1. Lori | 09.01.08

I would like to see or read about the results of at least TWO independent pregnancy tests confirming that Bristol is pregnant. I’m THAT suspicious. She just happens to be five-months-pregnant as the rumors and discussion about the son being the governor’s grandson start to shoot across the Internet. COME ON! I predict that one of the next headlines in this story will read, “Miscarriage!” This is crazy.

2. Stephanie | 09.01.08

All I can say is that she is and never will be supermoan! She should have been more at home if she wanted to have such a large family. The family comes firrst. I don;t know if Trig is her’s or her daughter’s. But if Trig is her’s she should have stayed home longer! And she should have paid more attention to her childs futrue then her own!…..
I am still for Obama because just with the comment he made here he shows grace as a human! OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA!!!!

3. PacificGatePost | 09.01.08

THIS NEITHER ADDS OR TAKES FROM SARAH PALIN AND HER TRACK RECORD AS GOVERNOR

She shook up Alaska to its political and financial core.

McCain has made a bold and telling move selecting someone with Chief Executive experience – the only one to have any - of the four running for the White House.

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/08/mccains-renewal-sarah-palin.html

Her EXPERIENCE, as short as it is, speaks volumes for her character. … Something many in Congress would do well to emulate.

4. Jimmy | 09.01.08

My prayers go out to Bristol, the father-to-be, and their families as they work through this personal matter. Thanks, Barack, for standing up for what’s right. I wish John McCain and the Republicans would do the same.

5. Harry G | 09.01.08

I don’t know whether to laugh or vomit at the evangelicals. If Obama had a pregnant 17 year old daughter, the fundies would be screaming that his own family demonstrates his moral inability to lead. But since it’s the GOP VP, they now gush over how wonderful a family the Palins are.

Dear God, deliver us from these self-righteous creeps.

6. Benny Ace | 09.01.08

I love how the Palins say that Bristol is “choosing life” — when in fact if the Republicans (and Mom Sarah in particular) had her way neither Bristol nor any other American female would have any choice at all.

7. The Six Pine Trees | 09.01.08

I’d say it’s nobody’s business and the Palin family should have their privacy respected, except that several things do make this a legitimate public matter:

1) As an anti-abortionist Palin wants to make other woman’s and girls’ private pregnancy crises a very public matter, enforcable with police and jails. “Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it.”

2) She is not only anti-abortion but anti-birth-control and anti-sex-education for teens aside from abstinence-only. Her own teen getting pregnant becomes an issue if she wants to keep every other teenager in America ignorant about birth control and how to get it.

8. Olna Reeves | 09.01.08

Yes, but Obama’s mom had him at a time before birth control, before sex was even discussed openly.

Today it is different. Jamie Lynn Spears (younger sister of Brittney) AND HER MOTHER were branded as morally degenerate, with “Hollywood values,” because Jamie got pregnant at 16. And yet Republicans would now like us to view this Palin baby as a joyous event, full of meaning for pro-life, and something that we aren’t even supposed to think twice about as a reflection of her upbringing.

Of course, it shouldn’t be something Obama needs to comment on, and he has such extraordinary character. He makes McCain and Palin look ridiculous, with their Republican Family Values.

Never mind that Bristol Palin was made to heft around a baby, for photo ops with her mother, to hide her pregnant bulge. They’d probably have her pulling a sled in the Iditorod, if they thought it would make a good photo op for mom.

9. Andrea | 09.01.08

It is not about personal or political life. There is just one problem with this whole incidence. She is underage. She is 17. Hence, not even a complete adult. She cannot even vote. The question is whether this is the sort of conservative leadership that republicans were looking forward to. In some states consensual sex with a minor amounts to a rape (in Georgia for example). The question is whether the conservatives can now claim their holier than though stand on a number of issues including teen pregnancy.

10. Jazziette | 09.01.08

Shhhhhhh……whatever you do don’t speak a word! We must not say anything about this because we’ve told we shouldn’t. Why should it concern us anyway? After all this person who is running for VP could be the next President soon if the Republicans are elected in November. But….we should never ever mention anything about this subject matter because it involves a young teenage girl and she is pregnant and should have her privacy and we have no right to know anything or to say anything about this very extremely delicate issue!

Uhhh…….okay, but gosh! I mean, I thought that Governor Palin was a pro-lifer and against birth control and for abstinance. I’m confused here. Will someone please help me understand this? Okay….here’s where I’m hung up. Does Palin think that it’s just okay to engage in pre-marital sex at such a young age, without the protection of contraceptives? I mean…shouldn’t I, as a voter, know how she feels about things like this? It seems reasonable to me to ask vital questions like this, especially in lieu of this latest development. Why is it that I have this nagging feeling in my gut that says to me that Governor Palin is somewhat irresponsible and probably not the greatest parent around? Could it be the way she handled her own pregnancy? Assuming she was indeed the one who was pregnant. After all, there are rumours to the contrary and this latest announcement doesn’t really nullify those rumours. In a way it makes them appear somehow more plausible.

Am I condemning anyone here for this ’situation’? No, I really am not. I’m not condemning Palin or her daughter in the slightest. We are all humans and we all make mistakes. Some of us get caught and some of us don’t. But basically what happens to us is because of the way we are raised and that’s a fact. It seriously is a fact.

