The Candidates
Another MSM smear on Palin is removed. Heck, maybe she should be running for president:
Teen pregnancy and sex education were thrust into the spotlight this week when Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin revealed that her 17-year-old daughter is five months pregnant.
Palin’s running mate, John McCain, and the GOP platform say children should be taught that abstinence until marriage is the only safe way to avoid pregnancy and disease. Palin’s position is less clear.
In a widely quoted 2006 survey she answered during her gubernatorial campaign, Palin said she supported abstinence-until-marriage programs. But weeks later, she proclaimed herself “pro-contraception” and said condoms ought to be discussed in schools alongside abstinence.
“I’m pro-contraception, and I think kids who may not hear about it at home should hear about it in other avenues,” she said during a debate in Juneau.
Such statements could raise concerns among social conservatives who have been some of Palin’s most enthusiastic supporters since she was tapped for the No. 2 spot on the GOP ticket last week.
Leslee Unruh, president of the National Abstinence Clearinghouse and campaign manager of the Vote Yes for Life effort, said children must be given a “clear and concise” message on the benefits of abstinence.
Asked about Palin’s statement, Unruh said, “I don’t think it’s clear. It seems disjointed to me.”
Two days later, Unruh dismissed the comments as “old.”
“I support her in every way,” she said.
Other conservatives who have backed Palin, including James Dobson of Focus on the Family, declined to weigh in.
Palin spokeswoman Maria Comella said the governor stands by her 2006 statement, supporting sex education that covers both abstinence and contraception.
Attacking the demand side of abortion is an essential part of reducing the number of abortions that actually occur in this country, and reducing unwanted pregnancies is a necessary component of that. It’s good to see that Gov. Palin is taking a common-sense stance consistent with those goals, a stance that demonstrates her comfort with modern culture and that doesn’t hold the Republican Party hostage to the five people left in America who still yearn to ban “the pill.” McCain/Palin truly is the end of cynical Rove politics in the GOP, isn’t it?
September 6th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Did you all hear about the dems who defiled some 12,000 American Flags?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXIM9uFK12w
I was at the rally and thought the media wouldn’t report it. Much to my surprise I find that CNN ran with the story..
September 7th, 2008 at 12:26 am
sampo,
“The Democrats say extra flags were not thrown away, but placed in plastic bags to be used for a future event.”
Yeah, sure. Did you see the plastic bags? They were garbage bags.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Whew!
September 7th, 2008 at 12:29 am
the media in this country is a joke. we know more about bristol palin’s sex life then the 130 boxes of documents involving barack obama’s relationship with william ayers and the chicago annenberg challenge foundation being withheld by the university of chicago.
nice going MSM!
September 7th, 2008 at 12:31 am
#3, I told you she was reasonable.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:42 am
As I see it promoting contraception for risky sexual behavior is like promoting antacids.
You shouldn’t over-eat but if you do it’s best to use precautions.
I think schools should encourage sexual responsibility just as a doctor would promote moderate eating to a patient with constant indigestion.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:46 am
I think they shuld be taught both abstinence (and really EMPHASIZE it), but also that contraception can be shown to students as one way that is out there that can reduce unwed teenage pregnancy. Cause let’s face it… many teens will not be abstinent and should know about contraceptives. Schools shouldnt push it on them. That should be a discussion between parents and their kids. I dont think they should just teach that it’s 100% fool-proof cause it is obviously not (as abstinence is the only 100% prevention method)… they shouldnt be distributing contraceptives in schools though. Teaching that it is out there is one thing, but distributing it is a full-fledged endorsement.
Palin I think has the right approach. They need to have sex ed in schools today (not because I think its the sole obligation of schools– I believe its the domains of parents– but because I believe that not enough parents take the responsibility on this issue seriously enough that someone has to step in, the schools).
BTW, totally agree with #4!!
September 7th, 2008 at 12:49 am
In an interview on Fox News outside the RNC, one of the protesters who interrupted McCain’s speech said that she got in by using an ID that she got from the “media.” Wonderful. When are they going to get into the Ayers-Obama connection? We should not hold our breath.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:49 am
In an interview on Fox News outside the RNC, one of the protesters who interrupted McCain’s speech said that she got in by using an ID that she got from the “media.” Wonderful. When are they going to get into the Ayers-Obama connection? We should not hold our breath.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:51 am
#4 and #7, this article sums it up. Best so far.
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/columnists/view/2008_09_07_Media_loves_to_hate_Sarah_Palin/srvc=home&position=also
“And finally, we return to the real reason they hate her. She’s younger than they are, and better looking. Good looks is a deal breaker with this crowd, and if you don’t believe me, just ask Diane Feinstein, age 75, and Nancy Pelosi, age 68, and Hillary Clinton, age 61, and Barbara Boxer, age 67, and Barbara Mikulski, age 72. Beautiful People indeed. In this case, the phrase is meant figuratively, not literally.” LOL!!!
