Agree or Disagree: News of Sarah Palin's daughter's pregnancy is relevant to the presidential campaign

Standards are what we strive to live for. Real life sometimes comes out differently. Accidents happen. Some choices are just plain life changing and dumb. But it doesn't make Palin disqualified to be VP. Standards "pertain" to everyone.

So let me get this correct. You have never ever heard of a 17 year old getting pregnant? In what ways does this damage Sarah Palin? Let me explain something to you. Children are taught many things from parents. However, as every one of you know (even though you may not admit it), some lessons are always learned by experience. You can teach and guide a child but at some point they must make decisions for themselves. Sometimes they make the correct decision, sometimes they make the wrong decision. If you have children you already have learned this. If you do not have children think back to when you were a child. You all should be ashamed as Americans and Human Beings in general to drag a 17 year old child into politics. Do any of you have morals and understanding?

I personally think the major tragedy is that everyone is willing to drag a child through the ringer just to try and advance their political views. I will not vote for Obama in this upcoming election but he really earned my respect when he said that families should be left out of politics, especially the children. Now we just need to find people and news agencies with the dignity to listen.

I had the greatest mother in the world that taught me all about sex and being careful from the day I had asked. I still had sex at a very young age and could have ended up in the same situation as this giril at NO FAULT to my parents and they way they raised me. I was just lucky. Just because this girl is pregnant does not reflect her parents skills on setting standards. She's 17-she's having sex. It happens. What people should be proud of is that in situations like this that DO HAPPEN is she is being an adult, taking responsibility and her family is being so supportive of her. That is becoming so rare and I applaud them all. I'm not a teenage mother, and I'm not republican-just wanted to put that out there.
Why can't everyone look at the good out of this instead of judging a family so obviously full of love and support for one another?

So typical that the liberals point the finger without even understanding the point.

Briton Palin is pregnant - and she has a high profile mother. Is it a big deal? Yes.

Why? Because she has her family's support - and the strength of moral foundation to have the baby and not take the easy way out by having an abortion - you know - like Obama said he wouldn't want to "punish his daughters with a baby?" That points to his votes in the Illinois Senate against protecting babies born alive after a botched abortion.

Palin's belief and stand? She had a child she knew had Down's - and supports her daughter in having the child she conceived.

The case is quite clear for me - life vs. death.

bwatkins we didnt drag a young lady out into this her mother did when she decided to get in the public eye it comes with politics I have seen personal attacks on family ever sense I can remember and it has aways came from the republican party so if you wish to jump into the ring you best be ready.

My concern is a mother, knowing her daughter's situation, would subject her to worldwide press. Wouldn't it show better judgment to pass on the VP offer? It appears that running for VP is more important to Palin than what this circus might be doing to her daughter.

thank you John you do understand its to bad the right wing just doesn"t get it. If she doesn't know whats going on in her own house how can she keep up with Washington?

The issue at hand is that Palin would not support anything other than abstinence for sex ed. If teenagers were taught proper sex ed, and proper birth control methods her daughter might not be in the situation she is in. Extensive sex ed and affordable birth control could wipe out the entire abortion debate if applied correctly. Better to prevent unwanted pregnancy to begin with than have an unwed teen mother.

As a legal issue, the man who had sexual relations and ultimately impregnated Bristol Palin is said to be a 26 year old MAN! I think that constitutes statuatory rape doesn't it? Consent or No Consent, that is statuatory rape!!! It is not myself or anyone else passing judgement, it is THE LAW OF THESE UNITED STATES of AMERICA.

To Bwatkins, the only ones dragging this girl through the ringer to advance their political career are her parents, Gov. Sarah Palin and "the First Dude". This is NOT a representation of the core FAMILY VALUES which the conservative, republican party bases itself on. Practice what you Preach, and if you are incapable of doing so then choose a pew, sit down and listen to and vote for one who does...Barack Obama preached leaving families out of public scrutiny, and he is proving to be a great practicioner!!!

Barack Obama and Joseph Biden for President/Vice-President, what a welcome change it will be!!! from TEXAS - sadly, the home of George W. Bush.