Psssssttttt…..don’t tell anyone but I had a child out of wedlock when I was a teenager too. This is not a secret as I had it on my radio website and also spoke of it often on my radio talk show in which I spoke of True Love. I shared this information with my listeners and my fans not to make them think it was okay, but to let them know the truth and to help them to understand the consequences of what can happen when we don’t follow the rules of society. I encouraged them not to be promiscuous ever. Now I’m not saying that I was promiscuous because I wasn’t and I’m also not saying that Bristol was promiscuous. I have no idea what her sexual behaviour was like. But I will say this. I feel that I can blame my parents for what happened to me. Oh it was really my fault. Ultimately the fault was my own. I knew better. I really did! But the biggest reason I got pregnant was because the opportunity was there and the need to be loved. I had no supervision at that crucial time in my life and my parents were too busy with their own lives and work to wonder or even ask what was going on in my young life. I didn’t have that “Leave it to Beaver” or “Father Knows Best” upbringing. Okay, most kids don’t these days but the lack of moral values in our society today is not only shocking, it is alarming!

As for my own pregnancy, I chose to not have it terminated as well and was ’sent off’ to a home for unwed mothers. My family didn’t want me to marry the boy, who was too young to earn a living or to be a good father. The decision was reached by all concerned, including the boy’s parents, that I would give the baby up for adoption. I felt at the time it was a good decision, even though it saddened me deeply. Unfortunately, when my baby was born it had an abnormality that would be fatal, within two weeks. When they informed me of his condition it was the most horrible news of my life. It was the first time I knew what depression was like.

The baby died and I went on with my life but I can assure you that it had a profound impact on how I would feel about this subject matter, birth control, teen pregnancy and family values for the rest of my life.

After I married later on (not pregnant I will add) I had two beautiful daughters. I began to teach them sexual responsibility at an early age, always encouraging them to use abstinance but knowing that there was a probability they would not, once they reached a certain age. At this age I arranged for my physician to give me birth control pills for them and when they reached the age of 15 I told them where the pills were and told them that if they ever felt the need to use them that I would prefer for them to do that than risk becoming pregnant. I in no way encouraged them to have sex prematurely or without being married but I wanted to do what I felt was the responsible thing. I told both my daughters that they could either tell me they were taking the pills or not tell me, but that I would prefer if they did. Now, to protect my daughter’s privacy as I’m not running for public office, much less the Vice Presidency of the United States, I will not reveal if they chose to take them or not. I am only saying what I did. Neither of my daughter ever experienced what I did. The shame and the guilt and the experience of having a child out of wedlock and then the horror of having that child die. Another thing is this. I was there for them! And I was employed at the time as well. But I still was with my children and saw to their emotional needs as much as any parent I have ever known of.

I have no ill feelings toward Governor Palin and certainly none for her daughter, Bristol. I don’t know if there is any basis for the rumours that the child known as Trig could also be the child of Bristol and as I have posted here before it would be of importance here in that if it was proven to be true it would also prove that she was involved in a lie and a cover-up and this would not be acceptable for the person who could conceivably be our next President one day.

What I think should happen here is that Governor Palin should quietly back out of this race for the Vice President and should go back to Alaska and take care of her family.

I think we, the American people, deserve a Vice President who is more responsible and more accountable and who will not threaten to take away the rights of women everywhere to use birth control as a means of contraception and also who would threaten to have Roe vs Wade struck down.

In ending let me also say this: God bless little Trig and God Bless young Bristol and the child she is carrying.

In fact I will go a step farther in saying “God bless the Palin family.” But at the same time I call for her to suspend her campaign as running mate of John McCain’s in the unfortunate event that they just might get elected in the fall.

If the last eight years haven’t taught us something then we are impossible to educate.

We simply must insist on absolute honesty and accountability in our elected officials and their conduct. And because of the issues this candidate represents it makes this of vital importance to each and every voter. When you run for Vice President of the United States you basically give up your privacy.

It’s really just that simple!

~ Jazziette
http://politicalfriendsunitedfor.smfforfree4.com/

11. Sherry | 09.01.08

Urban legend for a fact.

My first reaction as well.

This tale is as far fetched as the John Edward, Rielle Hunter tale.

What ever happened to that rumor?

Did someone dream both tales up?

Did Rielle have a child or was that all hype? Where are the photos of Rielle holding her child?

And now here is a tale of the Governor of Alaska, age 44, with a FOUR month old son. Birth date appears to be April 18, 2008.

Somebody out there is having the same old dream again.

Only the “Democratic Blogger” who started the rumor is the Governor of Alaska herself.

In a newpaper report Governor Palin gives details of how she awake at 4:00AM in a Texas hotel room, suffering of some signs of early labor with a fetus which she claimed she knew would be born with some physical challenges.

Instead of seeking medical help at once at one of the many fine hospitals in Texas she instead decided to wait some eight hours to give the keynote luncheon speech at noon that day. Then, in the company of her husband and the baby’s father, she made the choice to fly back to Alaska, and travel back to her home town to deliver the child. When she arrived at the hospital she had been showing signs of labor for nearly 19 hours and she describes certain events in her own words that would raise concerns about the health of her unborn child.

Next she claims, the doctor induced labor and at 6:30 the next morning the child was delivered.

Clearly the baby was in some distress or labor would not have been induced. The usual procedure is to give drugs that halt labor, and such drugs would have been given if the child has some known physical problems and was male. Male children are more likely to show signs of respitory destress when delivered early.

And the Governor of Alaska, tough hockey mom and last frontier gal that she is, give birth to a premature 6 pound 2 ounce baby boy.

