No, Palin is toast. If not, then I can't wait for the Republican Convention's "family values night."
daminihouse-
Uhhhh...grandparents have NO responsibility to RAISE grandkids...what rock did you crawl out from under?
Yes, Palin will be a grandmother, and yes she will give advice- but "how will she raise a grandkid in the White House?" What kind of control freak are you that you would find it YOUR job to raise YOUR grandkid? Man, I would think it would be my kid's job to raise my grandkid. AND wake-up call- many families who are "at home raising there kids" have to deal with situations like this. What do you think when Hollywood portrays sex as they do? There are all sorts of real life situations teens have to deal with today, and they often make descisions that their parents would not approve of- kids are their own human beings. While she is a minor Bristol is a young adult, and as such most undoubtedly has experienced more freedoms, with which come responsibilities, and learning.
So what? Congratulations Palins! And for Pete's sake leave the kid alone!
I agree Paul.
I think one of the biggest social problems in this country is the dogma that both parents should "work."
As if running a household and raising a family properly isn't work.
How do people define themselves and others these days?
The ubiquitous question "Do you work?" or "What do you do?" is meant only as in: "Do you work for money/wages? Who is your employer?"
One could answer, "No. I sit on my butt all day eating Doritos and watching soap operas in my mumu because I weigh 300 pounds 'cause this is all I do."
That's the societal implication towards stay-at-home-moms.
It is generally a leftist position that requires a woman/mother work outside the home. And higher taxes tend to make it more necessary. Hence, the glorified push for ever more child care subsidies parading as compassion.
On the other hand, too many people want more and bigger and better than they can afford. Many aren't willing to sacrifice material things in order to have a parent in the home.
Besides, how do you know what the Palins' "own model" may be in their home?
She said, and stuck to it, that she wasn't going to introduce the abortion debate through her administration.
I think that, while she makes no secret about her pro-life stance, she believes it is a states' rights matter, (it is), but will not propose legislation about the issue.
I feel for Gov. Palin. I think her running as the Rep. V.P. is going to be more trouble than its worth. She's going to be attacked like vultures picking at a carcase.
Toast or not, it has the makings for a great soap opera! Set right here in our fine state of Alaska! I love it! Maybe I can find a job on the show.
So apparently Palin and McCain are all for children having children, 17 is NOT an adult.
Sounds contradictory to the typical Christian/republican view on sex before marriage and having children out of wedlock.
Obama doesn't bother with attack ads like McCain DOES (makes McCain look like he doesn't have anything to offer us except political attacks).
I'm voting for Obama since Ron Paul is out, your loss America- Ron Paul at least has the courage to think and talk in new ways and seems to be much more in touch with reality than any other candidate.
Really, corrine? A 'leftist' position that requires a mother to work outside the home? Really? I think if you were to ask most working mothers they'd tell you that it's a 'wanting to make sure I can feed my family and pay my bills-ist' position.
I'm glad you said 'generally leftist' because your comment certainly was a generalization.
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
I absolutely agree with Paul Adasiak comment above.
So the question that comes to mind, whether Republicant or Demoncrat mind, should probably be: What is the true character of a woman who runs for national office, putting her family under an international microscope, when she has five kids that include a four-month old with down syndrome and a pregnant teenage daughter?
Seriously, if she had any good sense and true 'family values' she would be staying home with her family and keeping the kids out of the spotlight. Those kids are going to grow up so screwed up, and it looks like some of them are paying the price from child neglect, with two working parents busy or away all the time, not paying attention to their kids.
If we toss in the giant flip-flop on the Bridge To Nowhere, Troopergate, the bizarre pregnancy stories, having her husband on board as co-governor, and a few other little issues, it makes for a pretty weak nominee for being next in line to take the pilot's seat if crusty, cancer-ridden old McCain takes an early exit.
Buh-bye, Governor Barb E. Doll
We'd have a two-word moniker for this unmarried pregnant girl if she lived in a trailer park.
It is bad enough that Palin, herself, has contributed significantly to the world's overpopulation problem. Now, she's starting her kids on the same path.
Let's talk about the irresponsibility of exponential growth.
Hey folks, at least she's not a lesbian! :)
RainAgain said: If it was Osama's daughter, it would have been aborted by now...
-----------------------
I give that post an 8/10. Pay attention, people. THAT'S how you troll a thread! Not only does RainAgain manage to turn the thread into an indictment of the Evil Liberals, he ingeniously refers to Obama as Osama, linking the two as similar. Awesome.
I am disappointed that it took more than 20 posts to finally get around to blaming the whole thing on liberals.
First off, I did not say adult, I said young adult- and there is a difference.
