Assessing the Political Impact of Bristol Palin's Pregnancy

McCain made his own 'ugly' crack about Chelsea
I wonder if Bill Maher will really get some grief after his crack on his HBO show Friday in a brief discussion of Rush Limbaugh and oxytontin. He said that it was too bad that Rush didn't "croak" using the drug instead of Heath Ledger. His audience greeted it with silence and Bill seemed to realize that maybe he wished he could take that back. It reminded me of Robert Christgau's offhand complaint, after the murder of John Lennon, that it's always the Lennons and not the McCartneys that get bumped off.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the David Shuster suspension at MSNBC for his "pimped out" crack about Chelsea Clinton on the campaign trail, one is reminded of the now-infamous -- but once largely swept under the rug -- Chelsea putdown uttered by John McCain back in 1998. (Will Bunch at his popular Attytood blog brought it my attention again.) The media, by and large, failed to repeat it back then, or since, noting only that it was quite foul and leaving it at that. At a GOP fundraiser, McCain quipped: "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno." Here is the full story, and how the media handled it, from my old colleague David Corn.
http://www.salon.com/news/1998/06/25newsb.html

Who cares what the Anchorage Daily News or any of the McClatchy newpapers say?? Check their stock report:

Quote: "Crippling debt, unimaginative management."

They, like Hillary, can't even manage their own money, let alone run a newspaper.

Quote: "word bubbled up that the National Enquirer alleged in its print edition that John McCain's running mate had an affair with a business partner to her husband."

Hilarious. If you believe anything in the National Enquirer or even read it, you libs are more stupid that I thought.

BTW, Nancy Pelosi also has 5 kids. Do I hear any word on how a woman can't take care of 5 kids and be in the government??

Nope, Double standard again. Go home and take care of your kids Pelosi.

MORE LIES FROM SARAH PALIN...
"I believe I was fired because of, primarily the reason of her former brother-in-law," Monegan said. "I think that my unwillingness to take special action against her former brother-in-law was not well received."

Monegan says he believes that the Governor has not told the truth about what happened.

word bubbled up that the National Enquirer alleged in its print edition that John McCain's running mate had an affair with a business partner to her husband.

Yet in a first unsettling revelation – which the McCain camp will hope does not become a pattern – the Anchorage Daily News reported yesterday that when she ran for governor Mrs Palin campaigned on a “build the bridge” platform. The newspaper, in a reference to John Kerry’s alleged “flip-flopping” in the 2004 presidential campaign, said: “Palin was for the Bridge before she was against it.”

It wouldnt change my opionion though, I think Sarah Palin Should be the GOP nominee!! not McCain. The Republicans are much more excited about palin then mccain., The new most famous person in the world.

This site has the inside scoop about the Palin Dui Secret, http://www.duihelpguide.com Why hasnt the news covered this?

This site has background info on sarah Palin Bio, Pics, Videos, Alot of Polls like how many people actually think that she is attractive? http://www.theveep.com

This site has everything about her scandals, Levi the Boy Friend, what really happen with ebay plane. http://www.hotpres.com

Despite all of this, and her lack of experiance she would probably make a much better president then McCain., Because like Obama she hasnt been corrupted by washington yet.

For those of you crowing about Bristol's situation conflicting with Gov. Palin's position on abstinence-only sex ed, you should really check your facts. Gov. Palin has NEVER supported abstinence-only sex ed. She stated in one interview that she would not give funding to promote only explicit sex ed. This is not the same thing.
On a personal note, I'd like to say how classy it is for everyone to be using a 17 yr old girl as a political football. So much for the socially compassionate left.

Is Sarah Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy relevant to the presidential campaign?

Absolutely – it points to the glaring problem with her position of supporting abstinence only sex education. Perhaps Sarah and the religious right think that the young moral “offenders” (their value judgment, not mine) can “make it right” by getting married and living with the consequences. These particular “offenders” are the lucky ones, fortunate to have a family support system robust enough to make that a viable option.

What if the consequences had been an HIV infection instead of an ill timed pregnancy?

It is not good public health policy to withhold information from our youth that can make them safer and reduce unwanted pregnancies. That Sarah Palin wholehearted adopts this approach in her personal life as a result of her religious beliefs is commendable. When she advocates public policy decisions based on extremist interpretations of religious beliefs it becomes an important factor in evaluating her candidacy.

Discussing this issue in relation to Sarah Palin’s own family is relevant.

Sarah Palin is the real deal; she has a rigorous moral sense and lives by it. If even she can not make it work in her own family it is just not going to work for families who don’t have her commitment and resources. We need to teach sex education, both why abstinence is a good choice and safe practices to protect our youth who choose otherwise.

Electing Sarah Palin as our next vice president would put her in a position to advance these beliefs and could put a generation of children at greater risk of HIV and unwanted pregnancies.

Quote: "To somehow get from Juneau to Wasilla 810 miles away(driving) to see her Dr., a family Dr, to deliver a baby for 44 yr old woman, that she had to know was a Downs? wowser!"

You assume wrong. You cannot drive to Juneau Alaska. There are no highways.
Read up before you "assume"> You might learn something.

consider this: Sarah has her doctor, the doctor is in Wasilla, AK, which is 810 miles away from Junuea, where she lives in the Governors Mansion. Somehow, during her preg from Sept to delivery in April, she has time to take a bumpy flight, i would assume about 200 mph, or 3 hrs away. That was her "plan" for delivery. To somehow get from Juneau to Wasilla 810 miles away(driving) to see her Dr., a family Dr, to deliver a baby for 44 yr old woman, that she had to know was a Downs? wowser!

http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/apr/22/palins-flight-labor-falls-under-scrutiny/

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/31/51717/5534/739/580979

I am voting for Obama president and palin as vice. The other two have served well and it's time for them to retire.

Quote: "The Palin Bounce: Obama lead cut in half, new poll shows:

Sarah Palin's initial impact on the presidential race appears to have been to cut the Democratic lead in half, according to the first Gallup tracking poll since her speech. The polls typically have a day's lag time.

The latest poll doesn't yet reflect any registered voter reaction to John McCain's acceptance speech Thursday night, but opinion on the race now stands at Obama/Biden 48 percent, McCain/Palin 44 percent. This is down from earlier in the week, when the same poll of registered voters reflected 50 percent Obama and 42 percent McCain."

Really Skeptical. That is old news. The polls have spoken.

You need to get a life, badly.

I've been doing some digging, and every photo of Ms. Sarah Palin circa this supposed 5th pregnancy has been scrubbed off their original news sites. That's suspect.

I assume this means that it would be apparent she was never pregnant with Trig. And this is fine. It's also fine (and good) if Bristol is the birth mother. It is good that she has parents loving and supportive enough to assume full responsibility for this poor, challenged baby.

I ask: why all the lying? Why the covering up? Would it really be so terrible to announce that her young daughter gave birth to little Trig? Perhaps it would be. I'm beginning to suspect there is more to this cover-up than most consider.

I definitely think Sarah Palin did not deliver Trig. I think it is likely that her daughter Bristol gave birth to the baby. I further think that it is highly unusual for a healthy, young girl to deliver a Down's baby. If Bristol was acknowledged as the mother questions of paternity would arise and could become very, very touchy. But I think I know why this is being buried.

Sarah Palin's eldest son, Track, enlisted in the Army 8 months prior to Trig's birth. Hrmm. He'll be risking his life in Iraq. Not a typical course for a high ranking politician's son. Consider the implications. Seems like he needs to get out of the picture, doesn't it?

(Yes, things like this do happen. They just don't typically happen to highly publicized politicos.)

Hey Willy, I think you need your dick sucked!

uote: "Show Trig's birth certificate. Photos of Sarah in the hospital bed with the newborn and the delivery doctor. Not two photos of her in a black dress with a black vest where she looks 'big'."

Tom, you are hilarious. Photos, birth cerfificates. Who do you think you are? No one cares about you or your suspicions. No one owes you anything. You are as irrelevant as the Clintons.

Tom, you are hilarious. Birth certificates, etc.?? Who do you think you are?? No one cares about your requests or suspicions. whe doesn't have to prove a thing, especially to idiots.

Idiot with the little willy:

Grampa McCain is sitting on a time bomb; little FAS Trig is Bristols baby, and Mommy Governor tried to cover it up, and now Mommy VP candidate has upped the stakes by saying Bristol is pregnant *now*.

No one but low IQ authority worshiping Republemmings are going to swallow all this 'truth by decree' stuff. "It is Down's syndrome because I say it is. It was my baby because I say it is. Bristol is 5 months pregnant now, so she can't be Trig's Mom, because I say she is."

Show Trig's birth certificate. Photos of Sarah in the hospital bed with the newborn and the delivery doctor. Not two photos of her in a black dress with a black vest where she looks 'big'.

After Nixon and George W., we know Republicans are world class liars. Hold her feet to the fire, she's in the Big Leagues now. Repugs demanded Obama's birth certificate, and tried to sue him to see it :

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html

Let's get a factcheck of little Trig's birth certificate. That's all I ask.

No more *pronouncements* from people that might very well be world class liars.

Quote: "Reaction to Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's debut speech before the party's convention in St Paul, Minnesota.

MIKE DUFFY, TIME MAGAZINE

Only a few times in the last 25 years have we seen what we saw here tonight. It happened in Chicago in 2004 with Barack Obama and it happened here tonight: a star was born.

NEW YORK TIMES

Sarah Palin, the vice presidential nominee, was a combative and witty relief at a torpid convention. But it was bizarre hearing the running mate of a 26-year veteran of Congress, a woman who was picked to placate the right-wing elite, mocking "the permanent political establishment in Washington."

LYNN SWEET, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Palin did not flinch as she sliced, diced and mocked Barack Obama in her debut speech on a major stage.

JED BABBIN, HUMAN EVENTS

Palin's performance was so good, her vice-presidential adversary, Sen Joe Biden, will not be able to bob and weave only in the 2 October [vice-presidential] debate. He may float like a butterfly, but Palin stings like a bee.

EZRA KLEIN, AMERICAN PROSPECT

It was an auspicious debut, the sort of address that would be judged a success if she were a newcomer keynoting the convention. She landed clean punches, temporarily silenced some of her critics, and retold John McCain's story with a keen sense for the drama of his experience. But I expected more.

KATHLEEN PARKER, NATIONAL REVIEW

There's time to hash out the details, but one can't help but be excited by the reception of a woman vice-presidential candidate. Just as we all felt proud when Barack Obama became the first African-American presidential candidate."

.

Still waiting for an intelligent reponse::

All this about a teenaged pregnancy from the people who twice elected the most promiscuous president ever, (Bill Clinton) charged several times, even in his college days a girl couldn't say "no". He was impeached for lying under oath. Wanting to elect a woman for president (Hillary) who is a proven habitual liar, chose a person (Obama) who has no qualifications, who chose a Senator (Biden)as VP, who is known as the "blowhard" of the senate and had to drop out of the presidential race in '88 because of accusations of plagiarism, both in college, and in his speeches.

Idiots in the voting booth!

Another under-educated lib who has to post the same thing three times to try to get her point across.

Explain this:
Quote: "A number of national polls out in the last 48 hours suggest that Barack Obama got a small bounce from his convention, but the media is speculating that the size of that bounce may have been limited by John McCain's VP announcement the morning after the Democratic convention ended. The Politico reports Obama's bounce in the polls "appears to be slightly smaller than the norm of past conventions, and it's gradually depreciating."

The Republicans should be ashamed but NEVER are because they have moral righteousness on their side, remember? PLEASE! I LOVE how not just a baby blanket, but a spread out baby blanket was usud in a futile attempt to hide what Bristol is all about & then when busted ...Sarah proudly displays Trig, Track, Frik & Frak & parades them around as if they are little kings & queens :-)

She is repulsive to many women who are not religous zealots & she looks like a repressed librarian. Can't you just see the whole act...glasses coming off, bun in the hair coming undone & gently tossing her nasty hair, & trying to make more babies AT AGE 44 with her redneck hubby Todd telling her she's his Norma Rae!!! I didn't know Alaska was so full of trash that's living back in time.

Oh, and did you catch the brief glimpses of studd-muffin Levi Johnston? He looked absolutely enthralled to be there! I know he wrote he's not interested in children on his myspace page, but I wouldn't be suprised if he was basically forced to "own up" & do the right thing by Bristol by Sarah & Todd. Yeah, that marriage will endure.

I love how all the commentators on MSNBC & NBC mentioned the Biden grand-children were vetted months ago & what a thorough process it involves. Just goes to show the kind of careful consideration Barack & his team give every decision & how seriously it is taken. John McCain doesn't care about protocal or procedure...he just had an itch for this woman & scratched it so to speak...how gauling & offensive to his party's base but of course they think the Palin pack is swell.

Notice Sarah didn't mention anything other than energy or bashing Barack...no mention of the economy or any issues that affect real families she claims to represent. You won't hear any of this until they prep her to debate Joe & you sure won't hear her far right freakish beliefs as a way to attract undecided women to the republican ticket...even they know she will detract from the general women's vote. Many women repub delegates were not excited for her on the ticket until they heard her deliver a speech she didn't even write!!!

The Republicans should be ashamed but NEVER are because they have moral righteousness on their side, remember? PLEASE! I LOVE how not just a baby blanket, but a spread out baby blanket was usud in a futile attempt to hide what Bristol is all about & then when busted ...Sarah proudly displays Trig, Track, Frik & Frak & parades them around as if they are little kings & queens :-)

She is repulsive to many women who are not religous zealots & she looks like a repressed librarian. Can't you just see the whole act...glasses coming off, bun in the hair coming undone & gently tossing her nasty hair, & trying to make more babies AT AGE 44 with her redneck hubby Todd telling her she's his Norma Rae!!! I didn't know Alaska was so full of trash that's living back in time.

Oh, and did you catch the brief glimpses of studd-muffin Levi Johnston? He looked absolutely enthralled to be there! I know he wrote he's not interested in children on his myspace page, but I wouldn't be suprised if he was basically forced to "own up" & do the right thing by Bristol by Sarah & Todd. Yeah, that marriage will endure.

I love how all the commentators on MSNBC & NBC mentioned the Biden grand-children were vetted months ago & what a thorough process it involves. Just goes to show the kind of careful consideration Barack & his team give every decision & how seriously it is taken. John McCain doesn't care about protocal or procedure...he just had an itch for this woman & scratched it so to speak...how gauling & offensive to his party's base but of course they think the Palin pack is swell.

Notice Sarah didn't mention anything other than energy or bashing Barack...no mention of the economy or any issues that affect real families she claims to represent. You won't hear any of this until they prep her to debate Joe & you sure won't hear her far right freakish beliefs as a way to attract undecided women to the republican ticket...even they know she will detract from the general women's vote. Many women repub delegates were not excited for her on the ticket until they heard her deliver a speech she didn't even write!!!

The Republicans should be ashamed but NEVER are because they have moral righteousness on their side, remember? PLEASE! I LOVE how not just a baby blanket, but a spread out baby blanket was usud in a futile attempt to hide what Bristol is all about & then when busted ...Sarah proudly displays Trig, Track, Frik & Frak & parades them around as if they are little kings & queens :-)

She is repulsive to many women who are not religous zealots & she looks like a sexually repressed librarian. Can't you just see the whole act...glasses coming off, bun in the hair coming undone & gently tossing her nasty hair, & trying to make more babies AT AGE 44 with her redneck hubby Todd telling her she's his Norma Rae!!! I didn't know Alaska was so full of trash that's living back in time.

Oh, and did you catch the brief glimpses of studd-muffin Levi Johnston? He looked absolutely enthralled to be there! I know he wrote he's not interested in children on his myspace page, but I wouldn't be suprised if he was basically forced to "own up" & do the right thing by Bristol by Sarah & Todd. Yeah, that marriage will endure.

I love how all the commentators on MSNBC & NBC mentioned the Biden grand-children were vetted months ago & what a thorough process it involves. Just goes to show the kind of careful consideration Barack & his team give every decision & how seriously it is taken. John McCain doesn't care about protocal or procedure...he just had an itch for this woman & scratched it so to speak...how gaulimg & offensive to his party's base but of course they think the Palin pack is just fine.

Notice Sarah didn't mention anything other than energy or bashing Barack...no mention of the economy or any issues that affect real families she claims to represent. You won't hear any of this until they prep her to debate Joe & you sure won't hear her far right freakish beliefs as a way to attract undecided women to the republican ticket...even they know she will detract from the general women's vote. Many women repub delegates were not excited for her on the ticket until they heard her deliver a speech she didn't even write!!!

Quote: "He Willy, you miss the point. Democrats are not against sex. We have no problem with Bill Clinton getting an occasional blow job."

No, Lost Cause, you miss the point. Repubs and Libertarians are not against sex either. But, where do you stand on rape charges. Hmmm. Read Clinton's history. Then comment on the rest of the post. Bill Clinton was only the start of the post. Oh, you can't because it's all true.

Idiots in the voting booth.

Quote: "This little girl had sex with an 18 year old man..."

Hilarious. "this little girl" was of the age of consent in Alaska.
Each state has its own laws. Another under-educated lib. I stand by my statement. Read it again. Double standard. Idiots in the voting booth.

We are supposed to believe Bristol is 'about 5 months pregnant' just because the Karl Rove advised campaign *announces* it ? Bristol would look the same if she gave birth April 18, or if she is 4-5 months pregnant now.

I still say Sarah faked the pregnancy from March 6 to April 18 - just 6 weeks of trouble. And Trig has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, not Down's syndrome - FAS is very common with uninformed teenage mothers; the "Down's Syndrome" announcement was part of the Cover up. Since people would say "oh, 44 year old mother, Down's, how sad..."

Of course it's a shotgun wedding with hockey redneck: he's the father of Trig.

I hear a nurse at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center has agreed to spill the beans in October for a huge sum $$$. Her ticket out of moose country.

In the city Ketchikan, the planned site of the so-called "Bridge to Nowhere," political leaders of both parties said the claim was false and a betrayal of their community, because she had supported the bridge and the earmark for it secured by Alaska's Congressional delegation during her run for governor.

The bridge, a span from the city to Gravina Island, home to only a few dozen people, secured a $223 million earmark in 2005. The pricey designation raised a furor and critics, including McCain, used the bridge as an example of wasteful federal spending on politicians' pet projects.

"People are learning that she pandered to us by saying, I'm for this' ... and then when she found it was politically advantageous for her nationally, abruptly she starts using the very term that she said was insulting," Weinstein said.

Just more of the same...John McSame/Bush

typical, typical....

Yay Sarah! Fantastic speech!

Here is Sarah's anthem:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Od2zY8VpoC4

"The National Enquirer's coverage of a vicious war within Sarah Palin's extended family includes several newsworthy revelations, including the resulting incredible charge of an affair plus details of family strife when the Governor's daughter revealed her pregnancy. Following our John Edwards' exclusives, our political reporting has obviously proven to be more detail-oriented than the McCain campaign's vetting process. Despite the McCain camp's attempts to control press coverage they find unfavorable, The Enquirer will continue to pursue news on both sides of the political spectrum."

drip, drip, drip....

tootie,

I would like to add one more thing while i am
able to thing about it, I am an old fart like John McCain. Like McCain I served in Viet Nam. My apparent inability to type, spell is not due to my motor skills, you see i lost an arm, and have reduced sight. Most of the misspellings are due to the simple fact that I just can't see....but i don't brag about it like McCain or try to use it to get elected president.

My mental skills are also beginning to go, and I have these "senior moments". Exactly why we don't need Sarah Palin. 17 year old unmarried pregnant daughter or not.

I was not a POW, because as a young man, I had the good sense not to get caught.

But, I am not so old or wasted from war to recognize that John McCain and Sarah Palin are not good for this country.

Got the answer!

All black unwed teenagers should immediately rush and get their families to become Republicans, then they will not be so heavily scorned by the public as in the past and present.

tootie, you are absolutely correct. I should be more careful, do a better job, select better words and phrases. but, i am from the John McCain school of vetting. Making sure we do a good job is not important. No matter the damage to a 17 year old young girl. Throwing "trailer trash" out to Americans, now that is what is important.

I could not have made my argument any better than you made it for me. I am too quick to type, John McCain was too quick to select, I make mistakes, and because of John McCain's poor vetting skill and poor judgment, this country could be stuck with a poorly trained, no experience, unskilled vp.

My mistakes only cause you to criticize me and call me names, John McCain's mistake could get someone killed or worse. You offer nothing to the debate, except calling me names, typical.

He Willy, you miss the point. Democrats are not against sex. We have no problem with Bill Clinton getting an occasional blow job. What we find disturbing and somewhat confusing is the republican hypocrisy. This little girl had sex with an 18 year old man. Republican preach Abstinence, yet their main "squeeze" can't communicate that to her daughter. Guess mom was not around often enough. She is now unmarried, 17 and pregnant. Everything Republicans supposedly stand against. I guess I could understand you folks better if I simply saw less hypocrisy.

All this about a teenaged pregnancy from the people who twice elected the most promiscuous president ever, (Bill Clinton) charged several times, even in his college days a girl couldn't say "no". He was impeached for lying under oath. Wanting to elect a woman for president (Hillary) who is a proven habitual liar, chose a person (Obama) who has no qualifications, who chose a Senator (Biden)as VP, who is known as the "blowhard" of the senate and had to drop out of the presidential race in '88 because of accusations of plagiarism, both in college, and in his speeches.

Idiots in the voting booth!

Hi all! I think we'll be seeing President Barack Obama in January. I'm pro-choice & I don't want to lose my rights.

Abstinence only teaching obviously does not work...not even in the person who is a staunch advocate of such teachings. Sarah Palin is a hypocrite and it is evident after 10 minutes of background checking her history on the wonderful world wide web. She herself has a shot gun wedding in August 1989 and delivered Track Palin in April 1990. She claims to be a HOCKEY mom but Hockey moms spend time with their children and often know if they are smoking, drinking and having sex. This woman preaches traditional values but is an absentee mother from her brood of 5 children. There are pics of Bristol smoking, drinking, and men all over saying they have had sex with her.

The likelihood that Trig is Sarah Palin's child is quite high considering the risk of Down's Syndrome being 1/30 in women over 43 and 1/1250 in Bristol's age range. However..I've had many patients deliver and show up at their 6 week post partum visit PREGNANT AGAIN. So...there is no way to prove that BRISTOL is 5 months vs 3 months. She looks to be less than 20 weeks to me. The only way to resolve such scandal is to:

1) REVEAL TRIGS BIRTH CERTIFICATE
2) HAVE THE OB/GYN WHO DELIVERED TRIG ANNOUNCE THE REAL MOTHER
3) SHOW THE DELIVERY BILL...WHOEVER WAS ADMITTED THAT NIGHT TO THE HOSPITAL IS A PART OF HOSPITAL RECORDS AND A BILL WAS GENERATED TO THE REAL MOTHER.

This is a really sad day in America. More sex, lies and scandals. I'm truly disgusted!

Listen, it's HOT that Todd--what a stud!!--fathered both Trig by Bristol and now has his second on the way with his own daughter. Go dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Lost Cause:

After reading back through some of your comments and then the responses you've logged to others comments, you come off as an atrocious speller and a real smartass. What kind of a sentence is "AT guest at Sarah Palin's church." That is ignorant and makes no sense. Then you refer to John McCain as a "solider." Just what is a solider? A few days ago, a doodoodum named Michael Blaine kept posting idiotic rantings with very similar misspellings like yours. If you can't spell or type clearly, maybe you'd better cancel your daily dates with Rosy Fist.

Hey Ginger Davis.

You make my argument for me. The comment I posted was made by a visitor at Sarah Palin's Church. And you are absolutely correct!

Does that clear up anything for you?

..I simply can't accept that the women of America will acknowledge the bone that Mr. McSame threw them.

I have a stump in my front yard, and that stump is better prepared to lead this country than Sarah Palin!

John McSame is putting the welfare, security and safety of the good 'ole USA in jeopardy with this choice.

John McCain as a solider swore to protect this country and with this decision and choice he is letting the country down. And any one that tags along, is equally guilty!

Hitler destroyed Germany, but the German people were guilty by association because they did not step up and be heard!

She is an incompetent boob. That is the media's fault? She has no experience. That is the media's fault? She is a pusher of abstinence and her unmarried 17 year daughter is pregnant and that is the media's fault. Give me a break! She is one scary woman! to put her daughter's welfare in jeopardy for her own personal ambition. Now that is disgusting!

Being an 18 year old, I was shocked to hear that Bristol is pregnant. Do they not have condoms or birth control pills in Alaska? This family has enough children, and having a baby at 17 is certainly not something to be "proud" of, as Palin said she was. Getting married at 17 is even stupider than getting pregnant at 17. Bristol just ruined her life, and no one is picking on her by telling the facts. If Palin cannot even run her own family, how can she run the country?

The fact that Bristol is now 5 months pregnant belies the lie that she is Trig's real mother. Trig was born on April 18, 2008.
Palin could have said the daughter's baby was fathered by John Edwards. The media, who covered up Edwards adultery and love child for 2 plus years would have immediately dropped the subject. You notice that Democrats did not press for a DNA test in the Edwards case.

Most of the media is ignoring (while continuing the rumor), the vileness of the original post on Daily Kos. The original post said the 'father' was the son, scheduled to go to Iraq on Sept. 11. Even the media can't stomach such a vile assertion. We'll see who began this rumor - eventually it will come out, as many are investigating it now.

Michael Moore and two high Democrats said that Gustave was God's judgement that Democrats would win. Sound familiar?

Palin, as Governor, has a budget roughly 10 times Obama's campaign budget, and has a number of employees approximately six times the number of his campaign workers. Obama should do a little research before claiming his remarks.

"At guest at Sarah Palin's church."

Posted by: Lost Cause | September 2, 2008 11:20 PM

Just what the hell does this mean? You, anti-semitic f***wad!

Hey, it is so EXCITING to be in the company of SO MANY pure, moral male and female virgins! I musta died and gone to heaven with all of the precious "saints" who have commented on here!

And it was at that Bible Church where a recent guest described a Palestinian attack on Israeli citizens as part of God's judgment coming to pass on Earth -- an analysis likely troubling both to Jews, as well as to mainstream foreign policy analysts.

Describing a trip by his son to Jerusalem, Jews for Jesus founder David Brickner described the a July Palestinian bulldozer attack against Israeli civilians as part of God's "judgment."

At guest at Sarah Palin's church.

met the 50 percent threshold for the first time Tuesday in the Gallup daily tracking poll, a symbolic hurdle that until now had eluded the Democratic nominee.

The Gallup daily tracking poll has found that since the conclusion of the Democratic convention, Obama has risen 5 percentage points in the polls and now leads John McCain 50 percent to 42 percent. That represents a positive turn for Obama, after a couple of days in which he appeared to have peaked at the 49 percent mark while McCain was showing slight improvements.

Hey 8 generation-Your great great granddaddy fight for the Confederacy? You being from Memphis and all?

Obama met the 50 percent threshold for the first time Tuesday in the Gallup daily tracking poll, a symbolic hurdle that until now had eluded the Democratic nominee.

The Gallup daily tracking poll has found that since the conclusion of the Democratic convention, Obama has risen 5 percentage points in the polls and now leads John McCain 50 percent to 42 percent. That represents a positive turn for Obama, after a couple of days in which he appeared to have peaked at the 49 percent mark while McCain was showing slight improvements.

We come from a family of patriots and veterans going back to our nation's beginning. We're proud of that and that we are DAR and SAR. We support John McCain and Sarah Palin. Michael, Elizabeth, David, James, Karen, and Susan Benton,
Memphis, TN

Hey, it is so EXCITING to be in the company of SO MANY pure, moral male and female virgins! I musta died and gone to heaven with all of the precious "saints" who have commented on here!

Glad the devil is running because I'm a Wiccan.

Let's drain that Demo cesspool in DC!!!!
Send Roberta McCain there to whack 'em with her shoe!!!!

If the Devil himself ran for president as a Republican, he would still get the Christian vote. They would not be able to recognize him. These Christians are more Republican than Christian.

Wait a minute, the devil is running as a Republican.

Those rumors about Bristol being Trig's mom would disappear really quickly if Sarah's OB/GYN spoke up and verified Sarah's story. It's just that simple, folks. The doctor wouldn't have to to give too many details--a simple confirmation would do.

The longer the Palins let this story run, the more damage it will do--and the Democrats won't have to say a word to keep it going. If Bristol is Trig's mom and pregnant again...what the hell is going on in that family?!? As it is, I don't think a mother of four or five kids, including a newborn Down's Syndrome child, is going to have enough time to be VP.

This was clearly a token pick. McCain thought he could have Lieberman or Ridge and didn't come up with a plan C. Yet another reason to not vote for McCain.

Hey, it is so EXCITING to be in the company of SO MANY pure, moral male and female virgins! I musta died and gone to heaven with all of the precious "saints" who have commented on here!

Hey, it is so EXCITING to be in the company of SO MANY pure, moral male and female virgins! I musta died and gone to heaven with all of the precious "saints" who have commented on here!

Sorry folks! We're still Indys and McCain gets the vote. Texans for McCain.

Still voting for McCain/Palin.

How do we know Bristol is pregant? Oh!... because the same people who were covering everything up in the rumor are vouchsafing that she is. And they MUST be believed even by those who were so sure Sarah was not Trig's mother. Why? Because doubting them twice would be DOUBLE-JEOPARDY, which is senseless and illegal. In any case, if Bristol SHOULD (wonders never cease with this family!) have an alleged miscarriage of her alleged pregancy, then that would be after the election, and that would be water over the dam. So, however you look at it, the case is solved. (Look up double-jeopardy in any law book, if you don't believe me.)

It was completely unnecessary for the McCain/Palin campaign to reveal Bristol's current pregnancy. A simple, direct approach to the Bristol-is-Trig's-mom rumor would be: "Here's Todd's DNA, here's Sarah's DNA, here's Trig's DNA, it's a match, you people are disgusting."

But they didn't do that -- which means that the rumor almost surely is true. Now, Bristol may in fact be pregnant (again?), but that is irrelevant to the issue of whether the Palins lied about Trig's parentage. In fact, it's really sad that they used her (and Levi) to try to rehabilitate some fatally flawed decisions. And Ms. Palin's poor choices in this sordid drama directly reflect on her judgement, a quality we all agree is vital in a potential Commander-in-Chief.

Hey, it is so EXCITING to be in the company of SO MANY pure, moral male and female virgins! I musta died and gone to heaven with all of the precious "saints" who have commented on here!

what a joke. the republicans are bashing Obama for not having experience then McSame turns around and taps Palin (who?) to be his veep while her oldest child is knocked up! lmao. Go Obama-Biden!!!

Okay Republicans, now if this would have happened to Obama's daughter the entire Republican party would be bashing him and his family, with no sympathy whatsoever. Instead they would have been saying that he would have been unfit to run the country since he couldn't monitor what went on in his own family. But because it's the Republicans nominee whos daughter is pregnant, it's suddenly become okay to have children when you're still a child yourself. Being she is a strong opponent to sex education, than would she not have been even more in touch with her children. What does this say about McCain's judgment in all of this.

In Alaska, age of consent is 16. You would think this would mandate an ever greater parent presence in the life of the child.

WOW...

Why isn't anyone pointing out that she was a leader in an independent party that was trying to get Alaska to secede from the Union?

When Mrs. Obama said she was proud of her country for the first time, the republicans jumped all over that questioning her loyalty as an amercian. Seeeet this gal is trying to divide the United States and no one says a word, just focus on the kid...believe me there is a lot more to focus on that is far more damaging and everyone is ignoring the more important things.

Screw her daughter...oops someone already took care of that.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense, make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”
— Jesus Christ, Matthew 23: 14-15

Hypocrisy of the greatest magnitude.

a word to all you so called democrats voting for McSame...if your conscience will let you, good for you.

"McSane" : You are an ignoramus. We have no proof that a Downs Syndrome test was done. We have no record of Trig's birth, from any hospital, and we don't know whether it is Sarah's child or Bristol's! 80% of Downs syndrome babies are born to women under age 35! And "McSane", you have no right to badmouth Obama in regard to this scandal, because he was the first to say "It is a private matter, and especially off-limits in the case of children." Obama shows great generosity of spirit, wisdom, the absence of spite and very good judgement. Right now his opponent is flat on his back, and Obama could "run him through" easily. But I expect you'll see the light, if you're not a total ignoramus, when the debates come around. Obama will trounce McInsane soundly. And Biden will rip Palin to ribbons. Superior experience, paired with an even temper (which McInsane clearly lacks) will win this election for the Democrats.

I wonder how long Bristol has been having sex, since she about 12 or 13? There must have been signs? and mom and dad did not notice? Well, guess mom was not home enough to notice!

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM:

"We renew our call for replacing 'family planning' programs for teens with increased funding for abstinence education, which teaches abstinence until marriage as the responsible and expected standard of behavior," the platform says.

"Abstinence from sexual activity is the only protection that is 100% effective against out-of-wedlock pregnancies..."

so much for this plank!

What we are seeing is a Dysfunctional family playing out its dysfunction in front of millions of Americans.

Well, at least Palin did not hire a hit man to take of her brother in law.

This is so typical of the Republican Party. Why not talk about the issues? What concerns me most is the conservative media and social groups want us to ignore the facts. Why do the republicans keep saying she qualified? I admire her ability to multitask; I'm in grad school, maintaining a 4.0, with a 7, and 3 years old. I'm also a wife and work. Give me round of applause as well as Gov. Palin, but that certainly doesn't mean I'll be supporting her or John McCain, nor does it qualify me or Gov. Palin for vice presidency. Do as I say--not as I do, that's the creed of the Republican Party. Okay, she's keeping the baby, that's great; she made a choice, a choice that the Republican Party seeks to make for every woman (whether or not they don't want to keep the child). No one has the right to tell me or any other woman what to do with our body. Despite what Gov. Palin saids, she originally voted for the "bridge to nowhere." Come on. Alaska does not share the same struggles as the inner city of Chicago, New York or any other place. From what we understand, she is doing well in Alaska; she should continue to do so. This is reckless! The mantra of John McCain, "He is not experienced." Well, maybe he should have not focused so much on Barack and more on himself and his party who will see the light. Of course the Republicans will try to spin this like the media are being so critical because she is a woman, when in fact it is because she lacks the “credible” sound experience that she needs to be an efficient vice president. We want someone ready on day one, not someone who doesn’t even know herself what the vice president does or needs on the job training. Wow! Not this time America, please, not this time.

So are the Republicans now saying that it's okay to have a baby while still being a child yourself all because their VP nominee says it's okay? What message are we sending to our young ones. Is it true that Palin herself is a strong opponent of sex education in the schools. I wouldn't be surprise if because of the Republicans acceptance of this that there will now be a lot of illegitimate teen pregnancies. Hey, if it's okay for Palin's daughter to do it, than it's okay for me to do it too. Perhaps in the process of being empowered with all that has gone on in Palin's life in the last two years, her family has had to take a back seat to her ambitions.

Has anyone looked into when Bristol turned seventeen? She is five months pregnant, did she get pregnant at sixteen? The beau is supposedly eighteen... Would seem like some interesting research....

Normally such a family issue would be irrelevant politically. However, Gov. Palin has opposed contraception and banned comprehensive sex education. Her push of destructive abstinence-only ideology has destroyed countless lives by causing many teen pregnancies, including that of her daughter. This does prove that Palin is unfit for leadership and generally irresponsible and incompetent.

I find it disgusting that liberals are pouncing on the pregnancy of Gov. Palin's daughter and the fact that the governor has had five children in an attempt to torpedo her candidacy. If a conservative male were to question whether a liberal female with five children should serve, his testicles would be crushed between two rocks. People, his are the important facts to know:
1. Sarah Palin has been a state governor for two years and thus has far more executive experience than either member of the Democratic ticket.
2. Gov. Palin has fought corruption within her own state party and has appointed Republicans, Democrats and independents to her administration. Obama/Biden can't say the same.
3. Ms. Palin has defended the victims of the Exxon Valdez spill and has stood up to Big Oil. She has fought for a natural gas pipeline to bring clean, domestic energy to the lower 48 states.

Another Democrat for McCain/Palin.

Levi, Bristol, Sarah, Tod, Trig, baby-Bristol:
Dates, times, places, DNA tests.

I agree with someone who posted that if this was Obama's teenage daughter....the news would be all over it questioning his ability to lead our country!! The fact is...Sarah Palin is absolutely unqualified to lead our country, John McCain is about to keel over at 72 years old and our country is in a state of turmoil because of the Republican Prez that has been in power for the last 8 years!! HELLO PEOPLE...WE NEED A CHANGE AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS TO TAKE OFFICE ASAP! OBAMA/BIDEN 2008!

The Christian social conservatives politicized the personal long ago! Among other things, Palin wants to change policies and laws that affect our personal choices and behaviors.

The tragedy about the Sarah Palins in our society and government isn't that "We can't control what our children do," it's that they absolutely want to control what my children do.

The lesson that free-thinking humans should take from the Palin morality play is this: It is always the worst offenders who despise us for their failings and mistakes.

It doesn't matter anyway...she's not qualified.

Doesn't matter about her daughter...she's still not qualified!

Republicans criticize democrats for being disloyal to their party. But, that's what it means to truly have values. It's not just something that you preach to other people. You actually live by them. So when your party does something foolish you don't stand by them just because its your party. You have to make noise. Otherwise, they make you look like drones and fools.

As a Registered Nurse, I have seen my share of pregnant women. The story about Sara Palen's 5th child makes no medical sense. Why?
1)Sara Palin traveled (in her 3rd trimester) over 6 hours to Texas to give a speech. No obstetrician would allow a 3rd trimester pregnant woman, let alone a 44 year old woman, to travel She is considered "a high risk" pregnancy.
2) Supposedly, her water broke while in Texas. Having had 4 previous children, she would have gone into labor and delivered very quickly.
3) She flew back to Alaska, and the pilot and flight attendants saw NO evidence of discomfort/labor.
4) She did NOT go to a hospital after arriving, but, went somewhere else.
5) Her daughter was conveniently out of school for >6months, supposedly for mono.
6)) It is highly unlikely that a 7 to 8 month pregnant woman could tuck her blouse into her skirt. Sara Palin's photos show just that.

Thus, this child could not possibly be her child, but rather her grandchild. I guess it is easier to blame the daughter for the current pregnancy, than to admit to lying to her constituents all these months.

Jane wrote: Regardless of her family values, which do seem a bit questionable... she is in no way qualified to be a major player in national politics. If the GOP is going to push that Obama is too inexperienced, how does selecting a woman with two years of experience as the governer of a totally obscure state help their cause???
-------
Okay, Jane, you do know Obama's mother did the same thing only with a man not of her race or religion, much older and married?
Talk about questionable family values! And, did you also know that Obama is running for President, not Vice President? That's a pretty big difference when it comes to the experience factor. Especially given that Obama's mother passed away at age 53 and McCain's is still going strong at 96. And, how many years has Obama smoked cigarettes? The man could keel over at any time.
Listen, Pal, as McCain would say, I'll take John and Sarah's values over Obama and Biden's any day.

*okay from a teenage girls point of view*
Pregnancy isn't glorified. at all. i dont know a single 16/ 17 year old who wants a child for the hell of it. but we are still all going to have SEX. its not the goverments desicion on that matter. its free will remember? so let educate the youth of america! (its a new concept..) they learn to use a condom or learn about birth control and what do you know less pregnant teenagers!

*******BUT THATS NOT THE ISSUE!!!!!!!!

so why dont we think about whats let say.. important? hmm?
like who you are going to vote for?
like who is going to shape this nation?
who is going to LEAD the nation the most sucessful way to the most amount of people.. because no matter what less than half the nation is going to dissagree with the next commander in chief.
so lets LOOK AT THE CANIDATES and NOT THEIR FAMILIES!!!

the two basically unknown canidates from the independent party
Obama from the democrats
and McCain from the republic

LOGIC 101

..again...where's the data on age at conception (5 to 6 months ago) for these two. Is there a criminal charge that is being covered up?

I moved to the US from Canada five years ago and have lived here through the last election and now this one. I have to say - that from my vantage point, it feels like the media favors the republican party. If this was the Democratic VP - the Republican party would be all over it, saying "...how can Sarah control the country if she can't control her family?" I don't agree with that statement, I think it's onesided and unfair to the voters to distract from the important issues. However, the republicans just seem to find a way to get out of these "scandals" with more of the media's help than would a democrat. As an outsider, with some perspective, I definitely see a bias. Sadly, your friends north of the border will probably weep if another republican is voted in...maybe the media should poll their neigbors instead of just guessing at what would improve foreign relations.

Seems like John Edwards, while running for the Democratic presidential nomination, and fathering a baby while having an extramarital affair against his cancer-stricken wife, is a much bigger deal than an Alaskan teenager getting pregnant. Where are the media's priorities?

Regardless of her family values, which do seem a bit questionable (I am tempted to agree with the notion that this is meant to divert attention from the Trig rumours...I guess we'll see in a few months!) she is in no way qualified to be a major player in national politics. If the GOP is going to push that Obama is too inexperienced, how does selecting a woman with two years of experience as the governer of a totally obscure state help their cause??? Not to mention the clip of her stating that she doesn't know what the VP does from day to day...WOW. How people could be missing the blatent pandering for Hillary's supporters is baffling to me. ("I'm going to break the glass ceiling that Hillary put 18,000 cracks in" ...while being so against increasing women's right to choose..gah) And her 90% approval rating? That's from a town of 9,000 people who all lean very very far right. She's pretty, she's young, and she owns a gun. What more could the bible belt Christian right need as a reason to vote for her??

Is it something unheard of, no. Will it happen to thousands of teenage Americans this year alone, yes.

The fact that Palin's daughter will marry someone because of a mistake is the scary issue in all this. On mistake should not lead to another.

Palin's views on family values have now been put to the test, and they should. Her role is to convince voters to support her based on her beliefs.

Her daughter has made a decision (pre-marital sex) based on what she believed which was influenced by her upbringing.

I don't think that democrats should criticized yet since the candidates have yet to comment about the situation. But if they bring Palin's beliefs to the forefront , that would only be normal.

To my mind it's not Bristol's pregnancy that has political significance, it's her impending marriage to an 18-year-old self-proclaimed "red neck" and boozer who doesn't want children. This sounds like the kind of fore-doomed marriage a caring mother would want to steer her daughter away from. It's bad enough that Sarah Palin approves of the marriage. The real scandal will be if it comes out that she pressured the teenagers into it.

Having a fifth child after 40, pregnant unwed teens,trying to get an ex brother-in-law fired from his job for dissing ones sister...All this is befitting of a Jeff Foxworthy sequel....

The image this portrays to the rest of the world is that America is a mess. We once were looked up to as a leader by example now we are looking more like a late nite cable drama. Well schooled and intelligent thinkers are labeled as liberals. Half ass caucasian eubonics gets people elected. Waive the flag, cite the constitution while abusing its meaning, spew chapter and verse and scare the masses - without any doubt 20% of the population harbors 80% of reasoning. Too bad their one vote didn't equal three. Instead of challenging the majority to think up, it's easier and more effective to talk down.I blame the media and I especially blame those seeking out attention for personal gain through sensationalism by self perceived extrodinary acts. People seek meaningless endeavors when their lives are meaningless. There are so many things wrong here on so many different levels its disturbing to even list them.

When I heard that Governor Palin was the VP pick for John McCain, I was pretty intrigued. She's definetly seen as a bit of a maverick in her own state, she has bipartisan credentials, she is strong in her Christian faith, she's very set against corruption and the status quo, she has executive experience, and he has a very nice family by all accounts. What's not to like? Talk about a fantastic combination of personal and professional attribtes! The GOP has every right to be pleased with the selection, and Republicans have really turned up the heat in the race by making such a bold choice. It's commendable. I won't be voting for Senator McCain for many other reasons, but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the kind of groundbreaking selection he's made.

Honestly, my perception of Governor Palin has not changed since revelations about her daughter's pregnancy made the news. It's really not that surprising. Teens get pregnant all the time, and the family faith or political stance doesn't determine it. I hear a lot of comments on this page and others that insist that we liberals are dragging the poor kid through the muck. Some of my left-leaning brethren are indeed seeing it as proof of bad parenting or poor family management or proof of the failure of abstinence-only sex education. Really, though, there's no dragging and there's no muck. What many of us on the left also realize is that unplanned/unintended pregnancy knows no barriers -- it happens to every demographic group in every part of the country and in every community of faith. Naturally, it's a big step for the Governor's daughter, and I'm sure the Governor will be supportive of the child and the shotgun union.

If you look at the news cycle, it's a great time to get this tidbit out in the open because there are so many other things going on. It'll blow away in a couple days. What it may do, however, is accelerate the pace of digging into the Governor's background and family, and there may be a few more bones rattling around in their cupboards. Senator Obama was able to pre-empt a lot of the same kind of digging by publishing all of his past a long time ago. To those who say that the Obama family would have fared differently under a similar type of issue or scrutiny as the Palin family is encountering, I disagree. The only thing that this news item points out is that the whole Palin family needed to be prepared by the Governor of Alaska for the inevitable attention. I sense that she did not do this planning, which is unfortunate because she seems to have such a lovely family with such great accomplishments and promise.

What really amazes me is there were a large number of posts about how Palin should have had an abortion when she knew her child had Down's Syndrome and she had no business having a child because she was too old. Now the same people are saying it's her daughter's child. They went from wanting to execute a child because of a disability to wanting to persecute a 17 year old girl for having sex. If that's they kind of change they're pushing they can "keep the change". Obama's inability to keep his "nut" roots from behaving in this immoral fashion shows just how effective a leader he really is. Let's just put the whole conspiracy theory to rest because we know for a fact the child belongs to Governor Palin because we already know about the positive tests for Down Syndrome. This is the typical "Chicago" style politics we can expect from Obama and his supporters. That is why I would have voted for Hillary, but now I'm voting for the only real change left, McCain.

Hopefully this unfortunate and awkward situation can lead to a rational national discussion on the failed policy of supporting Abstinence-only programs in our public schools. The youth of this nation needs to be educated and empowered in this area. To provide them with any less is a crime and a great disservice to the future of the nation. I'm glad that the Palin family has found peace with the situation and that Bristol will be raising this child in a loving environment. (Though, I do wonder if she's being forced into marrying this guy). But if that's their choice, then all the best to them!

not being nosy, just skeptical. unfortunately, rovian politics dictates that we be somewhat skeptical during political campaigns. if there is a cover-up on top of a cover-up, questions should be asked.

Bristol "The Pistol" Palin sure knows about sex. It's too bad that she did not have information that Planned Parenthood could have provided. Now the GOP has a Veep candidate more appropriate to being a guest on Jerry Springer's old shows than to a position one malignancy from the Presidency.

Quote: "More disturbing is the fact that Palin and her husband were both members of the Alaskan Independence Party.

Ms. Palin, when were you first really proud to be an American? Presumably, after you left a party calling for a vote for Alaska to leave the USA."

So, I was once a member of a party called the Democratic Party, and so was akmost every one in my state. Then we learned better and every elected official in the state of over 26 million is Republican. That has happened in 40 years. How fast they fall when you take a look at them.

Quote: "I would like to see or read about the results of at least TWO independent pregnancy tests confirming that Bristol is pregnant. I’m THAT suspicious. She just happens to be five-months-pregnant as the rumors and discussion about the son being the governor’s grandson start to shoot across the Internet. COME ON! I predict that one of the next headlines in this story will read, “Miscarriage!” This is crazy."

No, you are not "that suspicious". You are that NOSY. A true lib who feeds on this stuff. It is none of your business, until the daughter is running for VP. Palin has more accomplishments than Obama or Hillary Clinton, and has not been PROVEN to be a habitual liar like Hillary.
Go eat another potato chip and try to find a Jerry Springer re-run and your "suspicions" might go away.

she's not pregnant

Posted by: riding | September 2, 2008 11:43 AM

Hmmmmm .... must have happened in the break time right after bible study, but just before the sex ed abstinence class ...

* Republicans: supporting life right up until birth.

Posted by: Suz | September 2, 2008 11:38 AM

Wow . . . I guess I am done here. I thought I would expect better from Washington Post readers. My point has been proved entirely. The point is: beware lest you become every that you accuse the other side of being in terms of tone, hatred, judgmentalism or worse! I would have to go with worse by what I have read. Even contempt of some on the other side wanting their young people to have Bible classes??? Listen to yourselves! You have become what you supposedly oppose!I am out of here.

"Seriously saying the "Republicans would say the same things if it was a Democrat's daughter..." is ridiculous. And even if it were true, how about taking the high road and NOT do what you say the evil Republicans would do? Doing or saying something just because someone else did or would do it...is a very childish excuse.

Believe what you will about Sarah Palin and her family, but take responsibility for the words you write."

Anon, I'd have a lot more sympathy for this point of view if the Republicans hadn't plumbed new depths in slimemongering in the past 20 years. Honestly, there is no way the Republican noise machine wouldn't make hay out a revelation like this on the Democratic side.
Do you think Democrats should "take the high road" when the opposition never has?
Don't be naive. This is politics, not Sunday school. They will (and should) use whatever it takes to win.

she's not pregnant

Hmmmmm .... must have happened in the break time right after bible study, but just before the sex ed abstinence class ...

* Republicans: supporting life right up until birth.

"The old saying about the apple not falling far from the tree needed an update; 'The wheels don't roll far from the trailer'."

Rednecks? Trailer Trash? What do you expect from Alaska? Shame! Shame! Shame! What kind of country are you going to build when you have such contempt and vitriol for people not as "enlightened" as yourselves? Why would I ever believe that you have the best interest of the little guy in mind? It reminds me of the explicative filled political yard signs and bumper stickers of the compassionate "progress" community I used to live near. This is compassion? Again, I totally despise the rumor-mongering by right wingers against Democrats present and in the past. Don't give me the "Republicans would do this" arguments. When the right wing does it is wrong, but what about the disgraceful words of the "compassionate" progressives in this comment section?

The old saying about the apple not falling far from the tree needed an update; "The wheels don't roll far from the trailer".

Thanks GOP

Seriously saying the "Republicans would say the same things if it was a Democrat's daughter..." is ridiculous. And even if it were true, how about taking the high road and NOT do what you say the evil Republicans would do? Doing or saying something just because someone else did or would do it...is a very childish excuse.

Believe what you will about Sarah Palin and her family, but take responsibility for the words you write.

Ummm. There are people who live in Idiotville thinking Obama's camp is getting at Palin's daughter for being a teen mom.

Obama IS born from a TEEN MOM!

He is clearly a living example of that situation.

Conservatards, do your homework next time.

What a joke.Sarah Palin would become the least qualified VP of all time and is ill suited to be President.

Nice family values candidate. Must be against birth control.

The psychologically damaged McCain who lacks the temperment to be President according to former Republican Senator Santorum will be way too OLD to be President.

In year 4, McCain is going to be 77 folks.Talk about napping on the job.

Here below is my earlier post spell-checked lest someone try to pile on me for being an "uneducated" trailer dweller or whatever smear that some lurk here would like to use. I have read more of the comments below, and I am dumbfounded. Redneck is not used of the Palins, but trailer trash is and there are innuendos of incest and similar insults toward the people of Alaska. Shame! Shame! Shame! What kind of country will you build with your contempt for certain classes of people? Here is my previous post corrected for those of you who use the presence of typos to belittle people:

"The responses on this thread epitomizes
why I do not believe the liberals' feigned compassion. Think about what you are writing! Before someone spouts back that right-wingers do the same thing, I will say that I cannot stand the rumor-mongering on the other side (Obama is a secret Muslim, the Clintons had political enemies murdered, etc., etc.). Bringing up the actions of the right wing nutjobs is a red herring. Take responsibility for what you write. Some of you seemed to be insinuating that the Palins are backwoods, bumpkins. If the "red----" word has not been used yet, then that is exactly what many of you are insinuating concerning the Palins. Your contempt for people not as "enlightened" as yourselves is palpable. I would be scared to death if folks with such contempt for their fellow human beings ever achieved near total power."

Maybe Bristol is not pregnant after all. Maybe she is faking the pregnancy to "prove" that she's not Trig's mother. Maybe there will be no new baby. This is better than The Young and Restless...

Let's see here:
Chelsea Clinton(no scandals)
Bush Girls(Underaged Drinking)

Biden's children(no scandals)
Palin's daughter(teen pregnancy)

Oh, yes. Republicans have a grip on family values! :)

The father of the baby said it best...I'M A REDNECK!"

Indeed you are. Indeed you are!LMAO!

So someone on here stated" You can't control your children"in support of Palin.

I bet you are the same dense person who skewered Obama about his preacher(not even related to him!).

If you can't control your child,then how can you control the country?

Let's see:
*The father said on his Myspace page clearly that he did NOT want kids.
*Liberals are constantly vilified for not having "family values"

One poster said it best: " it's okay for Republicans to disregard values, but not Democrats.

Hypocracy is what Republicans live and die by.

Straight talk.

I supported John McCain in 2000 and did not vote for a Democrat in the Presidential election.

I will not support John McCain in 2008 and will vote for a Democrat in the Presidential election.

His questionable selection of Mrs. Palin as VP is my reason for the change.

Hey Conservatives, Rif said it best!

You're either for or against teen pregnancy

Just like you turds yelled to us liberals:

You're either for or against the war in Iraq.
Hmmmmm. The tables turn.......

