Palin: The Pregnancy.

Bristol Palin (far right), the 17-year-old daughter of proudly fundamentalist McCain vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin, is pregnant.

Yes, the irony is poetic, and the GOP -- and the goose-stepping hard-right "Christian" contingent with whom an anchorless McCain campaign is lately currying favor -- deserve every bit of the crusted egg they are now scraping from their faces. Puritan-based moral fascism ("Thou shalt fear and forbid natural human pleasures") has never worked as a godly path for grownups, and it sure as hell doesn't work in raising kids. On a purely political level, watching the McCain Straight Talk Express lurch into the ditch on this one is flat-out comeuppance. As is watching the McCain campaign twist its tongue into a public explanation of why this privileged pregnant Alaska white girl and her family deserve our compassionate support (which they surely do) while a single knocked-up West Baltimore black girl and her kin remain, presumably, wanton and morally dysfunctional.

But it is Bristol and her child who will pay the price for these GOP moral gymnastics. Being a hormonally-active 17-year-old raised with a sexually neurotic version of "Christianity" that nurtures an outsized craving for forbidden bodily pleasures is bad enough. But getting pregnant at that age in the fishbowl of an evangelically "Christian" political family image, wherein the typical Washington solution of a quiet abortion is impossible, is a trap bordering on the Kafkaesque. This 17-year-old girl, who the McCain campaign confidently informs us will marry the father (doesn't that make you feel better?), has been effectively triangulated into bearing a child too early, and marrying far too soon, by her family's chosen political ambitions and their accompanying moral hypocrisies. According to CNN, the campaign was forced to announce the pregnancy because of rumors that mom Sarah Palin's recently-born child was secretly Bristol's baby. Sure, Bristol and her child will have every advantage that the Baltimore black girl and her baby won't. But the statistics on marrying with child at age 17 aren't pretty. This a girl's life, in fact two children's lives when you include the baby, that we're talking about here.

Chalk up another moral accomplishment for the fundamentalist right.

Comments

[Timothy]

Another politician unable to keep their house in order, yet comfortable legislating their flawed social conservative viewpoints.

Sadness.

Obama/Biden '08

[vmarsha]

This is unbeleivable, a canidate who is anti-abortion, pro guns, anti-gay and supposedly Christian conservative must have forgotten to teach her children the values she is trying to preach to the rest of us.
Someone please tell me where is John McCains black daughter. Does he think she is more of a deal breaker than a member of his own family?

[Elizabeth]

As a pro-lifer, I hope this will stir a heated debate on abortion by the media. Most liberal countries in Europe have a lower abortion rate than the US, mostly because of teenage pregnancies!

This completely crumbles their pro-life platform. Did they know this before picking her? Then they don't get it. Did they not know? Which one is worse? One thing is clear: the only republicans left voting for McCain will be the ones voting with their pocketbook.

[Polo]

How's that abstinence-only education working out for ya Sarah?

[Chris]

Sarcasam abounds. You can't be with your children every minute of every day. None of us are perfect. We have the right to vote, so ...just do it.. and leave the girl alone.

[Gene Penszynski]

Sarah Palin and Family Values ?

Heeeellllooooo ? My God what hypocracy..... and all the NAZI Goodesstepping Religious Right has to say is "We're all sinners" ?

So it's OK for G W Bush to send ten of thousands of American Servicemen to be killed or maimed in Iraq for no good purpose? It's OK to throw millions of Americans out of work and destroy their savings, pentions and stable family lives for 'Free Trade' instead of "Fair Trade ?
It's OK to torture people in Guantanimo Cuba ?

But I guess anything is OK to the Christian Right as long as one submits to THEIR agenda because "We're All Sinners" !!!! What Absurd and Moronic Hypocracy !!!!!

Maybe Sarah should just stay home and try to keep her other daughter from getting pregnant out of wedlock !!!!

[Agalag]

Whoa, now. John McCain was made aware of Bristol Palin's pregnancy prior to him choosing her for the Veep spot, and yet he still picked her. Now, as far as this fundamentalist stuff is concerned, Palin's family is a normal American family where "stuff happens". At least she isn't a hypocrite who has her daughter secretly have an abortion. Sarah Palin was a great pick and none of you Dems can believe McCain had the balls to pick her! God bless him for picking the ANTI-Hillary!!!

[one more blockhead]

This is serendipitous as far as RNC strategy goes. This family is Mr. & Mrs. On-Your-Street America. They work hard. They are accomplished. They are flawed. They are gorgeous. They are human. They love children. Plus keeping the wimmin pregnant will definitely appeal to a particular contingent of the voting public.

None of this surprised McCain's people. They just capitalized on a perfect storm of humanity. If you're already in the Obama camp, this has nothing to do with you. This veep selection is all about bringing in those on the fence for conservatives, those who may have found McCain too moderate for their tastes. It's all about election year strategy - not winning Mother of the Year.

