Here is their official statement regarding the Reuters story:
“We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.
“Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates.”
September 1st, 2008 at 11:30 am
I see Alex’s digusting suggestion we dump Palin got taken down. Ugh.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:30 am
That’s really sad and unfortunate. I don’t see why this would really affect Palin as far as politics tho…
September 1st, 2008 at 11:31 am
I’m happy for them, but I’m also worried, not because she is pregnant, but because it is a teen pregnancy.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:31 am
Democrats only recognize a right to privacy when it involves ending a pregnancy. Don’t expect the liberal bloggers to behave better than a leech.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:33 am
I’m sorry, but this may just push many people over the edge into thinking the Palins are rednecks.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:34 am
Oh my God! You people are tone deaf!
This is going to kill us!
This election is over if we keep Palin!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:34 am
Also, being VP with one infant in the immediate family is one thing. Two… is another story.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:35 am
Alex, I wouldn’t go THAT far.. let’s see how it goes.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:35 am
I feel for that poor girl. Sad enough under normal circumstances but to have this happen in front of the whole world has to be excruciating. I cannot believe Sarah Palin accepted being the VP running mate knowing this. As a parent, I absolutely cringe and feel sick inside when I think of this.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:37 am
I promise to you that, as President, I would never allow my daughter’s to be punished with a baby.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:37 am
Her husband is taking leave from his work to manage the kids…
This will NOT be any more of a drain on her than a typical man in office. She is up to the challenge
September 1st, 2008 at 11:37 am
This is going to force Palin to clarify her stand on birth control and condoms.
If she’s against condoms — even personally — it could be all over.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:37 am
OK, wait –
Did McCain know?
If McCain knew, we have no choice but to keep her.
If she didn’t tell him, we have to sack her. No choice. Makes her a deceptive fraud.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:38 am
McCain says he knew. I wonder though. All this talk about him not vetting her.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:38 am
McCain knew
September 1st, 2008 at 11:39 am
#13 McCain knew ahead of time according to a recent statement.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:39 am
McCain knew before he asked her.
I see no downside politically to parents who love their daughter.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:40 am
12 She is not against birth control.
13 Alex, McCain knew.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:41 am
“This is going to kill us!
This election is over if we keep Palin!”
Wow Alex did you take a dive in the liberal pool today?
September 1st, 2008 at 11:41 am
I think this will make her even MORE relatable to women/mother’s throughout the country.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:43 am
The more I think about this, the more this sickens me. As a mother, I can tell you this is a fear all parents have – you can do a great job teaching your kids, but that doesn’t mean they always listen. I don’t fault Sarah Palin for Bristol’s decision. But it absolutely sickens me that she is forcing Bristol to go through this on an international stage. My first instinct would be to protect my child and support her – not expose her to the world.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:44 am
It’s only a problem if Sarah’s a hypocrite on the issue. An example is the way that Sarah admits to smoking pot in the past. She’s very soft on pot smoking as a policy issue and doesn’t make a big deal out of it. If Sarah has lots of self-righteous statements against teen pregnancy in her past, or against contraception, then this could hurt, as it would reinforce the notion that this teenage girl wouldn’t be pregnant were it not for the things she was raised to believe.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:44 am
Folks, this is life in America for many families. Palin is living first-hand the challanges that many American families face on a daily basis. I hardly think this is the end of the GOP’s chances.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:44 am
I doubt it be played up in the days to come. Forgetton about the hurricane.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:45 am
P.S., I TOLD them to tap Heather Wilson.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:45 am
I don’t see this as an electability problem at all. I don’t understand why it would be. Now, if the Palins had privately had Obama’s attitude that they didn’t want their child to be “punished with a baby,” that would be a different story!!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:46 am
This could play out several ways, some of them good, some of them quite bad. I admit to being fairly nervous.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:46 am
DaveG, I think it could be a problem is she’s consistent, as well.