The responses on this thread eptomizes why I do not believe the liberals' feigned compassion. Think about what you are writing! Before someone spouts back that right-wingers do the same thing, I will say that I cannot stand the rumor-monging on the other side (Obama is a secret Muslim, the Clintons had political enemies murdered, etc., etc.). Bringing up the actions of the right wing nutjobs is a red herring. Take responsibility for what you write. Some of you seemed to be insinuating that the Palins are backwoods, bumpkins. If the "red----" word has been used yet, then that is exactly what many of you are insinuating concerning the Palins. Your contempt for people not as "enlighted" as youselves is palpable. I would be scared to death if folks with such contempt for their fellow human beings ever acheived near total power.

I definetly feel that John McCain is desperate and his desperation has clouded what was once good judgement. If the tables were turned and Obama had a 17 year old child who was 5 months pregnant, it would be considered an international incident and the republicans would have a filed day citing that his lack morals, inability of raising a family, and even more, running a country. Why was 16 year old Jamie Lynn Spears trashed for her pregnancy but it is accepted and spun into being o.k. for Palin’s daughter Bristol which was obviously hidden until now? It scares me to think that if something were to happen to John McCain that she would be incharge of our country. A governor of Alaska with limited expereince is detatched from the major cities in the USA which are plagued with issues that need to be addressed immediately! I don’t see how anyone who has lived in the USA for the last 8 years could possible vote for an unconstitutional 3rd Bush/ McCain/ Palin term.

Of course!

If You are Republican, its A-okay to have your teen daughter get pregnant.

If You are Democrat, it's WRONG!!!!!!!

I bet anyone all the money they have in the world that if Barack Obama's daughter was a tenn and pregnant, the Republicans would have racked that ossue over the coals BIG TIME!

Abstinence Only, my a**!

Best wishes to the Palin family and the grandchild on the way.

Why, please tell me, would a mother put her daughter in this position --to cover up her pregnancy with a blanket and baby brother? What does this tell us about Palin, and McCain who supposedly knew. What does this tell us about the transparancy and honesty of leadership?

Why didn't they just introduce the Palin family honestly -- a mother of five with a grandchild on the way. Oh, and by the way, the grandchild is out of wedlock, but this is a family thing like so many millions.

Geesh!

Prediction: The next shoe to drop is Todd Palin's women. Sahra will not last long on the ticket. The GOP is toast.

Again, best wishes to the Palin family. They will have many burdens.

...."they loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly"....

I think it would be terrific to have an under-educated, superstitious rube as Commander-in-Chief of the US military with her finger on the "nucular" trigger!

I think it would be great to put a regular old mediocre dysfunctional family in the White House to guide the nation!

I think the rest of the world will be most impressed with how our society has chosen to make the highest offices in the land part of reality television!

With all of the many accomplishments under her belt, I assume Palin will be able to handle the job of vice president even with two infants in the family.

Hi kaleigh

is what say about gov palin and her family needing her not also true for sen obama??
he puts his EVEN YOUNGER daughters in the spotlight and even more so should he be elected. he doesn't have or won't have enough time for them !! i think raisung kids is for both - mother AND father so i don't understand why again and again only the mothers are being dubbed .

It's a mess. If this story was put out to detract attention from Trig's parentage it failed. She would have been better advised just to make her medical records public. The 18 year old hockey player outed as Bristol's unborn baby's father says he doesn't want kids - why then announce the forthcoming marriage and the challenges they're going to face as parents. A shotgun wedding isn't going to help matters, especially when Bristol has a 26 year old boyfriend as well as the 'official' highschool boyfriend.

It is amazing how many people think that they have Sarah Palin pegged. It seems like we are clinging to any criticism or opportunity to judge her personal life. Don't waste your vote by voting for a candidate based on whether or not their 17 year old is pregnant and what you think that means about the candidate.

Why are we assuming that this was Sarah Palin's fault? Children don't always share their parents' beliefs. If her daughter was an atheist would this get blamed on her too? Would she be unfit for national service as a result?

I now understand how Jerry Springer stayed on the air for so many years......people really feel superior when given the opportunity to focus on the perceived shortcomings of others.

I am not a republican but have to say that John McCain picked an amazing public servant to be his running mate. Governor Palin has an 80% approval rating as Alaska's governor for good reason. In two and a half years as governor, she has turned Alaska's political world upside down. She has successfully brought both democrats and republicans to the table to do the job that they were elected to do. She gets things done and is ethical in the process.

If Sarah Palin can do on a national level what she has been able to do in Alaska, this country will move in the right direction.

Suddenly it all makes sense!

When the McCain camp wanted to reach out to their midwestern Republican base, they "vetted" the most familiar VP for them: someone with 5 kids, a screechy voice, a hunting husband, and a pregnant teenage daughter! (haha, kidding, relax folks).

In all seriousness....Palin is a total disaster for the McCain campaign, and I really feel sorry for her to have been thrown into all of this.

She was in a great place in her life career wise, and dealing with both raising a family and helping her daughter. And can you imagine being her 17 year old daughter who has spent most of her life in a tiny town, now having to deal with all this crap?

This whole thing sounds strangely familiar to those stories you see on Court TV about the families who won the lottery, couldn't handle the pressure and exposure, and ended up being way worse off.

My prediction: Sarah Palin is gonna ask to NOT be on the ticket before November.

For Susan Eisenhower and Obamacans.

I bet Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower danced to this tune. Our grandparents did too.

Rudy Valle Rudy Vallee - Orchids In The Moonlight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsGDKJJvik8

Vote Obama/Biden '08

Who cares if her Daughter is pregnant.

She is against sex education and birth control, if thats what you believe vote for her.

She thinks Global Warming is not man made, if thats what you believe vote for her.

She thinks that the way to get independent of oil is to drill in nature parks, if thats what you believe vote for her.

She thinks that Polar Bears should not be listed as endangered because that would block people from drilling for oil in their habitat, if thats what you believe vote for her.

I can't see how some one running for VP, could not care about the environment and be so for drilling for oil.

I thought hardcore christians like her would want to be the stewards and care takers of the earth like the book of Genesis says we are.

I mean one positive if we slow Global Warming we will NOT have as many HUGE hurricanes like we have today.

How about looking into clean energy instead, because believe it or not there is no gas shortage at this time, the oil companies are just putting the screws to us because of demand. One day oil will be depleted though and so will our planet be depleted of life as it drowns in it's own blood of oil and dies.

Why not kill two birds with one stone and start using other clean methods of energy and start healing the environment?
I think we can all agree on that.

Unfortunately the government is controlled by the oil companies, yes the Democrats and Republicans are both in their pocket, the republicans are just proud to be public about it.

We live in a capitalist world and helping mother nature currently does not make a profit, free energy does not make a profit, so nothing will be done about it unless a crisis happens or the people rise up and demand it.

Sarah Palin, this is so ridiculous I can't even seriously think about it! And,
now all the trailer park like behavior begins to spill out. If my 17 year old daughter became preg. I don't think I'd accept a position that would put her in the spot light. What is this woman thinking? N

Regarding below, apparently in addition to feminism, this anonymous commenter shows us that spelling, grammar and literacy are also only for liberals.

Isn't the baby's father, Levi Johnston, the man the Palin kids call "Uncle Levi"? Not really a "young" man, is he? Isn't this the 57-year-old "friend of the family" who has been spending a lot of time with the Palin girls since their mother has been so busy politicking? A man who supposedly "thinks of the girls as [his] own daughters", a man who campaigned fiercely against sex education in Alaska public schools?? No, it's not? Hmm...well, it certainly sounded plausible enough when I re-read it.

Republican Football Fan.

Susan Eisenhower: Barack is the best choice (CNN Interview)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1Kmsv8-Jzk&feature=related

When Dwight Eisenhower's granddaughter Susan said "Yes we can!" over 84,000 supporters at the Democrat Convention cheered her on and yelled "Yes we can!"

My Favorite Eisenhower Story From Wikipedia. Dwight could have been a Professional Football player?

At West Point, Eisenhower made the football team. He started as a varsity running back and linebacker in 1912. In a bit of a fabled match-up, he even tackled the legendary Jim Thorpe in a 1912 game.

Obamacans for Obama/Biden '08

According to the bloggers women should just hide when they get pregnant. Where is the praise for McCain sticking with his choice. He would not of demonstrate good values by abandoning Palin even though he thought she was best for the job. Feminist aren't for women, they are for liberals.

I'm already sick of this woman. Three days into it and how many scandals now?

I wonder what news we will hear about Wasilla De'Ville tomorrow!

stay tuned

Michelle Obama is the wife of David Palmer in the series 24. It's freaking scary how similar they are. Cheryl Palmer = Michelle Obama. Go watch some episodes and you will see the evil familiarities.

While there are over 1000 news reports on a 17 year old being pregnant who happens to be the VP choice, only one news outlet is mentioning that the Alaska trooper and former brother in law to Sarah Plain used a taser against a child and was cited for violations of the law many times in the last four years--- and he is the focus of the bogus trooper gate headlines in whose stories there is no mention of his abuses.
"Then there's trooper Mike Wooten, who used a Taser on his stepson, Palin's nephew Payton. Wooten has been reprimanded for violating nearly a dozen laws and departmental policies since December 2001."

http://www.kansascity.com/444/story/776555.html

Hi I am Barack Obama! I don't look like you cuz I am black. My wife thinks that all you whites are racist because she is stuck in the 1950's. I tried explaining the her that it's time to change and she understood. So she tried blending in with the whites on the cover of people magazine with me. We wish we were white so we didn't have to hate whites. Our daughters were supposed to be aborted but Michelle over slept the day of her appt. She tried re-scheduling but they told her human life began at conception. She tried cutting the babies out but Jeremiah Wright told her to re focus her anger about how the white people did this to her. I told Jeremiah that I did not agree with him but I still made him the guest of honor at my fundraiser. He sat next to Tony Rezko. They got drunk at accidently touched hands. But that's ok because I got a picture of it to show all my gay friends in Hollywood that I threw a great party. I wish I remembered what I was going to write next but my teleprompter gave out. OH Well err. duh,err duh,err doe. Joe get me a oe40 out of the fridge.

TALE OF THE TAPE ON CELEBRATED TEEN
PREGNANCY AND FAMILY VALUES.

1.Jamie Lynn Name of Teenage Bristol Palin
Spears Culprit

2. 16 years Age 17 years

3. 3 months State of Pregnancy 5 months
at time of publicity

4.Sister, Notable relative Mother, Sarah
Britney Spears, Palin, Alaska
an acclaimed Gov.& GOP's
celebrity who has veep nominee
Sen.John McCain as an
unwilling fan

5.Wore a big Public effort Carried baby
oversized coat at hiding baby brother over
bump her swollen
& protruding
stomach during
her mother's
introduction as
John McCain's running mate.

6.Somewhat Family Image High moral dysfunctional ground

7.Laissez-faire Public Image Hypocrites

LESSON:

McCain's judgment is suspiciously faulty. It will always happen whenever his error-tainted gene becomes dominant.

Isn't the issue that having a VP candidate with a pregnant teen daughter sends the wrong message to our youth about teen pregnancy? It almost glorifies it.
Ascribing no blame to Sarah Palin, if McCain knew about the pregnancy he should not have chosen her because the pregnant teenage daughter is simply not a good role model for girls. If he didn't know, it shows poor vetting and poor judgment and he shouldn't be President.

Republican family values? Looks like Sarah Palin failed at helping her 17 year old daughter avoid becoming pregnant out of wedlock and well short of Bristol having completed an education that will give Bristol a shred of the opportunities her own mother had. It's shocking that Sarah Palin would have no shame at all about getting so ego-involved in politics to run for governor and letting her own parenting slide to the point of failing to guide her oldest daughter. Shame on Sarah Palin! Opportunity for women apparently means, for Republican women, means sacrificing your family, including your daughters, to advance your own selfish interests. This is not a role model for women I want my daughters to follow.

Sorry you are really slow but she is the governor of Alaska. She makes decisions like balancing a budget which senators don't do. She makes decisions on how to protect her citizens like governors do. She is head of the National Gaurd of Alaska, so she has more experience with being a commmander in cheif. She runs the state. Senators vote on bills. Some senators create bills to vote on. Barack Obama has never been the author of one single bill. What does he do? He votes present like a big puss

Sorry you are really slow but she is the governor of Alaska. She makes decisions like balancing a budget which senators don't do. She makes decisions on how to protect her citizens like governors do. She is head of the National Gaurd of Alaska, so she has more experience with being a commmander in cheif. She runs the state. Senators vote on bills. Some senators create bills to vote on. Barack Obama has never been the author of one single bill. What does he do? He votes present like a big puss

Sorry you are really slow but she is the governor of Alaska. She makes decisions like balancing a budget which senators don't do. She makes decisions on how to protect her citizens like governors do. She is head of the National Gaurd of Alaska, so she has more experience with being a commmander in cheif. Joe Biden is a racist

Sorry you are really slow but she is the governor of Alaska. She makes decisions like balancing a budget which senators don't do. She makes decisions on how to protect her citizens like governors do. She is head of the National Gaurd of Alaska, so she has more experience with being a commmander in cheif. She runs the state. Senators vote on bills. Some senators create bills to vote on. Barack Obama has never been the author of one single bill. What does he do? He votes present like a big p u s e

Sorry you are really slow but she is the governor of Alaska. She makes decisions like balancing a budget which senators don't do. She makes decisions on how to protect her citizens like governors do. She is head of the National Gaurd of Alaska, so she has more experience with being a commmander in cheif. She runs the state. Senators vote on bills. Some senators create bills to vote on. Barack Obama has never been the author of one single bill. What does he do? He votes present like a big puss

Sorry you are really slow but she is the governor of Alaska. She makes decisions like balancing a budget which senators don't do. She makes decisions on how to protect her citizens like governors do. She is head of the National Gaurd of Alaska, so she has more experience with being a commmander in cheif. She runs the state. Senators vote on bills. Some senators create bills to vote on. Barack Obama has never been the author of one single bill. What does he do? He votes present like a big p u s e

No one can control their sons and daughters. Haven't you learned from your own youth. Kids lie all the time. Having a kid is the most wonderful thing in the world and I am a young father and wouldn't change it ever. Sarah Palin is just being a good mom and supporting her daughter. The only thing wrong with this situation is that it takes focus of who Barack really is. Barack's wife is an angry racist woman. His preacher is an angry old black man. His campaign is based on bashing Bush who is gone in less than 5 months. He has no plans for all the issues he says that he will fix. His solution to the problems with the economy is to tax more on businesses. Look at Japan right now, they are in a real recession because they don't offer business tax incentives. I am doing just fine in the crisis of the economy, because I save money and have personal responsibility. It is not the job of the government to tell me how to live. Stand up for yourself. Anyone who says the opposite of me obviously always got a participation trophy in the elementary days so they didn't cry.

McCain's campaign doesn't lie like Obama's campaign. They offered this information free. This has nothing to do with politics. No one can control their child unless they take away civil liberties. I guess that is what the democrats goal is. They could of just shown hospital records to back Trygg's birth and the picture of Sarah being fat instead they share with the american public not hide things. Obama hides Tony Rezco, Jereimah Wright, jesse Jackson, Bill Ayers (the terrorist bomber), his half brother in Kenya who is poor and the Millionaire does not support. The fact he attended two seprate Islamic charter schools in Indonesia. The list goes on...

McCain's campaign doesn't lie like Obama's campaign. They offered this information free. This has nothing to do with politics. No one can control their child unless they take away civil liberties. I guess that is what the democrats goal is. They could of just shown hospital records to back Trygg's birth and the picture of Sarah being fat instead they share with the american public not hide things. Obama hides Tony Rezco, Jereimah Wright, jesse Jackson, Bill Ayers (the terrorist bomber), his half brother in Kenya who is poor and the Millionaire does not support. The fact he attended two seprate Islamic charter schools in Indonesia. The list goes on...

Please define "Executive Experience".

Please define "Executive Experience".

McCain's campaign doesn't lie like Obama's campaign. They offered this information free. This has nothing to do with politics. No one can control their child unless they take away civil liberties. I guess that is what the democrats goal is. They could of just shown hospital records to back Trygg's birth and the picture of Sarah being fat instead they share with the american public not hide things. Obama hides Tony Rezco, Jereimah Wright, jesse Jackson, Bill Ayers (the terrorist bomber), his half brother in Kenya who is poor and the Millionaire does not support. The fact he attended two seprate Islamic charter schools in Indonesia. The list goes on...

Please define "Executive Experience".

I would like to see or read about the results of at least TWO independent pregnancy tests confirming that Bristol is pregnant. I’m THAT suspicious. She just happens to be five-months-pregnant as the rumors and discussion about the son being the governor’s grandson start to shoot across the Internet. COME ON! I predict that one of the next headlines in this story will read, “Miscarriage!” This is crazy.

It's so funny how all the people on the left are presuming what would happen if it were Barack Obama's daughter who was pregnant. They say the right would be saying the same thing. Get a clue...That is not the reality so discuss something like why does Sarah Palin have more executive experience than Obama, Biden, McCain. Also if she had an abortion you would be saying worse things. Democrats are bitter and pathetic. PS Joe Biden is a racist.

I guess conservatives are supporting Bristol because they love women to get married when they are still teenager and get no education. Thus, men can dominate the lives of all women. Conservatives who are asking liberals not to attack should not have done so against Hillary and Chelsea. They started it. But with one small difference. Chelsea never became pregnant when she was 17. I guess she was intelligent. After all, she went to Stanford. Her mom went to Yale not like Bristol's mom who was stupid enough not to get admission in top universities and ended up in University of Idah. LOL. Like mother like daughter.

I really dont care how conservative she preaches to be, or how with it she wants to play, Palin screwed up.And no moral majority or and brow beaters out there are going to convince anyone otherwise.Yeah, they are just like any other American family, except you have a pregnant minor living in your house,even as she stumped with John on friday of how Conservative she was, how far to the right she was even moreso than McCain( which frankly, im a liberal and im further right than john is).
The focus mix here is astounding, and the polls will be skewed, not because of the convention, but because of the controversy, and we'll be tormented by all the "corporate" news game shows until our ears bleed.
This past couple of weeks should prove to any American how heavily tainted our system is , and how much the Press can scew the op-polls to get your attention, or change views by reporting trivial issues.
We all keep saying "lets hear about the real issues" and i hear reports of speaches from Obama, and town hall Stump speaches from McCain followed by a "press" conference.But you all ask the same dumb questions, and nobody pushes the issue when they avoid answering.Grow some balls, find that independant neutral reporting view point, and give us some eal News, not just all this 'Opinion" crap

I dont know where you idiots get your numbers. Palin is seen as 53% favorable to Biden @ 48% favorable. Oh an Biden great idea was to break Iraq into three countries so every year we go through terror and bomb threats like when the allies carved up Isreal and Palastine. More hostility in the Middle East. Sounds like great foriegn Policy.

If the conservatives support Bristol then they must be supporting all teenage mothers and brides all over the world. I guess Talibans and Republicans have one more thing in common besides their love for gun.

Wow. I would have said "Yawn, who cares?" to this whole Palin's daughter is pregnant "story." But now the libs are setting the stage for a monumental backlash. By all means, pile on the candidate's daughter some more. You guys just don't know when to quit do you?

Conservatives who are rallying behind Bristol should answer one question. Do you support pre marital sex or not? Please answer it loudly so we can know once for all what you believe in. You did not criticize McCain when he called Chelsea ugly and joked that Janet Reno was her father. Conservatives all over the world love lieing, cheating, and when it comes to sex they will have it with anyone. I wonder if McCain is sleeping with Sarah Palin. Otherwise why will a 72 year old man select a younger, prettier woman who has no experience. I guess Kay Bailey Hutchison was an old hag for McCain. He has young wife and now wants to have young VP.

If McCain decesion was so bad how come he raised more money in the last two days than any other time on his campaign?

How can everyone be up an arms about Palin experience when she has more experience than the Community Organizer aka Obama. 1 term senator with no foriegn experience who just votes present instead of making an executive decesion. She has ran the 32nd biggest budget in the country with a surplus, has the best knowledge of Energy in the country which helps the economy and gas prices. Ran the biggest land mass in America. Took on corruption in the Government and all Obama does is lie. His DNC speech sounded like Republican policies: Cut taxes, drill for oil and invest in renawable energy. Send Troops to Georgia and Afghanstan. All issues he has voted no to. He is just all lies with no experience and the biggest Affirmative Action job canidate in history. Name any White person that would be consider for president after 1 year in senate and 2 campaigning. You will not even consider a White women for VP with 2 Years Executive Experience. Wake up People OBAMA has no foreign Policy experience.

I'm not sure whether this is a willful myopia on the part of conservatives or whether they truly don't see the issue here, but here goes (forgive me for trying to insert a bit of logical thinking into this discussion):

1) Palin is a vocal opponent of teaching sexual education in public schools and instead offers teaching abstinence. The argument against this has always been that not giving teens information puts them at risk of making bad choices. The conservative argument against has been that it encourages "immoral behavior". Her daughter's current unfortunate situation (I'm assuming it's unfortunate and not planned) practically shouts that teaching abstinence doesn't work. Given that teaching reproductive issues in our public schools are a valid political issue, this means that like it or not, Palin's daughter's teenage pregnancy is a valid campaign issue in that it implies that simply teaching abstinence doesn't work.

2) If this pregnancy was known prior to her selection, it calls McCain's judgement into question. He had to realize that her lack of experience would already be a major issue. Adding to that a potential hot button issue like a teen pregnancy, it raises the issue of McCain's desire to be viewed as a maverick overriding solid decision-making based on all the available facts. This is a valid campaign issue because as President McCain will - presumably - be making many decisions which will have huge, literally world-affecting repercussions.

3) Palin has campaigned in the past as a hardcore "Family Values" candidate. That label is so cliched as to be almost meaningless at this point, but as a Social Conservative, she presumably advocates a traditional family unit where the mother and father are fully engaged in their children's lives. Given that she also advocates against premarital sex, one can only assume that she was unsuccessful in instilling her virtues into her own daughter. This makes it unlikely in the extreme that she will be able to instill those values in anyone else's children, and thus any attempt to bring Social Conservatism into the public sphere - an attempt which is presumably the reason why she is so attractive to the Republican Social Conservatives - seems clearly destined to fail, and to waste public money and time. Again, this makes it a valid campaign issue.

One last point - I'm almost embarrassed to have to point this out, but please note that nowhere in all this did I draw any specific attention to the fact that Palin is a woman. I feel that every single argument I make here would apply equally to a male candidate who held the same values.

Sorry this post is so long, but it's time for a little light and less heat, and you can't achieve that with pithy one-liners.

Interesting how quickly the Palin campaign announced that the daughter would be marrying the putative father.....is the official campaign song "Shotgun"?

99.5% doesn't mean 1 out of every 200 people will get pregnant. It means every time someone has sex there is a 1 in 200 chance of conception. So it is very small. For Anthony a few comments back.

I think the daughter's pregnancy is a personal matter, and completely has nothing to do with the larger problem: Palin has no business being in the position to possibly lead this country. Maybe in 15 or 20 years she might be the one for the job, but only 18 months ago (right around the time McCain and Obama started the campaigning process)...she was a Mayor of a rural town. Her resume, prior to becoming Governer for 1.5 years, reads more like someone who is applying to be a school principal - not a potential leader of the most powerful country in the world...that's in the middle of some bleak times right now.

I've always said that I prefer Obama, but wouldn't be too upset if McCain won. But his judgment in this makes me wonder if he is getting too old and out of touch with why I liked him to begin with.

Not knowing the person you are putting in line to run the U.S. is not putting "country first."

Thats what you get when you pick somebody nobody knows about.. We are going to dig and meet you... thats if you like it or not.. that is one of those down sides to being in the spotlight... cake and eat it too?... dont think so

Assume for the sake of argument that all pro-Palin comments are from conservatives and all anti-Palin comments are from liberals. Look over the comments carefully.

Do you notice that almost all of the really nasty comments "german shepards" "traglodytes" etc. are from the left? Same is true for all the hysterical "world is coming to an end" comments and the conspiracy theories "Sarah's child". Finally overrepresented in the left's side are comments that are almost surely made-up like "I was sure I was going to vote for Mc Cain and then he selected Palin and it made me vomit and now I will vote for Obama".

If you are on the fence you might want to join us conservatives who are generally nicer and think things out more thoroughly.

"The Point is Ray, that the Religious Right are A. Who are the most happy with Palin B. Are a serious threat to democracy and personal lives and personal choices and family values of a diverse nation."
The case presented was that there was some dicotomy where the Clintons were moral and yet certain Republicans weren't, yet the Clintons were somehow unfairly represented. The problem is, Democrats spent most of the Clinton administration lecturing us on how a man's private life was just that, and his personal morality didn't effect his ability to govern, despite all protestations from the "religious right". Now suddenly, Democrats want to embrace family values and be moral arbiters because it's politically expedient. Well, it doesn't work that way. You can't selectively unring the bell. If private morality didn't matter for Clinton, then it doesn't matter for McCain or Palin. If it did, then you spent 8 years helping a immoral man gain and keep power, and therefore no standing to pass judgement on the morality of the other side's guy.

As to the "religious right", last time I checked the religious right was supportive of the effort that has given representative democracy to tens of millions of Afghans and Iraqis. An effort that as recently as last year the two people at the top of the Democratic ticket were prepared to abanbon to potential genocide or partition of their country. People in the former Soviet empire have self determination due to the efforts of the religious right and the candidates that they supported. Liberals talk a good game but when push comes to shove they'll leave you in chains. Always prepared to fight the good fight against soft targets like Southern Baptists, but ask them to take on someone that might actually blow them up and it's time to "have a dialog" or "reach a compromise". Last I checked the religious right wasn't for campus speech codes and the onerous limitations to personal freedom of political correctness. Last I checked the religious right was in favor of defending all parts of the constitution, unlike the ACLU and Democrats as a party, that conveniently ignore the parts that make urbanites uncomfortable. Now, if by "democracy and personal lives and personal choices and family values" you mean actually mean "gay marriage, abortion on demand, and mandated public school indoctrination" yeah, they're a danger to that. But such are not the most pressing issues of our age, despite the prevailing wisdom of the Upper West Side barristas. And this is why, more and more, people are contemptuous of the Democratic party, because instead of being a party of the people, it's become the shrill organ of a bunch of liberal elitists who share no common values with most of the electorate. That you couldn't beat the weakess incumbent President of our lifetime in the midst of an unpopular war should be a clue.

Sarah Palin is an egotistical, overly ambitious politician who says she puts family values first, but is an obvious hypocrite. And whats with John McCain nominating someone he doesn't even know to be a "heart beat away". What a freak show Republican ticket. "The old Paw Paw Dude and the runner up to miz alaska".

The neo-cons, conservatives, and evangelicals just don't mix. The neo-cons have ruined our country and reputation. The evangelicals have shown themselves to be hypocrites. Let's face if God can't stop free will, then you certainly can't stop it through legislation. And the poor conservatives gave up all their core values to gain power.

This story is revealing on so many different levels. I hope the true conservatives make a come back because at least you care about the Constitution.

Palin is a joke.

If somehow she wins the election, the USA is finished.

We can't compete in the global economy with such lightweight "leaders."

I think it is humorous that the only people expressing offence at the daughter's pregnancy are the same leftists who typically have the least interest in traditional virtues.

The 10% or 15% of the electorate whose political ideology does not make the McCain/Obama choice obvious will likely measure this by how well Ms. Palin and her family handle the situation.

Based on what I have seen and read of her so far I think they will be impressed.

The left at this point would love to have Ms. Palin excuse herself from the race. That is a 60's Haight-Ashbury drug induced pipedream on their part.

It's all over the blogosphere: Bristol was made pregnant by the family German shepherd.

Hey, Sarah Palin, once you explain to your kids how babies are made, you may want to take a look at this:

"The generally accepted age for the Earth and the rest of the solar system is about 4.55 billion years (plus or minus about 1%). This value is derived from several different lines of evidence.

Unfortunately, the age cannot be computed directly from material that is solely from the Earth. There is evidence that energy from the Earth's accumulation caused the surface to be molten. Further, the processes of erosion and crustal recycling have apparently destroyed all of the earliest surface.

The oldest rocks which have been found so far (on the Earth) date to about 3.8 to 3.9 billion years ago (by several radiometric dating methods). Some of these rocks are sedimentary, and include minerals which are themselves as old as 4.1 to 4.2 billion years. Rocks of this age are relatively rare, however rocks that are at least 3.5 billion years in age have been found on North America, Greenland, Australia, Africa, and Asia.

While these values do not compute an age for the Earth, they do establish a lower limit (the Earth must be at least as old as any formation on it). This lower limit is at least concordant with the independently derived figure of 4.55 billion years for the Earth's actual age."

Once you assimilate those facts, maybe you'd be qualified to be a teacher's aide.

Once you've mastered that, let's talk about VP of the USA.

OK? Does that sound fair?

If one of Gore's daughters would've been pregnant during the '92 election, Rush Limbaugh would've been as mean to her as he was to Chelsea Clinton (Remember the "White House Dog" comment?).

"Family Values" Republicans have no qualms about attacking Democratic women and children, based on clothing, appearance, voice, or any number of trivial things.

But if Democrats use Bristol Palin to call attention to the fact that abstinence-only education DOESN'T work, and that REAL sex education including birth control is the only way to prevent teen pregnancy, well, then Democrats are just AWFUL.

Republicans are whining hypocrites who will spread any manner of foul lies if it's to their political advantage, but will wail and shed false tears when the shoe's on the other foot.

I've had enough of two-faced Republicans! You'd all be first in line to bad-mouth Bristol if her mom had a "D" by her name, and don't insult us by pretending otherwise! None of you care about her as a human being, only as a reason to fake outrage to score points in a political game!

If Palin became president (something we must consider) American would be in deep s#*t.

I want someone with the experience to command in office. I want someone who can easily tell me the five most important significant government decisions they have made, whey they made them, and the impact those decisions had on others. I want someone who tells the truth. ... hmmm I guess that means No to Obama and Biden.

Low-I.Q. John Sidney McCain III's selection of troglodyte Palin as VP marks the official start of the decline and fall of America.

With politics of such low quality, we can't survive in a global economy.

Ciao, USA! It was good knowing you when you were at your best. I'll miss you.

Glen:

Palin thinks the Earth is a mere 5,000 years old.

She's several centuries behind the curve.

Palin is not presidential material, not by a long, long shot.

You call that judgement "elitism"; I call it national self-preservation.

I think that Sarah Palin's daughter and the young man doing the right thing speaks to the character of her family and community.

I think the efforts to disgrace the Palin family are typical of the post-Bork mentality of the left which is to win at any cost.

More disturbing is the fact that Palin and her husband were both members of the Alaskan Independence Party.

Ms. Palin, when were you first really proud to be an American? Presumably, after you left a party calling for a vote for Alaska to leave the USA.

Typical elitist slam on Rural America:

"...troglodyte Palin as VP marks the official start of the decline and fall of America."

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 talked about!

The McCain handlers (actually, mishandlers; i.e., complete waste of McCain Campaign funds) are too transparent. Mark the following coming up as Gustav subsides:

The surprise announcements made today, and before are the exit strategy for Gov. Palin to refocus on her immediate priorities and the position of elevated pride, of course as God has wished. Then the Alaskans will have to deal with their business, the bridge, the moose's, and the whole wide natural beauty there. There will be a time for return, even the Jedi had years ago.

Ask not anything about the Palins, but ask what the next VP choice be the right one at a right time in these turbulent times that America faces. D not forget to add: The democrats lie and are not to be believed.

A recommendation to RNC: Just pick some one else, other than McCain altogether and rejuvenate your party and help the base, though it sounds so baseless.

What about the fact that they hid the pregnancy on television. Why didn't she just come out without a blanket and a baby covering her up. Whey put this child in this situation...GOP will do anything to win. I could care less about her private affairs with her family, however, I do care about liars in the White House. I still believe that this story is a cover up for something else. This woman has issues.... Time will tell.

Low-I.Q. John Sidney McCain III's selection of troglodyte Palin as VP marks the official start of the decline and fall of America.

With politics of such low quality, we can't survive in a global economy.

Ciao, USA! It was good knowing you when you were at your best. I'll miss you.

As a staunch republican, I am highly dissapointed with McCains choice for VP. Palin is not ready for this position and as a person who is big on family values, I think Palin has ridiculed the GOP. My vote was for McCain before, but now I know that I WONT be voting for him.

"My children live more than 500 miles from their grandparents - does that make me a bad parent?"

Yes. You seem to be a bad person generally.

Cynicism101,

Are you running for Vice President of the US, the most powerful country in the world? No. My point is that why would you want to run for VP when you have so much going on at home and why would you thrust your family into the spotlight like that when you have personal issues going on. I think accepting the nomination was just a dumb greedy move for Palin to satisfy her own ambition. A noble woman would go where her family needs her. I'm not saying be a domesticated housewife, but rather make time-appropriate decisions. Bristol is 17 and obviously isn't primely poised to be a mother, so she is going to need motherly guidance. Maybe in 4 years Palin would be ready to run, but now I think her family needs her.

jb:

I believe the whole point of the VP is to have a replacement for the president ready should he drop dead.

I believe McCain himself stated that he would pick someone ready to lead in an instant.

Palin's Downs Syndrome Baby and pregnant teenage daughter make it highly unlikely she could fill in at a Summit with Putin or Hu or Calderon or Sarkozy.

Her third-rate college degree makes it more unlikely still.

As a choice for VP, Palin is indefensible.

McCain is playing games with our government and country, and we citizens should resent the he ll out of him for it.

Republicans would rather elect someone they'd like to have a beer with for president. They glorify mediocrity and averageness as something to be celebrated. That's how we got arrogant clowns like George Bush and (bottom of his naval academy class) John McCain, now we get the Alaska hillbillies.
This is just the first of the Harriet Myers types we'll see from a McCain administration.
Heckuva job GOP.

Bristol may not really be pregnant.

The McCain camp could be lying as a way to try and explain Bristol's post pregnancy weight.

The baby may still be Sarah Palin's.

Kaleigh,

Yes, Sarah and Todd Palin have 5 children - one of which is an adult, already left the house, and is serving in the US Army about to be deployed to the CENTCOM theater (that covers Iraq and Afghanistan).

Her oldest daughter is 17 as you state, and now pregnant and allegedly planning a marriage to the father. Further, for all I know (I've found no records of birthdate) Bristol may turn 18 before the birth?

At this point, who knows if Bristol intends to take residence at USNO. Sure, if she does not, the grandchild will have some physical separation from the grand parents. Do you honestly think this is the first time that's happened? My children live more than 500 miles from their grandparents - does that make me a bad parent?

--"NoOneImportant - Do you think contraceptives are 100% foolproof?

Posted by: Anthony | September 1, 2008 10:33 PM"--

No somewhere in the 99.5% range.

http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/1997/conceptbl.html

Posted by: NoOneImportant | September 1, 2008 11:27 PM

--------------------------------

So there is 1 in 200 chance that everytime teens have sex, it may end in pregnancy. But the problem really becomes when in the heat of the moment, they go through it even though they do not have a condom to use.

Dear Willy,

How can you actually begin a comment with "Only in the past few decades.." and think you are saying anything intelligent. Are you aware that a decade is 10 years???

and why is it that all of you McCrazies never stick to the actual topic without attacking Hilory, Clinton, Obama or any other democrat that has ever excisted?

IT IS REALLY QUIT BIZARRE!

Also think it is predictable that - as noted above #8226, #8227 - is spelling out the predicament that the Republicans brought on themselves with this candidate is yet again, a landmine for Democrats... Careful, not to "get personal" careful not to offend women, careful not to offend. Even when Obama wisely has too much class and integrity, some of the ilk of the Religious Right spit out propaganda that he is antichrist or better yet... The antichrist, Muslim terrorist, marxist, etc. -- But careful, democrats... "Social Conservatives" back Palin. (Social Conservatives is code for the powerful Religious Right)

Willy, you're a cowardly PoS.

If you can't carry on a substantive discussion, even when you yourself have called for one, you should stay off these boards.

I can't stand mor ons like you.

Let's see if I have this right...her daughter is mature enough for marriage, but not mature enough to learn about reproductive health.

In response to MB:
First off, I wish I could spank you for your smart A$$ comment, but in blog land, I can't do so. But, I will respond to your sarcasm:

For now, she can't be commander in chief, Mccain is living and as much as people think he is going to die due to being old, they aren't God or the Grim Reaper. If elected Mccain will do everything possible to stay alive to enjoy his darn term in office.

With your comment on Sarah Palin being a Commander-in-Chief. Let's say Mc cain was elected president (this is a scenario here) The time spent under McCain, she would be dealing with the day to day operations and learning the ropes to become the future Commander in Chief. Nonetheless, she has valuable executive decision making skills on top of understanding protocol due to her experience of being a governor in Alaska. With that said, if she goes through the experience of being a Vice President especially for 2 terms, performs well, she has the experience in my eyes. Now, I know someone is going to make a comment on Mccains life span.... i'm only speaking in scenario to answer Mr. Smarty Pants Blaine.

If you want the truth, I would rather have a woman like Hillary Clinton as VP in the White House vs. Sarah Palin. But, her being forthright about this issue of Bristol vs. hiding it shows character in a leader. With the Bristol issue, if the liberals want to keep dumping on her.... its going to arouse sympathy especially with women voters that aren't too hard line with the pro choice movement and American mothers.

Anne,

What's wrong with a mother being proud of a daughter for making a decision she believes in?

Do you expect and/or force your child to act/behave/decide exactly as you ... or are you proud when they come to the "correct" choice based on their own thought process?

Yes, Sarah Palin believes there is no decision - but as you know in a freely democratic society - there IS A DECISION for Bristol to make.

To the point of prenatal testing - those tests help with much more than just the ole reset button. My wife and I wanted to understand pre-delivery so that we could research and prepare for the necessary care. Sure, even when the tests are negative there is always a chance, but we found nothing wrong with having more information.

I know some are against determining the gender prior to birth - that's their choice to make, just as any other prenatal test would be.

It is a bad decision for Sarah Palin to accept the nomination for VP when she has so much going on at home. Despite what it all means politically, as a mother she needs to her family. She has 5 kids, which is a handful in todays world, let alone doing it as the VP of the most powerful nation in the world. On top of that her youngest child has down syndrome and her 17 year old will be bringing another little one into the picture soon. That means 6 kids in a household, one with special attention. I think as a mother she should step down and give her family her full support right now because it is evident that is where her attention is needed. If she can't make the decision to give her full attention to her family then how will she make appropriate decisions for a country?

Michael, I made no comment on your "abstract". Again, you speak with forked tongue.

But I will comment now. Your ability to copy and paste is not in question here. Your vile and ignorant comments are.

Have a good night and NAMASTE'

Some wonderful pics of beautiful baby trig and his mama, hate on dems just admit it this woman is going to take the white house not sleazy hillary.

http://cajunboy.tumblr.com/

Speaking as an independent woman, I think this just shows terrible judgement on McCain's part.

Palin doesn't seem to have much to recommend her except being a woman and a social conservative.

It's a terribly cynical and misguided move and while I'm still making up my mind about Obama, I've now made up my mind about McCain. No!

Posted by: Yve | September 1, 2008 11:22 PM

****

Yea righ Yve, LOL. Why is it that people have to lie when they post. If you have to start off explaining who you are then most likely you are not who you say you are. Nice try though but no one is buying it Yve. Change your name and try again. This time come back as a right wing nut job that has had it with republicans and will now vote for the most liberal dem in the senate. That one will work even better.

It never ceases to amaze me that liberals (who demand that we - the rest of us mere mortals - be compassionate, understanding and tolerant) wind up being far more bigoted, racist and intolerant than conservatives. It must be the messiah complex they all enjoy projecting.

Imagine the strange experience or feelings that McCain may be dealing with right now.

There are speeches to be written/read, rewritten/re-read, trying to feel proud about Palin pick (but not when others pick on her), telling the nation "this is exactly what you need", and perhaps looking for a way to reaffirm such confidence, his buddies [Lieberman, the least and many others] possibly poking on on and on - "why not me?" and then Mr. Opportunism getting blinded stiff in the middle of all opportunities. Hey, Surge should have a purpose, and the performance to be measured against those goals. It cannot be generalized - surge is working.

This poor fellow can't even get upset for days or weeks on the folks who shoved him towards this pick. Unlike the damage by a hurricane, this mess will take along time to assess the perpetuating damage due to their futile damage control. This i snot a republic or democratic issue. It is all about judgment. We absolutely do not need a president to make horrific crisis out of peaceful time. John McCain unwittingly gives a new identity of "Jack in the box". Hey, his campaign could raise lots of money by marketing one of these devices. Thank God the mess is uncovering before the election, and perhaps before the sanctioning of the VP candidate.

Ever since the "Mission Accomplished" sign with Bush on the aircraft carrier, GW is getting break from getting total focus as laughable personality.

Chris Cillizza: to answer the pseudo-question about the political impact of Bristol Palin's pregnancy: it is clear that Democrats hate children. Of course, the sample of comments left on this article may not be an accurate assessment of all Democrats (+/- 3%).

Someone actually made this comment below: "Bill and Hillary stayed married for political reasons. They have no real connection between themselves; they are pure political animals."

So how do you know this? Really? Fact is there are men and women )mostly men, who have for years had affairs and the husband and wife are deeply connected and love each other. That is the way it has always been. I don't condone this but people make their own decisions to stay with someone when this is the case. One of my grandfathers did this - a very wealthy man - and it cause a lot of pain, but he still dearly loved my grandma and she him. Finally he just got too old or caught too many times and quit running around.

Did you see Bill and Hillary at the Dem convention last week? It was easy to see that they love and respect each other very much. Maybe Bill's roaming days are finally over. He's lucky that Hillary loved him enough to keep him.

Quote: "Also, I don't think that your employer, no matter who you are, gets to have a say how, where, and when you have sex.

But that's just because I believe in freedom."

That's freedom. Hilarious. Try having sex in your employers office, or anywhere in public, for that matter. There are laws. Your freedom doesn't include that, and I am no prude.

--"NoOneImportant - Do you think contraceptives are 100% foolproof?

Posted by: Anthony | September 1, 2008 10:33 PM"--

No somewhere in the 99.5% range.

http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/1997/conceptbl.html

Quote: "BOTTOM LINE FOLKS, MCCAIN SELECTED A VP HE ONLY MET ONCE. I INTERVIEW ASSISTANT LEVEL CANIDATES FOR OPEN POSITIONS NO LESS THEN 2-3 TIMES BEFORE MAKING A DECISION. HOW DO YOU CLAIM TO BE ABOUT COUNTRY FIRST AND HIRE SOMEONE AFTER MEETING THEM ONCE??? HOW DO YOU ACCUSE OBAMA OF PREFERRING TO LOSE THE WAR AND WIN AN ELECTION, AND THEN YOU SELECT SOMEONE YOU ONLY MET ONCE TO BE SECOND IN LINE FOR THE PRESIDENCY TO WIN THE CONSERVATIVE AND WOMEN VOTE???

All caps again?? Only in the past few decades has a presidential candidate met their VP. Several didn't even like them after they met them. As Cactus Jack Garner, FDR's VP for two terms, said: "the vice-presidency ain't worth a bucket of warm spit". Truman didn't even know there was such a thing as the atomic bomb when he took office. And he did alright.

Say what you mean, you are a lib, and don't like Palin. Then take a look at Hillary, and froth at the mouth. Hilarious.

Quote: "You never got a blow job?

Wow. That's sad."

Not in the oval office of the taxpayers house. To think that's okay is sad. Did your taxes pay the cleaning bill on Monica's dress??
- Willy
-------
If our taxes had paid the cleaning bill we would have never heard of her, dummy!

Also, I don't think that your employer, no matter who you are, gets to have a say how, where, and when you have sex.

But that's just because I believe in freedom.

I would have rather heard that Bristol would continue with her education this year and attend college in the future rather than she is getting married. that part about "keeping the baby" and marriage was certainly politically motivated. also, having babies out of wedlock rather than having an abortion is done all the time - by democrats and republicans alike, conservatives and liberals. Being pro-choice means you can also exercise your choice to have your child. and guess what? not one conservative policy ever helped me pay for my education or obtain a decent job with health benefits after i made the decision to have my child as a 17 y.o. conservatives don't want you to have an abortion, but they also don't want to help you once you have the child.

Willy:

I said that Republicans are anti-intellectual.

You asked for evidence.

I presented an academic paper that makes my case.

You responded by calling my comments "stupid."

Are you trying to make my point for me?

Speaking as an independent woman, I think this just shows terrible judgement on McCain's part.

Palin doesn't seem to have much to recommend her except being a woman and a social conservative.

It's a terribly cynical and misguided move and while I'm still making up my mind about Obama, I've now made up my mind about McCain. No!

To Ray's post citing Democrats' immorality evidenced by Bill Clinton's sexual escapade, for which Hillary forgave him. McCain committed adultery and put away his first wife, who lost her good looks in a car accident. Gee that was productive mud-slinging. The Point is Ray, that the Religious Right are A. Who are the most happy with Palin B. Are a serious threat to democracy and personal lives and personal choices and family values of a diverse nation.

Quote: "You never got a blow job?

Wow. That's sad."

Not in the oval office of the taxpayers house. To think that's okay is sad. Did your taxes pay the cleaning bill on Monica's dress??

Kabooky and Willy,

You clearly missed my point. Why is a pro-life family suggesting a difficulty in the "decisions" that they made to go foreward with pregnancy? And ultimately congratulating themselves for what I said was the right decision. For them, there supposedly is no decision -- period. That's my point. My other point is that Palin herself had an elective test done for birthdefects for, arguably, decision making purposes.

P.S. For the record, I had my second child at 37, and elected against elective prenatal tests for birthdefects.

BOTTOM LINE FOLKS, MCCAIN SELECTED A VP HE ONLY MET ONCE. I INTERVIEW ASSISTANT LEVEL CANIDATES FOR OPEN POSITIONS NO LESS THEN 2-3 TIMES BEFORE MAKING A DECISION. HOW DO YOU CLAIM TO BE ABOUT COUNTRY FIRST AND HIRE SOMEONE AFTER MEETING THEM ONCE??? HOW DO YOU ACCUSE OBAMA OF PREFERRING TO LOSE THE WAR AND WIN AN ELECTION, AND THEN YOU SELECT SOMEONE YOU ONLY MET ONCE TO BE SECOND IN LINE FOR THE PRESIDENCY TO WIN THE CONSERVATIVE AND WOMEN VOTE???

Michael, you ability to copy and paste is not in question here. Your quirky theories and vile and stupid comments are.

Willy: Let me know if you need help understanding the abstract below:

"Due to the amplified importance of forging an intimate connection with the American public, modern presidents must adjust their political personalities and leadership. To combat allegations of elitism, recent Republican presidents have adopted anti-intellectualism as a conservative form of populism. Anti-intellectualism is defined as disparagement of the complexity associated with intellectual pursuits, and a rejection of the elitism and self-aware attitude of distinction that is commonly associated with intellectual life."

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=84D67BA7AA3E5CB512BCE3FDA61E4D56.tomcat1?fromPage=online&aid=1020900

Hey, Cynicism101:

The WaPo should remove all your opinions for being untenable.

It all boils down to this. If you are voting for the person, instead of the accomplishments, the platform and what is best for the USA, then you are more stupid than I thought. And most of you libs are pretty stupid.

BTW, if you are not that stupid, then you will be voting for a third party this time around. The Libertarian party, for instance.
Read their platform. Keep the government out of my business. Oh, I forget, without the government help, most of you Libs couldn't function.

Willy: Let me know if you need help understanding the abstract below:

"Due to the amplified importance of forging an intimate connection with the American public, modern presidents must adjust their political personalities and leadership. To combat allegations of elitism, recent Republican presidents have adopted anti-intellectualism as a conservative form of populism. Anti-intellectualism is defined as disparagement of the complexity associated with intellectual pursuits, and a rejection of the elitism and self-aware attitude of distinction that is commonly associated with intellectual life."

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=84D67BA7AA3E5CB512BCE3FDA61E4D56.tomcat1?fromPage=online&aid=1020900

We should be concerned about a 17 year-old girl being forced to get married way too soon and for the wrong reason in order to appease her mother's conservative base.

"unnatural sex acts in the Oval Office"

You right-wingers are a laugh riot!

You never got a blow job?

Wow. That's sad.

Washington Post -

Today is the first time I have ever visited your site - which I was directed to based on a news RSS feed. I'm afraid I've found a significant population of hateful, baseless personal attacks and slanders directed towards two US citizens, Sarah Palin and Bristol Palin.

Based on rule 1, items 2 and 4 defined in your commentary governance - I respectfully request that you investigate, and remove as appropriate, any postings on this topic from the users "Anonymous", and "Michael Blain."

Thank you.

BRISTOL IS NOT PREGNANT. THEY ARE LYING ABOUT BRISTOL BEING PREGNANT TO COVER UP HER POST PREGNANCY WEIGHT!!! LET'S SEE WHAT THIS ALL LOOKS LIKE IN 3 MORE MONTHS.

TRIG IS BRISTOL'S BABY.

Quote: "Unlike an innocent mother, like Palin, Bill Clinton was a low life who engaged in unnatural sex acts in the Oval Office."

And his wife sanctioned it, and is a proven habitual liar, and the libs still love them.

He preyed on women since his college days, his terms as governor of Arkansas, and Hillary was still there.

See how long it takes for her to file for divorce, when he didn't help her gain the presidency or the vice-presidency. Don't hold your breath, while waiting.

Kabookey:

I'd like to toss you and your ilk aside like yesterday's newspaper!

You're a doofus.

So McCain has been calling Palin his "soul mate". Everywhere they go, he's kissing and pawing at her - acting like a giddy teenager in love. They keep showing it on the news.

I think the man has taken leave of his senses.

Hey, Willy, here's the abstract of a whole academic paper discussing Republicans' anti-intellectualism; put that in your pipe and smoke it!:

"Due to the amplified importance of forging an intimate connection with the American public, modern presidents must adjust their political personalities and leadership. To combat allegations of elitism, recent Republican presidents have adopted anti-intellectualism as a conservative form of populism. Anti-intellectualism is defined as disparagement of the complexity associated with intellectual pursuits, and a rejection of the elitism and self-aware attitude of distinction that is commonly associated with intellectual life."

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=84D67BA7AA3E5CB512BCE3FDA61E4D56.tomcat1?fromPage=online&aid=1020900

Questions:

Can someone please explain to me why Palin, a professed pro-lifer, makes a big deal about saying "We're proud of Bristol's DECISION to HAVE her baby." What DECISION? For Palin, there supposedly is NO decision in any circumstance.

While we're at it, can someone explain to me why Palin had amniocentesis done (at a time when she still had an early-term choice to abort) to detect for birthdefects. I'm told if she waited a little longer, an ultrasound -- a less intrusive and risky diagnostic -- would have given her the answer on Downs.

And, on top of that, she too is making a big deal about what a great and moral "Decision" it was for her to have that baby even though she knew she had Downs. What "decision?" I thought, according to her own public position, there was no "decision" to be made after the moment her pregnancy test showed positive

Sounds like Palin is supportive and thankful for Roe v. Wade ... she had options and could make what in the end was the right decision.

Posted by: Anne | September 1, 2008 10:56 PM

***********

I guess she is making a point on it Anne because people like you would have tossed the baby aside like yesterday's newspaper. heck Barry O would have you abort the child as many times as possible till it was dead. I guess you support that choice too? You sound like a real quality person there Anne. I am sure the family is real proud of you.

This announcement could be "Sand in your Eyes", if the young lady may not be truly pregnant. Is this damage control - fighting Fire with fire, so that 5th child circumstances do not get any focus? The smart campaign runners such as Rove and his kind must be ready to prove their way in this mess. They're getting tangled in their own web. Lies have limits. Who cares about the private stuff within a family, as long as such families do not get too eager to run and influence or control the lives o fall in the USA. Alaska will have to sort out the relevance of their Gov. to their needs in the State. We certainly do not miss her in the national stage.

McCain's judgment, regardless of his absurd experience has no place in the White House.

Quote: "I'm told if she waited a little longer, an ultrasound -- a less intrusive and risky diagnostic -- would have given her the answer on Downs."

Anne, "You are told"? Think for yourself. From what I read, she had the test, knew the child had Downs Syndrome, and decided to have it. Of course, you would have killed the child??

All you Lib/dems keep whistling in the dark.

The conservatives/religious right was never going to vote for Obama. The only issue was how many would turn out. They will come in droves because of Palins child and future grandchild.

The lib/dems mostly have broken families. (please do yourself a favor and not show your ignorance by denying it.). If everyone keeps up with out of wedock births are no good, many of them may just vote for Palin to back up their family members.

The Independents, who will decide the election, see an accomplished woman with the normal everyday problems. They're not going to be happy with people being judgemental towards Palin and her family. They'll show it by voting for her even though they may not have been for the McCain ticket so far.

Proof of the above:

Unlike an innocent mother, like Palin, Bill Clinton was a low life who engaged in unnatural sex acts in the Oval Office.

The lib/dems and the Independents were happy to reelect him to office.

Almost no one is mentioning the fact of the lefties smear of Sarah as " grandma" THe moral high ground has been ceded.

Anthony raises a great point:

If Palin is so gosh darn happy that she's about to be a grandmother, and so terribly proud of Bristol, why didn't she mention the pregnancy when she was introduced to the nation on Friday?

