Would You Do That to Your Daughter?

Gene,

If she's a major league politician then we all just have to assume that she's already answered in the affirmative for her family.

We need to get beyond that and treat her the way we would any new candidate. What is her position on the housing crisis that threatens the global financial system? How deep does she think that rabbit hole goes? What are her views on the type of corporate lobbying that Obama and McCain have railed against. How would she handle Iraq if we are told to leave and then three months later civil war breaks out and Iran and Saudi Arabia threaten to join the conflict. How will she balance the budget and fund social security and growing entitlements? What is her plan for energy independence? Why doesn't she think global warming is manmade? Does she believe in science enough to have a surgery performed on her? Why should the planet be subject to different rules?

Please ask her the questions that we, the people, are not in a position to. We deserve to know her for her political viewpoints, not for her family issues. There's too much at stake for their country here. Thanks,

My sentiments exactly!!!! Life is utterly terrifying for any young unwed mother ….and now to have her shame displayed on a national stage…a shotgun wedding? I hear. AND what about the unborn child…to have such a spotlight on him/her as it comes into the world. How traumatizing…I hope Palin makes better decisions about our nation than she has about her own family.

Good point above from BB. Those are the kinds of questions that are particularly lacking in cable news coverage.

However, re: the pregnant daughter, conservative pundits have rallied to spin and defend the situation. I wonder what they would say if Obama's daughters were teens and one was pregnant. Just imagining the offensive sludge that would ooze from the mouths of Hannity and Rush about a pregnant black teen girl is enough to make my skin crawl.

The public arena is no place for this most personal situation. Kids in high school are already under extreme pressure and I can only imagine what this child is going through under such a spotlight! I look to this as another indicator of John McCain's lack of judgment.

I said it elsewhere, I'll say it here too.

The judgment of parents who permit their then-14 year old daughter to date a 23 year old man are poor. To put it mildly. The fact that she's 5+ months pregnant and STILL unwed suggests that one or both of the parents-to-be are not interested in becoming espoused. If she was impregnated before turning 17, and I don't know this to be the case, then it was statutory rape, even in Alaska.

He'd be lucky to be arrested before I beat him to death with the candlestick, in the library. There is no way in the world that I'd make it less than crystal-clear how I felt about a 23-24-25 year old man dating MY 14-15-16 year old daughter.

How amusing of Sarah Palin to say it was her daughter's choice--I thought that Ms. Palin didn't approve of choice. Or did she mean the choice of having the baby and keeping it, or having the baby and giving it up for adoption? Am I missing any other choices?

So much for the topic of "family values" to be boasted by Republicans this fall.

Please delete the post of 8:55 by Miss Scarlet because it violates the 5th and 6th rule of posting. Murder threats are not ok.

Mr. Robinson has shown himself to be a real scumbag. Sarah Palin didn't "do" this to her daughter. You did, Mr. Robinson!! You hypocritcal a'hole!

Agree with both Deep Blue and Shallow Green.
As Barack Obama said, this is a private family matter. That said, one cannot help asking the question raised by Mr. Robinson, "What would I do?" As a woman, my opinion is formed in large part by my gender, but also my background. Ironically, I was lovingly raised by an evangelical mother, and I don't even have to ask what she would do in such a situation. The idea that she would have left us for any reason, no matter how exalted and lofty, is simply ludicrous.

Fuzz,

I truly hope you GOT the humour behind 'Miss Scarlet' declaring her intention to beat someone to death with the 'candlestick' in the 'library'. Particularly in light of the fact that Miss Scarlet was writing about a hypothetical person dating her daughter.

But at this hour of the night, I tend to despair.

In defense of Miss Scarlet's post, I believe she is referring to that old game "Clue." Miss Scarlet is one of the characters in the game, along with others such as Colonel Mustard(yellow) and Mrs. Peacock(blue). There are several possible murder weapons, the candlestick being one, and several possible crime sites, including the library. Correct me if wrong, been a long time. Anyway, "Miss Scarlet" gets A+ for creative writing, I think she was just voicing the normal feelings most parents would have but most wouldn't carry them out.

Leave the kids out of it. What a cheap shot for you to take, Mr. Robinson.
Why are all of you "liberals" jumping at first light to attach this "liberal" act by a teenager?
Hypocrites. The entire lot of you. You make me sick and you are ruining our good country.

Gene,

Surprise, surprise, there are many viewpoints, many different views. I have been a Democrat for 44 years, and I have opposing positions from Governor Palin's positions on the vast majority of the issues. Four days have now past while I wait for the political operatives of the Democratic Party and our supporters in the Press to stop making personal attacks and address issues.

The problem here is you, Gene, and your peers. As I have asked several of “my betters” in the Democratic Party, please stop. Just stop.

Would you find humor in a man murdering his son's girlfriend? Family violence isn't funny simply because the murderer is a woman. Again, I request these posts be deleted.

Oh well, you can throw "family values" out of the speech this week!

how old is the boyfriend & how do we know his age?
and no, i wouldn't create this situation for/with my daughter...

Of course it's a sexist question. It assumes that men as a matter of course stand ready to serve their country, regardless of circumstance, but a woman, whatever she has worked for and accomplished, and however much she has to offer the wider community and her country, must always put her family first.

Just shows how clueless you and the other obamabots are, why Hillary supporters are voting for Palin in droves, and why women the world over will CHEER when Vice-President Sarah Palin (WOW, does that sound good!) is sworn in come January.

Thank you. What does this say about Gov. Palin's judgment? And, if the spin is correct that this was known by McCain before the selection, what about his judgment?

I am so stuck on how the Right can make these folks for sainthood. If it were a daughter of a woman Democrat the family values card would have been played to the hilt, right up to how could a mother sacrifice her daughter's well-being for a career? If she were home being a mother instead of governing or senatoring, etc., this wouldn't have happened or she would have intuitively known about it before month five. They would have called it negligence and laid it at the parents' feet. Then they would have proclaimed it selfish to keep the baby, and a shotgun marriage would have been seen as a cynical political ploy so as to not ruin the negligent mother's career.

Liberal hypocrites! You guys are suddenly so worried about Palin's daughter. If it was Biden's daughter and she had undergone an abortion, you'd console him and then say its none of your business. In this case you are right. Its none of your business.

Gene:

In answer to your question, in one word, NO.

eugene, this was done to indirectly debunk the sarah palin "fake pregnancy" rumor circulating in the pro-obama and liberal blogs like daily kos and andrew sullivan.

unless you are trying to be dense, of course.

Dear Gene:
I absolutely agree with Barack Obama and a number of other readers that this is absolutely none of our business and is a personal family affair. Your decision to make it the topic of your column is shamelessly partisan and completely self-righteous. Please spare us the patronizing gossip and focus on the issues. If there is anything else that this election is making obvious is that the American people do want change--change from the red/blue/us/them nonsense that has been the focus of the past few elections and focus on the facts and the candidates' ideas for the future of our country. The candidates are not the only ones who have been guilty of the sensationalism that has affected our nation's political discourse --you and other members of the media are as well.

You have to be a disgusting partisan hack and a sexist pig to suggest that a woman can not seek political office because her daughter is pregnant.The problem is not Gov.Palin or the office she is running for-its people like you,who pretend like journalists but clearly has a inferior motive behind every line you write.

To JeanBee,

No, only candidates who tout their "family first" credentials are allowed to be scrutinized. In her introduction to us, Palin bragged about being a mom. She dragged the whole family on stage in a way I can't imagine doing to my own three children. They were stage props.

The far-right brags about their family values, implying for years and years (until we're sick of it) that Dems have no family values. If this were Biden's or Obama's family problem, the Republican attack machine would tear such a parental decision (however private) to shreds, while smirking smugly and piously.

If you talk piously about how great a mom you are, you'd better walk the walk and be willing to talk about the challenges of parenthood. Hillary, by the way, was a spectacular example of a public mom keeping her daugher OUT of the limelight when that daughter was a teen.

Hillary supporters are generally insulted by the idea that Sarah Palin could replace Hillary. I am a 61-year-old woman myself and very insulted at the notion that "just any woman" can be thrown on a ballot and be received without question, without testing, without qualifications. And then to be instructed about sexism . . .? Come on. Be real. Polls recently released show Hillary fans NOT flocking to McCain. Less so since this decision.

Second, as a feminist myself, I know a sexist question when I see one. Sarah Palin has set herself up as "your average hockey mom". Her qualification as a parent have been put on the table by her as one of her qualifications to be Vice President. You didn't hear Obama or Biden present themselves as "your average dad", among the first things they said. If parenthood is on the table at all, let's compare Joe Biden as a single father for those years after the tragedy in his family with Sarah Palin's. Joe Biden is no slouch as a sacrificing parent who protected his young sons. By contrast, Sarah Palin, for the sake of her own power and ego, chooses to move this complicated big family of her out of their comfort zone and presumably to Washington D.C. -- a place she disdains.

Finally, V.P. candidates have paid the price of having private issues aired as a matter of course. Tom Eagleton was a vice-presidential candidate who was thrown to the dogs after Republicans made a nasty case out of his treatment for depression. That was a private, personal, and sensitive matter. But not for Republican attack machines. Ed Muskie was torn apart for shedding a (possible) single tear -- yep, by the Republican attack machine. If you want to talk about hypocrites, look close to home and quit whining.

Obama, whom you have disparaged, has announced that families are off-limits in this campaign. He, more than Sarah Palin, has protected her children from attack. I hope you can show enough grace to admit that.

AGREED. As a parent, who would knowingly put a 17 year old daughter thru the national humiliation of un-married pregnancy? Did the child have a CHOICE in being humiliated? She has now been elevated publicly to the level of Lowenski.

Cturtle1--you seem like a very angry person-you should step back and try to figure out why--your facts are lacking--did you not see the Obama children trotted out on stage during the Democratic convention and in numerous stories in a number of publications?

I keep finding references to the idea that Sarah Palin's daughter has "chosen" to keep the baby. That's what her mother said. But can one really believe that a seventeen-year old girl with a driven and ambitious mother who is fixated and rigid on a particular view of bringing a pregnancy to term, no matter what, has been allowed to exercise any choice at all in this matter?

Eugene:

I think it's even worse than you imagine and that she sacrificed her daughter to kill a story that baby Trig was not her son but rather her daughter's. As you know, the buzz was about whether baby Trig was actually Sarah's baby. The reason the issue is relevant is because the touching story of baby Trig is a featured part of her sales pitch as the great pro-life standard bearer and brave mama who flew back to Alaska from Texas to have him. In addition, there are photos and videos of her in February and March where she appears noticeably not pregnant and the Alaskan press had already been raising those questions. Finally, Trig did not appear on the hospital birth records on the day he was supposedly born. Andrew Sullivan wrote that she could put those rumors to rest by simply producing Trig's birth certificate.

Instead of producing the birth certificate, she busted out her poor daughter, seemingly as a human shield, and then screamed for privacy for Bristol. It reminds of the Air National Guard feint by Bush's people where you could never again raise the question of Bush's service. And she still hasn't proved that baby Trig is hers.

Palin is already a proven liar with her phony Bridge to Nowhere reformer story and I now believed that she engaged in a showy human sacrifice in the form of her daughter in order to kill the baby Trig story, which has seemingly been put to rest. Killing two Rovian birds with one stone, as it were. This lady is ambitious!

Wow.This gal Palin was thrown out there to the American public as a VP canidate, and now this?

This lady sure does have alot on her plate, what with 5 children (one speacial needs) and now this.

Can she manage it? Is it too much?

That is not a question I feel I should be asking at all, therefore I must vote Obama-Biden. What a mess!

I guess the devil made you exploit this intense family issue by writing about it. Guys like you show, in this case, callousness beyond imagination. Shame on you.

I'm surprised so many people are assuming they didn't use birth control. Sometimes it fails, which is why it is best to use two types. Anyone who thinks a 17 year-old is going to do everything her mother tells her to has never had a 17 year-old. I think there may be more to this story and I look forward to seeing how it unfolds. Sarah Palin is an interesting person and a risky choice. She makes for good news and discussion.

Should we respect this family's privacy? Sure -- as soon as Sarah Palin starts to respect the privacy of America's families.

Fuzz,

You are aptly named.

Obviously my screen name and the references were to the board game, "Clue". As in, "Get one!"

I'm happy to relate that my 14 yo daughter is not being 'dated' by a 23 year old. Rest assured that if a 23 year old were dating her, he'd be slapped with a restraining order within 24 hours. Why? Because he's a predator, that's why.

But then again, I have a family tree to reference, not a family bamboo patch.

I had my serious doubts yesterday about any woman (or man) who would drag a baby around on the campaign trail - let alone a baby with a handicap - all the planes, the crowds, the being thrust into various strangers' arms, the lack of a regular schedule with the mother. As the mother of three adopted children, I know the importance of the first year of life for building trust and security (one of the reasons that adoption and fostering are very complicated issues.) And a mother of four children doesn't know that?

And then I read the news today.

The best advice I got years ago from very talented, intelligent women was that there is a great temptation when you are the parent of teenagers to get real busy and take on new tasks, but that it is a real mistake because you never know when your teenagers will need you (what if Ms. Palin's son is injured or killed in Iraq?) Obviously, Mr. and Mrs. Palin have no one giving them good advice about raising their family (and practicing birth control)or are adverse to taking advice, so I greatly fear for the US and the world if Ms. Palin should become the vice president

"Anyone who thinks a 17 year-old is going to do everything her mother tells her to has never had a 17 year-old."

If that is the standard of parenthood in today's society, then God help us.

Most people seem to be missing the point, here. It's not about the teenage girl, or her baby, or her marriage, or Palin's own 4-month-old genetically disabled baby. It's about PALIN's JUDGEMENT. How can she give her own baby the kind of special loving care it needs while on she's on the campaign trail - or as VP? How can she choose her political career over her daughter's privacy?

Whether you agree or disagree with Palin's belief that every conception should lead to a birth (except for the 25% that God decides aren't important, of course), you have to believe that choosing to bring a child into the world means you have to also choose to give it the full measure of your devotion. That's where Palin is failing.

Here is why foxnews, and their conservative supporters, are so sad:

"On the pinhead front, 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant. The sister of Britney says she is shocked. I bet.

Now most teens are pinheads in some ways. But here the blame falls primarily on the parents of the girl, who obviously have little control over her or even over Britney Spears. Look at the way she behaves."

Thanks Bill O'Reilly. You can read this at: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317577,00.html

Let's see what Rush Limbaugh had to say: (http://radioequalizer.blogspot.com/2007/12/spears-pregnancy-news-annoys-talk.html)

"CALLER: Would you tend to think that a family in this position, though, wouldn't you think that there would be a more watchful eye as a parent to be watching over these kids so this doesn't happen to them?

RUSH: I would certainly hope so, but it's long past time for this to happen. The parents here are the culprits!

CALLER: (chuckles)

RUSH: I mean, the parents, they're infected with this disease, this addiction to fame themselves. Look at Britney's mom, for crying out loud. "Put me on TV, too! Put me on TV!" You know, celebrity parents, they can go both ways, and some of them lose whatever grounding they had as adults when their kids get famous. They want to be part of it. They like the money themselves. It's very rare to have celebrity parents that remain grounded, but who's going to get this family in line?"

Posted by: Tony Shaw | September 1, 2008 5:02 PM

Why don't you ask the Democrats (all of whose leading candidates, the Speaker and Harry Reid attended the Kos convention) why the slanders were started on the Kos, who started them and when will the Democratic Party disassociate itself from such vile people!

They are worse than any organization on the right now or ever. Until you take them on don't talk about fairness!

Robinson is beneath contempt.His trashing of Hillary,his lack of class and decency in blasting Palin for not hiding her daughter and disappearing from the scene is despicable.Palin`s "far right views on sex education and abortion" allegation is a real benchmark of Robinson`s true hypocrisy and intolerance.Robinson is so deep in the tank for Obama,he no longer is credible.Maybe he will follow his vile friends and find a home at the DAILY KOS.

The issue affecting most of us, and affecting us the most, is not Ms. Palin's personal choices with regard to her children, but the policies she advocates. If her child, who was raised in a close-knit Christian home with two wealthy parents, is compelled by her parents' or her own ideology to have her baby, fine. That infant will be born to a supportive home with the privileges that will ensure its positive start (insurance, money, education, etc). What about the kids who don't share in the same privileges? Their lack of choice becomes something else altogether; outlawing choice and outlawing well-rounded sex-ed relegates those with the greatest needs to lives with increasingly less hope, less education, less financial stability. While Palin praises her daughter's "choice," we should all think for a minute about the consequences of denying choice to countless young women.

I think Sarah Palin is exhibiting selfish behavior in regards to her family. She knew the internet and news would vett her family for her, aside from what McCain would do. She didn't mention it until speculation arised that that baby Trig was actually Bristol's. Other speculations is that Bristol will "suddenly have a miscarriage b/c baby Trig is actually Bristols, and they did this to squander rumors. Either way, Sarah should've turned the VP nomination down for the sake of her family. It wouldn't be so relevant if she didn't run a a platform of family values, oppose sex education being taught, staunchly against birth control and for abstinence. If she couldn't teach or persuade her own children on these values, why do we need her as the potential leader of our country. She comes across as hypocritical. And of course, evangelicals will support her, but why is it that she can get a pass for fornication and unwed pregnancy, but other American's can't get a pass on making bad decisions in regards to abortion, being gay, stem cell research, etc? So is one sin less sinful than another? Maybe if she wasn't against creationism and let the schools teach sex education and how to prevent pregnancy, poor Bristol wouldn't be in this situation.

Shame on the Palins for their ignorant, selfish behavior. Are they this clueless? Didn't they understand the scrutiny that comes with a nomination? I think not, as so many "gates" are coming out with Mr. McCain's fine choice that I am getting dizzy. Obviously this poor girl has been terribly manipulated by her mom and I hope she moves on and has a happy life. And no Eugene, I could never do anything remotely like this to my sweet daughter. I also teach my child to be responsible and hope she makes the right choices - she knows that we will keep her on the bus even if she makes bad ones.
Peace.

You are asking a mother of 5 including a baby with Down Syndrome and a teenage pregnant daughter to be the next in line for the commander in chief. Imagine the stress even on a non working mother. The problem with this whole issue is either John McCain did not know about her a lot or if he knew he did not care. There is problem with john McCain's judjement and rashness in his decision making.

Sleazy republicans would pounce on such an opportunity should it be politically advantageous. Look what those republican pigs did to John Kerry with the swift boat ad. They attacked a man who served this country honorably, while our tyrannical president used his political power to avoid serving in Vietnam. Politics is a dirty business, and the republicans used the dirt well in 2004. Now it's time to knuckle up in 2008. The oppression is coming to an end.

I know one thing, if she was my daughter I'd keep my mouth shut about the evils of contraception or sex education and wouldn't dare advise other people's children to rely on Abstinence.

No, I would NOT drag my daughter into the public arena and hold her and the father up to such public ridicule. The selection of Mrs. Palin not only raises questions about John McCain's judgment but about Mrs. Palin's judgment as well. She has a four-month-old special needs infant and an unwed pregnant 17-year-old daughter. It seems to me that her priority SHOULD be her children in this instance, not on advancing her political career and ideological agenda.

What a mess!

Does the GOP (Republicans, better known as the Bush Administration) really want to win this election? I don't think so!

If you look at the timeline over the last 2 years I think you can "check off" the number of times the GOP has attempted to help the Democratic Party to win this election.

Several GOP candidates who were still in the running for the nomination, only to suddenly drop out; Republicans crossing over in open primary states to attempt to bolster Senator Clinton's campaign against Senator Obama believing she had a better chance to win.

And now nominating an inexperienced, unknown Governor from the State of Alaska, whose family values include abandoning your family in order to pursue your political aspirations, and a destiny to crush a former brother-in-law's career in order to appease a sibling.

In case you are unaware of this, the McCain Campaign is being managed by a former counsel to Vice President Dick Cheney, and was an assistant to GOP henchman Karl Rove.

I'm sure the GOP understands that it will take a Herculean effort to gain control of a country that is so far out of whack due to an Administration that has raped our treasury and our Constitution, and lost any respect we held around the world with our allies, that the American public may hold that President in disregard for years to come. The GOP understands that and realizes that if a Republican President were elected in this election year, it could do irreparable damage to their party.

This latest catastrophe to hit John McCain’s campaign is just a little bit too incredible to be just a coincidence. If John McCain is really the “Maverick” his campaign is trying to portray him, maybe he rubbed the Bush Administration, the Christian Conservatives, and the “K” Street gang the wrong way a little too often.

Sadly, Bristol wouldn’t have the world’s spotlight on her, and we would not be talking about any of this, if Gov. Palin had some pro “choice” tendencies. She could very simply have told John McCain that as new mother of a special needs child and as an upcoming grandmother to the child of her teenage daughter (not to mention her lack of qualifications), she would be unable to devote time to both a presidential campaign and her family. She could merely have said that she CHOOSES to say no at this time.

As a mother of 2 daughters and a Conservative Republican- it angers me seeing Palin doing this to her daughter. She is not a good mother. She does not represent family values that I possess.

I am not going to vote for McCain this year.

JB,

It is true that McCain is running a sleazy campaign. His remarks that Obama is a traitor for championing the popular idea of withdrawal from Iraq, which Bush just agreed on, are heinous. And his One ad portraying Obama as the anti-Christ is designed to stir up deep racial and religious hatred against Obama.

As far as I am concerned, if anything were to 'happen' to Obama, then McCain will be responsible for it. And his reputation, and the rest of him, can go to hell for that.

Having said that, we should lay off Palin's family situation. McCain didn't properly vet her, and he didn't pick well. That speaks to his judgment. Palin should be asked about her views on the policies that matter to Americans. And we should judge her based on those policies. She's a far right nut job. Let her go out that way. Abstinence only education is only one of her out-of-touch extreme views.

McCain's pick was so reckless and selfish that is truly shows how abysmal of a decision maker he is. The Republicans should nominate Romney/Pawlenty at the convention, not McCain/Palin. That would be putting country first.

I find myself scanning the news looking for any glimpses of Sarah Palin. She has fought corruption in Alaska, and even in her own party. She has an 85% approval rating in Alaska.

She has fought for change, for eliminating corruption. Barack Obama claims to be for change, but he didn't fight against the corrupt Chicago Way political network - instead, he milked it for all he could, and still is.

Sarah Palin and Cindy McCain are a breath of fresh air, and we need that right now. Enough of the elitists who took over the Democratic Party, as well as the media and the DNC. We will never forgive them for what they did forcing Hillary out of the race. She had more votes, yet she was treated as someone who was trying to steal the election from Obama.

Obama will not win this election. The polls show them dead even, and one showed McCain ahead, after all the Demo Convention, and the V.P. McCain chose. So much for Obama. I have been saying since January he will be a foot note in the history books when it is all over. gw.

isn't it the lying and cover-up that is the greatest issue?

McCain says he knew about this and didn't consider it an issue; then, he has it announced during the hurricane, as if that would distract from it.

What other skeletons are in the closets here? We don't know, we just don't know. Is that a position to put us as voters in?

I agree completely. What kind of parent puts their pregnant teen daughter's situation in the national spotlight in exchange for their name as a VP candidate? Surely with a 4 month old Downs Syndrome baby at home, a 5 month pregnant 17 year old, surely this would be a good time for a parent to respectfully decline the VP selection and put family first. But I guess that might be the real meaning of "Country First" -- or at least national exposure and attention. But for the record, I would not be doing it if it was my daughter. And I fear I am judging the decision making process that allows a person to not forego the national spotlight at this particular time in their family's experience.

Gene,
Thanks for shining the light on what is really important here. When we use the term "Family Values" - that means it starts at home with your own family and your own values. When you have a brand new baby and a 17 year old baby that will have her own baby soon - what values allow you to make the decision to abandon your family for a job that if you attain what you seek - means you will not be there for your own family most of the time. If this is a representation of republican base core values that we all hear that she represents so well - the respect that Barack Obama showed in his statement about this situation shows more support for the 17 year old daughter than her own mothers decision did!!

Where was the media questioning Al Gore's parenting skills when his kid was busted for driving 94mph in a 55mph zone in 2000. Busted again in 2002 for drunk driving. Busted again in 2003 for drug possession. Busted again in 2006 and charged with two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, two misdemeanor counts of possessing a controlled substance without a prescription, one misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana and driving 100mph in a Prius.

Interesting that no one in the MSM questioned Gore's parenting ability or his judgment when he ran for office in 2000 or how his leadership (hypocritical as it is) in the political wing of the global warming movement and how it might affect his son.

Why start now? Robinson's political bias perhaps or just a proclivity toward inconsistency?

More wonderful news coming out in the New York Times about GOP darling Palin :
1) She was a member of the Alaskan Independance Party in th 1990s. Nothing wrong with that except that as the name suggests, this party supports Alaskan independance from the USA! Yep, she's a real PATRIOT .
2) Not as interesting as any of this other stuff but she was arrested for drunk driving 22 yrs ago.
Palin is a fraud and my guess is she'll probably drop her candidacy here soon, but the real story here is McCains seriously flawed decision making and hiring skills. And he wants the highest job in the land? I'm sorry but I vote NO.

what is shameful about bringing new life into the world? Shame on you for painting this wonderful experience as a negative.

Skeleton List (So far, and it is early):

1. Troopergate. She abused her power as Governor to pursue a personal and family vendetta.

2. Bridge To Nowhere Lie. She said she "fought corruption" and opposed the BtN, when in fact she had endorsed it. Further, she ran one of Ted Stevens' 527s.

3. Membership in the Secessionist Alaskan Independence Party. A party that wants a legal vote for Alaskans to decide whether or not they can secede from the US.

I imagine that there's more. But, to me, the thing is, now that she's on the national stage, what are her perspectives on the policy issues that matter to Americans? Someone needs to tell us what she stands for vis-a-vis peace, prosperity, etc. I'm guessing that she's a far right looney tunes. Abstinence-only education? Out of touch. Global warming isn't manmade? Really- does she believe in science at all? Has she ever had an operation or does she only believe in faith healing? If she or someone in her family has had an operation, then why should we treat the planet with the same scientific rigor with which we treat one another? Iran? Iraq? Housing crisis?

Ultimately, she should be judged on what she brings to the table politically, not on her family life. But if the skeleton list continues to grow, then we can assume that McCain lied when he said he vetted her. And we can assume that McCain makes bad, rash decisions.

I dont get it. what did her daughter do wrong?

For once we have candidates who talk candidly about issues in their lives, rather than trying to hide their secrets...and we denigrate them for that too!

Her daughter is going to "show". It happens. She just stopped incredible amounts of inapproapriate speculations by saying that yes, the daughter is pregnant. Heavens, even if Palin were a little stay-at-home mum, it takes courage to admit your 17 year old is having a baby.

I applaud her now, more than ever. As the parent of a child with autism and learning disabilties, I know first hand how strong Palin must be, and how committed to her family she has to be. Allow her a job, please. We'd do it for a man.