We’re now seeing a family consistently having unplanned pregnancies due to a probably personal belief against birth control. That connotates a very bad picture.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:46 am
#20 – Jared, as a woman, I can tell you to DOES NOT resonate with me. I find it heartbreaking that she would put her daughter through this. Your children come FIRST. Children don’t make sacrifices for their parents – parents make sacrifices for their children. I can’t believe you don’t see that.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:46 am
Jared, you know this is not an unusual experience especially among the Evangelicals.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:49 am
I told you they didn’t vet.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:49 am
28:
Would you quit making assumptions.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:49 am
Of course he HAS to say he knew…what else could he say? It makes him look like an idiot if he says he didn’t know.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:50 am
MarthaK – what are you saying? You would make the daughter have an abortion? Sick.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:50 am
Dump Palin? I say we dump Alex from this blogg
September 1st, 2008 at 11:51 am
MarthaK is saying the right thing to do was for Palin not to accept the VP slot.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:52 am
oh. whoops. delete that.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:52 am
#29 – MarthaK – Easy there . . . I don’t need a sermon from you on sacrificing for kids. I have 3 children and know full well the sacrifices that come with being a parent. All I am saying is that this happens every day in America, and Palin was asked to serve her country as a VP candidate, and patriotically accepted. Palin is not putting her daughter through ANY of this. Her daughter made an ADULT decision, and is now dealing with the ADULT consequences. WITH the support of her family might I add. This is NOT Palin’s fault by any means, it is a decision that her daughter made, and a decision that her daughter is going to live with.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
No, Damarcus – I’m saying I wouldn’t have accepted the VP slot knowing what my daughter was going through and knowing the inevitable media spotlight. What is “sick” is that she is willingly putting her daughter through this.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:53 am
There’s a lot of stuff on the Web saying she’s against birth control, but there’s also things saying she is for it, consistent with her membership in Feminists for Life.
Let’s hope to God it’s the latter.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:54 am
Alex, MarthaK, and Metro are pretty shameful. Don’t politicize everything.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:55 am
Um, Bob? I’m perfectly able to argue my own points, thanks!! lol Thanks, metro!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:55 am
I love Gov. Palin, but now we see why Romney, Pawlenty, Portman and a few others would have been much safer choices.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:56 am
Oh shit, she’s on the record against Sex Ed. This could be a calamity.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Metro:
Links?
September 1st, 2008 at 11:57 am
McCain said he knew. I suppose some members of this board know he is lying. If you want to politicize this, I’ll take the votes of all the families that have been through this circumstance.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Uhhh…
Can someone please explain to me why this is a problem for the ticket?
September 1st, 2008 at 11:58 am
Grant – please explain that.
Jared -I agree with you that Bristol being pregnant is no reflection on Sarah Palin as a mother. But get real – 17 years old is still a kid and emotionally this is going to be very tough under the best circumstances – even with a very supportive family. I am saying I find it appalling that Sarah Palin would have her daughter go through this under the spotlight like that. I simply cannot relate to that if people like Grant Gormley want to tell me that’s politicizing, they are wrong. McCain has used her family and her “great mother” credentials as a big selling point. It matters.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:58 am
I just wish Gallup would come out.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:58 am
I have democrat relatives who got married as pregnant teens, I have Republican realatives who got married as pregnant teens – and guess what? They’re all still married to their original husbands and have led successful, decent lives.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:59 am
There are some here that are jumping to way too many conclusions. This is not going to be a major event. With the hurricane news cycle, and then the GOP convention, this will fade away. Sure it will pop up now and again, but it is hardly the “end of the GOP”.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:59 am
This is the Palin’s business. Sarah is still a remarkable woman. Dealing with real life issue. If the Dems go aftrer her, than Hunder Biden is fair game, Mrs. BO is fair game too.