That would have been the normal thing to do: "And this is my daughter Bristol, who is going to have a baby before Christmas!"

Posted by: Michael Blaine | September 1, 2008 10:50 PM

--------------

LOL - Yes, she should have gone ahead and tell the world in front of her 17-year old daughter that she was pregnant. That would be throwing her under Biden's Amtrak.

I'm hearing and reading that the boyfriend and father of this child is a black rapper in Alaska. His alleged myspace page has been set to private via some blogs that had people check the myspace/google cache trying to find out who the father is. I'm wondering if this is why they are hiding him until the election is over, lol. Can ya just imagine? Not only are they sending out a message that abstinence only doesn't work, but she's 17 years old and pregnant by a black rapper. Well at least there goes them not being about change. I think I will stay home on election day.

GIVE ME A BREAK AMERICA! ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF MISSING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES.

AT THE END OF IT ALL, WE ARE CONSIDERING A MOTHER OF A BABY WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AS THE SECOND IN COMMAND OF THIS COUNTRY AND NOW - SHE HAS HER OLDEST CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, THE NEED OF A MOTHER TO BE BY HER SIDE DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

IF SHE LOVES HER FAMILY SO MUCH AND WANTS TO BE SUCH AN EXAMPLE, SIT DOWN AND BE A MOTHER. YOUR CHILDREN NEED YOU MORE THAN AMERICA DOES

I don't think it is unreasonable to ask three questions:

What does it say about McCain that he chose a person with so much baggage as a running mate?

What, exactly, are Gov. Palin's positions on sex education, abstinence-only programs and birth control?

Is a person's family life a reflection of their fitness to stand as a country's leader?

Posted by: bill kapra | September 1, 2008 10:41 PM

****

I think it would be fair to ask those same questions of anyone supporting Barry O as well. We all know he has his own baggage of his own making and that is while he was an adult. Has anyone asked him when was the last time he shot up? He said he did some blow and felt the needle. You really want to go down that path?

Willy:

I'm not a Democrat, but I can tell you Hillary Clinton was appealing to the under-educated, not making them her VP choice!

See the difference?

And Republicans do devalue education. They always denigrate intellectuals, artists, writers -- anyone who can use their brain creatively and independently.

Quote: "See the difference?

And Republicans do devalue education. They always denigrate intellectuals, artists, writers -- anyone who can use their brain creatively and independently..."

No, that wasn't the point,as you well know. And I'm going to ask for proof and case by case on your statement. What, no proof?? Typical!

Questions:

Can someone please explain to me why Palin, a professed pro-lifer, makes a big deal about saying "We're proud of Bristol's DECISION to HAVE her baby." What DECISION? For Palin, there supposedly is NO decision in any circumstance.

While we're at it, can someone explain to me why Palin had amniocentesis done (at a time when she still had an early-term choice to abort) to detect for birthdefects. I'm told if she waited a little longer, an ultrasound -- a less intrusive and risky diagnostic -- would have given her the answer on Downs.

And, on top of that, she too is making a big deal about what a great and moral "Decision" it was for her to have that baby even though she knew she had Downs. What "decision?" I thought, according to her own public position, there was no "decision" to be made after the moment her pregnancy test showed positive

Sounds like Palin is supportive and thankful for Roe v. Wade ... she had options and could make what in the end was the right decision.

I am surprised that no one has pointed out yet that the McCain camp may be lying about Bristol being currently pregnant as a way to explain her post pregnancy weight and fuller chest. It will be interesting to see if she actually carries full term, or will it come about that she "loses the baby". This to me would prove that Trig is Bristols baby.

In lying and saying that Bristol is now pregnant, the hope would also be that people will think, how could Trig be Bristol's baby if she is currently pregnant?

I am not 100% convinced yet that Trig is Sarah Palins baby!

Anthony raises a great point:

If Palin is so gosh darn happy that she's about to be a grandmother, and so terribly proud of Bristol, why didn't she mention the pregnancy when she was introduced to the nation on Friday?

That would have been the normal thing to do: "And this is my daughter Bristol, who is going to have a baby before Christmas!"

Posted by: Michael Blaine | September 1, 2008 10:50 PM

***********

Why don't you post all your family trash right here right now then since you want to know everyone else's? This has nothing to do with policy or politics but this is how pathetic our country has become that haters like the ones posting here would push this child out here like this to make an issue. I wonder how many of you ladies will be laughing tomorrow or the next or whenever were this girl to do something crazy like take here life because of all this hate being spewed her way. I hope you all take a good long look in the mirror and be real pride of your hate.

Democrats are the bight losers of all time...They know they are in trouble with Palin, sop they turn hateful and vile....When will thse idiotys learn how to win a election...they blow it every time...Thank you Democrats for being such morons!! You fall into our traps every time exposing your hateful liberal Agenda's Suckers!!! LOL

Quote: "Hey Julianne: OBAMA RELEASED HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE MONTHS AGO! Find another talking point to deflect the issue. Here is the link to his "fightthesmears" website showing his certified birth certificate from Hawaii."

Releasing his birth cerfificate means nothing. His grandmother, and several relatives say he was born in Kenya. The law is still against him:
Should Sen. Obama truly have been born in Kenya, Berg writes, the laws on the books at the time of his birth hold that U.S. citizenship may only pass to a child born overseas to a U.S. citizen parent and non-citizen parent if the former was at least 19 years of age. Sen. Obama's mother was only 18 at the time. Therefore, because U.S. citizenship could not legally be passed on to him, Obama could not be registered as a "natural born" citizen and would therefore be ineligible to seek the presidency pursuant to Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution.

Moreover, even if Sen. Obama could have somehow been deemed "natural born," that citizenship was lost in or around 1967 when he and his mother took up residency in Indonesia, where Stanley Ann Dunham married Lolo Soetoro, an Indonesian citizen. Berg also states that he possesses copies of Sen. Obama's registration to Fransiskus Assisi School In Jakarta, Indonesia which clearly show that he was registered under the name "Barry Soetoro" and his citizenship listed as Indonesian."

The lawsuit is on going.

Willy:

I'm not a Democrat, but I can tell you Hillary Clinton was appealing to the under-educated, not making them her VP choice!

See the difference?

And Republicans do devalue education. They always denigrate intellectuals, artists, writers -- anyone who can use their brain creatively and independently.

The biggest hypocrites in America are the Republican "family values" crowd:

Hey little sister what have you done
Hey little sister who's the only one
Hey little sister who's your superman
Hey little sister who's the one you want
Hey little sister shot gun!
It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day for a white wedding
It's a nice day to start again
Hey little sister what have you done
Hey little sister who's the only one
I've been away for so long (so long)
I've been away for so long (so long)
I let you go for so long
It's a nice day to start again (come on)
It's a nice day for a white wedding
It's a nice day to start again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awy4biqD_dA
.

When I scrolled down to begin my comment there had been 2,214 comments. By the time I finish, who knows how many there will be?

Doesn't the fact of the number of comments, alone, answer any question as to the pending influence of this revelation? I cannot imagine that all of this traffic suggests anything positive for the McCain ticket.

I predict Sarah will be off the ticket within ten days, at the most. I expect more revelations to emerge. Perhaps, McCain will be so stubborn and/or so scared of the extreme right wing of his party that my prediction will not come about, but I feel that the odds are greater that she will bow out because "the unrelenting negativity of the media and the liberal left" has caused her to have to tend to her family to attempt to "help them regain a stable environment, especially as they prioritize the rearing of their two new additions and supporting the eldest daughter in her new marriage."

It's all over the Internet that while Governor mom was away in Kuwait, DC, etc., Bristol would go to all-night orgies in Juneau.

She would do DP, gang bang, all sorts of stuff.

Apparently, no one has any idea who the father might be!

Half of Alaska - and some of Canada - did this chick.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 1, 2008 10:38 PM

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Why don't you put your name to that post you piece of crap!!! I wonder what you are doing in the basement right now while no one is watching. I hope you don't have any pets around.

Anthony raises a great point:

If Palin is so gosh darn happy that she's about to be a grandmother, and so terribly proud of Bristol, why didn't she mention the pregnancy when she was introduced to the nation on Friday?

That would have been the normal thing to do: "And this is my daughter Bristol, who is going to have a baby before Christmas!"

Julianne: Obama has released his birth certificate months ago, and qualifies as a Presidential candidate. Here is the link.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/birthcert

John McCain, on the other hand, was born in Panama, and whether he is eligible as a candidate is still in question. Here is the Wikipedia entry, complete with links. Take a look at the links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural-born_citizen#US_presidential_candidates_born_outside_the_US

What Palin's daughter is doing is none of our business. Whether Palin is qualified to be President is our business, because if John McCain wins, and is disqualified, she could be President very soon.

jb - you stated that "I would much rather have Sarah Palin's Family in the White house with their real life benign issues vs. a Whining Tactless Angry B#$* Michelle Obama whom is bound to offend dignitaries and their spouses. I like Obama, but can't stand his wife."

Did you ever stop to think about the fears Michelle Obama had to overcome, and the courage that she must have to stand behind her husband through this election? I would be terrified if it were me, given the way some racist people in this country think. As for Sarah Palin, well her real life issues may have to do with her inability to be a leader.

What a bunch of pond scum we have trolling the washington post. I bet most of these pond scum are posting from their momma's basement. Keep up the good work ladies and may you reap what you sow.

What would Nelson Rockefeller and Dwight Eisenhower think of their party now?!!!!

The Republicans are a big fat joke.

Quote: "Republicans devalue academic achievement.

And that's fine. But they shouldn't then expect to be selected to lead the nation."

Michael, why don't you give it up?? The more you post, the more stupid that you look. You say "Republicans devalue academic achievement", while Hillary was bragging that they were her backers. The older, UNDER-EDUCATED, working class.

With every post, you dis-prove your own point.

Hey JB my friend, condoms break. They're not 100% effective. And to say that Bristol isn't to blame "because he should have worn a condom" is as ridiculous as saying ice doesn't melt in the heat. It takes two to have sex and make a baby.

This business about throwing her daughter under the bus is sweet too. I guess the governor should have told all of us on Friday, while introducing her family, that the daughter holding her infant son is 5-months pregnant. That would have been more appropriate. If not for idiots spreading rumors that the governor did a Houdini concerning the birth of her son, she would not have had to make the statement. So now everyone with some sense of morality is telling the rest of us what an unfit mother she is. Incredible.

Hey Julianne: OBAMA RELEASED HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE MONTHS AGO! Find another talking point to deflect the issue. Here is the link to his "fightthesmears" website showing his certified birth certificate from Hawaii.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/birthcert

Obama is eligible as a presidential candidate. Now, whether John McCain is eligible or not is still an open question, because he was born in Panama. It's LIKELY that he qualifies, but not certain. Check out the Wikipedia entry on this, including the associated links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural-born_citizen#US_presidential_candidates_born_outside_the_US

Never mind any gossip about Palin's daughter. This is a non-issue. What Americans should be worried about is her qualifications to be President from day one. If McCain wins the election, has his eligibility challenged in the Supreme Court, and is deemed ineligible, PALIN WILL BE PRESIDENT. THIS is important.

Hey, jb:

Again, we're choosing a Commander-in-Chief here, not putting someone in the White House just because we met them at group therapy.

I don't think it is unreasonable to ask three questions:

What does it say about McCain that he chose a person with so much baggage as a running mate?

What, exactly, are Gov. Palin's positions on sex education, abstinence-only programs and birth control?

Is a person's family life a reflection of their fitness to stand as a country's leader?

Guess the Republicans will want to park a Double Wide next to the White House........

Palin Walks the Walk and Talks the Talk. Hats off to her. I feel if people keep on focusing on the Bristol issue, its going to make her look more human.

If truly still endorses a "abstainance" only sex education in schools, well she needs to go back to the drawing board to realize that her ideology is not the ideology of today's youth. Its evident. Luckily, Bristol was a good and honest young lady to take her dilemna to her parents vs. sneaking off to the abortion clinic which would really hurt her mothers reputation in public office. My support and prayers to Bristol. I commend her for going to her parents and her poise for all the "mud slinging". My respect to her for marrying the young man who was responsible (he should of worn a condom, so don't blame Bristol or Sarah). I hope people and media will leave Bristol alone. What if it were your child? Sarah Palin has won my respect for her integrity!

The two serious issues raised by the illegitimate pregnancy of Sarah Palin's minor daughter don't have anything to do with whether Americans are compassionate about the difficulties that families face. The issues are:
1. John McCain has demonstrated impulsiveness and very poor judgement in choosing the un-vetted Palin as his choice for vice president.
2. However brave a face the evangelicals put on it, pregnancy in unmarried minor teens is not something to flaunt or celebrate. This is not what the majority of Americans mean when they say family values. It looks to me like the ticket for family values this year is the Democrats.

To forgiven biker:

If you're going to dole out such profound and dire judgments about Democrats, it might be helpful if you learned how to spell judgment.

It's all over the Internet that while Governor mom was away in Kuwait, DC, etc., Bristol would go to all-night orgies in Juneau.

She would do DP, gang bang, all sorts of stuff.

Apparently, no one has any idea who the father might be!

Half of Alaska - and some of Canada - did this chick.

Pretty strong reactions to a story about a soon-to-be 44 year old grandmother campaigning on 'abstinence only'.

Questions:

Governor Palin, when did you and your husband find out that your 16 year daughter was violating your family rules on abstinence? What action did you take when you learned that fact? What advice would you give other parents about how to deal with learning about that?

If you and your husband only found out that your daughter was violating your family rules on abstinence five months after she conceived a baby, what explanation do you have for that fact? Were you and your husband too busy with your other affairs to pay attention to what your daughter was up to? We note that you don't live in New York City where nobody knows their neighbors and lets each other know of coming trouble -- why didn't your friends and neighbors clue you in?

Do you think that your daughter's getting pregnant might be her way of getting you to notice her more?

Do you agree that you and your husband deserve equal blame for the neglect of your daughter's life that led to this situation? Do you believe that parents are utterly blameless when their children get pregnant? If not, in what way would you agree that you and your husband are to blame?

Was your daughter Bristol born less than nine months after you and your husband got married? Did you violate your own rules about abstinence? Was your daughter aware of this hypocrisy?

I'm betting little Bristol was in one of those abstinence only classes. With a name like Bristol, you can be sure there are trailer parks in Alaska too.

We are the laughing stock of Western Civilization...Our European allies think that we have the Beverly Hill Billies, The Bundy's or a Jerry Springer episode as the 2nd most powerful person on the planet...How irresponsible of John McCain...Arent we in 2 wars, Russia is turning into Nazi Germany, Holland is pulling spies out because the US is going to strike Iran, we have a dying economy, the earth is attacking us and energy is out of control? How arrogant to think that nothing will happen to him...Disgusting.

I think he only succeeded in firing up the American people to reject this Maury Povich whose the daddy episode disguised as our Government that is supposed to be the envy of the world and people gave their lives for.

I find it ironic that Harvard Law-educated Michelle Obama -- the woman libs love to dump on -- would likely choose to be drawn and quartered rather than put her girls through anything even a fraction as bad as this Bristol Palin fiasco.

Even Joe Biden had to be talked into taking a Senate job he'd already won.....because he was so worried his sons wouldn't have adequate attention after their mother was killed.

On the other hand, it is well documented that John McCain has spent much of his married life with Cindy away from the family and kids.

But this doesn't even touch throwing your daughter under media scrutiny of the most private part of her life.

"Pretty strong reactions to a story about a pregnant girl that will not kill the baby."

She'll wish she had before this s ***storm is over!

The point is public policy. When abstinence fails - the results are a child having a baby, or an abortion. Why run that risk? It's an important question:
W h y r u n t h e r i s k?

Because we have some desire to stop teenagers from having sexual relations? Get real. Just because we don't teach it in school doesn't mean that teenagers won't figure it out on their own. Even Palin couldn't stop her own children from sex.

It's not exclusive is it? Abstinence and education? Let's do both.

Just for fun: I think this 'planning to marry' is just a throw away line. What we have in reality is: Sarah Palin's 17 year old daughter decided to become a single mother? What should the public policy be then?

Posted by: NoOneImportant | September 1, 2008 10:11 PM

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NoOneImportant - Do you think contraceptives are 100% foolproof? Do you think that kids who are taught to use contraceptives in schools, offered condoms in schools but don't have any during the heat of the moment are immune to pregnancy? Seriously, do you think that teenage pregnancy is a planned event? Should parents check their sons' wallets when they leave the house to make sure that they are stacked with condoms? Go for it son, get laid. But make sure you wear that raincoat! Abstinence is one method to avoid teenage pregnancy. But teens have minds and bodies of their own. As I said before, it happens.

Hey, forgivenbiker, as VP Cheney would say, "Go f *** yourself."

Pretty strong reactions to a story about a pregnant girl that will not kill the baby.

Think of all the babies dying without this attention.

As a 75 year old, I have observed the Democrat Party morph into a collection of "baby killing, homosexual atheists who want to take my money and give it to someone else". The leftist blog's vile and vicious attacks on the Palin's reinforce this view. God will not have mercy on their souls when they face Him on judgement day.

This scandal will make McCain wish he were back in Hanoi.

"What kind of hypocrits preach abstinence, and then make excuses when it happens in your household?"

Are you disturbed because Bristol was not quietly hustled to an abortion clinic? Whatever happened to the mantra "my body, my choice?"

The young woman made a choice; why are you not celebrating her choice especially when it was made in the hostile environment of mean ol' evangelical parents?

You are all missing the point. Her parents are happy that she made the CHOICE to keep the child.
Thank God we live in a country that allows us to make that CHOICE!

jb:

You are so wildly off base, and yet such a good demonstration of how Americans keep choosing crappy leaders.

You would rather have a guy named Todd as first spouse of the nation, a guy whose family is so dysfunctional it almost defies comprehension, hob-nobbing with the likes of Hu, Calderon, Sarkozy and Putin than Michelle Obama, a graduate of Harvard Law School?

Please; go have your head examined.

And, again, since when is electing a president about bringing "real life problems" into the White House? That is so irrational it's frightening.

America is supposed to be selecting a leader here, not someone we know from group therapy!

I'm sure Bristol Palin feels peachy that her personal business is now international news.

Trig, however, may be indifferent at this time.

To jb:
In response to your comment, "I cannot help but applaud Sarah Palin for her integrity with this situation and not "hiding" it like other politicians."
Do you honestly believe she didn't try to hide it? Haven't you seen ALL the pictures of her daughter holding baby Trig to HIDE the pregnancy?
The only reason she "came out with it" is because the story leaked. Let's not forget how she lied to all of us by saying that her daughter had a bad case of mono. She had a bad case of something alright, but it wasn't mono.

"Hands down, I thank Sarah Palin for having integrity to come forth and guide Bristol in an adult direction. "

she's going to do this as leader of the most powerful country in the world?

if this is about 'life experience', MY MOM IS MORE QUALIFIED THAN THIS IRRESPONSIBLE 'PRO-FAMILY', 'PRO ABSTINENCE' IMBECILE.

is this a joke?

September 1st, 2008 9:70 pmI had decided to vote for Mr. McCain 8 months ago. When he announced Ms. Palin as his choice for VP running mate, my confidence in that decision was severely shaken given Ms. Palin's lack of substantive experience, and some of her rabid personal views. Also, troubling matters such as during her campaign for governor in 2006 she was, in direct contradiction to her first speech with McCain in Ohio, in FAVOR of the bridge to nowhere and then after being elected pulled the funding for it.

Not to mention the tremendous challenge as a parent that she faces raising a DS baby.

Today's announcement that Ms. Palin's unwed, 17 year old daughter is five months pregnant makes it clear to me that Ms. Palin needs to be giving exclusively to her family ALL her attention for the next four or five years.

The choice of Ms. Palin as Mr. McCain's running mate was one of the biggest mistakes that the Republicans could have made.

As long as Ms. Palin is the candidate for Vice President of the United States, a position that is just a heartbeat away from the Presidency, I cannot in good faith vote for Mr. McCain. If Ms. Palin truly wants the Republicans to have a chance to win this year, and is not just in this for her own glory, she will withdraw gracefully her candidacy and allow the Republicans to name someone who is both better qualified and not so mired in challenging personal situations.

Allison, you are ridiculous. How do you
know anything about how Sarah Palin
deals with her children's feelings?
Your argument is baseless. You are
saying that some family issues should
keep her from being a VP candidate?
Obviously you would not be able to handle
those kind of pressures. And obviously
Sarah Palin is. Keep your "being greatly
troubled" to yourself. You're just making
that up. Go wash some dishes.

***Allison's comments below***
As a mother of a child with health issues, I am greatly troubled that a mother of an infant with Down Syndrome and a pregnant teenage daughter would put their own career desires first, without regarding the feelings of her children. In addition to clearly needing their mother now more than ever, they now have their private problems exposed to the world. Family values indeed.

This scandal will make McCain wish he were back in Hanoi.

What kind of hypocrits preach abstinence, and then make excuses when it happens in your household?. Is Bristol a good example for American Youth?
John McCain's Campaign has successfully put a white face on teen pregnancy. I hope Bristol's baby-dady heard Obama's tyrade to Black fathers who have children out of wedlock (which is the real issue here, not abortion). I thought Obama would definitely lose, because Mcain chose Palin, but she was chosen friday, and is wrapped in two anti-conservative issues on monday-good job, a daughter will have a child who is a year younger than his uncle, andf Palin is in a scandal wher it is alegged that she fired the public safety commisioner because he refused to fire her former brother in law . Family Values Dies in the republican party!!!!!!!! 09/01/2008

Bristol Palin's pregnancy represents REAL LIFE that Washington has been so detached from. Someone Anonymous on this board called them the "Beverly Hillbillies", I would much rather have Sarah Palin's Family in the White house with their real life benign issues vs. a Whining Tactless Angry B#$* Michelle Obama whom is bound to offend dignitaries and their spouses. I like Obama, but can't stand his wife. In all honesty, My heart and admiration goes to Bristol Palin, she is an average teenager who was brave enough to go her family for support vs. sneaking to the abortion clinic which would of done more damage to her mothers career. She was responsible and not a coward.

Her mother, Sarah Palin, Lives what she stands for. She is an example.

I'm more pro choice, but with this issue, I cannot help but applaud Sarah Palin for her integrity with this situation and not "hiding" it like other politicians. She has more balls than John Edwards to come out and me honest. Sarah Palin is REAL and not disenfranchised from issues that plague normal Americans. She also has done a great job in being an Alaskan Governor. Hats off to Sarah Palin with handling this matter with grace.

I am independent, but what I have seen with Sarah Palin and how she is handling all the "mud" being thrown at her while she is qualified enough because she "ran a state", I'm voting republican. Hands down, I thank Sarah Palin for having integrity to come forth and guide Bristol in an adult direction.

"Politico: Jewish Donors Appalled by Palin

Ben Smith reports what I've sensed: that Jews are not going to flock to a backwoods character like Sarah Palin. He says some donors are moving to Obama. Praise the lord, Smith isn't going in for the "Jewish voters" euphemism. There's a huge cultural divide to be gotten over. Sarah went to college in Moscow, Idaho. At least Bush went to Yale."

obama:
biggest campaign in history
3 years us senate
8 yrs state senate
community organizer
law professor
president harvard law review
degree in constitutional law with honors

biden:
even more in depth resume

mccain:
POW
reckless loudmouth

palin:
embarrassingly deficient

I find it remarkable that it's become taboo for democrats to speak about Sarah Palin's social values and view on sex education and birth control, but it is ALL the republican's CAN brag about. They spend hours focusing on the pro-life decision her family made. So again, it's okay for them to use the pregnancy to their advantage but not okay for anyone else to question? Yet another republican double standard - ho hum, yawn.

No one is attacking little Bristol. It is not Bristol's pregnancy that should be under the microscope. The girl made a mistake - it can happen in any family, republican or democrat.

However Sarah Palin is a woman who believes along with John McCain, that sex education should not be taught in our schools, that birth control should not be made available to our youth (not even condoms that will help stop the spread of deadly diseases), or to the poor, and that if McCain/Palin win, insurance companies should no longer pay for any form of birth control. She obviously believes that the only method of birth control is abstinence. Well, that's not the reality now, is it?

Oh, and one more thing: Thanks to the republicans we are indebted beyond the cost of our first permanent settlement on Mars, to the most pro-choice country in the world - China. In fact, 75% of their population supports their one child law unless the first child is a girl or disabled. The money the Chinese people pay their government for abortions is money we borrow to pay religious extremists for oil to fuel America and fund the biggest excuse for a war in the history of the world. Oh, the hypocrisy.
Whata' guy - whata' team.

BTW, the Clintons raised a daughter who graduated from Stanford.

Somehow, I don't think that's in the cards for Britol.

Republicans devalue academic achievement.

And that's fine. But they shouldn't then expect to be selected to lead the nation.

Speaking of morals, what about Obama's brother over in Kenya? I here he is living in a mud hut and Obama doesn't give a damn about him. That's Democratic values for you. Become a multi millionaire, and then forget about your desperately poor brother. Check it out here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2590614/Barack-Obamas-lost-brother-found-in-Kenya.html

Free Radical:

You're blaming Clinton for 9/11?

Remind us who had been president for eight months when that happened?

What's the matter with Republicans? They can't view anything objectively. It's alway the childish, "It wasn't my fault!" or "You did it, too!"

Grow up, for crying out loud.

But, since you raise the comparison, would I rather have a Rhodes Scholar and graduate of Yale Law School on the phone with Putin, or the recipient of a degree from a third-rate state school dealing with a passel of dysfunctional children? Take a guess.

The big problem I have with this story is the hypocrisy. Does anyone here even dispute the idea that if this was Biden's daughter who was pregnant, under 18, and having sex with a man 10 years older than her that IT WOULDN'T BE NON-STOP NEWS on the MSM and Conservative Media???

Even conservative pundits here at Washington Post like Kurtz admitted to that bias: "Can you imagine what the right-wing crowd would be saying about this woman and her 20-month stint as governor of the igloo state if the tables were turned and Obama had picked her? The chortles? The level of mockery?"

Clear proof that even conservatives admit that there is a media bias against Democrats. Palin should be getting roasted for this hypocrisy.

"Bill and Hillary Clinton remained married despite high-profile marital woes. They decided to honor their vows."

See, here's the thing. Getting a hummer from a woman not your wife then lying under oath about it would be the polar opposite of 'honoring a vow'. It would, in fact, be the breaking of multiple vows; the vow of marriage, the vow of the oath to tell the truth. That's what's immoral. That liberals don't understand this is the basic reason why they have zero credibility on moral issues, and no standing to attack Palin. And of course, the law of the land, and the unstated preference, were such things left to liberals would be for the state to be required to assist the daughter with disposing of the inconvenience, the 'punishment' per BHO, of the baby without her parents even being notified. So much more 'moral'.

--"And those of you criticizing the policy of abstinence actually think that teenage sex is fine as long as contraception or abortion is used. But somehow, it is a tragedy, punishment if the young lady exercises her choice to bear the child. And you want to argue hypocrisy?

Posted by: Anthony | September 1, 2008 9:19 PM"--

The point is public policy. When abstinence fails - the results are a child having a baby, or an abortion. Why run that risk? It's an important question:
W h y r u n t h e r i s k?

Because we have some desire to stop teenagers from having sexual relations? Get real. Just because we don't teach it in school doesn't mean that teenagers won't figure it out on their own. Even Palin couldn't stop her own children from sex.

It's not exclusive is it? Abstinence and education? Let's do both.

Just for fun: I think this 'planning to marry' is just a throw away line. What we have in reality is: Sarah Palin's 17 year old daughter decided to become a single mother? What should the public policy be then?

Non American,

Not being deceived, especially about politicians' private lives is an American obsession.

This is why Bill Clinton got put on the spot about Monica.

We are obsessed with rules and equal application of standards. Even a sitting President or Governor will not be allowed to get away with deceiving to their constituencies if the people can help it.

While this occasionally causes us to get in an annoying tizzy about politicians' sex lives, this more often makes Americans stand in line, self-police, and sue when the system isn't working or when we believe our rights have been violated. This is pretty much the same across the board regardless of party affiliation, socioeconomic class or ethnic group.

Any American politician who believes they can play the "my personal life is irrelevant...so what if I lied?" card doesn't understand their fellow Americans.

I for one, wouldn't presume to be the flag-waving pro-life candidate without giving the people full information on how I've lived out the issue. Americans are really forgiving when politicians spill their guts with contrition. However, we tend to "crucify" anyone who lies to us. This is how Nixon's political future was destroyed. Likewise, John Edwards has no future and Palin may join his ranks very soon.

"THE ISSUE IS -- Sarah Palin threw her daughter under the bus to save her political career."

Democrats seem to be obsessed with reproductive organs, clocks, and buses. Why?

Posted by: Stephen | September 1, 2008 9:54 PM
__________________________

Is it true the GOP trains (see, I give equal opportunity obsession to other modes of transportation besides buses) their operatives in how to obfuscate on blogs?? You know, post meaningless drivel right after a bang-on (that would reflect my obsession with organs) post so that the next person to read the blog can't see the important stuff for all the obfuscating drivel?

It ticks me off (you are SO right, I DO obsess on clocks).

Louis, I will help you out.

The Christian morality thing is this: we have a clear set of Biblical principles and guidance as to how we should live our lives. All of us Christians fail to fully live up to these ideals.

Bill and Hillary stayed married for political reasons. They have no real connection between themselves; they are pure political animals.

Not sure about McCain's story.

Biden taking the home to see his wife and kids every night is nice, but it is far from a complete picture of his morality. I'm sure he has his flaws.

Many evanglicals are in agreement with all or most of Sarah Palin's views, myself included. Once again, we acknowledge as flawed humans that we don't always live up to our high calling from God. But we don't quit, and we work with God to get better. You're the first one I've heard call Palin the "paradigm of Christian motherhood."

In politics, evangelicals love politicians who share their Biblical values and views, with the understanding that having high ideals doesn't mean that we don't sometimes fail. That doesn't make us hyppcrites, which can be defined as someone who professes a thing but in reality believes something else.

*****Louis' post below****
OK. Someone help me get this "Christian morality" thing straight. Bill and Hillary Clinton remained married despite high-profile marital woes. They decided to honor their vows. Their daughter is not pregnant. But they are "immoral." John McCain divorced the wife who stayed loyal to him while he was a POW to marry a beautiful young heiress. But he is "moral." Joe Biden takes Amtrak home to Delaware almost every night from Washington to be with his family, while Sarah Palin makes her pregnant 17-year-old daughter get married. Yet Sarah Palin is not only the "moral" choice, according to the Christian right, but also considered paradigm of Christian motherhood. I'm very confused. Shouldn't all this be the other way around?

Palin really disturbs me on so many levels: her illogical conservatism, her inexperience, the way she uses her personal life as some kind of patronizing, holier-than-thou badge.

As a mother of a child with health issues, I am greatly troubled that a mother of an infant with Down Syndrome and a pregnant teenage daughter would put their own career desires first, without regarding the feelings of her children. In addition to clearly needing their mother now more than ever, they now have their private problems exposed to the world. Family values indeed.

"Politico: Jewish Donors Appalled by Palin

Ben Smith reports what I've sensed: that Jews are not going to flock to a backwoods character like Sarah Palin. He says some donors are moving to Obama. Praise the lord, Smith isn't going in for the "Jewish voters" euphemism. There's a huge cultural divide to be gotten over. Sarah went to college in Moscow, Idaho. At least Bush went to Yale."

Does anyone else think it was loathsome and deceptively cynical of the Palin family to let Sarah's newborn *handicapped* baby be used as a SHIELD to hide Bristol's bulging belly during the celebratory press conference on Friday? Notice it wasn't the *other* non-pregnant daugher who carried baby Trig around the whole time... If McCain knew about this, no wonder his body language during that event made him look like he wanted to rip his own skin off! Think I'm kidding? Just go to YouTube and watch a playback!

MBlaine: "Give me a break.

'Oh, Todd. Tell me if Putin calls. I'll be busy helping Bristol nurse her baby.'

Jeez."

Almost reminiscent of the Clinton years.

"What's that, Hil? Saudi hijackers have enrolled in some US flight schools? I'll get to it as soon as Monica finishes ..."

The Democrats are going to kick our butts. If we need a woman lets draft Condy Rice as our choice; if we want the most qualified; Mitt Romney. If we want an ex-model, mommy and soon to be 44 grandma lets keep our VP candidate. Obama is going to kick our butt.

First of all, I do not belong to any party. While I do not like Palin, I do, however, like Senator Biden. I honestly believe he is an experienced and good person. I know I will get slack from republicans about his so called plagiarism, and his gaffes, but who here can say they never copied or used something someone else said? Who here can say that they never said something they shouldn't have? At least the man is honest, and no one can put down his family values.

In the democratic debates almost every candidate at one time or another made the comment "I agree with Senator Biden." This made an impression on me, because it seemed that while they were all attacking one another, they did not attack him, instead they followed his lead. This is significant in a potential leader. Also, He is well respected in the Senate, and to be elected as many times as he has by the people of his own state speaks volumes. So while the republicans can put him down, and Hillary supporters can be disappointed, the truth is the man would make a great VP.

Most likely, he wasn't the popular choice by the Democratic Party. After all he wouldn't pick up the woman vote, the gun people, or any other special interest groups. However, Obama picked him anyway. This said something big to me. It said that Obama was not just looking for someone to help him get elected, but for someone who could help him with the position of running this country. To me, that was the most significant thing of this whole election.

I have only voted once in my 47 years of life, and that was a local election in which one of the candidates was a danger to children, so I voted to help keep him out of office. The reason I have not voted in any other election is because I never found a politician that I felt actually cared about anything other than his own personal gain. If Obama was indeed like that he would never have chosen Biden. He would have picked Hillary or someone else who would have been a sure bet, like McCain was trying to do with Palin. So I will vote in this election, and I will vote for Obama/Biden.

Please take off your party hats and think about this country, the country where your children will grow up, the country that Americans once had great pride in, the country that was once respected worldwide. We have gone down hill so badly in both morals, and economics. We do need a change in this country and I am sorry but McCain and Palin are not it.

"our country needs her" . . . like a hole in the head!

What are you smoking, Massachussetts Independents For McCain/Palin?

Palin patently is NOT an accomplished woman. She believes the world is a mere 5,000 years old, and her family is a big fat mess.

Accomplished my foot!

This is hilarious! Isn't Obama the product of his teenage mom getting knocked up by a polygamist Kenyan? And now the Palin nonsense? God Bless America.

The hypocrisy and insincerity of the GOP is stunning.

It's sad that the reckless ambition of McCain and Palin have put such an unfair spotlight on this poor young girl.

Are Democrats angry because Bristol's interpretation of "my body, my choice" will result in a child?

Are Democrats angry because she did not seek their permission?

What gives?

Michael - I'm so glad you agree.

And yes, every posting you've made supports the bigot label I've placed upon you.

My biggest concern with Bristol Palin's pregnancy is the hope you are not the father. I don't want you procreating.

John Sidney "Songbird" McCain III:

Graduated 894 out of 899 students in his college class.

Rails against gov't waste, yet draws a $58,000/year disability pension (for mental reasons?) from the gov't while earning a senator's salary and enjoying his wife's $120 million inheritance.

Made far and away the worst VP choice in living memory.

Why should HE be president?

There is little the Republicans could do at this point that would be more of a turn-off than what Obama and the DNC pulled on Hillary.

Former Dem

Sarah Palin is an excellent leader, an accomplished woman, and and up and coming star in the Repub party. Her Christian background and beliefs and her willingness to go against the status quo make her a perfect fit for the needs of our country in this time. Washington needs her, our country needs her.

She has years of executive experience as a mayor and as a governor. Obama has zero executive expereince. Obama has done little to nothing of note in his state and federal legislative experiences.

Let's see how the debate with Biden turns out.

**Massachusetts Independents for McCain/Palin

OK. Someone help me get this "Christian morality" thing straight. Bill and Hillary Clinton remained married despite high-profile marital woes. They decided to honor their vows. Their daughter is not pregnant. But they are "immoral." John McCain divorced the wife who stayed loyal to him while he was a POW to marry a beautiful young heiress. But he is "moral." Joe Biden takes Amtrak home to Delaware almost every night from Washington to be with his family, while Sarah Palin makes her pregnant 17-year-old daughter get married. Yet Sarah Palin is not only the "moral" choice, according to the Christian right, but also considered paradigm of Christian motherhood. I'm very confused. Shouldn't all this be the other way around?

"THE ISSUE IS -- Sarah Palin threw her daughter under the bus to save her political career."

Democrats seem to be obsessed with reproductive organs, clocks, and buses. Why?

Michael asks,
"why do you care if we grow up or not?"

Because in a global society we are wise enough to realize the importance of your country ... maybe you don't and that is the real issue!

I still do not believe that McCain was aware of Britsol Palin teen pregnancy, and he accepted her mother as his running mate.

I still do not believe that McCain was aware of Britsol Palin pregnancy, and he accepted her as his running mate.

"Just how could Bristol have been five month pregnant before she gave birth to Trig, who is four month old?"

The Palin camp claims Bristol is around 5 months pregnant TODAY and will give birth sometime in December. Perhaps it'll be one of those rare cases where the baby is late though.

Trig was born on April 18, which is about 5 months ago. It is chronologically possible. There are people who have their kids a year apart all the time.

It would make Palin look really bad if an underage daughter got pregnant twice in two years. I don't understand why the governor doesn't just release the medical records showing that Trig is hers and end all of the speculation.

The real issue is that this is a perfect example of a non issue!

I don't think Russia is going to invade another country because that girl got pregnant.

Live this girl alone and go back to discuss the real issues!

Chris,
Here are a few questions I would like answered.

How many more scandals will it take for Palin to withdraw her nomination as vice president?

How many political and personal enemies does Palin have in Wasilla who are willing to go on the record?

The family values crowd and "moral majority" have historically promoted the idea that women's roles should focus on putting their children before their career. How then, can they reconcile Palin raising 5 children AND a new granddaughter (while her daughter finishes school) while performing her duties as vice president? Either the kids are raised by nannies (not exactly, the family first message) OR Palin's role as VP would be mostly symbolic.

What is Mccain suddenly dies in office during his 1st term and she has to assume the Presidency while raising two babies and three teenagers? Is she going to expect that her husband will be "Mr. Mom?"

What is Todd Palin's view on all this?

Mblain, you are an idiot. You have know ideas what evangelicals believe. Your comments indicate your ignorance. Your place is away from the computer.

Evangelicals of today are far different than the picture you present. In the best cases, our families are centers of strong, connected, and godly life. Those restrictions on women you talk about are apparently Obama's thinking. Otherwise, Hillary would have been his VP choice (that choice would have also have ensure his victory).

***Mblain's spew below***
Family values folks ought to seriously consider that a mother with this many children should be at home with them. Truth is, social conservatives often say, had she taken care of her motherly duties instead politics, her daughter might not have become pregnant. Wouldn't it have been better to have the seventeen year old on birth control, pope or no pope? Then abortion and premature pregnancy would have not been the poor girl's only option.

In fact, evangelicals widely teach a woman's place is in the home, not the state capital. Palin and her supporters on the right are all little more then hypocrits.

"I have news for you, we stopped waiting for American leadership long ago!"

Just curious, then, Non-American: Then why do you care if we grow up or not?

Also, please let me apologize for the erratic behavior of my country the last few years. I can't quite explain it myself, but it sure appears as if this whole place has gone crazy!

Don't get sidetracked on the wrong issue in this mess today.

1) It's NOT about whether abstinence education works or doesn't.

2) It's NOT about whether Palin was vetted thoroughly by the McCain campaign.

3) It's NOT about parenting skills.

4) It's NOT about hypocrisy of saying one thing and having your family do another.

It IS about a desperation to "answer" rumors on the freakin' Internet about whether Trig is actually Bristol's baby.

Instead of issuing a statement that said, "Trig is our darling son," the Palin's issued a statement saying their daughter Bristol is 5 months pregnant now leave us alone.

THE ISSUE IS -- Sarah Palin threw her daughter under the bus to save her political career.

Even if she did it at the urging of the McCain camp, she still

THREW HER DAUGHTER UNDER THE BUS.

"Palin's daughter is an error prone human being like all of us."

THAT IS NOT THE POINT!

By that reasoning, we should just have a lottery to see who becomes President of the USA and Commander-in-Chief of the military. One mediocre American would be just as good as any other in the White House, right?

But we are talking about the presidency, where - I've always assumed - we should strive to place a great leader and exceptional human being.

The Palins are a motley bunch of dysfunctional troglodytes. And that's fine. But do you want their fingers on the "nucular" button?!

Give me a break.

"Oh, Todd. Tell me if Putin calls. I'll be busy helping Bristol nurse her baby."

Jeez.

Michael,

You say "it's time the world start looking elsewhere besides the USA for leadership".

I have news for you, we stopped waiting for American leadership long ago!

Just how could Bristol have been five month pregnant before she gave birth to Trig, who is four month old?

Can we use our brain and internet for something more productive such as education, energy and national security?

This is laughable in the 21st century. We are so conservative compared with Europeans.

For the record: I might be vicious, but I'm not an Obama supporter.

It's just that the Republicans are a global embarrassment, and now - by wanting to put an absolute mess of a woman next in line for the presidency - have put my country and the whole Earth in danger of untold disasters.

For the good of Bristol and all the rest of us -- why doesn't Sarah just stay home?

Family values folks ought to seriously consider that a mother with this many children should be at home with them. Truth is, social conservatives often say, had she taken care of her motherly duties instead politics, her daughter might not have become pregnant. Wouldn't it have been better to have the seventeen year old on birth control, pope or no pope? Then abortion and premature pregnancy would have not been the poor girl's only option.

In fact, evangelicals widely teach a woman's place is in the home, not the state capital. Palin and her supporters on the right are all little more then hypocrits.

The latest rumor is about Barack having an affair shortly after he was married. And Michelle Obama approved. Got to go check that out....spread the news...

I wonder how old her boyfriend is? I hope he's not like 27.

"America, please grow up and get serious!"

Good point, Non-American, but I'm afraid as long as the mainstream remains mediocre and ignorant, the Republicans will stay viable.

So if you didn't already get the very strong hint over the Iraq debacle, it's time the world start looking elsewhere besides the USA for leadership.

We have lost our will, ability and minds.

"Palin's daughter is an error prone human being like all of us."

THAT IS NOT THE POINT!

By that reasoning, we should just have a lottery to see who becomes President of the USA and Commander-in-Chief of the military. One mediocre American would be just as good as any other in the White House, right?

But we are talking about the presidency, where - I've always assumed - we should strive to place a great leader and exceptional human being.

The Palins are a motley bunch of dysfunctional troglodytes. And that's fine. But do you want their fingers on the "nucular" button?!

Give me a break.

"Oh, Todd. Tell me if Putin calls. I'll be busy helping Bristol nurse her baby."

Jeez.

Bristol Palin better make sure McGrampy or MaPalin aren't behind her when she's walking down any stairs, because an "act of gawd" might then mysteriously occur and make this whole pregnancy issue go away.

Being a mother and women , I am sickened by this women Sara Palin . Regardless of who this precious little baby boy Trig's mother is , his grandmother/mother needs to be at home with her family and to care for this young baby . What sort of mother with young children much less disadvantaged children goes about running all over the country trying to exploit her political aspirations ? Not a women or mother that I would trust in any executive office much less VP or God forbid President . John MCcain has really missed the boat on this . God Help us All.

frederick2,

Perhaps there are some vicious Repubs. But in this blog,the inhumanity and the twisted vicious logic for political gain is all coming from the left. It's very ugly.

And, generally speaking, the repubs are more civil, much less vicious. IMHO.

Good riddance, LEAVING AMERICA SOON....

Obama has TWO years in the Senate, not eight.

Palin has been governor less than TWO years, no two terms.

But still, you can leave when you want to.

Sarah and Todd obviously were not providing the supervision needed for teens. Sarah does not seem to care about her future grandchild by putting her daughter thru all this. How can she and Todd do all this? She will be a bad mom, bad grandmom, and terrible vice-president.
I thought of voting for John McCain but if I did it would be voting for Child Abuse!!!

John M.

Do you think only the Democrats are vicious. There are a few Republicans on these various blogs that could qualify.

"America, please grow up and get serious!"

Good point, Non-American, but I'm afraid as long as the mainstream remains mediocre and ignorant, the Republicans will stay viable.

So if you didn't already get the very strong hint over the Iraq debacle, it's time the world start looking elsewhere besides the USA for leadership.

We have lost our will, ability and minds.

A lot of the liberal Obama supporters on this blog are truly vicious and inhumane. Obama seems like a decent man, but many of his supporters are just plain garbage.

Palin's daughter is an error prone human being like all of us. She is a teenager. I'm sure all of you were/are straight laced perfect young men and women as teenagers.

Christians are not perfect. Neither are you. We don't always live up to our high ideals. Believe me, the more you trash Palin and her family this way, the more the conservative backlash will be. So,say whatever you want.

I am just floored and disgusted by all of this. I am a registered republican, a woman, and I cannot stomach what is happening in America now. I am sure we have single-handedly become the laughing stock of the world. I had every intention of voting for MCcain because of my conservative values, and now with this stunt of a VP Selection, I am not voting at all. I will not taint myself with this faux presidential election. This woman has no experience whatsoever, Obama with his eight senate years, did not convince, me and now this two-term govenor is who I should put my confindence in?

Americans, democratic or republican should be outraged, But America is so divided by its party lines, that each will defend its own like a cheap gang of cowards. Even if it means the destruction of our future.

I am leaving this country very soon.

Reading this blog is scary!
The criteria to select your leaders is idiotic and irrelevant to solve America's problems or to regain international prestige.

Yes, Cynicism101, I believe a woman has no place in the workforce and my comments represent the worst of humanity. You're on to me.

Actually, I don't think a woman whose "nucular" family is a disaster ought to aspire to become Commander-in-Chief of the US military.

Can you imagine her in some historical situations?:

"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this . . . Bristol, honey, I told you, the pacifiers are in the black handbag . . . where was I? Oh, yes: Mr. Gorbachev . . . What now, Bristol? Trig is spitting up? Do have to do everything around here? Mr. Secret Service guy, give Bristol a hand . . . OK. Mr. Gorbachev . . . umm . . . oh, forget it."

I hate conspiracy theories almost as much as I hate small town liars that think they can out smart all of America.

Trig is her daughters and this whole announcment today is a sham.

The truth will come out because I am sure there are plenty of 16 and 17 yr olds that went to school with Bristol Palin that know the truth and high school kids LOVE to gossip.

Sarah Palin lost the ability to control her kid's, and the daughter Bristol Palin took advantage of her mother's irresponsible and ignorant behaviour.

SO MUCH FOR THE PALIN FAMILY'S FAMILY VALUES.

Posted by: SIERRA HOLMES

You are SO right. they'd have had better morals if she'd a had a abotion huh?

Let's see, abstinence is not 100% fool proof. So let's get rid of the notion altogether. Brilliant. The young woman is not the first to get pregnant. She will not be the last. It happens. The family is dealing with it. Unfortunately, the family has to deal with it among millions throughout the world. That is life sometimes. This unexpected pregnancy was of her own doing. Her mom was already governor when she had intercourse. Again it happened. A little of an embarrassment to her, her mother and the family but not some great sin to any of them. And those of you criticizing the policy of abstinence actually think that teenage sex is fine as long as contraception or abortion is used. But somehow, it is a tragedy, punishment if the young lady exercises her choice to bear the child. And you want to argue hypocrisy?

Hey Pat who cares about birth records. Your a conspiracy nut.

For the "good" of the party, Mrs. Palin will "voluntarily" decline the VP nomination and her "15 minutes of fame" will be tragically over by Thursday!

Smithfield,

It seems the "bad omen" is your attempted propagation of untrue information.

Since you claim to have found this in three sources, how 'bout you bolster your nonexistent credibility by providing at least one reference?

SO MUCH FOR THE PALIN FAMILY'S FAMILY VALUES.

SO MUCH FOR THE PALIN FAMILY'S FAMILY VALUES.

Sorry for the all caps but I do not understand why no one is talking about this.

This is not some wacko leftwing blog or some phoney crap it is the hospitals official webpage, you think if they mistakenly left his name off you think they would have corrected it within 4 months.

I'm just saying.

Hi anonymous,

My reply to your question (which is included below):

Right, she has a special needs infant, which will require lots of care. She also has a husband and a family, and a huge conservative base that is enbergized by her. She is a VP candidate, my friend, which is a very important "calling." I don't think she is self centered, family centered, or career centered. Based on what I know about her, I would say that she
is God centered. That's how a lot of us evangelicals think. Get to
know us.

Believe me, if she is the VP, her special needs child will be very
well taken care of. While she is campaigning, I'm sure that her
husband, family and extended family will help her all that they can
in caring for the special needs infant.

*******
John M - Don't you believe that someone who claims to have high family values, and then leaves their special needs infant to be raised by someone else is a hypocrite? This is someone who has chosen to put her career over her family, and this is self centered, not family centered.
*******

The issue here is not her daughter and her mistakes. Or even her parents mistakes in raising her, but that's another discussion.

The issue is a candidate who runs on, among other ideas, "teaching abstinence only in public schools". I guess her daughter forgot to take that course.

The hypocrisy is astounding.

I feel sorry for the girl. This is such a big deal, and now, because of her mom, THE WHOLE WORLD is in on it.

Let's all pray for her. Sure, it makes the Republicans look stupid, but the fact is, everyone messes up. I just think Liberals admit it and Republicans pretend they don't.

While Russia invades Georgia the rest of us couldn't care less about the families of the poker of characters that aspire to 'lead the Free World'

America, please grow up and get serious!

EVERYONE PLEASE VISIT THIS WEBSITE FOR YOURSELF AND SEARCH FOR TRIG PALIN'S NAME, EVERY OTHER BABY BORN AT THAT HOSPITAL IS LISTED WHERE IS HIS NAME?

http://www.matsuregional.com/nursery/?sub=Static

Anonymous, or should I call you Michael Blain, or should I call you Anon -

Show your courage - step and actually say what you mean: She's a woman and a mother, and thus has no place in the workforce.

Your comments are bigoted and asinine - and genuinely represent the worst of humanity.

A real mother would stay home and take care of her downs baby and pay more attention to her daughter. A woman cannot expect to hold a important job and be a mother. Palin is a lousy VP choice.

Obama/Biden 08 Hill 16

A Becker you are so right. The key word here is "decision". They are praising her "decision" to keep the baby, as if it were her choice. But, according to what they claim to believe, they are against choice. I don't get it.

It is still to be seen how Palin's daughter's pregnancy will impact McCain's push for the white house. One thing seems evident, this woman was clearly not vetted. Almost from the announcement of her joining the ticket there has been a steady stream of unflattering news about her. First it was the investigation she is under for abuse of her power and office in the firing of the top official for public safety, because he in turn refused to fire her brother-in-law, as he was being pressured to do. Then came word of her flip flopping on her position to the 'Bridge to nowhere.' Now the pregnancy of her teenage daughter. McCain has got to be of the verge on cardiac arrest at this point as he waits with bated breath for what else may come to light.

how can the delegates draft Mitt Romney as the VP?

BAD OMEN

ABC, NBC and AP REPORT MCCAIN IS RE-VETTING SARAH.

The Palin wome are welfare queens, having more children than they can care for, and living off money provided by the State of Alaska.

It's disgraceful and un-American.

It was fun reading through the comments. SOme real pissed off liberals, leftist crowd here.
Dems blew 08 for not having Hillary on the ticket. Now the same Hate machine trying to torpedo another woman. Go get a life and a job. You'll might need it again.

Her teenage daughter makes a mistake Does the right thing by her baby, and now you say her mother is some kind of hypocrite?
Do you really think this comes across as hypocrasy by any real christian?
What an amazing bunch of monsters so many of you are!
All of us make mistakes. It's what we do about them that matters. Could you imagine saying the same things to your own daughters?

Politics in this country is a grand charade, a massive fraud.

The Palin debacle merely underlines this.

Don't we have a Democratic candidate who is the result of a pre-marital pregnancy? Apparently his mother left the responsibility of raising her son with her parents. And how many of his supporters are single unwed mothers? At the same time, one wonders why the Governor did not say "thanks, but no thanks" to this honor.

Wait, I'm confused. I thought the Christian right was against pre-marital sex. But now they're holding Bristol Palin up as the new icon of their values because she had pre-marital sex and decided to keep her baby? Aren't they worried about the kind of message this sends to other teenage girls, whom they are supposedly urging to remain abstinent out of the other side of their mouths? And how is it that a 17-year-old is ready to commit for life to a husband? Aren't they worried about the message this obviously shot-gun wedding sends to teenage girls? I'm really confused. Maybe they're just gloating because it's the first time that one of their scandals didn't involve gay sex in bathrooms, drugs or hookers!

McCain is playing with the hearts andminds of America. Thinking that females will vote for Palin just because she's a women, well women aren't dumb so think again. Everything that they have said was a plus for her is a negative. She wants money for the bridge, there was no shake up in Alaska it is what happens when someone new takes office. She began to ask questions because she was a young politician and mistakenly shook things up. Her daughter shouldn't be up for discussion, but Palin's decision's should. She didn't put her family first in trying to be Gov of Alaska (daughter pregnant) which means she won't put the American people first. McCain is playing America saying that the rumors had surfaced on the internet in the last 72hrs, but they have been on there for months. They put the information out there when the nation was acting like a family and focusing on Gustav. He's deceiving the American people and the conservatives love it. Please don't let him manipulae you like he's try to do.

