FAMILY matters: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin exited the stage at a rally Friday in Dayton, Ohio, with daughters Willow and Bristol, far left, holding Palin’s infant son Trig. (Mary Altaffer/AP)
Palin daughter’s pregnancy stirs GOP convention
But delegates say pregnancy humanizes the nominee for vice president.
By Linda Feldmann | Staff writer/ September 2, 2008 edition
Reporter Linda Feldmann discusses social conservatives' changing views, and why they may embrace Sarah Palin.
Reporter Linda Feldmann
St. Paul, Minn.
If there’s one thing everyone can agree on about Sarah Palin, John McCain’s choice of running mate, it’s that she is one busy woman.
She is governor of Alaska, now running for vice president, and is raising five children, including a special-needs baby. On the first day of the convention, Ms. Palin and her husband disclosed that their 17-year-old daughter is five months pregnant, and will have the baby, and marry the father.
In the past, the typical view of social conservatives would have been that Palin should be at home with her family. But social scientists have found that this attitude has shifted in the last 15 years or so, says Jim Guth, an expert on the politics of Christian conservatives at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.
“Among religious conservatives, there may be some kind of notion that a mother’s place is in the home, but that’s pretty well disappeared [from] reality,” Professor Guth says. “Most Christian conservatives are in the workforce. They understand that they have to be in the workforce and others like them have to be in the workforce. It’s a modern reality.”
Guth notes that the view of acceptable roles for fathers has also expanded and that in the Palins’ case, as her political career has soared, her husband has taken on more of the family duties.
Survey data bear out the shift in attitudes. In 1987, a Pew Research Center survey found that only 25 percent of Republicans and 20 percent of white evangelical Protestants completely disagreed with this statement: “Women should return to their traditional roles in society.”
In 2007, the numbers had shifted to 41 percent and 42 percent. Among Americans overall, the number rose from 29 percent to 51 percent.
James Dobson, head of Focus on the Family, an influential Christian conservative organization, has long asserted that mothers should be at home, but even he has embraced the selection of Palin and now says he’ll vote for the GOP ticket.
Gary Bauer, head of the group American Values, is also enthusiastic about Palin. “She will do more to promote the values of conservative pro-family people by making the sacrifices that come with this kind of government service” than by staying at home, says Mr. Bauer, who ran for president in 2000.
Monday’s revelation that Palin’s daughter Bristol is pregnant stunned conventiongoers and took McCain’s campaign even farther away from its message – that Democrat Barack Obama is not ready to lead – than did hurricane Gustav.
“Obviously, it’s not what these energized delegates want to hear,” says Susan MacManus, a political scientist from the University of South Florida in Tampa. Reaction among delegates has been twofold, she says: First, they wish they had been told up front about the pregnancy so they would not be blindsided. Second, they surmise that the situation humanizes Palin even more, as she and her family deal with an issue many American families face.
Bristol Palin’s decision to have the baby comports with the antiabortion views of many delegates here, so given the alternative, there is a good-news element to the story. But the pregnancy also puts the spotlight on Sarah Palin’s support for abstinence-only sex education, which opposes discussion of birth control for teens.
The news also reopened the question of how closely John McCain had vetted Palin before selecting her as his running mate, a move that surprised the political world last Friday. Now word that the McCain campaign dispatched a dozen staffers to Alaska last week, allegedly to continue investigating Palin’s background, has raised more questions.
The McCain campaign maintains that Palin was vetted as fully as the other potential running mates. “The team sent to Anchorage last week was the communications jump team, set up for whoever the pick was, to integrate their world into ours,” a top McCain official told Politico.com.
McCain officials also say Palin told them about her daughter’s pregnancy before her selection as running mate. “Many American families have experiences like this,” Mark Salter, a top McCain aide, said to reporters Monday. “Unfortunately, it has to play out in the public spotlight.”
The real challenge for Palin will come with press interviews about policy, says Dante Scala, a political scientist at the University of New Hampshire, Durham.
“How ready is she for that?” he asks. “She can pass vetting but still foul up on foreign policy. That will play a lot more than [Monday’s] news.”
For now, GOP delegates continue to applaud the choice of Palin despite, even because of, her pregnant daughter. “It’s just another reason that I think she’s great, because that pregnancy could be terminated very easily without anybody knowing, but again, they chose life,” says Valerie Citrano of Crawford, Texas, alluding to the fact that Palin chose to give birth to her son, Trig, knowing he was diagnosed in utero with Down syndrome.
Mary Knox Merrill contributed to this report.
Comments
2. Joy Ford | 09.02.08
McCain’s Exit Strategy
Presumably the Republican strategists have been reading the tea leaves and daily poll results notwithstanding, understand now more than ever that Barack Obama will win the presidential election this November. I think the lights went on for them during Senator Obama’s acceptance speech, when he reminded us all that this election was never about him; that it was in fact about something in the hearts and minds of the American people who are sick and tired of being sick and tired and want a government that respects them and is more responsive to their needs. The words resonated and left many people in the audience and at home nodding in agreement. It is indeed about us, the hardworking, decent people who have been the backbone of this country, but increasingly have been made to feel as if we have to come hat in hand to beg for some fairness and equity from the companies, corporations and even our own government with whom we have invested our time, talent and even our trust. Senator Obama was purely the medium by which the change that we have all been yearning for will come to fruition.