[Michael R. Lane]

Yep like none of the left has ever had a pregnat teen.

Grow up.

[kit]

Rush Limbaugh would have gone bannans if Michelle Obama's daughter had turned up pregnant. The wingut redneck trailer trash would have been all over this story. MSM turns away and pretends it not ok to write about? How totally absurd. The GOP is going to choke on their VP decision big time.

[Redphilly]

Palin is carrying so much baggage with her she needs her own plane! And these(Republicans) are the people who rode Obama for months just for LISTENING to his preacher preach. Not preaching himself. Just listening. Conservative group my --- foot. With them, as long as it is about them, anything goes. Obama says he will not use it against Palin. Well, this is something he doesn't have to do. There are plenty of people who love him and want him to succeed who will do it for him!

[mike rucker]

i'm glad i don't have to fill a three-hour radio talk show today.

the wise man just watches in silence in moments like this.

the actors on stage will provide their own script.

mike rucker
fairburn, georgia, usa
http://mikerucker.wordpress.com

[Stephen Sockett]

I don’t think I would use the word “proud” to describe my 17 year old daughter’s pregnancy. I wouldn’t use that word if I knew that this would in a sense the end her childhood and the beginning of a challenging path that limits her choices. I would rather have used words that are more in line with reality, like “shocked, confused, saddened and ashamed, seeking spiritual guidance, etc…” This little political foray of Mrs. Palin is costing the virtual freedom of the one person you would think would be at the forefront of Mrs. Palin’s desire to give freedom. She has put her career ahead of the future of her children.

On an equally profound and fundamental note; what message does this send to teenagers everywhere? Why where we so upset about Ashley Simpson. I know she didn’t have self proclaimed Christian fundamentalist parents.

The world can’t be better off electing this dynamic duo of hypocrisy but it sure can be worse off.

[Vikki-Washington]

My concern with Palin after the announcement, was finding more regarding her background. Who was she to attract to the party. When reading she wanted to see "creation" taught in the school, I thought oh, she is for the conservatives or the evangelicals. Are they going to going to continue to be supportative? It's all well and good she's a hard working mom trying her best to raise her family. However, if wanting to bring me to the party, I have to look at what is being modeled. I'm not looking for perfection, but theres so many questions where Palin is concern for me personally. Look at it this way, Why would Alaska fans be quick to say this recent baby is not hers but her daughter's? Shades of dishonesty are/have been already associated with Palin. That's why it is so easy to pin this story on her and be suspicious of the cover story. This is not the first time.

[Steve]

Let me be clear here. Family matters are definitely off limits. You guys are despicable for even talking about it or considering putting this on the air. You guys are searching for reasons to tear down a good family.

"Let he that is without sin cast the first stone" All you CNN so called reporters need to pul the plank out of your own eye before looking at the specks in everyone else's eyes.

[radicalred]

I'm still believing that the baby Sarah's passing off as her own is Bristol's, and that Bristol's not 5 months into her new pregnancy. Look at the pictures of Bristol holding Trig -- she doesn't look that far along -- probably closer to 3 months. A lot of times, when young girls have a baby and their mother takes it to raise it as their own, they immediately go out and get pregnant again to replace the baby that was taken from them.

To save face, Sarah Palin now has to try selling this story of a loving family, supporting the decision of her child who has "accidentally" gotten pregnant and is going to get married. Whatever. McCain shot himself in the foot by choosing this train wreck for a running mate. Kiss the election goodbye, John. When you chose that corrupt ex-beauty queen for your VP, you showed the world that you don't have the ability to make wise decisions.

[Lyn Canon]

1st-Sarah herself eloped while pregnant at 24. 2nd-Bristol was removed from school for 5 mos for 'mono' which has been code for pregnant for a century. 3rd-I did the math and using Trigs birthdate as date of last period, Bristol would be 5 mos pregnant and you can get pregnant at first ovulation as soon as 2 wks post-pregnancy. 4th-prior photo of pregnant Sarah at 7 mos looks normal, huge, and pregnant, not non-pregnant as this time and mothers size increases w/ each pregnancy because of body 'memory'. 5th-baby Friday, back at work Monday? 6th-all the travel with fluid leak-flight attendants no clue she was pregnant-45 mins out of the way to small hospital out of town? Dr. no longer at that hospital-Medical Director one day gone the next-all info re him scrubbed? No listing on hospital births for that day. Yesterday, I saw on Alaska news site old article from 12/07 w/ Bristol looking pregnant-Mom not, Today SAME article was updated and now shows 12/06 photo date? Saw it w/ my own eyes. Other article showed same photo yesterday, but different photo-same clothes 12/07 date today. Date not changed, but photo w/ Bristol standing behind sister is now there since yesterday-in comments someone noted that every comment was since 8/29-none from when article originally posted-bizarre. Thing that BUGS me the most other than 12 hr thorough scrub that is pretty scary, BUT anyone happen to think about this...Bristol home w/ mono for 5 mos-friends all say they weren't allowed to see her-contagious. Mom is pregnant at home w/ kid w/ mono and doesn't get it or mention concern about baby safety? Now THAT is weird. Also, in Feb. Bristol was in a traffic accident-other car was cited-Bristol was driving though-uh-with mono? 5 mos case of mono the fatigue and vertigo would be significant and NOT able to drive. So...if Bristol 'miscarries' we know she wasn't pregnant. If she has a normal size baby before end of year, she was likely pregnant before Trig was born & Trig isn't hers, if it's in 2009, Trig could easily be hers also. Time will tell folks, but this does NOT look good for Palin. I ache for Bristol for being in the middle of all this deception and MASSIVE internet scrub-wow. It's 1984 in 2008. Scariest thing I've ever seen.