Help me figure this out. We should not be commenting on this pregnancy because it's a private family matter. OK?

However, a great deal was made in the announcement of Palin's selection about her decision to bring to full term a pregnancy of a child with Down syndrome?

NOT a private family matter??? Help me understand why one is OK and the other is not.

OK - so you think the villain here is Gov Palin for accepting a VP nomination knowing her daughter is pregnant. You can't possibly be serious?

How about you put the true blame where it belongs - on obvious consumer demand for the hate machine tabloid politics that make this an issue? Obviously, you're not going to take that approach - it would force you to acknowledge you excessively petty behavior.

She's still the Governor of Alaska - do you suggest there is no local hoopla that will be generated in AK? Sure, it's unlikely that Kos/Moveon/huff-n-puff wouldn't focus on slandering her family if she was still the unknown Alaskan. But again, how do you not see that the true evil is from those sources, and not from her. Could it be you're part of the sleaze force?

Politics in this country is a grand charade, a massive fraud.

The Palin debacle merely underlines this.

Wait, what were the kids' names again? Track, Trig, and . . . Tramp?

John M - Don't you believe that someone who claims to have high family values, and then leaves their special needs infant to be raised by someone else is a hypocrite? This is someone who has chosen to put her career over her family, and this is self centered, not family centered.

Well that is interesting. I guess race won't be an issue now that Palins new son in law is BLACK. But I read he was in jail and is a rapist. If those are the family values that Palins family accepts.

I WILL VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA

The candidate's family should not be the focus today. Palin lied about the bridge to nowhere in her first words to the country. She misrepresented her opposition. McCain's belief in her was apparently spurred by her staunch opposition to wasteful spending. However, Palin supported the bridge before she opposed it, and the dollars for it merely went to other projects in Alaska. Did McCain know these facts? If he did, he misled the public as much as Palin did. If he did not, he seems not to have vetted her at all.

The candidate's family should not be the focus today. Palin lied about the bridge to nowhere in her first words to the country. She misrepresented her opposition. McCain's belief in her was apparently spurred by her staunch opposition to wasteful spending. However, Palin supported the bridge before she opposed it, and the dollars for it merely went to other projects in Alaska. Did McCain know these facts? If he did, he misled the public as much as Palin did. If he did not, he seems not to have vetted her at all.

The important point is NOT that her daughter got pregnant.
The key question is, Why did Gov. Palin and John McCain KNOWINGLY ignore this poor girl's right to privacy on such a sensitive issue?
Did they not realize that millions of people would now invade this girl's privacy when Gov. Palin agreed to the VP job, especially when they parade her around as the "family values" candidate?
The callousness and judgement says alot of both of them...as parents, as well as leaders.

Obama is right, reporters and rumor mongers should lay off Palin’s daughter.

But what about millions of other women faced with the same difficult situation, whom Palin and McCain vow to deny the right to make the decision they praise Bristol for making (whether to end the pregnancy). Will the Republicans lay off of other women’s right to make their own decisions?

Though her mom extolls abstinence, Bristol apparently was having sex while home from school sick in bed with mononucleosis. Never mind “values” – what kind of family is that?

Elderly McCain’s cynical choice of a VP candidate with zero national or foreign experience and only 20 months running a small state government was dubious. Even more dubious is how Palin and the First Dude have run their family.

America deserves executives with better judgment than McCain and Palin have shown.

Republican---> Moralistic person with good intentions and with human failings. Striving to be a better person.

Democrat----> Amoral person with good intentions and with human failing with no desire to become a better person.

As a conservative and an evangelical,
I'll make a couple of points here:

1) While I don't condone pre-marital sex,
her decision to marry the father is
a good one. Like everyone else, we
evangelicals make mistakes.
2) A hypocrite is better said to be one
who says he/she believes something
thathe/she really does not believe. Not doing what you know/think
is right is really not being a
hypoctrite. It's being an imperfect
human.
3) This issue will do little to know harm
to McCain/Palin suport. In fact, its
backlash might actually cause the
already energized base to be even more
energized. Myself, I will send my first
$50 donation to the McCain/Palin
campaign tonight.

Posted by: John M. | September 1, 2008 8:46 PM

=====================

The scraps from the edges of Karl Rove's playbook are still hanging off of this post.

Some staffer calling the base "energized". No real voter uses this word to describe him or herself.

Even pink bunnies wearing sunglasses and beating drums don't use this word to describe themselves!

So the primary assertions I see here are that:

A - Gov Palin is unqualified because her 17yr old daughter is pregnant.

B - It's appropriate for the "democrat hate machine" to openly attack and vilify the immediate family members of a candidate because they're still sour about the attacks made against Kerry, the actual candidate.

C - Because her daughter is pregnant, she should recuse herself, or the Republicans should rescind her nomination.

Is that really all you've got? Is that really your best demonstration of your faith for your Obamasiah?

A - maybe the pregnancy could be construed as a campaign issue if at the time of conception, she uttered - "finally, for the first time in my life I'm (really) proud of my country"

B - Chelsea Clinton was off limits. Malia and Sasha Obama have been off limits - and will continue to be. The Bush children have constantly been vilified by the left, and now the same holds true for the Palin children.

Democrat party as the party of tolerance - No, no you are not - and you're doing a great job of proving you're not.

C - Sorry, but I can see through your duplicitous transparency. You're salivating at the opportunity to get John McCain to dump Gov Palin so you can begin attacking him for being so ruthless to women for throwing a candidate under the bus for no campaign-relevant reason...

This only emboldens the terrorists: They see that in America even the upper echelon of political elites is not impregnable.

Forget the unimportant pregnancy. The real news, from ABC, is that she is a secessionist.
God help us all.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/members-of-frin.html

Oh you guys! Don’t you get it? This is all a big ploy by the republicans to wait until the last minute, and then have McCain have a stroke or something, and have Palin drop out due to family commitment. See then they can bring in their real candidate.

'Michael Blaine wrote: "The federal government ought to promote an anal sex-only curriculum in our schools so that our daughters arrive at the marriage altar at least technically virgins."

Anal sex is normal in many parts of southern Africa for the unwed for this very reason. It is also the reason for the high AIDS rate among heterosexuals. Not something anyone should be promoting, anywhere.'

But American youth would be told to use a condom.

If Gov. Sarah Palin knew her daughter was pregnant before Sen. McCain offered her the job why in the world would she accept it. She is busy cleaning up Alaskan corruption when she should be parenting her daughter. It amazes me that she can sit back and watch her daughter go through this media circus. How can Gov. Palin push abstinence as sex education in schools when it didn't work in her own home. I think the Gov. has a 4 month old who needs her at home and a teenager who is going to need her more than she thinks. And based on this she better stay home and keep an eye on the other kids.

Numb-WHAT?!? "Oh, NUMNAH!" National Spelling Bee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaQ22DM0mjs

Karl Rove can spell? - National Spelling Bee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65I0HNvTDH4

Palin Scandals inside scoop http://www.theveep.com

As a conservative and an evangelical,
I'll make a couple of points here:

1) While I don't condone pre-marital sex,
her decision to marry the father is
a good one. Like everyone else, we
evangelicals make mistakes.
2) A hypocrite is better said to be one
who says he/she believes something
thathe/she really does not believe. Not doing what you know/think
is right is really not being a
hypoctrite. It's being an imperfect
human.
3) This issue will do little to know harm
to McCain/Palin suport. In fact, its
backlash might actually cause the
already energized base to be even more
energized. Myself, I will send my first
$50 donation to the McCain/Palin
campaign tonight.

Who says she got abstinence only program. Did anyone think that maybe she had sex education in school? Or that maybe she WAS on birth control or condoms and it did not work?

Maybe its the fault of all you hollywood tramps and macho absent dem fathers fault!

This is Classic McCain - Ready, Shoot, AIM!

NBC news just reported the bf of Bristol is 18. Good job to all of you rumor mongers saying the boy was much older. Brilliant... I guess you can take back all the BS you spilled on that topic. Oh!! you can't.. it's already posted.

Bunch of boneheads..

Obviously the Republicans stand on "teaching abstinence" in the classroom isn't so effective! Bristol is a poor and DISGUSTING reflection of her mother's parental values. What sort of message are the Palin's sending to 17 year olds around the country? That it's acceptable for young ladies STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL to get pregnant? Sarah needs NOT to sugar coat the issue.

Yes, I understand Bristol is not the candidate running for Vice President but I expect Sarah Palin's family to be exemplary role models for other families. THIS IS DOWN RIGHT SHAMEFULL!

Michael Blaine wrote: "The federal government ought to promote an anal sex-only curriculum in our schools so that our daughters arrive at the marriage altar at least technically virgins."

Anal sex is normal in many parts of southern Africa for the unwed for this very reason. It is also the reason for the high AIDS rate among heterosexuals. Not something anyone should be promoting, anywhere.

As for Palin, I think its time she stopped lying to the American people. She has failed as a mother, her governorship is under investigation, and has said she believed she could be a governor and properly take care of her family. Anyone with children, especially teenagers, knows what the Palins must be going through, but they also know why it happened, an absentee mother. And now, with more children to raise, she wants to serve as Vice President. This woman is either a bad mother or thinks, like "liberals", that you can have it all.

Do her a favor in November and stay at home and don't vote republican. She should not get the vote of one caring parent. Once she loses the election in November, and is impeached by the Alaskan legislature (another story), she will finally be where she should be, at home taking care of her kids.

Now we know why Track volunteered to go to Iraq: To get away from his dysfunctional family of lunatics!

OK Chris, get to work... Which potential Vice presidential candidate said No to McCain precipitating this debacle ?

I'm not going to do all the work for you.

Gosh ... hope you're all Gretchen Wilson fans, because I'm guessing 'Red Neck Woman' will be Palin's campaign theme song!

Karl Rove's fingerprints are all over this one ... the last untapped demographic to mobilize.

Let me hear a big hell yeah from the redneck girls like me! Hell yeah!!!

The rumor about Trig being Bristol's baby has been circulating in Alaska since his birth 4 months. I keep hearing that this rumor has been around for about 72 hours on the internet and is the product of the Liberal's imagination. Both the birth rumor and its invention by the liberals are pure fabrication.

More from the soap opera that is Sarah Palin's life to follow...

The point is that Palin reportedly wants to criminalize the use of (all) contraceptives even between married couples. You don't have to be pro-choice to find this very extreme, and a violation of privacy. Unfortunately, in this context her family life does become relevant information for voters to weigh.

Moreover, Palin has played the downs baby as a politcal card (to woo evangelicals), maybe even her strongest one. If the story as she tells it is a fabrication, we need to know. At the same time I feel this attention is tragic for the daughter, and that many of the comments on this site (those that joke about the situation) are highly inappropriate.

"Songbird"/"Trailer Trash" In '08! God Bless The USA!!!!

I feel sorry for Bristol, but hope the family values group gives up on abstinence-only education since one of their own has provided proof of what a waste of time and energy it is.

Wrong: Gallup has Obama up 6 and CBS has him up 8, according to Drudge.

So despite the racial drag, flaws in poll methodology, and under-the-radar campaigning against him by the Clintons, he got his bounce.
________

Polls have Obama and McCain dead even or within 1 to 2 points. So much for that boost the Annointed One was suppose to get after the convention.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 1, 2008 8:04 PM

is it too late for mitt or pawlenty?

Wow Jimmy thanks for the link to the http://www.veeppeek.com Those Pictures are hallarious., Ha Ha. I think we should leave the youngster alone.

"I havent heard one lie yet about the girls pregnancy. It was private but it came out and the family said yes she's pregnant. What lie?

Posted by: Anonymous | September 1, 2008 7:13 PM"

Gov. Palin withheld a material piece of information relevant to her pro-life platform. Her supporters had a right to know her family situation, and since Bristol is still a minor in her custody, it's relevant.

Also, Gov. Palin still hasn't shot down the allegations that Trig is Bristol's son and that she (Gov. Palin) faked a pregnancy to cover this up. The statement from her only announced that Bristol is currently pregnant. Nice try to get the blogs off her back, but not going to persuade the increasingly suspicious masses.

Another low move was to leak the first name of the baby's father. Her daughter lost her privacy (not her choice). Did the governor get the baby's father's parents' permission to release his first name, which is a lot less common than "John" or "Mike". Somehow, I think it's doubtful, and through light websearches people have already identified the boy's last name as well. That will send the press hounds on a different track for about 5 minutes. Does a boy who made a mistake also need to get dragged through this so that Sarah Palin can get a shot at being VP? This is disgusting, disgusting.

As a seventeen year old girl raised in Catholic school, the idea of abstinece has been emphisized heavily throughout my life. I agree that the press should leave Bristol out of the picture, and perhaps focus more on the mother. My mother brought me up right, with good values and making good decisions. She has always been there for me, giving good guidence.

I question what guidance Sarah Palin gave to her daughter. Its seems like she didn't spend enough time with her instilling those good Christian morals. Now Mrs. Palin has taken a job that will take her further away from her children...now what will happen to the other ones?

The Right has made fun of Hillary Clinton, but Hillary Clinton has raised an intelligent and thoughtful daughter. Oh irony...

its 2 am sarah, do you know where your daughter is?

http://www.stupidsheeple.com/images/stories/palin/l_26a4878e413d15515859a652d714fa5f.jpg

NEWS FLASH

FATHER OF PALIN'S UNWED DAUGHTER HAS ANOTHER CHILD FROM A PREVIOUS GIRL FRIEND HE DID NOT MARRY.

WILL THIS NEVER END????

SEE HIS WEBSITE

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=7775827

Good idea Michael. We'll let Barney Frank know that you are in favor of anal-sex.

Shoulda killed that downs baby in the womb and paid more attention to her daughter.

Obama/Biden 08

Repubs were all over Chelsea for smoking a cig, seems only fair the dems chastise Bristol for smoking a pole.

This is not about Palin's parenting. It's about the fact that conservatives like Palin have been making personal issues into political issues for years to get votes. They never seem to learn that messing with other people's personal lives can come back to bite them in the behind, as it has with David Vitter, Larry Craig, and now Palin.

If Governor Palin wants Americans to leave her personal life alone, she should set the example by keeping her mouth shut about the personal lives of others. No more speeches about abstinence education and same-sex marriage, Sarah! People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

I like Palin, Her kid gettin pregnant just shows that she has to deal with the same stuff as the rest of us. There are other scandals with her that hold more wieght you can see them at http://www.veeppeek.com

This is the same cr^p Obama and his gang pulled on Hillary.

Spreading lies and then saying Obama didn't do it. This cr^p is getting old.

Horrible. If Palin's cannot keep control of her underage daughter, then how will she be able to keep control of our country. I think this is a perfect example of people who want power but clearly cant keep control of the power they have. I am Republican and this just disgusts me. If McCain doesn't do the right move and drop her from the camp then i will be forced to not vote for him, period.

The federal government ought to promote an anal sex-only curriculum in our schools so that our daughters arrive at the marriage altar unpregnant and at least technically virgins.

Are my fellow Democrats insane? This family drama has nothing to do with the race, isn't a "tragedy" and says almost nothing about Sarah Palin. Commentary on Palin in general and on this in particular has ranged from disgusting to inexpressively repulsive. Hillary and Bill got a lot of this too. In the last week I've move from holding my nose and going with Obama, to not voting to seriously looking at McCain.

Who is taking care of the children now, especially the youngest? That child needs all the attention possible. Who will take care of the children should they win? My observation is as follows: 1)If John McCain was thinking beyond himself he would have never in a million years asked this family to be part of his run for President. I can't even guess how this woman can try to raise a family and run a state while the husband works. Now wanting to be 2nd in command of the entire country!! 2)If this woman was not so into herself, she could have just said no. Now the most holiest of us now are defending the both of them! So much for worrying about the family. Judgement by the both of these individuals are poor at best. I guess "Do as I say not as I do" should be their new talking points.

Bob North Smithfield, thanks for the knowledge (below).

Note to Obama: it is arrogant of you to tell the press, including the blogs (who have doggedly tracked this story when mainstream media wouldn't) to "stand down." This is bigger than you.

The press has a higher responsibility to report on matters affecting the presidential campaigns.

Misrepresentations by a vp candidate about biographical matters central to their message, as we have here, is news.

Because of the blogs/Enquirer's reporting, it seems likely now that Palin will soon step down under the pretense of needing to devote more time to family. If that happens, then Senator McCain might pick a qualified veep like Colin Powell or Michael Steele that might well make me vote for McCain. So you, sir, stand down and chill...look, bro' it ain't always about you.
_______________

NEWS FLASH

NBC and ABC REPORT MCCAIN CAMP IS RE-VETTING SARAH.

A TEAM OF 10-LEFT FOR ALASKA THIS AFTERNOON.

McCain looks like a fool!!!

Posted by: Bob North Smithfield | September 1, 2008 7:58 PM

just suppose Obama had chosen Hillary to be his running mate, and just suppose it was learned that Chelsea was 5 months pregnant and planned to have the baby and marry the father at some point.

Can you imagine the firestorm the GOP's thugs would ignite over that, not to mention the snide asides McCain and his top spokespeople would engage in in that circumstance?

What hypocracy!

What vetting was actually done? I bet McCain really didn't know this imortant fact when he chose Sarah Palin. But if he did what does that say about his judgment in making crucial decisions?

These Palin Women seem to be quite fertile and clearly not big on birth control! How demanding is the role of VP and can it be fulfilled whilst pregnant?

"Abstenance"?????????????
How about "abstinence"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where did some of you bozos get your education? Dumb s**t school????

The spelling and grammar on this site is atrocious!!!!! If you can't spell, how can you form an intelligent political position?

It is 3am. As predicted by Hillary, the phone always rings in the white house at this time.

Cindy McCain is fast asleep after a late night beer bask party at the local brewery.

Ring Ring. McCain answers the phone thinking it is Merckel calling him saying
Putin has invaded France.

McCain: hell ohh!!

On the other end: John this is Sarah Palin. I ran out of diapers and both my kid and my grand kid are pooping on my bed. What should I do?

McCain: Sarah, just leave those kids alone, let them clean their own poop. I want you to come over here right now and run this damn country. I am tired of sitting by the phone every night at 3am. I have to take care of Cindy now who is barfing all over the bed in the Lincoln bedroom.

This is insane. The media has gone nuts about a teen pregnancy. This is a personal matter and who really cares.

On the other hand, here is Obama committing crimes - election fraud and violating voter's rights by sending his thugs into caucuses to steal delegates using theft, threats, force, and every kind of fraud imaginable.

He ended up stealing the nomination! And, does anybody care? We care when this happens in other countries, but not here in America?

This is shameful, undemocratic, and un-American.

http://wewillnotbesilenced2008.com/video/index.htm

...

NEWS FLASH

FATHER OF PALIN'S UNWED DAUGHTER HAS ANOTHER CHILD FROM A PREVIOUS GIRL FRIEND HE DID NOT MARRY.

WILL THIS NEER END????

SEE HIS WEBSITE

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=7775827

Since when does failed parentship give one any credentials? Palin's daughter, if she were a daughter of a democrat, would be leveled by religious charges by the crazy right wing of the evangelical republican party. But since she is "one of them", its all ok, and its ok for her to marry a guy who got her in this condition. And the Palin's are happy!

I'm sorry, these republican religious fascists really live in another world. A world of relativism.

Typical evangelical republican meeting a 17 year old girl who is pregnant out of wedlock: 'Oh, you're 17 and you're pregnant? Before I judge you I have just one question: Are you a republican or a democrat?

FamilyFirst? has it down to the brass tacks...

"Where is the thought that a "pro-family" candidate is throwing her own family under a bus? She has a newborn that needs SO much love, help, and attention; yet she runs. She has a 17 year old who is pregnant, knows the entire country will now be judging her daughter, and still runs.

Where I come from, this isn't pro-family. It's selfish."

And yes, it DOES matter that her daughter is pregnant--and I am not condemning the daughter here. I think it is highly irresponsible of Palin and McCain--to the country and to her family. The Palin's do have a right to their privacy and I truly wish them the very best. With a lot of love and family support, they will make it through this. But it is not wise to lay out this example as an entree to national leadership.

Walking the walk has as much to do with being there for your family, guiding their steps, knowing what is going on under your own roof--as it does with standing by right-to-life convictions. We bear at least as much responsibility to those children we bring into the world after they are here as we do before they arrive.

The federal government ought to promote an anal sex-only curriculum in our schools so that our daughters arrive at the marriage altar at least technically virgins.

"Have all of you forgotten about John Edwards love child which was covered up for 2 and 1/2 years? Edwards wife is dying of cancer. The left, who has NO morals of any kind is so quick to condemn those who do. Obama believes that a baby is 'punishment' to a girl and should be murdered.

What hypocrisy,"

if this is the best you can do then you should just forfeit now. There is no comparison..none..you can keep trying but your efforts will be fruitless. Just realize your candidate is an idiot and your party is going down the tubes. Even rats abandon a sinking ship. good luck

In her statement, Palin writes, "We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents." But Sarah Palin's daughter, Bristol never had a "decision" to make, since she and her mother believe there is no alternative to an unplanned pregnancy than to carry the baby to term. And, if it were up to Palin and McCain, no woman in the country who faces an unwanted pregnancy (or the birth of a child with Down syndrome) would be left to decide for herself either.

I thought that was soooo funny, too, when Obama asked about Alaska's entrance ranking in the US. 56th? 57th? 58th? Which states are the 51st through 55th?

As long as John McCain is not the father, I will still vote for him. Or will I?

Oh... premarital sex among minors is OK! And of course, they should be making babies as long as they get married! Palin's PTA membership is a sorry excuse for horrible parenting.

And the Christian right celebrates this and covers it with requests for privacy? Bristol is now in league with Britany Spears sister! Lousy example and lousy parenting.

While candidate's children are not fair game, if little Trig is actually Bristol's daughter (Bristol! Why didn't they name her Philadelphia? But I digress...)

If Trig is Bristol's daughter then Ms. Moroni, I mean Ms. Palin has been lying to everyone.

Have all of you forgotten about John Edwards love child which was covered up for 2 and 1/2 years? Edwards wife is dying of cancer. The left, who has NO morals of any kind is so quick to condemn those who do. Obama believes that a baby is 'punishment' to a girl and should be murdered.

What hypocrisy,

Maybe Sarah Palin should have concluded the abstenance lecture with a few warning shots over the head.

The baby daddy is Levi Johnston of Wasila, Alaska. He's a senior in high school and a hockey player. I guess There will be two "hockey moms" in the family now.
Justin, you rock! I almost fell out of my chair!!
Republican D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R!!

Ok, time for round two!

Hey, it is so EXCITING to be in the company of SO MANY pure, moral male and female virgins! I musta died and gone to heaven with all of the precious "saints" who have commented on here!

Obama to an advisor, "Was Alaska the 56th or 57th state admitted to the union?"

My biggest problem with the Bristol pregnancy is it is fair game for the MSM. Because of Sarah Palin's political views it should be fair game.

Sarah Palin is a supporter of abstinence-only education, yet she cannot teach that lesson in her own household. Obviously, this approach is flawed, and for many others less fortunate than Bristol the right to choose is fundamental.

Sarah Palin would take away education that helps others less fortunate than Bristol because of her religious beliefs. It's also possible that she is forcing her daughter into this decions to protect her political career. If she doesn't support the right to choose these assumptions can and should be made.

I hope the so-called liberal media doesn't drop the ball on this. It is relevant and deserves discussion because it's hypocrisy at its highest.

In this case this is not about Bristol herself, but it is a referendum on the failure of abstinence only programmes. They simply do not work.

Furthermore candidates' children are not fair game. They have nothing to do with how the candidate will govern.

Teen-pregnancies happen because a large number of teenagers do not have the appropriate information about reproduction and how to prevent getting pregnant. I do not recall the statistics, but since Bush has made abstinence-only a cornerstone of his presidency, teenage pregnancies increased.

It is not fair to promote abstinence only. Let's face it some teenagers have sex. To reduce the number of pregnancies give them the education they need to prevent them from ruining their futures.

If Bristol had, had sex ed we probably would not be having this conversation. She is fortunate to have loving parents.

Lastly on the other hand, if Bristol all of a sudden miscarries it will raise doubts about who really gave birth to Trig. Into her 6th or 7th month of "pregnancy" Sarah Palin was walking around in 3" heels. That is unheard of.

See here (fast forward to 5:30 minutes):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C21HdCJKM60&feature=related

See here also:

http://www.politicalbase.com/profile/jnail/blog/&blogId=3422

To clear up any doubts Palin needs to provide her medical records.

So let's leave Bristol out of it. Children are off-limits. This is a referendum on abstinence only and whether Sarah Palin has used good judgment and if she has been forthcoming.

I predict IF Obama is elected President he will be a one term president and will go down as one of the worst presidents in US history. He'll make Jimmy Carter look freakin' brilliant!

Palin is a disaster!

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

Polls have Obama and McCain dead even or within 1 to 2 points. So much for that boost the Annointed One was suppose to get after the convention.

The baby daddy is Levi Johnston of Wasila, Alaska. He's a senior in high school and a hockey player. I guess There will be two "hockey moms" in the family now.

http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2008/01/15/sports/doc478c411e72a8d457315639.txt

Sorry, but I see most teenage pregnancies as a lame excuse for poor parenting and neglect. As a PTA-soccer mother of a 15 year old daughter (a total of three girls), a key parenting responsibility is to know that my daughter is safe and limit her exposure to risk if I believe her maturity doesn’t reflect sound judgment, nor the life skills to protect herself.Undoubtedly, having the child is the right thing, but who was coaching the daughter before she started dating on the responsibility of respecting herself, and family, by behaving accordingly. What mother would take an eight hour flight (as Sarah did),with a high risk pregnancy, in labor to give birth in AK? What mother of 5 would take on a position she's not even sure what the job description requires of herself, at the cost of her family? What mother of a special needs infant (which the daughter is always holding) would take on such demanding positions? This is very contradictory...

This evangelical “she’s living the pro-life” choice is hogwash. It’s just another “Oops, I did it again, luckily I am forgiven,” irresponsible, hypocritical behavior from a reckless politician that is selling herself on a false premise..…Let's just say, she stays out of my personal business-I will stay out of hers...

The Palin statement that she was disclosing her child's pregnancy to quell rumors about the child's [alleged] earlier pregnancy does not make any sense. It is game of distraction.

Palin's statement implies that if her child is five-months pregnant now (if that is even true), she could not have given birth in April 2008. But of course that doesn't follow at all. It just means we are dealing with back to back pregnancies of the child [allegedly].

This is an attempt at distraction from Palin's hoax regarding the first pregnancy of the child, which Palin falsely claimed as her own pregnancy [allegedly].

The press is focusing on the second pregnancy (which isn't much of an issue beyond that fact Palin concealed it from the campaign until now) to avoid reporting on the real story: the elaborate [alleged] hoax surrounding the first pregnancy of the child.

This is an important story, as newsworthy as Palin's abuse of power in trying to get her brother in law fired and then firing his boss when he wouldn't follow her illegal orders.

The Obama campaign has asked the press to stand down on this story. The American people, however, want the press to stand up. The so-called mainstream press has no excuse not to cover it. It's no wonder they are losing circulation and ratings.

If Palin's family has so much christian values as she claims, why didn't her church instill the right values in her teenage daughter? If Palin couldn't teach her daughter to keep her legs together, and she couldn't find any other intelligent human beings to teach Bristol the right christian values how do you expect Palin to make any decisions for this country? If Palin was running on a liberal ticket as a democrat, this may all sound fine. But she is running on a conservative platform with so much emphasis put on family values. This is the party of veep Dan Quayle who critized a TV show called Murphy Brown for having a kid out of wedlock. Now we have a veep candidate who has taught her teenage daughter it is okay not only to have a baby out of wedlock but also when you are a teenager. Talk about double standards here.

The question is it responsible for America to ask Palin to take care the business of this country or let her take care of her own two children with special needs, her 4 month old with down syndrome and 17 year old who could really use some help from her mom during the early years of rearing a baby. McCain still has time to make the right decision by letting Palin go and take of her family instead of dragging her around the country. He still has the other candidates from his short list that he can enlist. The republican party elders should really ask McCain to reconsider another person for the job. It is never too late.

"the pregnancy is of no consequence and nobody's business. This includes you. "

Oh I beg to differ Bill, this is my business! Palin says one thing and then does another. Humm I wonder where she learned that from?? The way she runs her family is a direct correlation to the way she would run the country. Her "family values" are in question concerning this unwed, underage, irresponsible pregnancy. Now because of her ignorant belief system her child is going to become a statistic.. She will most likely divorce due to marring to young. Not to mention attending college with a child and having to hold down a job and a home etc.etc.
Palin's irresponsibility and lack of judgment concerning this issue is frightening!

Wow, these comments are horrendous. You know, it's easier to take jabs at other people's personal lives when you are not under the public microscope yourself.

Pathetic.

So McCain knew Bristol was pregnant. And yet he still went forward with Sarah Palin's nomination?

Regardless of how you feel about the pregnancy itself, it says a lot about McCain that he would do this. Surely he must have known that by putting Gov. Palin's name into the national spotlight, he would be exposing an innocent minor to intense national scrutiny and judgment. He would be telling the world, not just the relatively small enclave of Alaska, that this girl obviously had premarital sex. He would be opening up a whole Pandora's box of whether a conservative upbringing really does make one either unable or unwilling to use birth control effectively. (Never mind abortion: What, exactly, ARE Gov. Palin's views on the use of contraceptives by minors? That will be a HUGE issue in the aftermath of this.) He would be putting additional physical and emotional stress on a young girl during her first pregnancy. And of course, he would be exposing Bristol to, in some Christianist corners at least, public condemnation for her "sinful" ways.

From another angle: What kind of message does the whole Bristol situation send to America's youth? That premarital sex between minors really is okay? That if you do pregnant, you don't need to worry--the guy is going to marry you and everything will work out fine? (Side question: Is it technically a shotgun marriage if the groom is being forced at gunpoint by Secret Service guys with Glocks rather than a daddy with a 12-gauge?) Not only that, but you get to live a fairy-tale existence with your parents in a huge pretty mansion. (Nevermind that the VP lives at the National Observatory grounds rather than the White House; such a distinction will be lost on the average 15-year-old.) The underlying impression will ultimately be that for a young girl, pregnancy (via premarital sex) is the road to wedded happiness.

And, on a more personal note, how long can Bristol's marriage last when its every detail will be on display ad nauseam, thanks to our media-obsessed nation? Is this in any way fair to Bristol and her future husband, not to mention the baby?

As I've said from the start, it all goes back to the question of McCain's character. (Although, to be fair, Gov. Palin now seems to be totally lacking in character as well, putting her ambitions ahead of her daughter's need for a "normal" life at this critical time.) Since McCain knew in advance about Bristol's pregnancy and couldn't see what a firestorm it was bound to cause, it just points once again to his total lack of sound judgment. Or, far more damning, he DID realize that Bristol's life would be made fodder for the grist mill and thought the sacrifice was justified.

McCain is either fatally inept or cynically ruthless. Either way, he's not fit for this country's highest office.

McCain just crapped all over your values platform.

When people on this site throw around the word "retard" like they do it just shows me how small minded they are. Calling someone a "retard" is the equivalent of calling someone the N-word.

The Palin baby daddy already has one son named Cooper. Now, he'll have two children. He's 25! I love the Republicans. Jesus would be so proud!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=7775827

NEWS FLASH

NBC and ABC REPORT MCCAIN CAMP IS RE-VETTING SARAH.

A TEAM OF 10-LEFT FOR ALASKA THIS AFTERNOON.

McCain looks like a fool!!!

We can all agree that the press SHOULD leave stories like this alone. We also can agree that it is beyond foolish to think they will. Sort of like hoping Democrats and Republicans could come together to balance the budget. Nice sentiment. Ain't going to happen.

This is a disaster for the McCain campaign. It looks like they didn't vet the choice. It looks like his biggest decision in this race just backfired. And in politics, perception is everything.

Not to mention the timing overshadows what is already an overshadowed convention.

Better question -- if the McCain camp KNEW about this, why did they announce today? Was this their original plan, or did something cause them to push the announcement up to today?

I vote to spray and fumigate this site because it has really become so infested with vermin.

Wow. Just when you thought the Obama people couldn't possible get any trashier, they decide to out the opposition's teenage daughter.

Even Richard Nixon would blush.

If Sarah Palin has done such a poor job of rearing her daughter, and based on the religious rights approach to religion, I would have to conclude that being unmarried, 17, and having a child would qualify as "having done a poor job" of rearing her daughter, what can we expect as vp, more os the same? McSame/Palin

I believe women can be good leaders. I believe women can work a full time job and still be a good mother. I also think it's possible that Sarah Palin can be a good mayor of a small town and be a good mother of four. It is also very likely that she is a good governor of a sparsely populated state and be a good mother of four with a fifth on the way and a pregnant teenage daughter. But I think the Vice President of the United States (and someone next in line for the Presidency) takes a lot more time and commitment than a mother of five and soon-to-be grandmother can afford to withhold from her family. In four or eight years she could be a forceful candidate for VP, but now is not the time for Sarah Palin. Good for her for showing that women can be mothers and politicians, good for her for standing by her daughter and supporting her decision to keep the baby, but shame on her for thinking she can put her family's life on the back burner while she pursues her own aspirations. Her family needs her more than ever right now and the best decision for her to make is to step aside and ask McCain to pick someone else.

OK; I've posted some outrageous things here, but the Republicans are THE party of outrage.

They've trashed our country, made it look ludicrous and worse in the eyes of the world.

Enough. No more Republican-initiated destruction of America.

Who's the baby-daddy?

The spelling on here stinks!!!!!

Instead of going through the glass ceiling, Palin crashed through the glass floor and landed in the glass toilet.

I vote to spay and neuter.

Children not only learn what they live, they live what they learn. This child apparently has been given the responsibility of parenting her sibling as her mother's responsibility of politics overshadows her own parenting responsibility. Bristol Palin should have no qualms about becoming a parent to her own biological child as her responsibilities for her brother(?) Trig, which should have been her mother's responsibility, makes it alright for her to be a parent instead of being a teen.

A mother who states that she is proud to be a grandparent when her teen daughter is pregnant, is in denial that something went wrong. It appears that she endorses the premature marriage of this young couple. Statistics show that young marriages tend to end up in divorce. Really, the values of family are muddled in politics.

Sure her mother is anti-abortion, but being pro-responsibility is a stronger value, as that includes prevention (including abstinence as an option) and responsible decision making. When this value is upheld, the issue of abortion is moot. What do pro-life groups do beyond protesting abortion and encouraging the destruction of family planning clinics and physicians. Regarding the parents who are not ready, willing or able to support and parent their children and end up abusing or neglecting their children, how much energy is placed by pro life people on the care of these existing lives. Leave it to the government? I suppose if that is the case, then the government should control the morals and individual rights of citizens.

Why Sarah Palin want the VP job: She needs the benfit of free daycare provided by the Secret Service!

For a different Party, or under other circumstances, this might be much less of a problem than it is. But John McCain is following an administration whose first impulse was to lie to the American People, or stonewall them, or try to keep secret things that they might find embarrassing. John has had his VP nominee for just 96 hours and the stories, counterstories, calls of "Trust Us." and "It isn't any of the public's business." and in general a willingness to hide facts that cannot be hidden, and hope nobody finds out.

More of the Bush Cheney attitude from a Party that has already forfeited the public's trust.

John MIGHT get back on the right foot IF Sarah Palin immediately resigns, citing bad judgment in accepting the nomination in the first place, given her circumastances, which she feels should be left private by the press. Since she is asking us to let her replace the darkl Lord himself, it is NOT a fair request.

ONLY a completely honest, open, and forthright McCain campaign deserves any trust at all. An administration that starts out without the trust of the people is just four more years of George, which we can't abide.

Palin should resign, and John should apologize. Otherwise John should be deemed untrustworthy for his demonstrated bad judgment.

No trust, no chance.

Actually, some cretins may like nasal sex better, like, say, Michael?????

Quote: "There are two legitimate issues here: (1) Did the McCain Campaign know about this before hand? If they didn't then it'sd another sign that they didn't vet ther or she kept the information to herself (or most probably, Bristol kept it to herself) If they did, why didn't they release the information when they picked her? (2) Why did she accept if she knew it would bring this firestorm of publicity on her family (and particularly her daughter)?"

Yes, according to the news reports, Palin told McCain about the pregnance of her daughter when he was interviewing her. He and she accepted it, because she is much more accomplished than Obama or Hillary and the pregnancy is of no consequence and nobody's business. This includes you.

Sarah Palin is a liar. She claims to have reformed Alaska pork barrel politics by stopping the Bridge to Nowhere. But she never tells you that Alaska kept the money anyway.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN3125537020080901

Why didn't Sarah teach Bristol that if you only have anal sex, not only can you not get pregnant, but you're also still a virgin!

Michael Blaine
Good GOP tactics of attacking, then can we all can claim to be victims!!

No Liar, there will be NO moratorium. This goes to the heart of the republican party and their so called "values". When you through rocks through a "glass ceiling" you can expect that something is going to break!! We will take this country back come hell or high water from the right-wing so-called "moral conservative" neocons. Republicans, you are to blame for your own fate! Americans believe in justice and a government who does as they wish. Don't worry we'll play Tapps on your way OUT!

No Liar, there will be NO moratorium. This goes to the heart of the republican party and their so called "values". When you through rocks through a "glass ceiling" you can expect that something is going to break!! We will take this country back come hell or high water from the right-wing so-called "moral conservative" neocons. Republicans, you are to blame for your own fate! Americans believe in justice and a government who does as they wish. Don't worry we'll play Tapps on your way OUT!

KathyLibbey:

What is rude is these Republicans making a mockery of our government.

With "leaders" like these, I figure it's open season on the comment boards, no?

==============
Bristol Palin is NOT the candidate.
The press has gone all National Enquirer on his running mate’s pregnant teenage daughter, Bristol. Is there no shame? This is not even an 18 year old we are talking either, here. A little common decency, people? Can someone call a moratorium?

http://thetownliar.blogspot.com/2008/09/bristol-palin-is-not-candidate.html

Posted by: thetownliar | September 1, 2008 7:22 PM
==================
Thanks for the thoughtful post. None of these are candidates either and have much more remote relationship:
Wright
Ayers
Rezko
Britney Spears
Female white models/prostitutes

It is unconscionable that people make such FILTHY and flimsy associations.

Gee, what politically correct vernacular, Michael --- "mentally retarded baby"???
Wow! My super fave Dem lady Maria Schwarzenegger will LOVE that one! See, folks, those Dem males really know how to win the hearts of us gals!

No Liar, there will be NO moratorium. This goes to the heart of the republican party and their so called "values". When you through rocks through a "glass ceiling" you can expect that something is going to break!! We will take this country back come hell or high water from the right-wing so-called "moral conservative" neocons. Republicans, you are to blame for your own fate! Americans believe in justice and a government who does as they wish. Don't worry we'll play Tapps on your way OUT!

Obviously, the Palin girls/women are real hellcats in the sack!

Who said Republicans aren't sexy?!!

At the White House, First Gentleman of the USA Todd can talk about the sexual proclivities of Sarah, and President Sarkozy can talk about those of Carla Bruni.

Hot!

I type fast and don't use spell checks. That was an odd mistake though. The letters are no close to each other on the keyboard.

--------
"fish BATE"???? I always thought it was "fish BAIT."

Posted by: tootie | September 1, 2008 7:29 PM

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense, make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”
— Jesus Christ, Matthew 23: 14-15

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson-hypocrite of the highest order. Hypocrites beware Jesus is watching.

The following is a link to the Mat Sur Hospitals birth registry.

Trig Palin was born on April 18, 2008 at this hospital according to Gov. Palin but neither Trig's name or her name is listed.

For a small hospital not to put the governors child on there which would obviously be a great honor is surprising, but you can judge for yourself.

http://www.matsuregional.com/nursery/nursery_name.php?start=60&step=30&count=503

Michael Blaine either you are a republican trying to make people think you are a democrat, or you are just plain rude, and I doubt anyone here with a brain cares what your views are.

Barack Obama's statement on Sara Palin's daughter's pregnancy was full of class, empathy, and was right on target. He spoke as a father and son of a teenage mother in a way that transcended partisanship. His statement demonstrates to me just how classy a candidate can be even as his own "supporters" (who knows WHO writes the anonymous garbage on this and other blogs)behave as poorly reared adolescents left alone in a lockerroom with an internet connection and with no parental supervision.

Will Paris Hilton and Bristol Palin market their pre-marital sex videos together? As soon as she's 18, Bristol can name her own price in the San Fernando porn industry! God Bless The USA!

Locals up there are not speculating on who the father is. She doesn't seem to have a steady boyfriend. The father could be anybody. Someone she was with once. What are they going to do get her a fake father?

========
So, Bristol Palin "will" marry the father of her unborn child. Well, I wonder if the Social Conservatives have given any thought to the possibility that the father will not want to marry Bristol."

Well, since it is all over the news in black and white that the father will marry her, that sort of makes you look like you haven't read anything about this but have become an "expert".

Posted by: Bill | September 1, 2008 7:27 PM

There are two legitimate issues here: (1) Did the McCain Campaign know about this before hand? If they didn't then it'sd another sign that they didn't vet ther or she kept the information to herself (or most probably, Bristol kept it to herself) If they did, why didn't they release the information when they picked her? (2) Why did she accept if she knew it would bring this firestorm of publicity on her family (and particularly her daughter)?

Palin/McCain,

Dear Candidates, I am a strong evangelical, and I am asking you two to resign. You two exemplify everything I teach my Christian kids not-to-be. First McCain is near "F" student (5th from bottom) an unfaithful man in marriage -- cheated on his wife, then marries the rich mistress. Then, he is prone to fits of rage/sin that Gal 5:19 tells us to avoid.

On a social level McCain overlooked the civil rights movement voting against the MLK Holiday - and Palin goes to an all white church.

In addition you elevate a woman to lead over very qualified men like Romney and others for a mother who is doing such a poor job at it her teen girls are getting pregnant and involving themselves in pre-maritial sex.

For the Love of God why should we lift you up as a model pair to lead?

Was she RAPED??
Where is the offender?

I am curious does Obama consider Bristol Palin's baby a punishment like he would if it was one of his daughters?

Posted by: Mother30's ish | September 1, 2008 1:24 PM

"fish BATE"???? I always thought it was "fish BAIT."

Michael Blaine, I won't answer any more of your dribblings, but I would suggest that you get mental help.

With the Palin girls/women in the White House there'll be more sex occurring there than ever before in American history!

So, Bristol Palin "will" marry the father of her unborn child. Well, I wonder if the Social Conservatives have given any thought to the possibility that the father will not want to marry Bristol."

Well, since it is all over the news in black and white that the father will marry her, that sort of makes you look like you haven't read anything about this but have become an "expert".

I have a feeling Todd will be the next Billy Carter. Maybe he can have his own beer named after him? Or maybe some kind of fish bate or something.

---------
Bill Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar"

Exactly! He had a good intellect and was an expert on the issues. (What he did with his penis was his personal business.)

But, has Palin ever read a book?

Plus, imagine Palin becomes president; the nation's First Gentleman would be named Todd. Todd! "Oh, hello President Sarkozy, I'd like you to meet Todd. Why don't you two discuss stagflation for a few minutes while I go tend to my mentally retarded baby and make sure my daughters aren't screwing in the Lincoln Bedroom." Hah! Hilarious.

Posted by: Michael Blaine | September 1, 2008 7:18 PM

I can't say that I am happy that another teenage mom is entering this world, but I am grateful that God has shown her that life is more important than anything. You should preach abstinence, which is the only way to certainly prevent an unwanted pregnancy. You can teach your children about the importance of waiting. I am appauled that media, especially Wolf Blitzer, would use this unfortunate incident to push his personal agenda!!! How shameful. I am so proud that Governor Pallin did not back away from this situation. She is one tough cookie. She is the kind of woman America needs. John McCain should be applauded for his choice. If you want to investigate someone, investigate Obama and his background. I am sure you will find some news to report!

Whatever, and then there is this:

Quote: "The Berg lawsuit contends there is enough truth in the various reports to conclude, "Unfortunately, Obama is not a 'natural born' citizen."

The suit alleges that while records exist of a "registry of birth" for Obama in Hawaii (filed four days after his claimed birthday), no records exist of his mother's stay in any Hawaii hospital, suggesting she may have given birth elsewhere and filed the registration shortly thereafter on American soil.

"Obama's grandmother on his father's side, half brother and half sister claim Obama was born in Kenya," the suit states. "Reports reflect Obama's mother went to Kenya during her pregnancy; however, she was prevented from boarding a flight from Kenya to Hawaii at her late stage of pregnancy, which apparently was a normal restriction to avoid births during a flight. Stanley Ann Dunham (Obama) gave birth to Obama in Kenya, after which she flew to Hawaii and registered Obama's birth."

The claim could not be verified by WND inquiries to Hawaiian hospitals, since state law bars the hospitals from releasing medical records to the public.

Even if Obama produced authenticated proof of his birth in Hawaii, however, the suit claims that the U.S. Nationality Act of 1940 provided that minors lose their American citizenship when their parents expatriate. Since Obama's mother married an Indonesian citizen and moved to Indonesia, the suit claims, she forfeited both her and Barack's American citizenship."

Michael Blaine I don't like Sarah Palin, but I believe I like you even less. That was uncalled for!

Bristol Palin is NOT the candidate.

The press has gone all National Enquirer on his running mate’s pregnant teenage daughter, Bristol. Is there no shame? This is not even an 18 year old we are talking either, here. A little common decency, people? Can someone call a moratorium?

http://thetownliar.blogspot.com/2008/09/bristol-palin-is-not-candidate.html

God Bless The USA And Our Future First Gentleman "Todd"!

So, Bristol Palin "will" marry the father of her unborn child. Well, I wonder if the Social Conservatives have given any thought to the possibility that the father will not want to marry Bristol. Of course, since Bristol is not due to give birth until after the election, this really doesn't matter to a lying bunch of hypocritical right-wing nut jobs. The G.O.P. spin machine is running on high right now pumping out lie after lie for consumption by the American people. There are so many lies that are flooding the Internet from Republicans that I'll bet people around the world are laughing their heads off at us, and wondering if we will buy this pile of G.O.P. feces. I won't. But, I don't know how many of my fellow citizens I can count on to do the same thing. The Founding Fathers concept of an "educated electorate" flew out the window long ago in this country. Obama/Biden 08!!!

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8969/1220293607509ba8.jpg

As a woman who had a baby when I was 17, because I was looking for the love, approval, and acceptance that was lacking in my family life, I can feel for what this young girl is going through. That is why it makes me angry at Governor Palin for putting her teenage daughter in this position. She had to of known that this would come out, and that it would be made into a public ordeal, when she accepted the position.

I believe Palin's claims of having strong family values are bull, and that she is self serving and self consumed. That is why she has no problem taking a position that would give the responsibility of raising her children to someone else. I also can't help but dislike this woman because it seems she is using the fact that she has an infant son with Down syndrome, to get sympathy votes. If the child means so much to her then why would she consider taking a position that will require her to be away from him so much? She gets no sympathy from me. It is hard to raise a Down syndrome child. Let her run after she, not someone else has raised the child, that would mean something.

I can't believe how many people here are so judgmental. Sarah Palin has her views. Those are her views. I don't recall her forcing her views on others. Just because she has a belief system that is different than others, no need to criticize. So her daughter got pregnant. She is dealing with it. Hypocritical would be for her to force her daughter to have a secret abortion to cover all of this up. She told McCain that her daughter was pregnant. It did not affect his decision. Eventually, it would have become public. Afterall, the young woman will give birth in a few months. It came out today because of the false rumors going around that Palin faked her pregnancy to cover her daughter's. And there are many here claiming that it is still the case and that the daughter got pregnant again. Unbelievable. And I still cannot believe the comments about how wrong it is for a woman to become pregnant after the age of 35. Will the first law that President Obama sign is the tying of tubes of all women over 35? Or that any woman pregnant over 35 must abort her child? I have plenty of friends in their late 30's, some in their early 40's blessed by God with the birth of a child. Regardless of age, it is still a blessing. But some of you do not see it that way. Perhaps you should question if it was a blessing for your mothers.

"Bill Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar"

Exactly! He had a good intellect and was an expert on the issues. (What he did with his penis was his personal business.)

But, has Palin ever read a book?

Plus, imagine Palin becomes president; the nation's First Gentleman would be named Todd. Todd! "Oh, hello President Sarkozy, I'd like you to meet Todd. Why don't you two discuss stagflation for a few minutes while I go tend to my mentally retarded baby and make sure my daughters aren't screwing in the Lincoln Bedroom." Hah! Hilarious.

Liberal = Democrats So when Obama is aware of this kind of behavior and doesn't shut it down, he has a certain amount of accountability.

From reading the blogs, the Post must be home to the liberal also.

For its readers seem to loving that the Post gave them this opportunity to regurgitate the swill they eat at the trough.

Yes the beltway media is desperate to make the pitch fork yielding morality police into victim after they are exposed as hypocrites.

Sarah Palin's family situation, while interesting, isn't the issue here. However, Palin's take on contraception, education, women's rights, and sex ed are key. We shouldn't be asking her about her daughter, but rather what she thinks schools should be teaching. Teen pregnancy IS a real and unfortunately problem -- it curtails opportunities for education and economic advancement -- and health education that promotes many forms of contraception, including but not limited to abstinence, is an important part of the solution.

Quote: "Oh, goody! I LOVE all of these "clever" wordplays. Here's mine:

Joe "I'm just" Biden my time, until Hill and Bill can bump off the big O like they did Ron Brown

Now, let's all take out our marbles and play!"

You may not have to wait too long, his plane has already had the emergency ramp open "mysteriously" while in flight.

"Unbeknownst to the pilot, an emergency evacuation slide had inflated inside the tail of the jet, affecting control cables there."

Stranger things happened during their administration.

If this happened today they would spin it as "It's a good thing, it will bring public awareness to mental health to have a VP who is nuts".

----------
Posters seem VERY interested in this story,and they take sides; accuse hypocrisy or defend privacy according to which side they support.

I would only suggest: Eagleton redux.

google it.

Posted by: Kev in NC | September 1, 2008 7:13 PM

LOL!!! Come on Republicans... You can do better than this...Can't you? Maybe not.
Well look at the bright side... you can bet on getting the Jerry Springer demographic.. Oh wait... that's right...already in the bank aren't they. Oh yea there's always the pedo...oh you already have that one too.. Ok I give up. Maybe the bright side is that the baby is white?

Catholic girls are even MORE easy! But bring some penicillin.

I think she has her nickname now. By the way, is it true Mccain told her she could put her double wide on the back lawn of the white house?

--------
Vote for John Sidney "Songbird" McCain III and Sarah "Trailer Trash" Palin in '08!

Posted by: Michael Blaine | September 1, 2008 7:10 PM

Posters seem VERY interested in this story,and they take sides; accuse hypocrisy or defend privacy according to which side they support.

I would only suggest: Eagleton redux.

google it.

I havent heard one lie yet about the girls pregnancy. It was private but it came out and the family said yes she's pregnant. What lie?

This is an insult to Republicans who truly care about their families. What true Republican mother would abandon her infant son and her pregnant daughter in such a family crisis to go on an ego trip like this. WAKE UP GOP!! It's not too late!! Pick Mitt Romney who is not a hypocrite and truly cares about family values!!

One thing about Democrats is they love love love is bashing women for every reason under the sun. The treatment that Hillary received is now just being transferred to Palin. The prejudice and discrimination in all the remarks are sickening.

Reading the media reports and all these comments makes my conviction certain - I will be voting for McCain/Palin in 08!

And John Mccain is the real father of Bristols baby.

----------
Obama is not a US citizen so his Kenyan family says! His Kenyan Aunt says she was the midwife and delivered the baby in Kenya. Obama release direct access to Hawaii's department of human statistics for your birth records!

Posted by: Anonymous | September 1, 2008 7:09 PM

Here's the difference between a Democrat who's had a scandal, and a Republican who has:

Quote: "Frank graduated from Harvard College and is an expert in high finance.

Palin went to some third-rate school and believes the Earth is only 5,000 years old.

One can contribute something substantial to governance, the other ought to go back to the trailer park and continue reading TV Guide."

Michael, I gave you credit for being smarter than that. You believe education makes right?? Bill Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar, and that didn't give him morals, did it??

Actually, Bill, Michael is really a poot, more than a hoot. A hoot might be an owl, as in wise, but a poot is, uh . . .

Vote for John Sidney "Songbird" McCain III and Sarah "Trailer Trash" Palin in '08!

She should have the choice. She doesn't need the government telling here what to do.
You can spin and twist this however you want the truth is, they wanted to lie to us. I don't for one second believe Mccain knew. He would have to be as big an idiot as many of us think to pick her if he knew.

---------
I would like to make one thing clear. The Obama belief is not to punish the girl for her mistake she should abort it!

Posted by: B. Obama | September 1, 2008 7:02 PM

Obama is not a US citizen so his Kenyan family says! His Kenyan Aunt says she was the midwife and delivered the baby in Kenya. Obama release direct access to Hawaii's department of human statistics for your birth records!

Republican girls are easy!

Ask one to prom!! (But bring your own condom.)

Boy, when it rains...it pours doesn't it?

