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I think Ruth Marcus has a great comment on the political aspects of Bristol Palin's pregnancy as well as showing a human touch needed in such a personal and difficult family situation. There is political hay in this subject, but it must be tip toed through to avoid alienation or condemnation.
Quote:
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Bristol Palin's pregnancy may be the ultimate teachable moment. It just might not be the lesson that John McCain intended.
My first thought on hearing the news was: What was Sarah Palin thinking? Assuming, as the campaign says, that she knew about her 17-year-old's pregnancy and informed McCain in advance, how could she expose her daughter to the inevitable spotlight that Palin's vice presidential nomination would bring?
The unwed mother -- or at least, the not-yet-wed mother -- has become a more common (this is bad) and less shameful (this is good) phenomenon in 21st century America. It's the unusual celebrity (the Hollywood type, not the Obama type) who bothers to get hitched before getting pregnant. The baby bump has become a badge of honor, not a scarlet letter.
And yet, no one feels good about a pregnant 17-year-old, whether Bristol or Jamie Lynn Spears. As Sarah and Todd Palin put it with decided understatement Monday, this will "make her (Bristol) grow up faster than we had ever planned."
And it will be that much more difficult in the media glare. "We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi's (the father) privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates," the Palins said in their statement.
As a parent, I sympathize. But as a parent in the media, I also know that the Palins assumed this risk. Anyone who watched coverage of the Bush twins' barroom exploits knew that the avert-your-eyes stance toward candidates' children has its limits.
It's naive to imagine, in the current anything-goes Internet era, that Palin's daughter's pregnancy would go unremarked. It's also mistaken, I think, to expect it. Like it or not, Bristol Palin's pregnancy is intertwined with an important public policy debate about which the two parties differ and on which Sarah Palin has been outspoken.
Which brings me to the teachable moment: What should teenagers be taught about sexual activity and contraception? By whom? What access should they have to condoms or other forms of birth control? Specifically, is abstinence-only education enough?
The 2008 Republican Party platform acknowledges that "each year, more than 3 million American teenagers contract sexually transmitted diseases, causing emotional harm and serious health consequences, even death." It expresses support for "efforts to educate teens and parents about the health risks associated with early sexual activity and provide the tools needed to help teens make healthy choices."
Then it adds, "Abstinence from sexual activity is the only protection that is 100 percent effective against out-of-wedlock pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases."
Yes, but talking about abstinence turns out to be easier than abstaining. More than 60 percent of high-school seniors report having had sex at least once. The message that every family should take from Bristol Palin's pregnancy is: It can happen here.
Except Sarah Palin opposes programs that teach teenagers anything about contraception. "The explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support," she said in answering a questionnaire from the conservative Eagle Forum during her 2006 gubernatorial race.
McCain has voted to increase abstinence-only funding, to terminate the federal family planning program, and against funding teen pregnancy prevention programs. He voted to require teens seeking birth control to obtain parental consent.
Being a teenager means taking stupid risks. The best, most attentive parenting, the best, most comprehensive sex education, won't stop teenagers from doing dumb things. The most we as parents can hope for is to insulate our children, as best we can, from the consequences of their own stupidity.
I have two daughters back home, 11 and 13 -- close enough to Bristol's age that I cannot comfort myself that her situation is a far-off irrelevance.
When I talk with them about this news, I will use the moment to teach the muddled message that is the only one that makes sense to me in the messy modern world: Wait, please. But whenever you choose to have sex, don't do it without contraception.
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I think Ruth Marcus has a great comment on the political aspects of Bristol Palin's pregnancy as well as showing a human touch needed in such a personal and difficult family situation. There is political hay in this subject, but it must be tip toed through to avoid alienation or condemnation.
The lesson of Bristol Palin is that a small but rather vocal part of the mainstream media, and a whole lot of liberal pundits and few on this board don't have an ounce of integrity when the opportunity to slime a political opponent arises.
The lesson of Bristol Palin is that a small but rather vocal part of the mainstream media, and a whole lot of liberal pundits and few on this board don't have an ounce of integrity when the opportunity to slime a political opponent arises.
Listening to Fox News this morning on the way into work, they had a Democrat (middle aged woman whose name I don't recall) saying that a lot of women are mad at Palin because she don't stay home and raise her family instead of pursuing a political career. When asked why that same criteria didn't apply to a male politician, the lady answered that it's the woman's place to raise the family, not the man's.
I hope the Dems continue to push this talking point. She basically insulted every working woman in America.
__________________
“So I became a newspaperman. I hated to do it but I couldn’t find honest employment.” —Mark Twain
The lesson of Bristol Palin is that a small but rather vocal part of the mainstream media, and a whole lot of liberal pundits and few on this board don't have an ounce of integrity when the opportunity to slime a political opponent arises.