In other news from ABC, McCain raised $47 million in August.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:59 am
Palin’s daughter is 5 months pregnant, maybe this proves Palin is Trig’s mother.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:00 pm
http:// eagleforumalaska.blogspot.com/2006/07/2006-gubernatorial-candidate.html
September 1st, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Bob and MarthaK, what makes you think Bristol didn’t urge her mom to run for VP? If I was in that position I would be absolutely heartbroken for my mom to turn down the position on my account, and would probably never forgive myself.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Anyone running for president, vice president, or any elected official is putting that civil service before their own family needs…let’s be honest, but we don’t hear anything about it when it’s a man so why should we when its a woman?!
September 1st, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Palin On Abortion: I’d Oppose Even If My Own Daughter Was Raped
Unfortunately, I believe we have a hot Harriet Miers on our hands.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:02 pm
MarthaK lots of good mothers have had pregnant teenagers.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:02 pm
#54 is the kind of crap that makes me ashamed to be a Republican.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
If the selection of Palin is now going to make the campaign about religious fundamentalism and sexuality, I’m all for dumping Palin.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
There are some unstated assumptions being made by those of you who think that this is problem- please explain.
I understand the argument of MarthaK but otherwise…help me and the others out here.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Aron you are better than your last post. Seems like a lot of Rudy guys, I was one, are being holier than thou.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:04 pm
LC – I have no idea what conversations went on in the Palin household regarding Bristol’s pregnancy and whether or not she wanted her mom to run. I do, however, know something about teenagers. It’s an emotional time where the tiniest thing can seem like a full-blown disaster. How do you know that Bristol Palin didn’t secretly hope her mom wouldn’t take it so she could deal with her personal situation in private? I can just tell you that as a mom, this strikes me very wrong and I DO NOT RELATE. Maybe I’ll be the odd person out, who knows, and everyone will find this just great. If metro’s right, though, there other problems as well.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:05 pm
This may hurt the ticket in the sense of those radical religous Republicans, but it doesn’t effect me. Her daughter screwed up and will pay the price for it….
Good example of the family being pro-life though. The mistake is saying she will marry the man… That to me does not make it right that she is pregnant.
O well…
September 1st, 2008 at 12:07 pm
64 My initial response was that the big mistake here was marrying the man…but I could be wrong
September 1st, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Grant, because, if this campaign is to be about a culture war, most of us Rudy guys would fight for the other side on those issues.
Which means maybe just sitting this one out.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Grant – you are absolutely right. Having a teenager get pregnant does not make Sarah Palin a bad mom. I specifically went out of my way to make that point. Making her daughter go through this on an international stage strikes me as selfish and shocking.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I fought against Huckabee because I did not want the GOP to be about a culture war.
This would force the campaign to be about a culture war.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
If the Dems decide to play gutter politics (is that even a question?), they could try to connect Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy with her opposition to comprehensive sex-ed and paint the picture of a woman who wants millions of American teenagers walking around pregnant before they’re ready.
This is different from abortion because we’re talking about preventing unwanted pregnancies in the real world.
Palin needs to clarify her stance on contraception before this gets out of hand.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
63:
Do you think that Palin didn’t discuss it with her daughter before accepting?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:10 pm
If it makes you feel better, you should know that most “normal” people will cut Palin some slack. They have seen this before and I never have heard anyone express the view that the grandparents should change their career path over it.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:10 pm
68 Ok, why is this going to make it about a culture war?
This is about one family making a decision consistent with their public beliefs.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:10 pm
#69 Precisely.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:10 pm
MarthaK, her daughter would have to go through this anyway. She’s the daughter of the governor of Alaska, and at a very minimum the pregnancy/birth would have been covered by the state press even if she wasn’t the VP nominee (and given that we’re in the internet age, that’s essentially equivalent to national coverage).
September 1st, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Metro:
You’re the one trying to make this a culture war.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:11 pm
#72, see #69.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:11 pm
#75, see #69.