Premature babies weigh less than 5 pounds.

This premature baby was not given any special care. Instead he was released from the hospital and taken home. Three days later this premature infant went to work with his mom.

All the mother’s own story.

For generations parents have had to face the unhappy news that a beautiful child, be it a son or a daughter, is pregnant. And sometimes the grandparents make the choice to raise the child as their own and let it’s parent move on with life. And that choice is a private one.

Some grandparents, for whatever reason, decide to give out the story the child is their own. Again that is a private choice.

And they all go on with their lives.

But when a grandparent makes such a choice and then goes on to annouce to the world that he or she is some kind of a saint and a Pro-Life poster person because they chose to bring a challenged child to term then they are exploiting that child and it’s condition. Why would a person even bring that subject up?

And then when the grandparent decides to become Vice President of the United States and makes that statement to the entire country, then they have crossed another line. Who cares if she is raising her child or her grandchild? It is all the same. But I care that she is casting herself as some kind of a saint because she chose to raise this challenged child. SHE BROUGHT THE SUBJECT UP!!

And then if a grandparent did decide to raise their grandchild, and to declare themselves a saint in the process, why would they then drag that infant and its mother across the country, forcing her to stand on stage and hold that child in her arms while they paraded around and waved and smiled and underscored the lie even more?

But wait, he can’t be the daughter’s son. The rumors are all true after all. The daughter is five months pregnant. The infant is four months old. The daughter simply cannot be his mother. That would be physicially impossible

Oh, so now we have a woman who let her 17 year old daughter, five months pregnant, stand on the stage and hold her four month old son while she walked around and waved and smiled and made a speech. Never once did she touch the child nor take him in her arms. In fact she walked over to touch her DAUGHER’S arm, and did not touch the child at all.

Then she takes her 17 year old daughter, five months pregnant, on a bus ride into an area preparing for a major summer storm, along with her 4 month old son and leaves the pregnant daughter to care for this special needs infant?

I think we are describing an woman self-centered in the extreme.

I feel sorry for the 17 year old daughter. When the bloggers stop talking and this is all swept under the rug, what sort of live will she have? She has been packed back home to Alaska to dwell in the shadows while her mother is center stage in the fall election. And who will take care of the special needs infant now? Or did he go home with her? But he can’t go home with her. He is a breat fed baby and must be near his mother. Unless he WAS packed back to Alaska with his mother.

What is child abuse?

The Governor of Alaska appears to be self centered, selfish, and self concerned.

And may I add that it is my right as a citizen of the United States to express my opinion. And it is the right of everyone else to express their opinion. Even those who express themselves by going on these blog sites and calling people ***** and other names becasue they are posting comments on this matter, even they have a freedom of speech. Fire us all if you want. Maybe we can all crowd on the real Vice President’s plane when he leaves for Georgia. We might have a better chance at freedom of speech there.

12. Suzette | 09.01.08

The news of Palins’ daughters preganacy is personal and does not affect her ability to perform as a VP. Let’s not make this into a soap opera or gossip. We need to comcentrate on the issues and decide who is capable of running our country. We should focus our attention and energies on what we are trying to accomplish and not become “side tracked” by someones personal and family issues. Those of us that have teens, know we cannot make all their decisions for them. I would expect nothing less than for the Palins to support and love their daughter unconditionally.

13. Jonathan Swift | 09.01.08

Here we go again! The “Family Values Party” will, once again, spin this occurrence into a positive. After savaging Lynne Spears for the pregnancy of her daughter, Jamie Lynn, the right-wing pundits will now, somehow, some way, spin this into a heroic act of courage, fortitude, blah-blah, ad nauseum…

No matter what the issue du jour is: adultery, corruption, homosexuality, etc.; for the “Family Values Party,” they will somehow attempt to portray this as a positive for Sarah Palin. Lynne Spears, mind you, will still castigated as a failure as a parent, but not Sarah Palin. After all, it’s “different” when a Republican does it, right?

14. Socrates | 09.01.08

Greetings:

A presidential candidate’s first important decision is selecting a running mate. Mr. McCain has shown bad judgment in choosing Sarah Palin for his ticket.

As Charles DeGaulle said “the cemeteries are full of irreplaceable men.” God help us if Senator McCain were to be elected and he was unable to serve out his full-term.

Barak Obama is properly taking the moral high road in not making Governor Palin’s family’s problems into campaign issues. This is honorable. That being said: query whether (i) if Governor Palin abused her office in a vendetta against her former brother-in-law — does this remind anyone of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales abusing his position for firing U.S. attorneys for not following political dictates (and Mr. Bush allowing him to remain in office), and (ii) while one can respect Governor Palin’s daughter’s decision to keep the baby and is fortunate that she will be able to marru the man (boy) who got her pregnant, what would the Governor’s and Senator’s McCain’s view on the situation if this were not the case? For example: (i) the pregnancy were the result of rape or incest or (ii) a less responsible biological father were involved. Fortunately, Ms. Palin’s family can support financially the new addition into their extended family, but what if this were not the case and adoption were not an option since the family was less accepting — i.e. the young women would be abused by her parents and subject to ridicule by her peers (or worse).

No one is happy about the number of abortions performed in this country; adoption is preferable when possible, but women (and in the case of MINORS, their parents or doctors should be involved in the decision-making process) should have the right to terminate the pregnancy during the first trimester.