"Palin's support for abstinence only sex ed, her belief in no exceptions if raped",...if this is true, Palin is a hypocrite. I agree with" stubby."...this is an unfortunate example of irresponsibility presented to our young people by a daughter of a vice presidential candidate.

..heaven help us! what a fine example of abstinence only sex education.

Oh, goody! I LOVE all of these "clever" wordplays. Here's mine:

Joe "I'm just" Biden my time, until Hill and Bill can bump off the big O like they did Ron Brown

Now, let's all take out our marbles and play!

Maybe Governor Palin's daughter is more like her mom than we thought.

Indications are that Sarah Palin may have had a similar pregnancy. She sure got married in a hurry and delivered her first child less than 8 months after eloping.

http://scootmandubious.blogspot.com/2008/09/like-mother-like-daughter.html

How can Sarah Palin run this country when she couldnt even keep her daughters legs closed?

Posted by: MirrorMirror | September 1, 2008 6:55

*******************

Do you really want to go there? See Obama's mother did the same thing when she was a teen except Barry's father was married at the time and not to his mother! Furthermore most teens are sexually active at this age, if you think your children are not then you have your head in the sand!

I heard the father of the baby is African American.

Palin should release Trig's birth certificate. It doesn't add up that she is the mother of Trig. A woman in the latter stages of a pregnancy, especially with a special needs child, getting on a plane for a 10+ hour flight after her water has broken? Why not stay put?

She didn't show at all during Trig's supposed pregnancy (take a look at the pictures on the below links) while she was noticeably pregnant with her other pregnancies. Her daughter being out of school for 5 months prior with mono seems like strange timing. Release the birth certificate to close the matter!

Sarah during pregnancy of child 1 - 4:
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/1083892/Sarah-Palin-Pregnant-with-Track-Palin-in-1989

Sarah during Trig's supposed pregnancy:
http://alaskapodshow.com/index.php/2008/08/30/sarah-palin-pregnancy-scandal/

Michael, you are a hoot, a stupid one, but still a hoot.

John Sidney McCain III graduated 894 out of a college class of 899.

If that didn't have you convinced, his selection of Palin shows he's too stupid to be president.

As an art historian, I can help remark that in the photo associated with this article, the daughter holding the baby bottle looks like Mona Lisa.

What is important about Gov Palin are the following:

1. She is from a state that apparently has a lot of corrupt Republican officials in it.

2. Her main claim to her current job is that she is good at catching corrupt Repbulican officials or at least standing up to them.

3. Is that enough for us to make her Vice President?

I would like to make one thing clear. The Obama belief is not to punish the girl for her mistake she should abort it!

Consider this statement at the end of Palin's initial (to non-Alaskans) introductory biography: "Bristol Palin is 5 months pregnant. We ask for and expect the public's grace and prayers for our family as we live through this private issue." Finished. That does it. You may say that the statement shouldn't be neccessary or relevant, but then get real. By precipitating this circus, the McCain campaign botched it. McCain selected Palin in order to bring in a voting block that will critically look at Palin's work-home makeup, and this baggage-hiding experiment ends predictably.

BTW, Michael, I have no allegiance to any party. In my state, you do not register in any party. You vote in the primary by party, and then vote however you wish in the general election. And there are several million voters eligible to vote in my state.

The only surprise so far id that the Republicans haven't blamed the pregnancy on an Obama campaign worker. Their hypocitical bleating abt the revelations are laughable. If this were Obama or Biden's 17 yrold, Rush, Sean, Bill and the boys would be in full roar over liberals lacking morals, and how it shows that if they can't control their families, how could they be trusted with running the nation. The Democrats are NOT the ones with the abstinence only, head in the sand platform plank.
And now we find she was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it, and Ms. I'm a Reformer heads up a group for Ted Stevens, the Boss Tweed of the Senate. I admire the Obama campaign's restraint, but screw 'em. The Republican posturing about theselves as the paradigm of values is just excrement flung in the air, and they have the chutzpah to lecture us daily on our morality? Private or not, she should be blasted daily until she quits; this is politics, not Sunday school

Where there's smoke , there's fire.

This whole episode stinks to high heaven.

Someone is doing some serious lying here.

The daughter was supposed to have been hidden at home for 6 months too sick from 'mono' to attend school??

Now they claim she became pregnant conveniently at the same time her mother was supposed to have given birth to the 'Down Syndrome' baby??

Is this new baby real, or a treacherous trick?

Should we forget about the Joe Biden scandel that has not been put out in MSM.
Larry Sinclair has accused Obama of partaking with Larry, Cocain use and gay oral sex between the two. Sen. Biden's son, Atty.Gen. Joe Biden of Delaware drew up arrest warrents for fraud. Larry was arrested when he had to attend the State of Delaware to clear the matter up. He needed to clear the matter up because Sen. Joe Biden had contacted the social security administration and had Larry's disability benefits turned off. Hmmm, now you see the tangled web of deceipt between Obama-Biden!!!

DON'T GO TO veeppeek.com -- someone is spamming that site all over the comments for this article. The site really sucks.

Sarah Palin needs to rethink her archaic position on birth control and teaching "abstinance only" in schools. Had she been more open to these ideas in the first place maybe her 17 year old daughter would not be in this difficult position. Can't wait for her debate with Joey! It should be a good show, to say the least!

Chris, The pregnancy will have an impact and for the most part it will be negative. However, just as the Clinton supporters, the McCain supporters have no place to go. They will either stay home in November or they will hold their noses and vote. The rest is just talk talk.

One more time - sure, the Democrats have done many a sleazy thing. But one prime difference: Unlike Palin and her born-again claque, most of the errant Dems didn't wave Jesus in our faces, decry other people's sex lives, and want the government to dictate what we can and can't do with our own bodies. It's one thing to send your maid out to buy opiates; it's another to blowhardishly denounce drugs dealers while doing so, right Rush?

It ain't the heat, it's the hypocrisy.

Chris,

What is concerning here - and what the media needs to concentrate on - is what this says about Senator McCain's decision making skills. Was she fully vetted? She couldn't have been. This was a rash, last-minute decision that reflects poorly on Senator McCain. I don't want this in a POTUS.

Mike In Atlanta:

Glad you shared your priorities; here are the Republicans':

1. Money;
2. Money;
3. Control;
4. Money;
5. Keeping the masses ignorant.

I hope that "Nancy H." simply is a poor writer. If she truly means that a mother of a "special needs child" is "an insult to soccer moms", etc., then I have a gigantic bone to pick with her. An entire skeleton-full of bones to pick, in fact.

http://bettybowers.com/betty4president/
Candidate for “Vice” President Sarah Palin has finally fessed up that her unmarried teenage daughter has been running around town having unprotected sex. Truly, the Lord Jesus is showing us two things by this sad example of teenage harlotry:

1. That a mother who also engages in sexual activity outside of a traditional, Christian marriage (if you doubt this, check out the birthday of Sarah’s first son — April 20, 1989 — and the date she and her handsome hubby eloped — August 29, 1988!) sets an appalling example for her own children. Indeed, studies from Focus on the Family have proven that harlot mothers wind up with harlot daughters 93.4% of the time. Similar studies by the godly gals at Concerned Women for America have concluded that these poor, impressionable girls learn to strut, show inappropriate décolletage and beguile like pushy prostitutes in their very own living rooms.

2. And a mother who values her career (to the point of abandoning a newborn to campaign 24-7 for a new job in another state) above raising her precious family should not be surprised when she FINALLY steps back inside her family home (if she remembers the address) to find that it has been filled with bastards in her shocking absence!

And, honestly, what is happening to our once-godly country when REPUBLICANS are getting all giddy over a unrepentant harlot? I expect Demoncrats to go for that nonsense, but not the party of God. Please join me in praying to the Lord Jesus that Mr. McCain kick this trash to the curb!

Sarah Palin needs to rethink her archaic position on birth control and teaching "abstinance only" in schools. Had she been more open to these ideas in the first place maybe her 17 year old daughter would not be in this difficult position. Can't wait for her debate with Joey! It should be a good show, to say the least!

Where there's smoke , there's fire.

This whole episode stinks to high heaven.

Someone is doing some serious lying here.

The daughter was supposed to have been hidden at home for 6 months too sick from 'mono' to attend school??

Now they claim she became pregnant conveniently at the same time her mother was supposed to have given birth to the 'Down Syndrome' baby??

Is this new baby real, or a treacherous trick?

Don't put this on the democrats or Obama. He is not responsible for any of this. Please do some research before you post. Obama is one of the primary individuals urging media outlets not to go after Palin or the "child" on this development. He himself has revealed his mother had him at 18. Come on now, lets not spin this. I agree with the do as I say not as I do politics of republicans. Give Obama credit for once again taking the high road.

It's been reported that the baby's father name is Levi (no last given). Palin needs to make some tough decisions and quick. Republicans are gasping for air Palin is becoming a Pa*in in the elephant's butt!

We challenge Fox News to open up their comments section for all articles without censorship. Some articles we can't comment on. We also challenge Bill Kristol and Karl Rove to write articles where we can response to them and not hide behind the conservative media or the New York Times articles where we can't post. Don't brother posting here Karl. We will meet you in the future if you accept this challenge you write your articles where we can response!

Don't forget the REAL issue in this announcement:

The parents throwing their daughter under the bus to quell rumors about whether the mom's newest child was really hers or her daughter's.

Why else announce it now, esp. if they, as they claim, want privacy? Nobody was asking if the daughter is pregnant NOW. They were asking if she was pregnant THEN.

So, to get out in front of the story by saying she's pregnant NOW ....

Wow.

Please don't be fooled into thinking this announcement is any kind of answer.

It was a NON-answer to the original question: Did Sarah really give birth to Trig?

Notice how that question could easily have been answered directly without throwing the daughter under the bus.

I'm glad someone brought up Barney Frank.

Here's the difference between a Democrat who's had a scandal, and a Republican who has:

Frank graduated from Harvard College and is an expert in high finance.

Palin went to some third-rate school and believes the Earth is only 5,000 years old.

One can contribute something substantial to governance, the other ought to go back to the trailer park and continue reading TV Guide.

Wow Jimmy thanks for the link to the http://www.veeppeek.com Those Pictures are hallarious., Ha Ha. I think we should leave the youngster alone.

How can Sarah Palin run this country when she couldnt even keep her daughters legs closed?

And another thing: since when did Republicans, like Hitler and Stalin, believe in country first? Is this China or the USA?

Here's the way a REAL man lives:

1. God.

2. Family.

3. Country.

Do NOT mix up that order. God, family, country. No exceptions.

Michael, you had better take a reading comprehension course. You listed the scandals of the Republicans and I in turn listed a portion of the scandals of the democrats. So if you don't care about the democrats, list their scandals as well as the republicans.

And as for my allegiance, I am voting as any thinking voters will do this year, Libertarian.

Are all of the Anonymous posters on here related? And what happened to the spellcheck function? Grammar appears to be defunct, too.

Please don't tell me that evangelicals care about the character flaws of those who are promoting their policies. They will support McCain even though he ran around on his wife because she was disfigured in an accident, and finally married a rich trophy wife who won out among all the other mistresses. Why do you think they would care about a mere teenage pregnancy followed by a shotgun marriage?

The way the Palin family is exploiting daughter Bristol Palin is abominable. It reflects the parents' values. Sarah Palin is against sex-education in schools and, obviously, is against sex-education at home. She presents herself as a pious, pro-life evangelical willing to keep a Down syndrome baby which may very well belong to her daughter. This new pregnancy may be one to cover the previous one; time will uncover who knows what other lies.
Her piety, however, doesn't extend to animals: in 2007, this pious creationist paid hunters to kill wolves in order to secure larger herds of moose and caribou. The wolves had no right to be wolves. She, as governor, rewarded those brave shooters with $150 for each wolf's front right paw they consigned to the Department of Fish and Game as proof of their bravery. No wonder her favorite gourmet meal is moose stew from moose she shoots herself. Luckily, for the wolves and for decency sake, the courts stopped those barbaric killings.
She wants to eventually declare in her state, and possibly even nationally, the illegality of abortion. The evangelical nuts love her and are energized more than ever. Not since George Bush declared Jesus as his favorite philosopher has there been such frenzied devotion for a political candidate. Medieval McCain, who would love to appoint justices who would repeal Roe vs. Wade, would have no objection to have abortions return to back-alleys. After all, McCain the genius, who graduated fifth from the bottom of his Naval Academy class, knows for sure that life begins at conception; he stated so without blinking to Rev. Warren not too long ago to the infinite applause of the congregation.
Now Gov. Palin lawyers up for her legal troubles in Alaska that are just beginning to turn into a circus of buffoons and religious nuts the entire Repubblican party. When asked by Rev. Warren what was his worst moral failure, "honest" McCain indicated his divorcing his first wife. He didn't say what he did to her and how he treated that poor woman. Divorces are a reality for many Americans and they are not necessarily a moral failure. Divorces among evangelicals are legion! What he should have mentioned as his worst moral failure is having helped, as a member of the infamous Keating Five, banker Keating steal billions from innocent bank customers who lost their life savings. He and the other thieves got paid very well for that. When asked, McCain simply blamed it to bad judgment. For less than that, people are incarcerated for twenty-thirty years.
McCain and Palin are two peas in a pod, a pod that should be thrown in the garbage just like their extreme Right Wing ideas. America deserves better! Could they talk, I wonder what the wolves, moose, and caribou would say about all this!

I am a Patriot.

And I am sick and tired of the Republicans embarrassing my country over and over again.

Get out of politics, you Republican fools.

This is really too much to bear.

Shouldn't she be in the home, taking care of her kids and serving her husband? Isn't that what conservatives think?

Is she putting a career ahead of her family?

Is that okay with conservatives?

McCain should simply say, "Look, Sarah, your family needs you now. Go home."

And then he can get Mitt or someone who truly can pay attention to what needs attention.

Sarah Palin needs to quit and go home to her family. It's time to be a mother, a real mother and wife.

Face it, McCain lied about the vetting process and Palin lied to McCain. Way to go. Country first.

What, is Todd Palin some kind of pimp?

He couldn't keep the jackals away from his teenage daughter?

Well, the joke's on the Palins now! Daughter's impregnated, and Mom's unemployed!

Go back to the trailer park, white trash!

Here is my take for what it's worth:

What about the daughter? In my view it was Sarah Palin's primary responsibility to protect her daughter. And it seems to me that if I were asked to run for a National office I might think it would destroy my daughter's privacy and place her on the front page of every newspaper in the US and a good bit of the world, and I would say 'NO'. So to me it becomes a question of judgment that ultimately runs to her character and it is my belief that she let her blind ambition stand in the way of her parental responsibility. So the argument that this is a private family matter has no substance since by her decision to run she fostered it becoming very public. This is particularly true in that while she said it was private, she went on to assure that her daughter would marry the man. If it was private she should have left it at that and not continued on the marriage bit. The only possible reason would be to appeal to some in her constituency. This also gets to her judgment; her daughter is a teen with her whole life before her. Wouldn't it be better for her to counsel her daughter to wait on a wedding until she is mature enough to make the decision after the baby is born? I also wonder about the age disparity between Bristol and the father which leads one to question where Sarah was all that time. Twenty three versus fourteen and twenty six versus seventeen?

Face it, McCain lied, Palin Misled. Country first?

Mucho Thanks, Bill, for posting that great and exciting lengthy lineup of fabulous Dem Scandals! Poor Michael! Twice dumped by Barney Frank!

Apparently Palin is McCain's "Soulmate" I'm supposing that McCains' soul is not doing so well now. Maybe McSoulmate should find an AK47 and let off some steam?

Sarah Pallin is making the wacky 1972 Eagleton pick look like genius.

Pallin's unwed 17-year-old daughter is pregnant?

She retained a lawyer to defend herself in an alledged abuse of power case?

This makes Bill Clinton's Whitewater scandal look silly.

Maybe Pallin can go and kill a moose or something. Geez.

Listen, I don't care about Palin's granddaughter. Millions of families deal with this.

What is funny is the Republican reaction. To everything!! It goes:

- It's OK that we did it
- Democrats do the same thing

As Obama said, own up to your failures.

Even though I don't consider this one.

Please Washington Post erase all posts containing offensive comments and links.

Please Washington Post readers who are posting here do not do this anymore.

At a certain point tonight I catched myself for the first time posting one and I truly regretted it immediately after clicking.

Is true indeed, that these blogs are beginning to get complete revulsing at reading, and this type of behaviour isn't even Christian at all.

Thank God we are a people of humans, not dogs barking at each other.

Both tickets adress issues that we are confronting right now, and since we are not able to judge individuals as we'll ALL be alone facing ourselves when the time comes, since we're not to tell the future, let's compare what they have to offer in terms of policies, and the best will win this race.

I agree with some of the posts regarding how dems need to tread lightly. Obama has been subjected to critical analysis, everything from his early drug use, his wifes speeches, his birth certificate, his school in India, where his wife works, his neighbors, people who served on boards with him, etc, etc.

And now we should tread lightly. Thats that 2004 wimp stuff. It's 08, we learned our lesson about taking the higher road, and got swift boated.

The dems are running against career distortion artist, lets not think that being nice here is prudent, McCain, not Palin, needs to be held to account for making this ridiculous pick. If we don't make it known how ridiculous it is, people will never now, because its like yours will never be courageous enough to call a spade a spade.

I am a Patriot.

And I am sick and tired of the Republicans embarrassing my country over and over again.

Get out of politics, you Republican fools.

This is really too much to bear.

Please Washington Post erase all posts containing offensive comments and links.

Please Washington Post readers who are posting here do not do this anymore.

At a certain point tonight I catched myself for the first time posting one myself and I truly regretted it immediately after clicking.

Is true indeed, that this blogs are beginning to be complete revulsing, and this type of behaviour isn't even Christian at all.

Thank God we are a people of humans, not dogs barking at each other.

Both tickets adress issues that we are confronting right now, and since we are not able to judge indivuals as we ALL will be alone facing ourselves when the time comes, since we're not to tell the future, let's compare what they have to offer in terms of policies, and the best will win this race.

I like Palin, Her kid gettin pregnant just shows that she has to deal with the same stuff as the rest of us. There are other scandals with her that hold more wieght you can see them at http://www.veeppeek.com

What is so wrong with adoption?

There is not a 17 year old in this country today mature enough to marry and raise a child in an emotionally healthy and viable home. Our nation regularly post statistics on the outcome of children and marriages of teenage parents.
Bristol Palin's pregnancy is no longer a private matter. High schools treat teenage pregnancies as epidemics, they sight high profile celebrity unwed pregnancies as the instigators of these “epidemics”. Truly, truly are we so “party line” obsessed in this country to deny the fact that the 17 year old daughter of the Vice President doesn’t lend themselves to status of role model?

THE WRONG PRO-LIFE DECISION HAS BEEN ENCOURAGED FOR BRISTOL PALIN. If the Palin’s are so very pro-life, then they should be willing to make the hard pro-life decision and support their daughter. Adoption is a selfless giving of life to an unexpected pregnancy. Adoption is the affirmation that God has an intent and purpose for every single conception. Young girls and women who give their children up for adoption are heroes. When are the right wing conservatives going to promote a pro-life campaign of that nature. Sure adoption is hard on the birth mother, excruciating and seemingly impossible to the mind of anyone who has wanted a child or had a child and experienced the great joy of bringing the child home. But, there are consequences to indescrection and wrong choices and a mature teenage mother and her family should want to find the best parents, for their child, who are mature and know themselves and absolutely without fear and reservation desire a child of their own.

Obama supporters... Sit back, shut your mouths and let this thing do its own self destructing.

Palin was obviously a bad and irresponsible choice. The facts supporting this are working their way to the surface. The hypocrisy, impracticality and datedness of the christian conservative movement has never been more apparent.

By the way everybody, guys and gals...we're different. Always have been and always will be. Get over it.

you know, if I were running for office and had a daughter that was a teenager, she'd be wearing a chastity belt right about now...

Bill:

Do you know how to read?

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS!

I am asking for one measly example of what the Republicans know how to do properly on behalf of our country.

You got nothing.

This will be an interesting week.

Is McCain just like Bush?

Is he going to say something smart about 'being the decider' and then refuse to even consider that he made a huge blunder?

We shall see.

See? No one reads these posts.

--"Uhmmm, who cares? Could somebody please explain to me why this is news, or even a topic that recieves any publicity what so ever?

Posted by: rcupps | September 1, 2008 6:27 PM "--

Let's start with the issue that despite the evidence before us that 'abstinence education' doesn't work - it's still the policy of many people. Palin would rather promote a broken policy than one that works. How's that for a VP candidate? What other policy's does she know won't work but she continues to promotes anyway?

The policy issues that bear on this issue that come to my mind are:
* Sex education in schools.
* Access to contraceptives for school kids.
* Welfare for teenage mothers.

And the fact that Evangelicals will keep on telling people what to, which is fine - until it crosses into policy. The Republican's first choice seems to be self-delusion - when they can't ignore the fact that their policy's are harming the country. That’s worth talking about.

I am so proud to be an American! Only in America could an election for such an important position become so entertaining.

The Republicans can no longer ignore the fact that abstinance only doesn't work even in there own families. Gov Palin is lucky to have the resources to help her child through this but many don't. Maybe this will help change some policy decisions about sex ed with the Republicans.

So let me get this straight and who exactly her shows ANY resposible judgement?

Palin KNEW her underage daughter was pregnant but accepted the nomination for VP anyway?

Either-

She thought is could be hidden

or

Exposing her family to what is sure to be instense scrutiny is somehow worth the potential Political gain?

As for McCain?

They state he was aware of this- we then can assume McCain was also aware of the current ethics invetigation against Palin in Alaska- for starters.

Who in their right mind would select someone with these potential issues ?????

America deserved better than this- much batter!

I am a Patriot.

And I am sick and tired of the Republicans embarrassing my country over and over again.

Get out of politics, you Republican fools.

This is really too much to bear.

Oh well, Michael, you forced me to post a few of the over 200,000 pages on google:

List of the democratic scandals:

William Jefferson Clinton- Impeached by the House of Representatives over allegations of perjury and obstruction of justice, but acquitted by the Senate. Scandals include Whitewater - Travelgate Gennifer Flowersgate - Filegate - Vince Fostergate - Whitewater Billing Recordsgate - Paula Jonesgate- Lincoln Bedroomgate - Donations from Convicted Drug and Weapons Dealersgate - Lippogate - Chinagate - The Lewinsky Affair - Perjury and Jobs for Lewinskygate - Kathleen Willeygate - Web Hubbell Prison Phone Callgate - Selling Military Technology to the Chinesegate - Jaunita Broaddrick Gate - Lootergate - Pardongate

Edward Moore Kennedy - Democrat - U. S. Senator from Massachusetts. Pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, after his car plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island killing passenger Mary Jo Kopechne.

Barney Frank - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 1981 to present. Admitted to having paid Stephen L. Gobie, a male prostitute, for sex and subsequently hiring Gobie as his personal assistant. Gobie used the congressman's Washington apartment for prostitution. A move to expel Frank from the House of Representatives failed and a motion to censure him failed.

DNC - The Federal Election Commission imposed $719,000 in fines against participants in the 1996 Democratic Party fundraising scandals involving contributions from China, Korea and other foreign sources. The Federal Election Commission said it decided to drop cases against contributors of more than $3 million in illegal DNC contributions because the respondents left the country or the corporations are defunct.

Sandy Berger - Democrat - National Security Advisor during the Clinton Administration. Berger became the focus of a criminal investigation after removing highly classified terrorism documents and handwritten notes from the National Archives during preparations for the Sept. 11 commission hearings.

Robert Torricelli - Democrat - Withdrew from the 2002 Senate race with less than 30 days before the election because of controversy over personal gifts he took from a major campaign donor and questions about campaign donations from 1996.

James McGreevey - Democrat - New Jersey Governor . Admitted to having a gay affair. Resigned after allegations of sexual harassment, rumors of being blackmailed on top of fundraising investigations and indictments.

Jesse Jackson - Democrat - Democratic candidate for President. Admitted to having an extramarital affair and fathering a illegitimate child.

Gary Condit - Democrat - US Democratic Congressman from California. Condit had an affair with an intern. Condit, covered up the affair and lied to police after she went missing. No charges were ever filed against Condit. Her remains were discovered in a Washington DC park..

Eliot Spitzer- Democrat - New York governor - resigned from office after being tied to a prostitution ring.

Sowande Ajumoke Omokunde - Democrat - the son of newly elected U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, was booked on charges of criminal damage to property for allegedly slashing tires on 20 vans and cars rented by the Republican Party for use in Election Day voter turnout efforts.

Daniel David Rostenkowski - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Illinois from 1959 to 1995. Indicted on 17 felony charges- pleaded guilty to two counts of misuse of public funds and sentenced to seventeen months in federal prison.

Melvin Jay Reynolds - U.S. Representative from Illinois from 1993 to 1995. Convicted on sexual misconduct and obstruction of justice charges and sentenced to five years in prison.

Charles Coles Diggs, Jr. - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Michigan from 1955 to 1980. Convicted on eleven counts of mail fraud and filing false payroll forms- sentenced to three years in prison.

George Rogers - Democrat - Massachusetts State House of Representatives from 1965 to 1970. M000ember of Massachusetts State Senate from 1975 to 1978. Convicted of bribery in 1978 and sentenced to two years in prison.

Don Siegelman - Democrat Governor Alabama - indicted in a bid-rigging scheme involving a maternity-care program. The charges accused Siegelman and his former chief of staff of helping Tuscaloosa physician Phillip Bobo rig bids. Siegelman was accused of moving $550,000 from the state education budget to the State Fire College in Tuscaloosa so Bobo could use the money to pay off a competitor for a state contract for maternity care.

John Murtha, Jr. - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania. Implicated in the Abscam sting, in which FBI agents impersonating Arab businessmen offered bribes to political figures; Murtha was cited as an unindicted co-conspirator

Gerry Eastman Studds - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 1973 to 1997. The first openly gay member of Congress. Censured by the House of Representatives for having sexual relations with a teenage House page.

James C. Green - Democrat - North Carolina State House of Representatives from 1961 to 1977. Charged with accepting a bribe from an undercover FBI agent, but was acquitted. Convicted of tax evasion in 1997.

Frederick Richmond - Democrat - U.S. Representative from New York from 1975 to 1982. Arrested in Washington, D.C., in 1978 for soliciting sex from a minor and from an undercover police officer - pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. Also - charged with tax evasion, marijuana possession, and improper payments to a federal employee - pleaded guilty.

Raymond Lederer - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania from 1977 to 1981. Implicated in the Abscam sting - convicted of bribery and sentenced to three years in prison and fined $20,000.

Harrison Arlington Williams, Jr. - Democrat - U.S. Senator from New Jersey from 1959 to 1970. Implicated in the Abscam sting. Allegedly accepted an 18% interest in a titanium mine. Convicted of nine counts of bribery, conspiracy, receiving an unlawful gratuity, conflict of interest, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. Sentenced to three years in prison and fined $50,000.

Frank Thompson, Jr. - Democrat - U.S. Representative from New Jersey from 1955 to 1980. Implicated in the Abscam sting, convicted on bribery and conspiracy charges. Sentenced to three years in prison

Michael Joseph Myers - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania from 1976 to 1980. Implicated in the Abscam sting - convicted of bribery and conspiracy; sentenced to three years in prison and fined $20,000; expelled from the House of Representatives on October 2, 1980.

John Michael Murphy - Democrat - U.S. Representative from New York from 1963 to 1981. Implicated in the Abscam sting. Convicted of conspiracy, conflict of interest, and accepting an illegal gratuity. Sentenced to three years in prison and fined $20,000.

John Wilson Jenrette, Jr - Democrat - U.S. Representative from South Carolina from 1975 to 1980. Implicated in the Abscam sting. Convicted on bribery and conspiracy charges and sentenced to prison

Neil Goldschmidt - Democrat - Oregon governor. Admitted to having an illegal sexual relationship with a 14-year-old teenager while he was serving as Mayor of Portland.

Alcee Lamar Hastings - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Florida. Impeached and removed from office as federal judge in 1989 over bribery charges.

Marion Barry - Democrat - mayor of Washington, D.C., from 1979 to 1991 and again from 1995 to 1999. Convicted of cocaine possession after being caught on videotape smoking crack cocaine. Sentenced to six months in prison.

Mario Biaggi - Democrat - U.S. Representative from New York from 1969 to 1988. Indicted on federal charges that he had accepted bribes in return for influence on federal contracts.Convicted of obstructing justice and accepting illegal gratuities. Tried in 1988 on federal racketeering charges and convicted on 15 felony counts.

Lee Alexander - Democrat - Mayor of Syracuse, N.Y. from 1970 to 1985. Was indicted over a $1.5 million kickback scandal. Pleaded guilty to racketeering and tax evasion charges. Served six years in prison.

Bill Campbell - Democrat - Mayor of Atlanta. Indicted and charged with fraud over claims he accepted improper payments from contractors seeking city contracts.

Frank Ballance - Democrat - Congressman North Carolina. Pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering related to mishandling of money by his charitable foundation.

Hazel O'Leary - Democrat - Secretary of Energy during the Clinton Administration - O'leary took trips all over the world as Secretary with as many 50 staff members and at times rented a plane, which was used by Madonna during her concert tours.

Lafayette Thomas - Democrat - Candidate for Tennessee State House of Representatives in 1954. Sheriff of Davidson County, from 1972 to 1990. Indicted in federal court on 54 counts of abusing his power as sheriff. Pleaded guilty to theft and mail fraud; sentenced to five years in prison.

Mary Rose Oakar - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1977 to 1993. Pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of funneling $16,000 through fake donors.

David Giles - Democrat - candidate for U.S. Representative from Washington in 1986 and 1990. Convicted in June 2000 of child rape.

Gary Siplin - Democrat state senator Florida- found guilty of third-degree grand theft of $5,000 or more, a felony, and using services of employees for his candidacy.

Edward Mezvinsky - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Iowa from 1973 to 1977. Indicted on 56 federal fraud charges.

Lena Swanson - Democrat - Member of Washington State Senate in 1997. Pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting unlawful payments from veterans and former prisoners of war.

Abraham J. Hirschfeld - Democrat - candidate in Democratic primary for U.S. Senator from New York in 1974 and 1976. Offered Paula Jones $1 million to drop her sexual harassment lawsuit against President Bill Clinton. Convicted in 2000 of trying to hire a hit man to kill his business partner.

Henry Cisneros - Democrat - U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1993 to 1997. Pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of lying to the FBI.

James A. Traficant Jr. - Member of House of Representatives from Ohio. Expelled from Congress after being convicted of corruption charges. Sentenced today to eight years in prison for accepting bribes and kickbacks.

John Doug Hays - Democrat - member of Kentucky State Senate from 1980 to 1982 Found guilty of mail fraud for submitting false campaign reports stemming from an unsuccessful run for judge. He was sentenced to six months in prison to be followed by six months of home confinement and three years of probation.

Henry J. Cianfrani - Democrat - Pennsylvania State Senate from 1967 to 1976. Convicted on federal charges of racketeering and mail fraud for padding his Senate payroll. Sentenced to five years in federal prison.

David Hall - Democrat - Governor of Oklahoma from 1971 to 1975. Indicted on extortion and conspiracy charges. Convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.

John A. Celona - Democrat - A former state senator was charged with the three counts of mail fraud. Federal prosecutors accused him of defrauding the state and collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars from CVS Corp. and others while serving in the legislature. Celona has agreed to plead guilty to taking money from the CVS pharmacy chain and other companies that had interest in legislation. Under the deal, Celona agreed to cooperate with investigators. He faces up to five years in federal prison on each of the three counts and a $250,000 fine

Allan Turner Howe - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Utah from 1975 to 1977. Arrested for soliciting a policewoman posing as a prostitute.

Jerry Cosentino - Democrat - Illinois State Treasurer. Pleaded guilty to bank fraud - fined $5,000 and sentenced to nine months home confinement.

Joseph Waggonner Jr. - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Louisiana from 1961 to 19 79. Arrested in Washington, D.C. for soliciting a policewoman posing as a prostitute

Albert G. Bustamante - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Texas from 1985 to 1993. Convicted in 1993 on racketeering and bribery charges and sentenced to prison.

Lawrence Jack Smith - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Florida from 1983 to 1993. Sentenced to three months in federal prison for tax evasion.

David Lee Walters - Democrat - Governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995. Pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor election law violation.

James Guy Tucker, Jr. - Democrat - Governor of Arkansas from 1992 to 1996. Resigned in July 1996 after conviction on federal fraud charges as part of the Whitewater investigation.

Walter Rayford Tucker - Democrat - Mayor of Compton, California from 1991 to 1992; U.S. Representative from California from 1993 to 1995. Sentenced to 27 months in prison for extortion and tax evasion.

William McCuen - Democrat - Secretary of State of Arkansas from 1985 to 1995. Admitted accepting kickbacks from two supporters he gave jobs, and not paying taxes on the money. Admitted to conspiring with a political consultant to split $53,560 embezzled from the state in a sham transaction. He was indicted on corruption charges. Pleaded guilty to felony counts tax evasion and accepting a kickback. Sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Walter Fauntroy - Democrat - Delegate to U.S. Congress from the District of Columbia from 1971 to 1991. Charged in federal court with making false statements on financial disclosure forms. Pleaded guilty to one felony count and sentenced to probation.

Carroll Hubbard, Jr. - Democrat - Kentucky State Senate from 1968 to 1975 and U.S. Representative from Kentucky from 1975 to 1993. Pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the Federal Elections Commission and to theft of government property; sentenced to three years in prison.

Joseph Kolter - Democrat - member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from 1969 to 1982 and U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania from 1983 to 1993. Indicted by a Federal grand jury on five felony charges of embezzlement at the U.S. House post office. Pleaded guilty.

Webster Hubbell - Democrat - Chief Justice of Arkansas State Supreme Court in 1983. Pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud and tax evasion charges - sentenced to 21 months in prison.

Nicholas Mavroules - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 1979 to 1993. Pleaded guilty to charges of tax fraud and accepting gratuities while in office.

Carl Christopher Perkins - Democrat - Kentucky State House of Representatives from 1981 to 1984 and U.S. Representative from Kentucky from 1985 to 1993. Pleaded guilty to bank fraud in connection with the House banking scandal. Perkins wrote overdrafts totaling about $300,000. Pleaded guilty to charges of filing false statements with the Federal Election Commission and false financial disclosure reports. Sentenced to 21 months in prison.

Richard Hanna - Democrat - U.S. Representative from California from 1963 to 1974. Received payments of about $200,000 from a Korean businessman in what became known as the "Koreagate" influence buying scandal. Pleaded guilty and sentenced to federal prison.

Angelo Errichetti - Democrat - New Jersey State Senator was sentenced to six years in prison and fined $40,000 for his involvement in Abscam.

Daniel Baugh Brewster - Democrat - U.S. Senator from Maryland. Indicted on charges of accepting illegal gratuity while in Senate.

Thomas Joseph Dodd - Democrat - U.S. Senator from Connecticut. Censured by the Senate for financial improprieties, having diverted $116,000 in campaign and testimonial funds to his own use

Edward Fretwell Prichard, Jr. - Democrat - Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky. Convicted of vote fraud in federal court in connection with ballot-box stuffing. Served five months in prison.

Jerry Springer - Democrat - Resigned from Cincinnati City Council in 1974 after admitting to paying a prostitute with a personal check, which was found in a police raid on a massage parlor.

Guy Hamilton Jones, Sr. - Democrat -Arkansas State Senate. Convicted on federal tax charges and expelled from the Arkansas Senate.

Daniel Flood - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania from 1945 to 1947, 1949 to 1953 and 1955 to 1980. Pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge involving payoffs and sentenced to probation.

Otto Kerner, Jr - Democrat - Governor of Illinois from 1961 to 1968. While serving as Governor, he and another official made a gain of over $300,000 in a stock deal. Convicted on 17 counts of bribery, conspiracy, perjury, and related charges. Sentenced to three years in federal prison and fined $50,000.

George Crockett, Jr. - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Michigan. Served four months in federal prison for contempt of court following his defense of a Communist leader on trial for advocating the overthrow of the government.

Cornelius Edward Gallagher - Democrat - U.S. Representative from New Jersey from 1959 to 1973. Indicted on federal charges of income tax evasion, conspiracy, and perjury

Mark B. Jimenez - Democrat fundraiser - sentenced to 27 months in prison on charges of tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit election financing offenses.

Bobby Lee Rush - Democrat - U.S. Representative from Illinois. As a Black Panther, spent six months in prison on a weapons charge.

Bolley ''Bo'' Johnson - Democrat - Former Florida House Speaker - received a two-year term for tax evasion.

Roger L. Green - Democrat - Brooklyn Democrat Assemblyman. Pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for accepting travel reimbursement for trips he did not pay for and was sentenced to fines and probation.

Gloria Davis - Democrat - Bronx assemblywoman. Pleaded guilty to second-degree bribe-taking.

LOL, thanks for the link Pete http://www.veeppeek.com thats really a funny site., That other link to the image that someone else left., with Palin holding a gun in a bikini.,.... I dont think that is real. That is a photo shop.

Hmmm. "White Trash, Under God." Didn't that originate with Bill Clinton?

Um...Who cares...well how bout all the responsible parents who know where "all" there children are..at all times!!! that's who cares. This woman is a hypocrite and apparently a criminal! We can't have anyone man or woman making decisions on our behalf who can not make good decisions when it comes to his/her family. Palin knew about this before she accepted the offer. As a republican I can not justify voting for McCain/Palin. It goes against everything I've ever believed in. I'm going to stay home in Nov. We'll have to try again in 2012

The pregnancy in and of itself is not a catastrophe. But the other potential scandals are popping up concerning Palin and they are all worrisome as a group. She clearly was not properly vetted.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Bill:

I don't care about the Democrats.

What I'm asking is, "What is one thing the Republicans can do properly?"

If you can't answer, maybe you should find a different allegiance.

The scandals surrounding this woman is just begining to surface, she abused her power as Gov and this is the woman to be a heartbeat from Presidency?

She is a fake in every way from not mentioning anything about her daughter and trying hide her daughters pregnancy with a huge blanket holding her new son in pictures.

The American people do not need a fake and hypocrite and someone who will abuse the power of her office in the WH!

We have that now!

Teenagers will be teenagers, regardless of Mom's political convictions. The only thing that befuddles me is that the alleged reason for "revealing" the pregnancy of Palin's oldest child was to dispel the Internet rumors that she was the real mother of Palin's youngest child. But what would the alternative have been had it not been for the rumors circulating?

The daughter will be 7-months pregnant before Election Day. Surely, she will be showing by then. Did they intend to treat her like a sitcom character whose pregnancy is not written into the script, where she would have always had to stand behind counters and grocery bags? Was she going to have another 4-month bout with "mono" to keep her hidden away? They act as though they forced to reveal a family secret, but with the spotlight predictably focused on Palin, people were going to find out.

All of this gossip about her family is irrelevant, though. Her vast foreign policy experience in Alaska-Russia diplomacy more than qualifies her for the job.

This is just to confirm that Mccain made his choice not because Palin can help the country but because she can get the sympathy of Americans mostly women. The country needs good leaders who can help the economy and all our issues but not leaders who are being to political. Palin is just a Mccain being Political and I am not taking it. Obama is being himself and he didn't try to locate a VP with current family DRAMA but a High profile LEADER. I respect the Palin family but OBAMA ROCKS.....
Sarah 's daughter doesn't need all this, she needs support and not all these criticism.

I see 3 separate people posting that they read on CNN ( I'm presuming on the 'crawl') that the Father of Bristol's baby is a 26 year old pharmacy student at the University of Alaska and that they've been dating for 3 years. I first saw a lot of other people discussing those implications.

Going back through the comments, I notice that all 3 'different' people who claimed to have seen it on CNN worded their posts in exactly the same manner, so that does not bode well for the veracity of the claim. Having Sarah Palin clam right up and demand privacy for the couple doesn't help clear this up either.

The pregnacy of the 17 y.o. is not the issue to me at all, but rather the judgement of Gov Palin and McCain to go ahead with her nomination knowing this child will be put through hell for political expediancy. She should have let this pass, take care of her kids and grandkids finish another 6 years as a popular gov and then enter the national stage as a huge star (presedential material). This is not the kind of judgement I want in my leaders.

Michael, you don't want me to start listing the democratic things of the same nature. The list is looooong.

It works on both sides.

Did I say Senator Palin? I meant Sarah Palin

Is Sarah the grandmother of the 5 month's old baby? WOW!

Quote: "NOT SO LOVED IN ALASKA"

Again, anonymous, your proof. As of today, she has an 86 positive approval rating with the people of Alaska, both democratic and republican. The highest rating of any governor in the nation.

Keep on posting the lies, someone stupid might believe you.

Google it, for proof.

Anyone who remains a Republcan after this fiasco either earns $500,000/year or is so in denial he/she is beyond psychiatric help.

Look at this party: Sex with men in airport bathrooms, sex with teenage male interns, promiscuous teenage daughters, cocaine use, draft dodging, alcoholism, disastrous financial, natural disaster and war management.

Please tell me: Can the Republicans do anything right? I'm listening . . .

I don't understand, did the daughter got pregnant while she was home for 4 months with mono? If she had such a severe case of mono should she really have been having sex?

Who needs experience in foreign policy? http://thebruceblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/palinqueen.jpg?w=400&h=604

This is a private matter. But would the Religious Right be so accommodating if this was an issue faced by a Democratic candidate?...
Posted by: sevenoaks07 | September 1, 2008 1:59 PM

________________

This is not a private matter when the mother of a 17 year old child is pregnant happens to be running for the White House... This speaks VOLUMES about the Palin's

Senator Palin's daughter isn't the issue. It is Senator Palin' soap opera life, and what happens in the next episode. I just can't wait! This is someone we are suppose to respect and trust. If this woman had the strong family values that she proclaims, then she would not even consider such a demanding position until her children didn't need her quite as much as they do now. Anyone can have a Down syndrome baby and then let someone else raise it. How hard is that?

Because we have a backwoods barefooted idiot running for VP.

---------
Uhmmm, who cares? Could somebody please explain to me why this is news, or even a topic that recieves any publicity what so ever? We are in a war, the economy is in the tank and we are facing a climatic catastrophy of biblical proportion, yet this is the BS that is newsworthy? C'mon and do your jobs you schmucks. And, please if you think this "newstory" should effect how you vote in Nov., do us all a favor and stay the F#$% at home on election day.

Posted by: rcupps | September 1, 2008 6:27 PM

Hilarious, and unbelievable. The libs can't get enough of this, DWI's, pregnancys,etc.

They seem to forget Bill Clinton chasing everything in skirts,
Quote: "Women have been charging Bill Clinton with sexual assault since his days as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford 30 years ago.

A continuing investigation into the President's questionable sexual history reveal incidents that go back as far as Clinton's college days, with more than a dozen women claiming his sexual appetites leave little room for the word ''no.'',

being IMPEACHED for LYING UNDER OATH, being forbidden to practice law in the Supreme and his home state, Hillary being a proven habitual liar, with both under suspicion of no telling what while in the White House. Obama sitting and listening to a preacher "God damning America" for 20 years.

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Clean up the democratic party, before you start on someone else.

But, that's a lot of cleaning!!

I like Palin, Her kid gettin pregnant just shows that she has to deal with the same stuff as the rest of us. There are other scandals with her that hold more wieght you can see them at http://www.veeppeek.com

NOT SO LOVED IN ALASKA

******
ANCHORAGE, Alaska News - Gov. Sarah Palin was for the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" before she was against it, a change of position the GOP vice presidential running mate ignored Saturday when she bragged about telling Congress "thanks but no thanks" to the pork barrel project.

Federal funds for the $398 million bridge were tacked into an appropriations bill as an earmark, the practice by which members of Congress get special funding for pet projects. Sen. John McCain opposes earmarks as an avenue for pork barrel and special interest spending.

After McCain introduced her as his choice for vice president on the Republican ticket, Palin talked about her reform credentials, and said she stopped the bridge project as part of an effort to end of earmarking in appropriations bills.

The Alaska bridge pushed by Sen. Ted Stevens became a symbol of congressional misuse of tax dollars. It would have connected the town of Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport on it. Ferries and water taxis serve the island now.

Uhmmm, who cares? Could somebody please explain to me why this is news, or even a topic that recieves any publicity what so ever? We are in a war, the economy is in the tank and we are facing a climatic catastrophy of biblical proportion, yet this is the BS that is newsworthy? C'mon and do your jobs you schmucks. And, please if you think this "newstory" should effect how you vote in Nov., do us all a favor and stay the F#$% at home on election day.

Funny how people do not want to ask the tough question of Palin, but love to ask Obama everything-wonder why?

Eagles daughter, your contribution was the best in this whole mess. Thanks. I'm smiling.

Palin should authorize spying on her family so that she knwos what happens there.

This pregnancy will embolden our enemies.

With this woman in the White House, NO ONE will take the USA seriously ever again.

"Oh, excuse me President Hu Jintao - Vladimir Putin - Felipe Calderon - I just need to check in on my mentally retarded baby, and make sure my daughters aren't having sex -- again. I'll be right back with you to discuss trade and exchange rates -- missile defense in Poland -- NAFTA and immigration. I AM a serious person. REALLY!"

What a dysfunctional super-joke the Republicans are.

The number of Obama voters who think Sarah Palin should stay home "barefoot and pregnant" so to speak because she already has enough to do as a mother is MIND-BOGGLING! Would you have this view if she were a man? Give me a break--the fact she has accomplished what she has is IMPRESSIVE. She can obviously multi-task and make decisions under pressure. It's obviously time for this country to deal with SEXISM and double standards.
__________________________________

No one said stay home barefoot and pregnant, but the v.p. job is not appropriate for her right now. you are delusional if you think this woman can multi-task 5 children, 1 grandchild and the U.S. government! and yes, teenage pregnancy is often a sign of some dysfunction in the family - not always, but sometimes, so she at least needs to take some time for her family and figure it out and get her daughter out of the glaring spotlight of international scrutiny like a loving mother would!

The Republicans can afford to lose an election, especially post-Bush...but they cannot afford the likable trainwreck that is their current VP candidate. This is going to destroy the GOP if they don't take care of business pretty soon.

So all of the "she should stay at home because she's a mom and shouldn't have a career" people here - I assume that you think the same thing about Michele Obama, right? It's selfish of her to be a mom and have a busy career as a high-profile lawyer with demanding hours - ESPECIALLY since Barack isn't staying at home providing them with a parent during the day - as is Palin's spouse. Let's hear it - what say you? I'm dying to hear the disingenuous disinctions.

Daman1 says "Most of America LOVES Palin and what she stands for." Actually, "most of America" hasn't a clue, as shown by the latest CBS/Times poll: "Twenty-two percent have a favorable impression of Palin, 11% have an unfavorable impression." (http://thepage.time.com/more-on-cbs-news-poll-2/). Now, a two-to-one favorable/unfavorable ratio is pretty good, but what these numbers show is that "most of America" doesn't have an opinion. (Oh, Biden's favorable/unfavorable in the same poll is 37/16).

Nothing but a white washed sepulchre this woman and her abstinence only prevention program with creationism! What a fool. I also believe that Trig is not her son, but her grandson. I've decided not to vote Republican this time. From bathrooms in Minneapolis where gay senators tap their toes for bj's to this woman with her horrific facade.

Scrap this story. Let's move on to the announcement that Palin just hired private counsel to represent her in the investigation of her for the illegal firing of a public service commissioner.

"look around and you'd see that it is a real American family - Sarah Palin is not just all talk - she is living the problems alot of American families are facing."

Yeah? Well keep those problems out of the White House!

It gets better and better. Bush looks like a clown. McCain looks like Frankenstein’s monster. Cindy looks like drag-queen. Now this.

In my sate, the great state of Utah, us 58 year old men typically date women under the age of consent. I made my wife marry me when she turned the age of twelve and we have been happily married for the past three years.

Posted by: Johna | September 1, 2008 4:30 PM
--------------------------
Man, some parts of our country are f'ed up!

How appalling ("a-palin") that this mother would take one of the most visable nominations in the world when her daughter's life is being made a circus? This is one of the most selfish things a mother could do. She should have never taken the nomination. If this is how she cares for her family, we should all be very afraid.

Keep it up, Obama. Attacking motherhood is going to make you despicable to most Americans, who like and sympathize with Palin and her upbeat, attractive family.

Mrs Palin will be very busy with a large and very young family, plus the fact, her oldest daughter of 17 will have a baby. With no job and still in school, the responsibility will no doubt fall on the the Vice Presidential nominee.

Alot to do and alot to know..all in syncro..

This pick is looking less and less presidential by the minute.

This pregnancy will embolden our enemies.

With this woman in the White House, NO ONE will take the USA seriously ever again.

"Oh, excuse me President Hu Jintao - Vladimir Putin - Felipe Calderon - I just need to check in on my mentally retarded baby, and make sure my daughters aren't having sex -- again. I'll be right back with you to discuss trade and exchange rates -- missile defense in Poland -- NAFTA and immigration. I AM a serious person. REALLY!"

What a dysfunctional joke the Republicans are.

Lay off the kid, sure. But a debate moderator would not be doing their job if they didn't ask Palin to explain her views on contraception. What did she teach her daughter? What would she tell the girls of America? That's fair game.

Janell - I could not agree more. Most working women settle for 1 or 2 kids. When you get to 3 or 4, you need either a super flexible job, a stay at home spouse, or alot of money. Any many women carefully plan as they take on new jobs or responsibilities, weighing carefully what it will mean for the family.

The difference between mayor of a small town (I live in one, 1 gas station, 2 supermarkets, 2 banks) is alot from governor of state, and a world away from vice president.

I question the judgement and ambition of a woman with 5 kids who wants to do this.

I think people should not be so judgmental about the Palins. Sarah Palin's family may not fit into the white picket fence Brady Bunch family image but look around and you'd see that it is a real American family - Sarah Palin is not just all talk - she is living the problems alot of American families are facing. She can identify.

Wow! How EXCITING to be in the company of SO MANY pure, moral male and female virgins! I musta died and gone to heaven with so many precious "saints" commenting on here!

This family issue has no relevance, but I have to say If it where Obama's daughter...my god...my god...what would the right wing media be saying right now?? It would be Armageddon.

--“Who cares?!?
It means nothing (unless she has been vocal about it being a parent's responsibility to not let their teenage daughters become pregnant).
Posted by: Ohio Blues | September 1, 2008 5:48 PM “--

WRONG IN BIG WAY.
* Sex education in schools.
* Access to contraceptives for school kids.
* Welfare for teenage mothers.

Those are the solids off the top of my head.

There’s the statutory rape issues if the boyfriend is over 18 (my titillation favorite).

The hypocrisy laid bare we’ll just have to deal with. The Evangelical’s are probably used to being snickered at, and so they probably won’t hear a little more, and they’ll be tone deaf to their own hypocrisy when they resume telling everyone how to behave.

For what it’s worth Sarah Palin is big on abstinence education. Despite the evidence in her own family that it doesn’t work, it won’t mean much to Republican’s. Their capacity for self-delusion is now, of course, legendary and - backed by the Evangelical storm troopers – they’ll just keep on keeping on.

It seems that McCain doesn't mind a VP being swamped with family issues while trying to learn how the Federal Government works before McCain has a serious medical problem. I've said it before: I can't wait to see what his cabinet looks like.

I am a working single mom raising a young son. I feel bad for this girl, but what does it say about the mother and her parenting that this girl at the age of 16 was sexually active and did not use protection.

The GOP likes to throw around words like 'family values' but what value do the parents of this family have? This raises huge questions for me about their parenting competence.. and frankly if their own house in a mess I would rather they stay out of the White House.

Thankfully Bristol didn't use birth control. That would've made God quite angry.
May the Lord bless the Palin family- those with us now and those that'll be born over the next several months.

The sticky issue is that Sarah lied and may not quite yet be done lying.

Where was Palin when her daughter was getting pregnant? This obviously proves that she can not handle being gov and a mother of 5 or 6 or 7.... wait a second.... doesn't Mc Bush have the same problem when it comes to how many homes he owns?? Maybe 8 is enough?

I like Palin, Her kid gettin pregnant just shows that she has to deal with the same stuff as the rest of us. There are other scandals with her that hold more wieght you can see them at http://www.veeppeek.com

well folks it looks like we got ourselves a white trash back water girl tryin to get in the white house. now ain't that just a hoot. wonder what scandal is gonna hit the press tomorrow? seems to me she should just stay up there and keep shootin moose an runnin her state like a country hick instead of handin the election over to obama.

so... did anyone even know this woman was being considered as the VP pick? There were numerous websites launched early in the month of August that made it sound like the choice had been made by the first week of August. VPILF.com (as in M.I.L.F) was registered and had content as of August 4th.

There's a lot of strange stuff going on here.

Jerry! Jerry ! Jerry!

Up until now, no serious citizen was bringing up Obama's legitimacy or illegitimacy or his mother's marital status or age at the time of his birth.
I don't know of any serious Republican who has tried to make anything of Michelle Obama's claim that Obama's mother was "very young and very single" when he was born. Thanks to the NutRoots, that phase of this campaign now seems to be over.

Palin's opponents seem to think her daughter's teenage pregnancy is legitimate political material. Do they want to bring Anne Dunham's pregnancy into the spotlight? As far as I can tell from a few minute's research, she was 17 when Barack was conceived. Her "husband," Barack's father, was already married.