September 7th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Palin is a feminine women.
Most feminist women are rather masculine and uptight in their mannerisms and appearance.
I think Palin’s feminine strength is a foreign thing to many liberal women. I think we see envy and repulsion at Palin from many of aging feminists on the left.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Sarah Palin:Making liberals and the “one” scared since Aug 29th.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:19 am
Note how the writer of the original story projects his or her estimation of Evangelical behavior. Gov. Palin supports contraception SO IT MUST-ABSOLUTELY-NECESSARILY FOLLOWS that Evangelicals will fail to support her, because Evangelicals are either doctrinaire rubes or rigid dogmatists. Well, good luck with that one, because there exists a rich and accommodating diversity of Evangelical opinion and belief.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:32 am
It seems like every time one of these “scandals” is debunked and dismissed, everybody just moves on to the next possible big story…
Anybody know much about the Pentecostal pastor that Palin’s being linked to? I’m sure the media would love to have a Reverend Wright-type story to go after her with.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:35 am
#13, it’s hard to find Evangelicals who oppose contraception. You’ve really got to go looking.
September 7th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Someone claimed that a Jews for Jesus speaker at Gov. Palin’s former church claimed that terror strikes on Israel were a judgment from God for the Jews continued rejection of Jesus. First, good luck trying to tie Gov. Palin to a one time speaker at her Church. Second, really? The Messianic Jews that I know love Israel and love the Jews. Among other things Jews for Jesus people raise money to support Israel and arrange tours for Evangelicals to visit the Jewish state so that they can learn about it. And, third, Palin at this time attended an Assemblies of God congregation, a sect not given to whacko beliefs.
P.S. I belong to a counter-group called Jews for Judaism. We pass out literature that debunks the Jews for Jesus literature.
September 7th, 2008 at 3:16 am
#3 yeah see #5… come on have a little faith.
So long as she wasn’t a member of Bongs Hits 4 Jesus she’s fine.
You know the list is getting so long perhaps on the left or right side bar you may want add a category “Palin Myths” for easy reference.
September 7th, 2008 at 4:40 am
I don’t believe this story.
September 7th, 2008 at 5:58 am
Interesting piece in the Guardian today, where Nick Cohen writes -
“During the 1997 British general election, the late Lord Jenkins said that Tony Blair was like a man walking down a shiny corridor carrying a precious vase. He was the favourite and held his fate in his hands. If he could just reach the end of the hall without a slip, a Labour victory was assured. The same could have been said of the American Democrats last week. But instead of protecting their precious advantage, they succumbed to a spasm of hatred and threw the vase, the crockery, the cutlery and the kitchen sink at an obscure politician from Alaska.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/07/uselections2008.republicans2008
(Note the Guardian is a leftie-liberal paper, but Nick Cohen is a fairly balanced pro-war liberal)
September 7th, 2008 at 6:01 am
Good point Doug (11). I’m starting to warm to Sarah. Love her coolness and composure.
September 7th, 2008 at 7:41 am
It’s all tied according to Rasmussen….46-46 and 48-48 with leaners!!!
September 7th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Rich, #19, I’ve found it interesting to see how much British coverage of the race recently has seemed more generally balanced in comparison to US coverage. I wonder how much of the skepticism that US media fail to apply to the Democrats derives from Labour’s dwindling esteem.
I’ve noticed that the German media have seemed to stick with hating Republicans, an unchanged attitude for nearly 40 years now. German CW on the American elections might as well be lifted straight out of DNC press releases.
In German politics, Chancellor Merkel apparently aims to bust the lousy “grand coalition” with the Social Democrats in favor of joining with the libertarian-leaning Free Democrats (FDP).
September 7th, 2008 at 8:03 am
RASMUSSEN Sunday Poll
Obama: 46
McCain: 46
w/o Leaners
Obama: 48
McCain: 48
w/ Leaners
Gallup may very well have a McCain Lead according to reports I have read.
September 7th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Sarah Palin is our Margaret Thatcher. She is feminine, but tough and dynamic almost
masculine, and like her, Sarah wears lipstick. As regards to teenage pregnancies, I
agree with abstinence or contraception as a feature in sex education. However if a
teen age girl gets pregnant, for one reason or another, adoption is the alternative.
September 7th, 2008 at 8:30 am
The Guardian had a great piece where they interviewed blacks who were delegates at the RNC. “Values above race,” was their overriding theme. One said “I don’t want to live in a socialist society, which Obama would provide.” And they have billboards and bumper stickers proclaiming that “Martin Luther King was a Republican.” Where are our media on this story? Maybe McCain’s ad people should catch onto this. Or are the blacks’ votes lost?
September 7th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Excellent news #23! Back to a tie in Rasmussen (which i believe understates the # of Republicans in its weightings….)