I’ve said IF this does. And I’m quite sure it will.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I told ya: “eagleton”
September 1st, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Well, I’ll tell you one thing…McCain made his decision…if he changes it now we will lose in November!!! This site is really infantile sometimes. These are the times we live in, teenagers have sex and some get pregnant. I don’t see how this hurts us. Grow up and perhaps see that this could be seen as a blessing to both Bristol and the Palin family and it’s none of our business anyway.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:13 pm
MarthaK Palin asked that her daughter be given privacy–it isn’t her fault if this becomes a public issue. This is the same argument the liberal bloggers used to claim Palin is at fault because trig is a downs child.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:13 pm
#79 – Ditto.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Here’s how this becomes a problem. I’m not critical of Palin. Lot’s of families have this kind of problem. Here’s what I AM hearing from the women in my family , who are all conservative Republicans.
What’s with Palin? She has a baby with a problem and goes back to work in 3 days. The child needs extra help . No MOM. She’s on the road campaigning. Now, the daughter needs support more than ever. No Palin. She’s campaigning. The daughter’s new baby will
also need help and support. No Mom, no Grandmom, she’s off campaigning.
This is a scenario that does NOT play well folks. Just another little piece about Sarah that no one knew, probably including McCain, despite what he says. What can he say ? I didn’t know ? It doesn’t matter that I didn’t know? It’s inconsequential to the campaign ?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:14 pm
#74: Please don’t even insult everyone’s intelligence by pretending having this happen only in Alaska is akin to it happening as the VP candidate.
#70 – what if she did? Is a 17-year-old emotionally equipped to understand those implications? You guys can try to make excuses for this, but I find it appalling.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:15 pm
This is just absolutely horrible! Why oh why did the GOP ever nominate Bristol Palin for President!!!
September 1st, 2008 at 12:15 pm
What is the obviously right political position on contraception–since that seems to be the worry.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:16 pm
#79 – I couldn’t have said it better – thanks!
September 1st, 2008 at 12:17 pm
79 Well said.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:17 pm
82:
There’s a father and grandfather there.
Hate to use this usually lousy argument, but would any of that be an issue if she were a man?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:18 pm
In and of itself, this cannot sink the ticket. But….what a lousy vetting job!! Come on — he had lots of ways to go — Romney and Huckabee — fully vetted on the national stage — and so many others. Doesn’t matter if you loved or hated them — you KNEW them. Secondly, there is NO way McCain knew about this — if he did, then he is ridiculously unqualified to run as president and I will seriously consider voting for Obama.
Every day there is something knew. Now we find out the bridge to nowhere — THE bridge — she was for it before she was against it. And she opposed it once it became politically expedient — and kept the funds. This is the reformer???
Yesterday I watched Romney and Huckabee on stage with McCain. All of them looked professional. I don’t care who he chose — this choice was absurd — and it will become more so each day.
And from a personal level, I am finally able to agree with Martha. I am a mother with a daughter now married with three lovely children. If she had come to me at 17 and told me she was pregnant, I don’t know what I would have done. I certainly wouldn’t have relished her getting married — but I most certainly would not have accepted a nomination that would have placed her right in the public eye.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Craig so what should Palin do,qit as gov and hole up in her house. Do you have some pertinent info on the number of days the mother of a downs child should quit her job–is it 5, 10, 300. forever.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Grant – you are out of your mind and making bizarre arguments. Yes it is Sarah Palin’s fault for accepting the VP slot knowing her daughter was going through this. This will not play well for several reasons. I think most mothers can empathize with having a child pregnant without thinking it’s the parents’ fault. They cannot empathize having her DECIDE to have this play out on an international stage.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:20 pm
89-Romney or Huckabee would have led to sure defeat. They both repel swing voters.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:20 pm
So far I’ve not seen the media covering this story.
Gustav is getting all the coverage.
I suspect this story will only get a little coverage outside of MSNBC.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Voter–so what high political office were you in line for when you had to make that decision.. Talk is cheap–human compassion is hard to come by.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:20 pm
73:
Yes I do think a 17-year-old can understand the implications. Quite easily.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:21 pm
How did this happen? Well, I read that Sarah’s mother-in-law — Todd’s mom — is an Obama supporter…
September 1st, 2008 at 12:21 pm
#83 – “You guys can try to make excuses for this, but I find it appalling.”
