Bristol Palin: Punished with a baby?
Posted on September 1st, 2008 at 12:33 pm by Stephen Fountain, EditorNews is now breaking that Bristol Palin, the 17 year old daughter of vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin is pregnant. According to Reuters:
ST. PAUL (Reuters) - The 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is pregnant, Palin said on Monday in an announcement intended to knock down rumors by liberal bloggers that Palin faked her own pregnancy to cover up for her child. Bristol Palin, one of Alaska Gov. Palin’s five children with her husband, Todd, is about five months pregnant and is going to keep the child and marry the father, the Palins said in a statement released by the campaign of Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
Barack Obama infamously stated that if one of his daughters became pregnant he wouldn’t want them “punished with a baby.”
Now that Obama’s words have slammed into the oncoming traffic of political reality what will the impact be? Will this be referenced as just another Barack fender bender or a multi-car pile up? Will Obama back off or be justified?
What about Sarah Palin? I suspect the revelation that her daughter previously had an abortion would be more harmful to Palin’s support among evangelicals than this current news. But it’s hard to see how this doesn’t hurt the ticket somewhere. I suspect we’re only moments away from Obama surrogates crying from the rooftops about the inherent hypocrisy of the McCain-Palin ticket.
Remember, you heard it here first.
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Seems like a non-issue to me. I also do not “favor abstinence-only education but, rather, comprehensive sexual education that includes information on abstinence and birth control.”
Telling kids NO is never going to work. Telling them the consequences of their actions will.
I’m going to have to disagree with Stephen here. I think any attempt to make political hay out of this issue will be met with a huge backlash.
Of course Team Obama will give it a shot - tis far too tempting of a target.
Well, there are situations, when the private becomes political. And that clearly is the case here. If you use your private life (mother of five, family values etc.) as an political argument, than it is fair enough to use it as an political counterargument, that you obviously did not suceed to protect your young daughter from becoming pregnant. That is esspecially true if you strongly support an abstinence-only-approach at school.
So, if you support an abstinence-only program at school, and your daughter becomes pregnant, then you are no longer allowed to support abstinence only programs. Got it!
Good point, Stephen. Interesting logic, is it not?
Stephen, for long I wondered, where you read this in my statement. It seems that I used the word “counterargument” wrongly. As you learn from my nick I am a political junkie from Germany, interested in American politics. But English is not my mother-tongue. Looks like I had a bad idea trying out a linguistic experiment in my very first posting in that blog (Hi all by the way!).
What I intended to say is, that in my opinion it would not be so easy to say, allright, that - with all respect for Palins daughter - is a private matter. Not in the USA, where you seem to make a beauty contest out of your elections, seeing the candidates first and formemost under personal criteria. Not when you run under the flag of traditional family values - and indeed make that a political point. And esspecially not when you oppose sexual education and advocate abstinence-only (why not doing both of it?). Playing the abstinence-only-card on the one hand, trying to impose your moral values to the country, whilst beeing not succesful in convincing your own family on the other doesn’t give you the highest credibility. At least that appears somewhat fishy to me.
If you support sex education and a child becomes pregnant will you shift your opinion of the value of sex education programs?
If this is all they (media and Obama campaign) can dig up and run with, then go for it. Seriously, they will be grasping at anything to use for mudslinging. If Obama can still be nominated with close ties to an anti-American preacher and former terrorist, then this will be a walk in the park.
Parents can teach and train their children, but ultimately can’t make their decisions for them. Even parents who would be deemed excellent have wayward children.
Obama on this issue:
“I have said before and I will repeat again: People’s families are off limits,” Obama said. “And people’s children are especially off-limits. This shouldn’t be part of our politics.”
“You know my mother had me when she was 18 and how a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn’t be a topic of our politics.”
“Our people were not involved in any way in this, and they will not be. And if I thought there was somebody in my campaign who was involved in something like that, they would be fired.”
Obama’s response was appropriate and wise. However, if sites like Kos suceed in making this a multi-day story this may be only the first statement Obama makes.
I think any news of this kind needs to be treated with great humility and respect for the privacy of this young girl.
If any of you is without sin, cast the first stone.
Obama is backing off, telling the media and blogs to back off, check HotAir and CNN.
I’d pay real money if some reporter asked Obama wether Bristol Palin was “punished with a baby.”
So would I.