Recent events since Governor Palen’s suggestion to his running mate have the quality of being a bad novel. Perhaps, she should follow Thomas Eagleton’s lead. At least, the Governor has not formally received the nomination. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins (or even Kay Hutchinson) are reasonable alternatives if Mr. McCain is fixated on picking a woman.

15. Tinya | 09.01.08

I realize that this ia a family matter. However, this woman is running for vice president and the same standard we have for Borak Obama to know about every part of his life, being, and values should be the same for this canidate. Also, why does this young child have to get married? and did all involve with ommitting this information think it would resonate with the American public better if she would be married?

This is very sad and for those who think it should not be discussed, I think they are wrong. Maybe these parents need to spend more time with their family.

16. Jeremiah | 09.01.08

If you haven’t read the Daily Kos posting that started this story, you really should. The photos and the bizarre birth scenario definitely make this “birth cover-up” seem plausible.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/30/121350/137

In fact, conservative bloggers have found this random blog posting from April that they claim “proves” Gov. Palin was pregnant - but when you know the official birth story, the PolarTrec post actually begs the controversy further… that a picture in of a mother in the middle of a premature birth???!!!! WHATEVER!!!!!

http://www.polartrec.com/node/3944

17. joe | 09.01.08

I feel sorry for Bristol and agree that her pregnancy is a family matter.

However, I have serious problems with Palin hiding this pregnancy — if you look at the recent pictures where Bristol is there, you can see she is carrying her brother in an attempt to hide the pregnancy. I feel this is a big sign of how Palin was not upfront about this issue which although is a family issue, is something that she should have been up front about. She wants to be vice president of our country.

And it is so hypocritical of the christian conservatives because if obama or biden’s kid was an unwed mother, they would be crucifying them.

Vote for decency and character - vote obama/biden ‘08. Don’t let our country be the Jerry Springer Show of the Free World.

18. Randi Overton | 09.01.08

Im very disturbed at the utter double standarad going on. The self appointed Evangelical Right has nothing to say about the immoral prcatices of this underage girl? The mother is failing at her parental reaponsibilities and should be giving her special needs child the attention he needs. Why is that family choosing politics over quality parenting? Why is Mccain not making better choices? This choice is not maverick-like. It’s irresponsible and promotes immoral values. The 10 comandments not only forbid killing(abortion), but it also forbids fornication and adultry. neither of those 2 represent Christian values. Move over, Peg and Al Bundy. Here come the Palins.

19. Reality Sue | 09.01.08

I just can’t conceive of either scenario - Mommie Dearest on an airplane from Alaska to Dallas and back or the daughter’s “surprise” pregnancy, undisclosed to the public. In either event, ewwwwww! Creepy stuff! No “independent” urine test would convince me she’s pregnant.

20. broussca | 09.01.08

Don’t you just love it!?! It’s all in the spin. If the daughter of democratic party political candidate were pregnant, the headlines would scream IMMORALITY!!! But the underage daughter of a republican party candidate who doesn’t believe in sexuality education, birth control, or abortion (even if the pregnant child happened to be a 12-year-old who had been raped) is pregnant and the headline reads LIFE HAPPENS! It baffles me.

21. Horace McMillon | 09.01.08

Did Palin’s remarks indicate that she wants her 17 year old daughter to get married? Children make mistakes. This incident does not by itself say anything about the parents. If Palin is saying she wants her 17 year old to get married to the baby’s daddy at this time- now that would say something. Not sure if it’s good.

22. John | 09.01.08

“The news of Palins’ daughters preganacy is personal and does not affect her ability to perform as a VP. Let’s not make this into a soap opera or gossip. We need to comcentrate on the issues and decide who is capable of running our country. We should focus our attention and energies on what we are trying to accomplish and not become “side tracked” by someones personal and family issues. Those of us that have teens, know we cannot make all their decisions for them. I would expect nothing less than for the Palins to support and love their daughter unconditionally.”

Suzette - Yes, it is a personal matter. Unfortunately, Palin is part of a ticket to lead and guide the entire country. Her unwed, 17 yr old daughter, going against what Gov. Palin preaches to everyone else is a direct reflection on Palin’s abilities to lead and guide people. If she has no control over her own child, which she is primarily responsible for, then we need to look at whether she can be responsible as a leader for 300 million other people. This matter is not just whether Bristol will have the baby or will get married, but also about the root matter. Palin’s daughter was having sex before marriage, when Palin is telling everyone else to do the opposite.

23. Suzette | 09.01.08

Since when do we worry about politicians morals? Look at what Clinton did in the oval office and he remained popular. Palin’s morals are not in question and since when do women have to be the one that stays home to take care of her special needs son? This child has a capable Dad too. A parent can’t lock up their kids to keep them from having sex. I shutter to think that as a parent we are judged by what our kids do. This is the problem with many….we can’t stay on task nor can we focus on the issues. We seem to forget about Obama’s minister and what Michele Obama said in her speech about being the first time she was proud of the US. Let’s step out of our opinionated boxes….keep open minds and not be so judgemental of others and make an educated decision on the important issues.

24. pk | 09.01.08

Before any of this came out I was suspicious of a woman with five children that could find time to be Governor and still be a good mother. If someone decides to have so many children they should also take the time to raise and care for them. Just popping out babies doesn’t make you a good mother. Anyone who has had children knows you can’t do it all without sacrifice. It seems Palin has chosen to sacrifice her children for her career. She’s shown herself to nothing but a selfish beauty queen. I don’t know why Christians are standing behind such behavior. Most mothers would put their children’s welfare before their own aggrandizement. As an American and Christian I have right and obligation to scrutinize the character of our elected officials. To me it shows that McCain and the religious right care more about their political agendas than selecting a VP with experience and character.