Fair enough. It is appaling to you. What are you going to do about it? Sit this one out? Let the liberal agenda of Obama/Biden destroy our country? All because Bristol Palin made a bad choice, and is now forced to live with the consequences on a world stage? Seriously, what are you going to do about it?
I am STILL going to support the GOP ticket. I am STILL going to knock doors and campaign for McCain/Palin. Because the alternative is NOT ACCEPTABLE!
September 1st, 2008 at 12:22 pm
MarthaK yoou have hated the Palin pick from the start because it wasn’t Romney. Now you use this to harp on your prior decision.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:23 pm
MetroRepublican- I too live in an Urban Area. However, I disagree with you on not continuing this ‘Culture War’. Families are collasping all across this country and as Mr.Empty Suit said, they need their fathers. This is not time to be saying ‘hush’ it’s time to fight for values and what really matters.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Grant – only because it’s so obvious that decent men and women wouldn’t drag their children – and make no mistake, 17 is still a child, pregnant or not – into the national spotlight to have to go through their crisis under public scrutiny like that. You don’t get it – that’s clear. Most people will get that, however.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Looks like McCain Campign is doing a dump. Also today it is year that in 86 Todd got a DWI. Looks like the McCain campign is dumping all the info under the guise of hurricane media coverage.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I really think most of you guys are making a bigger deal about this than need be. It’s a political minefield for the dems. Outside of the MSM, no one within 10 miles of Obama’s camp can touch this story in anything resembling a negative light. By the end of the week, after a sucessful convention, voters will be focused more on the issues and not the sideshows.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Grant – way to shift the argument. It’s a sure sign of a losing argument.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:25 pm
MarkG is spot on in #84.
McCain didn’t pick Bristol Palin as VP.
He picked Sarah Palin.
The attitude on here is that if you have a family issue that you need to crawl in a cave and hide from the world. That doesn’t seem very mature to me.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:26 pm
#94 — I was — and am — a mother. I didn’t have to make a decision, but I can assure you that, if I did, Jennifer comes FIRST ALWAYS with me, as does my son, for that mother. So get off your snarky horse — and let me assure you, I will not be the only mother who feels this way.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Brendan, what a false equivocation!
Being a good father has nothing to do with raising children in a culture that’s anti- birth control.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:26 pm
101 I think you are right…and this is certainly the time to do it!
102 I agree, let the Dems touch this…at their own peril
September 1st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
So MarthaK now Palin is an indecent woman. The pot is calling the kettle black. Look inward my dear. Casting stones is pretty unbecoming. I assume In Sarah Palin’s presence, ytou would be kind enough to express sympathy and not attack her for running for office.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
#105: I think this and MarhaK’s feelings on the subject could foretell what many women might think. And “voter” is no Rombot, she liked Huck.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I am very upset at Aron and Alex. You have both proven yourself to be very sexist. McCain has 7 children and several grandchildren and yet he is okay to run for office, but not Palin? How much has McCain seen of his teenage daughter in the last 18 months?
How often is Obama home to see his two young girls?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Welol voter, I am a father. I always put my children first. I also treat others in difficult situations with kindness. I try not to be too judgmental. Maybe that’s why I get along with most people.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
#109, wishful thinking
September 1st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
#109 — absolutely — so, as you can see, Martha and I, who are mothers, seem to be of one voice in this matter. I’m not saying to dump Palin — I’m just saying my opinion of her goes down, down, down — as does my opinion of McCain, who did a lousy vetting job.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
And the issue for me guys….is… this is just day 2. And we have a ” surprise “. What awaits us in the next few weeks about the totally vetted Sarah Palin? What other surprises will an army of Dems and their MSM supporters find as they dig through the political compost pile in Alaska. We already know there is a deposition coming in troopergate. We already know about the Sports Arena in Wasilla. We already know about the support of the “Bridge to Nowhere”. We already know about the state’s financial mess .