Eugene, Eugene ...

You write as though the Palins were anonymous before last Friday.

As you will recall (I know you will, Eugene), Mrs. Palin was already a well-known personality.

Also, the national media is elsewhere reporting (yes, Eugene I have been reading others!) that the pregnancy was common knowledge in Wasilla.

But, Eugene, it was very kind of you to be concerned about Bristol's feelings and Sarah's parenting.

You ARE such a kind soul, Eugene.

The "thing" that she's doing that I really question is rushing a 17 year old into marriage simply because she's having a baby. I also agree that if I knew that this situation existed in my family I would have to decline the offer from McCain in order to assist my own daughter through the situation with much less public pressure and scrutiny.

good question gene, how about this caveat .. what if the father is 18 or older ... how is the law going to treat this ...in some states that would be statutory rape I believe ... but I guess during the vetting process McCain already thought about that ...

When I was 17, I'd be horribly embarrassed if somebody told me that my clothes were out of fashion. Little things like that freaked me out. I knew girls who'd gotten pregnant. They were extremely embarrassed and sometimes hid their pregnancies even from their mothers for months. I can't imagine what Bristol must be going through right now. And to be expected to get married at 17? What about her education? No, if I were her mother I would not put her through that. I'd wrap my arms around her and say, "Honey, we're going home now."

I quote from time.com

"She is Christian and pro-life, but also a supporter of birth control: she's a member of Feminists For Life (FFL), an anti-abortion, pro-contraception organization. In 2002, she wrote a letter to FFL stating that she had "adamantly supported our cause since I first understood, as a child, the atrocity of abortion.""

I will not condemn or even point a finger at Sarah Palin in regard to the latest revelation of her 17-year-old daughter, Bristol's pregnancy. but I do believe that this is a clear reflection of the cracks in 73 year old John McCain's judgment as he attempts to zero in on a segment of the 18,000,000 hard working Hillary Clinton supporters. A variation of this tactic was used to put Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court. It shouldn't work again. If John McCain's judgment was sound he would have vetted Gov. Palin intimately, not for political gain but to see if she would be ready to lead the American People if he were to falter. And if he decided that she should be chosen, situations such as Gov. Palin's 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy would have been presented to the American public in a more proper way. By the way Sen. Clinton will make a great Secretary of State since Sen.
Joe Biden has been chosen for another role in the administration

The fact that this has even come to any attention at all shows what is wrong with our country. I don't really care who her kid is. I want to know who she is and what she stands for. What her daughter has done and anything otherwise is not something that anyone can truly control and everyone that is a parent should understand this. You cannot control the actions of another person beyond a shadow of a doubt. Either way her daughters situation came about though doesn't matter one bit to her ability to lead.

Unwed Pregnant daughter. Republican family values. What kind of a mother is this woman, say anything of running the country.

This Palin is white trailer trash. Just what America wants. Anything but a half Black man who is educated and articulate.

What a bunch of left swinging liberals on this site!

TO ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO CANNOT MIND THEIR OWN FAMILIES BUT SEEM TO WANT TO PUT THEIR TWO CENTS IN OTHER PEOPLE'S PERSONAL BUSINESS; MIND YOU OWN BUSINESS AND LEAVE THE 17 YEAR OLD WOMAN ALONE. YOU BUSY BODIES MUST HAVE NO LIVES OF YOUR OWN. YOU PROBABLY CANNOT MANAGE YOUR OWN FAMILIES SO MUST CRITICISE OTHER. THIS IS A PERSONAL THING AND YOU SHOULD JUST SHUT UP.

TO THE WASHINGTON POST; FOR YOU TO KEEP USING THIS AS HEADLINES MAKES YOU A TABLOID PAPER. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO PROFESSIONAL REPORTING?

I'm sorry but someone who can't even manage her own family (letting her teen daughter date and get pregnant by a MUCH older man = FAILURE) is not qualified to manage the USA and the free world if god forbid McBain fell over dead of old age in a few months.

What kind of person has five children, at least two that we know of in major crisis, and takes a job that will work you 24 -7 - 365. How are you going to spend the time with your children who clearly needed a parents help. One must question Mr. McCain's current decision making and critical thinking skills. I was a big fan eight years ago, but maybe at 72 he is not as sharp as he once was.

Clearly if the media can find fault in a woman who is raising a family of 5 in Alaska, has taken on big oil and her own political party, balanced the Alaska budget, and made a political mark at a very young age, then the media could find fault with ANYONE. The reality is that our media is biased, and deliberately tries to influence Americans towards their view point. We have continually seen Obama flip flop on view points. We witnessed the hateful atitudes between Hilary and Obama in the primaries. Do we want 4 years of that kind of wishy washy, backstabbing filth? I'll take McCain, and Pailin

I think it is a sexist question, and I do not think that it would get the same attention if it were a male candidate.

Real people need to be able to run for office, or apply for jobs, or go to school even when their personal lives, or the personal lives of their children go through some ups and downs.

Frankly, I find this question very sexist, the more I think about it. You are way off base with this article in my opinion.

Its perfectly fine to talk about the failure of abstinence programs, or how they may have obviously failed Bristol.

But to say that Sara Palin should have considered not running for VP, because her daughter became pregnant and might be subjected to public scrutiny?

That is reminiscent of a witch trial threat. Maybe using the same archaic logic, she should have her husband escort her to work every day too, or maybe under this twisted logic she and her daughter should put on a veil or a burka to hide from all the scrutiny that (implied as women) they must obviously not be able to with stand.

Where was George W Bush's head when he ran for office knowing that his daughter's wild sides would be subjected to scrutiny or for that matter knowing that his own incompetence might some day embarrass his daughters?

OK, its Tuesday morning on the East Coast and the Press needs to wake up and realize that sexism is now off the table.

Let's go guys, get your big boy pants on and lets try and pretend for say oh, . . . 48 hours that you can be professional???

Mark
Get Set . . .

Go!

Im soooooooo sure Robinson is concerned for the Palin family. What a joke.

Is it right for Palin to put her daughter through this?

How about is it right for you to even write this article?

This country is more sexist than racist. Sexism is much, much more subtle and difficult to discern.

What everyone must understand: WOMEN CAN MANAGE SUCCESSFUL CAREERS AND HAVE A FAMILY.

Too many women are forced to CHOOSE between career success and personal fulfillment through a rich family life.

WE MUST END THIS BARRIER!!!

Everyone in the press needs to DROP inquiries into her family, including the worst line of inquiry as to how she can both be a VP and raise children. THIS IS NOT THE 1950s!!!!

It really isn't anyone's business what the family does. Don't ever forget it.

So you sick people would kill the baby in her womb? You make me vomit!

IF her daughter kills the baby she goes to hell. Palin had better not let her or she goes to. Its that simple. If you think she should have an abortion, you are an evil man. My only concern is that she might cave and then McLame is in trouble.

Resignation by Sarah Palin is inevitable. ONce the dust settles more truth will emerge and Palin will eventually have to withdraw her name. I don't see it any other way. Republicans lost the most essential arguments of their campaign and that is family values and they lose.

GT:

Yes, I questioned Al Gore's parenting skills as much as I do question Sarah Palin's skills. Al Gore did not become the next president and Mrs. Palin should not become the next Vice President. If someone has such little consideration for one's own family, how can we trust that person to have more consideration (or good judegment) when it comes to our country?

>>>Leave the kids out of it. What a cheap shot for you to take, Mr. Robinson.
Why are all of you "liberals" jumping at first light to attach this "liberal" act by a teenager?
Hypocrites. The entire lot of you. You make me sick and you are ruining our good country.

Posted by: Nobamaever | September 1, 2008 9:41 PM
*****************************************
Chill out Nobamaever, The neo-cons have long ago reduced the good country to ruin. Don't ask yourself, ask anyone else in the world, they will tell you.

The question is simple and worth asking. Would you expose your daughter if she was inseminated at 16 by someone in his 20's dating her since she was 14? I wouldn't but would you?

Let's keep the kids out of it and ask What kind of a parent would chose to travel for the next two months and not be at home taking care of their 5 month old premature baby who sadly has Down's? Seems to me making the choice to be an absent parent under these circumtances spells Unfit Scumbag.

I just have to say this is shameful because I have a daughter and my daughter will be telling me since Ms. Palins daughter is Pregnant and shes the VP then its ok for me to pregnant or have sex...I just think what happen to America where we could give our kids examples of heroes and people to look up too.

Didn't intend that comment to be anonymous, website was a little buggy :)

I think it is a sexist question, and I do not think that it would get the same attention if it were a male candidate.

Real people need to be able to run for office, or apply for jobs, or go to school even when their personal lives, or the personal lives of their children go through some ups and downs.

Frankly, I find this question very sexist, the more I think about it. You are way off base with this article in my opinion.

Its perfectly fine to talk about the failure of abstinence programs, or how they may have obviously failed Bristol.

But to say that Sara Palin should have considered not running for VP, because her daughter became pregnant and might be subjected to public scrutiny?

That is reminiscent of a witch trial threat. Maybe using the same archaic logic, she should have her husband escort her to work every day too, or maybe under this twisted logic she and her daughter should put on a veil or a burka to hide from all the scrutiny that (implied as women) they must obviously not be able to with stand.

Where was George W Bush's head when he ran for office knowing that his daughter's wild sides would be subjected to scrutiny or for that matter knowing that his own incompetence might some day embarrass his daughters?

OK, its Tuesday morning on the East Coast and the Press needs to wake up and realize that sexism is now off the table.

Let's go guys, get your big boy pants on and lets try and pretend for say oh, . . . 48 hours that you can be professional???

Mark
Get Set . . .

Go!

Who are these Palin's? Is this cousin Eddie's family from National Lampoons Vacation flick? If so maybe we can Chevy Chase to play McCain when the bio movie comes out. To be honest I don't give a hoot if the kids pregnant and gives birth to the devils child. What bothers me is that McCain and his staff put the knock on liberals because the story showed up on some blogs before the official GOP announcement. What a load of crap. Hey John you picked the wrong person and if she's turning into an embarrassment how is that antibody's fault but yours? Hell Palin's mother-inlaw has stated she is going to vote for O'Bama, doesn't that tell you there are some problems in the Palin family?
Hey I'm not saying this family doesn't have some problems just like the rest of us, but that's why the rest of us shouldn't be VP canidates either.
Guarantee by weeks end Palin will have turned down the VP off (due to family considerations) and Rommney will be the VP choice. They (those that the Maverick takes his orders from) are probably suggesting this scenario to all parties as we speak. Bye Bye Palin, Hello Rommney.

The very idea - as posted above - that Hillary supporters are abandoning our party and our values - solely to cast a vote for Palin because she is a woman - is ludicrous.

Family values, by the way, are not the sole property of Republicans. Everyone, liberal and conservative alike, wants what is best for their family and their country. Sarah Palin may be a a great mother or not, she may be a good politician... or not - but what she most certainly is not - is a replacement for Hillary Clinton - not by any stretch of anyone's fevered imagination.

(1) how old is the daddy? {this will be the NEXT scandal - if he was an 'older man'}

(2) was she under 17 when she got pregnant?

(3) if he was older, how long did her parents condone her seeing him?

(q) what do you call a parent who teaches abstinence as sex education?

(a) grandma!

I'll say it again, it does not make any difference who it comes from, the bottom line it isn't any of your business what a family does as long as it isn't hurting you.

This is clearly sexist because it assumes that parenting is soley her responsibilty as a mother and that the father cannot fill that role.

How much of an overdose of ambition does it take for a woman to expose her seventeen year old daughter to being labeled a "sinner" in article after article published in the right wing press? And this is not just a family issue. It is an issue of character. While Governor Palin had a right to expect a certain amount of discretion in dealing with this family issue, once she accepted John McCain's invitation to join the ticket, she lost any expectation of privacy. All she had to do to protect her daughter's right to privacy was to let someone better equipped to run the country run for the office she seeks.

I have another question: Would you do the other to your grandchild?

I'd like to point out that Palin has a supportive husband and family who will be there for their children.

Mr Robinson, I usually appreciate your work, but you joining the pack of what seem to be male journalists with "but think of the children!" hand wringing, has just got me rolling my eyes here. I'm not convinced by the "what about her judgment/think about her family" argument, because we as democrats didn't boot out Edwards when his wife had cancer and he still ran.

Yes, yes, there probably is hypocrisy/double standard here about Palin's daughter and perhaps Jamie Lynn Spears. Families are messy/ I knew that.

What I don't know are Palin's thoughts on security, the economy, the war on Iraq-it would we helpful and more fruitful if we could focus on that rather than the little shunfest we see to have going on. We'd be rolling our eyes if Reps. were following this tact with Obama's family.

Let's NOT be that party. Let's not go down that road. It does not lead to a better place.

Facts first, I'm for McCain because he is a veteran like me. An I'll vote for him. That said, I am furious for this turning into a Jerry Springer show as the day goes on. Who on earth was responsible in vetting Mrs. Palin? Teenage pregnancies happen but the saddest thing here is that those two teenagers have just ONE option here, regardless if they planned a future together or not. Without marriage, Mrs. Palin's political future will be in ashes. That's one hell of a load for two teenagers.

The Republicans brought the first gay to the white house and now they're trying to bring the first teen unwed mother to the white house.Like someone once said the republicans care about morals,everyone else's.

It's only an issue to the other side even thought they claim it's not they will use it against the republicans. This is only an issue to the religious nut cases. It's not an issue to me joe voter.

Another in the tank for Obama column by Robinson.

Obama says he would not "punish" his girls for making a mistake by making them have a baby.

Palin is punishing her daughter by letting her choose to have the baby but under the watchful eyes of the whole world. Bristol will love her baby whatever, but she'll hate herself for awhile for being so immature. Good lesson. Palin in effect said to Bristol, I'm not going to take the punishment for your mistake. I'm not going to give up my career because you got pregnant. That wouldn't be fair.

Are you suggesting that she should have removed that burden from the child's life through an abortion?

Is that what you would have done?

You would never be my candidate, and I have new respect for Sarah.

I suppose that she could have taken the easy way out, but she didn't.

A few weeks ago Gov. Palin didn't know what the VP does in the Whitehouse. Check out youtube, search her name and the video titled:

Sarah Palin: "What does a VP do?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oro2Yh9HoEM

Unbelievable!

I'm a teacher, many teenage girls get pregnant. It's not a good situation, but that shouldn't affect our discussion of Palin. Nor should it determine if she runs for Veep.

There are many other issue about Palin that bug me, but not the pregnancy of her daughter. Like, the was for it before she was against it bridge to no where, abuse of power in trying to get her ex brother in-law fired... and then lying about it. Hmmmm.... I actually believe abuse of power is more important than oral sex lies. Sex. like pregnant girls, well, that tends to be part of the human problem. Using your political office to go after personal enemies, ooh not good

And McCain picks her. He seems to lack considered judgment.

Gene, the 2nd sentence in your 2nd paragraph is absolutely false. No male politician would ever be questioned about his teenage son or daughter giving birth. If Sarah Palin was on the Democrat ticket and you said such a thing, you'd be accused of being a misogynist.

Barack told us all today that any matters concerning the children of his opponents is completely off limits. Not only was it the right thing for him to do but it makes complete political sense too.

Why is it only Democrats children are considered out of bounds by the media?

Gov. Palin, as I understand it, preaches abstinence and is against sex education in schools. I wish her daughter only the best but clearly Bristol Palin's situation shows that her mother's mindset is greatly flawed.

To Sickoftabloidreportin:

STOP WRITING IN ALL CAPS. It is not a public matter - the woman is running to be Vice President and possibly President. Poor judgement now should worry one about poor judgement later when there is even more pressure on her.

BTW, once you decide to run for a presidential office their is no such thing than a private live. It is a clear decision made by the candidates. Even the McCain camp did their research on Sarah's "private" life well knowing that nothing would be private anymore.

Ya gotta love it

Why would anyone give a damn about the unmarried Republican VP nominee's teenage daughter's pregnancy unless one was judging her by the same standard to which those same Republicans want to hold others to account?

--""I'm sorry but someone who can't even manage her own family (letting her teen daughter date and get pregnant by a MUCH older man = FAILURE) is not qualified to manage the USA and the free world if god forbid McBain fell over dead of old age in a few months.

Posted by: my world for a condom right? | September 2, 2008 12:24 AM ""--

So, by your standard Al Gore is no longer qualified to become President, right?

.

My opinions:

1. John McCain is showing a serious lack of judgment and desperation in choosing someone he obviously hasn’t vetted.

2. As a woman, when I first heard about Sarah Palin, I took a second look. I think it’s great for women to be in politics. HOWEVER, she has an awful lot going on in her personal life, and with five kids + grandkids + ethics violations suits + no washington experience, someone’s going to suffer.

3. After reading the Daily Kos http://dailykos.com/story/2008/8/30/121350/137/486/580223 , I am pretty well convinced that Sarah is not the baby’s mother. Speaking as a nurse practitioner who recently refreshed in Ob-gyn, I cannot see a 43-year old mutliparous (having more than one child) woman whose water broke in Texas taking a flight to Alaska, then driving to a rural Alaskan hospital (thus bypassing major medical centers in TX and AK) to “have the baby” there. Labors typically get shorter with each child– why would she opt for a rural delivery over eight hours away?

The daughter situation has limited relevance. If you are espousing an extreme right wing position that abstinence-only education is the best policy to avoid teen pregnancy, a view that is held by perhaps 20% of the people in this country, and then your teenage daughter becomes pregnant out-of-wedlock then it does become an issue.

But only in a limited sense. And people should then get off that topic - AND LEAVE THE FAMILY ALONE - and then get on with asking her about her other political policy positions.

Unfortunately, we live in a George "Forrest Gump" Bush world where everything is dumbed down and no one wants to discuss anything of seriousness.

People who want to have policy discussions are "elitist". People want to have a beer with the President, talk about the weather.

The Chinese are going to eat our lunch if we don't change and smarten up.

dems, the truth of the matter is that today's teens are EMBRACING LIFE. Movies like "juno" show that the tide has turned... today's young women savor the idea of motherhood. This is the product of our fractured, divorce-ridden culture... young kids are clinging to family-base and they SHOULD BE COMMENDED for it. Pregnant young? Oops, too bad, but lets take repsonsbility for it. Lets own our own actions. These kids DO NOT CULL to the belief that life is disposable. Sorry baby boomer moms, you guys took your brand of feminism too far (as in trying to behave like men! in power suits and daycare, no mommycare!) Todays girls are creating a backlash... we will embrace maternity and above that, true feminiity. I am woman, hear me purr.

I love ya' Robinson, but you just don't have enough empathy with how fundies THINK to be able to understand this.

To Sarah Palin, and the fundies, daughter Bristol brought this on herself by having had sex when her parents both likely told her it was wrong. And had she died having gone septic after an illegal abortion that would be Gods will and a fitting punishment. Now she is blessed with a child, just the kind of burden God intends as punishment for disobeying His will!

I am surprised at the number of posters who are referring to the girl's embarrassment, etc. Apparently, her hometown has known about this for some time and she was going to marry the father. I am not sure that she was embarrassed by this. She was wearing a ring that resembled an engagement band at the announcement. Perhaps we disagree about getting married at such a young age (I do) but I think that perhaps people are jumping the gun in asserting that her mother running for office is shining a spotlight on something that this girl wanted to keep hidden.

"Family values" .... yea!!!!

If the genetics turn out to be right we could be looking at a 60 yr old great-grandmother Palin 16 years from now and a "76 yr old great great grandmother Palin" 32 years from now. Not every is so lucky to be able to stare so far "down" your family tree.

She has made her daughter the most famous unwed teenage girl in the world. Thanks, Mom! No emotional scarring will result from this, I bet.

The issue isn't Palin's judgment. It's McCain's. As another article in Newsweek describes, McCain apparently did very little research about Palin prior to her selection. So, did McCain know about Palin's daughter's pregnancy and if he did, would he have wanted to drag her through the mud? What's going through the mind of the maverick? Another site show the possibility that McCain is showing signs of senility. It may not be just a heart beat. What if the president is declared incompetent?

Monogramed knee pads for Robinson

My Vice President is going after earmarks...the left is sweating bullets

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin#Early_life

McCain made a cynical, offensive choice in Ms. Palin. As a former Clinton supporter, McCain could have won my vote with a more balanced ticket, but instead, he tried to pander. Sorry: Palin is the wrong choice for me. Not only does she have even LESS experience than Obama, but she is one of those conservative zealots who set my teeth on edge. I don't care about her gender or her ability as a mother; I don't like her political views and I won't support this ticket.

I think you are sick. There is a standard of decency in every profession, even journalism. You obviously can nothing for that standard.

Why does the Post not dismiss you? Allowing you to publish articles attacking politicians via their children of on their space diminishes their credibility.

The media will make it be what they want it to be. The politicians are trying to keep the secrets...Obama and McCain both have said they do NOT want the families brought into the spotlight during this campaign. And the media has no respect. If that girl is treated like a fish in a bowl, it WILL be the media's fault because of the old adage: the more you stir in it, the worse it stinks.

The real question is: Can a partial term Governor of a small populated state lead the county if something happened to President McCaine? Want to debate something, there you go. The rest of it is penuts.Can she lead the country in a time of need. I think she was a bad choice. I will still vote for McCain, because he is still much better than the opposing team.

This 17 year old chick go knock off by Levi!

I don't know how Republicans can support and justify this.

The whole world is laughing at this! Bush was bad enough now this.

Sara's whole family is Trailer Trash! We'll have to put a trailer behind the white house.

All I can say is God Bless America!

-I am Independent

Hypocrites all those Republicans the blow back is coming because they spend lots of their time preaching to us their supposedly superior morals and then give us the likes of Larry Craig. The mother has still not denied that the baby with needs is her daughters as well and the records of the hospital that it was supposedly birthed in do not even show the baby in them. YOu want to be one 72 year old heartbeat away from leader of the free world we have every right to be in your business because you made it ours. Cant keep your daughters legs together while at the same time trying to take away every other womans choice shame on you Sarah. You are all for life unless of course the life belongs to a moose or a polar bear. You neocon evangelicals are a joke and part of the problem with America not the solution. Cant stand the heat of the kitchen that Karl Rove and Steve Shmidt throw at everyone else too damn bad lady. No Way No How No Mc Cain!

Betty Crocker ought to stay home and take care of her own kitchen...and family needs. This is not a way to set an example with the teen pregnancy problems in the country!

If you read the comments on this blog from liberals and/or Obama supporters, it seems the general consensus that Sarah Palin should not have a tough job like Vice President because she has several children at home.

And here I always thought it was the "Neanderthal" conservatives who wanted to keep 'em barefoot and pregnant! Boy was I wrong!

Being a good mom means giving up your career. I'll remember that.

This is a family matter, and one known by those in their home town. How interesting that Democrat candidate's families are off limits, but not Republicans. There would be no such speculation if this was about Chelsea Clinton, one of Obama's children, or one of Biden's children. Hypocrisy is unbecoming. Should an article such as this appear on Fox News about a Democrat's child, Washington Post writers would be in an uproar.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE

I suspect this is their "convenient exit strategy", and little bit of use of a family member's name, which in turn keeps other stuff at distance for now. Look, just like the evacuation before the storm, getting out of one town was easy last Thursday or Friday. Now, the storm(s) are striking, and exit or movement has become uncomfortable. family or their names do helps. Get out of the town first, why worry if it was appropriate, logical, respectful or like throwing sand in your critics face. they have a right to peace and hope that they get it. When most of the turbulence is made in Alaska and amongst each other, they will have to sort out where that peace may be hiding? They and others can always blame the press, the democrats, and the ungodly non-believers, and any one who asks an uncomfortable or inconvenient question.

By the mid-day Tuesday, Palin is likely to be history, as the McCain handlers seem to be playing, carelessly, of course.

Eugene, Eugene ...

Let me tell you and your liberal readers something plainly:

The more you attack Palin the more popular she will become, and with that popularity will come a very solid voter turnout.

Now, Eugene, you and your liberal readers don't want that do you? Because your youthful voters are not going to be so reliable now are they, Eugene?

BTW, why don't you get honest work, Eugene --- like being a PR guy for Obama. For heaven's sake, don't make the Post pay you when you are carrying Obama's water all day long. And, puh-leeze, do not deny you are in the tank for Obama. That would just weaken your credibility more.

Post-partisan? Not likely. Post-racial? Certainly not.

Yessss ... being your Guardian Angel suits me well.

Very interesting... this is a big deal, but Barack Obama taking his kids to a church with a Pastor that unleashes hate-filled diatribes against the United States is not?

Sarah Palin (and all parents) cannot ultimately control every minute of their kids lives (unless liberals are advocating locking them in closets whenever parents aren't around).

BUT, Barack Obama had total control over the church his family attended... and he chose to take his kids to Wright's church.

That certainly makes me question Obama's judgement over Sarah Palin's.

It seems to me that Sarah and Todd Palin should have decided **together** to put their family's needs first and declined the VP job offer. That's what it is - a promotion. Ms. Palin is only 44. There is plenty of time for her pursue her political career in the next few years. But this year, she has two children who really need their parent's undivided attention and a stable home life.

What on earth were they thinking?
What an incredibly selfish thing to do to your kids!

Yeah, one child with issues, OK, I can see that. Two children with issues, um, I am uncomfortable, because Mom and Dad should be putting their family first. Two kids with serious issues and a son shipping off to Iraq? Holy heck on a stick people, these are your children, they come come first!! Baby sitters can't take care of this for you, you need to be there.

If anyone should be on board with the values expressed above, it should be the religious right. They've been preaching them to us for years.

Who knew that the Washington Post had a sideline in family values experts all ready to let us know how morally superior they are to just another knocked-up teenager.

Including this incredibly presumptuous author who somehow hasn't happened to notice the illegitimacy rate in places like, oh, DC.

As long as you in an inquiring frame of mind about births --where is Obama's original birth certificate? And why is it missing?

Do you seriously buy the idea that someone as controlled and nmethodical as he is somehow misplaced it? And why isn't the original on file the way yours and mine is?
If Obama's mother was 18 when she had him, she may very well have been under age at conception.
And his father is a four times bigamist.

So is Obpocrisy what you really want be indulging in here?

-gala1

Just speaking as a mother, I question the judgment of a woman who's oldest child is getting ready to go to Iraq, who's teenage daughter is pregnant, and who just gave BIRTH 4 months ago to a NEWBORN child with special needs, where are her priorities????? This is one ambitious woman.

Thank you Mr. Robinson! I have been asking this all day. Just so people who have condemned Mr. Robinson are clear, this is news because it has been talked about all weekend and the McCain campaign put out a press release. We live in a 24 hour, Internet driven news cycle. Our public figures need to realize that their lives will be just as scrutinized as Paris Hilton's purse choice.

Perhaps now is the time to start properly vetting supposed "non-biased" reporters. I'm sure they will not mind it at all. As a member of the National Association of Black Journalists did you stand and cheer for Sen Obama? How much did you give to his campaign? Do you support his racist church also? Are you also friends with Bill Ayers? Do you often sleep around on your wife? Do you have any out of wedlock children?
Reporters make me ill. Do you get paid extra for the trash you write? Did you get your job because your an "African - American" or because of your hatred for whites? Don't answer all at once.