25. MagikJack | 09.01.08

So the 17 year old daughter is off limits, but what about Sarah and Todd’s shotgun elopement (elopement anniversary Aug. 29, 1988) and the birth 8 months later of oldest son, Track (DOB: April 20, 1989). While it is possible Sarah was ***** and just had to get hitched that night and Track was conceived on his parent’s elopement night. It’s also possible he was conceived out of wedlock a month earlier!

The hypocrisy of it all is infuriating! Absence only education? Crazy talk coming from a woman who herself didn’t practice what she is preaching!

26. MagikJack | 09.01.08

Okay, so the 17 year old daughter is off limits, but what about Sarah and Todd’s shotgun elopement (elopement anniversary Aug. 29, 1988) and the birth 8 months later of oldest son, Track (DOB: April 20, 1989). While it is possible Sarah just had to get hitched that night and Track was conceived on his parent’s elopement night.

It’s also possible he was conceived out of wedlock a month earlier!

The absolute hypocrisy of it all…

27. PTA mom | 09.01.08

Okay-If McBush and VP McShame stay out of my personal life..I will stay out of theirs…but, then again, they have no intention of doing that.

No matter what, the brilliant pick of “hot” Sarah Palin and her “dishy” husband isn’t enough to sugar coat this pig of a team; self-rightous, revolting, superficial patriotism-they are corrupt and liars. It’s a farce. I’ve had enough of the GOP..Obama has my vote!

28. Rick | 09.01.08

Like with Bill Clinton and Monica, what happened is interesting, but the REAL story is the cover-up. Just what was the McCain-Palin plan for dealing with the situation if it hadn’t been prematurely revealed? A surprise elopement? A secret abortion? ???? No speculation is too sinister for Mr Rove and his cabal.

29. Rebecca | 09.01.08

How do we keep the press honest to dig in and find out the truth? There are too many questions about Palin to let this go — considering the high stakes job she is after as citizens we DESERVE to know. This is not just a family matter with all the questions and concerns. Was she covering for her daughters pregancy with the birth of her fifth child? Can she produce pictures of her pregancy that can be verified as to 2007? Will she have her son take a DNA test to determine that she and her husband are the parents? Why did she take an 8 hour flight (after a keynote) to travel home to give birth at a small hospital that might not have been set up for a pre-term birth of a baby with special needs? Did she nurse the baby?
Please please stay on this - we cannot continue with liars in office.

30. michael | 09.01.08

WOW…

I am a republican… This news has just ruined my day. I CAN NOT support a hypocritical party platform and this just takes the cake. This girl is a minor and the Palin family supports a total disreguard for sex education and they apparently have ZERO parenting skills to have let their 17 yr old get in this situation.

I attend church every sunday and am a good Christian, but now i can NOT support a party that says one thing and does another.

I truly hope all evangelicals and my other brethren look at this very carefully.. You will see your party does not care about your true isues anymore.

I have to place my vote with Barack/Biden this election. Yes, i am swithing parties and il tell you why.

One word… Integrity.

The Democratic party has been steadfast and true, i must admit. The issues in all our lives are real and the Dems are ready to handle it properly.

Why?

One word.. Integrity.

We all (good christians) must vote for the democrat party in Nov if we truly care about our children and grandchildrens future. I no longer see this possibility with the republican party. I see very clearly, they dont care about people. The dems are about people.. You and me.

I am chaning my platform for 2008 and voting democrat.

I love my children/grandchildren too much to make this mistake.

Its going to be Obama/Biden… It MUST be Obama/Biden

31. Jon B | 09.01.08

The conservatives wants to impose their views on everyone yet they wouldn’t even practice what they preach. The Evangeligal Right are all Hypocrites.

Someone need to teach Sarah about contraception or is she against that too. She is so conservative that she refuses to take care of her own family. I mean, she wouldn’t take care of her 4 months old baby nor pay attention to her 17 year old pregnant daughter.

32. bluesonowcone | 09.01.08

I have no doubt that Sarah will be able to perform her job as vice president. She’s a governor right now. It’s only her kids who are paying the price by being neglected and showing up preggers while being underage. You go Sarah! Great politician, absent mother.

33. comment | 09.01.08

Obama is right on–families are off limits.
Senator Clinton is right on, also. No way! No how! No McCain!

34. Earl E | 09.02.08

Can you name one human condition that always interferes with work?

A sick child. Parents are easily distracted when their own child is hurting.

This woman could easily be forgiven for tending personal matters while also being President of the USA. But how many times and in how many ways and for how long could these normal and natural distractions continue before we realized that being President and being a mother of 5, parent of a premature baby, and soon to be grandparent with many hard decisions down the road, should tend to her family.

McCain should return his own Presidential nomination since he has no chance at all of becoming president. The only way he could get elected is if he picked Hillary tp be VP.

Has anyone seen Ron Paul?