Again, Sarah Palin would be acceptable for all the reasons everyone touts in McCain’s selection IF…..we knew everything about her. We don’t !!!. That is the problem and therein lies the risk.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
MetroRepublican look at this http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5700022&page=1
September 1st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
#108 – Certainly Sarah Palin is a decent woman – but her daughters pregnancy does suggest that she’s been away from home and is she is not a good mother – how can she be? She’s never home. Palin is making Obama’s look like the perfect family.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Metro–some women may have already thought Palin shouldn’t run because she has a downs child. Nobody should run for high political office because it will prevent time witth their children, grandchildren, or spouse. Look what it does to marriages. How far shall we take this.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Would any of you feel different if McCain had picked a man with a pregnant teenage daughter?
Do you think that man would be unfit and would need to go home with his children?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Not a good mom? That’s BS! Human Beings of course are prone to making mistakes as usual. I for one, would like everyone to be perfect and not bang others in youth but we are not. Lay your hands off the story!
September 1st, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Brendan, change of subject again.
I’d thought Palin was a brilliant choice. Until today.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Was Dubya irresponsible for running while his daughters were partying through their wild years? Was GHW Bush irresponsible for running for Pres and then Veep while Dubya was showing all the outward manifestations of a troubled youth?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:36 pm
116 SHE’S NOT A GOOD MOTHER???? Huh?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Alex and Aron must be drinking with Chris Matthews in St. Paul. They are hosts of this site and attackiong a candidate because she is going to be a grandmother.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Sexism runs high in the veins of these men.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:37 pm
She was old enough to do the deed, she is old enough to live with the consequences.
Palin and her family have asked for privacy and I hope that she gets it. If some Dem somewhere is stupid enough to criticize, they risk opening a hornet’s nest. Do you think that middle America is going to appreciate some liberal being holier than thou on this issue? Or being hypocrticial by saying Palin should stay home? They lose that argument on both fronts by showing their hypocrisy.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Come on guys, you’re blowing this out of proportion. Let it play out and take it from there.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Now Palin is not only indecent but she is not a good mother. I know the few of you saying this stuff have down on Palin since the announcement by McCain but just listen to yourselves. No wonder so many people dislike the holier than thou attitudes of some Repubs. Leave politics out of this for a second, if this happened in your family would you like some empathy.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
#125 “Palin and her family have asked for privacy” – when she accepted the nomination she accepted everything that goes with it – including the lack of privacy – the democrats will attack her unmercifully – that is politics.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Yeah, this is a HUGE story. I just checked foxnews.com and it is right next to the story “Waitress gets $1000 tip in Illinois diner.” Get over it folks, let’s respect the family’s wishes for privacy and talk about something else.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Todd Palin’s statement posted above says: “We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents.”
It was their daughter’s decision to keep the baby and not their own. So, how could anyone fault Sarah for her daughter’s decision? All that parents can do is teach their children the right values and hope for the best.
Bristol has taken responsibility and so has her boyfriend, and the two are getting married. What else could Sarah have done?
Had her daughter decided to have an abortion, the leftists would’ve treated Sarah as a hypocrite or worse, even though the decision wouldn’t have been made by her either. Sarah isn’t dragging her daughter into the spot light, it’s the liberals and the media doing that. Sarah is responding to the attacks very well. Remember, there was an innuendo that Trig was her daughter’s baby.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Look folks, if this isn’t going over well here among secular Republicans and some religious ones, like the women here… it spells big problems.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:42 pm
128-The Clinton’s ask for privacy for Chelsea and mostly received it while they were in office. Now she received less privacy this time because she is an adult.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:42 pm
#127 – “Leave politics out of this for a second, if this happened in your family would you like some empathy” – this is politics – neither the democrats nor should you leave this alone – McCain had to know this was coming – depending on you look at it – it reflects on his judgement – I see that it reflects poorly.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I think if the Dems try to connect this to Palin’s position on comprehensive sex education, we could have a John “I know you have a gay daughter and you love her, but wouldn’t you like her to be happy?” Edwards moment. Except with a sympathetic “Cheney”. It’s dicey, but I wouldn’t be at all sure about how this will play out politically.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
JamesB my recollection is you thought McCains decision to pick Palin was poor before any of this came to light.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:47 pm
#128
That may be the reality is some aspects, but most family members of candidates have been for years off limits. It has only been when a felony or serious misdemeanor came to light did anything about these siblings become revealed.