What a stupid, shameless ploy. Sorry McMoron, you can't fool the hick religious voters this easily. They will NOT approve of the 17 year-old ho train, whether she's keeping the bundle or not.

Some people are still disgusting by this kind of behavior.

Today's mom ..... want a baby? Come to me.

Would you let your daughter do that to YOU? Here you are offered the Vice President nomination - a young politician's dream, especially a woman because there's never been a female vice president or president - and you're supposed to stay home and be a grandma because your teenage daughter went out and got pregnant? Screw that. Her father, and the baby's father whom she will marry are all capable of taking care of the baby.

the rightwingers defend this illegitimacy as a tragic and private family matter. they would not accord the same courtesy if the obamas had a pregnant teenaged daughter.

This is the horrifying aspect of the pro-life position: does her daughter want the baby, the pregnancy, the marriage? At 17, she is no more qualified to be a wife and mother than her mother is to be VP or answer that 3AM phone call. Perhaps her daughter, and the boy involved, are truly in love and wise beyond their years. Their actions would suggest otherwise...

The esteemed governor of Alaska is a strong supporter of abstinence and NO sex education, and boy does it show! Or is this unfair? She can preach it to others, but it's not fair to hold her to her own standards?

It looks like that Republican prayer for rain worked...and I'm not talking about Gustav wreaking havoc on the Republican party. When it rains, it pours.

I want to say that this topic is credible, but most of the comments are biased, relating to each commentator's political stance. I find it hard to believe that all of the harsh critics of miss Palin's pregnancy have never had a family unwed mother in their lineage. The unwed mother is a common experience that is usually shushed by a tiny piece of paper called a Marriage Certificate. Grow up America. Give the girl a damn Break.

To all of you criticising the Palins:

What is your teenager doing when you are not around? Bet you really don't know, but you think you do. I live across the street from a 3,600 student high school in a upper middle class neighborhood in one of the nation's largest cities. I have seen notes from one student to another which blen into our yard saying where to meet for a sexual encounter IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, two students had sex right across the street from my kitchen window in the students' parking lot at 3 p.m., a male student was caught having sex with a female student in the female bathroom (this was on the 6 pm TV news), TV camera in front of my home filming the HS because female students acussed a male teacher of sexual harrassment (was not true). After a prom with a band playing all night in the parking lot, the next morning walking the dog I found lots of used condoms in that parking lot.

What are your teenagers doing when you are not with them? Don't judge this young girl or her parents.

All of you Obama supporters have forgotten that Obama's own words are that if his daughters made a mistake that he wouldnt want them PUNISHED by having a baby. So I guess according to him, daughter Palin is being punished by keeping this baby.

Do you think the GOP are stupid??? Practically every person knows someone past or present in this situation. You self rightous snobs are so "f" ing full of yourselves you dont get it. This will be turned around to our advantage so fast it will make your head swim. You are all fools if you dont think this wiil play out to her advantage. Read the 1st paragraph again.

I have to say it was going to come out anyway, whether Palin herself told the story or some reporter went and "found" it. So Bristol is going to have a baby. It happens in the best and worst of families. So she is going to do it in the spotlight? Like that spotlight wouldn't have shown up if she was just the govenor's daughter?

Sure it's not the ideal, but then again what is ideal about raising a baby at seventeen?

Someone above said it best. Why would any of you care to Judge Sarah Palin unless you judge her under the very same standards that you judge others? If its not okay for her daughter to have a baby, then its not okay for a million ghetto dwelling and backwoods american poverty teens to have babies either. YET, you offer welfare to the masses while you decry the one whose mom/gram actually steps up to the plate to take family repsonsibility? Stupid. You cannot have it both ways people... they only song you're singing is birthcontrol and abortion. Sad, you dont value human life at all. How about EDCUCATION instead, and letting some girls be that example of motherhood?
PS: if you guys could accept bill clintons bedroom indescritions, then you have NO BUSINESS in SARAH PALIN's family... it has no bearing on her abiliuty to run the nation, she has prooved she can manage things JUST FINE, thank you very much.

The good thing about all of this is that the 3 AM phone call will come from the maternity ward.

CTurtle1: Great response!

I'll add my voice to those who said this became an open issue when Palin agreed to run, and brought her children and her anti-choice point of view to the table. No, it's not the most important aspect of the election, but it is interesting (maybe that's part of the strategy?).

It will be interesting to see where the religious right comes down on this - there goes "teach abstinence" as a strategy in our schools.

This election just keeps getting wackier and wackier... just what the heck does Rove have his sleeve?

The esteemed governor of Alaska is a strong supporter of abstinence and NO sex education, and boy does it show! Or is this unfair? She can preach it to others, but it's not fair to hold her to her own standards?

It looks like that Republican prayer for rain worked...and I'm not talking about Gustav wreaking havoc on the Republican party. When it rains, it pours.

.
Golly, Gene, this may be nitpickin', but it ain't Sarah Palin putting her daughter in the glare of the klieg lights,
it's .....

wait for it ...

Gene Robinson!

If you doubt me, you might go back and read this post of yours.

I believe this disqualifies you from ever raising this topic again.

I count on you as a man of honor to commit hara kiri to clear your family name if you so much as mention this daughter again.
.

A lot of these comments are shocking in their utter misunderstanding of both this article and the situation.

1) Forget about Palin's daughter. The question is, why would someone subject their child to this inevitable scrutiny? And if you don't think this information become public and subsequently exploding, then you are naive.

2) It is completely ridiculous to think that someone can not be a mother and hold an important job. That is the most sexist, dumb assumption.

3) I'm sick of the hypotheticals about what if this were Joe Biden's child, etc. It shouldn't matter who's child it is -- it shouldn't be anyone's business.

CLearly the left is bothered by Palin. Otherwise they would not be so "offended" by her daughter's choice to take responsibility for her misjudgement and become a young married mother.

The 22 year old drunk driving charge against Palin's (non-Republican husband) and her proclivity as a libertarian who disagreed with the GOP is not a problem for the open minded conservatives.

the Gov should have taught her child better, but the leftist teachers at public school probably went to great lenghts to teach this young woman how to put a condom on a cucumber and failed to mention they don't work 23% of the time.

So much for teaching safe sex.

Oh and Chelsy was the ugliest first daughter so sex-cipades were never an issue, and Al Gore's kid was getting special treatment while being a drug running hooligan... but we can't bring Democrat kids into the mix, just Republican.

"Palin uses Alaska’s burgeoning population as a pathetic excuse to destroy polar bears?"

http://msrb.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/it-s-all-about-big-oil-stupid/

This is amazing indeed! We will have to wait and see how this melodramatic situation will play out this Fall! All this is reflective of McCain's best judgement!

I/m a democrat but who gives a crap?
Hypocrites.
Cast the first stone.

OMG, this totally means McCain will win!

Since the neo-con preaching of abstinence only clearly means that this is an immaculate conception. Therefore, Bristal is carrying the Messiah!

I always knew McCain would choose Jesus as his running mate.

This is going to be a 90% to 10% victory for McCain.

Everyone knows that abstinence only education is effective. This is the only way this can play out!

I don't believe it...the neo-cons were right!

Everyone thought it was ok for Bill to have a good time with his Intern. Hillary seemed it was ok. Funny what a big applause he got when he made his speech at the Democratic convention. Mr. Robinson is this the only thing that bothers you concerning the new VP of the United States.

I'm proud of Governor Palin for taking life by "the horns", so to speak. If her daughter got pregnant and is having the baby, as she should, the mother should not have to change her life and choose not to run for public office to keep her daughter sheltered. The daughter made a mistake, but anything bad can be used by God to bring about something good. Translated for abortion fans: There is going to be a new life instead of a possible live baby in a trash can. Rough language, I know, but so true.

Only people of very low moral character will make a candidate's children the subject of ridicule and attack.

And I find the death threats by Scarlet very offensive. Yes, I know the person is using "Clue" as a thin foil to make the threats. Very bad form WP!

And in particular, Robinson, I find it very hypocritical when a black man would bring this up at all - you have no business throwing stones.

Calm down everyone. Things are very different in Alaska. I'm sure Palin is not ashamed and saw no reason for her daughter to be ashamed either. The lower 48 are over-reacting while giving Obama a pass on truly shocking ideological positions and associations which will actually IMPACT their lives to an extreme extent, while Palin's daughter does not impact their lives at all.

Get some perspective on this and don't pull the lever for Obama.

Sorry to hear that any young Lady is Pregnant at a young age. The Question I have is the young Man being forced in to marry her? Who is he? How old is he? How about his Family are they being told to keep quiet about it? Is he ready to take care of his new Family? Can he be financial reasonable? Are we going to hear in 4 to 8 year that they got Divorce because they married to young? A word to the Mom’s and Dad’s do not force them if it to be it will be. Moreover, let us not make this into a Political decision just for Political purpose. Live with it! Do not make it worst for the young Lady and Young Man Back off both sides OK! We not need your Spin on it Bill O’Reilly and the rest of the so-called News Jerks. I will or will not Vote for John McCain because a 17yr is Pregnant. There are real problems that need to talk about!

One has to ask, with 5 kids, where one going to Iraq, one infant with Downs Syndrome and a "baby having a baby", when is she going to have time to be VP of the US? (Defensive knee jerk reaction from feminists noted in advance) but come on, 5 kids??? I'm not against guns, but how about that photo of her holding an M-16. Dont try to tell me that wont be used by anti-US groups for their propoganda. And no choice for an abortion if you were raped?!?!? McCain is 72 with heart problems and I'm a Republican on most levels, but as Dennis Harper in Easy Rider said about over indulgent strung-out hippies: "Come on man, get with it."

One of the most important roles of the Pres. and VP is to interact with other countries of the world. I wonder how other cultures and leaders will perceive VP Palin (or Pres. Palin, if it came to that). Would their judgment of her family situation hinder negotiations with other countries?

Everyone is such the victim and quickly to blame.
Sickening.

Would I do that to my daughter?

No!

But evangelicals are trying to use this story for gain, with some success. That sickens me.

Evangelicals say: "What a wonderful family - just like us," and "we make no moral judgements." (Bill Clinton excepted).

Democrats will stay far away from this.

In my Silicon Valley POV, the talk is non-partisan, it isn't Palin and her families "peculiarities," it's wondering which part of this soap opera airs next.

The blame for Palin's departure will fall far and wide; To McCain for not vetting her, to any democrats who vilify them and to the evangelicals that blindly embrace anyone "like them."

No matter. In the end putting Palin up for nomination, and her accepting that nomination is viewed chiefly as a cheap political stunt, poorly thought out, badly executed and now gone horribly awry.

Howard Opinsky, (NYT - 9/2),

"Had her name been played out in the press for months and months, she wouldnt have been seen as so bold,"

"Shock and Awe" as a political tactic, instead of due diligence and considered thought.

McCain's the one one who has some explaining to do.

People dont think for a second these guys didnt think it was coming out. It was their desision to face it on a national pulic level so please be realistic. The facts of the matter are that there are none.. To be honest I dont even know if this story is true. Clearly Palin has made "Family Values" part of her platform so why cant she herself be measured by it? This is all legit. Sure some people spout venom. Ask yourself what was your reaction when people where calling Barack Obama a terroist ? Did you voice your opinion that was so wrong? To this day their are posts on every one of these forums saying osama something. You get what you give I'm sorry to say...

McCain: Lots of experience... No Judgment

Palin: No Experience... No Judgment

Great Ticket!

Let's get off the Obamanite and be real!...
The fact is that teenage pregnancy is epidemic in the black community, as well as drug abuse, guns and crime.....so let's not let the black community preach about those issues!

Bottom line: Nobama made a big mistake not choosing Hillary Clinton for VP, and instead choosing Biden, who represents more of the same.

On the other side John McCain made a brilliant move choosing Sarah Palin a true reformer that represents true change and gives women recognition as equal beings that should take part of government.

Bravo! John McCain!
All Hillary supporters will vote for you!

If Sarah Palin needed to prove that her most recent child was truly her son, why not just produce her own hospital records? Why out your own daughter's teen pregnancy as an explansion? It makes no sense and leaves me wondering what her justification for exposing her daughter so unnecessarily could be.

SHE is not putting the spotlight on her daughter, YOU are!! Anyone with class would empathize with their family and leave this alone. That's why Obama said to leave this alone. Liberals are so scared by this woman and the fact that the election is tied even after an amazing Obama speech last week. How low will you go?

Is this really worthy of being in a magazine? I guess it is true that all media has gone down the drain. Disappointing indeed!

Doesn't matter if I (or anyone else) would or not. Children are always "brought along" on their parents lives, livelihoods, etc...and the decision to be exposed in politics was made long ago by the Palin family. Ergo - invalid question.

The Left is looking for anything it can to halt this runaway train of McCain/ Palin - and it's not working.

Obama's empty, phony dream is lost....and for that, I thank God.

Seriously, people. Since when should a teenage pregnancy stop a grandparent from aspiring to something higher? This little girl obviously has so much more going for her than most pregnant teens. I am quite sure she will want for nothing no matter which direction her mother's career turns. As for the accusation of shotgun wedding, well...that's just a cheap shot. She is making the right decision to raise her child with 2 parents. If she didn't want to suck that up for the rest of her life, she should have considered that before she laid down with this young gentleman.

Hi Eugene -- Good question and keep asking too.

The facts:
1) All national politicians bring their families into the national spotlight (bonus points if you can name all the children of the top picks).
2) Palin is not the first politician to have a son or daughter problem (bonus points if you can name another).
3) The new baby would have become public knowledge by the end of this year (independent of the blogger trigger).

As you phrased the question, Palin's best alternative for protecting her family would be instead to leave public office altogether. That would mean resign from being governor to protect her daughter. That conclusion is a fact, not an opinion.

In America, we still have some freedoms to make decisions. Palin's actions to this point demonstrate that she's acting in the best interest of her family and all America by running for office. I hope all the other candidates of every party are as sincere, since their time investment at this level of American politics will necessarily reduce the amount of time and attention that they can spend with their families.

By the way -- I voted Obama in the primaries in Georgia.

Robert W from 12:29AM:

A male politician flying the banners of family values and abstinence-only sex education with a 17-year-old unwed pregnant daughter being named the vice presidential candidate for the either party would absolutely be questioned. Please don't kid yourself. And, if I'm being picky (and why not), your phrasing was delightfully clumsy: if a male politician's SON was giving birth, I'm pretty sure that politician would be more than questioned.

Furthermore, your suggestion that a Democrat in a similar position would be somehow safe from criticism is downright laughable.

At any rate, I don't think this is a big deal one way or the other, but you've been living under a rock for the past decade or so if you're actually surprised that the media has hopped on this.

My how the Liberals are suddenly so "concerned" about Family Values, when a conservative is the person in question! If Sarah Palin were a Liberal, there is no doubt whatsoever that the Liberals would be praising her instead. In fact, if Obama had chosen a similar woman as VP candidate, there would be nary a murmuring word from the Washington Compost and the NY Slimes. I would even bet that if Obama had chosen a Pervert like Gerry Studds, they would be having a parade in his honor at this very moment.

Why then all of the "concern" over Palin's daughter? It's complete hypocrisy as usual, and most Americans recognize it as such.

Gov. Palin's daughter didn't do anything wrong. Most of us were having sex at the age of 17.. she just got caught and decided to have the baby.

When Gov. Palin was introduced, why didn't they say something like...
"She is a mother of 5 - 1 son in the Army, one daughter who is engaged and expecting, ...etc. etc. and a 5 month old who has special needs...."

Why did they leave out the "engaged and pregnant part?" This is what I am questioning. Why not be upfront in the beginning? If the McCain camp knew about this, then they had to know that it would come out sooner than later. Just be upfront about it.

When Jamie Lynn Spears announced she was pregnant, conservative were all over the radio questioning the parenting skills of the mother and father. Why are they defending Gov. Palin's family? What makes the two family's different? This, I don't understand. I am not a democrat b/c I am so liberal, I have a lot of conservative views. However, I just don't like the spin.

Palin will be gone before the election She was not truthful during the vetting process or they didn't ask this question. This is a disaster for the McCain campaign.

Beltway Greg.

This is one of the most unfair commentaries I have read in a while. To my mind, Gov. Palin acted totally consistent with her beliefs. The author assumes the abortion is acceptable to everyone. Abortion remains an act of personal belief, and therefore for those who think that a life of an unborn child is as worthy as the next person, Ms. Palin acted with total consistency and integrity. It is unacceptable for anybody to impose his/her belief systems to anybody else. As Gov. Palin's daughter is 17 years old, Gov Palin and her husband has the final say on things. In addition, you can avoid putting the spotlight on Gov Palin's daughter by not making these kinds of article/blogs.

Mr. Robinson, everybody know that you are an Obama partisan, but this is totally unworthy of any journalist. BTW, I am democrat.

The big question is the political judgement of John McCain. Should he not have brought a greater wisdom to this question, and maybe foregone the political advantage of having Sarah Palin at his side?

His hasty VP choice is starting to look like a liability. Palin may have to step down.

The only reason this should be discussed is because Gov. Palin believes in teaching abstinence only in school, and not teaching about birth control. Since she could be President, and have the ability to affect our, and our children's lives this is definitely something that should be discussed.

You just got to love these family valued, Fundamental Christian Republican families when then get to Washington. Maybe we need to get some counseling for McCain and Plain's kids. I think they are a bit confused -- the role model is Ronald Reagan, NOT PATTI REAGAN!

Eugene, Eugene ...

Do you suppose that Bristol Palin and her fiance are the only young people in America having sex (and, therefore, Sarah and Todd the only working couple facing this issue)?

Surely, you don't, because liberals like you are the ones pleading, pleading, and pleading yet again, for us to give teenagers condoms.

If I had been having a drink with you, Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, and Norah O'Donnell last week (what a troubling thought, what with me being allergic to silly talk), and I suggested that most young people in America were virgins, you liberals would have laughed your ample asses off.

You know the score, Eugene.

So no more disingenuous columns. Puh-leeze.

Victims and Weirdo's you all are.
Who gives a crap ?
Don't vote because her daughter is pregnant?
Weirdo's.
Who cares about that?

I can't believe how Republicans have candy coated the issue of teenage pregnancy, and glossed over the real issue here. Abstinence education does not work, condoms do, but you need to know how and when to use the thing. Obviously Sarah Palin herself does not know how to use a condom, nor does she want to know and for that reason alone she should never be allowed to be in the position of VP. What if she has intercourse and gets pregnant again, how is she going to run a country or manage a disaster (again, our country)? She is never going to use birth control because she does not believe in it. Nice!

As far as Bristol goes, most (and I stress most) unmarried 17 year old girls simply do not have the ability to responsibly raise a baby. By the way, that is a period at the end of the last sentence because it is a fact and I am not going to “justify” the whys on this matter because you’re intelligent and you know a fact when it is a fact. In fact, if that fact was not true, then this is an issue we would not be discussing here.

Get real Republicans and pull your heads out of the sand. You can’t tell me that Sarah Palin jumped for joy when her daughter broke the news. Her worst nightmare came true. Sarah Palin has also literally lied about the threat of Polar Bear extinction to attract more revenue for Alaska (using research from ExxonMobil), she abused power of office to have her brother in law fired, she lied about her position on the Bridge to Nowhere to get herself elected Governor (which obviously worked), she kills animals for fun, and she believes in Creationism (what a joke, go read the bible people because she hasn’t, and more than likely neither have the majority of you folks, at least word for word, cover to cover). Our country is heading down the wrong path and 8 years with McPalin will put us so deep, Palins daughters, children’s, children will still be paying for the mistakes the Republicans have made the last 8 years. Take off your blinders people and get bloody real.

To the many loony left creeps referring to Bristol Palin's involvement with a much older man, she is 17 and he is 18!
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/republican_race/2008/09/01/2008-09-01_bristol_palins_pregnancy_was_an_open_sec.html

It is an issue only because the Republicans make it an issue. Look at Rush Limbaugh and his attacks on the teenage pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spears. He had no problem questioning the parenting involved and that didn't even involve one parent embarking on a high-profile political campaign.

But I do think there are plenty of other 'political' questions about Palin that remain unanswered. This is just another distraction from much bigger issues like abuse of power, involvement in 527s (which is counter to McCain's claim), being for the bridge to nowhere until it was no longer convenient, etc.

Ultimately, it looks like she wasn't vetted very thoroughly. The fact they don't have answers for obvious questions related to the above and other issues tells me McCain didn't know very much about his "soulmate".

The Obama camp is pulling out all the stops in their attempts to destroy Palin. They must really be afraid of her, what with their campaign of Internet rumors asserting that her son with down syndrome was actually her daughters child. That smear campaign is what forced Palin to reveal her daughters pregnancy in order to ward off even worse nastiness from Obama's amoral Internet supporters. And now you soulless monsters have the gall to attack Palin (and her daughter by proxy) for daring to run for VP with her daughter in such a 'disgraceful state'. What filth you are. What terrified filth you all are. This shows how the establishment democrats really feel about women: they think women should stay at home, mind their kids and leave politics to the big boys like Obama. You failed to nominate the most qualified WOMAN candidate in the party, and now that the republicans have nominated one it's clear that Obama's misogynistic supporters will stop at nothing to destroy her. Forget 'unifying' behind Obama and the woman haters who have seized control of the democratic party - I'm witting in Hillary Clinton on my ballot.

Early Alzhiemer's on McCain's Part, that is the only way I can rationalize that he let his handlers talk him into selecting her. What a disaster for the Republican Party. God help the nation if this woman is our VEEP. IF anyone needs to scale back her employment duties and put her family first, it is GOV Palin.

Somewhere along the page, I read that H.R.C. supporters will now vote for McCain-Palin. Please don't. Voting for someone just because she's a woman is sexiest in itself.
Anyway, yeah, the poor daughter. This whole thing is utterly crazy.

I did forget to mention that the 3,600 student high school which is across the street from me (in one of the major U.S. cities, in a upper middle class neighborhood) has a day care center for the students' children. This is not unusual in our state and has been the norm for a long time. It is better than killing the unborn, and the students need an education in order to support these children.

I think this could be the final stake in the heart of the main stream Media. Unfortunately, Obama/Biden will pay the price.

None of you have the right to say anything bad about St. Palin!

In response to Shallow Green's comment: "I wonder what they would say if Obama's daughters were teens and one was pregnant. Just imagining the offensive sludge that would ooze from the mouths of Hannity and Rush about a pregnant black teen girl is enough to make my skin crawl."

I don't know what "they" would say, but I do know what Mr. Obama said if one of his daughters found herself pregnant "out-of-wedlock" ... "I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."

In other words ... to avoid the "punishment" of a baby ... let's just get rid of it.

That's NOT the moral values of the Palins.

This story will be tomorrow's fish wrap. But I was just thinking what Palin's daughter would have gone thru if her mother (already a Governor in the public eye, mind you) had turned down one of the biggest opportunities for a woman in American history on account of her pregnancy? The ultimate guilt trip that would never end! Maybe they had a heart-to-heart, and she said, "Mom...You just have to do it. I can handle it." I would have told my mom to go for it. Plus, in this day of happy hoopla and baby showers and maternity shirts that say, "(big arrow pointing down) BABY" for unmarried pregnant teens, I think shame has become a thing of the past anyway.

This is a legitimate issue Deep Blue....perhaps you would like to answer my question...Why should I support Ms Palin when she supports a policy (abstinance oppossed to actual sex ed) when she can't make it work in her own home?

I'm totally for Obama, but I have to say Sickoftabloidreporting++

Just shut up about this, leave her alone.

Btw, can you name the other *male* gov's/senators that still ran while their teenage daughter's were pregnant? I thought not. Not such a big issue there I guess.

bunch of drunkards or simpletons to care about that

Come on let’s be honest, a woman is not capable of running the country, moms should be home bare foot and pregnant. I mean I could support Hillary because she was not a typical woman, she was kind of smarter than the average career woman. Seriously do we really think a mid forties mom is more intelligent than a man like Biden?

I find it ironic, and hypocritical of Mr. Johnson (who is clearly driven by a not so subconscious interest in having Obama elected) to make it sound like Ms. Palin should reject an offer to be VP because of her daughter. And it is NOT TRUE that the same would be expected of a male, compare this to Bill Clinton (heck, he had to go on Tv and discuss his infidelity on 60 minutes, how does THAT help his daughter). In addition, for liberals to claim that this is such a big deal, when this type of incident is confronted in every day life, in the press, and in all forms of entertainment, especially liberal movies (look at the recent movie "Juno" which won an Oscar by the Holywood liberals, and in that movie, the baby is given away!) is the height of hypocrisy. So first, I do not subscribe to the notion that her 17 year old daughter will be hurt by this immeasurably. She has a loving family that will protect her and guide her, her mother was anyway governor, so it would have been a big deal sooner or later, and she will get over the "embarassment" thanks to the liberals which have made these types of events not so embarrassing (liberals suddenly make it sound like we live in the middle ages or in monasteries). In addition, for someone to suggest that her mother's entire career and life should be put on hold for this is ridiculous and sexist. Besides, would we be having this discussion is her daughter Bristol were just one year older at 18? So by next year, this all blows away. I find it sad that the women who are self-proclaimed feminists are not standing up to defend Governor Palin, irrespective if she believes in abortion rights or not, she is a woman and has made something of herself, while raising a good family, and she is now being pounded with lies, smears, and having her judgment and her parenting skills questioned by a lnych mob. I am ashamed of the Democrats for proving themselves as vindictive as they project the Republicans to be, I am ashamed of our media that have let the rumors fly and bought into them, and I am ashamed of my Country.

The mass of liberals has erupted in hate towards a 17 year old girl. And they just handed McCain the Presidency.

A private matter that Dems should remember "don't throw stones if you live in a glass house." Obviously these petty attacks show Palin is a threat!

This is a non-story.

Interesting take ...

I think the right question is whether or not the MEDIA is going to treat the issue fairly and with respect. No public servant should ever have to fear for their family's safety or well-being. The issue is whether or not the media decides to blow this out of proportion.

Let's not be naîve here. We all know that 17-year olds have been known to get pregnant. This should not be viewed as bad parenting, nor should parents who find themselves in such a situation and who believe in pro-life and abstinence be considered hypocrites. I would understand the argument if her daughter were as young as 14 or 15, however we all need to be honest and admit that a large percentage of 17 year olds are sexually active, regardless of what their parents believe.

Find a new smear tactic please.

I can't believe how Republicans have candy coated the issue of teenage pregnancy, and glossed over the real issue here. Abstinence education does not work, condoms do, but you need to know how and when to use the thing. Obviously Sarah Palin herself does not know how to use a condom, nor does she want to know and for that reason alone she should never be allowed to be in the position of VP. What if she has intercourse and gets pregnant again, how is she going to run a country or manage a disaster (again, our country)? She is never going to use birth control because she does not believe in it. Nice!