September 7th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Rasmussen I think is the most accurrate polling…however, my fear is actually the reverse. As Rasmussen does likely voters, are their models off with all the new registered Dems?
September 7th, 2008 at 8:51 am
dotan, thank you for that post in #13. You are correct to state that evangelicals love Israel and the Jewish people and I particularly appreciate your vantage point based on the vantage point of your faith.
If they are going to make up smears they should at least aquaint themselves with the basics of christian beliefs regarding Israel.
September 7th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Hey #19,
It’s a terrific point, the Dems had the election in the bag before they fell for the McCain’s camp ‘rope-a-dope’ with Palin……which lost it for them…..
(You know about rope-a-dope in the UK, right? Ali-Foreman fight?)
September 7th, 2008 at 9:12 am
DaveG… thanks for debunking your own concoction. It was only you and a few of your pro-abortion buddies that ever painted Palin as one of “the five people left in America who still yearn to ban ‘the pill.’”
This was only ever a diversion from Obama’s indefensible kill’em born and alive abortion stance… never a real concern of the left. (The left knows that Palin is not one of the hard-core Catholics that you fear so much.) And, abstinence education is a winning issue when not misrepresented by people like you.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:13 am
17. I found this blog helpful (and amusing) that lists (and updates) all the Palin myths that have been debunked:
http://explorations.chasrmartin.com/2008/09/06/palin-rumors/
The blog also provides links to the proof that debunks a lot of the myths.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:20 am
All these folks aint really saying nothing about the issues, Obma is a little tiny bit, but it seems like Palin and McCain just mantra stealing when they need to talk about N. Korea rebuilding nukes like North Korea has fallen off the map
September 7th, 2008 at 9:28 am
#27 I’m not too worried about that. Lot’s of young people are convinced to register to vote every cycle but they traditionally turn out in pretty low numbers. How many newly registered dems do you think are actually republicans that Rush convinced to vote for Hillary? That is a topic that’s mostly fallen off the radar but was seen as a big deal at the time.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:46 am
#15, Doug Forrester, “it’s hard to find Evangelicals who oppose contraception. You’ve really got to go looking.”
The primary here is contraceptives as a part of sex ed, along with abstinence. Evangelicals are overwhelmingly against that.
(We even had some here who were against contraception per se, and this is not Free Republic.)
September 7th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I fear we’ve already lost quite a few people who believed Palin was against sex ed during the firestorm over her teen daughter’s pregnancy.
September 7th, 2008 at 10:05 am
#19
Thanks, Rich, for that article. I guess it’s easier to see the big picture when you’re not as close to the mess as we are. I’m always fascinating by the way the British and Irish press see our elections. This is one of my favorite parts of that one.
‘When a man believes that any stick will do, he at once picks up a boomerang,’ said GK Chesterton, and when the politically committed go on a berserker you should listen for the sound of their own principles smacking them in the face.
I’m pretty sure I heard that sound Wednesday night.
September 7th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Thanks everyone, I like to add a UK perpective (whether you like or not
)
Up until recently, the UK media has generally been hysterically pro Obama (particularly the BBC, with their anti-GOP agenda as usual). It’s starting to even up now it’s evident it’s going to be close, and the attention Palin got was incredible.
I’m heading over to McCain headquarters in Arlington next week with a friend who works for a fairly prominent UK Conservative MP, so it will be interesting to see how you guys do it. I’ll let you know how I find it.
September 7th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Rich, would you please email me at gmatthewmiller *at* gmail dot com?
September 7th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Sure, have done
September 7th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Rich(UK) and MarkG: Excellent article, and I’ve noticed much the same about the British and European press.
Laurent: Thanks for bringing up rope-a-dope. I too had been thinking that McCain’s convention/Palin strategy was based on Ali’s approach — when you’re faced with a stronger opponent, let him wear himself out flailing with punches that do no harm.
September 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Why haven’t any of the front pagers put up the Rasmussen numbers?
September 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
front pagers are really slacking on posting polls, Kavon better crack some skulls
September 7th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I don’t think its going to be a dealbreaker. Sure there may be some people who don’t think the government should be involved in teaching kids about sex ( how un-libertarian of them) and those who want to teach kids their own values on the issue. However, I really don’t think its a deal-breaker for anyone. Now if statements come out that show her as pro-”choice”, then she’s in trouble.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
DaveG conclueds: “McCain/Palin truly is the end of cynical Rove politics in the GOP, isn’t it?”
Man, I hope you are right!!
September 7th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
[...] by Matthew Kilburn on September 7, 2008 According to Race 4 2008, Sarah Palin is now facing her first big test on issues - and it surrounds her position on [...]
September 7th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Thanks HearMeRoar for setting the record straight.
September 7th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
MSM smear? Didn’t DaveG and Metro jump on this smear with gusto last week based on no evidence?