Having accepted this fact, the next step was to lay out the reality to John McCain. Mitt Romney did not want to job of VP because he has his own agenda and does not want to be linked to a failed campaign, the same goes for Governor Pawlenty. The only option left then was a cynical one, to select a running mate who would send shockwaves around the country and especially through the media, which it did and in so doing also provided John McCain with an exit strategy for when disaster comes knocking in November.
The choice of Saran Palin gives John McCain enough cover with the pundits who will attempt to provide every explanation known to man, as to why he lost the election, with the inevitable conclusion being the inexperience and relative anonymity of his running mate. Conversely, this will also provide McCain with the ability to still claim his “maverick” title because he will have sacrificed his campaign by having taken the bold step of choosing a woman for his running mate. A very clever move if I do say so myself and one the Republican party is more than willing to accept, while they give themselves time to come up with a candidate who more closely adheres to the tenets of their party.
What this means is that once elected, Senator Obama will have to hit the ground running from day one if he is to put some of his proposals into play. He simply does not have the luxury of a honeymoon period because the Republicans will be doing their level best to box him in. It is not a coincidence that the date set to begin troop withdrawal from Iraq is 2012, which pretty much covers the first 4 years of an Obama presidency and continues the $11 billion per month payout, much of which Senator Obama plans to pull from to implement some of his plans stateside.
By stalling the process, Senator Obama’s programs will also be stalled, which will set him up for a bold attack in 2012 from a regrouped Republican party, as they field new challengers using his own words and promises against him. No one will remember that George Bush ran the country into the ground and any arguments to that end will be seen as whining. With that in mind we the people have a mandate this election, it is to see that the House of Representatives is securely in the hands of the Democrats who can help Senator Obama begin to implement the changes he has spoken about once he is elected. It is in fact the only way to ensure John McCain and the Republicans exit strategy fails, while setting us on the path toward a two-term presidency for the Senator from Illinois.
3. Paula in Cleveland | 09.02.08
It’s not about the pregnancy. It’s about how it seems McCain didn’t check her out. This shoot from the hip decision really makes me doubt his judgment!
4. Sonia Kermaz | 09.02.08
Since Christian social conservatives politicized the personal long ago, the Palin family values should concern all voters. Among other things, Palin wants to change policies and laws that affect our personal choices and behaviors.
The tragedy about the Sarah Palins in our society and government isn’t that “We can’t control what our children do,” it’s that they absolutely want to control what my children do.
5. Robert | 09.02.08
With all the free time Mr. “O” gets on the networks, he’s still slipping in the polls. Sounds like you folks are getting nervous. Now, the conservatives finally have a reason to vote for the ticket, and you are just plain running scared. It’s quite laughable, really.
6. Patrick | 09.02.08
Republicans complimenting McCain on his choice of Palin with the pregnant daughter remind me of the TV show Family Feud. No matter how stupid an answer one of their family members offers up, the rest of the family starts clapping and blurting out: “Good answer, Good answer!!”
7. Susan | 09.02.08
The true myth of the women’s movement is that women can have “it all” at the same time. Sarah Palin may be a good govenor but how can she possibly be a mother to 5 children including a newborn with special needs and be a good wife at the same time. And now vice-president! It is not possible. I question her judgement and McCain’s judgement.
8. Lkm | 09.02.08
I’m imagining Ms. Palin stepping into the position of President of the United States some months or years into Mr. McCain’s presidency. Soccer mom. Mother of mentally challenged baby. Pro-lifer. Children named Trig, Track, Bristol, etc. Less than two years of real experience. Beauty queen. NRA member. Eater of moose stew. No thanks. The United States is wobbly enough.
9. Jane | 09.02.08
Democrats and liberals are shamefully sexist and have no class. They slandered and demonized Hillary, and now they are trying to tear apart Palin. I am no longer a Democrat.
10. gary | 09.02.08
I applaud Mrs. Palin and her daughter. They had to know that this would come up. The same with McCain.
11. Robert Cole | 09.02.08
Who has asked the real question here: Did Sarah not tell McCain of her daughter’s condition - before accepting the VP offer? That’s a real question that somebody needs to ask.
12. Paul | 09.02.08
How could a mother do this to her daughter? I doubt that McCain knew about the pregnancy, but surely Mrs. Palin knew of her daughter’s condition. Was she unaware of the public spectacle that would ensue and reign down upon this 17 yr old and her (presumably) young boyfriend? Did she not consider the effects on them and their newborn? It sure looks like she put her own ego ahead of the well-being of her family.