As far as Bristol goes, most (and I stress most) unmarried 17 year old girls simply do not have the ability to responsibly raise a baby. By the way, that is a period at the end of the last sentence because it is a fact and I am not going to “justify” the whys on this matter because you’re intelligent and you know a fact when it is a fact. In fact, if that fact was not true, then this is an issue we would not be discussing here.

Get real Republicans and pull your heads out of the sand. You can’t tell me that Sarah Palin jumped for joy when her daughter broke the news. Her worst nightmare came true. Sarah Palin has also literally lied about the threat of Polar Bear extinction to attract more revenue for Alaska (using research from ExxonMobil), she abused power of office to have her brother in law fired, she lied about her position on the Bridge to Nowhere to get herself elected Governor (which obviously worked), she kills animals for fun, and she believes in Creationism (what a joke, go read the bible people because she hasn’t, and more than likely neither have the majority of you folks, at least word for word, cover to cover). Our country is heading down the wrong path and 8 years with McPalin will put us so deep, Palins daughters, children’s, children will still be paying for the mistakes the Republicans have made the last 8 years. Take off your blinders people and get bloody real.

I am currently registered Republican but I am DISMAYED by the direction the GOP is going right now. I think that McCain has quite possibly lost it. How could Palin even accept the VP nomination when she has a less than a year old child, let alone one with special needs? And now it comes out that her daughter is pregnant? It is very clear that she needs to spend more time at home with her children rather that pursuing her own selfish political agenda.

McCain needs to think before he decides to choose someone who will be next in line if he is somehow disabled.

Responding to Suzanne -- While we will all probably agree that bringing a child into the world is a beautiful thing; why would Palin decide to throw her own child into the spotlight during such a tumultuous time? Clearly she does not understand the rigor of a national political campaign. The fact that she cannot handle her own family should make us ALL wonder if she's fit to run the country.

If you are going to have 5 children YOU SHOULD PARENT THEM! Obviously, parenting isn't going on instead this women is gone promoting her career and own interests.

It's either have a big family or a career!

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE MESS BUSH HAS GOTTEN US INTO.

Katrina
Bank Crisis
Energy Crisis
Housing Crisis
High Unemployment
Low economic grow
A very expensive occupation
A weak dollar
A huge nation debit

Great job Bush and Republicans!

Eight is enough!

I am independant

McCain really wanted a man for VP, but is getting "credit" for picking a woman. He claims he and his team properly vetted Palin, but now admits that they did not. (McCain only met her once before picking her). This whole debacle indicates McCain is already being manipulated by others . (He really wanted someone who was pro-choice, but was forced to pick someone anti-choice like Palin instead.) It really is more of the same Bush Administration antics, and it scares me. Leave Palin out of this--it's all about McCain's incompetence.

good thing none of you idiots run the country.
hahahhahaha
psychos no doubt

Democrats, vote for Brad and Angelina.....now there is family values.

It is clear that Sarah Palin's political ambition matters more to her than he daughter's welfare.

A candidate’s moral character is a salient issue in presidential politics.

The Republicans casual brush off that "This happens to so many families," is such a moral cop out!

Millions of you teenage girls DON’T get pregnant. National Center for Health Statistics reports a decline in teen sexual behavior and teen pregnancy. Most teens’ behavior and their moral anchors rest upon their parents guidance and influence.

What is there lacking within the Palin household that compelled one of their girls to seek a moment's intense affections down the street? Her parents’ characters and values- or lack thereof?

The VP's daughter will be a role model/hero to many young christian girls...get pregnant and enjoy the same fame as Hannah Montana and Britney Spears! Be the first one in your class to make your highschool boyfriend marry you, get all the attention at church for doing the right thing! Not only new clothes and parties and spotlight stories in the local press, but also everyone will tell you its a miricle; and that you are fulfilling God's own plan. Then when it all gets old, say when the baby is four months old....like the VP's infant child, leave it with others while you go back to start a ambitious career. What kind of example is therepublican party trying to set for all the 7-17 year old girls out there? If a democratic candidate had a pregnent unwed teenage mother we'd be hearing how they were immoral and unfit to lead; what kind of ungodly double standard is this?

This is what we get when we don't teach sex education but preach abstinence only to our youth. It clearly doesn't work. We can't afford to have another conservative in the White House. This is just another great example of it!

Sarah didn't "do" this to her daughter. Her daughter, as many girls around the nation, made a choice and must live with the consequences. No matter what is going on in their personal lives, they will be under scrutiny. As governor, she would be under statewide scrutiny; as VP she will be under national scrutiny. They appear to be a close family, and I am sure they will weather this as a family, and eventually will be stronger for having gone through it.

Obama's mother was 3 months pregmant when she married Barak Sr. That marriage didn't last, but the kid turned out Ok, and Republicans have never found it necessary to describe Barak's mom or grandmom in any sort of negative way.

And yet here are Obama supporters saying that Bristol's family will of course produce only misery, and that Sarah Palin should not be promoted because she should be at home raising kids as her duty and natural role as mom.

I think swing voters (not blinded by partisanship) will find themselves wanting to be supportive of Palin's choices and ambition to break a glass ceiling while at the same time being a mom.

Why aren't we talking about McCain having the GOP nomination sewn up in March 2008? He's had "five months" to select a VP to run with. And, he selects Palin? What kind of judgment does McCain show, with five months to select the right person to support his ticket to the White House?

There is nothing sexist about this question! When Elizabeth Edwards disclosed that her cancer had returned there was a media frenzy over the question whether John Edwards -- her HUSBAND, her MALE husband -- would drop out of the race to care for her and avoid putting stress on her. In 1992, Al Gore declined to run for president because his son had just nearly been killed when hit by a car. This knee-jerk pseudo-feminist garbage about no one ever thinking about family impacts in connection with male candidates has no foundation in reality.

Right on Billy!
I’m for Obama all the way because the idea of a woman in the oval office scares the crap out of me.

McCain picked Palin because no other Republican would take the job, nor does the Republican Party want anyone to take the job. Therefore Sarah Palin was a great choice. In the coming days she will have to stand up and defend George Bush and John McCain's record, and only someone like her could even try to do that, because it is indefensible. This will be the last we will here from her, because her political career will be over after this. She will be sacrificed. They know they are going to lose, so they need to cut their losses, at the same time looking as if they had made a progressive, revolutionary choice.

Palins daughters baby impact on the world . . . 0%
Obama's radical associations potential impact on the world . . . 100%

Yet liberals are frothing at the mouth over the daughter of Palin.

Be worried about Obama's hidden agenda, the ideology he is fronting for. Keep in mind that he is only a very useful front man, an actor, a speech giver . . . behind him is a virulent ideology of Neo-Marxist control. Be worried about that and don't pull the lever for Obama.

So let me get this straight...Liberals would be much, much happier with the situation if Sarah and her daughter had both had abortions?...whew! That would have solved everything!
Save a baby..Kill a liberal!

This is why good people don't run for office more often, cause the media goes after their family. Gotta bite he bullet here.

Perhaps Eugene Robinson's real problem is he's afraid she's a good candidate and so he's trying to shame her?

It is revealing to see the true grit the self riotous 'compassionate' (Ha!) liberal left is made of.

Unless the liberal left gets a grip and starts behaving themselves, the Messiah just might fall from his pillar, right before their eyes.

Let's see,
Romney had five healthy kids, all of whom avoided procreating prior to marriage. He had two advanced degrees from Harvard, though his father was born in Mexico as a Mormon refugee. He never drank a drop of alcohol (so no DUI's), he never even considered drugs. He made millions on his own, never cheated on his wife, GOVERNED a state, and ran the olympics! I still cannot believe the only dirt anyone could find on him was this: he's too handsome and successful and he's changed his mind before. Oh wait, the real dirt was that he's Mormon. Glad that was such a big friggin' deal all of you who voted for a cancerous old man or a special needs Arkansas governor. Romney was the only one who actually lived an exemplary life. Now we've got Palin, whom I want to like, but who is, as best, a below average example. Good job bigots, now we get to have Hussein in the White House!

If this was a male candidate no one would have questioned whether or not he was the true parent of one of his children. I disagree anyone would be discussing the pregnancy of his daughter, married or otherwise. At most it would be a footnote. This is a double standard being applied by those who pay lip-service to gender equality. If I was Bristol and my mother was Sarah Palin I would be so proud of her, and so proud to be her daughter, I would not care what all the petty gossips had to say. This may well be how the young lady feels. None of you know otherwise, and yet you continue to wag your tongues. YOU are the cruel and vicious ones. You use any means you can to try to keep those who disagree with you pigeon-holed and out of power. Thank God for Sarah Palin, John McCain and others like them who have the guts to stand up and weather your crap.

Sarah Palin has blown her fifteen minutes, and she needs to find the exit.

When I think of the many credible individuals McCain passed over to choose this trashy VPILK (as they're calling her) . . . well, it makes me wanna holler.

L'il Juno and the "Barracuda" are stealing the spotlight from McCain. I think he'll come to regret it. Should've done better vetting.

Yes, we have seen that all too often; and I can't really say that I'm surprised that another MSNBC contributor like Robinson would again denigerate another female politician just because he wants to push Obama's candidacy without any fairness or deference to the truth.

As a Clinton supporter during the primaries, I can say that Robinson has been one of the most unabashedly mysogynous figures toward the former first lady. Some of the MSNBC hosts and contributors clearly tried to inject race and gender into the conversation at every turn to help make the arguments of Mr. Obama. It is strongly suspected according to some reports, around the time of th NH primary, that Eugene Robinson along with KO and another MSNBC contributor that should remain unnamed, that intentionally tried to Bill Clinton's "fairy tale" comment into something related to race, even though that intepretation would have nothing to do with the real intention of Pres Clinton in the context of his discourse.

Here he goes again with the same tactics of subtly injecting sexism into this race to aid his favorate son. This is truly shameful.

Having family values doesn't mean that you don't make mistakes. Everyone is human--dem and republican alike---and as a mom to four children I can tell you that you can raise your children with excellent values and then they go off and make mistakes all the same. It's human nature. Is this an optimal situation for this girl? Of course not. I hope (and suspect) that Palin talked to her children and her pregnant daughter about her decision beforehand. They knew this was going to be scrutinized.

Give her a break.

It's clear to me that liberals have a good heart but they are unquestionably naive. Their viewpoint is very narrow...such is the case with this article. If this were a democrat's child...this would not be a story---it would just pass as has Obama's lack of experience and lack of leadership. This article is another in a long list of attacks on conservatives---trying to make something out of nothing---trying to pass their view on to others instead of allowing for personal privacy, personal decisions, and personal accountabilty. I am disheartened that anyone took time to write an article such as this...very sad.

Really, is it so important to know whether or not McCain knew, in advance of naming her his running mate? Or is it more important to ask, did Sarah Palin know that her daughter was having unprotected sex as a minor? If that's the sort of thing that is happening right under her nose in her own household, what does it say about the potential of things that could go on in this country, right under her nose?

.
So, I'm reading through other comments, and there's this idea that Hilary is qualified to be President, but Sarah isn't.

Let's see:
Hillary got famous by marrying a guy who went on to be state attorney general and later governor.
Sarah got famous by getting elected Governor herself.

Help me out here, folks.
How is Hillary qualified ?
Because she was so good at riding coattails, and didn't dump her hubby when any self-respecting woman would have,
but clung even tighter to the coattails and parlayed party loyalty into a seat in the Senate ?

Unlike Joe, above, Hilary has never actually accomplished anything on her own.
Joe at least got elected on his own.

I think what the Hilary supporters find most offensive is that Sarah made herself into a success, without having to eat crow for decades.
.

Yeah, but is the daughter hot? If so, I think it is ok. Hot girls should be able to do whatever, and who cares about what anyone thinks? So, I will vote for the mother of a hot girl. However, if the girl is not hot, kinda skanky, you know, like my girlfriend, then I will not vote for her, cuz who cares about those girls and their mothers? Not me. Then, it's Democratic all the way! I vote HOT--maybe there should be a HOT party. I am not sure they would let me in, but that's not a problem if I could just come to their convention and such.

Billy, You are an idiot! Palin commands respect and support, where as the majority of other politicians naturally divide. Seems like the Republicans have nailed down the "special trust and confidence issue" this time.

I have come to pity liberals. They are like the ranting madmen you occasionally see on some street corner. They are menacing, vocal and even dangerous but plainly insane and not to be taken seriously. I will not even bother to refute their nonsense. I merely keep an eye on them as I walk on by in the hope I get out of their range unharmed.

Perfection, that is the most important thing.
I cannot vote for anyone that is not perfect. Then the spouse too must be perfect, in every way. The children must be perfect, the pets, the parents, friends, neighbors, schools, clothes, and food they eat must all be perfect. In my "Judgment", my judgment is always right, I have never miss-judged anyone unfairly. I use the same rule to judge everyone. You must see by now I too am perfect and that is why I demand perfection from everyone else.

I like that Obama can show his family to America without scandal. We are all curious who will run our country and what values they bring to the table. The transparency with Obama and his family is real, he is proud of his family and was not afraid to show them to the world. I want leaders that teach their children to make the right choices. I think the GOP has ditched conservative family values. I will vote Democtrat this time. I don't remember a time with such poor leadership .

The issue raised by Robinson is legitimate in light of the debate regarding parental notification of abortions to be performed on minors. If this is the choice of the daughter then we should leave the matter alone. But if this is the parents' choice it deserve further scrutiny. Particularly as the father to be is saying that he is not interested in having kids...

Hithere, calm down ...I am 70yrs old and I have learned what compasion is..for sure.
iF THIS YOUNG GIRL IS GOING TO HAVE A CHILD. MORE POWER TO HER.you who think that life is so cheap that you can say when it begins are people who think just of yourselfs. Hey give the little ones a chance and see what they can do...........

Eugene, Eugene ...

You simply don't have that kind of authority --- you can't tell everyone with a knocked up teenage daughter that they can't work anymore!

No more lectures from you to McCain on the economy, Big Guy, cause you just about gave the GDP a great big whack.

Hmmm ... I thought you were smart. Maybe I'm not smart for thinking YOU were smart.

I don't think I want to be your Guardian Angel anymore --- too depressing.

If she was a man this wouldnt be the big scandal you are making it out to be. Every family has problems and I am sure this decision to become the candidate was thoroughly thought out and discussed with the family.

None of the notoriety would have been a blip on the newsrags of America if the lead lib rag, The Daily KOS, had not allowed some cretin to question if Sarah Palin was not the mother of her own baby. Their outright lying about the child is anathema to American integrity in print. If it had been one of BO's daughters who was unwed and pregnant, he would not allow the girl to be "PUNISHED" with carrying her child to term! The bottom feeding scum of the "KOS" and other such lib muckraking sites on the web are the real enemy of this country, and should be muzzled as the curs they are!

It was probably more important what her friends at high school thought than what the collective psyche of the American press thinks. Journalists, as usual, have put on what Tom Wolfe called it's Victorian Gentleman's voice, to chide her with a morality that people haven't held since the mid-50s.

The girl is old enough to have consensual sex and get pregnant, she's old enough to stand up to the scrutiny.

This isn't something her mother did to her, it's the other way around. Seventeen is no child and Mommy isn't a hypocrite, she simply failed to get compliance to her beliefs. Big deal, how often did you know better and still defy your parents?

The only hypocrisy would be to have an abortion at this point.

1. The Palin family probably did discuss this prior to Sarah Palin accepting the offer.
2. Consider the damage done to Bristol had her mom not accepted the offer. The guilt associated with be the reason for preventing history from being made and the guilt associated with being responsible for changing the potential course of the nation would be much greater than having to deal with media scrutiny.
3. The assumption made by you is that the media will treat Bristol harshly. The oxymoron is that you are implying that Sarah Palin is wrong for not protecting her daughter from the likes of you. There's the ultimate disconnect.

I watched the Republicans dish it out all last week. They can dish it but can not take it.

How can they support or justify this? This women should parent her children. Not add to the mess that Bush and the Republicans have created.

Independent

Robinson, your article is another example of liberal hypocrisy. Should Bill Clinton have put his wife and daughter through the awful ordeal of his Monica affair? Give me a break with your patronizing attitude - what kind of mother would put her kid through what - through doing what the child had already chosen to do or being put through a frenzied media attack? Life is about choices. Bristol made her choice, and it should not prevent her mother from making the choice to run for VP. You talk about equality, but how are women going to be treated equally when you hold them to the standard of being responsible for their daughter's actions? Even your Messiah Obama has said that you cannot condemn what the daughter did because his mother did something similar, then you attack the mother for putting her through what? Teenage girls have been getting pregnant for longer than recorded history, and many of them today have had hours of sex education in school, so quit mixing issues. It is you and your fanatical liberal friends in the media's venomous attack mill that are wrongly and scandalously putting the young expectant mother through an ordeal. By the way, have you checked on how many governor's Senator's, Congressmen(women)'s children have had a DUI, gotten pregnant, or gotten venereal disease? Have you forgotten Al (Save the Planet) Gore's son got a stopped for reckless driving going 100 mph in a residential zone? Even doing that in the Prius he was driving must have cost his father a few carbon credits not to mention the hefty fine I am sure he helped him pay with his many millions. Crawl in a hole, Robinson.

McCain / Palin is an exciting ticket judging by all the posts here. Palin's personal life has challenges. For someone with a marriage, 5 children, and a career this is normal.

Unfortunately for democrats, she'll never be able to compete with intern oral sex, calling black people "clean," or calling a pregnancy a punishment.

McCain/Palin have raised over $10 Million in the last 72 hours and are very energized. McCain will peak in early November unlike Obumma who peaked in March!

I wish this was not getting personal, this should not be about Sarah Palins daughter. Obama has asked that people not make this an issue.

Please get back to the issues which are:

McCain wanted to get into Iraq in 2002 even though everybody knows worldwide it was in unjust and mistaken war( No disrespect for the soldiers there they are heros, they should not be there though).

McCain wants to stay in Iraq for years to come if he had a choice (he forgets the singular issue that we cannot continue to occupy that country and waste 10 billion dollars a month when there are so many needs in America).

The economy is in shambles and McCain has no idea what to do with the economy and has said so.

On Energy McCain has no clear energy policy other than trying to trick people with the drill here drill now!!! It is a known fact that it will be 7 years apart from a feel good feeling before offshore drilling makes any difference. I have no issue with off-shore drilling but please lets have an energy plan for the US for the next 50 years that will create new jobs and show what america is capable. Please lets just have some vision here.

There are so many other issues, Health care is spiraling out of control we need some change here!!

America is in the drain as far as how the world perceive America - We need some change here!

There are so many important issues for this election, please lets stop talking about Sarah Palin, and please not bring her 17 year old daughter into this.

Its time to think about America on policies and what this country needs not what party you have belonged to forever. Its about the policies and it always should be!

This election is not about Sarah Palin or Biden, its about where this country stands now and who you think can inspire this country for the next decade.

What is best for America!!!

Mr. Robinson, I have a lot of respect for you as a journalist and am shocked by the stupidity and crassness of some of the personal attacks on you- and an obviously great, thought-provoking column.

Another thing I can't help but wonder- when you're that far right, doesn't abstinence include no birth control?... This, I think, is part of what we're dealing with. I can't believe the average American could approve how this is all being handled by the Palin family, and John McCain's part in it.

This is what we get when we don't teach sex education but preach abstinence only to our youth. It clearly doesn't work. We can't afford to have another conservative in the White House. This is just another great example of it!

It drives me crazy that conservatives are trying to spin this into a good thing. How is a 17 year-old pregnant and getting married a good thing? I wouldn't blame the parents in 100% of cases when the daughter ends up pregnant, but in this case I think it speaks to the ineffectiveness of conservative values like abstinence-only sex education and making teens get married because they get pregnant.

How is it a good thing for America to have 17 year-olds having kids and getting married? Does anybody wonder why the divorce rate in this country is so high? Doesn't it seem like she could have a more positive impact on the country if she could go to college and wait until she finds the right guy to settle down and have a family? I'm not advocating abortion, but I'm blaming her mother for not teaching her about birth-control.

You know, I have read all the posts here, and it's very interesting...if Sarah Palin would have had an abortion when she found out Trig had downs and if she would have consented for Bristol to have an abortion when she found out she was pregnant...then none of you all would be the wiser...and then she would be a pro-abortion democrat or a hypocrite...but, she did not - if she was a man whose wife had five children and one with special needs and a teenager daughter who was pregnant...then what would you all be saying...I THINK that Sarah Palin is brave and honorable to stand by her convictions in the midst of true human behavior displayed in the spotlight of the world's view. Now, let's focus on the issues....

Where is the moral authority and family values of the 2nd highest post in the nation now folks? Should we forget the whole fuss these bloody GOP fellas created for Bill Clinton? Heck no. This needs as much publicity as Clinton's case. Let them taste the medicine a bit as well. Feel the pain Palin's daughter might be going through. But, it is her mother's choosing. She needs to pay the price, unfortunately. It ain't that simple. Some of us DO remember! It is not to say that Bill Clinton was right. However, this issue must get national coverage. The so called torch bearer of family values must be put to test. Especially a female who is running for the 2nd higher political post in the nation.

PLEASE! Isn't this AMERICA? Just because someone's child has made a poor decision (and whose hasn't) SHOULDN'T mean they should give up on their own life, dreams and goals. Let's focus on what kind of leader Gov. Palin would be for U.S.

This is so pathetic. Concentrate on the main issues.

Gene,
You are right on the money here. The obvious answer to your question is :NO, of course I wouldn't do this to my daughter. I would never enter into a race with this much on my plate at home. I thought it was a huge mistake on McCain's part for picking her so hastily!! If this isn't a commercial "Abstinence only works for me!" I don't know what is! Welcome to the real world where teens will do what teens have always done, purity pledges and chastity agreements are ridiculous ways these right wingers think they can control their children. I have 20 yr old twins and I had an extremely open relationship about the realities of being sexually active with them from a very young age. They are wonderful,well adjusted kids who know how to protect themselves and have made good decisions based on all the information.
GO OBAMA!

As President of the Sarah Palin Admiration Society (www.SarahPalinAdmirationSociety.com) I take offense at the notion that Sarah is somehow responsible for this mess. We must remember that Sarah was Governor of Alaska during the time of the conception and therefore can be excused of parental responsibility and other matters of the family. I take it as a very positive sign that Sarah would not let this family matter interfere with her execution of the public trust in such matters as making sure that her ex-brother in law was not on the public payroll to abuse the public trust.

I want an answer. IS Trig Sarah's or Bristol's. This question cannot be glossed over until an answer is secured by someone other than the spin doctors.

C'mon press...you uncovered John Edwards trysts, surely you can chase down who is the mother/father of this child. It makes ALL the difference in the world. If Sarah Palin faked a pregnancy, then she is a SICK woman. End of subject.

all i can think about, is how much more can one pile onto one's plate... she's got a family, namely a 4 month old with special needs to take care of, and a grandchild to take care of, and a daughter to advise and take care of, and then to be a possible president of the US, all in a matter of months! woah, damn the devil and his cards... who then comes first....

Hello you brilliant Republicans that can't make your way through an article:

Mr. Robinson was reporting on a legitimate question that a number of people, including myself, have on their minds:

How could a parent (ANY parent, male or female) put their vulnerable, pregnant, 17 year old child through the wringer known as the media, just to fulfill their own selfish ambitions?

This is not a SEXIST question. This is a HUMAN question. If this person care so little for her own child, how do you expect her to care for her Country?

Grow up!

Love those Sexist Democrats. Middle america is seeing you in all your hate filled glory right now.

Sorry.....2. the guilt associated with "being" the reason....

THIS IS AN ISSUE! It shows a lot about McShame's and this women's character. McShame should have known that would distract from the actual issues. Country First no McShame first.

What about the mess the Republicans and Bush have created?

You can dish it but not take it. THIS IS WHAT THE VP DOES. SHE IS NOW A PUBLIC FIGURE!

The fact that Sarah Palin's daughter is pregnant at 17 is a failing of the daughter, not the mother. Mrs. Palin's statement acknowledging her daughter's right to make decisions for herself is what a parent is supposed to do. The unfortunate situation has put her daughter's poor decisions in the spotlight, but Mrs. Palin's firm stance behind her daughter speaks to her willingness to stand up when tough decisions have to be made. I'm sure she would have preferred that her daughter wait until she was married to get pregnant, but that's not what happened - so you face the situation head on and deal with it.

If/when she takes on the role of VP, she'll walk into bad situation created by the former leaders of our country. She and McCain will have to make tough decisions about other peoples choices and do what's best regarding our nation. I trust McCain/Palin INFINITELY more than Obama/Biden to make tough, reasonable decisions.

Ths demonstrates the double standard of the liberal press and the hypocrisy of the left. The press is doing this to Sarah's daughter. You guys are digging for dirt and fast! All in the name of "the good of the country." Look, the reason this thing is an issue is because you don't like Palin's politics plain and simple. I question your judgment not McCain's. You'll do anything and hurt anybody to advance your own cause. I don't have a problem with you having your political views but I do have a problem with your tactics. If you really have a better idea about policy then stick to covering issues and let your views win in the marketplace of ideas.

All of you people who oppose abstinence are full of glee because you think Sarah failed. She didn't fail, her daughter failed. A 17 year old has a mind of their own and you know as well as anyone that you can teach them right but they don't always listen to what you say.

So much for the "compassion" of liberals.

McCain keeps making little mistakes. I saw let the old guy keep making them into ' 09, while Barack moves in and palin goes back to Alaska with her daughter and new grandchild in tow. Family Values? Gotta love them Republicans

This is pathetic. You guys are so scared of Palin that you are trying to find any angle you can to criticize her. Not gonna work, and it's only making you look mean-spirited, irrational, and trifling (aka making you look like liberals). Well let's see, the polls say nobody cares about troopergate, Obama can't make the experience argument since he has even less than she does, Obama can't pick on McCain for his age since his own chosen running mate is only 5 years younger, what's left? Now you're really reaching, and if you weren't using a kid as a tool it would be laughable. As it is, it's just sick.

Sorry gang but now the Republicans have a "cult of personality" candidate too. And suddenly the Marxist from Chicago don't look so divine after all. I think the Republicans just wrapped up the White House for another 12-16 years with this choice.

By the logic of the faux "outraged" here, it would appear that any female politician, holding *any* political office anywhere in America, should immediately resign her elected position as soon as her child does something embarrassing in private, so as to spare said child the embarrassment resulting from their behavior.

Never before has such a ridiculous, sexist position ever been asserted seriously. This kind of irresponsible behavior is why Democrats cannot win an election even when it has been handed to them on a silver platter - they can't help but say stupid things like this, and in total seriousness, too!

They never, ever learn. They never, ever grow up. As long as this keeps up (and there's no reason why it shouldn't), we've got a pretty good shot at pulling off the upset of the century. :-)

The best argument for abortion interesingly enough comes from Obama's mother who was pregnant out of wedlock and chose to have the child instead of aborting it. Now if she would have aborted it . . . ???