Barack has written two autobiographies without providing been any details of their marriage and his birth. He has always claimed that his parents were married.

I'm not going to blame Obama for not going into details. The Bible tells us to honor our father and mother, and he can tell his own story without telling theirs. Obama may or may not have known about his own parents' true marital status... if I were his mother, I might not have told him about the fine print on the marriage license.

But his supporters have now created a situation where Michelle's "very young and very single" statement is relevant to a major line of attack on Palin. I, for one, would now like to know just how single "very single" is. Was Ann Dunham married to Obama's father when he was born?

I can't wait until McCain backs Palin "1000 per cent."

--"Samina Hayaat | September 1, 2008 1:29 PM

If Palin stayed home and watched her daughter instead of trying to prove how manly she is by running Alaska maybe Bristol Palin would not have got preg." --

You all are hilarious. I love how you all say what you would do to raise your children perfectly. No parent can control what their child does every minute. As hard as a parent tries, young people still screw up. It happens ALL THE TIME to the best of families. This baby will have a lot of family support, which is what children need most. Think of your friends families.. we all know EVERY family has problems.. nothing goes perfectly. Please.. look at your own family and the families of those close to you.. See any that are perfect?? ;)

Palin could likely run the country better than Obama. I like Obama but as the presidential nominee, he doesn't have anything over Palin as the Vip as far as I can see.

I might vote for Obama. I would like to see some sort of national healthcare. But in the end countries are best served by strong leaders who will protect the country and do the right thing. McCain and Palin seem pretty strong in that respect.

Ronald Regan will likely go down in history as one of the best leaders this country ever had. He was a natural. Palin seems to exhibit some of this same traits.

Wow Jimmy thanks for the link to the http://www.veeppeek.com Those Pictures are hallarious., Ha Ha. I think we should leave the youngster alone.

I'm a former Republican as of this moment.

Her resume has made me squeamish since the moment her candidacy was announced. But a mother endorsing her 13-year-old daughter sleeping with a 23-year-old adult? And tolerating it for years?

Those are NOT family values. She's a shameful example of America. I'm disgusted at my party and what it has come to represent.

Does anyone know the girls DOB? Or how hold the father is?
Nice to know how well abstinence works!

Sarah Palin is, like, a superwoman! After all, when she WENT INTO LABOR in April, she didn't let it get in the way of her busy life. She gave a big speech, then flew 14 hours on 2 Alaska Airlines flights! No one even knew she was pregnant (she didn't mention it to Alaska Airlines).

Repubs, necons lend me your ears! The Palin issues have nothing to do with people living in glass houses and not throwing stones. They have to do with who is qualified to run this country. The average mother of a pregnant teen is not whooping it up next to the Repub presidential hopeful. So, your sanctimonious comments about looking to our own houses are totally out of context. But then why am I not surprised? Sarah Palin has 5, count them 5 children. One has severe special needs, poor little thing. How many people out there cheering for this fiasco have 5 children? Do you know what it's like? How many of you have a child who is severely developmentally disabled an only starting out in life. She and her hubby need to go home and take care of their children. They are using them as a campaign poster for the far right. Do you really think that's OK? And let me ask you, does having family values mean that you give birth, but abdicate responsibility after that? And what girl who grows up in the company of a loving mother who actually pays attention to her gets pregnant? Read the studies. This is a comedy of errors and I don't want to live in a country that perpetrates such a farce on its hard working populace. She may be real cute and she may know how to shoot, she obviously knows how to make babies but she's sure as hell not qualified to run this country and as VP that's how she needs to be viewed.

The internet is going to make a pig's breakfast of this election very fast. Barack Obama is a coke-snorting Muslim, Sarah Palin faked a pregnancy, Bristol's boyfriend is 26, and I accidentally swallowed 8 spiders last year. All of these I would have missed if I limited myself to reliable news sources.

Her favorite meal is moose stew!!!

Things Karl Rove thinks would be so bad for the democrats to exploit:

1) lack of experience
2) family births

Is there anything else Karl would like everyone to ignore? He is so helpful in pointing them out.

Maybe?
3) undue influence investigations
4) I was for the bridge before I was against it

What else should we overlook Karl? Please send an update of the republican talking points ASAP!

At the risk of sounding sexist, Sarah Palin is not in a good position to be president or vice president at this time. First, she has a 4 month old baby who will need a great deal of special care, and really should have his mother's attention. Her daughter's also pregnant -- and she will also need her parents' attention to help her at that time. On the morality side, I do have questions about Sarah Palin's parenting--not only because her teenage daughter is pregnant, but because she was willing to engage in this election, depsite what's going on in her family life. And are we as a country really willing to put a pregnant teenager in the highest office in the nation? Because if McCain gets elected, where's Bristol gonna live until she gets married? I'm sure that Sarah's not going to leave her in Alaska. I think it might have been wise for Sarah Palin to hold off on her white house ambition. If she would have waited a couple of years (until her daughter got married, and out of the house) and her baby was older, and there was a lot less drama going on in her life, and she was more experienced, then she may be a good candidate. Now is not the time.

Wow Jimmy thanks for the link to the http://www.veeppeek.com Those Pictures are hallarious., Ha Ha. I think we should leave the youngster alone.

The only part of this discussion with any relevancy;

How will the GOP handle Palin's removal from the ticket?

Do they do it before Wednesday, and hope that voters forget come November?

Or wait a few weeks, and let Palin claim that the race is just too gruelling given her responsibilities on the home front?

I'm shocked by the low-class comments of all-too-many liberals here.

Rather than deal with issues, they go in for low-rent insults and ad hominem attacks.

I guess this is Barack Obama's "New Politics" at work.

McCain did not vet her, but she is being vetted now!

she has hired an attorney because to the trooper gate mess

and maybe was a member of the AIP (Alaska Independence Party). sole aim is to succeed from the union..

stay tuned...

So much for teaching abstinence only right Palin? Maybe if this gun-toting witch would have spent a little more time at home teaching her "values" instead of trying to force them on the public she wouldn't be in this mess. The hypocrisy surrounding Palin and the entire Republican party is as thick as chocolate pudding! Democrats! This is a gift-horse we need to ride until the legs fall off!

Of course, if Democrats say ANYTHING about this, they are using it for political gain... but it's perfectly OK for Sarah Palin to make sure that everyone knows that her daughter will keep the baby and marry the father... and that's not for political gain??? If she didn't want to exploit her daughter she would've announced the pregnancy and refused to answer the other questions based on the privacy of the family... but instead she is able to regain the sympathy of the Christian conservatives... nope, no political gain going on there!!!

To daman1: You're the one with your head in the beltway. These anti-Palin views are coming from New Mexico, a swing-state.

The Repulicans need to be consigned to an insane asylum.

They are well and truly CRAZY!

Get those McCain & Palin '08 buttons and bumper-stickers NOW.

Within a few days you'll be able to add them to your collection of the McGovern & Eagleton' 72 ones.

The hits just keep on coming!

I'm stunned by the comments on this blog. The whole country has gone NUTS. This is the first day of my life that I'm ashamed to be an American. Shame on all of you, and shame on Cillizza for even assessing the "political fall out" of a candidate become a Grandmother. Just don't think this qualifies as a political event worthy of discussion . . .

The number of lies and distortions being spread is outright shameful.

The number of Obama voters who think Sarah Palin should stay home "barefoot and pregnant" so to speak because she already has enough to do as a mother is MIND-BOGGLING! Would you have this view if she were a man? Give me a break--the fact she has accomplished what she has is IMPRESSIVE. She can obviously multi-task and make decisions under pressure. It's obviously time for this country to deal with SEXISM and double standards.

And the number of McCain supporters who are trying to wear this as a badge of honor is a little annoying as well. While I agree this isn't a great tragedy, this probably isn't the best situation for a young woman.

What any of this has to do with Sarah Palin's selection as the VP nominee is beyond me--nothing at all it would seem. I don't think McCain will dump her, and I don't think Palin was chosen because she is a woman but because she took on her own party and is a reformer. This is the message McCain wants to take into the election, and given that theme, it would seem that Jindal and Palin are the only VP possibilities who fit that bill, and Palin has the advantage of being able to discuss energy policy knowledgeably as well.

Given all the trash on this Blog, no American should ever again ask themselves why we don't have better candidates. We don't deserve better, and what really high-achieving person would ever want to put up with all of this crap in order to run.

Palin, go home tonight and you and the "first dood" can have a good cry, and then you dust yourself off and get right back out there!

Welcome to the Jerry Springer show. This issue here is not Palin's daughters pregnancy but the old soap opera atmosphere surrounding these folks. Whcih calls into question McCain's judgement is choosing her.

Here's the document that convinced Senator McCain to pick Gov. Palin as VP in order to confront M. Putin on next Russian Crisis.

http://thebruceblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/palinqueen.jpg?w=400&h=604

I am a high-profile professional woman with two children. I am also a Democrat. And, like the right has shown indignation toward left choices-- this woman Palin makes me feel indignant. What kind of parent would accept being a VP pick knowing that she would be exposing her unwed, pregnant child to International scrutiny. Isn't this child creaming out for attention? Doesn't she deserve a calm, private atmosphere during the last four months of her pregnancy and a lot of parental guidance? Call me indignant but I think what Ms. Pailn is doing is cruel in the extreme. if she were a loving parent she would have said "thanks but no thanks."

I am a high-profile professional woman with two children. I am also a Democrat. The right has shown indignation toward left choices-- but the choices of this woman Palin makes me feel indignant. What kind of parent would accept being a VP pick knowing that she would be exposing her unwed, pregnant child to International scrutiny. Isn't this child screaming out for attention? Doesn't she deserve a calm, private atmosphere during the last four months of her pregnancy and a lot of parental guidance? Call me indignant but I think what Ms. Pailn is doing is cruel in the extreme. If she were a loving parent she would have said "thanks but no thanks, Mr. McCain"

I hope even Republicans recognize what a bad choice for the country Palin is. This is not about "lefty" or "righty". This is not about Democrat or Republican, this is about the good 'old USA and having the best! The best!

We have not had the best for the past 8 years. The USA needs the best Republican or Democrat!

Palin? I certainly would not want her in the same Foxhole with me!

Gee daman1 I would expect that from a liberal but not from someone in the GOP. Have we sunk that low? If you ever came to my church I'd beat the Christ into you so hard you wouldn't be able to sit for a good month. What the hell is wrong with you. Get the crap out of your ears and start listening. God help you.

How do you suppose Karl Rove would handle such an announcement? Especially, given Sarah Palin is a member of Femenist for Life, a group that opposes birth control even for married couples and women who are victims of rape or incest should not have access to the morning after pill?

I know the right wing want to blame anyone's dirt on Obama but he didn't have a thing to do with this. People from Alaska are sending in emails and tearing up the internet with inside info on this family. Unfortunately, when you are in political office you are fair game. Minor children aren't but I believe people are intrigued because the story told isn't adding up to what we are actually reading and seeing. I can't understand someone in labor and leaking amnio fluid catching a plane back to AK. Something just seems untruthful about this story. Like John Edwards, the truth will COME out.

Thats what I am telling you. These people aren't quant. They are backwoods hicks that don't relate to anyone in the lower 48.
When you say Alaska, think rural Appalachia

------------
I was just watching some old footage from Alaska of Palin and her attempt to fire a trooper. She runs Alaska like the Mob. And her husand, Tractor Palin, he has no teeth. What the hell kind of dental plan they got there in Alaska? Christ help us.

Posted by: Johna | September 1, 2008 6:00 PM

Get those McCain & Palin '08 buttons and bumper-stickers NOW.

Within a few days you'll be able to add them to your collection of the McGovern & Eagleton' 72 ones.

The hits just keep on coming!

you know, if they time this right (and America shoots itself in the foot again at the voting booth), we can have a white house wedding.

Katy -

Who's taking care of the kids? Oh, I don't know, maybe the father? Maybe the grandparents are involved? Maybe they have domestic help?

You realize that one of those 5 kids is already an adult - and now government property in the hands of the US Army. Their two oldest daughters are 14 and 17. Their youngest children are 7 and an infant.

Are you suggesting it's inappropriate for my wife to be working? After all, we have a 4yr old and two 1yr olds.

Where are your questions about who's caring for Malia and Sasha?

"

A lot of the comments by the lefties in here are pretty nasty. I wonder if they realize that they are making their candidate look bad, even though he seems to have the decency or the sense behave better than they.

Posted by: Vincent | September 1, 2008 5:49 PM "

...pluheze.

spare us this right-wing butt-tripe, will you?

Wow Jimmy thanks for the link to the http://www.veeppeek.com Those Pictures are hallarious., Ha Ha. I think we should leave the youngster alone.

Katy -

Who's taking care of the kids? Oh, I don't know, maybe the father? Maybe the grandparents are involved? Maybe they have domestic help?

You realize that one of those 5 kids is already an adult - and now government property in the hands of the US Army. Their two oldest daughters are 14 and 17. Their youngest children are 7 and an infant.

Are you suggesting it's inappropriate for my wife to be working? After all, we have a 4yr old and two 1yr olds.

Where are your questions about who's caring for Malia and Sasha?

I know the right wing want to blame anyone's dirt on Obama but he didn't have a thing to do with this. People from Alaska are sending in emails and tearing up the internet with inside info on this family. Unfortunately, when you are in political office you are fair game. Minor children aren't but I believe people are intrigued because the story told isn't adding up to what we are actually reading and seeing. I can't understand someone in labor and leaking amnio fluid catching a plane back to AK. Something just seems untruthful about this story. Like John Edwards, the truth will COME out.

I was just watching some old footage from Alaska of Palin and her attempt to fire a trooper. She runs Alaska like the Mob. And her husand, Tractor Palin, he has no teeth. What the hell kind of dental plan they got there in Alaska? Christ help us.

This is just to confirm that Mccain made his choice not because Palin can help the country but because she can get the sympathy of Americans mostly women. The country needs good leaders who can help the economy and all our issues but not leaders who are being to political. Palin is just a Mccain being Political and I am not taking it. Obama is being himself and he didn't try to locate a VP with current family DRAMA but a High profile LEADER. I respect the Palin family but OBAMA ROCKS.....
Sarah 's daughter doesn't need all this, she needs support and not all these criticism.

Most of America LOVES Palin and what she stands for. This is not a big deal and is something common folk can relate to. I think this could actually rocket McCain in the polls as people associate the smears and attacks with Obama.

Posted by: daman1 | September 1, 2008 5:56 PM
----------------
So relevant, neocons bush/cheney and now McCain/Palin climate issue deniers get a hurricane to cancel their Convention first day....

Neocons and evangelicals against Sex Ed and sex before marriage see their VP Pick announce 17 y.o. daughter's off-wedlock pregnancy...

May I advise Bristol not listening to her mothers suggestions regarding babies naming, I got two ideas for the newborn:

...whether it be a boy or a girl?

Gustav or Katrina?

Obama says Palin's family off-limits
CNN - 57 minutes ago

MONROE, Michigan (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama said firmly that families are off-limits in the campaign for president, reacting to news that GOP running mate Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/01/obama.palin/

To me, this is not about the scandal of a teenage pregnancy. Rather to me the real scandal is about the general knee-jerk response to attempt to hide or somehow disguise it. As a devout Christian, myself, I don't see parental love for this teenage girl either in the rumored version of Trig Palin's birth, made all the more believable (whatever its provenance) simply because it is so commonplace OR in the current shot-gun wedding plan.

Doesn't ANYONE else here see this as a continuing plague upon our national culture - that such shame is directed to young people about sex that living a lie one's entire life OR being forced into a loveless marriage - is PREFERABLE to simply owning one's humanity or the truth?

And why, Chris, are you repeating the arch conservatives' talking point that the rumor was spread by the Obama campaign when professional journalists, of all people, actually know that it was the Anchorage Daily News that first reported on the shocking news of Gov. Palin's suddenly announcing that she was 7 months pregnant back in March? (http://www.adn.com/front/story/336402.html)

Where's the journalistic curiosity? Or integrity?

I hope the enraged hyena mob calling themselves demoncrats keep barking at this issue until election day, thinking in their sick pea sized brain that this "issue" matters. It doesn't. What matters as Ronal Reagan said is CHARACTER, and Sarah Palin is the one. Go Sarah, you are the best, Venceremos!

SHAMe on you SARAH!!!!! SHAME SHAME SHAME!!! selfish selfish selfish!!!!!

How could she put her daughter to the public wolves like this????

This woman is horrible horrible horrible!!!

I HATE SARAH PALIN FOR PUTTING HER DAUGHTER IN THIS PUBLIC SITUATION!!!!!!!!

THIS IS CHILD ABUSE!!!!!!

I personally support unprotected premarital teen sex, and would like to know how I could get involved. I would appreciate it if the GOP could introduce me to some of these lovely young ladies.

Posted by: dr | September 1, 2008 2:56 PM

Here you go! http://thebruceblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/sarah-palin-sisterhood-of-the-traveling-catsuit/

Some conservative women might think Palin should stay home and raise her family.

An abstinence only advocate VP candidate is forced under scrutiny to reveal that her home school underage child became pregnant out of wedlock. Dems better be careful not to say anything harsh!

Seriously, you freaks in the media are so terrified of the Wal-Mart morons it makes me puke. This is bizarre as hell, imagine if Barack Obama's black teen-aged daughter got knocked-up. Think about that. Can you imagine all the slime that would be thrown and the concealed tsk tsks of the white male punditry.

Democrats want government to stay out their and everyone else's private lives.
Republicans want government to interfere in other peoples' private lives, but never their own, and never to interfere with their business practices.
Palin, who ascribes to the latter philosophy, and who wants to appoint Supreme Court justices that would cement that governmental interference in privacy, wants the media to respect her own daughter's privacy.
Palin/McCain's optimal Supreme Court justices do not even believe privacy is a constitutional right.
Because of her anti-choice, pro-religion, teach-abstinence-only, don't-allow-birth-control, self-righteous stances, Palin ensured that her teen daughter's pregnancy would be a public matter the moment she climbed on board team McCain. Her own political views that she wants to inflict on the rest of us and her own political ambitions put her daughter in the limelight.
Whether she understood that or not when she accepted her role as McCain's running mate, her decision shows that her judgment is just as bad as that of the maverick who chose her.
I wonder if McCain looked her in the eyes and knew she'd be a good running mate, or if he just relied on the political wisdom of Karl Rove. Either way, this decision is more proof that he's just like Bush.
Republicans want accountability for everyone else, but somehow the demented right-wing bloggers are trying to twist this debacle to make it Barack Obama's fault too. Why don't you people look at yourselves in the mirror. You'll see what a hypocrite looks like.

Get your heads outside the beltway. Most of America LOVES Palin and what she stands for. This is not a big deal and is something common folk can relate to. I think this could actually rocket McCain in the polls as people associate the smears and attacks with Obama.

It depends whether you teach it as a fact or a mythology. They think the Flintstones are historical fact. What happens when they ask her how old the earth is?

-----------
Mario -

What's wrong with teaching creationism in school?

Whether you believe in it or not (I do not), a large portion of the population does. Teaching a base level of "this is what creationism theory is" gives students perspective on how to deal with others in society who may believe in creationism.

It may also give students perspective to see that not everyone in society shares the same viewpoints.

Posted by: Cynicism101 | September 1, 2008 5:50 PM

On naming children:
Of the last 100,000 black girls born in the state of california, 40% of the girls names did not appear once among the names chosen for white girls. More incredibly, 32% of the black girls names didn't even appear again among a single other black girls name. That's right, they're unique.
Like Obama's girls' names: Shanirikra and Saskatawatchini. So enough of the names, homey.

My goodness.

The last few years have been bad, but this seems surreal.

What a joke. The Republicans are an embarrassment.

Go back to the trailer park, and leave the White House alone.

This isn't a game.

My mother always taught me that before you criticized others, you got to look at your closet first. If you democrats did not realize yet that most of your supporters have teenage daugthers that are pregnant than something is wrong with you hypocrit people. Teenage pregnancy happens everywhere in this country not just to the Palin. If you are the party that support women than stand up and support the women instead of being a hypocrits.

It amazes me that many said "let's impeach Preident Clinton" because of his lies but also because of his inability to make sound judgement concerning his affair with Monica. Now, many say this is okay. The teen daughter isn't the issue. It's all the issues going on in this family right now that are concerning while mom runs for VP. Who's going to solve this? The grandparents? Extended family? Children come before any job.

This woman can't even run her own family and she could be a heartbeat away from running the free world! You've got to be kidding me! I think with 5 kids including a newborn baby and a grandchild on the way, she should focus on her own house instead of the White House and show some real family values. These two-faced, hypocritical, holier-than-thou, creationist freaks in the right-wing of the Republican party make me sick...McCain must either be desperate or senile to pick such an un-vetted, unprepared pageant contestant to be the possible leader of the war on terror, our economy and our military.

LOL, thanks for the link Pete http://www.veeppeek.com thats really a funny site., Cool Juno phonto shop at the other link.., thats funny too., That other link to the image that someone else left., with Palin holding a gun in a bikini.,.... I dont think that is real. That is a photo shop.

This was an attempted cover up. The truth was kept from the public, hoping the truth would not be uncovered.

McCain thought that Americans are so "dumb" they would not be able to discern the truth.

Or, is this just another Senior moment for John McSame?

This is just to confirm that Mccain made his choice not because Palin can help the country but because she can get the sympathy of Americans mostly women. The country needs good leaders who can help the economy and all our issues but not leaders who are being to political. Palin is just a Mccain being Political and I am not taking it. Obama is being himself and he didn't try to locate a VP with current family DRAMA but a High profile LEADER. I respect the Palin family but OBAMA ROCKS.....
Sarah 's daughter doesn't need all this, she needs support and not all these criticism.

It's easy to be critical of others, while coveting the privacy of our own lives. The truth is, life happens to all of us, and despite our best plans and good intentions, it always presents the unexpected. How we respond reveals a great deal about our character. Palin and her family are no exception. Thus far, all evidence indicates the manner in which Palin and her family tackle life's unexpected challenges, is consistent with the social values she espouses...with a reverence for life and the loving support of a close family. I have great confidence in Mr. Palin's abilities, and willingness to assume the role of the wise and nurturing, stay-at-home dad, while Mrs. Palin works. Their proven ability to "roll with the punches" is reminiscent of previous generations; those whose tenacity formed the sturdy foundation on which our great country was built.

I will take the pregnant 17 year old any day over JEREMIAH WRIGHT. Who, as an adult, Obama sat and listened to for 20 years!!!! If you want to sling mud, the Republicans will have the upper hand over the cocaine head Obama.

Obama has WAY MORE skeletons. The main stream liberal press won't report them.

Posted by: suzie
**********************
howz yer trailer holdin' up, suzie? Yer husband/cousin got it holdin' tight?

Obama doesn't control CNN. Cnn has a crew in Alaska now checking into what ever there is to find. This is a hillbilly family they are going to uncover a lot. Wait till they hit the family tree and the relatives. Are you kidding me?

=========
You know what is happening as we as are talking here? They are all over the story on CNN and other channels. The republicans are not doing much to stop it. I have a feeling the republicans want this to get out of hand as an excuse to get rid of her.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 1, 2008 5:44 PM

-----------------------------------------
Don't you idiots realize the more they talk about this the more Obama and his people will be blamed for attacking Palin and her sweet daughter and the more sympathetic people will become to her and the more votes McCain/Palin will get? Wait till the next round of polls come out...predict McCain will move ahead by 3-4% with reaction against Dem smears.

Posted by: daman1 | September 1, 2008 5:48 PM

The only response to this new should be to pray for the families involved. It seems that Bristol will have the love and the support of her family and that's what she needs most at this time.
http://dayofpraise.blogspot.com/

i was a teen mom, so let me give you some perspective. it is one of the most humiliating experiences ever. you are visibly showing and people automatically think you are promiscuous. the father can go on doing whatever he wants to do while you become a social outcast. you have to deal with very serious emotional and physical problems. you worry about your future and the future of your child. many of the dreams you had for yourself have to be curtailed. you are scared and feel very alone even if there are a lot of people around. if you were pregnant at 17, would you really want to have this media scrutiny? would this really be in your best interest? your child's best interest? wouldn't you think your mother would put you first instead of a political agenda? would you want the pressure of having to make life decisions like marriage judged by the entire world? would you want to feel pressured to marry just because that's probably what's best for your mother's political career? what is palin subjecting her daughter to? mother to mother - i have no respect for her. i would never put my teenage daughter through this; it's bad enough when you are pregnant at 17 and have to endure all of the gossip and snickers from your community, let alone the entire world! and yes, you make the courageous CHOICE (which everyone should have) to have your child, and you do get judged. so please, Sarah, go back to Alaska and take care of your family.

Republicans is bad, cuz they have intercourcese. Democrats is good, cuz we knows how to be proper.
Go Democracts. Beat Republicans. Go Fight Win.

So relevant, now McCain/Palin just as neocons Bush/Cheney climate issue deniers get a hurricane to cancel their Convention first day....

Neocons and evangelicals against sex Ed and sex before marriage see their VP Pick announce 17 y.o. daughter's off-wedlock pregnancy...

May I advise Bristol not listening to her mothers suggestions regarding babies strange-naming, I got two ideas for the newborn:

...wether it be a boy or a girl?

Gustav or Katrina?

Is it true that the young man involved with impregnating Bristol Palin, named Levi, is black?

Palin was clearly not thoroughly vetted. Whatever you make of the news of the teen's pregnancy, it was a surprise to the Republicans. Surprises are not welcome during a convention. Combine that with Palin's support for abstinence only sex ed, her belief in no exceptions if raped, the widening investigation into her abuse of power while Governor of AK, and her echoing Stevens and Young by saying that Alaska will benefit by her being VP, and I think McCain has a colossal mistake on his hands.

To WomenStayAtHomeThen: How many teenaged girls have careers??? I think at that age they are trying to finish high school!

Mario -

What's wrong with teaching creationism in school?

Whether you believe in it or not (I do not), a large portion of the population does. Teaching a base level of "this is what creationism theory is" gives students perspective on how to deal with others in society who may believe in creationism.

It may also give students perspective to see that not everyone in society shares the same viewpoints.

Palin women = tramps.

how come obama having young kids,
is never brought up as in issue?
talk about gender bigotry!!!!

Its over as I knew it would be. John McCain decided to put his desires first instead of the country. He did not vet this female, because if he did, he would have chosen someone worthy, like Kay Baily Hutchinson. What a joke of a man.

Ms. Palin -- stop telling folks how to live their lives and keep a close eye on your own. I have a 17 year old daughter myself. I hope my daughter will wait until she is married to have sex, but if she does not, guess what, I will not condemn her for it. Everything comes full circle and now that time is upon you. Why would you subject your child to this non-sense shows a real lack of parenting and prorities. You made sure you put it out that she is going to marry the father. You see once again, we must please the christian base. Pathetic people, just pathetic.

And last, for all you holly rollers, you know, you PERFECT christians. You have egg on your faces and you have nothing to do at this point but to try and rally behind your pathetic party. You are about as christian as lets say JUDAS!!!!!!!!!! If you were REAL christians you would have spoken out about this pick in the first place. But no, you kept your mouths shut because you feel POWER that this idiotic man went against his own beliefs to please so-called christians. Do you believe in the word or the word that most benefits you?

Tho I don't support the GOP (dear God no), the Palins are doing the right thing as far as mother & baby are concerned. As long as we don't hear any "abstinence-only" policy BS from the McCain/Palin family, I'm AOK with the situation. I agree with Obama and think folks oughta lay off -despite the thoughts about what Rush et al would do with a parallel situation.

Teen pregnancy isn't really the issue here. Trying to get sex ed in schools is like pulling Republican teeth. The REAL issues are there's an infant with Down's Syndrome; a teenager out of school for several months with a supposedly debilitating illness yet gets moving violations; and now a pregnant teen whose mother is running for higher office with even more responsiblity than the one she's already in. Who's taking care of the 5 children and tending to the very serious issues at home? Republicans and their core family values mean nothing if no one is home minding the family. SMH....All of this is troubling and the stories are not adding up.

Wow!

Is this the image the US wants to project now to the world?

"White Trash, Under God."

So relevant, neocons bush/cheney and now McCain/Palin climate issue deniers get a hurricane to cancel their Convention first day....

Neocons and evangelicals against Sex Ed and sex before marriage see their VP Pick announce 17 y.o. daughter's off-wedlock pregnancy...

May I advise Bristol not listening to her mothers suggestions regarding babies strange-naming, I got two ideas for the newborn:

...wether it be a boy or a girl?

Gustav or Katrina?

"Is Sarah Palin demonstrating the family value of being a "good mother"?"

Yes for the 10,000 time fthe father takes care of the children.

"He won't be pulling anybody, she is absolutely loved by conservative men and women alike." There is no sin that cannot be overlooked if you "are loved by conservative men and woman," and no sin too small to exploit if you are "hated by conservative men and women." Just one more example that conservative "morality" is a fraud used to attack others, yet not to be applied at home. Everyone knows that had this been a Democratic candidate Daughter's pregnancy the "conservative men and women" would be using it as Exhibit "A" demonstrating the moral failing of liberalism. Yet when it is one of their own, suddenly premarital sex and out of wedlock pregnancy is a virtue, something to be proud of, and celebrated by Tony Perkins and the family values bunch. What complete and utter hypocrisy.

p.s., That abstinence only ides that Gov Palin supports works wonders, huh? Or was she too busy with other things to pay attention to what was happening in her own home. What's next, will we learn that Gov Palin and her husband are cousins? I am sure all the religions wrong people would be just as proud of that too.

The Rumors are true! Sarah Palin's retarded baby is really Bristol's and Todd Palin is the father. God help us all!

http://gawker.com/5043944/the-truth-about-those-sarah-palin-pregnancy-coverup-rumors

I knew McCain should have stuck with Mitt. How and the hell are we going to recover from this?

Who takes care of the kids? No one, it's Alaska. When you think Alaska just think Appalachia.
--------
As a woman, and a mother, I wonder who is taking care of the Palin children?
Who will give the needed guidance and support to this pregnant child, while her mother is off campaigning and her father is working?
This girl needs a parents guidance and attention, and obviously needed it sooner in hr life!
Is Sarah Palin demonstrating the family value of being a "good mother"?

Posted by: Anonymous | September 1, 2008 5:45 PM

A lot of the comments by the lefties in here are pretty nasty. I wonder if they realize that they are making their candidate look bad, even though he seems to have the decency or the sense behave better than they.

I like Palin, Her kid gettin pregnant just shows that she has to deal with the same stuff as the rest of us. There are other scandals with her that hold more wieght you can see them at http://www.veeppeek.com

I is Barack Obama, and I approved this ad:

No mo' pregnant girls jumpin' on the bed! Vote for Obama! Yeah!!!

Let's face it. Scum is as scum does.

You know what is happening as we as are talking here? They are all over the story on CNN and other channels. The republicans are not doing much to stop it. I have a feeling the republicans want this to get out of hand as an excuse to get rid of her.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 1, 2008 5:44 PM

-----------------------------------------
Don't you idiots realize the more they talk about this the more Obama and his people will be blamed for attacking Palin and her sweet daughter and the more sympathetic people will become to her and the more votes McCain/Palin will get? Wait till the next round of polls come out...predict McCain will move ahead by 3-4% with reaction against Dem smears.

WHAT A TRAIN WRECK! What a role model! Are these people closet MORMONS?

Mom apparently has been asleep at the wheel since becoming Governor.

One heartbeat away from being the Leader of the Free World? It's the fall of the Roman Empire Part Deux.

It's KARMA baby!

Who cares?!?

It means nothing (unless she has been vocal about it being a parent's responsibility to not let their teenage daughters become pregnant).

There are lots of things that make her a lousy choice for VP (lack of experience, ideology, scandal, saying she stopped the bridge to nowhere when she really supported it).

Nobody cares that her kid got knocked up.

This is just to confirm that Mccain made his choice not because Palin can help the country but because she can get the sympathy of Americans mostly women. The country needs good leaders who can help the economy and all our issues but not leaders who are being to political. Palin is just a Mccain being Political and I am not taking it. Obama is being himself and he didn't try to locate a VP with current family DRAMA but a High profile LEADER. I respect the Palin family but OBAMA ROCKS.....
Sarah 's daughter doesn't need all this, she needs support and not all these criticism.

micheal moore is enthused that a hurricane
is killing people, because it somewhow proves 'god' exists. bill mahr is ridiculing Mike Huckebee, cuz he believes
'god' exists. Now it's time for the 'better and smarter' than thou, liberals to throw a 17 year old girl and her family into
the meatgrinder
of their superior 'intellect'.
compassion is at the core
of a human being,
keep looking,
you will find it,
if not in this life,
perhaps the next.

Being pregnant at the age of 17 isn't anything "bad in one's family background", nor is being gay - as some one below insultingly suggested.

Being a hypocrite and trying to impose one's bigotry on every one else just as Ms. Palin and her religious right have been doing for years, that's not only BAD, it is inacceptable.

Once again, Republican hypocrisy reveals itself in the clearest possible manner!

I will take the pregnant 17 year old any day over JEREMIAH WRIGHT. Who, as an adult, Obama sat and listened to for 20 years!!!! If you want to sling mud, the Republicans will have the upper hand over the cocaine head Obama.

Obama has WAY MORE skeletons. The main stream liberal press won't report them.

People, I like Mccain but I must tell you. This was a crazy choice. Crazy choice!

AP has just announced that Sarah Palin has hired a lawyer with regard to the Troopergate allegations.

Whatta buncha' stone throwers. Some think that evangelical christians will not be able to embrace Gov. Palin as a candidate for vice president. Jesus said "which one of you will cast the first stone?" Since they all crawlwed back under a rock and shrank from their initial criticism of a woman who had "erred" he said "where are your accusers now? they no longer accuse you and neither do I" What's really important here are the people involved. Gov.Palin, her daughter Bristol, the unborn child, and the child's father. who wants to throw the first stone?

It's funny how the whole nation was bombarded by the type of person Obama's preacher is, but the so-called 'immoral behavior' of the Republican VP's daughter is supposed to be off-limits! Bristol's actions are much more important, because she is Gov. Palin's responsibility. Her values are supposed to have been shaped by her parents.

This is just to confirm that Mccain made his choice not because Palin can help the country but because she can get the sympathy of Americans mostly women. The country needs good leaders who can help the economy and all our issues but not leaders who are being to political. Palin is just a Mccain being Political and I am not taking it. Obama is being himself and he didn't try to locate a VP with current family DRAMA but a High profile LEADER. I respect the Palin family but OBAMA ROCKS.....
Sarah 's daughter doesn't need all this, she needs support and not all these criticism.

You complianing liberal idiots! You have the right to choice. You can choose to keep your freakin' legs crossed. Then you could choose to use contraceptives. Then you could choose to "pull and roll". So many choices.
What you want is the choice to be a freaking idiot, and then have an abortion. Dumb idiots...

I want her off the ticket and I will tell you why?
John Mccain could win. She can not be a heart beat away from the office.

It appear she can't keep her own house in order, why should we think she would be a good VP!

WHO'S THE DADDY?

Where's Maury when you need him?

As a woman, and a mother, I wonder who is taking care of the Palin children?
Who will give the needed guidance and support to this pregnant child, while her mother is off campaigning and her father is working?
This girl needs a parents guidance and attention, and obviously needed it sooner in hr life!
Is Sarah Palin demonstrating the family value of being a "good mother"?

You repugnant Republicans are a bunch of HYPOCRITES. When November comes, my Democrat team will be out in droves voting against you right wing morons.

Sarah Palin is a far right wing neo conservative. She is just like Bush and McCain.

Bush, McCain, and Palin, they are all the same. I don't want 4 more years of corruption and the right wing conservative agenda in the White House.

Women can kiss their reproductive rights goodbye if they vote for McCain and Palin. The American worker can kiss their job goodbye if they vote for McCain and Palin because McCain and Palin are for NAFTA. Barack Obama is against NAFTA.

McCain and Palin will turn back decades of Civil Rights laws and bring our country back to the horse and buggy days with their United States Supreme Court nominees and with their political agenda.

As Hillary said, NO way, NO how, NO McCain!

VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA AND LETS GET A DEMOCRAT WIN IN NOVEMBER!

Tom O, the media didn't give Biden a pass. It's one of the reasons he dropped out of the election at the time. It's just old news.

On Palin and her daughter, I think Obama's response is the right one: leave this one alone. It's not relevant to politics. It's why I think Obama should be president.

Three things:
1. For someone running on a family values ticket, Bristol (that has now been revealed has had premarital sex) is a poor example for our youth.

2. Don't they say that young girls often seek out the attention of boys because they lack attention from their parents (esp. the father). So much for Todd doing a great job as a parent (as Sarah loves to say).

3. If Bristol was going to get married, why is it that she didn't do it before her mother was picked for the VP slot. Sarah's statement saying Bristol plans to marry the boy seems contrived.

The Rumors are true! Sarah Palin's retarded baby is really Bristol's and Todd Palin is the father. God help us all!

http://gawker.com/5043944/the-truth-about-those-sarah-palin-pregnancy-coverup-rumors

I knew McCain should have stuck with Mitt. How and the hell are we going to recover from this?

You know what is happening as we as are talking here? They are all over the story on CNN and other channels. The republicans are not doing much to stop it. I have a feeling the republicans want this to get out of hand as an excuse to get rid of her.

Whoa, Nelly. Give the girl a break. Who the heck knows, one day my daughter Shanikra or Saskawatchanii might get preggo. Who knows, ya know. I is right about this, yo hommey.

"Bristol Palin made the decision on her own to keep the baby, McCain aides said"

Gosh who are they trying to con this time. McCain-Palin, if they win this election would deny the right of 'making her own decision' to every woman in this country. Everyone should be respected as to the choices they make with respect to their own business. What we can not afford to respect is the willingness of some to impose their choices upon all of society. We should take this opportunity to really consider what this country will look and be like if McCain-Palin get their way to do away with both Roe vs Wade and perhaps even the right to privacy (contraception).
Ever since Roe the debate over reproductive freedom has been a hypothetical one, but no more. Even those of you who call yourself pro-life, I think you really really need to think about what this country would be like. Think of Bristol Palin unable to make a decision on her own. Really think of the intrusive power of the state denying women reproductive freedom. How can you allow that for your daughters, sisters, wives, or mothers, or for yourself? Is that the kind of America you really want? It is a real possibility now, so think about what it would really mean.

Way to go, John McCain -- finally someone understands the key attributes that America wants in a VP: a former beauty queen who shoots moose and has promiscuous children. This could even move Brangelina out of the headlines. Go GOP. And look for Sarah Palin on Dancin' With The Stars after the ticket loses in November!

Get those McCain & Palin '08 buttons and bumper-stickers NOW.

Within a few days you'll be able to add them to your collection of the McGovern & Eagleton' 72 ones.

The hits just keep on coming!

This is just to confirm that Mccain made his choice not because Palin can help the country but because she can get the sympathy of Americans mostly women. The country needs good leaders who can help the economy and all our issues but not leaders who are being to political. Palin is just a Mccain being Political and I am not taking it. Obama is being himself and he didn't try to locate a VP with current family DRAMA but a High profile LEADER. I respect the Palin family but OBAMA ROCKS.....
Sarah 's daughter doesn't need all this, she needs support and not all these criticism.

This is totally irrelevant to the issues unless Palin has grandstanded her family values or criticised other mothers who were out of wed-lock or below the age of consent. Do we really think that all the other present/previous candidates' teenage sons and daughters are/were not having sex. This girl was just unlucky that she became pregnant. Give her a break. And I'm a democrat and a Catholic.

It's amazing how anti-life the Dem posters are on here. You guys actually view this development as a negative...it's a positive thing! She kept her baby alive as opposed to Obama who said he "wouldn't want his daughters PUNISHED with a child.."!

More votes for us. Palin ROCKS!

Mary said -

"I don't know if you Republican operatives realize it or not, but no one believes that Obama's people are behind all this."

Sure - I agree 100%. I do not believe someone on the Obama campaign staff is behind this. I do, however, believe that operators supporting Obama - most notably Kos, MoveOn, and the huff-n-puff are.

At least when Senator Kerry was "swiftboated" it was something about him. When the Dem hate machine comes to play, they focus personal sleaze directed at family members.

I give Senator Obama full marks for coming out and strongly stating this is "off limits" ... but I highly doubt many of his raving disciples will follow his guidance.

Mother30's ish,

Obama would have to know whether she was raped or had consensual sex first before he would call it a punishment.

If it's a rapebaby then yes, it's a punishment to the mother for having it. Palin doesn't care if you're a 12 year old raped and impregnated by your father, you're having the baby.

I thought having sex with one under 18 was statutory rape per se. So where are the police in all this?

This is a non issue. 30 years ago this might have been an issue, but now a days it isnt. If you could disqualify someone for having children that are a little irresponsible then just about everyone would be disqualified from serving any position. The real question is do you trust Sarah Palin to step in as President given her own skill set. That is a case that John McCain and Sarah Palin must make simply because she has no Washington or foreign expirence.

Gov. Palin will soon be "Sarah of the 21 days"

She's hired a lawyer for Troopergate.

A minimum criterion for a viable candidate should be no active investigations/lawsuits.

And then the Bristol Palin scandal as the cherry on the top.

Would you people stop using the term "white trash"???!! I don't care if you are white and saying it, its still racist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm white and don't believe it has a thing to do with racism. It refers to a life style, an attitude, a mentality that most people seem to understand when it is mentioned. Do black people think calling another black person "ghetto" is racism. Damn they call each other worse names than that.

People are so fearful of being labelled "racist". I can say all kinds of things about a white person and no one ever says its "racist." But say one of those things about a black person and oh my God, I am labelled a racist.

Most people, irrespective of their own color, aren't real comfortable around other races. They may not like like some of the differences. Is that racism? I would say it isn't.

We just feel more comfortale around our own kind. That is normal and nothing to be ashamed of. By any race.

Racism is much more insidious and ugly than anything we are talking about.

I empathize with Barack Obama's sentiments but bottom line is that people naturally follow and emulate the behavior, thinking and personal policies of their leaders and for that reason it is in fact necessary to question what those personal policies are or might be. We as citizens have a right to know. Sorry Barack its not off limits, unless of course you are trying to keep follows from knowing they are about to step off a cliff.

As far as the baby making mistakes... Even the Bible says mistakes of the parents will live with the children and their children and their children for five generations. What mistake you ask? The word "bastard" was not stricken from the dictionary to avoid the word being used in this case. It refers to not to sentiments in this case but to physical and legal fact. The baby will have to live with the mistakes of its parents and so will the offspring and Long should know that.

As far as Sara's dealing with the unplanned parenthood of her daughter... abortion is not the way to go and a mistake, except for medical reasons, which unplanned parents should not make. Adoption is always a better solution for societies sake.

I would urge everyone to read the article by Nathan Thornburgh of TIME.

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1837862,00.html

Good to know that there are still journalists with decency out there that have not lost perspective.

Now it's official: The Republicans officially endorse keeping women barefoot and pregnant! Starting them young, too.

It's their policy approach to ending women's rights.

If you supported Hillary, you're really a fool to support Palin.

all you judgemental types make me laugh. where were all of you when Hillary was just allowing her man to screw anything and everything on 2 legs.... She's fit to be president and Palin isn't? some freegin hypocritical I must laugh out loud. You're all as arrogant as the empty suit Obama himself!

Well she wants creationism taught in schools, that would explain why her daughter doesn't know where babies come from or how to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Palin's story is a Lifetime movie playing out in real time...only it's true. Even women who disagree with her politics are going to identify with her, especially with this new personal trial. Go ahead, lefties, attack her family. See where it gets you.

My point is, 4 wheel driving drinking drugs sex is all they do up there. These people are backwoods hillbilly's. I LIVED THERE.
Look at the bio they released. They thought all the hunting and eating Moose was quaint, but you could say the same thing about some toothless person from the hills somewhere. These people are typical Alaskans and not who you want running anything

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>Drinking, drugs, sex, they are nuts up there, look at where they live? She >already admitted she used drugs in the past.

So did Barack Obama, on a regular basis BTW. And his mother also conceived him in her teenage years. So, what is your point ?

The attack on Sarah Palin's family private life comes on the eve of the news that her being chosen McCain's VP has simply wiped out Obama's convention bounce and undercut all his acceptance speech's central themes ("Republicans doesn't understand the plight of working families", "change coming to Washington, not from Washington", etc.). Pretty obvious, isn't it ?

Posted by: Mbruno | September 1, 2008 5:34 PM

Let's hope that Michelle Shaniqua Obama's little girls, Maleawan and Sashawan, do not inherit the ghetto mentality of their mother. She is rather common and is your typical lower-middle class angry black woman. She lacks good breeding, class, and manners.

Wow - McCains got quite a pick here...

Just what America needs right now - The Britney Spears family soap opera in the White House.

It's so fun to see the Christianists twist their arguments around to justify that somehow this is a "good" thing or that we should just ignore it because it's a "family" matter. This coming from a group that stops at nothing to spread vicious lies about their opponents.

Is this the only message that Sarah Palin knows how to convey? So far, her first 72 hours in the national spotlight have been all about how noble we are because we're "keeping the babies."

The fact that Sarah Palin is allowing her family to be subjected to this kind of scrutiny means that she gets what she deserves.

If they're so concerned about what effect this kind of scrutiny would have on their family, why did she accept?

Sarah Palin must have some kind of massive ego to think that her country needs her more than her family right now.

Hey all you folks who worry about Palin having to step in if something were to happen to McCain....don't worry Dick Cheney will be there...

This woman is always telling people how to live their lives, she should practice what she preaches about family values.

Stay home and clean up your own house before you try and run the peoples House.

It's funny how people expect Palin to be able to lead our country in the right direction, if needed, but she can't even lead her kids in the right direction. The hyporicy is scary! This should be big news, and should be discussed. If you have built your whole political image as ultra-conservative, pro-life, pro-family values, against gay marriage (because it is immoral), then having an un-wed daughter knocked-up at 17 should be a big deal. Remember, she is the so-called 'ethics crusader' in Alaska, but also under investigation for ethics abuse. Is Palin and the Republicans excusing her daughter's unplanned pregnancy, basically telling all of us to "do as I say, not as I do". Are they only picking what is deemed immoral in the Bible according to what they can actually follow, or want to follow?

So, isn't Bristol a minor? How old is the father? I'm very confused about the way Republicans always shun this kind of behaviour while being fully engaged in it. Will Sarah Palin speak out against underaged, teen sex?! Will Rush Limbaugh mock and make fun of this example of poor parenting by Gov. Palin and her husband? I'm so sick of their hypocrisy!

TO SOMEBODY

You are a judgemental piece of crap. Her inexperience with the National media? How about all the 35 years of Biden and his experience with the national media? He plaguraizes and the liberal press gives him a pass. He puts his foot in his mouth and the liberal press gives him a pass. He is on the wrong side of history for every major vote in his 35 years and gets a pass because the liberal media runs the show. I can't wait for Murdoch to buy all those sagging media outlets up and turn the tables. Give me people like Palin - a breath of fresh air any day of the week and twice on Sunday - remember - MORE EXPERIENCE THAN OBAMA AND BIDEN COMBINED!!

LOL, thanks for the link Pete http://www.veeppeek.com thats really a funny site., That other link to the image that someone else left., with Palin holding a gun in a bikini.,.... I dont think that is real. That is a photo shop.

All the family picture needs now is Jed and Granny.

"Just wait till Michelle Shaniqua Obama's little girls, Maleawan and Sashawan, have hip-hop parties, drink, and shoot up in the White House. Now that's a scandal worth printing."

That is racist. But for somebody whose grandfather, father and mother went to Harvard and worked hard for what they got, we can predict them getting their PhD's and being social workers and real educated girls, examples to all of us just like their mother. Meanwhile, you can go back to your trailer.

The only aspect of this discussion that is acceptable and relevant is:

How is the GOP going to handle Palin's withdrawal from the race?

Before Wednesday? Or do they let it simmer down for a few weeks.

My prediction is that she will withdraw in mid September.

We need a real Vice President, not a soon to be mother of two, with one being of special needs.. I dont care about the values I dont care about if its right or wrong its the simple fact that shes a hypocrite and now wont even have the time to be one.. We need somebody that can be there not a mother of what is soon to be two infants...

the most interesting post here are the ones from the republican right, referring to any critical post as "lefties" or "left" or worse.

For 8 years now, the right has "pushed" it's moral superiority. What was it Jesus said about hypocrites? I don't think he held them i very high regard?

This is not so much about Sarah Palin and a pregnant 17 (or 16 when she did the dirty deed), but about John McCain's judgment!

If she was indeed 17 or 16 when the dirty deed occurred, why is the father not being charged with Rape?

I never saw the mudslinging, but it's rather absurd to think you can fake 9 months of pregnancy.

When the Spears girl was preggers, people were quick to judge harshly.

Glad this unwed teen mom gets the hero treatment.

Given the firestorm that has raged over the last few hours regarding Sarah Palin, the next few days will be very interesting. Will McCain do the sensible thing and replace Palin on the ticket, or will he tough out his dumb choice, afraid of acknowledging having made a mistake? Either way, he's sunk. Shooting from the hip frequently results in shooting yourself in the foot. Lucky for McCain it wasn't in his mouth at the time.

If McCain is so adept at drawing disaster upon himself, what would he do for the country? That is the question every sober Republican will be asking him/herself.

Only a total moral moron would equate a Boy Scout uniform with the Hitler Youth.

This will actually be another plus for McCain/Palin. We LOVE her here in the hinterlands.

McCain has won this election with his choice of Palin. Smart, independent, competent, achieving....not to mention pretty and can bait a hook and shoot a moose.

The right wing nuts are desperate. They have infested all the boards, totally avoiding addressing the issues but instead resorted to cheap name calling and insults.

Stop whining, old John made a whopper. You can still use your brain and vote for Obama or Barr!

Sarah Palin is egocentric, carrier obsessed oportunist. She is causing major trauma to her daughter and to her grandchild, while hiding the true nature of the relationship. Sarah extends the lie that will have life time consecuances for Bristol and the child. Bristol in her entire life must act as she is not the mother and hide her feelings. At this time that Bristol is the most volnurable she is put on a public viewing with the baby in her hands. She was very uncomfortable as you can see and Sarah was milking her own good mother image. That is shame. Poor Bristol such a tender age must be exposed to such a humiliation and exposure. She has to parade for her mother instead of taking care of her self and the baby.

This makes the Palin family look like the modern day Clampetts.

Disgraceful. If she can't manage her own daughter, how can she manage this country?! She should step down. McCain should be horsewhipped for choosing her. He had to have known, if the girl is 5 months pregnant. And if he didn't know, Palin should have told him and/or declined the offer. What's wrong with these people? The whole thing is shameful!!!

>Drinking, drugs, sex, they are nuts up there, look at where they live? She >already admitted she used drugs in the past.

So did Barack Obama, on a regular basis BTW. And his mother also conceived him in her teenage years. So, what is your point ?

The attack on Sarah Palin's family private life comes on the eve of the news that her being chosen McCain's VP has simply wiped out Obama's convention bounce and undercut all his acceptance speech's central themes ("Republicans dosn't understand the plight of working families", "change coming to Washington, not from Washington", etc.). Pretty obvious, isn't it ?

I am a parent. I am for sex-education in schools. I don't want Palin to tell my kid's teacher to stop teaching sex-ed. Who does she think she is?

Let's elevate this from a soap opera to...a movie. The title of the movie about the Alaska governor's pregnant teenage daughter could be "JUNEAU". Ellen Page could star without even altering her apearance! And then there's another family values issue for the two Republican leaders: John McCain has confessed to multiple extramarital affairs, leading to the demise of his marriage to wife number one and culminating in his present marriage. Maybe a movie called "Unfaithfulness of My Fathers"? Irony and hypocrisy abound.

I got pregnant at 17 and it was a mistake

No later then Friday. It is reported the GOP has been doing focus groups and she is running 2 to 1 negative. They are doing this right now. They want rid of her or they would not be focusing grouping her. It is too late.

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I have to say, I am at the point where I feel genuinely bad for Sarah Palin. I think she has little idea what is going on on the world stage, no experience with the crush of national media attention, and is in way, way over her head.

I think this will be another Eagleton - the question is, how long does it take Team McCain to realize this - and to ask her to withdraw for "family reasons."

The longer they wait, the worse it will be. I bet she withdraws before the end of the convention. If I had an Intrade account, I'd make me some money.

Posted by: Somebody | September 1, 2008 5:24 PM

TeddyZ wrote:

"

Look at the footage of her VP announcement. She doesn't have a care in the world when it comes to that baby. What mother would allow her infants (with Downs) to be exposed to a massive, loud crowd? Look at how the daughter holds that baby. Have you people been missing this season of "Mad Men?"

I have more faith in Michael Jackson being the daddy to his children than Sarah Palin has of being the mother of that infant"

You obviously have little experience with children. People cradle sleeping babies across their shoulders like that all the time. For a newborn, this might not offer good head support, but for a 5-month-old, this is perfectly fine.

As for taking kids to large events, what is the problem? Babies will still sleep when they need to. Parents need to be mindful of overloading their children, but good parents also know how to maintain active lives while raising children. I would not take an infant to a pounding rock concert, but a political rally or church or something similar is normal and does not harm the baby at all, Downs or otherwise.

Stop sniping.