13. Ty | 09.02.08
Democrats are making noise about Sarah Palin because it matters. The revelations about her pregnancy with Trig, and now her daughters pregnancy raise questions about her judgment. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that her 5 month old son is the result of an unplanned pregnancy. While making the decision to keep the child obviously had to be tough given the circumstances. I am quite taken by the fact that she hadn’t already made the decision to do something to limit the possibility of her becoming pregnant given her age, the fact that she already had 4 children, and the fact that she had committed to her career by becoming Governor of Alaska. Now while I have never been a mother or a governor I must assume both jobs are quite tough and require massive amounts of attention which also make me question why she would accept the opportunity to run for VP with John McCain at a time when she has a special need infant. I can only hope that her daughter’s pregnancy helps her to understand the need for sexual education programs that teach more than just abstinence.
14. Godblsusall | 09.02.08
May be I am out of touch, last time they were investigating if Trig was Sarah Palin’s son or daughter? Is that cleared?
15. jerome | 09.02.08
Conservatives want less government control over people’s lives: fewer government regulations and fewer and less taxes.
The power to tax is the power to control.
You abortion “rights” nuts are the ones who want to control others lives (and deaths). The Palins believe that no one has the right to take innocent human life.
16. Ryan | 09.02.08
Susan: I question your judgment. It’s not your place to tell others what is or is not possible.
17. Bob | 09.02.08
I don’t see why everybody is making a big deal about “she’s going to keep the baby.” What? What did you think she was going to do? Murder it? Oh, of course some people think that, because they’re murderers and have been killing the most innocent and helpless people for a long time. Well, normal people–people who are actually human–don’t kill babies. Only inhuman mongrels kill their children, born or not.
18. Someguy | 09.02.08
I don’t see why everybody is making a big deal about “she’s going to keep the baby.” What? What did you think she was going to do? Murder it? Oh, of course some people think that, because they’re murderers and have been killing the most innocent and helpless people for a long time. Well, normal people–people who are actually human–don’t kill babies. Only inhuman mongrels kill their children, born or not.
++++++
19. Dan | 09.02.08
McCain should have picked Paris Hilton as his VP choice. She was pretty darn impressive with her video reposte to his campaign’s “Obama celebrity” video. Another positive is that she looks better in a swimsuit than any other VP candidate I can remember. Role model? I can hear you ask. You got me, clearly not as good an example as some of our other political role models: Bush, Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Spitzer etc to name a few. I am tired of being lied to and let down. At least with Paris we know what we’re getting.
20. Kimberly | 09.02.08
It is a shame that Americans want to criticize Sarah Palin for her family values based on her daughter’s teenage pregnancy. We are all imperfect! I applaud Sarah Palin for supporting her daughter and for mastering many roles. She will be a great role model for many young woman and a great VP for this confused country!
21. Jim Bob Backer | 09.02.08
Apparently those abstinence only sex education classes that Palin is in favor of didn’t do her family a whole lot of good.
22. Mike | 09.02.08
Barack Obama’s viedo message on youtube about his understanding of the bible needs to be checked out. Go to http://www.youtube.com/v/4FCNKwHRCQM and see for yourself
23. Christopher | 09.02.08
McCain put a religious zealot and political corruption reformer on the Republican ticket. That’s hilarious. Think about it. A honest person who has been rewarded for taking on the corrupt Republican establishment in Alaska, is now among the top tier of the corrupt Republican establishment and especially the corrupt bunch running the McCain campaign, like former Senator Phil Grahmm. I wonder how long they can keep her in the dark? Will she sell her soul for power, remain purposefully unaware, or will all **** break loose. I’m betting on the latter. It’s one thing to mask corruption behind a conservative face that is the old Republican trick, it’s another when someone is a true believer in morality and conservatism and finds out the truth. Sarah and the money changers, overturning the Republican tables and riding that into 2012. McCain will have done a real service to the country.
24. paul | 09.02.08
Jerome: I’ve been wanting ask someone with your views this question: can you explain how a strong pro-life position can possibly be consistent with support for the death penalty?
25. ProChoice | 09.02.08
I applaud the Palins for choosing to keep this precious baby, however, everyone don’t have the means to support a child (wanted or unplanned), therefore, she doesn’t have the right to make that kind of choice for other women. I don’t trust her judgement. Especially, putting her family in the spotlight while her daughter is going through this very sensitive time. As a mother, your family should come first. Look like this election is more about the Repubicans trying to get into the White House than what is best for the american people.
26. Dana Garner | 09.02.08
Liberals shout that Palin has no experience, no qualifications to be president of the United States. She has more executive experience than McCain, Joe Biden and Obama put together. None of them has ever started or run a business as Palin did. None of them has run a giant state like Alaska, which is larger than California and Texas put together. And her experience as governor of Alaska, dealing with the oil industry and pipeline agreements with Canada, certainly compares favorably with that of Barack Obama, a community organizer who dealt in the mommy issues of food stamps and rent subsidies.