Let us not forget why the Palin camp felt the need to release personal family information at this time. It seems as though the liberal KOOK blogs have been spreading foolish conspiracy theories that Sarah’s 4 month old son with down syndrome was actually the love child of her unmarried daughter and that Sarah was pretending the child to be her own. I am never shocked by the ignorance of those on the left, so the fact that they believe this garbage is not unexpected. I am amazed how fearful the left is over the pick of Palin, they are in a complete uproar, loonier than ever.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I think thos people watch way too much Desperate Housewives!
First, I personally hope this does not become an issue for the mental and emotional health of Bristol Palin.
Second, imagine if it was Barack Obama or Joe Biden’s daughter? The Karl Rovian branch of the GOP would be making major hay over it. You know I am right. Imagine the same GW Bush folks who created the pretend black baby they said John McCain fathered in 2000 making hay with this one.
Third, there is a certain karma in which those who say they are conservative yet want the government to tell people what to do when it is something they agree with like reproductive choice, abstiance, ect., tend to experience such things with their families.
Fourth, according to contacts in Alaska, they say this (alleged) issue of Sarah Palin wanting to have her ex brother-in-law fired as a state trooper has legs. They say it way Sarah’s husband who was really the one pushing for this. Getting rather aggressive. I think this will be the issue that hurts McCain, as an investigation is in process in Alaska.
Wow! Where to begin?
First, thank GOD there are people in this world like Sarah and Bristol Palin whose decisions on “reproductive choice” is to fall on the side of not killing a life. “Reproductive choice” should not extend to the brutal killing of a life. Bristol Palin obviously understands that her “reproductive choice” was made when she decided to participate in risky behavior that led to pregnancy. Bristol obviously understands that she has been blessed with a life inside her, not “punished” as stated by Barry Obama. Bristol obviously is smart enough to know what a two year old would know when looking at a 3D ultrasound, that the image they see is the life of a baby.
Second, I assure you that if Bristol were to kill her child in the name of “reproductive choice” the effect on her “mental and emotional health” would be of greater harm.
Third, Trooper Gate, or Tony Rezko?
Lets get Ready to RUMBLLLLE!
First: I love how you first show your *muted* concern for the girl, then move straight to a political attack. It’s almost “New Politics-esque”.
Second: As far as your point about the alleged baby controversies, it seems that the left are the ones making those kinds of statements —->
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/30/121350/137/486/580223
Third: I don’t believe in karma, but your point is somewhat legitimate. I’m sure you’ve never done something you didn’t think was right…
Fourth: There’s nothing there, it’s a non-story. “There’s no evidence she did anything wrong, so let’s switch the attacks to her husband in order to keep the story in the news.” Who are your sources in Alaska?
The trooper tazered his Stepson, said he would kill Palin’s father, was a wife beater, and a illegal hunter. Just one of these things should have gotten him fired.
If you were in Palins shoes, wouldnt you have done everything to get rid of him?
Im not defending Palin over firing the guy above the police. That needs to be cleared up.
The first Redneck Twins in the White-Trash House?
What’s a Redneck Twin? Well, they happen when you have a child and a grandchild in the same year!
Or when you are named Billy Bobb…….
Sweet reply…
1. Parents do their best to raise their kids with a value system.
2. Kids will still make mistakes and experiment outside the lines of those values and rules.
3. Parents have to learn to allow the kids the opportunity to learn and grow through them despite the consequences facing the kid.
4. Parents also need to love their kids through it and not consign them to exile for failing.
Adult life is going to be full of challenges and mistakes. They need to learn how to handle it more than be perfect. Only God is perfect - which is why we need Him so badly, to help us with strength and wisdom through times like these.
Palin’s done all of these things. There is redemption in the making with this story. But that won’t come till later.
This story shouldn’t go anywhere. And I believe that the kids on both sides of the aisle-D&R-should be off-limits. Once they’re past college, campaigning for their parents (aka Chelsea Clinton), then its all fair game. But let these poor young kids wrestle through this without the added weight of journalists hounding them like papparazzi. Please.
Many families on, whose parents fall on all sides of the spectrum, face this kind of situation. I can’t imagine what this poor girl is feeling now that her news is all over the airwaves. Hopefully, the media will respect the Palins’ wishes and leave Bristol alone.
German.
How is abstinence-only education any more of an imposition of values than sex-education and condom distributions in public schools? They are both impositions of values, depending on which position you hold.