Diane72 wrote:

"Just wait till Michelle Shaniqua Obama's little girls, Maleawan and Sashawan, have hip-hop parties, drink, and shoot up in the White House. Now that's a scandal worth printing."

Uh, can you say, "racist?" Better yet, a racist spinning assumptions about black "behavior".?

If this was your average black girl getting pregnant as a teenager it would have been classified by the right wing as the disintegration of family values in America... If this was Chelsea Clinton it would be a torch for the right wing to herald family values.. This is not what a VP of the most powerful nation in the world needs to be. We need a VP not a mom, because you know what I don't care about this kid, her kid, or her little sister, her mother should and I'm sure will. Not as VP of the United States of America and next in line to be president behind a 72 year old man with a history of health issues....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYRpIf2F9NA

I like Palin, Her kid gettin pregnant just shows that she has to deal with the same stuff as the rest of us. There are other scandals with her that hold more wieght you can see them at http://www.veeppeek.com

"If not I am going for Obama / Biden for the sake of America."

Goodbye

She's not being pulled.

Still loved by middle America.

Waste your vote if you like!

Please be good americans, and good losers. Show more respect for our next vice president and her family.

Is the state picking up the insurance bills for this pregnancy ? Where and how old is the father ? Any Statuatory Rape issues here ? Maybe Mom should have spent a little more time with daughters talking / instructing about birth control - Oh yea ..... She's on the abstenance only bandwagon.

I think, this was all a set up to grab all H. Clintons votes that are undecided. McCain was smart to do that, but a poor choice was made, everyone is always stating Obama lacks experience. OMG! look at her record. The only difference is now that Obama is African American (Black) and people are scared that a Black president is at the brink of grabbing the Title of President. I guarantee you all, something will happen, some "Bush Tactic" Republicans are going to Win this one, but by force. Even if the numbers show that Obama won, Republicans will Win. And I am a Minority, born and raised in America (NYC), I guess you Republicans will slither your way in, AMERICA Wake up, we cannot let Bush win, YES BUSH, McCain is a Puppet, much to old and stuck on War tactics to ever see what we actually need for the American people, Big Oil Industries have the Willy Wonka Golden ticket. And I bet it does not say Obama/Biden. I can rest assure that what i am writing will not be posted, because Washington Post will not allow it. But we need to Stand up, and say NO to this Madness. Godspeed.

Didn't Barack Obama promise to "change the tone in Washington," and run a positive campaign without gutter politics?

That promise, like so much else from the Obama campaign, has gotten thrown under the bus as soon as it became politically necessary. No less a liberal figure than Paul Krugman actually urged Obama to resort to the "politics of personal destruction" as soon as McCain started catching up to Obama in the polls. "Not a moment too soon," Krugman chortled.

It's bad enough that we have to endure personal attacks on the candidates. But to drag their teenage daughters through the mud to make a political point is utterly reprehensible.

Just another example of the moral rot in politics today.

People need to stop with the statutory rape allegations. Statutory rape laws are governed by states and not by the U.S. Constitution. The age of consent in Alaska is 16.

I also have not seen the father's age as 26 in any credible news source. Just on the comments here.

"Whatever you say about Palin's experience, it compares immediately with Obama's. Yes, Palin does not have the decades of experience in high public office that McCain and Biden have, but neither does Obama. At least Palin has some executive experience, which every other candidate on these tickets is lacking."

There are more people in Barack Obama's *state* senate district than in the state of Alaska.

And you know what, if Sarah Palin had run a grueling national campaign and gracefully, clearly and surgically unseated her party's ruling dynasty, as Obama did with the Clintons, I don't think her experience would be an issue. The fact is, we've been watching Obama make command decisions and work his way up for more than a year now.

This is to say nothing of the fact that Sarah Palin did not get her passport until 2007, while Obama has made several official trips abroad as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Sarah Palin is less experienced than Barack Obama. And McCain has shown an incredible recklessness in choosing her.

"McCain will be pulling the nomination of this fraud within the week."

He won't be pulling anybody, she is absolutely loved by conservative men and women alike.

Tide has turned in this race.

This thing IS our business. It is NOT a private affair BECAUSE conservatives do not believe in privacy. They can tell people how to live their private lives-- who to sleep with, how, when to have children. So let's not stop talking about this scandal. Let's not respect their private lives because they do not respect ours. I want teh Palin family to be ashamed because they love to tell people how to live their lives.

If McCain withdraws his VP announcement and takes somebody who is able to be the president in case he dies than I will vote for him. If not I am going for Obama / Biden for the sake of America.

I don't really think that this matters at all. What she chooses to do with her daughter and what her daughter chooses to do isn't really important unless Sarah Palin does something illegal. She's not, Bristol's not, and even Obama has declared this to be not an issue.

I don't really even know why it's being discussed, this is a family matter for them which they can take care of.

Is the state picking up the insurance bills for this pregnancy ? Where and how old is the father ? Any Statuatory Rape issues here ? Maybe Mom should have spent a little more time with daughters talking / instructing about birth control - Oh yea ..... She's on the abstenance only bandwagon.

I have three daughters. Not one of them would have been allowed to date a 23 year old when they turned 14. The pregnancies were incidental to the first lack of parental judgment. Do you think that those in Wassilla didn't know the age of the guy, but Palin says it was her high-school sweetheart that she dated for 3 years?

I am confused.. But more importantly,

Abuse of Power! Palin wrote a beautiful letter of recomendation of Mike Wooten so he would get hired as a trooper. Either she had poor judgment then to not see the bad guy, or she is implimenting a vendetta now using the Governor's office to do it.??

These people scare me,, and I am an evangelical Christian who believes in taking care of the poor, the widows, the homeless, the sick, and doing unto to others. You can't legislate morality, but real christians could put a big dent in the abortion rates if they put their love where their hatred is... in their mouth and their actions.

Palins letter of recomend. link.. Maybe her judgement should be the issue. Give this link a minute to load, as it looks empty at first.

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site163/20080721_111415 PatlinLetterOfRecomend

I find it puzzling how indignant the righties are about this "private family matter". I think it is quite obvious that a candidate's personal life indeed frames their story. Take John McCain's life, for example. Do we only cherry pick the positives when we make that analysis? Especially given the outright lies about Obama (he's a muslim, he is unpatriotic, he is a racist, etc). Now we have a TRUE story that runs against the grain of what Palin has been preaching about with regard to "family values" and opposition to sex education--and somehow that is off limits? Wake up and smell the kimche, Republicans, you can't have it both ways.

Inspired by the campaign to make the family laugh.

Forget about the mean people posting here.

Can a Obamacan make Sarah's family laugh?

Yodeling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDDEk2AMJAI

Obamacans for Obama/Biden '08

So here's my issue with this debacle:
1. palin supports abstinence-only teachings. There's no sex-ed in Alaska. Studies show it doesn't work. Clearly.
2. The grandparents to-be are using her pregnancy as pro-life leverage ("we're so proud she chose life") when Gov palin is on record saying she would not let her teenage daughter have an abortion, even if impregnated by a rapist
3. If Biden or Obama had an unwed teenage daughter having a baby, ooooooooooooooooh the calamity! There would not be a single conservative offering any of the support being offered to the palins offered to a Dem candidate, not even for choosing life.

Just for the record, I feel awful that poor girl is being dragged into national attention like this.

If I had thought that I could find a higher quality of political discourse in DC than here in Anchorage, then I would stand disabused of that assumption. Sadly, from hither to yon vile comments from base Democrats abound. (And I'm not even a Republican, so don't go there.) The McPalin ticket isn't good enough to serve America, but the O'Biden ticket takes presidential babysitting to a new high? That's a new low in Democratic hypocrisy.

Just wait till Michelle Shaniqua Obama's little girls, Maleawan and Sashawan, have hip-hop parties, drink, and shoot up in the White House. Now that's a scandal worth printing.

The hypocrisy of "family values" conservatives like Palin is breathtaking. McCain will be pulling the nomination of this fraud within the week.

Ah yes, like a previous blogger so keenly noted. Examine the facial expressions in this picture at the top, and think of the old cliché.

We have an ailing nation with nothing but lots of WMD's "Weapon of Mass Distractions"

"Where have all the Leaders gone?" - Lee Iacocca

As an Arizonan I have voted for Senator McCain for many years. Due to his choice of VP I can no longer support him and will vote for OBAMA. Many of my Republican friends are doing the same. This whole situation has become a circus. Very sad indeed.

LOL, thanks for the link Pete http://www.veeppeek.com thats really a funny site., That other link to the image that someone else left., with Palin holding a gun in a bikini.,.... I dont think that is real. That is a photo shop.

Like mother like daughter.

Sarah ran off to elope with her high school boyfriend after college when she got pregnant too. It was such a secret that she had to use some elderly people from the retirement home down the road as witnesses. These are facts. Talk about abstinence only education and Christian family values. This goes to the heart of the problem and why Christians have failed to govern the last 8 years. Their religious beliefs get in the way of moral behavior.

If only Sarah could have admitted she was pregnant rather than running off, she could have had an honorable wedding with her family. But she was too embarrassed, and couldn't admit to her family what she did until later.

And here we have the Palins trying to hide their own daughter's teenage pregnancy... until they had to spill the beans because of internet rumors.

It's a good thing we have internet rumors I guess, or the Palins would have kept this a secret, and the values voters who demanded to know about Clinton and Edwards' affairs wouldn't have been making their choice about Sarah Palin without incredibly important info about the moral failures in her own family and the hypocrisies they expose in the radical rights' approach to womens' rights issues.

As a constitutionalist, a businessman, and family man, I feel that all of this news coming out makes this lady and her family MORE attractive in the eyes of our nation.

I, as a Republican, do NOT like McCain.

But, I will say this:

That ugly, cheating, lying, SOB (respect to his mother) is looking better BECAUSE of her real life situation(s).

And, at least she seems to speak without having to read each word.

Ron Paul can save America.
All of the others are a crap shoot.

I've heard said that one of the political parties had pelvic issues. I.e. there is an ideological fixation on reproductive organs. Which party would that be again?

Wait just a minute! If McCain knew about the teen-age pregnancy, and if everyone is so all fired righteous about the blessed event (and don’t get me wrong, a baby is a blessing), then why did the McCain/Palin campaign have to be forced into revealing this information? Doesn’t the GOP deserve full disclosure before they nominate a VP candidate?

No one said it was boy friend. The father could be some crack head she met once.

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Is the boyfriend over 18? If he is it's statutory rape and he should be prosecuted. It's a moral necessity.

Posted by: Timmy | September 1, 2008 5:21 PM

Where are you getting the information that "Levi" is 26?

Forget Country First. How about Family First? Senator McCain, you and your selection committee have made a mockery not only of the office of the vice-president but of the family values our party stands for. The pregnant child deserves love and most of all attention from her mother and father right now, as does the disabled child. Gov Palin, please take responsibility for the children you have created and focus your talents on them. You are young enough to defer the big job to a better time.

Jeff (at 5:17) wrote:

"Palin is certainly charming and may (and that's a big may) be capable of being VP, and possibly the President, someday. She simply just doesn't have enough experience to potentially run this country today. Charm does not qualify a person to be the Vice President of the United States."

Let me revise a little:

Obama is certainly charming and may (and that's a big may) be capable of being VP, and possibly the President, someday. He simply just doesn't have enough experience to potentially run this country today. Charm does not qualify a person to be the (Vice) President of the United States.

Whatever you say about Palin's experience, it compares immediately with Obama's. Yes, Palin does not have the decades of experience in high public office that McCain and Biden have, but neither does Obama. At least Palin has some executive experience, which every other candidate on these tickets is lacking.

Barack Obama's mother was married to his father. She was a teenager, but not an unwed mother. She did not know that Barack Obama Sr. had already married a woman in his native Kenya. These details were in the Washington Post.

Mike--directly from Palin statement

"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."

Good catch, Linguist!

"McCain chose her as VP to distract from the real issues at hand."

That an unexperienced candidate who's only claim to fame is being black is being considered for President?

Issues like that?

You guys don't corner the market on dynamic candidates anymore.

Get over it

I can't believe this is news! How does this even matter when it comes to the political views of the candidate? The media these days is so damn sad!

I have to say, I am at the point where I feel genuinely bad for Sarah Palin. I think she has little idea what is going on on the world stage, no experience with the crush of national media attention, and is in way, way over her head.

I think this will be another Eagleton - the question is, how long does it take Team McCain to realize this - and to ask her to withdraw for "family reasons."

The longer they wait, the worse it will be. I bet she withdraws before the end of the convention. If I had an Intrade account, I'd make me some money.

I just discovered that the father of Bristol's unborn baby is 26 years old. She is 16. Do they not have statutory rape in Alaska? I thought Alaska was a part of the U. S. Consenual sex or not it is still statutory rape. This young 16 year old will find out real quick what it is like to give birth to a child. Pain, pain, pain. The father should be put in jail and the Palins need to make appointments for psychiatrists. How can anyone be happy that their young teenage daughter is going to be mother. She is still a child herself. Great pick McCain. Sort of like your trophy wife over your dying wife. You sure have excellent taste in the women in your life. NOT!!!!!!

The Cheney's have been consistently supportive of their gay daughter and have never lied about her gayness. In fact, Mary Cheney has given interviews supporting her father. The Cheney's approach towards Mary has never damaged their conservative credentials.

Gov. Palin should but objectively HAS NOT exhibited the same kind of class with respect to her children, even if they've made mistakes that don't fit the family values mold.

---------------------------

What's your point? She isn't gay like Cheney's daughter, she is not ugly and homely like Jimmy Carters daughter? Go ahead and throw the first stone if you have nothing bad in your own family background. It is life, and had nothing to do with elections.

Posted by: Jim | September 1, 2008 5:17 PM

One Republican Hypocrite after the other will rise in support of Palin. Framed in family values....the family is dysfunctional. talk about the Fockers....this family is typical of republican hypocrisy!

Thank you Senator McCain for bringing Reality TV to Politics!

Look at the footage of her VP announcement. She doesn't have a care in the world when it comes to that baby. What mother would allow her infants (with Downs) to be exposed to a massive, loud crowd? Look at how the daughter holds that baby. Have you people been missing this season of "Mad Men?"

I have more faith in Michael Jackson being the daddy to his children than Sarah Palin has of being the mother of that infant

A fundamental question. How old is the father? If he impregnated Bristol when she was under 18 (which, of course he did) and he was OVER 18, then statutory rape was committed. This is not an indiscretion by two teen-agers. According to the law, it is a crime. When an 18-year-old African-American football star had oral sex with his 16-year-old girlfriend, he was sentenced to prison. Guess there is another standard for the children of the powerful than there is for the children of the powerless.

McCain made his own future difficult, squarely due to lack of judgment or due to horrible judgment. He should even quit being a senator. RNC has time to pick a new candidate altogether. Have courage, and begin the clean up of your party in national interest.

A maverick does not jump into a situation after being informed or warned of information, and yet without any preparation. This is how Bush and RNC handled Katrina 3 years, as cake walk (or cut the cake and eat it too at McCain's birthday party) while Katrina hovered over NOLA. Old habits get you, but he or RNC will not be allowed to screw this great nation, USA.

Who is the father and how old is he? Is he 18,or 19 or 20? Could this be considered statutory rape? Remember the 16yr old in Georgia who went to jail for statutory rape for having sex with a 15 year old?

I can only IMAGINE the response in the news and all over right-wing TV and radio if Obama had a 17 year-old, unwed and pregnant daughter. Let's face it, Democrats once again are warned to not say anything. Yet if this were an Obama baby, the hypocritical repubs would be all over it, salivating on Faux News.

I believe John McCain will be having a "Harriet Myers" moment pretty soon and announce (or have Palin announce) that due to extreme family concerns she will not be seeking office.

You write "Bristol Palin's pledge to marry the father of the child gives social conservatives something to latch on to if they are looking for positives out of this situation."

Nowhere in the Palin statement does it say that she is marrying the father of the child.

"Is this the first time a black bastard son is running for the Democrats for President?"

Nah, the last was Clinton in '92.

Nothing to see here but libs complaining about a ticket which has become more dynamic than theirs.

Keep whining to yourselves libs.

The bottom line is blatant hypocrisy in the part of Ms Palin and extreme opportunism of McCain who doesn't know the meaning of vetting. When did he apologize for his outrageous joke of Chelsea Clinton having been conceived by Janet Reno as her father? And now complaining about a real case of an unmarried teenager having a baby. McBush is a despicable character.

Who cares?

Honestly. We don't care. McCain chose her as VP to distract from the real issues at hand.

Is the boyfriend over 18? If he is it's statutory rape and he should be prosecuted. It's a moral necessity.

The conservative response? Fantastic! She's not a lesbian!

Reading the comments regarding the Palin pregnancy, proves that the citizens of the US are a degenerate, mongrel society, no longer worthy of being considered a great nation. They deserve to be a third world country governed by Blacks.

I used the words "Dukes of hazzard, Hillbillys, Backwoods trash.

By the way, am I the only one here who has ever lived in Alaska? Those people they think they live in their own private country. It is a "anything goes culture" and Palin was born there. I can't even imagine what they are going to find out about this family once they begin checking. How many prostitutes will turn up claiming her husband is a regular once some tabloid begins spreading some money around. These people are trash, I knew zillions like them. Drinking, drugs, sex, they are nuts up there, look at where they live? She already admitted she used drugs in the past. Want to bet she still does, so does her husband and maybe the kids. 12 year olds smoke dope up there. Wait till the Enquire gets ahold of someone and offers then a few hundred thousand to tell a few stories. Their best friends will rat them out. This family is "NOT" the Cleavers, trust me. I think it is over anyway she will be gone before the convention is over.

--------
Would you people stop using the term "white trash"???!! I don't care if you are white and saying it, its still racist. No one has used the "N" word regarding Obama, so don't use the "WT" words on Palin. If I can't call myself a proud, white woman without being called a racist, then for (insert the name of your maker here)'s sake, all skin tone comments are off limits! Nobody made a big deal about Obama's teen momma having a baby out of wedlock (and with a black man, no less! Oh my!) - embrace your free speech, but lets leave race out of it!

Posted by: Anonymous | September 1, 2008 5:08 PM

Is this the first time a black bastard son is running for the Democrats for President?

Please keep up the comparison.

LOL, thanks for the link Pete http://www.veeppeek.com thats really a funny site., That other link to the image that someone else left., with Palin holding a gun in a bikini.,.... I dont think that is real. That is a photo shop.

No one cares

Juno is a way of life in McCain-ville!

Palin does not look knocked up in any of her photos from that period. Her daughter was taken out of high school for several months because she had "mono."

It's a shame the GOP convention wasn't in Chicago cause Palin and her group would be the perfect guests on Spinger. Or perhaps they'll be appearing on Maury's "Whose Your Momma" Special.

This just shows that if you don't raise your kids right, they get knocked up like the family dog.

I love wolf it takes great with moose nose jelly.

Sarah and Todd Palin have issued the following statement: "We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby..."

Interesting. I see that this was Bristol's DECISION and they are proud of her DECISION. They are glad that she exercised her CHOICE.

They are in deed (if not in word) pro-choice.

How I love to be called a "horrible homoselxual"....ah those great Christian values hard at work again...

Now, lets talk about traditional family values....oh wait, cant here....

- Knocked up!
- Who's there?
- Palin
- Palin who?
- Palin comparison to the Democratic ticket

I'm a non-religious secular humanist myself, but having been brought up in a Christian family and knowing how Christians think, I am pretty sure that they will see Bristol as the imperfect sinner who, nevertheless, trusting God's compassion and forgiveness, repented from her sins by keeping her baby and vowing to marry her boyfriend.

Actually, the fact that the Palin women have now chosen not only once, but twice, to keep their babies in adverse circumstances where they could have otherwise chosen an abortion makes them heroes in the eyes of the religious right !

Making excuses within 72 hours --

Can a withdrawal of name for consideration be in the cards.

I suspect Laura Bush may have time on her hands, (not that far fetched).

Would you people stop using the term "white trash"???!! I don't care if you are white and saying it, its still racist. No one has used the "N" word regarding Obama, so don't use the "WT" words on Palin. If I can't call myself a proud, white woman without being called a racist, then for (insert the name of your maker here)'s sake, all skin tone comments are off limits! Nobody made a big deal about Obama's teen momma having a baby out of wedlock (and with a black man, no less! Oh my!) - embrace your free speech, but lets leave race out of it!
~~~~~~

Didn't you know that if you were a conservative you are by defaul you're a racist, homophobic, bigot, sexist who likes to beat old ladies with their canes and attend weekly cross burnings? LOL

Hey it is okay if Barry's mom had him when he was 18 and his daddy sired several kids out of wedlock, he is the Chosen One and can do no wrong.

I can't believe the ridiculousness of the accusation that Trig is actually her daughter's baby. It reminds me of how people thought that McCain's ADOPTED daughter was the result of an affair between McCain and a dark skinned woman.

The child was adopted out of an orphanage in Bangladesh, and people turn a kind act into a depraved one.

It's the same situation here. Palin chooses to have a child with down syndrome, and people have to find some way to attack her.

I would bet that most of the people spreading these lies don't believe them, but think that this will help Obama in the election.

DISGUSTING!

What's your point? She isn't gay like Cheney's daughter, she is not ugly and homely like Jimmy Carters daughter? Go ahead and throw the first stone if you have nothing bad in your own family background. It is life, and had nothing to do with elections.

"LETS BE FAIR! YOU CAN"T BLAME THE BLACK MAN FOR THIS ONE.LOL!"

Let's wait till see the baby before we say that.

Just some opinions:
* Candidate McCain seems to be a different person with lesser values than Senator McCain.
* Palin is certainly charming and may (and that's a big may) be capable of being VP, and possibly the President, someday. She simply just doesn't have enough experience to potentially run this country today. Charm does not qualify a person to be the Vice President of the United States.
* If Palin had buck teeth and was obese (and not so front page worthy), I don't think McCain would have chosen her - good looks do not qualify a person to be VP.
* It is a very real possibility that Palin could have to deal with an upset China, Iran, and/or Russia as president, simultaneously and successfully working with Congress - this scares me to death.
* It seems pretty obvious that McCain is using Palin to get Hillary voters, i.e, she was not chosen because she was the best choice. This is dangerous and wrong on many levels, but essentially McCain is willing to jeopardize America's future and safety (remember, she could be pres someday if McCain wins) to become president. Also, what does this say about Palin's values, to allow McCain to use her for these votes.
* Sorry McCain supporters, but he is not smart enough to have created "The Palin Stir". Karl Rove has got to be behind this - the same person that crafted Bush's two election wins. And look where we are today.
* We haven't heard her positions on anything except abortion, gun rights, being a hockey mom, and the Alaskan good ole boy network. Last time I checked, America is in deep trouble in many areas besides these.
* Her degree in journalism/communications just doesn't give me a very warm fuzzy feeling.
* It was hipocritical for McCain to bash Obama on experience, and then pull this. I don't care what kind of spin someone puts on it.
* The media knows Palin is not qualified to be VP, but is keeping this story alive for ratings. This is stirring the Bush/McCain base, which could have dangerous consequences. If McCain becomes Pres, and god forbid falls ill or worse, Palin would be our President. If America continues to fall further into a hole because of Palin's incompetence, then god help John McCain, Karl Rove, and the media for orchestrating and allowing it to happen, for votes and ratings.

If you've decided to vote for John McCain, and it's because you truly believe in his message and agenda, then these "opinions" won't affect you. If you're still trying to figure out if Palin is "the real deal", please just think about how much you really know about this person and her real qualifications. America's future at stake.

The problem here is the continual hypocrisy of the far Right -- they act holier than thou and then are constantly exposed for being more corrupt, immoral and unethical than all liberals combined. That said, this is a perfect to argue for Pro-Choice: Bristol had the choice to use her body by spreading her legs, so why deprive other young women the right to use their bodies as they see fit?

Hypocrisy...

What if Bristol isn't pregnant at all? What if this pregnancy story was leaked just to squash the rumors about Sarah not being Trig's mother. After all if Bristol is "about five months along" now as a Palin aide put it, she couldn't have given birth to a baby back in April. After a few months we'll probably learn that Bristol has had a miscarraige. I'm afraid this is a real possibility.

Democrats should keep up the assaults on Sarah Palin's pre-natal care decisions, the insinuations about Bristol Palin's promiscuity and the libelous allegations about a Downs Syndrome child.

These are winning issues for you...

I have been battling this rumor on the Obama campaign's listserv. I think that Sarah Palin is a ditz as well as a ditzy reactionary, and if John McCain should win the election and die in office she would be one of history's funnier extreme disasters. I never think it is alright to slander people, particularly not with such a sleazy story! The Obama listserv managers ahve been trying to squash the discussion with little success; it keeps re-emerging.

The story never made any sense. I examined each piece of evidence. There are a bunch of photos of Palin with her belly out of sight concluding that they show her to not look pregnant. There is a photo of Briscol looking four and a half to five months pregnant six weeks before the full term baby was born in mid April. The baby was born exactly four and a half months ago, Bristol looked four to five months pregnant exactly six months ago, and Bristol is at this time five months pregnant; and five months pregnant adds up in terms of an end of December due date. Bristol could not have looked four to five months pregnant six weeks before giving birth to a full term infant, and she could not be five months pregnant and have had a child four and a half months ago. And is it the case that Palin was never pregnant, or that it was irresponsible of her to fly home in the earliest stage of labor, make up your minds! Finally a photograph by CBS has emerged of a full length view of Palin looking extremely pregnant, in her eighth month of pregnancy. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/31/234157/516/1017/581734 The worst possible scenario is that Bristol was pregnant, was disappeared, and miscarried, and quickly became pregnant again, to the resignation of her family, all independently of her mother's pregnancy.

I do have to notice three things. First, the history of each statement from the media that fed into the birth of this rumor suggests that its roots lie in a particularly strange political atmosphere. Reporters in even respectable newspapers and TV networks pick with her in the most outrageous ways and get away with it. Reporters were really commenting publicly that they doubted that she was really pregnant, and they sounded like school girls, or nasty rural villagers gossiping. "She doesn't look pregnant to me." I saw her two months ago, and she didn't look pregnant then." "She didn't have no baby, she could never have flown home in labor, and the staff on the plane didn't know anything about it!" From teh tone of that discussion, I'm seriously surprised that she wasn't said to have cast a spell and caused someone's moose to drop dead. Maybe Alaska is a far more nasty place than any place else, and for sure it's coming across as Neanderthal in the matter of her wanting her brother in law fired from his job as state trooper for threatening violence against her family; it seems that few people in Alaska can imagine what he did wrong. But I am picking up that Sarah Palin is the most deeply and universally despised state governor in American history, that almost noone in her own state respects her, to such a degree that TV and newspaper reporters don't think they even have to pretend to show her basic respect. Such a lack of fear of failing to treat teh state governor with basic respect due another person is unprecedented. That reality certainly flies in the face of being able to think that people see her as a hero who has confronted corruption in the government. And noone wins that level of disrespect by standing up to a cop brother in law who threatened your sister and your family, probably not even in Alaska.

Second, the tone taken by the people advancing this view on the Obama listserv as well as the slimy, nasty-nasty, gossipy nature of the story itself, strongly suggest to me that a true source of the popularity of this story is water seeking its own level. The story itself and the arguments about it look exactly like highschool students writing on the bathroom wall, and Sarah Palin comes across as a backwoods rural highschool cheerleading diva. The people advancing this rumor pretty exactly resemble Sarah Palin in character, maturity, and intellect, and that is what is attracting them to her.

Third, the tremendous, insistent popularity of this story and its refusal to die when confronted with the evidence, remind me of the Swift Boat story. John Kerry is one of those people who has no backbone, and cannot tell the truth nor give a straightforward answer about anything to save himself. I noticed that about him very early on. As a liberal Democrat I did not vote in the last election and liked George Bush better, like most people I knew (many of whom also voted for George Bush). I myself repeated the Swift Boat story. I never cared if it was true, and I don't think many people cared if it was true. The Swift Boat story was like the story of Washington and the Cherry Tree; a myth, that gets its power from the way it captures what people think of and how they feel about someone. The Swift Boat story summed up and mobilized what people massively thought of John Kerry, and that was what gave life to the story. People don't really care if Palin adopted her daughter's baby and is now lying about it; the story sums up what the world thinks of her. That she was really pregnant with her own son is apparently the first time she has ever told the truth or been straightforward about anything, unless number one was that she opposes abortion rights. And since she's an extremist, we expect her to handle family issues in extreme, abusive ways. The reality that the 17 year old girl will marry the boy is not enlightened and kind parenting, especially not given the awkward, distant, wants no part of this way she was recently photographed holding her baby brother for a photo shoot of Palin's and McCain's children.

Frankly, Sarah Palin is impossible to respect, and hard not to laugh about, never mind that the little bit of substance she has shown should make us very, very afraid. The Republicans had better withdraw her from nomination if they know what's good for them. Never mind what's good for the country.

Yours,
Dora Smith
Austin,TX

"The child is always carrying Trig to hide her pregnant belly. It's not rocket science.

Posted by: ecdc | September 1, 2008 5:13 PM"

So Palin is literally using one child to hide issues with another?!!!!

Voice of Reason couldn't have said it better. But just to add a bit more to the issue of the economy and how best to manage it, I think the best insight's come from the wealthiest of all Americans. Warren Buffet, although a hugely successful hedge fund manager, beleives our economy fares best with a progressive tax policy. He has been one of Obama's chief financial advisors, chiefly because he realizes that Obama has the intellect and willingness to understand the complexities involved. Buffet is a populist with a vision of a society made up of a prosperous middle/working class. His insights into the inner workings of our economy are lost on McCain, who has such little attentiveness to his own financial situation he doesn't even remember how many homes he has.

Ever watch the "To catch a predator" dog and pony show on NBC? Those guys only thought/fantasized about it, this Alaska man actually did the dirty deed. Quit prosecuting the men that have a 18 or 19 year decoy acting like a 14 year begging these men for sex. Right is right, but then, this ain't no TV show selling million dollar commercials. Or is it? I say the decoy has to marry the guy that shows up, and the men get that idiot NBC reporter as a father-in-law. Now that's justice. They dated 3 years but only did it once when she was 16. Yeah, right....

I like Palin, Her kid gettin pregnant just shows that she has to deal with the same stuff as the rest of us. There are other scandals with her that hold more wieght you can see them at http://www.veeppeek.com

The child is always carrying Trig to hide her pregnant belly. It's not rocket science.

Watch these videos and decide who is real Trig's mother.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-Es5aIJl1g&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvXGh-neHb8&feature=related

"Just think about it like this, if it were Obama's daughter that got knocked up we'd never know. That girl would be off to an abortion mill before the piss dried on the Clear Blue Easy stick. Remember Obama's motto for abortion, "If at first you don't succeed, put the baby in the trash." "

This comment is sick, disgusting and an outright LIE! Obama NEVER said to thorw babies in the trash.

Just because one is PRO-CHOICE, does not mean one is pro-abortion. Millions of people beleive in a woman's right to choose but would not suggest abortion as the "remedy" to an unwanted pregnacy. It is smears like this one against Obama that fuel hatred, devisiveness, and backlash.

I feel sorry for most of the liberals on this thread. Your lack of character is showing. The liberal idealist eutopia is just as big of a religion as conservative religions, and you are bigots and hypocrits who use the same faith based "morality" but call it idealogy as the people you criticize.

Some of the classic liberals in the democratic party still retain tolerance, ability to disagree and compromise, open mindedness, etc but most of you are a disgrace.

~~~~~
The Democratic Party of Truman, FDR and JFK is no more. If the Democratic party is not careful the liberal base will completely destroy this once great party I use to be proud to call my own.

Is this a real picture? http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8969/1220293607509ba8.jpg

If so-- She should go to prison for desecrating the flag.

Palin just repaired that glass ceiling that Hillary spent so much effort to crack.

I don't care about her teenage daughter having a baby. I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HER RUNNING FOR VP WITH A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD UNDER 1 YEAR OLD! I have a special needs child in my family & know FIRST HAND JUST HOW MUCH WORK IT TAKES TO RAISE A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS!
I do not have a problem with her running, just not right now! This child needs her COMPLETE ATTENTION for the next few years! I really don't think that she can do that & run for VP at the same time! Just the fact that she considered running tells me where her priorities actually lie!

The left has completely lost their mind over this pick. Within hours of the announcement, the rumors about baby Trig were already floating from Marcos Moulitsa's cesspool to every leftist blog and discussion forum on the internet.

The party that is all about women's "choices" (as long as they approve of them) is now demanding Palin step down and dictating to her what she should and shouldn't do. Look at some of the comments from the bigoted misogynists in the comments here. Sarah Palin is a monster because she chose to give birth to a baby with Down syndrome and her teenage daughter is pregnant and NOT getting an abortion? Sarah Palin shouldn't work, she should stay home with the children?

This is coming from the LEFT. The conservatives and libertarians are supporting Palin and the choices her family has made. The left is telling them what they should do. Who are the fascists?

8 writes:

"One BIG question remains unanswered: if this father were going to marry Bristol Palin, why hasn't it happened yet??"

Because he probably just found out he was getting married.....the day Palin accepted McCain's offer.

Give her time to fly back to AK (or her burly hubby), load her moose gun and help him pick out the wedding music LOL.

After 8 years of "No Limit Texas Hold'em" Bush, we now have "Yahtzee" McCain.

You are stupid... If Bristol got impregnated by a 26 year old the she's made a mistake. What does that have to do wihth Palin? And what does that have to do with McCain?
~~~~~
I'm a republican. I think if it is true that the father of Sarah's grandchild is 26 that she should step down as vp. She should let someone else less marred be on the ticket. I don't like obama, but he will win if this is actually true.

Posted by: Dissapointed | September 1, 2008 5:01 PM

Would you people stop using the term "white trash"???!! I don't care if you are white and saying it, its still racist. No one has used the "N" word regarding Obama, so don't use the "WT" words on Palin. If I can't call myself a proud, white woman without being called a racist, then for (insert the name of your maker here)'s sake, all skin tone comments are off limits! Nobody made a big deal about Obama's teen momma having a baby out of wedlock (and with a black man, no less! Oh my!) - embrace your free speech, but lets leave race out of it!

Anonymuos wrote:
"Sarah Palin should step down NOW if she wants to have any political future. If McCain loses in November, the party will pin it squarely on her ......"

This is exactly true. I also read that is why McCain is the GOP pick to begin with, in a year when the GOP is said to be the losing ticket.

The VP on the losing ticket is almost always toast. Their political future is done with.

Very sorry - I posted same thing twice. Read only one, lol...

This teenage pregnancy scandal is irrelevant to the issues facing our country. People need to do their research and chose next leader based on their policies and political past. We need someone who will address and deal with current issues and not pass it to next generation to handle: national debt, global warming, foreign politics, immigration reforms, fall and weakening of the dollar! Let's not pick the next president based on irrelevant to politics issues, like VP's daughter's pregnancy. Teenage pregnancies do happen,and people should not waste time putting blame on others. Palin is a very accomplished lady, and personal family issues happen to all of us. I am not a republican, but I do support basic republican ideas of small government and fiscal conservatism. The reason why I DO NOT vote republican is because the last 3 republican presidents did not represent these values! In fact during G.W. Bush's administration this country has accrued more national debt than under all previous administrations combined!!! This country needs an open-minded leader who can fairly represent ALL ethnicities and religious views of America and strengthen the middle class, and give middle class tax breaks and not favor the top 1% at the expense of the rest of us! Middle class is the backbone of the strong country! America: please do you research on policies offered and base your vote on that, not on some 'dirty-laundry' issues!

McCain didn't know. If he had known, he would have released this along with the other dirt, like the trooper and the downs syndrom baby. This shows a lack of due diligence and poor judgement, on both McCain's and Palin's part. They shouldn't run the country for 4 years.

Just think about it like this, if it were Obama's daughter that got knocked up we'd never know. That girl would be off to an abortion mill before the piss dried on the Clear Blue Easy stick. Remember Obama's motto for abortion, "If at first you don't succeed, put the baby in the trash."

~~~~~~~~~~

Agreed. The media would completely cover it up and if it was found out they would blame it on someone, probably President Bush because he seems to be the doer of all that is evil in the world (according to liberals that is).

The real impact has very little to do with how the pregnancy plays with the voters in any direct sense. The real impact is that this is a crucial time as the voters try to figure out who Sarah Palin really is and she's not getting the opportunity to define herself. Instead of the media giving Palin the kind of air time she needs, they're focusing on Hurricane Gustav and the pregnancy story.

It's not necessarily going to turn out badly for the Republicans, but I can't think of any similar situations in the past that turned out well for those involved.

Liars, is the only point here, cast the first stone types always get this in return. Trust me folks, this is only the beginning, living in an isolated village and state is much different when the spotlight shines on you and your family. Todd et al, and his associateions, the kids drug problems and sexual freedom will be the next agenda. And the music will sound a lot like, where were you Gov' when all this crap was going on? Not judging, but just wait, it wont even be a week before all the issues that are considered normal in Alaska hits the lower 48.......it will be a long ride. I am an independent, and McCain could have gotten my vote with Romney or Pawlenty....but this makes him seem like a desparate moron.

Obama's mom was 18 when she had Barack. does that make him less qualified to be pres or his mom a terrible mother? She helped raise a son who could be pres. Take it easy lefties......

Ah, for the love of God, people--have you heard of Google?
As I tried to point out earlier, to deaf eyes obviously, there ARE photos of a pregnant Governor Palin during her last trimester.
Here is one for example:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30076181@N02/2814199887/sizes/l/

And I'm sure it's not photoshopped, since the TV station would have the footage they shot with her in it.
Once again, let's place ourselves back at THAT point in time; Palin has no clue that McCain is going to even consider her, he had only just then cinched the nomination, so I'll reiterate my question: What huge conspiracy did she even need at that point to fake her pregnancy, and wouldn't any number of Bristol's friends have had at least a clue if she was expecting?

So please, would all of the conspiracy loons (yes, even you "Barack-Is-a- Muslim" nutjobs, too) go play in another sandbox? Thank You!

The October surprise and its only september The first!

Every time something Jon McCain does that is so outrageous, i get caught up in the fray. Then I come to my senses.

John McCain supports Barack Obama.

YThe man can't be dumb enough to think Americans would want this person running the country.

John McCain is going to vote for Barack Obama.

It's almost like the news of Bristol's pregnancy was rushed into circulation, not because of rumors that little Trig is Bristol's child, but to camouflage Palin's close association with the indicted Ted Stevens and his 527 fund raising organization.

What we're seeing here both a disfunctional family and a disfunctional political party, where Sarah's refomer credentials are being shattered, not challenged, every single day. The heat of even the most superficial scrutiny is melting the Alaskan image of pristine frozen tundra and its supposedly rugged, hard working, morally pristine inhabitants.

It seems that the easiest way for us in the lower 48 to understand the true Alaska that is coming to light is to watch a few reruns of "Northern Exposure."

As an Arizonan I have voted for Senator McCain for many years. Due to his choice of VP I can no longer support him and will vote for OBAMA. Many of my Republican friends are doing the same. This whole situation has become a circus. Very sad indeed.