I will now retire to bedlam and hope to be transformed to a wonderful moment. The morning I awoke on Tuesday 20 January 1981.

If she cannot raise her children, can she lead a country ?

Some questions you should ask yourself.

Palin - A good christian, mother, wife. Or is she?

She is good at her job, but is she good at her home as a mother or wife?

Isn't abstinence an important teaching in Christianity? Isn't it the responsibility of the parents to impart that knowledge?

Does her daughters life value more that a puppet position in the White House?

Will a quick-fix marriage actually fix an accidental (I am sure) pregnancy?

Are family values applicable only to normal citizens and not to the politicians?

Is she the right role model to have?

Does she understand that she is just a pawn in the political game who will be used and discarded?

I believe that we are not a country that keeps politics above family. We are not a country that keeps national hypocrisies above family. Ask yourself these questions and look at the broader picture.

Who needs her most? The politicians or her children?

"Obviously parenting hasn't gone on?" What an idiotic statement. There is no way you would be making that statement about a male democratic politician. You would never state that he had not "parented" his children just because a 17 year old became pregnant. And don't tell me it hasn't happened. It's just that no one pays attention when it is a male candidate - particulaly a democratic male candidate.

This is extremely sexist and hypocritical. There are millions of unwed mothers out there who will relate to this. And to hear this come from the party of single moms, homosexuals, and every other social ill is turning my stomach. Christians make mistakes. But we don't punich the whole family for it. We love people back to Christ. Not demonize them. The press and the democrats should be ashamed of themselves.

I don't think the question is sexist at all. I think the hypocracy of Palin's positions versus the reality of her home life is what is offensive. On top of which, what mother wants to put her children through such turmoil. To me it is just as un-family values as John Edwards's decision to put his name in the hat for president when he knew that the kind of media scrutiny and scandal that his wife and kids would have been put through had he won.

These are signs of poor judgment. Also, if McCain's team knew about this, then also sign of poor judgment. Is the McCain/Palin organization promoting teenage pregnancy? Teenage sex? What?

Hypocracy at its worst.

Sarah Palin's daughter's life is none of our business!! Do you want a video of the event that caused this furor?

"I'll say it again, it does not make any difference who it comes from, the bottom line it isn't any of your business what a family does as long as it isn't hurting you."

Posted by: Roger | September 2, 2008 12:28 AM

***********

The ones who are saying the above quote are the same ones who are telling us abortion is morally wrong.

No one can stop the news from spreading. Journalists may abstain, but the new goes on.

And there's a reason for this. Everyone is shaking their heads at McCain, and now at Palin. Telling Mr. Robinson to shut it isn't going to stop this discussion from taking place. People are talking because both McCain's pick and Palin's history speak volumes about their individual judgment, whether you want to believe it or not.

Only those in denial can't see the events of the past week as serious lapses of judgment for both McCain and Palin. You can tell us to shut up, you can say it's none of our business, but most of country is not in denial, and these events have clearly been bad for McCain's campaign.

Mr. Robinson's article is written after-the-fact, after the disclosure. There is nothing inappropriate about asking a question concerning a matter that is already widely known. This is not gossip, but a serious question of judgment.

It will be interesting to see if anyone asks Sarah Palin if she still fully supports abstinence only education.

BTW, aren't you supposed to have the shotgun wedding before the baby bump, or is that just old fashioned?

Some questions you should ask yourself.

Palin - A good christian, mother, wife. Or is she?

She is good at her job, but is she good at her home as a mother or wife?

Isn't abstinence an important teaching in Christianity? Isn't it the responsibility of the parents to impart that knowledge?

Does her daughters life value more that a puppet position in the White House?

Will a quick-fix marriage actually fix an accidental (I am sure) pregnancy?

Are family values applicable only to normal citizens and not to the politicians?

Is she the right role model to have?

Does she understand that she is just a pawn in the political game who will be used and discarded?

I believe that we are not a country that keeps politics above family. We are not a country that keeps national hypocrisies above family. Ask yourself these questions and look at the broader picture.

Who needs her most? The politicians or her children?

If this were Barack Obama's 17 year old daughter the right would have a field day. Sarah Palin and her husband obviously have parenting issues. Girls this age should not be getting pregant. They learn the consequences of having sex at school and should be taught it at home too. I feel there has been a breakdown of values in the home and the mother and father are to blame. Again, the fact that she is five months along and still unmarried makes the situation even worse and if the evangelicals who support her give their approval then they are hypocrites.

To John:

Obama raised his girls right? really, he put them on the spread of PEOPLE Magazine! Oh, and how about listening to minister G. D. America, and other exciting hate filled tales for years? This is what Obama subjected his kids to, and u can bet that come their time, they will prject those feelings outwards in their schools and other agendas.

PS

A decent parent would've been in touch enough with their child to know that she was becoming sexually active---and would've AT THE LEAST educated her about sexually transmitted diseases and birth control. Nobody's advocating abortion here. Just good common sense and decent parenting.

the bottom line?
Bill Clinton cheats and stays married--he is Satan..
John McCain cheats and marries lover--hero
Palin daughter pregnant out of wedlock...saint..
D Cheney's daughter gay now with a child--no mention and hush hush..
If this is what it means being a Christian--count me out..I actually love America...
It does really baffle me how the people who claim to be so good---are so bad...and most of what they have disdain for and judge others for---IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING?

I've been arguing something similar all day: this isn't about teen pregnancy or even GOP hypocrisy: it's about two adults dangling a scared 17-year old girl in front of the national media like chum in a shark-tank, just so they can sell their little "family-values" and "Kids today!" narratives, and garner Evangelical and harried-parent votes.

It's disgusting and COLD.

Next act of the script calls for Bristol Palin to be trotted before the cameras to recite her lines about how having the baby and the upcoming shotgun wedding are "all her choice". Watch for it.

Wonder if the prospective groom will be called upon to stand by her, or if the threat of exposure is the "shotgun" that ensures his compliance...

This editorial is so over-the-top wrong and cruel the author and the paper ought to apologize for writing and publishing it.

Barack Obama is the father of two young children. How could he drag them through this process? And he's running for president! How much time does he spend with them really? As this campaign grinds on, how often will they see their father? Doesn't Obama talk about how important it is to have a father around - especially since he never enjoyed that luxury? How can he deny those little girls that which he was denied? Doesn't he run around preaching to all of us fathers - especially black fathers - about how fathers ought to be with their children?

See, your question is sexist, Robinson, because nobody asks it about Obama. Why? It just sounds weird, doesn't it? And that's because it is. The mother is selfish for pursuing her career while her daughter, a young woman of 17, is planning a wedding. Sarah's world should come to a stop because of this? Double standard.

You are actually telling your readers that Sarah Palin should not continue her work because her 17-year-old daughter is expecting a child and is getting married! Think about what you are saying. Do you know how many women keep going in life while they deal with their problems at home? Isn't dealing with life's problems how human being keep going in life?

And why is this a problem anyway? It sounds like a celebration is in order. I bet the wedding will be beautiful. You are trying to make the normal and joyous deviant. You want to sew a colored letter onto her dress.

It was the liberals who made this an issue, Robinson, by insinuating that Sarah Palin faked her own pregnancy to cover for Bristol's. Because, after all, the soul of a woman was created below, right?

This is the same sexist vibe liberals floated out on Hillary. When ambition and women intersect anything is possible. Hillary wanted Obama dead. Remember? She killed Vince Foster, dragged him to the park, and faked a suicide note. And so of course Sarah would fake a pregnancy for some wicked end, right? It's in their nature.

And when this conspiracy doesn't pan out, you go after her daughter. For ideological reasons you hit the mother with the daughter. There is no contest of ideas here. You're just slinging mud and punishing families. She has other children, too. Is this the example adults in the media want to set for the children?

How is it possible that Sarah is to blame for the media's obsession of the sexual behavior of politicians? Was it Larry Craig's fault that bathroom stall courting so titillates you like a bunch of high school sophomores that you can't resist passing along the story? (Meanwhile, what else happened in the world?)

In a world where IDEAS mattered we wouldn't be talking about Sarah and Bristol's wombs. Double standard, Robinson. It's a double standard rooted in the sexist assumptions you won't even recognize exist in your writing.

This mother is a piece of work. She stands on a pro-life platform yet enjoys the killing of animals. The oversight of her numerous children and now soon to be grandchild takes a back seat to her ambitious self interests. Exactly which segment of our country identifies with such a person?

People miss the point when they say this happens to a lot of families. This is not supposed to be a woman who is average or less than average at keeping her family functional. She is supposed to be capable of being the president of the united states. Yes, the average mom or dad cannot prevent their daughter from messing around. But she should be more than the average mom. She's the governor of the state her daughter's living in. With all that power and support, she couldn't manage to keep her daughter from getting out of line; yet, we're supposed to believe she'll be able to keep Medvedyev and Amadenijad in line?

bah, would I put my daughter through this? She should hide and never come out into the public. This of course is the best way to deal with problems. The moment she found out her daughter was pregnant she should have quit being the Governer and became a monk. It really is the only solution. (ROTFLMAO)

There is a common thread in these posts with many people worrying if Palin and family can take the pressure of the public spotlight.This has me wishing McCain had picked a single father(with a child born out of wedlock) for his vp. No doubt everyone on this post would be speechless. A guy can stand up to any kind of pressure(but we really need to worry about a woman).Go McCain/Palin. It is time to end double standards regarding the perceptions of men and women professionals in the workplace. I suggest that the real reason so many people want to make excuses why Palin shouldn't try this run is that they are simply afraid of women in the workplace who have power.

Hillary was too negative on Obama and it came back to haunt her. Palin is going to soar in the campaign and will likely score a touchdown for McCain. She is going to bring out conservatives in droves.

I would like to know what GOD will say about this.

Gene -

This will vanish like a fart in the wind. This young girl will be sent to the finest hospital resort so far from the press she wont be seen until December. Nobody will care in a week.

Dem screwed up big time by not having Hillary on the ticket. They just blew the election 08. SO the best the far left and liberals in Dem party can come up with is to attack another WOMAN, just like they did to HIllary.
Remember Hussein Obama operatives are shrill and scared at this August surprise from McCain.
McCain/Palin for 08

Hey Gene,
Its not a political decision to advise her child to have a child, its a moral decision. Look it up in Websters.
You just affirm the addage:
Liberals raise taxes and kill babies, conservatives raise babies and kill taxes.

Has anyone seen the article posted early this am from Minnesota that identified the father as a senior McCain aide that plans on marrying the 17 year old?
I looked for the article...it now was removed.

How can someone consider taking such an important office with so many home responsibilities?

Why is it that all the "Right to Death" people always first think that the girl is being forced to have the child. Secondly why is abortive death the only solution for a pregnant unwed woman? If values are learned from home and parents why is it impossible for you to believe that having the child is the daughter's wish. At least Obama said today that children of the candidates should be off limits and also his mother was 18 when he was born. Are you really suggesting that his mother ruined her life by not abortively killing him?

Eugene, Eugene ...

Last post from me (because, I gotta tell ya, this crowd in here is a little, teenie-weenie bit boring).

However, I would not want to leave without unmasking the fear that you, Eugene Obama (surely you are related, man ... I mean, he's not paying you to be his shill, right?), and your readers are manifesting.

Your guy got no bounce in the polls from his Thursday night spectacular (it gives Matthews a chill down his leg just reading something like that!), did he?

Why? Ah, Eugene, you and your liberals readers know why! P-a-l-i-n.

That's why I have to wade through all this Palin-hate ... fear. Y'all are scared.

Enjoy it, though. Think of it as a thrilling rollercoaster ride ... that ends very suddenly ... with an Obama loss November 4.

Gee, I suppose I shouldn't have spoiled the ride for you. Oh, well.

1. Is this really the best Republicans had to offer as VEEP?

2. Can Republicans muster some intellectual honesty and admit what a scene it would be if it were Obama's child.or had it been Chelsea Clinton while in the White House?

3. If abstinence only programs don't work at home, how can we expect them to work in school?

4. Are we all so hypocritical that we can't just accept that out children will want to, and have sex at the same ages as did we?

5. Could Republicans please quit using the omnibus "Liberal"label every time that talk about Democrats?

After all: Jesus was the original liberal.

Jimandmare

I'm sorry but when Bill Clinton was doing some private things in the white house the republican congress saw fit to question what he was doing. When a women blast the public for sex eduucation issues and the very thing that she says is the answer fails in her case you better believe it is not off limits. The republican party blames the democrates for teen pregnancy and here comes a politician for the VP office that will set policy on that very issue. You better believe that it is on the table. I disagree with Obama and every one else on this issue. Here is proof positive that you are wong on that issue. Sex Education should not be a single focus issue. If she wants to run on that issue she better be willing to tell people why it failed.

Feeling sorry for her daughter and accepting whatever Sarah wants for her family. The problem is that she wants to put her way on millions of other girls or women. The conservatives may completely accept her for her anti-abortion and look other way with how she neglects her mother duty especially with the 4 month baby with special needs. It's much more than having lots of kids (God help us, You didn't create birthing machines!) but also how to raise them, taking care and educate them,… She can do her way for her family but let the others have different choices. Many Christians will not vote for an "ABSENTEE MOTHER" even she is pro-life. She doesn't have family values at all. It's only about her wish for more political power!!

Once a teen gets the HOTS -- parental unit supervisoion is all over. Trust me ... I am 62 and I will state unequivically that parents DO NOT MEAN SQUAT when it comes to teenage nookie.

So, stop politicializing this hedonistic episode. We all get horny. LOL

5 little questions:

1. Is this really the best Republicans had to offer as VEEP?

2. Can Republicans muster some intellectual honesty and admit what a scene it would be if it were Obama's child.or had it been Chelsea Clinton while in the White House?

3. If abstinence only programs don't work at home, how can we expect them to work in school?

4. Are we all so hypocritical that we can't just accept that out children will want to, and have sex at the same ages as did we?

5. Could Republicans please quit using the omnibus "Liberal"label every time that talk about Democrats?

After all: Jesus was the original liberal.

Jimandmare

Everyone is respecting her right to have the baby. Nobody is telling her to get an abortion. It is her FREEDOM and RIGHT TO CHOOSE. But this is what she wants to take away from the rest of America. People's RIGHT and FREEDOM to choose.
Besides, all I needed to know about Ms Palin (and why is she called Ms and not Mrs.?) is that she supports teaching intelligent design in school yet refuses to believe all the scientific evidence backing global warming. Go figure. Stupid is what stupid does.

I'm not planning on voting for Senator McCain and Governor Palin. That said, the personal attacks are low--Governor Palin has five children including her oldest, who's now serving in Iraq and her latest, a four-month-old. She was elected governor while she was parenting all five with her husband. Things happen and to try and paint this as though it makes her unfit to be VP makes Obama supporters look like wingnuts. If she's such a bad choice, that'll come out in the debates, which will, I hope, discuss isuses. Discussion about her views on issues of the day are legitimate, but the fixation on her daughter's pregnancy, not to mention the baseless innuendo about her youngest son is disgusting. It's irrelevant whether some on the right would try to spin this into a scandal--compounding that wrong with another one isn't productive or moral.

Palin has all the Benet Ramsey moves. Is that going to get all the old geezers fantazing or what? Anyway her daughter was pregnant before all this latest attention getting scenario from the MCcain group and she will deliver a strong and healthy baby and everyone will buy into how oh so sweet it is. Life happens and I won't be holding her daughters pregnancy against her. What I do question is her intelligence in thinking she is a good selection for the next possible commander-and-chief of the USA. No, she grabbed at the opportunity with the same self-absortion she has always had from the early days of her Jon Benet Ramsey training. American wake up.

Here’s what the GOP will be saying in hindsight—John McCain and Paris Hilton: The ticket that could have been! LOL

5 little questions:

1. Is this really the best Republicans had to offer as VEEP?

2. Can Republicans muster some intellectual honesty and admit what a scene it would be if it were Obama's child,or had it been Chelsea Clinton while in the White House?

3. If abstinence only programs don't work at home, how can we expect them to work in school?

4. Are we all so hypocritical that we can't just accept that out children will want to, and have sex at the same ages as did we?

5. Could Republicans please quit using the omnibus "Liberal"label every time that talk about Democrats?

After all: Jesus was the original liberal.

Jimandmare

Palin's family has already gone through hell when her sister's choice of a husband (the violent trooper) turned out to be a very bad one. And now she is happy that her daughter will marry a man simply because he thought more of his own urges than a young girl's future? Where do you think this marriage will go? Teen marriages are risky at best (assuming the guy was a teen; if not, then he was a rapist). There seems to be a serious lack of judgement and foresight here.

You know, stubbornly sticking to ideas without considering the consequences is how we got into this mess in Iraq.

Think of it this way. Mrs. Palin and family endure these next 3 months and lose the election. They get a lot of media attention and become a household name. Then 3 years from now, at the start of the next primary cycle, we see Mrs. Palin running for President. Trig's older, the son has been to Iraq and back, Bristol's child is growing - things worked out well after all. Despite the media attention.

It's all about planning ahead. Way ahead.

This is a campaign issue - Sarah Palin has told her kids that condoms are worthless and there is no such thing as effective birth control. And she and her kind have forced high school sex education programs to repeat this farce to your kids - including those gals at Glouster (remember that pudding club?).

The hockey mom has allowed her most precious child to become impregnated by a hockey boy. What happens to his future because he bought Sarah Palin's belief that Jesus is the only contraception you'll ever need? Perhaps if he's lucky, he'll be able to flip this into an MTV reality show in order to make enough cash to support his new family. Or is he going to go on welfare while he finishes his high school career?

Between this and her revenge on the ex-brother-in-law, Palin has quickly proven to be more of a candidate for the Jerry Springer Show and not the White House.

Suzanna, you are not getting it. There is nothing shameful about the pregnancy, really. The shameful part is the way that Sarah Palin broadcast to the ENTIRE WORLD the fact that her teenage daughter is pregnant. Sarah shouldn't have accepted the offer from McCain. She should have said "no thank you, I need to take care of my family. My daughter needs me right now... she's a bundle of pregnant teenage hormones."

But instead, Sarah was so hell-bent on achieving her ambitions, she made her daughter into a world-wide laughingstock. How would YOU feel if you were that teenage daughter? Imagine surfing the internet, as teenagers do, and seeing your name ALL over Google News, and people were making fun of you? How would you feel if your OWN mother sold you out like that?

That is the point of the question above... it has nothing to do with the actual pregnancy. It has to do with the fact that to Sarah Palin, Power and Prestige are more important than her own flesh and blood.

And I haven't even mentioned the hypocrisy of the situation... the flat-out contradiction of Sarah's so-called beliefs.

She was clearly not using her head when she accepted the Veep position. No one should make professional decisions when their personal life requires so much attention. If she was thinking clearly, she would have waited another 4 years and weathered the storm vis-a-vis her pregnant teen as well as spend more time with her infant, disabled son. Where are those "family values" she supposedly touts? Right-wingers are hypocrites.

This is a great reminder that Sarah Palin would not only force her daughter to have the child, but would also force all women to have thier child as well. She favors the loss of a woman's provenance over her own body; that the state should, at the threat of a felony conviction and jail time, force all women to have any and all unwanted children, even in the case of rape and incest. It really sounds more like the Taliban than that the Republicans, doesn't it?

Don't stop now dems.. there are still a couple woman you haven't offended yet. Be sure to call them "sweetie" when you tell them to get your coffee.

Well Ms Palin cant control her own teenage daughter , how she will be able to handle a country full of teenagers????

It's sad that Americans think this way. Watching people debate this "non-issue" on CNN is disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. And by the way, the question IS sexist.

I am an independent, and the more you talk about this, the more you push me towards the Republicans.

I am utterly disappointed with everybody's reaction.

Maybe if Palin believed in Sex Education her daughter wouldn't be in this mess.

OBAMA had to prove himself over the course of 19 months - and did so by running the most successful Presidential campaign thus far in history with upwards of $50 millon/ raised from ordinary individuals.

McCAIN tries to up him by reducing him to a Black man - to be countered by a random Woman. ("Steve" Palin would never have been chosen.)
The criticism of Sarah Palin is justified - Liberals don't run on "Family Values" - It's totally fair game if you no longer practice what you preach and have kids running wild.

CHANGE = No more utter hypocrisy!!!

My answer is also NO, I would not do this to any of my children. My aspirations would have to wait, knowing the pain I would inflict on them when the news came out.

Also, what is not being said is that this "news" was released by the Palin family to protect the candidate by dispelling the rumor that the youngest child is not Gov. Palins. Talking about throwing your kid (and unborn grandchild) under the bus. Welcome to the family, kid.

First as much as it would be ideal to keep respect the privacy of the Palin family, Sarah Palin and the GOP platform which espouses "Family Values" demands that they are scrutinized. As opposed to a laissez-faire approach to private matters, it is the objective of Ms. Palin and the Evangelical Right to make "value issues" not a private issue, but in fact part of the role of government. So they become fair game.

Today the Evangelicals from Dobson, to Tony Perkins to others have come out in defence of Palin and the 17 year old daughter keeping the child. The hypocrisy is stupendous. Under Evangelical (and not my own) principles, why would they not condemn the Palins for poor parenting that would allow this teenage pregnancy. Is it not a clear tenant for those who take a literalist approach to religion, that sex before marriage is a sin? Does not underage sex defy traditional "family Values"? And yet it would appear, from the standpoint of the Evangelical movement, that God's laws and their literal approach in there theological views are, "flexible" and allowed to best fit their own political agenda.

They praise the decision to keep the child as a continued symbol of Ms. Palin's championing of "Family Values." But where are the "Family Values" that allowed a 17 year old to get pregnant in the first place? Where are the "Family Values" that indeed allowed for premarital sex between a young teenage girl and a much older boy in his early twenties?

How often the Evangelical forces in society condemn the poor inner city teenage girl for sex out of wedlock, for the lack of moral direction in the home that allows for this and can result in teenage pregnancy. Yet hypocritically they do not hold the Palins to the same standard.

Hypocrisy came to a forefront today when Ms. Palin issued a statement saying she was proud of her daughter for making the decision to keep the baby. But that is key. Her daughter made the decision, her daughter had the right to make a decision. But if Ms. Palin had her way, there would have been no decision at all, a woman's right to choose would be outlawed.

Of course the greatest irony in Ms. Palin's desire and that of the religious Right to overturn Roe v. Wade, is that the Palin daughter, even if abortion were illegal would have options. By virtue of the Palin's financial status they still would have options. They and others could still cross the boarder to a country like Canada and pay out of pocket for an abortion procedure if they chose. In the end the only people who will be without options are the poor.

Ms. Palin, Mr. Dobson, Mr. Perkins, the GOP, you speak about family values. Fine let's really take that issue on full force. Underage sex, and sex out of wedlock, let's start there.

OR let's adopt a political platform that allows private issues to be kept out of public life, like the platform proposed by the Democratic Party.

If you remember the various tailhook parties, you probably understand that many fighter pilots consider all females fungable. Pinch any ass within reach. McCain reveals his roots......,eh

PALIN=Harriet Miers

Palin/pregnant daughter underage out of wedlock-Cheney/gay pregnant daughter not married (to man)

McCain is doing all of the worst things--we saw from the Bush years!

It seems that the only candidate that has shown true family values and morales has been Obama...hence, shockingly for me too, I am voting the Democratic ticket.

I'm still trying to figure out how someone could reduce a decision to have a child with Down's Syndrome to "walking the walk of a political position." Mr Robinson asks a legitimate question about the effects this has on Bristol Palin (but which are ultimately none of his business, nor any of ours). However, to make a personal moral and ethical choice into a "political position" is just plain stupid, insensitive, and typical, unfortunately, for those who like to talk in America.

Every day I open CNN.com or any other news page, I realize by the list of "news stories" how incredibly dumbed down we have become. We will obsess over a pregnant 17 year old and her family's personal decisions, yet we cannot get concerned about ____________ issue, which could be filled in with 100 other topics at a moment's notice, all of infinitely greater importance and urgency than the private decisions of Governor Palin and her family.

(and I'm not Republican, by the way... I'm an independent who has voted for both parties, and presumably will continue to do so)

Do this to her daughter? The people doing something to her daughter are people like Mr. Robinson. At what point is it the media's responsibility to back off? This doesn't betray the Palin family nearly as much as it betrays Mr. Robinson: This is really disgusting, and shows the Washington Post for what it really is.

Robinson,

Please leave the poor girl alone. This is not an issue. We have so many issues and your talking about a kid. You know, the Clintons did more for blacks then any other President and they were stab in the back. I was going to vote for the Clintons, but now I am going the GOP. I had a buddy of mine that was part of an press crew that interviewed Obama for a Spanish language TV station. He first did want too because he didn't want to associate himself with illegals. When he finished the interview, he turn to his Rep and said "Are you happy now?" The press could not believe what he said. He didn't want to speak to Latinos? It just shows you that this guy will tell what you want to hear in order to get your vote and he lives and dies by the polls. Has anyone told him that he is also a minority? Its pretty sad.

Same old, same old; Republicans versus Democrats, and both sides calling the other hypocrites. Can we please stop making this entire presidential election about hypothetical questions (would you do that to your daughter? what if hillary were chosen as vp, and so on, and so on)??? Let's look at real issues and real track records. With all this arguing, November can't come soon enough.

Please don't try to defend yourself. You are giving this story legs and no one else so please stop with your pathetic excuses. I have a child and if one of you *** tried to dig up dirt on her I would defend her like any mother would.

Lay off the girl.

You take your family the way it is, warts and all and you just get on with it. Maybe it's time people stop stigmatizing unmarried pregnant girls. Notice there's no stigma on the guy?

The way Barack Obama keeps saying he's 'black' and 'African American' when he is half-white, makes me feel he is being disrespectful to his white mother. The way Hillary Clinton was railroaded and pushed aisde by the Democratic Party stinks of misogyny. Now the endless mocking of Sarah Palin and her daughter just adds to my feeling that the Democratic Party is not the party of women.

Silly people. It was clearly an immaculate conception since since the Gov. preaches abstinence.

Is the baby daddy from Kenya?

Governor Palin is actually a fairly private person. The public hears very little about her personal life or her children's. She certainly doesn't shout out her children's personal information over the airways. Governor Palin focuses on the work that she was elected to do. While her personal opinions and beliefs are known by many, she isn't in Juneau introducing new legislation to promote her opinions. She is doing what the people of Alaska have asked her to do and feels obligated to do so.

Prior to today, Alaskan's were not publicly made aware of Bristol's pregnancy. The public didn't even know that the governor was pregnant until she was in her 7th month and it became apparent. The governor was reportedly concerned that her pregancy would overshadow the impending gas pipeline negotiations that were in progress and she was right. It is unfortunate that beginning yesterday people were reporting that the governor faked her own pregnancy to hide her daughter's pregnancy. I don't see what other choice Governor Palin had other than to disclose that her daughter is pregnant. I would bet that she only did this after serious discussions with her daughter. Governor Palin would have ignored the false statements (her hiding her daughter's pregnancy) if her daughter wasn't comfortable with the disclosure.