You and I don’t know if Palin’s daughter exercised sex-education practices which may have still led to her pregnancy, but we both know she didn’t practice abstinence, now don’t we?
When we teach our children not to steal, are we not teaching a moral value? When we teach our children not to kill, are we not teaching a moral value? Because someone may ignore those values and proceed to be thieves and murderers does not mean we were wrong in teaching that “moral value”, now does it?
You assume that abstinence only advocates are pushing their moral values more than the sex-education in public schools advocates are, why? Is it you have come to the conclusion that those who push for sex-ed courses in public schools have no values therefor cant be held accountable. Until you can prove that sex-ed courses in public schools will have a 100% success rate it is illogical for you to assume that teaching abstinence is not effective.
I guess we have different understandings about the moral value of sexual education - which may be caused by having grown up in different countries.
Sexual Education as I understand it, and that is what I experienced at school, is rather free from any moral connotation. To me that is just that thing, where somebody tells you, where all the little babies come from plus the biology involved in the process. As we all did not fall from trees, I can’t find nothing wrong about it, though I favor the way, that your parents do the job, instead of a teacher. No moral, just nature, pure biology and facts (which I found helpful).
In contrast, I think it is a moral statement to tell people at school “hey guys, you have your sexuality, but don’t use it, until you’re married”. Indeed, to me that has the same moral quality as if said “hey guys, you have your sexuality, enjoy it whenever and with whom ever you like” - just on opposite poles.
In our country they often do say the latter. In fact they give away free condoms and tell kids to “experiment”…dang liberals.
With permission from the emailer, I’m going to post some comments I received today on Palinbabygate. (Couldn’t resist.)
This is just one person (whom I like, by the way, so watch the cheap shots if you disagree) but is it possible enough agree for this issue to be a major problem?
Snippets from emails:
“So, her daughter is pregnant and will marry the father. I’m not voting this year. Let the chips fall where they may.”
“Furthermore, she said McCain knew about the pregnancy when he selected her. I consider this his betrayal to Republicans. Palin’s elopement, reportedly eight months before the birth of her first child, was something I could live with, but this is too much. Let’s not bother to criticize Rev. Jeremiah Wright again. I’m livid.”
“It’s not so much that she has a pregnant teenager, it’s that she has a pregnant teenager. It reflects badly. When McCain named her, my first thoughts were, “He’s picked somebody who returns wholesome, traditional values to politics.” Now he’s turned it into a “who’s less moral” brouhaha. I’ve heard from half a dozen other friends, all pretty tolerant, who are as sad as I because this will divert from what’s important. The left-wing bloggers have already started attacking. Not what this country needs.”
“It’s not about punishment. It’s about having invited controversy and conflict into an already contentious campaign, one that leaves the left-wingers happily going nuts and waxing moral. It’s all too sad. “
Like I stated in my post, I’m sure there is a segment of McCain supporters not happy about this story. But, I find it difficult to believe that the above sentiments are mainstream. Most reasonable supporters will identify the difficult non-political aspect of the story. From there most reasonable McCain supporters will applaud the pro-life, responsible message sent by the decisions of Bristol Palin.
Give whoever it is time, they’ll sober up. As I mentioned above, we must recognize the sin in our lives before we try to judge others.
Did Bristol do something wrong? Obviously yes, but she is now trying to do the right thing. She’s keeping the baby and is going to marry the baby’s father.
While it is important to do things right the FIRST time, it’s commendable when people take responsibility for their actions and ultimately do the right thing.
This pregnancy is going to be really trying to their whole family…but ultimately they are being blessed with a wonderful child (even if the circumstances aren’t perfect, even sinful).
“blessed”, AndDru1?
You have obviously not been listening to Barry Obama, he has stated clearly that unwanted pregnancies are a “punishment”.
Please report to the reeducation center at once.
In inclined to agree. Those loons at Daily Kos are the worst face that the Left shows. if not for them, the Left would look reasonable.
Note to the loons, Stay away from the children of the Palins, as we stay away from Obama’s children. Is that not fair?
How about some clarity we can ALL agree on.
1. Teen pregnancy is not a good thing.
2. Abortions as birth control is worse than unwanted pregnancies.
3. Anyone who would vote against Palin because her child got pregnant is a moron.
If this is the kind of nonsensical logic so called “conservatives” are going to have then we will deserve the government we get from Barry Obama.