Though Alaska is not populous, Gov. Palin has as many constituents as Nancy Pelosi or Biden. She has no foreign policy experience, we are told. Though Alaska’s neighbors are Canada and Russia, that makes her more of a foreign policy practitioner than Obama or Biden.At least as part of her daily job as a governor she had to craft and sign deals with the above countries, whether oil or fishing-related. So, give us a break with herlack of experience or her teen daugther’s pregnancy. Anybody who has teenage daughters know that this can happen regardless the excpetional upbringing the girls might have received at home. It simply is soemthing that can happen to any family with teenage daughters. And to be honest I don’t know what the big deal, it’s not that the large public are going to raise Bristol’s child, she and her family will have to deal with it. So why is it an issue in the public political debates anyways?
27. Sherry Blair | 09.02.08
No matter who gets elected president, this is a great year to discuss the status of women in America. Just look at the women, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain and now Sarah Palin and all their daughters. Each one of these women is making a huge difference in the lives of us all. Of course they are different, having been born into different families and circumstances. But if they can find the way that leads through their differences and discover their sisterhood, women will find their real power and purpose in the world. We need to listen to them all.
28. Peter J Lautzenheiser | 09.02.08
Sarah Palin is a poor choice it shows John Mccain is unfit for president she isn’t prepared for a foreign crisis. The pregnant daughter has nothing to do with anything but abortion politics. How McCain thinks she will attract Hilary Clinton Democrats I don’t know it turned out to be a myth because Hilary gave her delegates to Obama anyhow.
29. SpaceTraveler | 09.02.08
Hos before bros you republican evangelical hypocrits.
So much for real family values.
Great choice J. Insane.
Rally hard and circle the wagon train around Palin fast, cause your party is desintegrating fast. And your boat is sinking like the titanic.
I hope all you ‘repubicans” (spelling/misspelling intended)
30. brent | 09.02.08
I’ve been a Republican for as long as i can remember - for exact reasons Jerome raises. High taxes hinder the type of capitalism America practices (the good kind!). And Republicans were the ones that ended slavery, ensured equal rights, etc. Not dem Dems 
But, who can honestly ignore Paula and Susan’s concerns?
How can we trust a man with a track record for making rash decisions, exemplified again with the inappropriate choice of Sarah Palin?
Her history is a disgrace to Christian values - no matter how you spin-doctor it. A pregnant teen daughter shows bad leadership in the home. Bullying commissioners (aka. micromanaging and undermining another’s position) shows bad leadership in the state. I hear her approval ratings are 80% in Alaska. Great. She is a very charming woman, but the cracks behind the scenes paint another story.
I would love a woman to be on the ticket, because it could really sway former-Hillary voters.. but why on Earth did McCain choose the governor of a small city, with a dubious past and questionable parenting ability?
I think we all need to step back from Republican/Democrat and think hard about what will be good for America and its relationship with the world.
Maybe it just isn’t McCain - as much as we want it to. Remember how many Republicans didn’t like him before the primaries?
Looks like they were right.
31. Bob | 09.02.08
Someone needs to ask Sarah Palin how that “abstinence only” program is working for her and her family. It’s time we had a president and VP with an IQ higher than the speed limit.
32. andrejsv | 09.02.08
The comments on ‘vetting’ dont make sense. Who cares? Suppose an extremely thorough investigation had been made (negating the surprise and media shift from Obama to Palin which I thought was to the Republicans great benefit). And they had uncovered: her daughter has a child. What then? would McCain discard her as a VP choice and go with Lieberman? Romney? Huckabe? **** no.. She would still be the better choice. What about her joining a third party early in her career, supporting Stevens and the bridge early in her career, smoking (legal pot), making some other mistake etc.. would it matter? NO.
After all, Barack Obama did cocaine, rubbed elbows with prior terrorists, attended Black hate curches, etc, etc… does that matter after a while? after you get to ‘know’ (whatever that means) the candidate? No, it doesnt matter. All that matters is the strength and steadiness to survive the first scrutiny and the glare of the interrogation lights. After several weeks it will be old news and the ’scandals’ will be discarded and forgotten just the same, just as the more numerous Obama scandals were forgotten.
33. Ja Jam | 09.02.08
get the daughter to marry the bf ASAP and bring respectability, decorum and decency to the debate…
34. Jennifer | 09.02.08
Deciding to carry a baby full term and keep it does not make a person qualified to lead an entire country and make decisions that will affect people the world over. Childbirth is beautiful, but not a reason to vote someone into the White House. I’m not sure what McCain is thinking. In the interest of our nation I don’t believe he made a good choice. What type of choices will he make as president?
35. Inverse137 | 09.02.08
I don’t understand how they can say this would be a “negative” thing.
Since the conservative abstinence only message is so effective, the young girl, who is unmarried, is obviously a virgin. Therefore, the pregnancy can only be described as an immaculate conception.
John McCain’s running mate is the Messiah’s grandma!
Bet all those stupid liberals that thought abstinence only education didn’t work are feeling mighty stupid right about now!