[John]

There are people dying and losing homes in the gulf coast and all you guys can talk about is Palin's Daughter. There is no way you can call yourself a legitimate News organization. Did you even talk about the Biben scandal during the DNC? Give me a break and do some real reporting.

[Carl, Lynchburg VA]

Who gives a crap about Palin's daughter. You guys are just ticked off because you didn't know. Why don't you get to the news that is important for us. Obama's right. His children and the rest of the candidate's children should be off limits. Reporters need to get a life. Your priorities are all screwed up. You slant your stories to decide what is important to us. And you think the campaigns slant their stories for their benefit. You guys top all campaigns.

[Carol Gray]

As a mother and grandmother I question that Sara Parlin is being a mother with love and devotion for her children and future grandchild. She has a baby who needs to have her love and care. A daughter, Bristol, who will need her more than ever. She is a child having a child. Sara Parlin should put her children first and the love for her family. Their is nothing wrong with taking a step back and put the family first and show you are the great mother that you say that you are. Sara Parlin is young enough to have a long career in the future in the Republican Party.

[Giovanny]

ok so where were the parents when the 17 yr old daughter was having sex (and who knows when she started having sex)where was the parental guidance and communication? How can a woman like Sarah Palin be an asset to the McCain camp when she can not even take care of her own much less take care of the issues of the country
this is certainly a matter of Ironic proportions.

[Lyn Canon]

Oh yeah, I have one other question maybe some of you right-wingers can answer for me. How is it 'right' that someone so adamantly pro-life is such an avid hunter killing animals for sport? A Caribou's life isn't valuable? You can try to mandate that a woman who is raped has to endure having a baby and all the emotional scarring that goes with that because a life is a life and she has no right to end it, but a Caribou or any other animal is fine to slaughter any time you want? Twisted. Explain this to me please!!

[Renessa Friday]

I have to say something about this. Gov Palin is a mighty fine lady with firm belifes. What her family is going through should not reflect on her issues in politics!! Timothy your post was uncalled for. She keeps her house in order! NO matter how much you teach your children right from wrong teenagers are going to do what they want. So as a teenager you never did anything wrong? This just shows that they are just like the rest of us and have issues that they have to face. Everyone of you must live in a glass house right?? I believe in her and McCain and think that they will do a great job. Get a life and worry about your own door steps and this would be a better place to live. OMG you dont even know this famliy yet you want to throw stones at them. So I guess any of you that may have teenagers they have walked that straight line and NEVER did anything wrong RIGHT?? How about you sharing your lifes story for all to read and see what people post about you. No one is perfect, teenagers get in situation like this day to day. Back off of this for God's Sake and worry about your own selfs!!

[Joel]

This is a perfect example of why Christian Fundamentalism is problematic at best. Mom has no idea how to talk to daughter about safe sex issues, because mom is blinded to her daughters true desire to be sexually active...what church loving daughter would do that? After all, it is sinful to have premarital sex, so why talk about it? Now we have yet another teen pregnant and being coerced to birth the child, because she will burn in hell if she decides to focus on her own future instead of raise a child even though she is child too. However, its okay, because she is going to marry the guy who she does not love and live a lie for several years. Of course, this is the penance she must pay for having premarital sex...right? Her situation is ludicrous, but now imagine the average teen who comes across this issue--struggling financially; no baby's father around; possibly raped. Regardless, if it doesn't make sense, then treat it as such. Evangelicals and alike are living a fantasy of the past that should stay in the past. These issues make their God seem like a confused and less perfect fellow. The same goes for their extreme views on gay rights.

[one more blockhead]

Redphilly, Obama was quick to point out his own mother was 18 when she had him.

Besides, conservatives are all in favor of making more conservatives, one way or another.