35. Charles Carreon | 09.02.08

John McCain’s impetuous choice has just jumped up to bite him in the rear. This is no minor matter from his point of view. He certainly would not have chosen Gov. Palin as his running mate if she had told him that Bristol was effectively an unwed mother-to-be, so it must be that Gov. Palin held out on him. Accordingly, she showed terrible judgment in keeping such a loaded secret, and he demonstrated an unacceptable gullibility in failing to demand and obtain total disclosure of all relevant facts before he announced her as his running mate. All of this assumes that the little boy is in fact the Governor’s son, and not that of her daughter Bristol. I haven’t reached any conclusions about that story, that should be resolved in short order by disclosure of relevant, dispositive medical records.

The citations to the savaging of the Spears girl for having “Hollywood morals” is quite relevant. The essence of good judgment is applying the same standards to everyone who is being judged. Indeed, it appears that the Evangelical Right has forgiveness for its own in abundance, and condemnation in equal abundance for those who do not share their views.

This is far from a private matter. If the governor supports laws that would restrict a woman’s right to end an unwanted pregnancy, obtain access to birth control, or even be educated about the basic “facts of life,” her own family situation provides an object lesson on the folly of these policies. As the first woman VP, and mother of five (or four, perhaps) the voters would expect her to deal meaningfully with women’s issues, and if the proof of the pudding is in the eating, I want no part of her cooking.

Practically speaking, it also seems that the governor has her hands full with family matters. It is inconceivable that with an infant with Downs syndrome, a pregnant 17-year old in the house, a new son-in-law to cope with, and three other children to care for, that she can handle the affairs of another 300 million American citizens. This is not sexism. If her husband were trying out for the job, I’d have much the same concern, although it is comforting that he can handle a team of huskies, which must fit him for some sort of service in Washington.

With the nation’s international prestige hanging in the balance, with Vlad Putin breathing giving us the raspberry, Ehud Olmert losing his position in Israel, Musharraf off his throne, Pakistan sliding into the Taliban’s hands, the dollar precarious, the oil-producig nations resurgent, and the economy on the edge of a precipice, all we’d need is for McCain to kick the bucket, and put Miss Wasilla in the White House. Might as well just bring back the Decider and send in a hurricane to seal our doom.

36. daniel | 09.02.08

If someone questioned whether or not I was the parent of a child, I would get maybe the doctor the delivered the baby and the birth certificate. Instead, Sarah Palin goes with claiming the baby can’t be her daughters because she is five months pregnant now (when the last baby is 4 1/2 months old. Further, Palin went back to work 3 days after have her down syndrome baby Trig? Plus, at seven months she wasn’t showing at all? Plus her daughter has supposedly been out of school for 5 months with MONO? It all adds up to Sarah Palin being at best a shady character, at worst someone who tried to tell a small lie to Alaska, which all of the sudden grew to a huge lie.

37. Robert | 09.02.08

“The self appointed Evangelical Right has nothing to say about the immoral practices of this underage girl?”

“And it is so hypocritical of the christian conservatives because if obama or biden’s kid was an unwed mother, they would be crucifying them.”

I see these statements and I think back to Jamie Lynn Spears and how the leading Christian organizations did not speak bad about her and issued statements of support for her and complimented her on her decision to keep her baby.

People say Christian Conservatives would crucify Obama’s kid yet do we have any history of this ever happening? I have never seen a press release like that from Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, National Right to Life, etc. in my working in the media and politics.

While people, including Christians can be judgmental, I think it is unfair to paint people with a broad brush or assume that they are going to do something bad when they have not. In America we assume innocent unless someone is proved guilty and so I think it is best to refrain from saying, “oh that person would have done this or that” as assuming the worst about people is not an American thing to do. If people do us wrong, let’s call that out, let’s not call out people because we THINK they will do wrong. That is not what Americans do. We are better than that.

38. Washington Rising | 09.02.08

The sincere facts of this matter is that Obama has a clear and defiant personal hatred of women, his attitude toward Clinton being only one of the insurmountable examples that have been recently publicly exposed. From where such a raging hatred comes is looking to be during his upbringing and those many unaccounted years he had spent as an operative and supporter of terrorist extremists campaigning with absolute vengeful hatred against America and all Americans. This follows the definite and dangerous pattern of Obama’s claimed rise toward absolute power within the national and political boundaries of America as a means of striking America with absolute fatality and dread from within.

39. carole in ohio | 09.02.08

I just GIVE UP! I feel like I just landed in “Twillight Zone” meets “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” I turned on MSNBC to hear Republican talking points of “How Bristol Palin’s pregnancy is a big NET POSITIVE for the John McCain Campaign”. Right now, I feel like I’m in an insane assylum. Am I dreaming? Is this REALLY happening? One question folks: What would the Republicans be saying if this were the Obama Family?

40. Anon | 09.02.08

I agree with Lori that a fictive “miscarriage” will occur. The evidence points to Bristol being Trig’s mother. If Palin is not in fact Trig’s mother, what would be her motive for deception? What would make the Alaskan legislature speculate that Palin is Trig’s grandmother? Why was Bristol kept out of high school for 5+ months? Is Bristol back in school? What is Alaska state truancy laws? Was a doctor’s note stating that Bristol had mono forged when in fact she was pregnant? There’s lots of unanswered questions and it sounds like the McCain/Palin ticket offers more of the same.

41. Boyd Malloy | 09.02.08

Someone will find a way to blame Obama for this. Beware an amniocentesis that shows the kid is a Muslim.

42. Kb | 09.02.08

No, all evangelicals will not rally behind Palin, nor McCain.

I am an evangelical. My reasons are as follows:

The least evangelicals can do is to hold John McCain to the same standard as they held Bill Clinton. Adultery by a Republican Navy captain is just as much a sin as adultery by a Democratic president.