I still think that the Dems risk far more than they gain if they bring this issue up.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:47 pm
This is only day 2 – what happens next week? If Todd Palin is having an extramarital affairs – maybe a love child out there, then we are headed towards a disaster for the VP pick.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:51 pm
JamesB
After the hyper intense scrutiny, pretty much everything will be out. If this is all Palin has, then Republicans are okay.
Just think of the garbage that would have come out if Rudy had been the pick! You don’t think his last divorce papers and all the tidbits would have been leaked!
Or Huckabee and his wife’s redecorating habits?
Or Romney and his flip flops. Or the details of Mormonism?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:51 pm
#135 – Grant – since the announcement, I have warmed up to the idea and I do see the political ramifications of the choice – however – her lack of experience and her role as mother with kids at home have always been a liability in my opinion – this announcement can only be seen in a negative light.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:53 pm
For the last two weeks it was abortion ad nauseam here. It seemed like it was never going to end. SO McCain picks a woman that has a pregnat daughter, going to marry the husband and kept the baby.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I think the Palin family represents a multitude of American families and if Sarah can handle the scrutiny with class…she may become the spokesman for the modern woman.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:53 pm
11
‘ Her husband is taking leave from his work to manage the kids… ‘
OMG WHEN I HEARD THIS NEWS , I THOUGHT THAT THIS WOMAN CANNOT ONLY NEGLECT HER NEWBORN , BUT OBVIOUSLY
NEGLECTS S-U-P-E-R-V-S-I-N-G HER CHILDREN UNDER 18 !
(and prenatally she neglected, too, she was advised B-E-D-R-E-S-T – BUT he came one MONTH early!
You guys defending this, GO READ WHAT CRUCIAL BRAIN/ LUNG DEVELPOMENTS OCCUR IN THE 9TH MONTH).
Where is DSS is all of this ?
Stop defending this BAD mother.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:54 pm
oh please, jersey republican – their morals = white trash !
September 1st, 2008 at 12:55 pm
This has been fun. I guess it is obvious that I like Sarah Palin, she is the first breath of fresh air and excitement we have had on the Republican side of this race. If we get the votes of everyone who thinks she’s cute, who thinks Todd’s a hunk, who has had a DUI, who has had a child or grandchild out of wedlock, who has a developmentally challenged child, who likes to hunt or fish, who opposes abortion, who believes in the free enterprise system, who wants to stand up to Islamic extremists, who supports the military, we should win this–despite a lousy economy.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:55 pm
139 – and thats the trap, if the dems pounce on this in a negative way, they’re screwed. Obama will have to make more room under his bus after he denounces the person who brings it up negatively
September 1st, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Having a kid at sixteen does not make you white trash. I really resent that… not because I had one at sixteen, but my sister did, and she’s a better mother than most who wait till they’re thirty.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:57 pm
#145 – and I hope your right and I hope that is the way it is played.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Seth–Armeni is a demo blogger.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Sen. Obama weathered the Rev Wright rants on tv and he’s still “winning” in the polls. This is NOWHERE near that in magnitude and is something that the dems can spring on us at anytime like im sure the 527’s will do with the Wright clips come october.
Let’s all take a step back, breathe and not worry so darn much.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:01 pm
#141 – she may become the spokesperson for the modern woman – however, there are still a lot of voters, men and women, that still still cling to traditional values – they see that women can’t have it both ways – career and family – and they may see that Sarah Palin’s choices led to her daughters teenage pregnancy and vote to reject that.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:02 pm
And BTW Obama DOES have the PERFECT family !