If Bristol is anything like her mother, she's tuff and she isn't going to personalize all of the hoopla around her pregnancy. These people know who they are and what is important.

Many assume that Governor Palin and her husband are ashamed of Bristol for getting pregnant. I don't think so. They are very positive and supportive parents. I suspect that the Palin's are very proud of Bristol for who she is and for all of her accomplishments.

"Nothing is true, everything is permissible"
Hassan-i-Sabbah

Hi Mr. Robinson

I used to greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness in the den of misogyny and gossip which MSNBC has become. Obviously Mr. Matthews has lost all sense of proportion, but I thought you to be more rational. Then came Obama and I feel you lost your way. This kind of discussion used to never be your strength. I feel you have an axe to grind and would ask you to please go back to your careful and thoughtful perspective. You seem caught up in some kind of blaming and small mindedness and I would hate to think it is influenced by race and gender from you of all people.

Dr. Max

You're right, Reason! We forgot to mention that Cindy McCain is nothing more than an addled drug addict...lol

I worry more about the support system available for her daughter.

Even without the public scrunity, parenthood will be a difficult challenge for a 17 year old to face.

It is very brave of her to make the decision to keep the baby, but I just don't see how a family going through a presidential election will have the time to be there for her and her child.

Is it the right thing to do to encourage your daughter to keep the baby if you can't commit to being there to support her?

In addition to this, rumors are floating around the internet that Trig is not Palin's son, but Bristol's. Bristol is seen carrying him...there were myspace pictures by a family member with descriptions indicating that Sara was the grandmother, not the mother.

There is a sketchy timeline for the birth, Sara does not look pregnant at all. And, her daughter Bristol was taken out of school for the past 5 months with mononucleosis. Scary stuff. I'm hoping the scrutiny doesn't unlock weirder skeletons!

WHERE WAS THE MOTHER? OUT ADVANCING HER CAREER AND NOT TAKING CARE OF HER FAMILY!

Like everything else in this country it all comes down to the family and the parents. BAD PARENTS LEAD TO CHILDREN HAVING KIDS AT 17 YEARS OF AGE.

WHERE IS THIS WOMEN GOING TO GET TIME TO BE VICE PRESIDENT? THE COUNTRY IS IN A HUGE MESS AND THIS IS WHO McSHAME PICKS? HAS HE LOST HIS MIND?

What about the people of the country that need help and change!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Can someone answer me this.
These right-wing nazi republicans are so pro-life yet they are the first ones that demand capital punishment.
Is there logic in this?????????
Bush is anti-abortion yet his state of Texas (Don't mess with Texas) leads the country in death penalties.
Can someone explain this to me please?
I'm as confused as a young teenage pregnant daughter who's being used by her mother/political party to enhance their own agenda. Btw, How come we haven't heard anything from the 'father' yet? Could it be that the father is............
LOL.
You can take the girl out of the trailer park but you can't take the trailer park out of the girl.

The liberals have finally found a talking point, yea!

I'm more concerned with Michelle Obama, whom Barack says is his closest advisor. Reporters need to vet her because if he is elected (God Forbid) then she will be vastly more influential than Sarah Palin should be be elected VP.

Dear Mr. Robinson,
I agree with you. The down right meaness of the liberal press and liberal bloggers that take pleasure in attacking the families of conservative candidates should have forced S.Palin to reconsider this nomination. She should have seen the way the Bush twins were treated and realized her family was about to become a smear target. This is why, after all, the press reports these things--to dissuade family-loving conservative candidates.
I understand your disappointment, Mr. Robinson, that this tatic did not work for S.Palin and her family who heroic have decided to take their lumps. But I understand you have to continue the attacks in hopes that future candidates will not be so heroic.

Those of you wondering how Mrs. Palin can put her child through "public humiliation" are completely off base. Mrs. Palin is stating (through her actions) that she is a mother who has to make hard decisions, she has to be willing to take responsibility for herself - she's also stating that improving this country for her family, as well as all of us, is an extremely important job.

Why didn't you jump on Bill & Hillary when they introduced horse-faced Chelsea to public humiliation (thankfully she's had work done since then)? Why didn't you jump on Jimmy & Roselyn when they introduced Opie-looking Amy to the world? Don't be hypocrites about it - you're only jumping on Palin because it is in your political best interest to drag her through the muck in hopes of making your terrorist-loving candidate look appealing.

Intrade has Palin slowly dropping on the Veep. At 95 last time I checked.

Jimandmare,

If Jesus was the original liberal, why is it that you want us to stop calling Democrats, liberals?

You know, Obama thinks religion is very fashionable in this election.

I get a huge laugh every time he boldly pronounces that Jesus is his Lord and Savior.

Not because having Jesus as Lord and Savior is funny.

But, thinking of the consternation that it gives George Soros, the Daily Kos, and Keith Olbermann every time he says it is funny.

And ole Soros thought he was going to extinguish Christianity from the earth.

Rome tried it. Doesn't work.

This is such a pathetic article, and I am a bit surprised you actually get paid to do this for a living. First of all, the media--yes, you--are the ones bringing this woman's daughter into the limelight, and only because you don't like Mrs. Palin's political views. It's a cheap way to try to score political points because you have nothing better on Mrs. Palin. If this were a Democratic nominee in the same shoes, you would be praising her as a heroine and calling her courageous for taking the nomination. That she should turn the offer down because she has life happening all around her family--like the rest of us--is ridiculous. Why can't the media just leave the daughter alone? Is that too much to ask? You should take your cue from Mr. Obama on this one and denounce those who would attack this innocent girl for cheap political points.

Seventeen years old is statutory rape, isn't it? The Governor of Alaska should know that, and should know she is obligated to turn the rapist over to the local DA, or face charges herself.

Then, the Governor has a new baby (five months?) with Downs Syndrome. Set aside the fact that she can't prove this baby is actually hers and many in Alaska speculate it belongs to her daughter...the SAME daughter. Add that heavy responsibility to this situation with the raped daughter and her additional kids (two? three?)...and she decides to accept an offer to run for Vice President?

This is all pretty irrational. Mix in her earlier drunk driving conviction and her lies about fighting the famous Bus Stop to Nowhere tax dollar swipe, plus her affiliation with a state seccessionist group, and you have almost NO reason to consider her as a Vice Presidential candidate. Yet, McCain did.

Are the Republicans as a whole THAT deluded, or are they just cynical?

Robinson, you're a joke. What do you know raising children...besides having your deadbeat wages garnished for support payments.

I hate gossip about the personal lives of political figures and generally don't read it. But here is someone who the Republicans have offered us as a candidate for VP, a 72-year old heart beat from the Oval Office (in actuarial terms alone, she would likely succeed McCain before the end of his term, when he would be in his 77th year), by touting her experience as a hockey mom and her family values. Doesn't that make her fair game for all she is getting now? And how could it not have been obvious to her that in saying yes the inevitable would happen? She has this much in common with McCain: ambition trumps honor and judgment every time.

"Let he who has not sinned throw the first stone." Enough said. Now let's, ourselves, do what is right and close this comment line. It's time to give this young woman back her privacy.

American politics has come to the following conclusion, race, religion, TV ad and war. While CHINA and INDIA are going up, we are slowly but surely going down. Our deficit is increasing, our students are under-performing, and a block of people, so called Evangelicals are becoming Talibans of this country. This is a country, which values education very little. A person with 2.3 GPA ( GWB) has no issue becoming the nominee. Big talk wins here.

My mother ran for Congress once, years ago when I was 20. Scared the heck out of me but she did not make it through the primary. A Presidential campaign? A pressure cooker, that one could not thrust one's family into without careful thought. I doubt that Palin gave the matter sufficient thought, either because of hubris, or from naivete as to the storm of scrutiny that any Dark Horse inevitably would invite. One hears that The National Enquirer is up in Alaska now, waving money in hopes of snagging a story. Since Palin seems to have as much ability to make enemies as friends this should be an uneasy time for her. This was one of John McCain's dumber decisions, one I suspect history books will reference in years to come. Can he recover? Anything is possible, but some things are very, very unlikely. The odds against him winning just got longer.

So Palin is not electable along with John MCCain because a 17 year old got herself pregnant? Did you liberal Democrats forget that immoral Bill Clinton in OUR Whitehouse got B.J.s and then got relected. Leave Sara Palins kids out of this, your all a bunch of scum bags for bringing it up including you Mr. Roboinson.

Well, you can count me as one person who's not buying the latest spin in the least. Immediately after Palin was chosen as McCain's running-mate, the bloggers were all over the story that Sarah Palin's fifth child, Trig, was in fact the child of her 17 year-old daughter, Bristol.

The history of that story goes something like this: Palin announces her fifth pregnancy to a SHOCKED media and staff just a little more than a month before she actually gives birth. The media points out that the Governor, who was supposedly more than seven month pregnant, looked not at all pregnant. Published pictures taken around Super Tuesday show a very thin Palin. In addition, it was reported that classmates of daughter, Bristol, say she was removed from school for a period of four to five months prior to and including the time of Trig's birth, supposedly because she was suffering from a long bout of mono.

If that's not coincidence enough, today comes the revelation that, well, 17 year-old Bristol is in fact now pregnant - and coincidentally five months pregnant. So we're supposed to believe that she got pregnant at roughly the exact same time that her mother was giving birth to her brother, Trig (conveniently squashing the possibility that Trig is Bristol's), while she was out of school convalescing from a long bout of mono.

So why do I now get the feeling that Bristol will have an unfortunate miscarriage either just prior to or after the election? And since teen girls often deliver prematurely - as early as 7-1/2 months - that would give enough slack in the normal nine month pregnancy period to allow for Bristol to have actually gotten pregnant again after giving birth to Trig.

Think that can't happen? My own sister gave birth to two babies in just under 20 months, while 17 and 19. Oh, and similar to Palin's daughter, she was taken out of school by my parents - the story line being that she had transferred to a private school out of the area - a ruse no one believed, including both friends and teachers who confronted me at school about whether or not she had given birth.

Speaking as a family genealogist, most first pregnancies were shorter than nine months. Thank goodness abortion wasn't legal then or I wouldn't be here now.

The liberal media and the author of this article want Obama in so bad they are going to tear Palin down whatever it takes. Today alone Palin is not the mother of her own son, her 17 year old daughter is pregnant, and her husband was arrested for DUI in 1984 when he was 22. They are going to dig up the dirt on her instead of letting Obama win on his own laurels. Even kids of the absolute best parents get themselves in trouble. You are going to tear her for having a career yet Obama has a career on the road. He says himself he doesnt see his daughters very much. Hope they dont get in trouble someday. Youll probably blame his wife.

Since Karl Rove was so open about McCain NOT picking Lieberman, I wonder if he was involved in picking/suggesting Palin. Since now all we can talk about is HER. No Issues, not McCain's record, or his temper, all while setting her up as the victim of "those mean democrats". And all the surrogates are outraqged that we want answers not a stage play for a campaign.

When does she have to step down as Governor. The oil companies who she stood up to can't be too happy about her as governor. Now they get someone as Alaska Governor who might be more to their liking.

Meanwhile Palin gets to run to be the first woman VP. Without any knowlege of how washington works, she will be weak as VP's go. So if McCain wins she is fairly weak as a VP, and AK has a new Governor. OR if she loses, and steps down for the campaign, she is also out of the way of the oil companies.

As far as her daughter's situation, I would be interested who is going to help her while she is starting out at 17 with a new baby anad a husband who may or may not want to get married.

Hypocrisy that is the issue, this woman believes creation is equivalent to evolution. Abortion is murder and should be illegal. Abstinence is sex education. Even though her daughter could have really used a condom on the guy or a morning after pill. And she really believes there is a single woman who supported Hillary would ever support McSame because he chose her??? Anyways I just think there is more to her than meets the eye, specially about her abuse of power; firing her ex-inlaw and putting some old friend in his place, and there are e-mails to that effect. Say hello to "Ms. Karl Rove II". Since she is a member of NRA seems like she'll have a shutgun weddding for her daughter as well. My guess is she will be forced out as soon as McSame's polls drop, say hello to "Ms. Harriet Miers II".

Why aren't we seeing this same type of scrutiny by the liberal media of Cheney's lesbian daughter or Obama's association with Wm Ayers? Gee, I can't imagine. Liberal is just another word for narrow-minded hypocrite.

If McCain knew ahead of time and still picked Palin, he is trying to throw the election.

If McCain didn't know then Palin was trying to sabotage the election. Of course, the vetting was also suspect which puts this Republican's chances at slim to none.

The election is all but over. Republicans should save their money and cancel the entire campaign.

Both of them now know that they have no chance at all.

I would like to let the world know that the definition of Republican and Democrat may appear in books, but in practice they are the same thing.

If the far left reaches far enough, he will grasp the hand of the far right on the other side of the issue.

We need a knew taxonomy of governence.

john mccain changed his views on several issues to make a run for the white house as the republican candidate. i think he would throw his mother under a bus to fulfill his political ambitions. he has picked a running mate who has thrown her daughter under a bus to fulfill hers.

It's also funny how these very rupublicans are saying leave her alone when they were digging up Obama's Paster and his father also. I tell you what when they stop spreading lies about Obama's father and church and religion, then they can expect Mr. Robinson to stop talking about the truth. No doubt that all those lies affected Obamas daughters but were was the outrage in that. Hypocracy.

The better, and possibly more "fair" story, would be what Ms. Palin did FOR her other child, the one with Down Syndrome, then when Ms. Palin was the one who was pregnant, and now. Pretty freaking courageous...yet Mr. Robinson is too busy attacking the rest of her family to realize that. Truly sad.

Immacululte conception, nah
That was Barack right?
Or was the the Immaculate Deception?

In politics, everything and everyone is fair game. Look how Obama has been pilloried over his pastor, he's been called a Muslim, he's been called the Messiah and the anti-Christ. They've attacked his dead father, his grandmother, his wife and his race. He's risen above it all with grace and dignity. If John McCain and Sarah Palin can't handle problems that they've brought on themselves, then how could they handle anything thrown at them if they were number one and two in command?

american,

You said, "WHERE WAS THE MOTHER ...."

Unlike you, who evidently gets chaperoning from Mommy on your very infrequent dates (with your bold caps style, I am just assuming), Sarah Palin doesn't ride in the back seat on her daughter's evenings out.

Sheesh.

Absurdity of John mcCain candidacy lives up to its tradition.

We the people could care less, and do not need to know about what is being thrown at us from their campaign or the Palin parents.

Why are they making a big deal about it? I guess the selling point may be - Ye America, Ye youngsters, see how we acept "mistakes", so keep doing and do more? Be proud and happy. Right?

This is politics, and remember who was critical of "just speech and words"? Actions matter. SO, their "words" talk of actions but it may not even be true.

Throwing lies at America and American people is a pass time hobby or a part of religious service of RNC and its supporters.

Perhaps, this little lie is to distract yet again, and have the Palins pack up comfortably. The spin masters are being managed by their own twists of confusion.

Basically, we do not give ad amn about family issue, whether righteous or just the opposite, so they should not look for any sympathy or empathy here. There are plenty of victims and people in need out there, why support the scoundrels!!

I beleive that this issue makes Palin look liek a fantastic candidate. She has teh strength to stand before the nation and hold her own without shedding crocodiel tears. She shows by thsi event that hers is a strength from deep within, that she is comfortable with who she is, what she represents, and is awash with love surrounding her and her family to withstand all comers. I am not a religious fanatic, but I can't imagine anyone dealing with this, the lies about her and her son Trig, with greater grace and fortitude. This is the stuff true leaders are made of. Come November, all will recognize thsi strength of character for what it is. It is based on love, not hate. Formed in the furnace of belief, not desire or ambition, and most of all, it is rooted in true courage.

I would NEVER do that to my daughter. The tabloid media, the paparazzi will be all over this and all over that girl for the rest of her life. From this day forward she will be defined by this pregnancy, particularly if her mother continues in her political quest.

Feeling sorry for her daughter and accepting whatever Sarah wants for her family. The problem is that she wants to put her way on millions of other girls or women. The conservatives may completely accept her for her anti-abortion and look other way with how she neglects her mother duty especially with the 4 month baby with special needs. It's much more than having lots of kids (God help us, You didn't create birthing machines!) but also how to raise them, taking care and educate them,… She can do her way for her family but let the others have different choices. Many Christians will not vote for an "ABSENTEE MOTHER" even she is pro-life. She doesn't have family values at all. It's only about her wish for more political power!!

I'm a mom that has raised two sons and no pregnancies. When you are pro-life, you make a choice and that is not to be part of pro-abortion which is sweetened as pro-choice.
I find incredible hypocrisy in those that condemn Gov. Palin and her daughter. I wonder how many of those people aborted his and her babies because it was expedient; a CHOICE, a murder. It's unfortunate that the babies are not allowed a CHOICE!
I'm sure that Gov. Palin, her husband, and her children decided this together.
I'm sure that she runs for God and country...to defeat a racist that is half-white and abhors white people. Colin Powell would have been a wonderful president that happens to be black; not this black man and his hateful compatriots.

I had the same troubling question myself. Why would any parent -- mother or father --knowingly put their family through the glare of the national spotlight at such a sensitive time? Gov. Palin should have known that it was a given that the national media would cover this (in the pursuit of Who is Sarah Palin?), but she decided for whatever reason that she would accept the spot on the ticket. I would have respected her decision to say thanks but no thanks, my family and especially my daughter and my precious baby need me during this critical time, so I will put them first. Maybe in 2012, but my family needs me more right now. (And Gene is just asking what I and surely others have asked ourselves -- the media attention on this is already out there...this is simply a question of judgment and priorities...And NO, I would not want to put my child through this...)

Most of you people are no more interested in the well being of Palin's daughter than you are interested in drilling in Anwar. Apparently, like in every other location in America and the world, guys in Alaska like drilling in other untapped regions as well. I'm a conservative and sure I wouldn't want to see my 17 year old daughter getting pregnant for sure, it's to young in my book. Girls should be girls, but unfortunately this kind of young pregnancy happens all too often everywhere to too many daughters no matter what political party the parents belong to. It's not at all a political issue for me what has happened to Palin's daughter, there are no perfect families anywhere. My parents were democrats and my 17 yr. old sister had twins at that age, very unfortunate that she gave them up for adoption. Palin isn't a bad mother or public servant because she has some political ambitions just like thousands of other women across America, Democrats & Republicans.

Here’s what the GOP will be saying in hindsight—John McCain and Paris Hilton: The ticket that could have been! LOL

I don't care what Sarah Palin does with her family. I also don't care that she's sooooo pro-life. That's her belief and let her deal with it as she must. In fact, I think the abortion issue should take a back seat to the more important issues plagueing our teenagers these days: the inadequate, oxymoronic, and non-existent sex education of "abstinance only sex education" programs in our schools. Let's talk about abortion and how many "babies" are killed everyday AFTER we teach our younger generation the REAL facts about sex (ALL acts of sex). You can't preach and pray to hormonal teenagers that sex is bad. This argument hasn't worked and will never work. Curiousity about sex has been around as long as living beings have been around. Instead of pretending it doesn't exist, let's grow up and actually deal with the real issue:
EDUCATE OUR KIDS ABOUT SEX, THE CONSEQUENCES OF BAD DECISIONS, AND TEACH THEM THE TOOLS TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
And can we once and for all get rid of the "abstinence only sex education" programs? Even the name makes our country look clueless.

There is nothing that Robinson says any more that has relevance. It is pro-Obama and everything else is bash-Bush, bash-Clinton, bash McCain, and now bash-Palin for Mr. Robinson. I keep reading his articles hoping to find some glimmer of insight and thoughtfulness but there is so much "hate" for anything and everything GOP, that Robinson can't find the decency to leave Palin's family out of it. I guess it was just too much of an opportunity to smear even if your hero Obama says it's off limits. Don't go getting on your high horse next time a republican attacks Michelle Obama.

hey again, can PALIN take a leave of absense from presidency if the family needs overshadow all else???

who would take office if mccaine and then palin are out????

Are we in some new age of unreason? Sen. Obama did the polite and political thing and declined to comment on the GOP VP candidate's daughter. Rightly so. However, since Gov. Palin has publicly accepted the invitation to join the GOP ticket, the revelations about her children call into question the single most important role we undertake when we bring children into this world: parenting. Our choices as they affect the guidance, the protection, and encouragement we give our children demonstrate our judgment as well as showing the kind of society we mean to have.

Gov. Palin has a son who will shorty go into a combat zone in Iraq. At 19, though not a child, this young man will be exposed to possible maiming or death. He will be an instrument of war in a conflict whose purpose has never been defined either by the Bush administration nor by Sen. McCain who likewise supports its continuance (saying "it prevents terrorism at home" is a conjecture unfounded; it is not a purpose). It is a conflict which places American forces as a buffer for Iraqi factions competing for power and influence in the vacuum created by the American decapitation of the former government. While the action of our soldiers has been largely commendable, parental urging of this act in this conflict does not necessarily constitute an act of patriotism. One might think that a parent who values the worth of a child would counsel wisely to stay far clear of such other people's conflicts.

Families of two working adults in the U.S. strive to attain economic security with combined income of $50 thousand a year. This country has struggled for years to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy, knowing the risks for the individuals (economic and social) and for the larger society as well. How many other governors of U.S. states have teen children in similar predicaments? If there is true closeness in that family, has there been counseling on birth control? All this time conservatives have been berating "liberals" for lack of moral teaching and this is okay? Or are we just making it up as we go along?

Then there's the issue of our "crusader" herself. The fanfare of her introduction to the country was that she was dogged in routing out corruption, waste, and other governmental evils in Alaska. They are all good and meritorious causes, I am sure. But at the whistle from Sen. McCain, Gov. Palin hops to rescue the GOP from its death spiral this fall. Does that mean her work in Alaska is done in 18 months? That doesn't sound like an earth-shifting revolution, it sounds much more like an overblown tempest in a tea-pot. Or there is more to be done, but Gov. Palin feels no need to stay to see it through.

Frankly, the speed of this appointment and the lack of substantive information about the vice-presidential candidate seem to go hand in hand with the convention-that-isn't. And we're not supposed to talk about it. I think it's safe to say there'll be plenty of talk in days to come as Americans take time to chew on the bits of grist portioned out from this very unlikely ticket. Sen. McCain may want us to believe he's some "new Republican" but he's sure taking pages from the old playbook.

I couldn't sleep thinking of all the messages and signals in the actions of John McCain and the true stories from the life of Gov. Sarah Palin. I don't think either is a "bad" person, and I don't say that the daughter or son are making right or wrong choices. Still, what examples are being presented here? If the daughter needs family but Mom intends to go to Washington, D.C., what kind of support is that? If the daughter is to be married at an early age and she and the young husband and the child must henceforth make their way, what are their odds? Well it should be thought about and it does make a difference. When people say one thing and exhibit behavior that clearly holds other messages, we should ask more questions.

And to those crying about sexism, does it bother you at all that McCain has picked a VP not for her qualifications but because of her gender?

The question would be posed of any candidate, male or female, with a child with Down's Syndrome and a pregnant teenage daughter. The exposure, the scrutiny WAS INEVITABLE. Given such inevitability, would you politicize your daughter's pregnancy? If her family is off-limits, then why would Republicans bring up her son with Down's to make a political statement with it? If it's off-limits, then why bring it up?

So we didn't bring this up. McCain did. Palin did this to herself and her family, this exposure, this scrutiny. Our little words in this internet page is just a drop in an ocean of politicizing that the candidates themselves are doing daily.

When the facts speak ill of the candidates, we ought to shut up? Extol the virtues and ask no questions about the vices?

McCain's decision-making seems questionable. He decided to skip the vetting process so it's now being done by the public. And what we're hearing about the Gov is a bit like the soaps - with more to come. Certainly, there is enough material about McCain's VP choice for an SNL sketch or a New Yorker cover. Stay tuned!

If you need to vet Michelle O. just go to the public records at the hospital, college, employer. It's all there.

On the other hand, where are the public records for the Palins?

Demand equality.

Regardless if I were a woman or a man, No, No, No, I would NOT run for VP if I knew that four months from now I would have the following in my home:

-a 9 month old infant with very special parenting and medical needs (Downs Syndrome)

-a newborn baby grandchild whose parents are still children

-a 17 yr old new mother who clearly needs more parental involvement and guidance in her life

-two other young children of mine who also need parental involvement.

-a spouse who works full time outside the house

In this circumstance, it would be selfish and irresponsible for me to spend the next 4 or 8 years travelling around the nation and world.

What kind of parent is Gov. Palin? Didn't the Republican party used to claim to have the monopoly on family values?

I am neither Democrat nor Republican, by the way.

ATTENTION LIBERALS:
Get ready to crawl back into your caves for another 8 years. McCain/Palin is a winner.

"Everyone is respecting her right to have the baby. Nobody is telling her to get an abortion. It is her FREEDOM and RIGHT TO CHOOSE. But this is what she wants to take away from the rest of America. People's RIGHT and FREEDOM to choose."

The right to choose murder is the way to go, to bad they put term limits on it.

Leave Bristol alone! I am sure that we have all known someone like Bristol, or a family in that same situation. Respect Bristol and stop attacking her through her Mom! I am sure that Sarah Palin made an inteligent decision in running for VP! Leave her family alone!

Your PostPartisan post makes the following assumptions:

1. That, Sarah Palin knew about her daughter's pregnancy before accepting the nomination (I have yet to see any evidence of this)

2. That, if Gov. Palin knew of the pregnancy ahead of accepting the nomination, she did not first discuss the implications with Bristol first.

3. That accepting the nomination for Vice President is bad when the politically active parent knows their daughter has gotten pregnant.

Other post here in discussing the father's age also assume that Gov. Palin was aware of the relationship, which is potentially absurd. Although I am unaware of Sarah Palin's knowledge of the relationship prior to the pregnancy, I can attest to her potential and innocent ignorance of the situation. As a working single father, I work tirelessly to keep my 15 year old daughter out of harms way, which has involved discovering many of her "wrong doings" after the fact. This includes more than one relationship with other boys/men that were too old for her. Unfortunately, even with the values I hold and teach to her - unless I can afford private school - which I can't - due to the influence of other kids, the influence of those children's parents (made evident to my daughter through the espoused values of her friends as learned by their parents) and the local government's values as pushed on my daughter through classes and curiculum, it is difficult to counter those values and ideas in the three or four hours we have at night when I am going up against the eight to ten hours of the opposing barrage of ideas she is subject to at, and after school. It is entirely possible that the relationship with this older boy happened unbeknownst to Mrs. Palin.

Although the Left Isle portends to desire, preach and expect tolerance for those that don't live a perfect life, they seem to be extremely intolerant of those they preach for - when they are conservatives or republicans. And to think they also preach against hypocrisy!