36. Stephanie | 09.02.08
Who cares if she is pergnant??? Does that fact that a candidate’s daughter is having a baby have anything to do with how good of a VP she will be? NO! We love Palin here in Alaska. She is an amazing woman and deserves this chance. Bristol is nearly an adult and makes choices for herself. The only way to keep this from happening is to chain your kids to their rooms. It doesn’t matter if you are the best parent in the world. Stuff happens. How many people have kids who have had teenage prenancies? How many of you came from a teenage pregnancy? OK then….now stop all of this stupidity.
37. jennifer | 09.02.08
It’s refreshing to see a politician out there who isn’t perfect or at least pretending to be. Most politicians are putting on this perfect family front until it all crumbles and some big dark secret is uncovered; ususally involving drugs,******, or a marital affair. This is a “scandel” only because it has been painted as one by the media. The Palins are going through a situation that many American’s go through, and anyone who chooses to cast stones at this family should ask themselves if they truly believe that their children will choose abstinence when teens. I’m not saying we shouldn’t promote it, only that in today’s society it is not always realistic. Just because something is unpopular however, does not mean that it is not right. Choosing to support abstinence, and be prolife while having a teenage daughter who is pregnant shows an incredible amount of courage and convinction on Palins behalf. I believe we need more of that in our government. On a lighter note, who didn’t love the movie Juno? I personally think this is all going to work in McCain’s favor, as it should.
38. Inverse137 | 09.02.08
Jerome, #8, speaking of nuts…
Explain to me how spending more than you take in is sound economic policy. Since you are so fond of the neo-con economic model you must be one of those brilliant people that I am currently bailing out with my tax dollars because you decided to spend more than you could afford.
Yeah, thanks alot for taking money meant for my kids school to bail your sorry butt out.
Oh wait, I have a brilliant idea…let’s ignore the balanced budget, refund the surplus cash and reduce revenue. And then, let’s launch a major expenditure like, oh, I don’t know, a war! Brilliant!
And you want to know why people laugh at neo-cons. Now you know. You have no economic common sense. You destroyed a strong economy, a balanced budget and wiped out the surplus cash.
39. politicsasusual08 | 09.02.08
How stupid does Senator McCain think Hillary supporters are? He chooses a woman in my opinion not because he really believes she can do the job but 1- He wants to make history himself and 2- to try to woo Hillary supporters to vote for him. I hope that women are not that naive to vote for a woman only because she is a woman. Hillary isn’t only a woman, she shared many of our issues. Palin is in total contrast of what Hillary stands for. DON’T BE FOOLED! McCain and Palin are strong in where they stand and those of us who are or were Hillary supporters should stand firmly on issues that matters to us. McCain and Palin wants to take us back rather than move forward. They want to overturn Roe vs Wade and eliminate women’s right to choose. Ask yourself, “DO YOU REALLY WANT THIS TO HAPPEN?” I may not believe in abortions but I do believe in a woman’s right to choose. Do we really want more babies in the already crowded and failed system of adoption and welfare? Do we really want women going back to wire hanger abortions in filthy, unlicensed and brutal conditions? If I remember correctly, Hillary and Barack Obama’s issues were always very similar. They had very minor differences in their issues and policies. John McCain has chosen his clone. Barack chose Biden because he wanted someone that would not be a yes person but someone who would challenge him and contribute to the thought processes and change that is needed. NO WAY! NO HOW! NO McCAIN! Let’s support Barack Obama and spread the word to maintain as many of Hillary’s 18 million supporters as possible. Again, NO WAY! NO HOW! NO McCAIN! NO PALIN!
40. Sarah Leary | 09.02.08
I was considering voting for McCain until Palin came onboard. I notice none of the media have picked up on her stark inexperience, shocking environmental record or the fact she endangered her unborn child by flying long haul during labor - considering how bad a choice Sarah Palin she has so far emerged relatively unscathed.
41. EROS 4 THE DEMS | 09.02.08
its offical .. the McShame party has now reached a new level for the republican party with its always intresting updates for their new VP ( dirt ) btw what day ( after the rep. brainwashing ) will we see Levi Johnston surface side by side with Gov. Palin !?! lol
even the republicans are for change .. so it seems !!!
thank you Sarah Palin aka/themole
42. Jacqueline | 09.02.08
The Republicans must be dizzy from all the spinning.
The truth: This was a bad call on McCain’s part. He doesn’t even know her and all of a sudden they are soulmates? Gimme a break. Maybe they’re similar in that they both have bad temperaments. Palin seems to want to fire anyone who doesn’t pledge fealty to her. The hits just keep coming. Now we’re supposed to feel sorry for her because she couldn’t have known what the internets would say about her once she entered the race. Hey, Mrs. Palin, you’re the one who told Hillary she was a whiner when she complained of sexism. So suck it up. You’re in the big leagues now. We don’t want to hear any whining from you.
If anyone thinks this lady can go head to head with Putin, they’re smoking crack.
Not to mention her extreme right-wing views (no abortion in cases of rape and incest, abstinence-only education). Women will run away as fast as they can. And it is insulting to women that McCain thinks otherwise.