The Obamas make the Palins look like Jerry Springer people.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:03 pm
150 – those “clingers” are the ones that Obama <3’s sooo much
September 1st, 2008 at 1:05 pm
148 Grant is an anything-goes parent.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Hot Air-
A McCain campaign official tells ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos that McCain knew of Bristol’s pregnancy and “didn’t believe Governor Palin should be disqualified” from the vice presidency because of it. “If Democrats try to attack, it will backfire spectacularly,” the official said.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I am now voting for Obama/Biden, yes.
I never really approved of McCain that much – my goodness, he called Chelsea the family dog, publicly?
(Only an old bitter creep would do that).
I was for Romney anyway.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Am I the only one who feels like they’re hallucinating? Am I in the Bermuda triangle here? Maybe I’m just being my hyperpessimistic self, but I’m not just worried, I’m ANGRY. If McCain did know about this ahead of time, then he made a reckless derelict pick. Just for the record, I’m a HUGE fan of Palin and was ecstatic when she was picked, but I’m pretty pissed right now. This isn’t some inconsequential local election – this is the friggin’ presidency. We have a super-leftist running who would have at his disposal huge democratic margins in the Congress. McCain has a duty to do everything in his power to keep Obama OUT of the Oval Office, and I would venture that that duty includes NOT putting someone on the ticket with this kind of family situation on the ticket. I don’t care if this is fair towards Palin or not – this is politics, for God’s sake. Welcome to reality. It’s hardball. You don’t throw up a candidate like this and hope that everyone will be understanding. I love Sarah and wish her all the success in the world, but this is insanity.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
#154 – I think McCain just really either doesn’t understand or doesn’t care about the republican base – this is another poke in the eye at conservative republicans – just like McCain/Feingold, McCain/Kennedy, gang of 14, McCain/Lieberman.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:21 pm
157, everything is a poke at the Republican base to you people, you should probably leave the Republican party and become a Libertarian…that way the sane people of this party can work to make a difference.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:32 pm
[...] (Race 4 2008) [...]
September 1st, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I am absolutely confounded, but I do believe one thing very strongly: if McCain knew both of them need to be dropped. This is not just bad judgment but negligence. It took all of three days for bloggers to pry this thing wide open. THREE DAYS!!!!
There needs to be a revolt. I would prefer that McCain just step aside and save fave, but if he refuses his delegates need to go elsewhere. I really don’t know who, but let’s have a real convention and pick someone fit to be president.
September 1st, 2008 at 2:31 pm
#91 I agree, this was the wrong thing to do to you daughter. Its not about the young girl being pregnant its about Palin’s judgment. She has a young baby who needs her and a daughter who needs her. She has alot of family issues right now.Iam very upset with McCain, and Palin.
September 1st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Don’t say that – people here will ask Kavon to ban you.
September 1st, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Armeni–as in much of what you say you know nothing about my parenting. My two children are both doctors–a boy and a girl. My wife is a former nun. Both my wife and daughter were virgins wheb married. You might emulate my parenting style. I JUST DON’T SPEND A LOT OF TIME ATTACKING OTHERS.
September 1st, 2008 at 5:10 pm
So you (americans) think you have family or moral problems? Our Silvio Berlusconi (Prime Minister)has re-married thanks to divorce granted by the Pope (by Holy Rota). His new wife (size 48+) was an artist and frequently exposed her topside attributes on stage. Gianfranco Fini (President of the Senate) has family but flirts around with young females. Pierferdinando Casini, a fervent catholic believer (exponent Unione Democratico) has similar situation now re-married with daughter of famous Caltagirone – tycoon). All these personalities preach faithfullness, bla, bla, bla. Who said italians had any morale especially those who are “supposed” to run the country? All support “Family Day”, always exhibiting the good father image. . . sick yet?
October 10th, 2009 at 7:47 am
[...] (Race 4 2008) [...]