There is no reason for parents to be protective to the point of abandoning their careers over a daughter who went against their advice. Palin's daughter decided to be an adult before reaching the socially sanctioned adult age (about 50% of the US teens do). She made an adult decision (having sex), and now she has to face the adult consequence (motherhood). As Palin said in her statement on the matter, her daughter just has to grow up fast to be able to handle the limelight of being an adult. Palin's daughter should be grateful that her parents are quite willing to help her in making that transition. That's all.

Only fools embrace ignorance. If people would educate their children in sexual reproduction and sexual health a lot of unwanted pregnancies would be avoided. the sex drive is the most powerful instinct in any living being. A great number of people let their children face sexual maturity knowing little or nothing about what they are faceing. This is a sin of the parents and educators not the kids.

What would lead anyone to believe that Sarah Palin is the primary care-giver of their two-parent family? I have not heard that she was a stay at home mom or that her husband had a demanding career during her tenure as an elected official that kept him from the role of managing their family.

Why would any one of us sit in judgment of a situation or a family that we know nothing about?

we ought to be talking about McCain and not the bimbo...let's talk about how he doesn't look well and how in his sleep, he cries out, "Undertaker, its me!"

I think that Gov. Palin has every right to to choose the path that she has chosen. It is her right to make those family decisions, and it is her right to make them according to her moral compass. I just don't think that she has the right to assume that she is qualified to make those tough decisions for me and my family.

Daniel, Oregon

Ignoranace, Purely has reached a pinnacle. I am amazed that our societal views are so skewed many fail to see that our political arena is misaligned to reality. Media wants steralized families and people who are out of touch with reality.

A mother of an enlisted military service member, who's husband was blue collar, a mother who will have to deal with IEP's and special education programs will gain btter insight into the true culture and need of a nation than a Vice President who is out of touch with the real life situations, that our laws and programs are designed for. Would one question the CEO of a large company who had similar family issues if he were a male? I highly doubt it. The needs of her handicap child do come first, she has him with her full time, which is more than working mothers of newborn downsyndrome babies are typically afforded.

Is America afraid to allow real people run our country? People who may not follow the advice of the same backstage players. If so...I am willing to take a chance and see real people lead our nation for a change. Not the wealthy elitist that have continued to dominate the White House and increase our national debt.

This woman is a terrible example. McCain's lost my vote. I can only hope a supporter of Family Values will be nominated in 4 years.

I really don't think many people honestly care about this, it is just the media covering it and throwing it in front of you.

I'm not sure why many posts say "you liberal hipocrites" and "you're ruining the country". Maybe they should just move to an island so they can preach and pass judgement with each other without any interruptions. Actually, stay here so we have someone to laugh at!

McCain would have got my vote had he chose Barney Rubble, but alas, he went with Betty. Mr. Obama just sealed my vote.

"Regardless if I were a woman or a man, No, No, No, I would NOT run for VP if I knew that four months from now I would have the following in my home:

-a 9 month old infant with very special parenting and medical needs (Downs Syndrome)

-a newborn baby grandchild whose parents are still children

-a 17 yr old new mother who clearly needs more parental involvement and guidance in her life

-two other young children of mine who also need parental involvement.

-a spouse who works full time outside the house

In this circumstance, it would be selfish and irresponsible for me to spend the next 4 or 8 years travelling around the nation and world.

What kind of parent is Gov. Palin? Didn't the Republican party used to claim to have the monopoly on family values?

I am neither Democrat nor Republican, by the way."

Yea once a woman has a child she should stay at home, what kind of person really thinks women should be in the work place after they have children. Shssh, what kind of Arab nation are we?

Here's a good question,

Has anyone thought to ask the age of the father-to-be? This could also be a statutory rape case.

Here's something else to consider; right now Genarlow Wilson is serving a mandatory 10 year sentence for having oral sex with a minor in Atlanta. "Aggravated child molestation" was how it was described. At the time the young (white) girl was 15 and of course, Genarlow (black) was 17.

My point? Right now there are people in prison for engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor. Palin's daughter is 17 years old. Either way Palin's son-in-law to be needs to be investigated simply for the fact that sexual relations with a minor has been committed. Instead, the issue is brushed to the side because the young teens are planning to get married? (cough) B.S.

I direct my comments to Anna.

Nowhere in his article did Mr. Robinson suggest this child should have an abortion. He simply poses he question asked by many . . when there are crises in a family, is that the time to expose these crises to the World? Nor is it about sexism and a 'mother's place'. The child has two parents, and certainly between them they can most likely tend to their own family's needs without our interference.

But, please understand, many of us are pro-choice,because we believe this to be a personal matter But many of us are quite vehemently opposed to abortion IN OUR OWN LIVES! This is what pro-choice means . . we have the right to choose and give that courtesy to others, depending upon their beliefs.

Indeed, this subject should and would be off limits, were it not for the fact that it and other matters mentioned in these blogs, expose McCain's apparently superficial vetting of his No. 2 . . when he had other people of substance to choose from. Olympia Snow and Kay Bailey Hutchinson if he needed to nominate a woman for example, and Christ, Pawlenty and Romney . . a plethora of choice - but unfortunately both women appear to be pro-choice! This is too much of the maverick for me . .

Fools! All of you are fools!

Ha ha! Just kidding! You guys are great. I love you all. And great comments, too! Especially the one that called everyone fools. That was my favorite.

look for Palin to quit after the convention and McCain to pick Tom Ridge as VP, like he wanted to. That way the GOP base cannot touch him.

Who else are they going to vote for? Obama?

Looks like poor judgement again for McSame. Spend millions telling me Obama lacks experience. Palin=Lynne Spears. Yes McSame you started it.

Palin should tell McCain from the get go that she cannot take on the second highest office in the country.Tell him that she will have to put family first.
Palin has a lot of family issues to sort out; a sick child, a pregnant teen, a son in a war torn country that was voted for by McCain because of his lack of judgement.
Palin is putting herself first, not family, not country, Palin first. She is saying to hell with my sick son, my pregnant teen, my son at war, I want to be in the spot light.

The Right bloggers here are all indignant and upset!!! Taking the MSM to task for daring to talk about this...but if the situation was reversed, and it was Obama's daughter that was pregnant, you can damn be assured that Rush...O'Reilly...and Hannity would be hammering him. However, the Repug's can dish it out...but are awfully thin-skinned when it gets shot back. I used to like McCain before he became McBush...what happended to his JUDGEMENT in the last 8 years....?

Feeling sorry for her daughter and accepting whatever Sarah wants for her family. The problem is that she wants to put her way on millions of other girls or women. The conservatives may completely accept her for her anti-abortion and look other way with how she neglects her mother duty especially with the 4 month baby with special needs. It's much more than having lots of kids but also how to raise them, taking care and educate them,… She can do her way for her family but let the others have different choices. Many Christians will not vote for an "ABSENTEE MOTHER" even she is pro-life. She doesn't have family values at all. It's only about her wish for more political power!!

You people don't know nothing. Palin's daughter is gonna pop out a messaiah.

Did Bush spend our tax money on his abstinence program? One must question how that money has been spent in Alaska. Craig and Vitter should co-sponsor a new bill to appropriate additional funding just for the abstinence education of the presidential families...

Thank you Mr. Robinson. As a mother, I completely agree. This young woman needs the complete support of her mother during this very difficult time. My heart goes out to her. The last thing she needs is the glare of the media.

I cannot begin to understand why Ms. Palin's daughter is not her first priority.

Why doesn't someone find out for sure who gave birth to the Downs baby?

Why would Sarah have her "water break," give a speech two hours later in Texas, make an 8 hour flight back to Alaska to have a premature/special needs baby in a small hospital that doesn't have a neo-natal unit for preemies/special needs babies? My God, how reckless is that!!!!!!!

Would YOU do that? Not me...I would have asked for the nearest ER and had my husband on the next darn flight to Texas!

I will always believe she was getting back home for her daughter to give birth.

Think about it. Why did she not tell anyone she was "pregnant" until she was 8 months, and why did she not "show" until after she made that announcement, and almost over night? Why did Bristol drop out of sight for the last months of Sarah's supposed pregnancy? Mono is the oldest excuse in the world...had a friend in high school who had the same "disease," but funny, her stomach swelled and not her glands.

Has anyone talked to any of the "little people" like housekeeping staff, secretarial staff, clerks, etc who were around her those last months of "pregnancy?" With current HIPPA laws it will be almost impossible to get a medical person to talk, but there are plenty of others out there who know something.

And think about it...where is the mother/child bond? Would YOU go back to work 3 days after a special needs/preemie baby was born, and would YOU accept the nomination to be VP if YOU had given birth to that child? It would be easier to leave a grandson than it would to leave a son, especially if you are resentful about the daughter getting pregnant. I just don't see a monther/child bond in her actions. And what's more, I was 28 when my child was born and it took me 2 weeks to get my energy back up to go to work...how can she do that in her 40's and with 4 other children, one going off to war.

Something is fishy here...I don't think it adds up to be her son. I just don't buy it.

I agree with Liffa....if she faked being pregnant then she is a sicko.

Where are the Bible thumping, woman oppressing, xenophobic, right wing, evangelical Christians when I need them most. They have reasons for 9/11, explanations and cures for homosexuality and pedophilia. The world is 6000 years old and evolution is the devil's idea. Eighteen is not too young for pregnancy and childbirth. At least one of our Founding Fathers sired children out of wedlock (with a slave) and a segregation supporting U.S. Senator fathered a child with an under aged girl in his father's employ. We have been very understanding of these men. Give this young woman a chance.

Posted by: Vetter
If you need to vet Michelle O. just go to the public records at the hospital, college, employer. It's all there.

On the other hand, where are the public records for the Palins?

Demand equality.
============
I hope you haven't forgotten Obama is running for President and Michelle would be his top advisor as President.

Palin is running for VP and gets to hold McCains hat at best.

The vetting for Michelle O. should go far beyhond some public records don't you think? Seems like she's gotten a free pass, why . . . maybe the press doesn't want to ask questions, or has been intimidated by the army of lawyers that Obama wields to intimidate anyone who annoys him.

It is simply because of this spirited debate that the reps will not win. See reps say one thing but do entirely diffrent things. Cheney's daughter is a lesbian, right? Are not republicans the party of tradition? The bush twins arebetter now, but remembered a time when they flipped the bird from a limo. I say this because do you think that if it were Obama's cousin it would be diffrent. Would McCain not attack him? NO?
Whatg about when the preacher said what he did and President Obama was held acountable for his actions. I am cryin out shannagans on the Republicans. Long live President Obama and Vice-President Biden

Family values has been the signature line for the republican party for two decades at least. When there asked to be held accountable for their beliefs, suddenly family values and personal responsibility don't seem to matter. They're all a bunch of hypocrites.

Guys n gals!

Why so sad? Look at it this way. Palin is the best choice for VP. She represents not only women in America, but also the down trodden and oppressed. Let me elucidate:
Case 1. Mom with 5 kids.
- Typical of a ghetto community. Mom with a hyper active husband, believer in "Pro Life" and with 5 kids.
Case 2. Gun slinger
- Mom has guns in her house. Kids have access to guns. Then, Virginia Tech happens. Classic example.
Case 3. Money dealer
- Mom wants money. Drugs (pronounced as oil) makes money. Mom sells drugs (pronounced as oil) to get rich.
Case 4. Teenage pregnancy
- Mom busy selling drugs (pronounced as oil). Under-aged kids free to enjoy (= sex). Oops! no condom (Mom did not tell her about that). Gets pregnant. Cant get abortion (mom a strict believer of "Pro Life"). Has a child at seventeen. Has to take care of the baby while the world passes by. However, get the guy (who she was enjoying with), to marry her. Then 4 years later he divorce her. She is 21 and cant even get a date cos she has to look after the kid.

See, its amazing how similar they are.
Sara Palin, you go girl.

If YOUR teen does NOT want YOU to know what he/she is doing.... YOU WILL NOT KNOW. YOU are too preoccupied with YOURself!!! Selfish, but true.

This is just a case of normal parental trust .. ill-placed to be sure, but still proffered.

One must realize that by the time your teenager reaches breeding age, YOU cannot be prepared for the duplicity that will ensue while he/she pusues the nirvana of teendom ---- nookie !!!! . And, of course, "Johnny" is not the problem, neither is "Sue". Johnny and Sue are ---- well to be discreet, politically coreect and ever so reverent, they are "communicating", while you R being WILLINGLY unaware that sperm is flyihg.

REALLY !!! Get real !!! WE as humans are animals FIRST, humans SECOND, Citizens Third !!!!

SO! DO NOT BE SHOCKED that anyone is doing the deed. This is the primary reason why homo-sapiens RULES !!!

If ONLY the Democrats would quit, but, OH NO, they need to keep srewing around (please do not challenge my assertion or all of your big-time Dems will be toasted here.)

Please therfore ignore the runting teenagers, and pay attention only to the relevant candidate persons. I do not claim that the candidates will pass muster on their own credentials, BUT they should not be scrutinized for the actions of others.

Obviously, this women and her family know how to have babies. What else is there to do in Alaska?

She fits right in with the right-wing Nazi Republicans

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE MESS BUSH HAS GOTTEN US INTO.

Katrina
Bank Crisis
Energy Crisis
Housing Crisis
High Unemployment
Low economic grow
A very expensive occupation
A weak dollar
A huge nation debit

Great job Bush and Republicans!

Eight is enough!

I am independant

This is a non issue.

Palin is going to be a grandmother. End of story.

McCain made a bold and smart move to choose Palin.

She is a governor, a higher executive level than a senator. Governors can/do appoint senators. She is commander-in-chief of Alaska's military unit.

Palin's experience and performance is difficult to ignore.

McCain choose the Governor's circle to find his VP match.

Palin's pedigree is non-conventional, we all agree on that.

She embraces issues that some do not care about: pro-life, same-sex marriage.
She tackles issues that some do: spending reform, gov't accountability.

Votes in her favor will come from those who care about making changes in the way government operates.

This is what voting is all about.

I would have forced her to get an abortion. Not pro-choice, but, honestly, any other move is just stupid in that situation. Admit it people.

McCain did absolutely ZERO vetting when deciding a VP candidate. He chose her to placate all the anti-abortion people. Who cares about the war. Who cares about the economy. Who cares about the energy crises. Who cares about global warming. I'm sure intelligent design has a solution to all these problems. But abortion? OMG! We need to deal with that problem right away!

My daughter is 17 and I cannot wrap my mind around how selfish Gov. Palin's choice to accept the VP position appears.  To serve up your daughter to the media to further your political career????  Christian Values??? Are you kidding me?  Also, Gov. Palin's 4 month old son needs her time and attention.  WHY did McCain choose this woman?  What convinced him after only two quick meetings?  Is it a gimmick?  Does he think she's pretty?  Is this really the best person for the #2 position on the planet?  My son attending law school at 24 already has more education.  Palin has a four year degree in journalism from Idaho University with NO foreign policy experience -- are you joking??? McCain's judgement on this decision is beyond irrational...  It's unfair - even cruel - to Sarah Palin and her family.  Gov. Palin seems like a great person, someone I'd pick for a friend, yet it is ignorant - insulting to attempt to compare Palin to Hillary.  Palin's education, experience, and her life situation are ALL reasons for Palin to withdraw her name from the ticket.  And, McCain needs to pass a mental health exam.  What a foolish choice. Can you imagine McCain and Palin locked in a room discussing world affairs/conditions as confidants - the A team - #1 & #2 ???  This choice makes McCain look weak minded and foolish - even pathetic.  My heart and prayers go out to the Palin family.  Welcoming your first grandchild is a beautiful blessing...  Hopefully the media will tread softly on the Palin family.  Hopefully Sarah Palin will adjust her priorities and put her family first.  One last thought...  WHO with an ounce of sense would take a plane ride from Texas to Alaska after her water broke???  The birth of Sarah Palin's son is the most outrageous story I've ever heard...  It could have easily turned tragic...  The story is so outrageous that it doesn't ring true. Fifth child delivered 12 hours after water breaks...?  not likely.  Many fifth children are delivered within hours.  McCain must be senile.  God help us all. 

I apologize for the rant... My answer is No, No way, No How could I ever do this to my daughter. It would be easier to give a stranger a kidney. I do not get it...

One thing I say regarding McCain choice, McCain POOR POOR POOR judgment and Palin under estimating the job ahead of her. The women who was not able to teach her daughter the responsibility of her life, cannot be responsible of a nation!!!!!!

Fatima

If you are going to have 5 children YOU SHOULD PARENT THEM! Obviously, parenting isn't going on instead this women is gone promoting her career and own interests.

It's either have a big family or a career!

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE MESS BUSH HAS GOTTEN US INTO.

Katrina
Bank Crisis
Energy Crisis
Housing Crisis
High Unemployment
Low economic grow
A very expensive occupation/war
A weak dollar
A huge nation debit

Great job Bush and Republicans!

Eight is enough!

I am independent

Laffer quote of the day: "And to those crying about racism, does it bother you at all that McCain has picked a VP not for - qualifications but because of - race?"

Are you still breathless?

A sad commentary on the media and on you in particular. You must take a lot of pleasure in make this issue so public. May I suggest some remedial sensitivity training?

Well, after this journalist's story on 'would you do that to your daughter?' I suppose the next sensational article is 'would you let your daughter marry a guy like that?'.....C'mon, leave it alone and let them work it our privately, without your 'journalism' stories plastered all over the paper.

MR. R:
Your "article" shows the sad state of affairs with today's brand of so-called journalism. To go to the lengths to do harm to others reputation's for political points is flat out disgusting to me.

Your actions and the critical responses by many of your comment providers ....is about making judgements about other people and their decisions. When it comes to family in the USA, we used to show respect for the families - now thanks to the "new" media...this once proud characteristic of this country has been destroyed.

The reality is that today's news media in its appetite to devour...you are the ones that should be on trial for not allowing families to live. In my view, perhaps you all should be sent to spend a year with 'tiger hunter Putin' I am sure he would enjoy your views.

Just because you are in the "news media" does not give you the "right" to invade others lives PERIOD. Look how you cover-up for you own.

There is an interesting story about real life in all of this. How a family, and I have little doubt that this family all sat down together to discuss all of this, and weigh the pro's and con's. Would you hear the kids saying 'Mom, you must go for this, this is a wonderful opportunity for you!' 'We support you, we can handle it'....in this could be the real heroic lesson of how a family works together...regardless of how good or bad the decision...that is the depth that truly can make us a breed apart.

How many times have we all likely said 'there but for the grace of God go I', we have all likely had to deal with some turmoil and were thankful that, at best, our issue was left between me and God while hoping others would show some kindness some compassion for my plight were it to be revealed.

Put yourself firmly in the others person's shoes before you speak. And even if you disagree....show the respect for others that you would wish them to show you if they did not agree with you.

I am fired up because of this and many people I know are too.. We will be voting for Palin and she has our support during the liberal media bashing.

Obama is selfish for leaving his two daughters at home while he is campaigning.

oh wait? Sexist ***

its a MOTHER thing, family first... always family first....

if only this family were a bit older and bit more sustainable on its own, sorry 17 year olds, i know you know it all...

atleast you'll have a BACKUP of tax paid babysitters waiting in the side lines... every day and night... for the next 4 years, till kindergarden!

People dont go to hell for having an abortion. People go to hell for their unbelief and not accepting Jesus Christ as their pesonal savior.
Being a parent is tough and if abstinence can be achived until a child is married that would be quite an accomplishment.
You fools better start looking at the communistic views of Obama, who is definetely rich and wants to separate and eliminate the middle class and reduce the heart of this country to slaves. Obama is a racist communist pig, liar anti-american and an anti-christ. He will tell you anything to get your vote and then sell you out the second he can. YOU DOLTS

Making her daughter do what? Accept the consequences of her actions? This is BAD parenting?

My daughter informed me that she was pregnant and getting married was not a thing they were planning on doing for a while. Now they and baby live with his mom and YOU JERKS THINK I HAD ANY OPTIONS?

It's so easy to attack but if the tables are turned you cry foul - the heck with the lot of you!

Sounds like Palin doesn't have half the problems of Obama!

Bottom line, if this were Obama's issue the republican party would be slamming him on this. Republicans have used power and greed to make their party rich while sending soldiers into harms way as I have felt first hand with my best friends death in jan 2008.

I hate all politicians, I really do, they all want power and look at our tax dollars as free money. Why do the politicians make so much money for doing practically nothing. Palin'd issue right now is not her teen being pregnant but this investigation which just got really hot based on new email evidence they have found. Let's not forget joe she did fact take pork barrel spending for Alaska after saying she rejected the govt the day she came into office.

The next president needs to do one thing. Tell Saudi Arabia that we will stop buying their oil unless they sell it for 40 bucks a barrell and stick to his guns. Do we need to buy oil everday, I mean my god these countries rely on us to refine it as the don't have our technologies. We have years of reserves on hand and demand is low now. This whole war has been about oil and boy did bush and Cheney make out big time. They should invest theri bank accounts asap. Next president that can say f u to the Saudis will be the best hope for the us and world. I think us Americans can do with not having to buy oil everday to lower global prices. Why don't all you politicians speculate on that!!!! F u Saudi's and OPEC, times are soon changing for u. And why is us selling Iran wepons in the backend, OIL!!!!!!

If you take a good look at the Republicans who are justifying and supporting Sara she just might be the best Republican for VP!

If you are going to have 5 children YOU SHOULD PARENT THEM! Obviously, parenting isn't going on instead this women is gone promoting her career and own interests.

It's either have a big family or a career!

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE MESS BUSH HAS GOTTEN US INTO.

Katrina
Bank Crisis
Energy Crisis
Housing Crisis
High Unemployment
Low economic grow
A very expensive occupation
A weak dollar
A huge nation debit

Great job Bush and Republicans!

Eight is enough!

I am independent

Why are Repubes on this site? Doesn’t the Washington Times need readers?

Repubes are total hypocrites. That’s not a new statement—we all know it, but this is really beyond belief. This is not a family matter; it is a public policy matter. She can’t even practice what she preaches and wants to force on others. What parent would put their child through this public humiliation, just to further their own ambition and massively inflated ego? And she eats moose and wants to chow down on a polar bear, too. What a hideous being she is. All those snotty, self-absorbed, tax cheating repubes usually do their best to keep trailer trash out of the country club. Griswolds, party of 7+.

If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen and cook your moose somewhere else. We are not attacking the kid who was born into a bazaar right-wing family, we are attacking the clueless, hypocritical, moralist mother who is as corrupt as all Repubes are and lacks the experience and good judgment to run a town as small as the one in Northern Exposure. And no, an Idaho journalism grad \ ESPN wannabe and a havard law review attorney who is the senator of a state that actually has people in it and received 18 million votes, do not equate even if I didn’t vote for him.

voting is a joke.
there will be people who will vote for McCain because he has a woman on his ticket regardless of her views on any of the real issues.
there will be people who will vote for Obama because he is black regardless of his views on any of the issues.
then there will be people who vote only based on one issue - abortion.
voting is just another popularity contest.

The more we discover about Sarah Palin the more we find out what a creepy, gun-toting beauty queen she is. McCain must have OD'd on Geritol when he picked her. It's too late now. Had he picked anyone else he would have been better off.

Well, after this journalist's story on 'would you do that to your daughter?' I suppose the next sensational article is 'would you let your daughter marry a guy like that?'.....C'mon, leave it alone and let them work it our privately, without your 'journalism' stories plastered all over the paper.

The reason that this is such a hot topic is because it shows how we as AMERICANS have a need to come together. From what I have read, Gov. Palin's position on sex education is abstinence only. I'm not saying she is wrong, but that there has to be more options than the "just say no" approach when it comes to sex. That may work for some kids, but not all. The second issue is the "shotgun" wedding. I'm glad that they are keeping the child, that's great, but to marry at 17? Anyone know off hand what the current divorce rate is?
With that said, even though this is a very private and sensitive matter, it shows how our country is being torn apart due to lack of compromise.

Andrew Austin raises a salient and searing point: Barack Obama, in his convention speech, pulled the "when I tuck my girls in bed at night" crap and the Dems fell for it. What pandering. He needs to make us believe that he is such a great dad. But Andrew hit it on the head: How many times over the last two years that he has been running for president has he tucked his girls to bed? Did u see the picture of his little girl falling asleep on her mother's lap duing hsi speech. And that was only at 10:00 pm! I am sure he is usually out later than that figuring out how to skewer the Repucblicans (now that he finished skewering Hillary) and then make it look like he's not skewering anyone, he's above board (witness his forceful statement that he will fire anyone caught making an issue of Bristol's pregnancy, when deep down he really lvoes the issue). Are Dems so naive? Will they believe anything this man says?

I love how whenver his campaign shows his true colors, he quickly has a come back with a line of apology, such as his parading his family on PEOPLE and then saying "I'll never do that again" too late buddy, or the initial reaction to Palin's nomination -- which was quite sexist and then the next day come out with congratulatory comments. In Obama's world, everything can be said or done so long as it is quickly followed up with an apology and retraction by way of explaining how people "regrettably" get emotional and its the heat of the moment thing yada yada. Thus, he never has to answer for anything, except for Rev. Wright, which he first got away with by turning it into a national specatacle on race relations, and then finally disowned the one he could never disown -- oh and the woman who runs from black on the otehr side of th street is one of the few he will seek advice from in trying times.

Pathetic. YOu all are being played by a master politician, the exact thing he claim to be against. Brooks had it right, even Bill clinton couldn't have pulled off such a lie. What a phony.

QUESTION: How many lawyers will Obama use to shut down your freedom of expression?

ANSWER: As many as it takes

Think about it and don't pull the lever for Obama, he is a legal intimidator.

I am really disgusted!! McCain and the Republicans were calling Obama a "shallow celebrity" and now McCain chooses Palin, whose family story is starting to look like a guest appearance on some reality TV show?

Is this the best America can do in finding people willing to step forward to lead us?

If change is what we really want (and McCain's selection of Palin says a lot about why change is needed) I recommend we abandon both the major parties and vote Libertarian!!!

I don't understand these people who are posting saying that Gene is attacking, personally, Gov Palin or Bristol. The article I read, and I hope everyone here read it, was merely reporting the facts and then asking a simple question, would you do that? Well, would you? I don't see many posters answering this question. I for one, would not bring my 17 year old daughter front and center on a national level in a situation like this. Yes, family appearances are fine, but this has gone way beyond that, and I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't hide the fact my daughter was pregnant, but she would be with her grandparents out of the public eye.

Now, for all you anti-Obama zealots who feel the need to question why we are even talking about this, 1) It's America and we can freely talk about whatever we want and 2) If a VP candidate is going to run on her "morals", "ethics" and "family values" then I think it is fair to look at those areas and ask questions of those areas. I'm not saying Sarah is a bad parent because of this, but lets all be honest. This is not traditional conservative family values being presented here.

But, at the end of the day, this is not an election about Bristol's pregnancy or Sarah's parenting skills. It's about the issues. So, lets look at Gov. Palin's stances on the issues:

1) She opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest.