Well, Bristol is 5 months pregnant - it seems her mother DID know what was going on. As to "how could her mother put her through this..." - please. The Palin's are a strong family - and they support Bristol.

Why should the right choice be forsaken because of pregnancy? Did Bill Clinton think before he put his family through their ordeal? What about Kennedy's pecadilloes? Did he check with Jackie? No and no.

So, the liberals want to exclude Palin because her daughter got pregnant? What if Chelsea had? Would that mean that Bill would have stepped down?

Stop with the double standard and stupidity.

Really? This poor girl has a tough road ahead of her. As a parent, I know my children don't always listen to me. They have their own opinions, and, although I don't always agree, I am proud of the fact they aren't "sheep", they think for themselves! I think the only people whom didn't have sex at 17 AND are able to keep their children from doing anything they don't want them to do, can comment. Otherwise, you're a hypocrite. BTW, do you use a shock collar and an implanted GPS chip on their person to control them or do you just follow them everywhere they go?

Amen! I'm sure Bristol feels horrible. Can you imagine being 17, pregnant, unmarried, and thrust into the national spotlight? How could her mother put her through this knowing what would happen? Looks like she put her own political ambitions in front of her family/children.

"The first dude" That's a good one!! That fits him all too well. I wonder why we have not heard him speak. I think there's a reason for that. I think it best that he stick to his ice fishing and snow mobiling.

Having standards and failing to meet them is better than having no standards at all!!!

It's funny how all of the folks that run out and by US Weekly to read about the private lives of Brad and Angelina's children now don't want the "celebrity" spotlight on the Pavin family. She opted to have her entire family vetted, just as Obama's family has been vetted (American and Kenyan). I'm an independent voter and I'd like to know what social inferences are out there before I make up my decision. I'm tired of the hypocrisy of political leaders, especially those that preach for one thing but hide the very thing they preach against.

When I first read this story last week, that McCain had picked her as his running mate -- I knew NOTHING about her and knew that he had just committed political suicide. Now that we're getting to know more...the forecast isn't any brighter.

At the end of the day the only thing that matters is the G.O.P's platform on "family values" and the persecution of those who choose different choices. America is all about choices: marriage, family, lifestyle and occupation. I'm concerned with Gov. Palin's record on those issues and how they affect the American family and the choices they can make. If Gov. Palin believes that abstinence only is what should ONLY be taught in schools that affect me and my family. Thus, putting into practice her philosophy and what was her families outcome informs me of whether her decision was right or wrong for my family. I don't want a daughter of mine having her future limited because she didn't have the right information to make an informed choice. Gov. Palin's position on education is too extreme for me. As an example, Gov. Palin believes in teaching intelligent design even though the courts have stated that it violates the separation of church and state. I want a Government that upholds the law, not one that wants to violate it. Let me make my own choices! I choose hope over fear, challenge over status-quo. I choose to vote for Obama/Biden because I want my future to have choices not fear if I make a different choice than the "family values" party.

Couldn't have said it better than you!!!!! Very good arguments!

let's see if this time line is correct.

Sarah Palin's daughter was taken out of school the last three month of the school year because she had mono.

If she is 5 months pregnant, as stated, how did she get pregnant, while at home, suffering from mono?

it's not an accident when you don't teach sex education. Kids know what sex is and that it feels great, however they don't know the consequences.

And what's worse, even if McCain got elected I had still hoped for an eviction of the West Wing "puppet masters". But since those are the same people who forced this VP choice on him, his election would surely be four more years of the same.

I just can't take it anymore!

Ignorance and special interests will destroy this country! There are just a few good ones left and the media and some democrats will do anything in their power to destroy them, their families and what is left good of this country. I am a legal immigrant, naturalized citizen and I love and appreciate this country. Too many of us get our information from the left, liberal TV and radio stations and have no idea what our candidates stand for. Do your own research and find out how are they going to fix the problems we're facing, listen to what the candidates have to say and not media's interpretation. Do your research and find out who is endorsing who. These are real things that matter... but, uh, I forget, we are sold on drama and soap opera. That is why Palin's daughter is more important than the fact that Obama's endorsed by, among others, the Communist Party. I come from a former communist country and believe me, today's candidates for the liberal party and some existing senators look too much in ideology like our former government. This is still the last best place in the world. Don't destroy it.