Country First my a**. It’s Campaign First. Even Rove said that today.
43. Chris | 09.02.08
WOW…
Why isn’t anyone pointing out that she was a leader in an independent party that was trying to get Alaska to secede from the Union?
When Mrs. Obama said she was proud of her country for the first time, the republicans jumped all over that questioning her loyalty as an amercian. Seeeet this gal is trying to divide the United States and no one says a word, just focus on the kid…believe me there is a lot more to focus on that is far more damaging and everyone is ignoring the more important things.
Screw her daughter…oops someone already took care of that.
44. Chelsea | 09.02.08
Ok…what is this with her daughter’s pregnancy being such big news?
Teenagers get pregnant when they aren’t taught how to prevent it, the whole “abstinence only” sex education is BULL****. We all know that teenagers are going to have sex, its like telling the 8 yr old to keep his/her hands out of the cookie-jar! Speaking AS a teenager, I know that abstinence only sex education is flawed. As parents, wouldn’t you rest easier knowing at the very least that your teenager knows how to protect him/herself from STD’s and pregnancy? I know if I was a parent, I would want my teenager to be safe, and that I would want them KNOWING how to protect themselves. You’re ignorant if you think that the abstinence only **** is actually working.
45. Jose | 09.03.08
The Palin family represents many American families. They are the mirror of reality.
46. Bryan | 09.03.08
Wow Cris, guess what? The news outlet that reported the story didn’t properly confirm their source. They retracted it tonight. Palin has always been a registered Republican and was never a member of that independant party. Oops,I suppose the story wasn’t vetted. Kind of makes me wonder what else they screwed up in the rabid rush to defame her.
Nice immature comment on the end by the way.
Susan
A woman can’t have 5 kids and be a good wife. Are you serious?
47. Phil | 09.03.08
Sarah Palin is the true Spirit of America.She is a true example of what American families problems we all face.Her daughter isn’t the first teenager to get pregnant, at least she has a man who is going to step up and marry her.
I believe all of us would like to acheive her accomplishments at such a young age. She will be a great leader who will not be party to the good ole boys club in Washington.Thank you John McCain to pick a V.P. that isn’t some old do nothing senator like Obama did.Most young Americans don’t remember Joe Biden’s past history. Obama wants change but he has surounded himself with all of the old democratic party. What other young politicians have you seen supporting him or him picking to be part of his cabinet if he is elected? It will be the same old democrats we have seen for years.
Vote for John McCain if you want real Change.
48. chillingaz | 09.03.08
Jose,
The other reality is that she is not the best choice for the office of the Vice President of the United States of America for the republicans.
49. Kevin Pierce | 09.03.08
KODIAK MOMENT
NEWSWIRE–The 17-year-old daughter of vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin is five months pregnant. She plans to have the baby and marry the father.
Juno made its film debut
About an unwed teenage mother.
Alaska has a Juneau, too.
As well as one of the other.
http://www.newsandverse.com
Light verse, ripped from the headlines
51. Don Guillermo | 09.03.08
I am a pro-life Republican, but I agree that this is hypocritical. We have a VP who espouses family values, on the one hand, but apparently does not live them, on the other. If she walked the walk, and did not just talk the talk, she would sacrifice her political ambitions for the time being, and devote her full attention to her Downs Syndrome baby and pregnant teenage daughter. Had Palin not made “family values” a political issue, there would be no hypocrisy, and this would indeed be off-limits. But now she too must be measured by the measure with which she herself measures, or pretends to. If we social conservatives cannot be honest about our own hypocrisy, how can we expect the Democrats to be honest about theirs, from abortion to Affirmative Action?
52. Fred | 09.03.08
Seen from Europe the American obsession with morality is bewildering. It is not so much the candidate’s flaws in this respect (who is without sin…)as well as the urge to hide, deny, embellish the facts of life that do not meet the rigourous moral standards. No premarital sex? Sarah Palin states in her bio that she and her husband eloped “to avoid wedding costs”. Eight months later her first son was born. No abortion, never? When her baby with Down syndrome, that are usually smaller than normal, announces its coming, Sarah Palin chooses to fly back from Texas to her home town. She skips several opportunities for having proper medical care thus exposing the baby to infection or problems with the umbical cord. Consciously or subconsciously, her action amounts to an attempt to abort this baby. Abstinency as birth control? Her daughter of is 17 pregnant. All this is tragical, but part of life and human nature. Only the moral pretense and overheated ambition surrounding it make it ridiculous.
53. Franglais | 09.03.08
Palin talking points for Repubs:
1) Was at first in favor of “bridge to nowhere” before voting against it–Blame the liberal media
2) Not much experience–Blame the liberal media
3) Preached at church about “messianic message from god to go to Iraq”–Blame the liberal media
4) Unwed, underage daughter got pregnant–Blame the liberal media
5) Spoke at AIP convention about ridding the Feds from Alaska–Blame the liberal media
6) Troopergate–Blame the liberal media
7) Hubby’s DUI–Blame the liberal media 
In the past, McCain has criticized her for “pork barrel spending” while she was mayor–blame the liberal media
9)) McCain chose her as VP–Blame the liberal media
54. Franglais | 09.03.08
Hey Bryan-concerning the Alaska Independent Party: Maybe she wasn’t in it, but just go on youtube and search “sarah palin independent party.” You’ll see her make speeches for them, praising all the “good they do” for alaska.