Look at the picture at the top of this column. There are some deep, dark secrets going on there.
~~~~~

Could say the same thing about Obama and his past and political record.

The republicans are telling liberals to be VERY careful?

The republicans can smoke my pole. I'm pretty sure they can STFU!

They are a cult of lying degenerates and mental defectives.

Don't you cram your 'values' down our throats. I don't want my daughter thinking there is anything acceptable about this. Palin should come out and explain to teens that her daughter just threw her chances of college and travel right in the toilet.

She's going to be a 17-year-old strapped with some spawn, and a buck-toothed, teenage husband who's prospect for a better life probably includes a meth lab.

What will they name this one? Skeeter-Marie? Maybe she'll have triplets; Blinky, Buster, and Chowder.

Bravo she's keeping her child SHE HAS A CHOICE, this news makes me want to fight harder for my ovaries to ensure the right to reproduce remains mine and mines only. If Palin's daughter can do it, surely all women should be allowed and celebrated.

I think Palin should give a speech supporting all the teenage mother's in the world, including those who aren't white and have a mother running as the VP. That would surely appeal to all sides.

Appeal to my Ovaries McCain/Palin, appeal to them or they'll vote for Obama (snickers).

sexy....

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8969/1220293607509ba8.jpg

Dear Mother30's-ish.
It is only a punishment if the State forces the teenage girl to keep the baby against her will. If she wants the baby that is great! No involvement by the State, so no punishment.

Just now as CNN did the baby story Blitzer said they have someone one the way to Alaska right now. That can only mean they will be looking under every rock about Palin. I don't think we will even have to wait for the Enquire.

McCain presidensy will be so much fun! Let's do it!

first the trooper firing scandal, now a pregnant daughter. You can read about both of those and even more at http://www.theveep.com they have alot of background info on Palin.

Amazing looking at some of the comments here! First Obama does not engage in the politics of personal distruction unlike the Republicans. It's funny to read the right wingers complain about liberal bloggers when they invented the slime and rumour mongering through their heroes Hannity, Limbaugh, and the like.
Further McCain and company put up Palin as if she were Mother Theresa.
I can only imagine the right wingers who are now so proud of Palin would be saying if an Obama daughter were 17 and pregnant. Probably screaming about how "liberal " values are destroying our country .
Enough with the hypocracy.

Apply the party's own standards to this case. Republicans do judge candidates on their parenting skills and results. If this were a Democratic daughter, the howls from the right would never end.

One BIG question remains unanswered: if this father were going to marry Bristol Palin, why hasn't it happened yet??

I'm a republican. I think if it is true that the father of Sarah's grandchild is 26 that she should step down as vp. She should let someone else less marred be on the ticket. I don't like obama, but he will win if this is actually true.

Palin may turn out to be a good v.p. candidate, but she is not being a good mother. i had a kid at 17 and my mom helped me out and this enabled me to get the education i needed to fully support myself and my child. because i had a kid at a young age, there are many things that i could not do (both professionally and recreationally) because i needed to be there for my child. i chose to be a teacher instead of going to law school. i put my family first. i am still a career woman, but i am there for my child when she goes to bed, when she wakes up in the morning, and after school. my child is now 16, and believe me, if she came to me and said she was pregnant, it would not be a surprise because i know when to expect my daughter's monthly. it seems to me that palin can go on with this presidential race, but anyone who has been through this situation knows that something or someone is going to have to lose out - either the country or her family. she can't attend to both.

McCain and Palin kind of got lucky, Gustav is taking all the media attention away from the fact that Palin was involved in some kind of trooper scandal and now her daughter who is 17 is prego. These would be the top story other wise. read more on both scandals at the veep http://www.veeppeek.com

You know what is funny repub beat you over the head with the bible but when they do something wrong according to the bible. The same logic dose not apply to them or they would be forgiven by good. What is SICK about this is that if they were the obama girls the repub would have crucified the family. The issue should be on sarah palin,and if she can be a good vp. That is the logical argument to make, but as it is repub we are dealing with logic and facts are not there strong suit. So, I WOULD LOL TO THE POINT OF PEEING MYSELF AND THE HYPOCRITES WHO CALL THEMSELVES REPUB DEFENDING PALINS DAUGHTER ACTONS. YOU ALL LOVE TO KNOW WHO IS SLEEPING WITH WHO. NOW IT COMING BACK TO HAUNT YOU. WHAT IF THE SON TURNS OUT TO BE GAY LOL LOL LOL

Just...wow...

Palin is running as a Creationist, Pro-Lifer and has no opinion on issues deemed highly important in light of today's economics and our plummeting position in the world's opinion of our policies. However, on the Day Gustov hits the Gulf Coast region, they quietly announce the Bristol Palin pregnancy story. As if they would be able to SNEAK it in, without anyone the wiser.

Blind, knucklescraping loyal-for-no-reason Republicans argue that we MUST not let a child's irresponsibility darken our perception of Ms. Palin's or ANY Republican's gleaming qualifications. Yes, Democrats do it as well. I'm not choosing to be either. But Palin's all-too-apparent and insatiable craving for the position of VP has revealed information about the many hours she gallavanted around the country prior to finally flying back to Alaska to give birth to her handicapped child. Not to sound cruel, BUT... if she had NOT already known of this child's disability, might she have made the wiser decision to STAY PUT and have her baby where she was at the time? I know I speak for many of the women in this country that would NEVER put all those hours in to travel, over concerns for the safety and health of our unborn child.
Or, as increasing information coming out reveals, was it really daughter Bristol in labor Sarah Palin was coming home to?
Let's all see just ONE measley photograph of an actual PREGNANT-LOOKING Sarah Palin in April! She was Alaska's Governor, for Pete's sake; there have to be pictures somewhere! Does she have some kind of Godfather hold over the state? I'd like to hear opposing viewpoints unburdened by predjudice or fear.
It seems kind of flaky that Bristol needed to be home all those months to recover from mono. If that were the case, it's strange that she managed to get PREGNANT while home-bound all that time.
Who was minding the store THEN?

It's simple, really. I am financially conservative but liberal when it comes to personal choice and beliefs. It's NOT like I give a rat's bum that poor Bristol is preggers. I don't really care one way or another. However, I do feel badly that her life is now such a glaring public fiasco. And all to save Mommy Dearest's rep. But vapid hypocrisy bothers me. DON'T state you believe in the monumental failure that is Abstinence-ONLY until marriage if you haven't even taught your own family members before you preach to our countrymen and women. I ask again, where were Ma and Pa Kettle when little Bristol was home-bound for MONTHS with a supposed case of mono?
The Republican ticket is a joke. I may not be 100% sure that Obama is fully qualified or not but Joe Biden is absolutely a winning choice! Honest and outspoken - I love that. If it means occasionally getting into a bit of hot water for speaking the truth, well, I'd rather see that then to regress into blind political correctness. That is where our media has failed us. Too much TMZ, not enough TLC... Kardashians instead of current events... you get the picture.
The only thing I DO know is that I would much rather take a chance on Obama for at least four years then four years of George McCain and Ma Kettle.
Oh, I could go on for hours but really, who has even read this all the way through anyway?
Yeah, yeah, and I can hear the "special", extreme right-wingers now...go ahead, bring it on. You're not gonna say anything I haven't already heard.

The GOP faithful (the hard-line Christian Right in particular) would be having a field day if the Dems had a woman on the ticket who had returned to work 3 days after giving birth to a child with Downes Syndrome, being a moralizer on abstinence also had a pregnant unwed minor teenage daughter, and instead of returning home to support her daughter, continued to pursue her own career ambitions. "Family values", White trash or in some places one in the same?

Palin was actually McCain's second choice for vice-president after Ron Jeremy turned him down.

I am very bothered by the fact that a mother of a four month old special needs baby and a unwed teen made the decision to run for vice president. She is going to be on the road 24/7 and clearly her children need her supervision and support and yes I would be saying this if she were a man!

"In addition, Alaska statutory rape laws declare that anyone who is 18 years old or older who has sex with a person who is 16 or 17, or who is at least three years younger than the offender, can be charged with sexual abuse in the third degree. This is also a felony."

The whole situation is, well INSANE

I have not looked up Alaska law concerning adult sex with children, but having been exposed to the damage done to children by sexual abuse I am wondering???????

A) why would parents leave their child with a sex offender?

B) why would these parents promote the marriage of said child to this sex offender?

C) why are the local police not bringing charges against this man?

Sigh. Is this a vice presidential pick or an episode of "As the World Turns"? I keep hearing the commercial from the Soap Opera Network ("it's not over! it's never over") ringing in my ears when we COULD be having a conversation about the resurgent Russian bear, the Chinese who own most of our debt, the price of oil, health care, disappearing jobs, etc. If John McCain wanted a conservative woman he *could* have chosen Kay Bailey Hutchinson. If he wanted someone who could have leant heft to his team, he could have gotten Christine Todd Whitman or (for God's sake!) ELIZABETH DOLE!!! Shame on John McCain for turning a serious process into a soap opera.

Sarah Spears, I mean Lynn Palin.. Whats her Name? Oh McBush Panic. PALIN is a VIRUS speading thru the dying (no pun intended) McCain campaign.

first the trooper firing scandal, now a pregnant daughter. You can read about both of those and even more at http://www.theveep.com they have alot of background info on Palin.

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8969/1220293607509ba8.jpg

F-ing Hot! I may switch my vote - nothing like a bikini-clad, gun toting VP

wow, I need to go now ;)

Nice Pick McCain

The reason she was chosen was so that she would appeal to Evangelicals.

She will no longer appeal to Evangelicals.

Therefore, she should be let off of the ticket.

Judging from the photos and facts, I think there is no doubt but that Bristol is Trig's mom. I think that there are only two possibilities:

1. This is Bristol's second baby. Mom and Dad agreed to bail her out for baby #1. But Bristol is gonna have to get married for baby #2.

2. Bristol isn't pregnant now. She still has some leftover pregnancy weight. When media was getting too close too uncovering the truth, the family attempted this cover-up. By saying she is five months pregnant now, they think that will convince folks that she couldn't be the mother of Trig. So they are asking for support and privacy for the unfortunate young teenage mom. I hope she doesn't have a "miscarriage" soon as a result of all of the media attention.

It's really too bad John McCain made this erratic pick. Looks bad for everyone. And the one that hurts the most is the poor young Bristol. Shame on you Sarah for subjecting your daughter to this!

Sarah Palin should step down NOW if she wants to have any political future. If McCain loses in November, the party will pin it squarely on her and this baby mama drama.

The whole situation is so surreal that I can't help but wonder if there is some Rovian strategy behind all of this. Did they vet Sarah knowing full well about this mess...anticipating the blow up...which would make a normally unacceptable choice like Romney or Jindal seem like the second coming?

Has Sarah Palin's hubris been totally exploited by her Republican masters? Notice they announced her as the Veep when they knew the hurricane was coming...what a fantastic opening for Jindal!

Just...wow...

Palin is running as a Creationist, Pro-Lifer and has no opinion on issues deemed highly important in light of today's economics and our plummeting position in the world's opinion of our policies. However, on the Day Gustov hits the Gulf Coast region, they quietly announce the Bristol Palin pregnancy story. As if they would be able to SNEAK it in, without anyone the wiser.

Blind, knucklescraping loyal-for-no-reason Republicans argue that we MUST not let a child's irresponsibility darken our perception of Ms. Palin's or ANY Republican's gleaming qualifications. Yes, Democrats do it as well. I'm not choosing to be either. But Palin's all-too-apparent and insatiable craving for the position of VP has revealed information about the many hours she gallavanted around the country prior to finally flying back to Alaska to give birth to her handicapped child. Not to sound cruel, BUT... if she had NOT already known of this child's disability, might she have made the wiser decision to STAY PUT and have her baby where she was at the time? I know I speak for many of the women in this country that would NEVER put all those hours in to travel, over concerns for the safety and health of our unborn child.
Or, as increasing information coming out reveals, was it really daughter Bristol in labor Sarah Palin was coming home to?
Let's all see just ONE measley photograph of an actual PREGNANT-LOOKING Sarah Palin in April! She was Alaska's Governor, for Pete's sake; there have to be pictures somewhere! Does she have some kind of Godfather hold over the state? I'd like to hear opposing viewpoints unburdened by predjudice or fear.
It seems kind of flaky that Bristol needed to be home all those months to recover from mono. If that were the case, it's strange that she managed to get PREGNANT while home-bound all that time.
Who was minding the store THEN?

It's simple, really. I am financially conservative but liberal when it comes to personal choice and beliefs. It's NOT like I give a rat's bum that poor Bristol is preggers. I don't really care one way or another. However, I do feel badly that her life is now such a glaring public fiasco. And all to save Mommy Dearest's rep. But vapid hypocrisy bothers me. DON'T state you believe in the monumental failure that is Abstinence-ONLY until marriage if you haven't even taught your own family members before you preach to our countrymen and women. I ask again, where were Ma and Pa Kettle when little Bristol was home-bound for MONTHS with a supposed case of mono?
The Republican ticket is a joke. I may not be 100% sure that Obama is fully qualified or not but Joe Biden is absolutely a winning choice! Honest and outspoken - I love that. If it means occasionally getting into a bit of hot water for speaking the truth, well, I'd rather see that then to regress into blind political correctness. That is where our media has failed us. Too much TMZ, not enough TLC... Kardashians instead of current events... you get the picture.
The only thing I DO know is that I would much rather take a chance on Obama for at least four years then four years of George McCain and Ma Kettle.
Oh, I could go on for hours but really, who has even read this all the way through anyway?
Yeah, yeah, and I can hear the "special", extreme right-wingers now...go ahead, bring it on. You're not gonna say anything I haven't already heard.

OK...I thought his choice of nominee was a slap in the face. He could have picked a much stronger, smarter, polished woman candidate. Yes, Sarah is a woman, a mother, and a leader...way to go, good for you. My issue is this? Why would you drag an infant from pillar to post on the campaign trail? Why would you subject a special needs infant to such treatment? Yes, as women, we do it all, we take on everything...but at what expense? at who's expense? Perhaps her message is that as mothers, we should be back to work 24 hours after delivery, or is it 4 weeks after delivery? what is it? Pro-life...hmmm it seems that is in conflict with quality of life. For those of you without adequate health care or inadequate jobs and benefits that must return to work so soon after childbirth...my heart goes out to you. This is a reality for some but the other side of reality is this: a child is paying the price.
The reality is this: there is premarital sex, right or wrong or we would not be discussing Bristol Palin. Lack of communication and awareness is evident in this family...how does a 17 year old conduct a relationship with a man nearly 25 years old and not get flack from parents. If she(Sarah Palin) is so conservative and Pro-life, then she should know what is going on in her household. Pro-life is not a license to breed irresponsibly. A 17 year old with access to the best healthcare, support system of two parents (supposedly, and good moral guidance should have a lower probability of getting pregnant outside of wedlock. This is a clear sign that something is missing in the household of Sarah Palin. Marrying the 17 year old to the father of the baby will not solve the problem in the Palin household either. The problem will still exist.
No, I'm feeling duped...we asked for butter and he gave us lard...What does this choice say about other republican women leaders in the country? Does McCain think we're (women) all weak as dishwater? Would he have felt that threatened to have someone with a stronger presence. he could have picked Heather Wilson or a host of other women that have more proven track records of running a family and their constituent's interests in their little corner of the country.

Mishi here in Utah we don't need no consent.

People, people.... don't blame Sarah Palin for this debacale. She doesn't even know what a VP does on a daily basis, let alone how much media scrutiny would come with running for the VP slot. Give the gal a break. Had she known it was a public office on a national level, I don't think she would have ventured out of Juno, er, Juneau.

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8969/1220293607509ba8.jpg

Mr.MCCain,"here you again". Lindsey Grahm

would have been a better pick

Shhhhhhh......whatever you do don't speak a word! We must not say anything about this because we've told we shouldn't. Why should it concern us anyway? After all this person who is running for VP could be the next President soon if the Republicans are elected in November. But....we should never ever mention anything about this subject matter because it involves a young teenage girl and she is pregnant and should have her privacy and we have no right to know anything or to say anything about this very extremely delicate issue!

Uhhh.......okay, but gosh! I mean, I thought that Governor Palin was a pro-lifer and against birth control and for abstinance. I'm confused here. Will someone please help me understand this? Okay....here's where I'm hung up. Does Palin think that it's just okay to engage in pre-marital sex at such a young age, without the protection of contraceptives? I mean...shouldn't I, as a voter, know how she feels about things like this? It seems reasonable to me to ask vital questions like this, especially in lieu of this latest development. Why is it that I have this nagging feeling in my gut that says to me that Governor Palin is somewhat irresponsible and probably not the greatest parent around? Could it be the way she handled her own pregnancy? Assuming she was indeed the one who was pregnant. After all, there are rumours to the contrary and this latest announcement doesn't really nullify those rumours. In a way it makes them appear somehow more plausible.

Am I condemning anyone here for this 'situation'? No, I really am not. I'm not condemning Palin or her daughter in the slightest. We are all humans and we all make mistakes. Some of us get caught and some of us don't. But basically what happens to us is because of the way we are raised and that's a fact. It seriously is a fact.

Psssssttttt.....don't tell anyone but I had a child out of wedlock when I was a teenager too. This is not a secret as I had it on my radio website and also spoke of it often on my radio talk show in which I spoke of True Love. I shared this information with my listeners and my fans not to make them think it was okay, but to let them know the truth and to help them to understand the consequences of what can happen when we don't follow the rules of society. I encouraged them not to be promiscuous ever. Now I'm not saying that I was promiscuous because I wasn't and I'm also not saying that Bristol was promiscuous. I have no idea what her sexual behaviour was like. But I will say this. I feel that I can blame my parents for what happened to me. Oh it was really my fault. Ultimately the fault was my own. I knew better. I really did! But the biggest reason I got pregnant was because the opportunity was there and the need to be loved. I had no supervision at that crucial time in my life and my parents were too busy with their own lives and work to wonder or even ask what was going on in my young life. I didn't have that "Leave it to Beaver" or "Father Knows Best" upbringing. Okay, most kids don't these days but the lack of moral values in our society today is not only shocking, it is alarming!

As for my own pregnancy, I chose to not have it terminated as well and was 'sent off' to a home for unwed mothers. My family didn't want me to marry the boy, who was too young to earn a living or to be a good father. The decision was reached by all concerned, including the boy's parents, that I would give the baby up for adoption. I felt at the time it was a good decision, even though it saddened me deeply. Unfortunately, when my baby was born it had an abnormality that would be fatal, within two weeks. When they informed me of his condition it was the most horrible news of my life. It was the first time I knew what depression was like.

The baby died and I went on with my life but I can assure you that it had a profound impact on how I would feel about this subject matter, birth control, teen pregnancy and family values for the rest of my life.

After I married later on (not pregnant I will add) I had two beautiful daughters. I began to teach them sexual responsibility at an early age, always encouraging them to use abstinance but knowing that there was a probability they would not, once they reached a certain age. At this age I arranged for my physician to give me birth control pills for them and when they reached the age of 16 I told them where the pills were and told them that if they ever felt the need to use them that I would prefer for them to do that than risk becoming pregnant. I in no way encouraged them to have sex prematurely or without being married but I wanted to do what I felt was the responsible thing. I told both my daughters that they could either tell me they were taking the pills or not tell me, but that I would prefer if they did. Now, to protect my daughter's privacy as I'm not running for public office, much less the Vice Presidency of the United States, I will not reveal if they chose to take them or not. I am only saying what I did. Neither of my daughter ever experienced what I did. The shame and the guilt and the experience of having a child out of wedlock and then the horror of having that child die. Another thing is this. I was there for them! And I was employed at the time as well. But I still was with my children and saw to their emotional needs as much as any parent I have ever known of.

I have no ill feelings toward Governor Palin and certainly none for her daughter, Bristol. I don't know if there is any basis for the rumours that the child known as Trig could also be the child of Bristol and as I have posted here before it would be of importance here in that if it was proven to be true it would also prove that she was involved in a lie and a cover-up and this would not be acceptable for the person who could conceivably be our next President one day.

What I think should happen here is that Governor Palin should quietly back out of this race for the Vice President and should go back to Alaska and take care of her family.

I think we, the American people, deserve a Vice President who is more responsible and more accountable and who will not threaten to take away the rights of women everywhere to use birth control as a means of contraception and also who would threaten to have Roe vs Wade struck down.

In ending let me also say this: God bless little Trig and God Bless young Bristol and the child she is carrying.

In fact I will go a step farther in saying "God bless the Palin family." But at the same time I call for her to suspend her campaign as running mate of John McCain's in the unfortunate event that they just might get elected in the fall.

If the last eight years haven't taught us something then we are impossible to educate.

We simply must insist on complete honesty and accountability in our elected officials and their conduct. And this involves events surrounding their families as well. When you run for Vice President of President you give up the right to hide things from the American people because it is so relevant to the way they would lead us as a nation.

It's really that simple!

~ Jazziette

It is difficult to discuss the human issues surrounding Governor Palin as a future Vice President without coming across as cruel and unkind.

Still, an individual compromises their privacy and that of their family when they enter the political arena. That is why candidates are supposed to be carefully scrutinized for skeletons in the closet BEFORE their names are submitted to the public for consideration.

The Clintons came to understand this first-hand ten years ago when John McCain joked about a then 17 year-old Chelsea Clinton, as he quipped, "The reason Chelsea Clinton is so ugly is that Janet Reno was is her father." (This incident is thoroughly documented by many well-known news sources.)

McCain later phoned President Clinton to personally apologize for this cruel attack on a young girl who was in no way a political figure. (I don't know if Senator McCain ever apologized to Janet Reno or Hillary Clinton.)

I initially was questioning whether or not it was appropriate for Governor Palin to set off for 60 days worth of campaigning, after just delivering a special-needs infant with Down's Syndrome, four short months ago?

Now I learn that the Family Values Republican Governor of Alaska also has a 17 year-old pregnant daughter, which would suggest that the child was having sex at least since the age of 16, if not earlier.

Unfortunately, a lot of children have sex far too early, but this is the Republican Party of Phyllis Schafly's Eagle Forum and all the Christian Coalition and religious fundamentalist folks, who along with Sarah Palin, oppose sex education in schools, which would at least give kids information on how NOT to get pregnant.

By the way, has anyone asked if Governor Palin's daughter's boyfriend was over 18 at the time he and her then-16 year old daughter conceived a child, and would this be statutory rape in Alaska?

Every family has challenges like teenage pregnancies, but would we concede that if this was one of Senator Obama's daughters being pregnant at 17, the religious conservatives would be publicly proclaiming that if Michelle Obama had been spending more time at with her family and supervising her children, instead of focusing on having a career, no one would be asking where were the parents?"

Are the soon-to-be parents now under enormous political pressure to marry, or for Governor Palin's daughter to deliver and raise this infant, rather than opt even for adoption?

At 17, is she really prepared to make a well-thought out decision, while in the spotlight of her mother's Pro-Life Vice Presidential campaign?

It appears that Governor Palin's reaction to her daughter's pregnancy, as to her own recent delivery, is simply continue spending more time away from home and campaigning for election, instead of devoting all her energies to her 4 month old special needs child and her 17 year old unwed daughter -- as well as her other 3 children.

And you must add to this saga of Governor Palin as a Family Values Republican, the issue of the Governor's sister being involved in a bitter divorce, with the news that the Governor's office had directed the State of Alaska Director of Public Safety to fire without cause Governor Palin's sister's ex-husband from his job as an Alaska State Trooper.

When the Director refused to allow his office to be politicized in this fashion, Governor Palin proceeded to fire the Director instead. This seems to be nepotism at its very worst.

I am sorry to say it, but "Trailer Trash" is starting flash through my head as this soap opera continues to unfold.

If it weren't for the hurricane threatening the Southeastern part of the US, would the news stations be doing a little more about covering this unfolding drama right now?

Does anyone not agree that McCain must begin contemplating whether or not to ask Governor Palin to withdraw her name from nomination?

To Mbruno and others who think that Bristol's pregnancy simply shows that the Palin's are a regular, down-to-earth, working-class family, let me remind you that the Palin's have three houses (McCain has 5) and pull in $250,000 or so per year (though, admittedly, they have five kids).

While the Palins may not have the educational credentials of the Harvard-educated Obamas (Palin has only a bachelor's degree from the Univ. of Idaho, where she went after junior college), the Palins are absolutely no more "working class" than the Obamas or Joe Biden.

Both Michelle (from Chicago south side) and Barack Obama (son of a single, 18 year old mom) grew up surrounded by real poverty, as did Biden (born in the "Rust Belt" of PA) and really had to work their way out of it by staying on the straight and narrow.

I do agree that Bristol's pregnancy should be a private matter (not the subject of mudslinging), but I completely fail to see how the misstep of a premarital pregnancy somehow makes a family with three homes more "working class" than the Obamas and Biden who all came from low income backgrounds and have all tirelessly worked their entire professional lives to improve the lives of low-income families (versus, say, McCain who supports tax cuts for the *wealthiest* Americans and the big corporations on the basis that it will "trickle down" to the little guys).

Mishi - Like most US states, the age of consent in Alaska is 16. So your collective foolishness about felony sexual abuse is uninformed to say the least.

I don’t know whether to laugh or vomit at the evangelicals. If Obama had a pregnant 17 year old daughter, the fundie wingnuts would be screaming that his own family demonstrates his moral inability to lead. But since it’s the GOP VP, they now gush over how wonderful a family the Palins are.

Sweet Jebus, deliver us from these self-righteous cretins.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE

Palin, the darling of the religious right, announces that her unwed daughter chose to engage in unwed sex and is now five months pregnant. McCain was aware of this fact when he chose Sarah to be his running mate. Now we know why the Republicon Convention was put on the back burner and we get 24/7 coverage of a hurricane that is going nowhere. The media would have interrupted the Democratic Convention midstream to make such an announcement had this been the daughter of one of Democrats candidates.

One thing the Republicons have shown over and over again is that they personally have no problem with the right to choose; that they do not practice what they preach. They choose to ignore the Bible, the Constitution, the rule of law, and common decency. Talk about freedom of choice; Republicons are the living embodiment of everything they oppose.

It's sad how so many people can so easily blame another person. How many of the people who read this are without fault? HMMMM???? That's right, ZERO.

Plenty of stay-at-home Moms have had their daughter/sons involved in teenage pregnancies. She's not anti! The silly claims that she want to monitor people's sex lives has been dispoven! That she walks the talk about expecting people to be responsible for their actions and then supporting them is being manifested!

I love how they say they are supporting her as they are about to stab her in the back.

-----------
FLASH FLASH

THIS IS ALL MOOT ANYWAY BECAUSE GOP FOCUS GROUPS ARE SAYING TO GET RID OF HER. LOOK TO SEE HER GONE BEFORE THE END OF THE CONVENTION.

Posted by: Anonymous | September 1, 2008 4:42 PM

I have a child that was born with a genetic disorder...And I carried her more than my wife when we where out in public. Why does the daughter always have this child in her arms and not dad?

If this child's last name was Obama, this race would be over.

Republican = HYPOCRIT

Yo, all you Goopers, less than 10 minutes remaining in the GOP's own online VP preference poll:

http://www.gop.mfbiz.com/#/newpalinbidenpoll/4530692820

Thus far Biden 94%, Palin 6%.

What a prize this pick has been!

Also, Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan are suppressing the urge to blow chunks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTbsbeY5k5k

Sarah Palin is ready to be President but is not ready to do a press conference??? And the media rolls over on that???
That's why newspapers are closing.

I feel bad for her daughter, I am more intersted in what Palin has done. They have some info on her at Veep Peek, About some scandal or something. Thats what people should be talking about. http://www.veeppeek.com

Hmm... I've been saying that all along. Todd Pail is the father of Bristol's retarded baby, Trig. Sex out of wedlock between father and daughter is a common practice here in Utah...I imagine in Alaska too. We need to investigate.

Look at the picture at the top of this column. There are some deep, dark secrets going on there.

If it's true that Palin let her daughter be statutorily raped by a much older man, she should resign her nomination immediately.

I don’t know whether to laugh or vomit at the evangelicals. If Obama had a pregnant 17 year old daughter, the fundie wingnuts would be screaming that his own family demonstrates his moral inability to lead. But since it’s the GOP VP, they now gush over how wonderful a family the Palins are.

Sweet Jebus, deliver us from these self-righteous cretins.

Sarah Palin should step down.
We should not make a spectacle of her daughter, I agree. However, we need to look more closely at Sarah and Tod Palin . Shouldn't both parents be home supporting their pregnant 17 year old daughter and nurturing their new son as well? A daughter needs both parents at her side helping her through this difficult time. Family values are trumped by political aspiration.

If someone gives birth, she generally can not become pregnant again until she is no longer lactating. The notion that Bristol had one child four months ago, and was impregnated again *five* months ago is delusional at best.

Now we know how Palin spells POTATO:

A-B-S-T-I-N-E-N-C-E---O-N-L-Y---E-D-U-C-A-T-I-O-N

17 year olds are not fit to be parents whether fiscally or maturity-wise or psychologically. This kid will live a much reduced life with a parent that is not ready for him/her. Bristol will lose her childhood because her parents didn't teach her well (like the millions of kids who aren't being taught well because of Republican policies) and this child will probably pass on the same flawed lessons to his/her kids.

The same, vicious cycle of stupidity, ignorance and inability to have straight talks about sex and contraception continues....

va2dc:
When I was pregnant with my first child, I was told to stay close to home as of 7 months. One month is not really premature, given that the 40 weeks of term pregnancy are a window, with two weeks on either side considered normal. Not only do babies come faster the more you have, but the pregnancies tend to get shorter. Still perplexed. Sorry.

Nice OReilly reference!! :) :) Waaay too much Kool-Aid being passed around today. Is there another news channel that actually tells both sides? Or should we just rely on the Communist News Network and MSNBarackChannel for our updates?

Chris....this one isn't that hard to figure out. Palin is setting a bad example for the country. At a time when it is hard enough to get young people to delay intercourse or at least use condoms to protect against pregnancy and AIDS, the undeniable fact that Palin's daughter had unprotected intercourse at age 16 makes it all the more difficult for parents and other adults trying to influence young people's behavior. While what happened is a private matter, Palin knew it would become public when she accepted the offer of running for the vice presidency. The voters will come to resent her making this private matter public because this is behavior everyone wants to prevent.

Quote: "McCain officials said the news of the daughter's pregnancy was being released to rebut what one aide called 'mud-slinging and lies' circulating on liberal blog sites."

Why don't they just release the photos, medical records, etc. that prove that Gov. Palin is the mother of Trig? Wouldn't that be a lot easier way to "refute rumors" and more humane to Bristol than drawing even more attention to her by announcing that she's pregnant? There should be SOME photos of Gov Palin in the maternity ward with Trig, right? People do tend to take photos of special occasions like that...

Would explain why the baby is mentally chanllenged...
------------------------------------------
We should demand a paternity test. How much you want to bet Mr. Palin is the father?

My question to the repubs? Why is this a private matter now? Should the government be involve in peoples' personal decisions and lives?

10 years' difference between sexual partners is a huge deal when one of the partners is a teenager. Our laws and the controversy surrounding this issue illustrates this. All of you asking why the father isn't being accused of statutory rape deserve an explanation. When behavior that can be defined as criminal in other situations happens in the circles of our civic leaders, it must be addressed openly, as a service to the public that the leaders serve. Daylight and transparency could work a little magic here, right Palin?

Palin should withdraw from the national campaign. That move would demonstrate that she does and can put her family first when necessary. It may also rescue some of her tattered credibility down the road.

The idea that she was even close to being a properly or extensively "vetted" candidate is laughable considering her political resume. Nobody knows anything about her ability to serve the public or what her judgment may resemble during a crisis that involved the majority of, or the entire country.

That McCain would choose her as a serious running mate cements for me that McCain lacks judgment and the mature logic that is required of the office of President.

As for Bristol, she is a teen who cannot see past the next few months, no matter how mature anyone may think that she is. I have a great deal of sympathy for her, and truly hope that she sees a viable future with the father since she now has very little choice in the matter. (any other option for handling the situation would offer dire political consequences for her mother - oh, there is never a "right" time for getting pregnant!) Bristol is certainly not the first nor the last child of a politician to be neglected by the politician-parent and railroaded by the political family. (enter Cheney's daughter) It is simply a tragic paradox that our highest level of public service involves such a grand amount of greed, selfishness and power-mongering.

By the way, "soccer mom" is another moniker for "soap opera mom". Palin may think that she is back in Fairbanks city hall duking it out with the other locals, but she is about to get a very large unpleasant dose of reality, as is her daughter.

As a Republican pretending to be a Democrat, I am saddened by the behavior that I would engage in gleefully if this were a Democratic candidate. I am shocked by the lack of morals that you show in pointing out the immorality of this behavior that I would find immoral if I did not have a high tolerance for cognitive dissonance, and if it were not otherwise in my self-interest. Shame on you for believing in what I believe in when it aligns more clearly with what I have done in the past. Shame, I say!

There is only one Republican sin, one either enhances or detracts from the flow of money. If contributions begin to dry up because it is felt that Palin has too many irons in the fire, she will be asked to fall on her sword.

I agree with Obama, families are off limits, regardless of the Conservative agenda to interject their positions into all families.

Uhmmm... this is a child molester! 26 years old? What is Palin thinking? He should be behind bars. Not marrying her daughter. OMG...
------------------------------------
The father is 26? It might be time to lock somebody up right? Just what's the legal age in Alaska? This was not the case of two teens having sex. It's a classic case of a cradle robbing, no game having grown man abusing the mind of a teen.

Where I come from he would be called a pimp and she would be considered getting ripened up for hooking!

As Rush Limbaugh once said Democrats hate hypocrites, Conservatives do not. His argument is that liberals have no values, therefore they are not hypocrites, conservatives have values, but are sinners, and therefore violate their values - thus hypocrites.

Obviously Rush is right that liberals condemn hypocrisy, but it is because they do have values.

I suspect that Palin will be supported by the far right. You can do what you want as long as you criticize those that do not share your values.

Preaching, teaching, and summertime beaching ... life still happens.

McCain and Palin can count on my vote as well as my wife's.

We should demand a paternity test. How much you want to bet Mr. Palin is the father?

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8969/1220293607509ba8.jpg

Trig has the same letters as "grit"

========

I'm curious where the name Trig came from. Downs syndrome is called Trisomy - is trig a reference to that? Seems insensative. Also, I am not sold that she had that child - despite their convenient excuse. The photo's and weird facts just don't support it.

Posted by: Tony | September 1, 2008 4:40 PM

I think I feel bad for Bristol Palin. Now she has 2 children to raise - her own and her disabled brother, because her mother is too busy running around the country seeing to it that her ambitions are fulfilled and her henpecked father is coping by escaping from a house full of kids and a wife who is never around.

Is anyone sick of right-wingers telling us that we despicable for being interested in this? Don't they realize that they put this all on the table when the impeached Clinton for...for...well, you know.

On one hand, I think this is a non-issue because it should not be of public concern(if there is lying, yes, but not the pregnancy). However, the republican party has demonized "sinners" and used "values" to sway votes for years. More importantly, they have used their "values" platform to harm/destroy "non-traditional" families. The Rep party cannot expect to run on "values" - and pry into the personal lives of others (even though they are the "limited gvt" party) - and not expect this to become an issue. It would most certainly be an issue if Biden's 17yo daughter was pregnant by a 26yo man. It's sad that her daughter has to go through this but this is not a problem that democrats created. This is a central republican issue. It's time gvt stops getting involved in (Christian defined) values and starts dealing with issues that gvts should address: health care, jobs with living wages, the economy in general, and peace around the globe, etc.

Tony I heard Trig is not Sarah's baby, but Bristol's. I eagerly await the next installment of the news to find out who indeed the father really is. I am giddy with the anticipation. But I aint queer.

sweladi:
I do not follow just fox news sir or mam! I follow the candidates own words and Obama stated on more than one occasion that he would cut the budget so I think you should be in touch with what your candidate stands for.
Yes your candidate Mr. Obama considers the defense of our country waste. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o84PE871BE
I believe this is Obama right????
I do know what I am talking about do you? Put the kool aid down and pay attention!

Hey there, I'm gonna post as Republican poster do:

So relevant, neocons bush/cheney and now McCain/Palin climate issue deniers get a hurricane to cancel their Convention first day....

Neocons and evangelicals against sex ed and sex before marriage see their VP Pick announce 17 y.o. daughter's off-wedlock pregnancy...

May I advise Bristol not listening to her mothers suggestions regarding babies strange-naming, I got two ideas for the newborn:

...whether it be a boy or a girl?

Gustav or Katrina?

First: I am sick and tired of "values" left or right being such a public issue. Our values are decided by the courts, for good or for bad, and as good citizens we abide by the them.

We should be choosing the best person to be our elected official. It doesnt matter pro-life or choice! Please, we face wars and economic issues that affect all of us. Let these personal value matters be decided at home!!! Keep them there!! And out of the Office..that to both you Liberals and Conservative Freeks!

That said...i have to say Palin is going to be a disaster for McCain. She adds nothing except appearances. Being be Black or a woman is not why Obama and Hillary do well, its because they are strong intelligent fair-minded individuals. Palin has a lot to prove in a short time to stand along side these giants.

first off if your going to attack something you have to have an understanding of it first. Christianity is not about being perfect. Christians are not perfect and we dont claim to be. We make mistakes just like everyone else but we try to learn from them. second it was her daughter not her, Gov. Palin must be a horrible person just like every other woman who works hard in this country who has children, according to the garbage im reading above? Third Obama has no executive experience.If Mccain Passes away while in office Palin would take over, well if Obama gets elected how old is he nobody is going to need to die to show how much experience obama has. And the abstinence issue Maybe Palins Daughter used a condom and it broke thats what happened to me when i was sixteen and i have an artistic and athletic son who gets good grades. He knows the repercusions of having premarital sex first hand even with a condom! What I do is every summer i take him to work with me everyday for about a month to remind him how hard he will have to work to put food in his children's mouth and to survive If he doesnt have a college education! This election should be about the war on terror and our economy not abstinence and as far as im concerned Mccain is the war canidate with all the experience and the war should come 1st. We all dont need a plane landing on our homes and businesses or a bomb going of in a mall or stadium! Please correct me if im wrong but what does obama bring to the table on that end. Talk is cheap he talks about change yes we can change our military posture but thats not going to stop the terrorist from plotting there next attack we tried appeasing the rest of the world and obviously that doesnt work.and last the economy Mccain has alot of experience being in Washington for a long time so he has the credentials and ask yourself what is causing the problem with the economy. HIGH GAS PRICES Palin is from Alaska and wants to tap into the large amount of fuel we have up there wouldnt that lower fuel costs. Who always votes against drilling in ANWAR Republicans or Greenpeace.
To sum this isssue up, the less money that you are spending on gas, groceries, and every thing else that has gone up since gas prices have risen, you would have more money to possibly put into educating your children (yourselves?) Isn't that part of the definiton of a parent? Possibly you could use that money to begin low cost seminars with other teens and parents alike. Therefore electing McCain/Palin the economy most probably will take a turn in the right direction!

Please, don't blame dems for going after this story. You need to place the blame exactly where it should lie, on the mother! Dems are not being mean to poor little Bristol, Her mother is the one who brought this upon her. No acceptance of the VP nomination and nobody knows who Bristol is. A 26 year old had sex with a 17 year old...and they have been dating for 3 years? I can only say that our possible VP is a very bad person for forcing this embarrassment upon her daughter.

I love my child much more than that and no matter what...my child and family come before anything else in this world. I am a very liberal person but my family values are in tact (surprise). Where are your family values at Mrs. Palin?

PLEASE STOP!!
None of the personal lives of any of the candidates should really matter to anyone BUT them. This country is so SOAP OPERA oriented that there can't be any aspect of a famous person that isn't put under the microscope. We should be electing our President and his Vice as if this country were a multi-faceted company and we are HIRING a CEO!
I ask you, does it really matter to you or anyone in your company what the BOSS does in his personal life? Didn't think so... As long as the run the company in a legal and ethical way, the employees have what they need to thier jobs and are treated fairly- Do you really care about his life OUTSIDE of the office?
A person can be of so called "unmoral" character, but if they do thier job well and do not bring that to the office, most times you don't even know.
Shine that spotlight on your own family and see what jumps into the shadows, treat them the way you would want to be treated. It's an old lesson, but one everyone has seem to have forgotten.
We are ALLL HUMAN and therefore not one is perfect, so stop criticizing and look at the real issues at hand. This is not a soap opera, no one being elected is going to have a beer with you or stop to help you change your tire. They are elected to:RUN THE COUNTRY. End of story.

Hmmmm, the men from "To catch a predator" only talked or thought about having sex with a minor and they ended up with lives ruined and in jail. This 23 year old man actually porked a 14 year old night after night and gets to marry her and have a governor as mommy-in-law. Where is the justice in this? Let the predators marry the 18 year old decoy, I SAY!

A parent (fathers included) who would knowingly subject her teenager to this sort of scutiny for personal gain - family first, right?

By addressing access to quality moose meat for all Americans, McCain/Palin can divert this negative attention and address a pressing issue at the same time - a win win.

A bonus is if they could have Gustav first responders eating moose burgers by tomorrow. Triple play!

FLASH FLASH

THIS IS ALL MOOT ANYWAY BECAUSE GOP FOCUS GROUPS ARE SAYING TO GET RID OF HER. LOOK TO SEE HER GONE BEFORE THE END OF THE CONVENTION.

Are these crazy people from MOVEON.org???

Not an issue.

Independent Voter for McCain/Palin!

Sarah nor McCain, have made any claims to being perfect or the "Messiah". They are human being with human lives. Yes they have ideals, and beliefs, but that doesn't mean that they or anyone else for that mater can always live up to them. Life is filled with failures and successes, we often learn what is true and important by trying the wrong thing first. I believe in the ten commandments, it doesn't mean I have never broken them, nor does it mean that once broken that commandment is no longer true. The opposite any time I have broken a commandment I have come to understand why it is true and work even harder not to break it again in the future. The internet is filled with stone throwers, you all love to attack, flame and bomb others, I am sure plenty will do so to me for posting this. I feel sorry for those who have anger, and hate in their hearts, and who feel the need to try and tear others down. The irony of the left is they always say they care about the poor, women, those who are in difficult circumstances, but it doesn't seem to apply if those people are conservative. I am a bit shocked at how they are wanting to tear down this woman. If you don't like her positions on issue give a counter, but quit attacking the person for being human.

I aint here to be your jesus Bill take up your own sins with the almighty. Carry your own cross you free loader.

McCain's first "presidential" decision was to pick his running mate. He waited to the last minute on a decision that he had months to prepare for. In the end, he made an impulsive choice, a choice that was easily categorized as risky. Now it appears to have been a mistake for a variety of reasons including this present "soap opera" on the family values level. On a more basic level, Palin is not qualified to serve as the President of the United States. One sees the defensive posture being taken by Republicans on this VP candidate, but to a neutral observer, the Palin gambit was poorly thought out and is very likely to do damage to McCain.

"In addition, Alaska statutory rape laws declare that anyone who is 18 years old or older who has sex with a person who is 16 or 17, or who is at least three years younger than the offender, can be charged with sexual abuse in the third degree. This is also a felony."

all ya all a bunch o fools....

She makes the case for a conservative position, no gay marriage, eliminate roe v wade, teach creationism but all of her moral positions lead to her daughter being a teen-mother - not the lesson I want my kids to learn thank you very much. How about personal responsibility for their actions, how about facing reality instead of letting an imaginary god solve the problem? I'm certain that god will look out for the Palins and prevent any bad stuff from happening like teenage pregnancy or say world war three! I for one dont want to see someone willing to stake her childs health on god making decisions that effect my life and family.

I'm curious where the name Trig came from. Downs syndrome is called Trisomy - is trig a reference to that? Seems insensative. Also, I am not sold that she had that child - despite their convenient excuse. The photo's and weird facts just don't support it.

The majority of you saddened me. Are we so shadow as to focus on Bristol instead of expending energy on discovering the voting record of Sarah Palin? Are we so shadow that sex is selling here rather than the philosophy of Sarah Palin? We have had number of Presidents with active libidos - Teddy Roosevelt had a children out of wedlock, FDR had his mistress, JFK had his "honey" & Clinton certainly wasn't an angel.
What message are you all sending to single moms and girls that find themselves pregnant...get rid of it!
Focus people...focus. This is a political race not a "who's in your bedroom" race!

McCain is either senile or dumber than a bag of rocks...

"The Republicans have bragged that Palin opposed the famous "Bridge to Nowhere," only to learn that Palin supported the project and even told residents of Ketchikan that they weren't "nowhere" to her. After the national outcry, she decided to spend the funds allocated to the bridge for something else. Actually, maybe it's more fair to say that coincident with the national outcry, she changed her mind. The story shows her political judgment, but it is not a reformer's credential."

"Likewise, though she cut taxes as mayor of Wassila, she raised the sales tax, making her hardly a tax cutter."

"She denied pressuring the state's chief of public safety to fire her sister-in-law's husband even though there's mounting evidence that the impetus did indeed come from her. Ostensibly to clear her name, Palin asked her attorney general to open an independent investigation—the legislature had already been investigating. (I am told that the campaign was aware of the ethics complaint filed against her but accepts Palin's account.)"

"McCain's campaign seemed unaware that she supported a windfalls profits tax on oil companies and that she is more skeptical about human contributions to global warming than McCain is."

"They did not know that she took trips as the mayor of Wasilla to beg for earmarks."

"They did not know that she told a television interviewer this summer that she did not fully understand what it is that a vice president does."

Full story here:

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200808u/mccain-palin

Are you an Evangelical Christian?

You should read this, straight from Time Magazine--just printed!

"Sarah Palin is a longterm member of a group called Feminists for Life, which is not opposed to birth control."

Feminists for Life.

Not opposed to birth control.

It's rught there in Time Magazine.

The age of consent in Alaska is 16. Therefore no crime has been committed in the conceiving of this child.

Which is not to say that Christian conservatives are going to be hunky-dory with this news. John McCain would have been better off picking Ralph Nader as a running mate.

McCain - Palin, travelin' full-speed-ahead down The Bridge to Nowhere...

http://www.bgladd.com/McSameStore/McSameBridgeToNowhere.jpg

A Harriet Meiers Moment draws nigh.

This smells like the Daily Kos. There is a reason why we select 18 as the age of "adulthood". If your 17 year old child, regardless of the education and all the condoms and birth control pills you supply them still gets pregnant, doesn't necessarily mean you did or didn't do the right things. The moment and euphoria for someone of the early ages of puberty can be overwhelming - I mean Bill Clinton could not keep it in his pants even when he was an adult.

Where Palin and her daughter excels here, is they see the life created within Bristol as being more valuable than what most of you here consider worthless and a "punishment".

Bottom line, if you have sex (regardless of your age, knowledge or preventions taken) and get pregnant or get a girl pregnant, be responsible! Abortion is a cop out, plain and simple.

Christian Fundamentalists that want to impose their religion on others can't have it both ways:

Either, a pregnancy is a personal matter SEPARATE from government (as most Liberals argue), or it isn't.

Christian Fundamentalists want to impose non-medical/religious-only beliefs on people outside of their church in a nation where your pledge of allegiance means you swear not to do that. By advocating the imposition of spirituality into law Palin is forcing us to do something we shouldn't have to: to examine the consequences of Palin's religious beliefs on those of us who don't share those beliefs.

Christ was the first to advocate a separation of church and state when he declared "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s" (Matthew 22:21, see also John 18:36). Not even someone who Christian Fundamentalists believe is fit to run the country, who embodies their "Christian Values", is able to keep her adolescent daughter abstinent. If you don't want people to look at how well abstinence worked out for your daughter, do us all a favor, mind your own business and remember your oath to uphold the Constitution means real American patriots would sooner die than allow their or anyone else's religious beliefs to be forced onto others.

"This is probably a ploy to get Women and Womyn to FEEL SORRY for the daughter who was BY DEFINITION..a VICTIM.

Posted by: HILARIOUS | September 1, 2008 1:54 PM "

HAHAHAH omg that's funny because I'm a woman and I don't feel sorry for her. Way to generalize. What is she a victim of? Maybe a crappy sex education program?

"Liberals saying a woman should stay home and take care of the children. Will wonders never cease!"

"Liberals"... (thanks for lumping everybody together... would you like me to throw you in the same box as Bill O'Reilly and Ann Coulter... WHY ARE CONSERVATIVES CRAZY WHACKJOB, SEXIST, RACIST JERKS?)

"Liberals" are only saying that because to point out what a hypocrite she is. Palin herself has stated that she is "pro-family" and believes in the traditional roles of the family, having a father and a mother blahdy blahdy blah blah. The other "liberals" are stupid and don't realize the double standard of their criticisms. They probably would never have said anything if she was a man. "HOW COME MR. PALIN ACCEPTED HIS VP NOMINATION WHEN HE HAS 5 KIDS TO TAKE CARE OF!" Nope, never would have happened.

Bristol clearly had MORNING SICKNESS, not mono. Having had it with both pregnancies, I know it would be hard to cover up as a high school student. This poor girl, paraded in front of the nation. What kind of mother would put her pregnant daughter in such an embaressing situation? I have two daughters, and would never put my own ambitions before there needs. Sheesh.

As a Christian I have a set of moral goals that I try to reach and often come short of. I am blessed that thought the gace of God that I am forgiven though Christ Jesus. The Palin familey is not the Cleevers from the 50's they face the same trials as us all. I am proud of the way they are handleing it. I don't agree it is good to be pregnant and unwed but I do not have the right to judge.

The story of Palin's daughter matters in the same way that Eliot Spitzer's affair matters. The issue is hypocrisy. Here is the unknown candidate chosen over Romney, who clearly has the credentials to be President but was rejected largely because Evangelicals see Mormons as heretics, solely to appease the Bible Belt. Consider this. Chelsea Clinton has never been pregnant and Obama did not ditch his first wife for a rich socialite. What else about Family Values do we need to learn from the GOP?

Palin a real hockey mom??? I highly doubt it. Real hockey and soccer moms are with their children and guiding them to make right decisions. Not letting a teenager date an adult and get pregnant!! I am a die hard hillary fan and Palin is so far from Hillary so I would never vote for mccain. Mccain had a better chance picking Mrs Bailey from Texas that is 5x more qualified. Palin can't pertray herself like you or me or an every day hockey mom because I am not raising a teenage daughter that is pregnant by a man almost 10 yrs older than her. Palin is nothing like us.

I am glad you love her but as we speak in Minneapolis the GOP are running focus groups and she is running at a 2 to 1 negative.
The only reason they would even be doing this is because they are going to dump her as fast as they can.
----------
This whole story, in addition to being an outrageous intrusion into the private life of the Palin family, only reinforces the image of the Palins as a regular, down-to-earth working class family that has to deal with issues that many blue-collar families experience at some point of their lives. In other words, Obama's worst nightmare.

Furthermore, Bristol's story also shows that the Palin women have now chosen not only once, but twice to keep their babies in adverse circumstances where other women would have otherwise opted for an abortion. That makes them heroes in the eyes of the pro-life crowd.

The end result of the Palin baby story is that it will hurt Obama more than it hurts McCain. In fact, if the loony Obama cult followers continue to attack the Palin family on such a personal level, digging up their private life, Obama might even sink in the polls.

Posted by: Mbruno | September 1, 2008 4:32 PM

Wow. Chum in the water. For what it's worth, here's a website totally unrelated to politics with a story dated back in April about a random run-in with Palin in an airport. Apparently she was visiblly pregnant then. http://www.polartrec.com/node/3944

Maybe the slime over at KOS threw the speculation over who the mom is out there to force the issue on Palin's daughter's pregnancy. Who knows... Talk about throwing all the cards up in the air for the election outcome. The polsters must be salivating over raking in all the dough to figure out what all this means.

What a sick time we live in.

Ought to be a wild week.

Help me, I'm confused. The conservative right rails with moral outrage at the news that Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant, yet rushes to call Bristol Palin's teen pregnancy (fathered by a man almost twice her age, no less) a blessing and defend her mother's so-called family values and parenting skills. Oh, that's right. Hypocrisy.

I'm sorry but I think that a mother has a obligation to her children before anthing else. If she can't keep her own children in line how could she keep a country in line?

LETS BE FAIR! YOU CAN"T BLAME THE BLACK MAN FOR THIS ONE.LOL!

I'm out of here. Even the best of families have unwed mothers, especially these days. That doesn't make it right, but the posters here have no right to judge. Judgement will be done elsewhere. Or maybe you can get Johna, the warped pastor to judge again. Straighten up your own lives before you work on someone else.

Namaste'

So who is really going to be VP when Palin pulls out this week in order to be with her family 'because of the vicious left wing media attacks on her family'.

I feel bad for the daughter. And really worried about McCain's judgement!

Poor McCain, he was simply faced with a Dobson's Choice.

http://www.bgladd.com/McSameStore/McSamePalinButton.jpg

"Sarah Palin is a longterm member of a group called Feminists for Life, which is not opposed to birth control."

Straight from Time Magazine.

Did you hear that, Social Conservatives?

Feminists for Life.

Not opposed to birth control.

I just read it in Time Magazine.

Reading. It's fundamental.

I believe not only is her daughter pregnant but that this is bb No. 2. I've read and seen picts in the internet and they are right, there doesn't seem to be a single picture of S. Palin pregnant + she claims she took a plane and travelled to Alaska with her water broken, yeah right!
On the other hand, there is a pict of B. Palin with what looks like a preggo belly.
There is only one reason to try and hide that Trig is Bristol's baby: That she is expecting a second child!!!!!!!!!
Otherwise, wouldn't it be easier just to acknowledge that Bristol is Trig's mom but that grandma kept the baby so the baby could have more chances in life?
No one would dare to mess with them if that was the case... unless this is Bristol's second child which would prove granny's abstinence policies are really stoopid!

P.S. The younger daughter is hotter. Hopefully she will follow in big sis' footsteps. Can anyone say White house SitCom on FOX.

Work with me here: a wacky family moves into the White House and gets into all kinds of hijinx. Grandpa McCain keeps yelling at the kids to stay off the West Lawn. The weddings, wow, this is ratings gold. I wonder if the guy who played Benson is available as the butler.

Oh yeah, this is all Obama's fault

She called herself a hockey mom but has no problem leaving her new born infant with special needs and a soon to be grandchild for a possible job that will make caring for them someone elses responsibility. I'm not against mothers working but don't try to paint a rosey picture where there is none. Raising a child with special needs and a child with a child is not something to take lightly. To say I can do this and also be VP of the United States of America is ignorant. You can't have it all in this case. For people to say that keeping the soon to be grandchild shows her family values I say turning down the offer to run for VP to care for her family going through a tough time now would be true evidence that she values family. If she's really as good as John McCaine says she is, there will be other offers in the future. Hopefully for the kids' sake, Mr. Palin is a hockey dad.

Gloucester High "pregnancy pact" got blanket coverage from cable news. Cable news has allocated all resources to weakly Gustav and refuses to run a photo of Sarah Palin while reading her statement on her daughter. In contrast, cable news repeatedly ran photos of John Edwards while reading a dubious pregnancy story. Palin is a 527 Ted Stevens protege and all the bad news is being slipped out under the overcoverage of an underpowered storm.

Here is the one point that has not been made by the press.

One child is four months old with Down Syndrome and a second child is 17 years old unwed and pregnant. Todd and Sarah Palin decided to still be a part of a national campaign with two children who clearly need all their love and attention now. Am I the only one is bothered by their decision? Could you imagine what it must be like to be Bristol and have this news televised to the world?

WW Terry the Latins are a bunch of communists! McCain/Palin 08

Everything about this is astounding, including Barbie...oh, sorry...Cindy saying that the vice president in waiting has a great mind.

So, we have a 5000 year old planet, sadly god blesses us with children with genetic defects, abstinence is the way, polar bears are over-abundant, drilling is the answer to high oil prices, evolution is on equal footing with religious mythology...Please!!

Another country would be filing for reorganization, but we go on seeing this circus written about as serious. It is not. It is a foolish charade and the emperor not only has no clothes, he has no real critics in the journalism biz.

I still want to see hard proof that Trig (Gee, Mom, thanks for the great name) Palin is her son. She definitely did not look pregnant back in Feb/March when she announced.

This all reminds me of that scene in 'Tootsie' Where Dustin Hoffman takes off his wig, Bill Murray at home watching on TV: "That is one weird show!"

This whole story, in addition to being an outrageous intrusion into the private life of the Palin family, only reinforces the image of the Palins as a regular, down-to-earth working class family that has to deal with issues that many blue-collar families experience at some point of their lives. In other words, Obama's worst nightmare.

Furthermore, Bristol's story also shows that the Palin women have now chosen not only once, but twice to keep their babies in adverse circumstances where other women would have otherwise opted for an abortion. That makes them heroes in the eyes of the pro-life crowd.

The end result of the Palin baby story is that it will hurt Obama more than it hurts McCain. In fact, if the loony Obama cult followers continue to attack the Palin family on such a personal level, digging up their private life, Obama might even sink in the polls.

Only the Eagle Ch’áak’ family can make Sarah's kids and Family laugh!

Evolution of Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

Igu.aa yax x’wán

Ch’áak’ naax xat sitee

Obama/Biden Rock!

Look people, this issue, as other attack issues, is nothing more than a side note. This country is going down the tubes quickly because people are concerned with stupid, yes I said stupid issues. People who cast their vote based on gun control are redneck idiots. People who base their vote on anti-abortion issues are religious idiots. Lets make sure we save all the poor babies from death and make sure everybody can have their shotgun in the gun rack in their pick em up truck.

These are great things to possess as a country right? Even if they lead to the demise of the country? If the economy is not repaired we will cease to exist at some point as a nation or be relegated to a powerless and impotent excuse for a country.

What is happening in Iraq is plain and simple murder, torture, and theft. Lets get back to the real issues that can help our once great nation become the leader of the free world again. Our nation and our leader are the laughing stock of the world right now. That is not to say we have the worst government on earth but it is to say we had everything and let a disgusting, lying, war criminal take it away...steal it if you will.

Mary in CT -

The baby was born prematurely - she wasn't expecting to go into labor a month early.

Makes you wonder what kind of manager Sarah is.

She is The Deadliest Catch:

http://www.bgladd.com/McSameStore/GOPdeadliestcatch.jpg

CLEO
I did not criticize the mother for not staying home - BUT if you take the option of having FIVE children - SOMEONE needs to stay home. I am also surprised that you didn't mention the BUSH GIRLS in your history lesson. They have been an embarrassment to the US. Wouldn't it be nice for a change to have the Obama girls instead of the past 30 years or so.

When they say that Sarah Palin is 44, Mother of 5, should they mention grandmother as well?

Quote: "Bill that retarded new born is actually Willow's baby."

Again Johna, a little proof is required. You are some pastor. Worse than Obama's pastor by a long shot.

A few points:
1. Creating "what if" situations and telling people what their opinions would be is not reasoned debate.
2. Bristol Palin is not running for office. Neither is Obama's dead mother.
3. A Hilary backer who now backs Palin does not care about fundamental differences in policy. Really, they have one thing in common.
4. Experience matters. So does judgement, education, intelligence and leadership. We should weigh all of these things. So should executives when hiring.
5. Abstinence works if one actually abstains.
6. Foreign policy is not determined by state governments, no matter how close they are to borders.
7. "Hope" and "Change" are morally neutral concepts.
8. The U.S. Government and the Alaska Government are at least a couple of magnitudes apart. Like high school football and the NFL. Different quality of players.

FROM:
http://blog.laborlawtalk.com/2006/10/18/alaska-statutory-rape-laws/

read the second to last paragraph:

Statutory rape is defined as sexual activity – without the use of force or violence – with anyone defined as a minor. The thought behind these laws is that a minor is unable to legally consent to sexual activity. Statutory rape is so common in the United States that the federal government’s Department of Health and Human Services commissioned a report on this type of crime in 2004.

State laws vary slightly in terms of defining the term “minor” and in the criminal and financial penalties that can be applied to statutory rape cases. At this time I’d like to discuss Alaska statutory rape laws with you for a few minutes.

The age of consent is defined as 16 years old, according to Alaska statutory rape laws. If a person who is at least 18 years old engages in sexual activity with a person who is 16 years old or younger, he or she will be charged with sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree. This charge is a felony in Alaska. And remember, it does not matter if you did not force or threaten the other person into performing this sexual act with you. It is still a crime under Alaska statutory rape laws.

Any person who is 16 years old or older who has sexual intercourse with a minor who is 13-, 14-, or 15-years-old will be charged with sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. Again, this charge is also a felony.

You can also be charged with a felony – sexual abuse in the third degree – if you are at least 16 years old and you have sex with anyone who is age 13-15, or if the person is a minor at least three years younger than you. In addition, Alaska statutory rape laws declare that anyone who is 18 years old or older who has sex with a person who is 16 or 17, or who is at least three years younger than the offender, can be charged with sexual abuse in the third degree. This is also a felony.

Alaska statutory rape laws carry punishments that include imprisonment and fines.

Lol the funny thing is the liberals have been screaming the most about having a "regular type of american" who "knows the everyday difficulties of life" and yet when someone who at least somewhat closely resembles a normal person actually is nominated you tear them apart because they are not a democrat.

Face it; liberals are more concerned with how things appear and look rather than how they function. Face it you apparently want a rich, fake politician who gives a good speech but doesn't accomplish anything. You'll hop on the latest eco trends and use that as an excuse for being excessive consumers in other respects. It's sad when a majority of the wing of a political party has been reduced to have a group of lawyers make everyone give something so that you don't have to do or give anything on your own.

I'm exaggerating since a good portion of people are moderates but as a moderate I love the hypocrisy on both extremist wings.

It's very simple. Just have a blood/DNA test performed on little Trig to confirm who the mom and dad are. Why is everyone making this so complicated?

In my sate, the great state of Utah, us 58 year old men typically date women under the age of consent. I made my wife marry me when she turned the age of twelve and we have been happily married for the past three years.

"Let those without sin cast the first stone!" I thought so, no takers. We all make mistakes, and even Presidents get caught with their pants down. Isn't that right Mr. Clinton!

Welcome to the 21st century u stuck up people get over it, its not ur issue and definitelly has nothing to do who is gonna be better prez, Obama or McCain. In two days everybody will forget about it as it should not have been a national news anyway.
Look for real issues, not this stuff, no wonder this country is going downhill from within cuz we whine and care about things that do not really matter.

Cirly,
I would not have an abortion, so I would not suggest that someone would. I'm a single mom - yes, I made a mistake - my daughter was not a mistake. I made the personal decision to be the best mom I could. I gave up many things to raise my daughter and give her the time and energy and resources she would need to become an independent, responsibleb woman. She is currently in college on a full scholarship. She's multi talented and is adamant about honesty. And she catches herself saying, I'm starting to sound like my mom (as she grins.) What more could a mother want.

We make a commintment to our children, to our families. It's not liberal or conservative - it's loving.

My whole point was that Palin has too much going on to commit to her family and our nation at this time - when both are needy. She is too inexperienced. That is my opinion, which I am entitled to.

And Palin would like to tell me how I should run my life? I don't think so.

And McCain made the poor choice of picking her as his running mate = poor judgement.

Our country is in trouble. We need good, sound leadership sans the drama.

Tamara Lillie -

Why are you saying Obama will cut Defense? Where are you getting your information, FOX News? He has supported our soldiers and will continue to do so and will increase out military as well. McCain is the one who continually votes against our wonderful men in uniform. Please get informed before you vote or you and your son will regret it.

Lefties stirring things up? At what point are some of us righties allowed to question this? Does ability to parent count on a VP resume?

I personally support unprotected premarital teen sex, and would like to know how I could get involved. I would appreciate it if the GOP could introduce me to some of these lovely young ladies.

Posted by: dr | September 1, 2008 2:56 PM

Here you go! http://thebruceblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/sarah-palin-sisterhood-of-the-traveling-catsuit/

Maybe if Sarah Palin was focusing on being a mother, then her daughter would not be so loose.

Well, I guess Democrats are too classy to stoop to the level of the "Republican attack machine" or the "right-wing conspiracy." Democrats would never bring a candidate's family into campaign fodder, oh no certainly not (unless its a Republican). Obama is tired of the "politics of personal destruction" and wants it to stop (unless its a Republican). Sheesh, Democrats are such hypocrites. And the news media - their professional standards won't allow them to print drivel about a candidate's personal life (unless its a Rebublican).

What is the big deal? Obama's own mother was a teenage mother. It sounds like this wasn't secret at all. You can't possibly suggest that McCain didn't know. He rightly decided that it doesn't reflect on how she can do her job.

In Wasilla, Pregnancy Was No Secret:
"All weekend they had the decency not to pretend that they didn't know the governor's eldest daughter was pregnant. But they also expected decency in return, that I wouldn't be the kind of person to make sport out of a young girl's slip.

The fact is, regardless of what you will hear over the next few days, Bristol's pregnancy is not a legitimate political issue."

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1837862-2,00.html

Time to move on moveon.org bloggers. You are only hurting your candidate by attacking a teenager.

The Dems are in no position to criticize Sarah Palin's family. When Obama was 17, he was snorting coke and drinking himself into oblivion. Biden is a liar and a plagiarist. And as for Obama's statement that his surrogates had nothing to do with the internet rumors re: baby Trig -- if you believe that, then I guess I could sell you the Brooklyn Bridge.

Baby Trig IS BRISTOL'S BABY!!! Research this! Sarah is a liar. Do you fools want her running this country? You'll see that Bristol does not have another baby, because she's already HAD him!

The father is 26? It might be time to lock somebody up right? Just what's the legal age in Alaska? This was not the case of two teens having sex. It's a classic case of a cradle robbing, no game having grown man abusing the mind of a teen.

Where I come from he would be called a pimp and she would be considered getting ripened up for hooking!

Just think about it like this, if it were Obama's daughter that got knocked up we'd never know. That girl would be off to an abortion mill before the piss dried on the Clear Blue Easy stick. Remember Obama's motto for abortion, "If at first you don't succeed, put the baby in the trash."

Why is it that there are so many "white trash" comments being thrown around about Sarah Palin, but damned if anyone can say anything about the color of Obama's skin?! It must be because there's not a single black person out there that has had a baby out of wedlock, right?

I see no report (or I missed it) of the age of the father. What was the true age of Bristol Palin at the time of conception? Is this statutory rape? Is statutory rape considered a pass through by the Republican anti-abortion folks? If this is statutory rape, how come it is not being prosecuted?

A rather important point that the media has thus far missed--plus a new exciting option!:

It is impossible that the McCain vetting team knew about this in advance.

a) McCain originally wanted to choose Lieberman, Pawlenty or Ridge. He was forced to reject these choices because the *evangelical* faction would not accept someone who did not meet their criteria for their set of values.

b) Do you therefore mean to say that, in attempting to select someone who would satisfy these values voters, the McCain team would *knowingly* select someone who has a teenage daughter who is illegitimately pregnant? Utterly contradictory and, if known, would have defeated the purpose of the choice.

c) Therefore, we also now have the issue of the McCain camp covering up its incomplete vetting by stating that they knew what they obviously did not know in the first place.

d) New exciting option! Or--the McCain team *knew* that the 16 year old daughter of his choice for VP was illegimately pregnant--as they are now saying (so it must be true) but did not reveal it--until it threatened to reveal itself.

It's fascinating what people will do when faced with fact.

I love the smell of ad hominem in the afternoon. Smells exactly like panic.

Such hate mail from little people. Always remember the Latin word for left: it is sinister. You see the Roman's had it right about the left 2000 years ago. So hate on, get indigestion, have a heart attack and drop dead. McCain and Palin in 2008. Thank God for Sarah Palin.