So how do we approach the subject of sex education/abstinence only education that is a big pole in Palin's tent and is a political issue that splits the electorate? Are you saying that one side can politicize the issue, not the girl, but the other side cannot?
The lesson of Bristol Palin is that a small but rather vocal part of the mainstream media, and a whole lot of liberal pundits and few on this board don't have an ounce of integrity when the opportunity to slime a political opponent arises.
I would take that serious if it weren't for the fact that many of the people here, the conservative pundits out there, didn't take every opportunity to make up bs and throw slime at Obama. Sorry Kolo, maybe you weren't participating over the past several months, but others in this thread certainly were and continue to. It's hilarious to watch them now passing judgement on others.
I hope the Dems continue to push this talking point. She basically insulted every working woman in America.
The dems? Or that woman?
Why would that be in issue with the party? You've got Hillary Clinton, Sebelius, Michelle Obama, Tubbs (RIP), and many others just as formidable and in many instances better than their male counterparts.
I have yet to hear any other say such drivel. Especially leaders of the Democratic party or talking heads I've seen that are given the tag "democratic strategist".
Doesn't surprise me one bit that the the time it's discussed is on Faux News.
I would take that serious if it weren't for the fact that many of the people here, the conservative pundits out there, didn't take every opportunity to make up bs and throw slime at Obama. Sorry Kolo, maybe you weren't participating over the past several months, but others in this thread certainly were and continue to. It's hilarious to watch them now passing judgement on others.
Go ahead and show where Obama's children were ever a target and then you will have a point. Until then it's apples to oranges.
__________________ "I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy".
Why would that be in issue with the party? You've got Hillary Clinton, Sebelius, Michelle Obama, Tubbs (RIP), and many others just as formidable and in many instances better than their male counterparts.
I have yet to hear any other say such drivel. Especially leaders of the Democratic party or talking heads I've seen that are given the tag "democratic strategist".
Doesn't surprise me one bit that the the time it's discussed is on Faux News.
No kidding... probably one of their interns. I can hear them whispering to her now... "tell 'em women belong in the kitchen, tell 'em they should be making biscuits and washing their man's feet."
I'd agree if the child was the target, show me where she was.
If you can't see the child's pregnancy being used as a weapon against her mother than you have blinders on and are incapable of having a rational discussion on this topic.
__________________ "I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy".
Why would that be in issue with the party? You've got Hillary Clinton, Sebelius, Michelle Obama, Tubbs (RIP), and many others just as formidable and in many instances better than their male counterparts.
I have yet to hear any other say such drivel. Especially leaders of the Democratic party or talking heads I've seen that are given the tag "democratic strategist".
Doesn't surprise me one bit that the the time it's discussed is on Faux News.
So you are saying they told this gal what to say? The woman was representing the Demo Party and this isn't the first time I've come across this argument.
If you can't see the child's pregnancy being used as a weapon against her mother than you have blinders on and are incapable of having a rational discussion on this topic.
Of course it is, everyone has painted the daughter as a victim. I still don't see where the child was a target as you claimed. Besides I don't have one post in judgement of the either. I've only discussed what has taken place over the weekend.
I would take that serious if it weren't for the fact that many of the people here, the conservative pundits out there, didn't take every opportunity to make up bs and throw slime at Obama. Sorry Kolo, maybe you weren't participating over the past several months, but others in this thread certainly were and continue to. It's hilarious to watch them now passing judgement on others.
I absolutely agree, and as to Palin, some have no right to complain. But there is a difference when it comes to the daughter. The children of politicians have historically gotten an absolute pass. During the Clinton administration, Gore's daughter got a dui or minor in possession or something along those lines (I'm sure Google would provide details), and it was ignored outright. Even John Edwards affair and possibly illegitimate child won't get the press's attention other than the National Enquirer--he ran his campaign as devoted husband of cancer stricken wife, nailing another woman all along and having campaign money directed to her (for the production of an amateurish video) and what does the mainstream media say? They don't want to hurt Mrs. Edward's feelings, or there's no story there, just an unfortunate circumstance. Bollocks.
There's just a uniquely disgusting aspect to scrutinizing a 17 year old girl's sexuality, who is in no different position than thousands of girls each year, and who is certainly going through a hell of a lot even without the scrutiny and the lies, none of which she deserves. This is the sickest display of partisanship I can remember.
Of course it is, everyone has painted the daughter as a victim. I still don't see where the child was a target as you claimed. Besides I don't have one post in judgement of the either. I've only discussed what has taken place over the weekend.
And what's a victim if not the target of someone's malicious intent?
This girl and her private life was specifically attacked in order to try and discredit her mother.
__________________ "I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy".
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