For 23 of the 25 years John McCain has been in Washington, we have had a Republican president and/or a Republican senate majority. Abortions are just as available as aspirin. A McCain presidency won’t change anything. Roe V. Wade cannot be overturned. The Rove machine just wants us to think it can. The court decision is actually not a result of activist judges. It is established law. There are no examples of this kind of law being overturned.

You cannot be pro-life and support keeping American troops in Iraq for another 100 years. You cannot be pro-life while paraphrasing the Beach Boys promoting an aggressive war on Iran. God hates hands that shed innocent blood, period — Proverbs 6:16-18. It doesn’t matter whether those hands belong to an abortionist or an infantry corporal.

We Christians have forgotten that our citizenship is first and foremost in Heaven –Philippians 3:20 — and that Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world –John 18:36. We follow leaders like McCain who are so desperate for earthly glory that they will totally disregard Christianity in order to attain it. What shall it profit a man –(Matthew 16:26) James Dobson now says that he will endorse John McCain. That says it all.

I for one am not going to vote for a man who hires Karl Rove to help pick Sarah Palin simply to get my vote. In 2000 the republicans counted on evangelicals not thinking for ourselves. They were right. In 2004, they counted on us not thinking for ourselves again. Again, they were right. Not this time. I’m thinking for myself, and encouraging my fellow church goers to do the same.

She is someone who wants to teach our children abstinence when this teaching did not work in her own home.

I have heard other Christians excusing Palin because her daughter is going to marry the baby’s dad and because she is keeping the baby - they are using that as an excuse for pre-marital sex. A perfect example of “do as I say not as I do” let me change the laws to what I think its correct even though its not what I will personally do. And best of all the Christians organizations are excusing her.

Religion and politics is a dangerous mix, this is just a good reminder as to why we have separation of religion and state.

I am devoted, active, and evangelical.

And I will not vote for John McCain for president.

43. Christin | 09.02.08

What people are forgetting to mention here is that Palin’s daughter is a separate person with her own thoughts, and decision-making abilities. Whether her decisions are right or wrong, it is admirable that Palin is making the stand to continue to support and love her family through tough times as well as smooth. Name one family out there that hasn’t had challenging times to weather- Liberal or conservative. Political beliefs aside, we are all human, and apt to make mistakes. It is how one handles the storm that shows the real merit of the person. As every parent knows, you can raise your children to a certain point, and hope that they make wise choices. But ultimately everyone is their own person, and will make their own choices in the end. I don’t think that this shows hypocrisy, it shows reality. You can’t force someone to follow your own beliefs, you can only set an example, and hope that that is enough.

44. steve | 09.02.08

I doubt the earlier rumors about Sarah Palin being the true mother of Trig are true. However, I’m not sure that her daughter’s current pregnancy NECESSARILY refutes that theory, as the mass media seems to assume.

While the media consistently reports that Trig is a 5-month-old baby, the fact is that he is really just 137 days old, which is actually about 4 and a half months. Similarly, the media reports that Bristol is now “about” five months pregnant.

If that “about five months” is actually closer to 4 or 4-and-a-half months as well, it is conceivable that Bristol may have been Trig’s mom and that she has just managed to become pregnant very quickly after his birth. It’s an unlikely scenario, but so is Palin’s story about having her water break and then giving a speech in Texas and then flying to Seattle for a layover and then back to Alaska and then taking an extra trip to her home town hospital to give birth, even though she was an older, at-risk pregnancy and she was having a Downs’ Syndrome baby. Sounds equally implausible to me.

I’d still like Sarah Palin to release her medical records to set the record straight.

45. T961585 | 09.02.08

As an Independent, I will probably vote for Obama this election but I find the sycophantic liberal bloggosphere to be disgusting in finding this angle to tear down Mrs. Palin who is a very decent candidate, even if she has extremely rightist values and is a total political noob. Conservative moral values from Obama’s 18 year old mother are what saved Obama from abortion’s expediency and strong family values, again from his family, are what raised him into a decent man.

Our forefathers who wrote the constitution could not have envisioned a country so thoroughly soaked in spin machines nor needing public servants that would need to be so slick at political expediency and image. They expected common people and political noobs to answer the calling and not make it a career. Granted, the job description has also changed dramatically because our leaders are also now expected to be leaders of the “free world”.

But it’s a shame that a genuine frontier person and true Washington outsider has a slim chance against the modern political spin machine, especially at the highest levels. In terms of accomplishments, Palin’s short record is stronger on reform than Obama’s. And actions speak louder than words. But Obama is more likely to win because he’s far more saavy at the game than Palin.

Independents can trust Obama because he has good character despite having to renege from some earlier positions (partially in response to neocon spin machines). In the end, we are lucky to have people of good character in this election on both sides. But the system is more likely to produce the likes of multi-decade, career politicians and make our best public servants into master spin-doctors than offer up transparancy and true accountability in actions. That’s why we deserve the politicians we elect when we see Washington fail us year after year.

46. Tim | 09.02.08

I have to say that it is plausible that one can be very pregnant and not show. My wife is currently about to enter her 2nd trimester and doesn’t show at all. We have had friends whos wives were 7 months and I am not joking, they didn’t appear pregnant.just a little heavier.

So please stop with your insane suggestions and move on, after all Obama has said to do just that.