2) She believes life begins at conception and not implantation, a direct contradiction of what virtually every medical doctor believes.

3) She has 4 occurences of firing people simply because she did not like them, or they disagreed with her. She is currently being investigated for one of these occurences.

4) She believes the ideas of Creationism and Intelligent Design should be taught in public schools along side the Theory of Evolution.

5) She believes the Earth is warming and that man has nothing to do with it.

6) She is suing the federal government because they want to put the polar bear on the endangered species list. She claims the Federal science is flawed, which is funny given her belief that Creationism is science.

7) She thinks it should be okay to shoot wolves from planes, as this will thin the wolf population and allow more moose to flourish in the wild, which hunters, like her, can then hunt.

8) She is quoted as saying "[A]s for that V.P. talk all the time, I’ll tell you, I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the V.P. does every day?"

9) She initially supported the "Bridge to Nowhere" even though she claims now that she was against it.

How's that? Still want to talk about Gov Palin and the issues?

Good god people think about what you are saying before you say it. Comments such as she has five children, an autistic child, a pregnant teen, she must be a terrible mother, not to be at home and keep her baby on a schedule. This is the 21st century people that speak all they want is equality for men and women why don’t you go back to the 1800's because many of you are suggesting that this woman's place is in the home. While I do not agree with Obama on much I do respect his decision not to attack this and to you up on a pedestal democrat, how often did Kerry or Edwards bring up the fact that Dick Cheney's daughter was a lesbian? the topic of gay marriage could not come up without that card being played. People need to realize that politicians are people; we all have skeletons in our closet. The fact that her daughter is taking responsibility for her actions and keeping the baby is a sign of the values that this administration is going to bring to Washington. If the roles were reveres and Sarah Palin's husband were the vp candidate these would not be nearly as scrutinized and fyi to all you people that talk before you type, Sarah Palin's Husband is a stay at home dad, not unlike many wives of Washington politicians, so if you are going to attack their family for their choices and non commitment to their family be willing to do the same thing for every senator and rep who does the exact same thing, but hey maybe I am wrong maybe the woman does belong in the home.

Not only in America, everyone in the world were talking about Mr Obama and McCain started loosing ground. But an out-of-the-box decision and the shocking announcement (like many decisions made by Bush) by the 72 year old man changed the topic of the discussion from Obama to Palin. Controversial candidate. Things are getting INTERESTING.

It is often inconvenient, and rarely much fun, to be a mother at 17 -- but it is not some unspeakable tragedy. I've known a few, and they were excellent mothers and fine people.

An old man with a former pageant queen to be next President & VP of the U.S.? I don't think so.

WOW. The libs are hungry. I don't support teen pregnancy or abortion. I believe abortion is murdering an unborn child. Check out all the psych clinics with young girls trying to cope with what they did to their child after an abortion. Most people go through life with challenges and how we handle them is how we are measured. What I am hearing from the libs is every parent with a job that requires them to leave home for extended periods are bad parents. So everyone parent in the military, all you truckers, people in sales, airline pilots, cruise line workers, oil platform workers, etc are all lousy parents? Oh wait...only if you are a mother and have those jobs. Funny how the libs say they are for the progress of woman but the truth is only for liberal woman. The results from troopergate is what we all need to focus on.

this is not change mr. mccain its more of the same! OBAMA SAVE US FROM BUSH 3!

Why are you liberals so concerned about who McCain picked?

If she's so awful, he should get wiped out, right?

Ahhhhhhh ... you don't REALLY believe she is so awful.

I see.

btw, load of crap she'll be too busy to raise her infant son and be VP. Bush gets way way more holidays than any Mom I know. And he's the actual president.

People dont go to hell for having an abortion. People go to hell for their unbelief and not accepting Jesus Christ as their pesonal savior.
Being a parent is tough and if abstinence can be achived until a child is married that would be quite an accomplishment.
You fools better start looking at the communistic views of Obama, who is definetely rich and wants to separate and eliminate the middle class and reduce the heart of this country to slaves. Obama is a racist communist pig, liar anti-american and an anti-christ. He will tell you anything to get your vote and then sell you out the second he can. YOU DOLTS

Write this down...

All the "pressure" you're putting on Palin's daughter will force her to make a public statement in the coming weeks about how her mother is wonderful, how she allowed her children to make their own decision but be responsible for their actions, etc. Then, the stress still be applied, the daughter will have a miscarriage. The press and democrats (the same thing) will be blamed and it will give the republicans ammunition for sweeping legislation for limiting access to political hopefuls' private lives and bring on the end of Roe v. Wade.

It's not a question of Democrats or Republicans for me - they're all idiots. We need someone of substance willing to make tough decisions and not appeal to the lowest common denominator. It's obvious from a majority of responses to this question (and the state of our nation overall) that we're in big trouble if someone doesn't "step up to the plate" very soon.

This was an embarrassing vetting failure on the part of John McCain and the Republican Party. There were wonderful VP candidates out there who would have strengthened the Republlican ticket. Instead, in a rush to please the Evangelical Christian Right, someone was chosen who superficially had all of the right credentials to make John McCain more palatable to that constituency, but who on further inspection will provide the scandal sheets and personality magazines with sufficient fodder to last through the election and beyond. This candidate should have announced her family problems, ceded the nomination in order to care for her daughter and reduce the intensity of scrutiny on daughter and child, and allowed McCain to select someone with better armor against Republican enemies. Any advantage she had from being pro-life, conservative Christian, and pro-drilling has vanished.

This vetting process that produced this failure gives me pause about the decision making capabilities among the Republican power elete. Why hasn't McCain sought to surround himself with better talent, with the best and brightest, as Obama seems to be doing? What were the decisions that led the Republican Party and John McCain to choose a soccer mom with a 17 y.o. pregnant unmarried daughter to this very powerful position. Where is the respect for the office? For my intelligence?

Clown talk

She's 17 years old - practically an adult.

18 when she has the child.

Mind your own business.

response to "Real people need to be able to run for office, or apply for jobs, or go to school even when their personal lives, or the personal lives of their children go through some ups and downs."...

get real, we are not talking about a 9-5 job. even regular positions in administrations go through much more scrutinty than this to ensure that the elected official is able to server the country. please...this has got to be one of the biggest historical blunders ever.

If you really believe there is no hypocrisy across both parties, then you are the one really blind. I'm not sure I would want to put my family through something like this, but it's Mrs. Palin's choice. I’m not sure how she expects to balance this type of family life with the arduous life of being a VP.

If Palin doesn't step aside tomorrow, McCain might as well give up. If he goes through with this race with this running mate, he's done in politics. This is a mistake he'll regret for the rest of his years.

Palin's daughter's condition proves we are all human and our lives don't go as neatly as we planned. It is interesting that a conservative, specifically a religious conservative, is held in contempt in such a circumstance, questioning even Palin's decision to run for the second highest office in the land. If it were a liberal, the plight of the young pregnant woman would be celebrated and Democratic members of Congress would be falling over themselves to pass laws to provide funding for this woman and her unborn child, including abortion.

I see the dichotomy in this situation quite clearly: A conservative has ideals that should be lived up to, but because we are human and prone to mistakes, this doesn't always happen as in Palin and her daughter's case. We must deal with the situation in a sober and adult manner. We know it is the right thing to do even if our own lives don't quite reach these ideals. It doesn't mean the ideals are not valuable. It is obvious that it would be best for the child to have a father and mother and to be raised in a loving home that offers the child every opportunity to succeed. To a liberal, having any ideals is inappropriate and you deal with problems as they come, making excuses for the actions taken to justify the outcome. This deals with the problems in a childlike and immature way.

Robinson's admonition of Palin falls clearly under the childlike and immature category: Criticizing her for accepting the nomination for Vice President in light of her daughters condition. Palin has done the right thing, accepted the nomination, and is moving ahead in a responsible and adult manner. Life goes on.

Americans without any events in their lives that produce feelings of despair and shame are certainly qualified to continue to ridicule and "throw stones".
Americans need to stop trying to imitate the "pointless judgements" of the talk show, political hack pundants. We are Americans, let's all stop attacks on personal issues and make our vote count as our "best judgement".

First, Palin is already the governor so the public klieg lights would be there in any case.

Second, in the bigger picture, the best thing the candidate could do for the daughter is to press forward and make the best of it. How would you like to be the daughter who cost your Mom a shot at becoming the first woman VP?

Third, ask yourself, would you ask or expect a sitting VP (or president) to resign because a child got caught up in a teen pregnancy?

This column and these issues just seem like a lot of silly season, campaign nonsense.

Here is a comment without the word s#h#i#t. Let us C C C if the blog moderator traps it 4 editing?

Lay off the KIDS you mamaless animals. Is this how far you liberals will go to win an election. It's not enough you undermine the US military, cheer when soldiers die, call our leaders hitler...

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BEAT UP ON A 17 YEAR OLD GIRL AND AN INFANT WITH DOWN SYNDROME. DEMOCRATS ARE SCUM.

Beauty Queen yesterday and Vice President today!

This women is a want-to-be! That's fine as Mayor or Governor of no where.

NOW IT IS AT THE COST OF THE COUNTRY! THAT'S NOT OK!

If you don’t believe in evolution, were a member of a secessionist party (e.g. AIP), and you end you sentences with “Yup, yup,” you might not measure well against Sen. Joe Biden as a VP candidate. If McCain wasn’t an old obstinate pinhead who knows it all, he’d end this charade, before the GOP VP nomination.

Millions of illegals in US are having their 1st baby at 16/17, yet not a peep out of the libs on this. Why not?

Instead the libs are welcoming it, why because they think they will get votes. Hypocrites.

McCain is 72 and a cancer survivor. A heartbeat away might be Sarah Palin as our President. Knowledge of her views and lifestyle makes it reasonable for citizens to ponder the real possibility that she, herself, may again conceive and have to endure the physical and emotional stress of pregancy in her mid to late 40's. She should not have accepted this position at this time of her life.

Eugene - in case you're forgetting, Senator Biden took the oath of Senatorial office standing by the bedside of his injured family after his wife had just died!! You seem to conveniently forget that when you blame this lady for accepting an opportunity of a lifetime. Why should what Biden did be ok, but when a woman does this, you pop out of the woodwork to blame her for not sitting at home and not disappearing quietly into the Alaskan sunset??

"If Palin doesn't step aside tomorrow, McCain might as well give up. If he goes through "

Hardly - I know people who will vote for him because of this decision.

So if McCain wins, can we expect the Palin family in the White house? Sounds like sex in the lincoln bedroom for the 17 yr old

To the morons who said Barack Obama was pandering when he said he tucks his children into bed at night. You are the reason the republicans will lose, because you've just proved you're sociopaths.

Where is Barack's bounce?

80,000 people in a stadium.

McCain picks an unknown.

And Barack has no bounce.

Y'all shoulda picked Hillary ... and you know it.

Ugh, Ugh, . . . Yup, Yup
Obama/Palin

I can't believe that McCain really vetted Palin as thoroughly as he claims.

Wake up America! The Palin family is in a crisis, but so are many other families; but more importantly our own country is in crisis and the future of our planet hangs in the balance. This election should not be about Pro Choice. Why does politics involve themselves in personal &/or religious views? Doesn't the Constitution grant us freedom of speech and religion? Someone's personal CHOICE is just that. Who are we to judge anyone else?..."Those without sin, may cast the first stone"...The issue of a female breaking some glass ceiling, or even electing the first black (or half black) President, it NOT reason to vote in this election. It is about getting the U.S.A.'s reputation back in good standing, it's about keeping our military strong yet safe and allowing them to fight terrorism where the terrorists are hiding, It's about saving starving children and ending human atrocities in the world. It should be about finding cures for horrendeous diseases such as AIDS and cancer and promoting stem-cell research which can benefit mankind...Why is it that the Europeans get it? They favor Obama and so do I.Simply educate yourself on the important issues, listening to both sides. When you open your eyes, ears and hearts to the real issues staring us in the face, your choice will be clear..

Bill Clinton - the Saint of the Democratic Party That's all I 2want to say here.

As a conservative Alaskan I voted for Sarah Palin for Governor and initially thought she was doing a great job for our state. Over time I've become disillusioned with her. She promised the people of Ketchikan their bridge (which is not to nowhere, it's to the island with their city's airport!) and she's still funding the road that leads to where the bridge would have been built, which is a multi-million dollar project that seems absurd now.

Also, she kept the money for the bridge to nowhere, the only thing that changes is that now Alaskan's get to vote on how it's spent. Pork anyone?

I am particulary upset by the fact she promised Juneau residents repeatedly that she would fully support our road to the mainland (besides Honolulu, we're the only non road accessible state capitol in the nation) which she reversed her position on after the election.

She also SWORE that she would oppose any effort to move the state capitol from Juneau to near Wasilla (where she was mayor) yet now she is reversing herself on that campaign promise as well. She is our first governor ever to refuse living in the Governor's mansion here in Juneau, and instead continues to live in Wassila.

Frankly, I could care less about her baby or her pregnant teen daughter (no offense)...what I care about is that she LIES! I live in Juneau and part of me hopes she becomes VP just so my community and the rest of Southeast Alaska will be safe from her vendetta.

On the other hand, McCain is 72, has survived cancer 4 times, and has a history of heart attacks in his family. The idea of "Barracuda" Palin as commander in chief would keep me up at night!

I have my doubts about Obama, though his acceptance speech the other night was more impressive than I expected. What I'm really hoping for, is that Palin will drop out as VP so I can vote for McCain with a clear conscience.

"Hardly - I know people who will vote for him because of this decision."

Proof postive republicans are hypocrites.

So if McCain wins, can we expect the Palin family in the White house? Sounds like sex in the lincoln bedroom for the 17 yr old. this is not change, just more of the same

every family has a crisis eventually, she seems to be handling hers at this time. the daughter should be left alone, she made a mistake. yes the PARENTS may have contributed to it, especially allowing her to "date" an older man?, but the older man would have been a status raiser among young girl, especiaaly in high shcool.
as for those who wonder how she's going to manage a family, and be vp at the same time, IS SHE THE ONLY PARENT THERE YOU IDIOTS???
her husband has had to do the raising since she's had a FULL TIME JOB for awhile now. since when is it only the womans job to raise the children.
i know several homemaking husbands doing quite well, moy brother especially. my sister i law is pretty much useless with the kids, but she does have a well paying job and a career.

lets leave the family side out of the and act as " enlightened adults of the modern age", and not slide back mentally 30 years into pidgeon-holed domestic roles

John Kennedy - the Saint of the Democratic party. That's all I want to say here.

For all the talk on judgment vs experience, and how McSame has the better on both compared to Obama, this incident shows him poorly on both and has real potential 1-2 punch against the Repugs this fall...

1) Shame on Judgment:
a) Mama Palin - for choosing to travel from TX to Alaska after her water broke when she was carrying Trig
b) Mama Palin - for preaching abstinence but not being able to enforce it in her own family
c) Mama Palin - for choosing to bring her family into the limelight by entering the veep race despite knowing the embarrassment it might cause Bristol
c) Mama Palin - once again, for entering the veep race and not being able to bring up a Down's Syndrome child in its first year
and finally...
e) McSame - for not doing a thorough job of checking veep credentials and bringing someone who is such a potent disaster with her own family as the caretaker of the nation a heartbeat away from the presidency

2) Shame on Experience:
a) Palin - of the Ms Alaska 1984 fame
b) Palin - of the Wasilla City Hall Mayor fame - the city hall is no bigger than an ice-cream store
c) Palin - whose first overseas trip was in 2006 and also the year she got her first ever passport made
d) McSame - for choosing someone with 'two' whole years of executive experience and passing up several others

1. It's a reasonable thing to assume that the Palins got together as a family to make this decision. What your family thinks of us as human beings, in a close family, means much, much more to us than the opinions of strangers, regardless of the quantity.

2. Bristol Palin's best interests were served by her mom choosing to accept this offer. The guilt she could harbor the rest of her life for being the reason that US history was not made and, if she believes in her mom, that the future of the nation could suffer because of her, would be potentially unbearable. If it were me at 17, I would BEG my mom to not change her plans because of me. How horrible it would be for Bristol if her mom had said no because of her.

3. Implicit in your article is the assumption that the media would treat Bristol poorly. Your accusation is that Sarah Palin is not adequately protecting her daughter from the likes of you. Therein lies the ultimate disconnect. Game over.

4. Perhaps it is wise to look to history, when teenage pregnancy was not a great problem, to discover what changed. Our whole society, not just educators, taught that sex is designed for a man and a woman within the context of marriage. Seems to me to be counter-intuitive to say that teaching abstinence caused this problem. When abstinence was truly taught, there was very little teenage pregnancy. The lack of moral values in our nation is causing the destruction, not the lack of teaching further destruction of those values. Are we making progress moving away from values taught by Christ? Are we happier as a people? Are we more content? Actually, suicide, teenage pregnancy, divorce, you name it, are up up up. The loosening further of the reigns on our personal morals is not the answer. This, too, is counter-intuitive.

This IS an issue if Palin pretended to be pregnant to hide her daughter's first pregnancy. that question has to be answered and not buried in the smoke screen of Bristol's current pregnancy. They even said it was being announced now to put to end the rumors about Trig. How was THAT supposed to work? The timing of Trig's birth and this pregnancy do not conflict at all. My own mother got pregnant immediatley with my sister after I was born...it lacks 11 days being a year between us. We can do the math...what else have you got?

She is a very disturbed woman if she created this kind of cover-up. This has to be put to rest and not by announcing this latest Palin family pregnancy as a red herring!

http://deals.families.com/domestic-infant-down-syndrome-adoptionwhere-to-start,t113282

If you take a good look at the Republicans who are justifying and supporting Sara she just might be the best Republican for VP!

If you are going to have 5 children YOU SHOULD PARENT THEM! Obviously, parenting isn't going on instead this women is gone promoting her career and own interests.

It's either have a big family or a career!

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE MESS BUSH HAS GOTTEN US INTO.

Katrina
Bank Crisis
Energy Crisis
Housing Crisis
High Unemployment
Low economic grow
A very expensive occupation
A weak dollar
A huge nation debit

Great job Bush and Republicans!

Eight is enough!

I am independent

This is a sexist OP/ED

You should be ashamed of yourself.

You have to be kidding me with this article. She is already Governor! Her Daughter was already going to be in the spotlight, and simply because she made a choice that many of your find unwise in her life does not mean her parents have to sacrifice doing good for the public to "protect" her from the fact she is getting married and having a child at a young age. NEWS FLASH: this is the reality of many Americans and other folks world wide. To be honest you're pretty disgraceful for ever writing this piece, you media blood hounds feed on controversy and the few of you left that aren't just paid talking heads are little more than tabloid writers. I wish American's could see beyond your feeble attempts at persuading voters and realize how private matters should be handled within families. And this is a NON political issue. It goes for private matters of Democrats and Republicans. The reason we don't have more qualified people involving themselves in politics is because of media people like you who pounce on every single imperfection or difficult circumstance a candidate faces in their life gets covered 24/7. And GOD FORBID anyone digs up the skeletons in your closet and calls you out for being a hypocrite.

the best way to get the Clintons back in the White House is to get Sarah Palin's daughter in there, Bill would surely find a way to get back in.

What are you looking for Barack?

You're bounce?

Hmmmmm .... I think John McCain has it.

It looks like her drama is more than her experience.

Would You Do That to Your Daughter?

Bill Clinton got blow jobs under his desk in the oval office. At the time, it was Chelsea's home. Hope you people were all as concerned about her back then, and how unqualified it made President Clinton. (Who was also former Governor of Arkansas, with an alleged "bastard" baby with a much younger black girl... among a long list of other "scandals." Oh, and by the way, "Gov." Clinton... that was a really big state he came from.)

Feminist... narrowly defined. It's a political definition first and foremost. Any female on the wrong side of the feminist political fence, no accounts.

Who says this girl is ashamed of being pregnant? Seems to me, y'all are the one's making it a "shameful" situation. Pretty archiac for supposedly progressive thinkers.

For the record, for the first time in decades... I am probably not voting for president. I don't have a dog in this race.

Neither a child nor a parent should be subjected to further public embarrassment when they are themselves trying to deal with their private trials. Passing judgments on them is indecent. We do not know their circumstances.

In Ms. Palin's case, these questions are just as wrong today as Chelsea Clinton being asked a month ago, about her father's affair 8 years ago. Chelsea did nothing to be subjected to such humiliation. Not once but multiple times, she was confronted with the same despicable harassment.

As a society, have we lost regard for people and privacy? Has the press too lost the art and skill of revealing substance without stripping people into distasteful nakedness?

Are the journalists skilled and fashioned like archeologists, or do they more resemble a one man demolition crew, blowing up life and property to clear their path to self serving sensationalism?

Are we living in a culture of hypersensitive hair-triggers in every aspect of our lives? Are there any limits of decency other than legal ones?

If Obama and McCain step forward to quash personal assaults, we will at least be looking in the right direction.

Ronald Reagan - the Saint of the Republican party. That's all I want to say here.

I think Michael Savage is right. McCain is throwing the election. Why else does he make such monumental screw-ups. You can't do things like this on accident. He really is taking a dive.

How many teenagers did Bill Clinton have to pay off to stay quiet?

all the intelligent design believers also believe that abortion is murder.
hey. we're committing murder in Iraq right now. where were you when this country went to war? were you out there in an anti-war march?
hey. we're committing murder with capital punishment. are you out there protesting against the death penalty too?
hey. we're committing murder by drilling for more natural resources regardless of its consequences towards the ecosystem.
so where are you?

Hey ya'll -- lets get real. You elitist folks are kinda like my daddy once told me - "show me four Baptist and I'll show you a fifth".

Obviously most of the discussion above is childish and elitist. I am absolutely sure that most of us are as qualified for the office as any of the candidates, but will not subject our families or ourselves to the ridiculous scrutiny such as this, in exchange for the measly compensation package of this office. We are all "gutless pukes" who should examine our motives prior to criticizing those who have the intestinal fortitude to expose themselves to this madness. More power to Mrs. Palin. God Bless. you, and you family.

When I read about the latest developments last night, I just had to sigh and smile. Life IS stranger than fiction. You could not make this up. Let's celebrate how life is what happens while you're busy making other plans. As a Hillary supporter, I'll say a prayer and send honest best wishes to Ms Palin and her beautiful family, but I'll vote for Mr. Obama.

Palin aborted her family - sad

This is crazy..this whole thing sounds too absurd to me. First of all our president hopeful john mccain is 70 plus years old and i dont know how this old and dilapitaded brain functions under stress. By his own admission he had been in a devastating war and had been into cancer a few times and add to this his senility and his judgement is suspect.

He selected sarah palin as his running mate just after one meeting..speaks a lot about his desperation and cold political calculation rather than foresight and wisdom. How can you select someone for such a key post just after one meeting..it is reckless, impulsive and irresponsible.

Now coming to sarah palin..having five children and that too a five month old baby at 44 is a bit too far fetching no matter how pro life you are. She must be caring for the child and family instead of running for this job.

Now coming to her daughter..it is a poor choice..one that is irresponsible and wreckless. It is not about morals or sex but it is plain careless and callous attitude to life that stuns me. It is just a matter of carrying a condom in the purse. You cannot defend such actions by any measure of sanity...everbody is sexually aware nowadays and you cannot feign innocence.

Obama does not do it? And the Dems disapprove? and WHERE will the world be in a few decades without babies? I mean ethnically diverse babies? Not just one race or etnicity??

So is it the case that Democrats, Republicans, Facists, Nazis, Federalists, Confederates, Libertaians or WHO-THE-FRICK-EVER are mor gonadilly-correct?????

People !!! Try to focus a LITTLE bit on the political issues and not on your genitals.

I am sorry for the girl but the Republicans are reaping what they've sown even since they started claiming they were the "Moral Majority". Of course they'd tear apart a Democratic candidate's daughter in the same position in a heartbeat - look how they accused the Clinton's of murdering one of their staff, Vince Foster.

No eight years is not enough of:

Security
Freedom
Prosperity

We need another eight and dimokrauts are not the soulution only part of the problem.

Wake up America! The Palin family is in a crisis, but so are many other families; but more importantly our own country is in crisis and the future of our planet hangs in the balance. This election should not be about Pro Choice. Why does politics involve themselves in personal &/or religious views? Doesn't the Constitution grant us freedom of speech and religion? Someone's personal CHOICE is just that. Who are we to judge anyone else?..."Those without sin, may cast the first stone"...The issue of a female breaking some glass ceiling, or even electing the first black (or half black) President, is NOT reason to vote in this election. It is about getting the U.S.A.'s reputation back in good standing, it's about keeping our military strong yet safe and allowing them to fight terrorism where the terrorists are hiding, It's about saving starving children and ending human atrocities in the world. It should be about finding cures for horrendeous diseases such as AIDS and cancer and promoting stem-cell research which can benefit mankind...Why is it that the Europeans get it? They favor Obama and so do I.Simply educate yourself on the important issues. Listen to both sides. When you open your eyes, ears and hearts to the real issues staring us in the face, your choice will be clear..Obama is the answer.

If you take a good look at the Republicans who are justifying and supporting Sara she just might be the best Republican for VP!

If you are going to have 5 children YOU SHOULD PARENT THEM! Obviously, parenting isn't going on instead this women is gone promoting her career and own interests.

It's either have a big family or a career!

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE MESS BUSH HAS GOTTEN US INTO.

Katrina
Bank Crisis
Energy Crisis
Housing Crisis
High Unemployment
Low economic grow
A very expensive occupation/war
A weak dollar
A huge nation debit

Great job Bush and Republicans! Nazis

Eight is enough!

I am independent

No eight years is not enough of:

Security
Freedom
Prosperity

We need another eight and dimokrauts are not the solution only part of the problem.

Obama wants to abort the USA

MR. ROBINSON you should leave the picture of your Black face off your future articles. I have never, never seen a NEGATIVE comment toward any other WRITER of a Washington Post article!!!

Thank You, Mr. Robinson for putting it like it is.
It's not about her daughter, it's about the decision to drag it out right here right now, at the start of the convention, or to accept the nomination knowing .Plain and simple, What the heck was she thinking???And what the heck was McCain thinking picking her to run???
Some have speculated it was a forced decision from the Moral Majority of old school GOP leaders, but who would fess up to this.McCain will have to accept responsibility, more than just saying "yeah, I knew" and then changing the subject.
You could tell all week last week his campaign was digging for the next Press getter, but did they really need to get This kind of press???
Either way, it is getting them attention, stealing the spotlight from Obama/ Biden for now, but WOW what a way to do it.Maybe ol'e Johnny boy shoulda just kicked a nun, or wrung his wifes other arm, thad woud get press!!!

Ok, Barack, whatta ya got in your hand?

A Biden? That's it.

Okay, I'll see your Biden, and I'll raise you a Palin.

What you getting mad about?

I did NOT have the Palin up my sleeve.

Sore loser!

*** WHERE'S BARRY'S BOUNCE? ***

I'd like to point out that had McCain chose God as his running mate then everything would be solved.

It is possibl