55. Don Franklin | 09.03.08
I just want to know how close is Gov Palin to getting Alaska suceeded from the Union and would she consider running for President of Alaska. P.S. Would I need a passport to go to Juneau?
56. Nelly | 09.03.08
Well I think this Palin choice has really screwed up the republicans chance for winning. Especially since her daughters pregnancy is public. If Obama had a 17 year old pregnant “UNMARRIED ” teen, the media and republicans would eat him alive. Palin needs to spend time with her kids and teach them about protecting themselves because now days pregnancy is not the worste that can happen and I also think it is classless, who would show case thier daughter in such a state, I think it is all shame ful. Some role model family she will make. I know it sounds judgemental but when I was a teen 4yrs ago, I would have never went to my mom to tell her im pregnant. First of all I have way more respect for my mom than that and second of all, I know to use protection. You can buy condoms ANYWHERE. SHAME SHAME SHAME
57. christopher | 09.03.08
The amount of cynicism, anger and just plain old cruelty seen by the ctitics of Gov. Palan’s familiy’s very personal situation reveals much about Senator Obama’s supporters as well as the Senator himself. During the Texas Democratic Party’s Primary last March I observed first-hand that Senator Obama’s supporters ( many of them my long-time African- American neighbors and friends )were hyper aggressive in their cult-like desire to see that
Senator Obama is elected in the Fall , and are willing to run over anyone whether it be Hillary Clinton or Sarah Palin to help Mr. Obama reach his Macbeth-like desire to occupy the White House. At the end of each day though, Believers can rest assured that no matter if Obama or McCain occupy the White House, our Heavenly father still watches over all mankind. In other words , the world will keep on spinnning whether America has a President Obama or a President McCain in January 2009.
58. Mary | 09.03.08
I’m quite excited about Sarah Palin as VP. It makes a difference in my vote to see her on the ticket. I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss and demean her!
59. Billy C. Perry | 09.03.08
With all the media coverage about John McCain picking Sarah Palin as his running mate, and the disclosure of her daughter being pregnant. I would like to know what the response would’ve been if it had been Obama that picked Sarah Palin as his running mate?
I think the coverage would be quite different! All the hoopla on accepting a VP with a pregnant unwed daughter, the polls would’ve totally shifted in McCains favor. Obama would’ve been seen as, inexperienced or some other BS.
So my question is, “How would you have reacted if Obama had picked Sarah Palin? AND BE HONSEST WITH YOURSELF!!!!!!
60. Monica | 09.03.08
Why do her mothering responsiblites come in to play? Don’t we all teach our daughters that they can have it all, the can grow up to be whatever they want, that they can have a career and family? Why should she be any different? I think she should be looked at as a role model… She has a family but is still going after her dreams. That is somehting to be applauded!
61. Chad | 09.03.08
What most people DO NOT realize is that she potentially is not merely the next Vice President, she could be the next President. Imagine a scenario where McCain is elected in November and the next day he keels over dead from his health and age issues. This is VERY likely, Palin is voted in as President, and now we have a 44 year old beauty pageant winner from the sticks in Alaska as our national leader. SHE is NOT qualified for this and it scares me to death to think that American policy is dictated by a woman that has more interest in how her daughter is raising her illegitimate child than how we as a nation are going to fix the tsunami of economic problems that are coming as we speak. McCain was quoted “She is either going to be a wild success or a spectacular failure.”… WAIT!! Um, I am speechless! Is no one else concerned that this potentially spectacular failure may happen while she is president? I don’t oppose a woman in the office, I have to say I MUCH prefer Hillary with Bill’s experience behind her in the White House over someone who has been selling fishing licenses to Eskimos for the past 10 years.
62. Edie | 09.03.08
John McCain has obviously either lost his mind or he simply doesn’t care enough about this country to take his position seriously. To choose this totally unqualified woman to be his running mate is an insult to all of us and puts us in serious danger should the two of them somehow manage to win in November. Of course we are getting nervous! Who wouldn’t be nervous about the possibility of Sarah Palin being a heartbeat away from the Presidency?
Guess what Bob? The only people making a “big deal” about Sarah Palin keeping her Downs baby are the Republicans who are saying how wonderful she was not to abort the child. As a liberal democrat I was shocked by this attitude. The Repubs are implying that she had a “choice” and decided not to abort. I thought there was no choice in their world, so why would there be a question about whether she would keep the baby? I don’t see it as admirable at all; it’s absolutely what you would expect her to do.