Second, people can't have it both ways. Some groups think a woman should go to work right away- career first! While others think at least one parent should stay at home. What I see here already is those who generally say "women should be at work if that is what they want" now attempting to turn this around on Sarah. Now it is all "well if she would have been home being a parent..."
Well the fact that there even was a discussion (as opposed to Bristol running away and getting an abortion) shows that they are parents and that Bristol has a relationship with them. Kids make choices, those choices don't always turn out to be the best, and responsible kids face them head on- hopefully with a supportive family.
People can't have it both ways- stop trashing the family.
Congratulations to the Palins on the grandchild. Vote for Obama.
Corrine: "It is generally a leftist position that requires a woman/mother work outside the home. And higher taxes tend to make it more necessary. Hence, the glorified push for ever more child care subsidies parading as compassion."
-- I partially disagree with your statement. I think the patriarchal family with a wage-earner (father) and a care-giver (mother) may allow for better communication within the family (and hence a "better" upbringing), the left is not responsible for pushing women into the workforce. Women have been struggling to achieve equal rights, equal pay for equal work etc for centuries in countries all over the world.
I think the fiscal realities of today have required many families to seek a second income flow. With regards to child-care, it is very expensive as well as sometimes difficult to find a provider you trust. Counterintuitively, the cost of child care has driven more than one family I know back to a single-earner model since the expense of day-care negated the second income. If taxes are too high, I propose we demand full accountability from the executive and legislative branches so that we can get the most from our tax dollars here at home.
A candidate's personal family life, particularly as concerns their children, has rightfully been off limits for the cockroaches in the press. The public has generally respected privacy for the kids of candidates. Did somebody just change the rules?
All you people berating the Governor weren't going to vote for her anyhow. You really should be careful how far you take your rants on something like this. Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and independent candidates have children also, and probably dont want them made fodder for the masses.
Grover_alaska stated "grandparents have NO responsibility to RAISE grandkids", on which I agree. Unfortunately, our right-wing fundamentalist Christian governor apparently didn't think it was her duty to raise her children either. Given her determination to force her values on our state and nation, I believe Palin's lack of willingness to raise her family as a good Christian would is an issue the public should concern themselves with.
Christain Broadcasting Network now reporting Todd's DUI. Is this one long "Married With Children" episode?
LostAlaskan - So the Palin's should have forced their daughter into an abortion? You would make a similar derogatory judgment if they had chosen this route.
One can recognize the dangers of teen sex, out-of-wedlock sex ad infinitum and teach it to a teenager and unless a parent can follow that child around 24 hours a day, there is only so much control you have (although I think many of us, myself included, occasionally delude ourselves with how much control we actually have). To say they are "all for children having children" is heckuva stretch. One can hold an ideal while still falling short of it.
In addition, you think Obama doesn't have attack ads? Where have you been? Agreement with the "substance" of the attack doesn't make it any less of an "attack".
Oh_please: in my experience, albeit anecdotal, the judgments about staying home with the kids is not something that often comes from those who are closer to the right of the political spectrum. It has usually come from those who are closer to the left. It's always led me to wonder why because this is the "side" that always says a woman could do whatever she wanted.
Do anyone think Palin is still in favor of abstinence-only sex education?
Wow. IUR. You just made me want to go have another baby. Thanks.
I guess her stance against sex education came back to bite her in the butt.
"In an Eagle Forum Alaska questionnaire, Palin gave this response to the following question:
Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?
Palin: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support"
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2...
Perhaps she will see that abstinence only doesn't work, now that the evidence is going to be staring her in the face in december (for, extremely unlikely but possibly, the second time).
Dana-
Maybe... it is the responsibility of parents to teach kids to think for themselves, keep themselves safe and make responsible decisions ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE NOT AROUND.
Who had the birth control discussion with Bristol?
Hey kids, if you parents are too busy to actually parent you, please take steps to look out for yourself.
Hmmm. Pavel. Many interesting questions arise. Like was the young lady in question taught abstinence only, or did she attend public school and get the same education as the rest of us? I'm willing to bet that she wasn't sequestered away from us other heathens of the world.
At the risk of extreme self-disclosure, my explicit sex-education program certainly didn't keep me from practicing sex-out-of-wedlock or keep me practicing safe sex (hmmmm...or any of my friends, either).
grover_alaska-
I may have come off as not being supportive of the Palins' decisions.
I completely support them, and believe that together, they are fine parents and have a fine family.
I get the impression,(from watching through these last years, reading, and being a mom with a close relationship with my own kids), that they have a really close, realistic relationship with their kids. The kids are not sheltered and naive.