47. Dianne | 09.02.08

I would like to see so much debate about the candidates stands on gun control, universal health coverage, ways to get out of a culture of increasing debt, famine in the third world, and US responsibility to set an example of tolerance and principle in the world. These are issues that should concern us most as we choose a new executive team.

48. Trey | 09.02.08

Well… for starters if you would just look at any family in this country you will see things that don’t go just the way they should. When looking at a photo of Gov. Palin’s family you can’t help but think how wonderful of a family it is. It is a wholesome Christian family I see with good sound values. Her being away from home more running her State with a loving husband at home to look after things is a commitment and a sacrifice she has made for her great State. A sacrifice that EVERY Governer faces. But you don’t see it brought up because 99% of Gov. are men and their wives are home taking care of things.
I truly beleive that people should take a step back before judging people with hickups in there child rearing years. You cannot completely control a child, especially one that is almost an adult.

Sarah Palin has as much experience as Obama does in my opinion. He has been in the Senate for two years much of which he has been running for President and she has been Gov. That long. He has never visited foreign countries in a politiacal compacity before. Once he did he amazingly changes his views on the war and many more issues. He gained experience when he went on these trips and it broadened him. So has the experience of running a huge State economy and bringing her State into the modern era.

I applaud Sen. McCain for his selection. I beleive he is by far the most experienced and logical choice for our President. I truly Beleive that Gov. Palin was a wonderful choice and we should let her and her husband deal with their own children and not air that in public as well I beleive that the Democrats will not stop until they find some way to discrace her. I really don’t think they will find anything of substance though. Go McCain - Trey -Birmingham Alabama

49. Liz in CA | 09.02.08

So, according to the Republican McCains and Palins, it’s perfectly OK for Bristol Palin to be a teenaged girl pregnant out of wedlock, just as long as “she chose life!”.

And yet somehow I in my 40’s still can’t marry my same-sex (in 40’s) partner of over 13 years, childless by choice (let the religious couples who have 10-18 children count for mine, OK?).

Here’s the only part of my party I do understand:

http://www.republicansagainst8.org

50. Liz in CA | 09.02.08

Wrong URL — http://www.republicansagainst8.com

At least I can admit an error!

51. Suzette | 09.02.08

Thanks Dianne and Trey! Good to hear there are some sensible people out there. No double standards for either party and let’s use all this anger and energy and get to the important tasks at hand. McCain/Palin 08!

52. Suzette | 09.02.08

Well said Dianne abd Trey!

John- The root matter has been going on for centuries. Obama’s mom was only 18 when he was born. This isn’t about the candidate, it’s about her family. I have never heard anyone ask if a male presidential or VP candidate can be a good dad and be in politics. What a double standard. The Democrats are digging up dirt as they can’t find anything else in an attempt to discredit Palin. I will channel my energies toward the important issues at hand.

53. steve | 09.03.08

Just one more short comment. When the Trig controversy was first broached, the media was saying Trig was five months old, when in fact the child was less than 4.5 months old — and that is assuming that the child really was born on April 18th as Palin claims, or at some earlier date, with the child’s birth being kept secret for a while. If that is the case, Bristol’s current pregnancy does not necessarily disprove speculation that she was also Trig’s mother.

If we had medical records or the delivering doctor available for questions, we would have some confirmation as to Trig’s actual birthdate and actual mother. As it is, the possiblity that all these rumors about Bristol could be true is still open to debate.

54. michelle | 09.03.08

I don’t really care about Bristal Palin’s story. She’s only 17 ! For God’s sake! What I do care about is whether or not Palin commited felony by forgery involve Trig’s birth documents. The reason ? If Mccain wins, Palin will be a heartbeat from presidency : that becomes my business because I am an proud ameican. It is very easy to clean up the rumor by a statement issues from her doctor who delievered Trig and backing it up by all medical assisting staffs at the time Trig was boring. Some videos or pictures would be plus! Why not ??????!!!!! I do want to vote for Mccain but now if this very, very diturbing thing can not be cleared, I will have no choice but vote for Obama !

55. linda | 09.03.08

I was a pretnant woman a while age, so I know when an woman 7 month pretnant, she would not be able to sit and acted the way Palin did at the interviews, period. But it is so strange that I have hard time to believe the fake part. But then she’s from a small place far away from the rest of the country, and might not have the same value or law kind the thing in her, so she might just thought it not a big deal, ha! But now she should know better, out ! That’s the answer ! So Mccain can move on !

56. Sherry | 09.03.08

Amen, Kb. I think you said it all.

And Lori, do you think there will be a sad “miscarriage”? Or there might be another premature baby, maybe a 7 pound one this time. Those frontier women are tough!

57. Suzette | 09.03.08

With HIPAA regulations, no MD will give out medical information to the public. Who would want videos of their birth published? Does everyone really believe this urban legend?

58. sonfire | 09.06.08

Things with the daughter’s pregnancy and her’s smell fishy, but let’s say everythings on the up and up.

She still has to make the choice of child or career. My wife and I are progressive but she was a stay at home mom from the birth of my daughter until she started school.

Being a parent, especially a mother, is a 24hr a day job. Being president or Vice President in a time of war and failling economy is, as I can only imagine, a 24+hr a day job. If she is elected and focuses on the child her duties as VP will suffer. If she is elected and focuses the job then the raising of the child ( a special needs child) will suffer.

I don’t think either is a good scenario. I think it takes a village to raise a child and I think we as the village have a resopnsibilty to not ask or expect her to make this choice.

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