Palin's pregnant daughter...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, she absolutely had a choice... she had a choice not to have sex and risk this "embarrassment" to her mother's rising star career.

If you ask me, there are mother/ daughter issues going on here that a shrink could have a field day with.

Indeed. If you do the math, it seems that she got pregnant around the time her mom gave birth to her baby brother. Reckless behavior? A cry for attention? It's all very sad to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see it as it is-Palin sucks as a mother. Has she not taught her daughter morals/values-or how to say no? I'm sorry-but I was too involved in school and family to be thinking about having sex at 17. I knew if something like this happened to me, my mother would have been devastated. I had too much respect for her-so I said no.

I agree with you. If she can't raise her own family right, how can she run a country?
I think McCain made a very poor choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think middle America is going to like Palin even more for having "family issues"? She hunts, has a pregnant teen daughter, is kinda loud and unpolished, a rough around the edges Hockey Mom? I certainly cant relate to her and wonder if many of the moms on this board can. I'd take Michelle Obama's Ivy pedigree and class any day, but I'm starting to wonder if this news about her family will help or hurt her politically.

Oh come on, get over yourself. Just because you are from a rural area, does not mean you embrace unwed, teenage motherhood.

[Anonymous]

We're talking social class here. Teen pregnancy is way more common in low and middle income families. FACT. It's also a fact that the majority of America is middle income. My question simply is, does the middle class relate to Palin. It's undeniable that if we polled DCUM, most (not all) of the women here would be considered upper income.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I have to say, I don't understand the reaction from so many people interviewed at the convention or on the streets who keep saying, well this sort of thing happens to everyone. Actually, it doesn't - I don't mean to imply that most 17yos never misbehave, but in my very very middle American hometown far outside the beltway, teenage pregnancy was not a common occurrence. The sorts of hijinks that the Bush twins got into - fake IDs and underage bar hopping - well that's the kind of thing I can relate to and certainly would never judge. But a pregnant 17yo is a much bigger crisis. I have the utmost sympathy for this young woman and her family, especially having to live out this drama on national TV thanks to her mother's ambitions, but it certainly doesn't make Palin or her family seem like more 'regular folks' to me.

[Anonymous]

I think the people on camera at the convention who says this kind of thing can happen to anyone and that Bristol's pregnancy makes Palin more relatable are the Republican equivalent of the couple of PUMAs (Party Unity My A**) that were on camera during the Democratic convention. They're anomolies who fit the "script" that the media is trying to write to make this race as dramatic as possible . . . as if it needed any help?!

.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry - but the argument that Palin's family life has nothing to do with her political qualifications is bullsh*t, IMO. (Never mind that she wasn't qualified to begin with.) Not when you have a special needs infant and a grandchild on the way of your unwed teenage daughter. That would affect my ability to do my job at 100 percent if I were a street cleaner - or any occupation. This woman's selection for the ticket is a complete joke and I will be horrified beyond belief if Americans choose to elect her as vice president of our country. (Though I have faith they they will not.)

[Anonymous]

"Here's my take on the matter:

It is an absolute tragedy when a child becomes pregnant at 17. Period. Any attempt to spin this as a positive is just outrageous.

And personally, I find it almost equally tragic for Palin to make the CHOICE to thrust her pregnant daughter onto the national stage during this time. What kind of a parent does that?!

For those who are calling this a private, family matter, I strongly disagree. Sarah Palin put this issue into play the minute she made the CHOICE to run for the second highest office in the land.

And it's not like she's been on the campaign trail solo, asking the media to respect her children's privacy. She dragged her entire family up on stage with her and introduced each child one at a time.

Sorry "hockey mom" -- you can't have it both ways. "

I completely agree.

What kind of a person, man OR woman, accepts this all-encompassing job for two months or four years, with a newborn -- and one with special needs -- and a pregnant teenager? How can you abandon your newborn AND thrust your daughter's situation into the national spotlight? Unbelievable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Here's my take on the matter:

It is an absolute tragedy when a child becomes pregnant at 17. Period. Any attempt to spin this as a positive is just outrageous.

And personally, I find it almost equally tragic for Palin to make the CHOICE to thrust her pregnant daughter onto the national stage during this time. What kind of a parent does that?!

For those who are calling this a private, family matter, I strongly disagree. Sarah Palin put this issue into play the minute she made the CHOICE to run for the second highest office in the land.

And it's not like she's been on the campaign trail solo, asking the media to respect her children's privacy. She dragged her entire family up on stage with her and introduced each child one at a time.

Sorry "hockey mom" -- you can't have it both ways. "

I completely agree.

What kind of a person, man OR woman, accepts this all-encompassing job for two months or four years, with a newborn -- and one with special needs -- and a pregnant teenager? How can you abandon your newborn AND thrust your daughter's situation into the national spotlight? Unbelievable.

She has family values

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's a big promoter of abstinence rather than birth control. Nice in theory, but... hopefully this situation will change her views on that. I don't know any parent out there who has full control over their 17 year old children. If they think they do, they are delusional.

It's apparent abstinence only is unpractical and spending government money to promote these programs on teens rather than spending public funds to teach them about the birds & the bees and contraception seem like a better bet. However, Sarah Palin adheres to an abstinence only policy. That is the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all Palin does not support Abstinance Only, so stop jumping to conclusions.

Secondly, it is a shame that none of you can take the high road like Obama. Perhaps you do not realize that his mother was only 18 when she gave birth to him. However, I don't see anyone making rude remarks about her or his upbringing.

Um, Obama didn't raise his Mom. Sarah Palin raised her daughter - preaching abstinence - and now she's an unwed pregnant teenager. Surely you can understand the distinction here.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

My heart goes out to that girl. Reflecting back on the announcement of the vp choice with the whole family on stage, Bristol carried her baby brother (looks like the whole time) probably with the intention of hiding her pregnancy. I can't imagine what that must have felt like -- to be on the national stage and wonder if anyone would notice you're pregnant and to have to hide behind your baby brother.

Or did anyone see it and see that she handed the baby off to someone else at some point?

Must have been a scary and lonely thing to do....

[Anonymous]

I have to question the judgement of any parent who would put their 17 year old daughter through this type of scrutiny. I also have to question the judgement of the McCains' for putting Palin's daughter through this. If the choice had been mine I would have said..."Sarah you are exactly who I want on the ticket, but given what is going to happen to your daughter and family once the press get a hold of this and having lived through what they did to Cindy when she was taking drugs from the non-profit she supported, I/we can't ask anyone to subject a 17 year old to this."

Many will say what can't the press leave this issue and this girl alone, the reality is that will not happen. Apparently, just like abstinence only programs being effective isn't reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I have to question the judgement of any parent who would put their 17 year old daughter through this type of scrutiny. I also have to question the judgement of the McCains' for putting Palin's daughter through this. If the choice had been mine I would have said..."Sarah you are exactly who I want on the ticket, but given what is going to happen to your daughter and family once the press get a hold of this and having lived through what they did to Cindy when she was taking drugs from the non-profit she supported, I/we can't ask anyone to subject a 17 year old to this."

Many will say what can't the press leave this issue and this girl alone, the reality is that will not happen. Apparently, just like abstinence only programs being effective isn't reality.

I don't think the McCains, namely John, give a hoot about the 17 yo child of another family. The parent(s) of the 17 yo make the decision. I think they're a little dim and Mama Palin is star struck at the possibility of the chance of a lifetime for a smalltown girl.