That's good.
As others have said, kids are their own people too.
Even parents who are home with the kids have kids who go against what their parents' say/do.
This "where-are-the-parents, blame-the-parents" for everything growing-up kids do is a bunch of crap.
That is not to excuse those parents who really don't pay any attention to what their kids are doing. They should be held more accountable.
Too many people fail to make that distinction--as often does the law.
IUR - Yes, it is a parent's responsibility and who are you (or anyone on here) to suggest that the Palin's didn't teach their kids to think for themselves? Were you in the house with them? Because obviously the young lady in question did think for herself, didn't she? As most 17 year olds do.
Birth control isn't 100% (even when BOTH PARENTS ARE AROUND), so it's entirely possible they did have that conversation. Maybe the method failed? We can assume until the cows come home, but we won't know.
Parenting is hard work and all we can do is the best we can. We aren't talking abuse here or wild delinquent behavior; we're talking two working parents whose child took the less-than-easy route (just like many, many other children of parents who work and subscribe to any number of religion or lack-thereof).
I haven't seen ANY attack ads supporting Obama, I see attack ads from McCain ALL THE TIME
lol he doesn't even know how many homes he has and you think he would make a good president? my god, you people are more complacent than I thought- dawn of the dead *McCaaaaain *McCaaaaain
Sorry but Obama doesn't seem to be having a hard time keeping out of the media spotlight as far as forgetfulness/aloofness/senility or teen sex/pregnancy goes.
So where's the dirt on Obama then? (and you KNOW the repub's are looking so you can't say he's hiding anything, having no privacy works BOTH ways)
Nobody is picking on anybody or making anything up about this story, it's all FACT and pretty hard to justify especially given their PUBLIC outlook on life, the private outlook is apparently MUCH different given that her daughter was more interested in having unprotected sex out of wedlock than being a 17yo girl getting an education, it's kinda sad when kids have kids.
Life happens while you are making other plans.
Dana-
Is that a failure of your education system or a failure to pay attention, a misguided belief of infallibility, or lack or self-esteem on your part?
There is always a reason teens fail to use birth control, and it is often one of the three above.
Doesn't Sarah Palin's husband stay at home with the kids? Just asking.:)
I remember reading a recent article that I thought said he stayed at home with the kids.
Why should it matter whether its the mother or father?(shrug):)
I know its traditional for the mother to stay at home but I don't see anything wrong with the father doing it instead if it works for them.:)
As for her 17 year old daughter being in the spotlight I don't approve either but unfortunately this seems to be the pattern when the elections come around.
I wish the Palin family the best.:)
I can't wait to see the animal group activists reaction to old Todd skinning hides in the white house and what his shooting range in the back yard will look like! !
Or watching him brodie down Pensylvania Ave on his sled in the middle of an ice storm! The Alaskan version of the Beverly Hillbillies
Maybe Bristol and Britney Spears' little sister can team up and enlighten young women everywhere!
McCain.. you wanted real, you got real! Wasilla is coming to the white house!! YYYEEEEAAHHAAAWWW!!!!
IUR---
I am so disappointed in you. Calling the young girl names. You should be ashamed of yourself.
--------------
Pavel---
I guess that the child will be loved, not thought of as a bite in the butt. Or as Senator Obama so candidly put it, seeing one of his daughters "punished".
Your last paragraph is below the dignity of even a hardened liberal to write. Pathetic.
LostAlaskan - Your sense of "fact" is highly objective - especially in regards to McCain and Obama (neither of which I care for terribly). Let me repeat: just because YOU support the substance of the ad, doesn't make it any less of an attack. No one is going to be able to shake you out of the world where Obama doesn't forget, act aloof or make goofs and doesn't himself live in a million-dollar home with children that are hardly at the age of him having to deal with teen pregnancy, so enjoy your fantasy where Obama is do-no-wrong kinda guy.
Kids do what kids do and you can only do your best. That's what I see when I read this story - parents, trying to do their best and having something else happen. And wow, they didn't give up on themselves OR their daughter, despite having something other than the ideal happen. Just like a parent. I hope that all parents are supportive with their kids.
grover_alaska-
I am speaking to the fact that she is under the age of 18, living with her parents and still in high school. Yes, the child may not be raised in the White House but I am pretty sure Sarah Palin is not going to run her own daughter out of their home. I am not a control freak, I just think a 17 year old will need guidance (any 17 year old would) in raising a baby, and will Sarah be too busy running the country in the White House?
She will be there for support as you stated, but its a child raising a child.