Just the fact that this woman was willing to toss her 17 year old, unwed pregnant daughter into the national spotlight says a lot about her character. Can you imagine what that poor girl is going through? It’s hard enough to be a pregnant teen without your story and photo plastered all over the media. Absolutely disgraceful! And they call themselves the party of “family values”!
63. Lisa | 09.03.08
‘It’s just another reason that I think she’s great, because that pregnancy could be terminated very easily without anybody knowing’
lol yeah like that would happen. And they don’t think reporters would sniff it out like bloodhounds? The only reason this girl is keeping her pregnancy and being forced into marriage is to further her mother’s running mate’s political agenda. Happy to have a woman on the ticket? Sad that she is being used as a pawn for a man’s gain. Sad. Sad for her family too. They don’t deserve this.
64. Juliette Vaucaire, Esq. | 09.03.08
As a life-long democrat and feminist I supported Hillary. Now I will support Sarah. No, I don’t agree with everypoint in her social agenda. But what Obama did to Hillary he did to all of us and I’m committed to put a woman in the White House. Sarah will be our next president (after McCain). Some of my fellow democrats are grasping straws and trying to discredit her… They will fail. In the end, we, women of America, will have the last say.
Juliette Vaucaire, Esq.
65. Rachel | 09.03.08
It may be true that the Palin’s are more typical than atypical as far as the American family is concerned. But is this really what we WANT the American family to be like? Is this the family we want to show to the rest of the world and say, “this is us!” Rampant teen pregnancy and support for creationism make Americans a laughing stock to the rest of the world. Not what we want in an ambassador for the nation.
66. Benjamin | 09.03.08
What I find amusing is the contention that the world shoulf “leave Palin’s family out of it,” when the woman introduced herself to the world with her entire family there. I recall, I learned all about Track and Trig, etc. Her family was a huge bullet point for her, but we have to leave alone all of the wild hypocricy of a politician taking the stance that abstinence-only sex education works while her very child becomes pregnant? And that it’s noble for a 17 year-old girl to be married with a child? While not necessarily limiting, it sure changes her chances in life.
So get real, Palinphiles - you cannot ask the public to leave her private life alone and at the same time want the Government to insert itself into peoples’ personal lives by limiting the choices of women made pregnant by rapists. Not unless you have adopted a child of incest. You cannot want Government out of our lives except to limit the most important choices some women have to face and to send our boys and girls off to die or be maimed in Iraq.
And on that: What does “victory” mean in the “war” in Iraq? Who are we at war with? And what does “winning” mean, exactly?
67. Benjamin | 09.03.08
What I find amusing is the contention that the world shoulf “leave Palin’s family out of it,” when the woman introduced herself to the world with her entire family there. I recall, I learned all about Track and Trig, etc. Her family was a huge bullet point for her, but we have to leave alone all of the wild hypocricy of a politician taking the stance that abstinence-only sex education works while her very child becomes pregnant? And that it’s noble for a 17 year-old girl to be married with a child? While not necessarily limiting, it sure changes her chances in life.
So get real, Palinphiles - you cannot ask the public to leave her private life alone and at the same time want the Government to insert itself into peoples’ personal lives by limiting the choices of women made pregnant by rapists. Not unless you have adopted a child of incest. You cannot want Government out of our lives except to limit the most important choices some women have to face and to send our boys and girls off to die or be maimed in Iraq.
And on that: What does “victory” mean in the “war” in Iraq? Who are we at war with? And what does “winning” mean, exactly?
68. Doug Diny | 09.03.08
So by contrast to the Palin pick, one would understand the perfect pick for Obama would have been a woman who had multiple abortions, no children, and years of Washington experience……. hey how about Hellen Thomas? Give me a break, Palin has it all and the libs know it. This is lights out for Barry.
It was funny to hear Joe Biden say the press should lay off the children (of candidates). His only concern is keeping the dirt of his son Hunter quiet.
69. Amanda | 09.03.08
UGH! C’mon… I really think that her 5 month old child is actually her daughter’s ******* child but doesn’t want to reveal that she is pregnant with another. I’m ALL for women in the office but not a no-named, unexperienced woman with a pregnant ***** teenager all in the spotlight. How can they promote “family values” and all that other bull when she obviously doesn’t have control over her own family?? I don’t think she would have been a good pick for McCain or Obama or Alaska for that matter. Let’s just give it to Obama already! I’m tired of seeing that old as dirt man in the news and his nobody running mate.
70. Danielle | 09.11.08
I can’t understand why people are making such a big deal about her daughter being pregnant. Teen pregnancy is a huge issue in this country, and millions of teen girls get pregnant unintentionally every year. I’m happy her daughter felt she was mature enough to go through with the pregnancy, and futhermore i dont think it’s anyones business. “let those who throw the first stone be without sin”. It’s disgracful what the media is doing to this poor girl and her unborn child. Focus on something worth our time like what an unquailfied leader Barack Obama would be!
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1. Bill | 09.02.08
I don’t know why the democrats are making such a big deal about Sarah Palin. I’m grateful to have her on the ticket. She’s exactly the torpedo we were looking for to sink John McCain.