Maybe now Amerikans will learn that teaching abstinence-until-marriage education is teaching preversion, much better to teach our children safer sex, I was so proud of my son when he talked with me about his first realationship and how both he and the young lady discussed birth control and condoms before preceeding, btw he was 21 years old, a young man, not a child of 17 when this came about,
Ours is a very liberal and open family and this is the result, not unwed pregnacy at 17,
comprehensive sex education it works,
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
IUR - I know as well as you do that there are reasons teens choose to not use birth control - and what I discussed was two-fold - having sex and failing to use BC - as well as birth control failure. That is exactly the point. To blame it on what you assume you know about the Palin's (or any family that you are not intimately involved with) religiosity, family values or political leanings is both short-sighted and judgmental.
How many of you people listened to your parents at the age of 17? Come on you hypocrites....they are people, no different than you or I. Bristol sounds like your typical 17 year old. I myself have 16 and 15 y/o sons as well as a 14 and 13 y/o girls and I can only hope that I have raised them right and that they use their heads in the kind of situations that confront teenagers today. But...I can't be with them 24 hrs a day....they will do what they want...give Gov Palin a break...and stop the hypocricy...
glacierles-
I'll say it clearly then. White Trash. What I am ashamed of is this: this young girl makes women look irresponsible and dumb. I'd be much more respectful of a young woman who thought enough of herself not to get pregnant at such a young age.
I'm also ashamed of Sarah Palin. She could have spared her daughter the limelight and embarrassment, decided this was not the right time to be a "superstar", put her family first, and declined the nomination.
Dana-
As Alan said, BIRTH control is ALWAYS 100% effective.
and let me adjust my comment above:
"I'd be much more respectful of a young woman who thought enough of herself not to BE pregnant at such a young age."
Imusuallyright
I guess she is the only young woman to get pregnant at that age. I also guess that you are the picture of perfection...give me a break...
justasking---
Yep, nationwide, comprehensive sex education works incredibly well. That explains 50 million abortions in America in the past 33 years.
Teaching abstinence is preversion? Assuming that you meant perversion, it's still a bizarre thing to say. What do you mean?
IUR - Way to change the foundation of the discussion. Birth control in the sense that we are discussing and in the sense of what we teach our children more often than not in the public school system and privately at home is not 100%. You and Alan are incorrect here. But, then again, maybe I'm assuming and you and Alan were special teenagers and will be even more special parents whose children are infallible. The rest of us live in reality where we are raising children to be adults not automatons.
Hey Pinhead!!!! If it was Obamas daughter as you say-- It would be RAPE!!! Or incest or...... duh! Think Pinhead!
Think!
Peace
jdub911-
Not cool. Having sex before you're married doesn't make you a slut, and getting a DUI doesn't make you a bad person. Everyone makes mistakes.
That being said, I don't think it's fair for Palin and McCain to act like this is a non-issue and ask for privacy. If Palin cared that much about her daughter's privacy, she wouldn't have chosen to run with McCain. When you run for a position like this, every single thing you do, and your family does, is under scrutiny. She has known for a while that her daughter was pregnant. It sounds like her family is going through a really hard time right now, maybe it's not the best time for her to put them all under such pressure.
All privacy is gone in national politics. The Alaska Trial Court database shows Todd Palin's DUI in 2002. The family should be prepared for this stuff to become issues unfortunately. BTW...Is there any one in this state without a DUI (just kidding)? Even one DUI should be a big deal.
http://www.courtrecords.alaska.gov/pa/pa...
IUR - Maybe the young lady finds respect from those who believe differently from you or respect for herself and her own choice. I guess it's only a "choice" deserving of respect if the choice is to have an abortion
Looks to me like hypocrisy isn't something only found on the religious right.
jdub911..
Let me guess...you have made a such a mess out of your own life that you feel that you have to tell other people how best to live their own life....pathetic
andjustice4all- Very funny post.
I don't see an article about Obamas daughter having a baby.
Obama KNOWS how many homes he owns, I'm quite sure he wouldn't have to "think about it" before he would answer that question.
Make up your mind on what parents should do in the home Dana, geez, either you say parents need to be there for their kids or you say parents don't have any control over a child at all.
None of that changes the fact that either way, this makes Palin look extremely bad as a parent to ALLOT of people (people who manage to keep their kids mind's out of the gutter, like me).
Sorry "life happens" doesn't seem to be a good reason, more like a lame excuse, for CHILDREN having sex and making babies.
IUR---
I think that you'd be much more respectful if the young girl's mother wasnt Sarah Palin. Let's pretend that it is a Democrat candidate's daughter. Still white trash in your view? Maybe, but I doubt it.
Would you respect her more if she had an abortion?
At this point, all I can say is wow! Many judgemental people here falling on either side.
Refer to Paul Adasiaks post (9/1, 9:48am). Can we possibly discuss salient issues in a civil manner?
NEWS-MINER! SHUT THIS THREAD DOWN.
A lot of people consider abortion immoral and selfish.
A lot of people consider contributing to the world’s overpopulation and overconsumption problem selfish, greedy and immoral.
So, yes, g'les, I would. She's abusing her reproductive abilities.
LostAlaskan - I don't think I've wavered on my stance of what a parent should do - and in the end, it's up to the parents. I certainly don't think a parent should be judged for staying home. It's not contradictory.
Personally, I choose to be home with my children, but I'm not deluded into thinking that my choice will somehow preclude them from making their own choices - even ones that may hurt them. I'm sure your children's minds are NEVER in the gutter; you are the perfect parent and you have special children - (aren't we supposed to treat them like adults? Are they adults or children)?
Anyway, congratulations. I'm jealous, because neither me, my husband nor our three beautiful children are perfect.
Jesus said , let the one without sin cast the first stone . I see there are a few here without a single sin , almost unbelievable . I suppose all things are possible .
My personal view:
I don't support McCain, and I may for the first time hold my nose and not vote for a third-party candidate this year. That said, regardless of how optimistic I feel about Obama sometimes, I still don't think it matters greatly who wins the election, and until I see results I will remain suspicious of my own feelings of optimism.
Should McCain win, I think Palin's family will bring some issues to the forefront (whether they like it or not) that are sorely in need of public discussion. Todd Palin had a DUI, but continues to be a productive member of society. Sarah Palin is a female working executive in a two-income household with several children, including a special needs child. Bristol Palin is an un-wed pregnant teenager. All of these issues charge people emotionally. While I cringe at the thought of McCain's nominees for the Supreme Court, perhaps this will be an opportunity to reconsider the true implications of various scenarios (that affect all of us) under a more rational lens.
Good for Bristol to have made the decision that was right for HER.
Let's hope all women retain the right to decide what is best for themselves.
My lord, Lost. A parent that is there for their children has control over what those children do?
Alan - Not everyone can do an abortion. Sorry that you think it is that simple. One is left to wonder...have you had to choose? To face that ultimate decision? It is an ultimate decision for many who do NOT see it just as some cells.
IUR - People who feel like having children is contributing to world problems should likely not have children. Problem solved. You don't want anyone telling you what to do with your body... Hmmm. Hypocritical? Nahhhh.
I have always wondered what possessed Sarah to get on a plane while in labor.
But, this is her business and I am content to leave it at that.
Imusuallyright
Perfect?
I think I'll bow out of this conversation - for now anyway; I admit to having some difficulty here remaining neutral and civil.
In the end, I agree with Christina Uticone.
Good luck, Bristol. It's tough, but rewarding.
daminihouse-
It also states that she is getting married, which doe not necessarily mean she will be in White House.
Yes, she is a kid raising a kid, it is unfortunate but it happens all the time.
Corrine-
Thanks for responding, I don't think we disagree on everything.
You know what, I am a bit tired of this thread, and all of those in here that are nothing but bashers. When dirt comes up on the other side, the same people will be protecting the other side no matter what. And I suppose thats the way it should be. I would just rather have some substantial debating- not this mud slinging frenzy, and I am signing out of the discussion.
DVD-
I never said I or my family are perfect, stop making things up....again.
Just because YOU wanted to have sex when you were a teen doesn't mean that every other little girl does.
That doesn't mean I'm saying I'm perfect or you're wrong, I'm just saying that my daughter isn't interested in boys.
She is interested in sports, education, fishing/hunting and her family, not much time for boys YET (when she is 18 and not living in my house then she will be an "adult" and I will trust her judgment).
The Palins have put their family in the spotlight--she has repeatedly talked about being a mother of 5, campaigns with the kids on a bus (they are not in school???) and is open and public about her family. So it is pretty hard to now announce it's a private matter. They have chosen to have their children in the public eye, much more so than the Clintons, the Bushes, or other politicos with kids. I barely remember the names of Knowles's kids. And now a 17 year old is five months pregnant. That can happen whether or not the parents work, are in the public spotlight, or whatever. It is an unfortunate thing--but some things in life are like that and you make the absolute best of them and do what you can to support the baby and the young mother. But to talk of her getting married at this time in a positive way is silly. Why compound one mistake with another? If when they are more mature the young people want to marry, sure.
Leave it to liberal democrats to bloviate a page of text about how we shouldn't talk about this. & "What if she was a liberal?"
They're walking the walk & living their values.
3 votes for Palin from our family.