The attacks against Gov. Sarah Palin are ridiculous. She is an excellent choice for our country. Her accomplishments as Gov. set her apart from the lack of experience of Obama. She is the right choice at the right time. Palin has proven that she can stand up to the old school republicans in her state. Her motivations are in the right place.
McCain & Palin are great for America!

WAKE UP ROMANIACS LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPEN TO OUR COUNTRY WELL MY COUNTRY I WAS BORN HERE IF WE HAVE ANOTHER 4 YEARS OF WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY HAD OUR COUNTRY IS GONEEEEEEEEE THE FAR RIGHT WANT TO TELL US WHAT WE CAN SAY AND WHAT WE CAN DO THAT'S NOT FREEDOM THAT'S COMMUNIST!

Leave the child in peace and allow no more talk of her pregnancy. There are many other young females across these great states who are in the same position, many other parents in the same position - is that an excuse for Palin, NO it is not. It is an acknowledgment as a citizen and fellow human, that We the People, are failing our children and their promise of America. SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY IS NOT WORKING!!! Abortion will ever only be, not a man nor woman's choice, but a personal choice...for not everyone believes in the same GOD (a beloved quality of America and one of the principal reasons for its' establishment) and therefore see no justification in the conservative argument. A life is a life, I argue, but at what point does one life become more valuable than another? How do we determine such a thing...age, gender, social standing...etc? For all of the argument made by a pro-life advocate, the child that they save with their powerful vote is the same one they condemn to a lonely death in a foreign land with a heart full of terror - for, historically, it is the pro-life vote that elects a conservative war-mongering administration into the presidency. These young men and women are our children, even more so than an embryo...for now we have forged relationships, memories and spiritual bonds with them, and what accountability to pro-life voters claim for the death of these slaughtered children? Full accountability, for their choice, their vote and their election of an administration that diverted, diluted and exploited the a war against Afghanistan for self-interest gain. A great American once said of America, "...in this great country, you are free to swing your fists as violently as you please, but the moment you infringe upon another's personal space, then have you abused your freedom, then have you relinquished your rights as an American..."

If you choose to remain a pro-life advocate, broaden your horizon and advocate against the death of our children submitted to useless war as well.
If you do not want an abortion don't have one, but leave that freedom and right to the person, not to a federal/political machine.

I admire the devotion and dedication Republican voter's have for their party leaders, even in light of the obvious mistrust and destruction that has continually developed during the eight years of service spent and ran by the republican party. However misguided, (and that's giving you all the benefit of the doubt.) Our great country needs "honest" change desperately, not the same deceptive, outrageous, and don't forget "DESTRUCTIVE" politics we have endured for the past eight years, I know we cannot survive another four more, I'll take my chances with men, Obama/Biden who is not afraid to fight for the people.

Thank you for saying this so well. I totally agree!

I am surprise to see so many people try to defend teenage pregnancy. I am sure these are the same people that will jump all over the kid if she is Black and live the inner city.

Romaniacs,
Freedom can be defined by the number of choices we have. In America, we have many choices because we have our constitution and civil liberties. Did you know that G.W. Bush revoked more of our civil liberties than all other presidents combined? He is a Republican -conservative. It is not the liberals who are more similar to communists. I value all my rights, (even if those in government don't). I respect that others have the right to disagree with me, as I have the right to disagree with them.
Many right wing conservatives - Republicans such as Palin, would take my right to choose on a very personal and life changing issue away. That's not freedom! I understand that in communist China couples are only allowed to have one child. They have no freedom to choose to have more. Therefore, their children are not allowed to have siblings! Siblings are usually among our greatest blessings. No thanks, I'd rather be educated on issues and make my own choices. I don't need or want anyone else to make them for me. Take a good long look at the freedoms we have as Americans, and of those we have lost in the last several years due to the Bush administration. Examine the positions of the presidential candidates. I think it will become clear whether it is the liberals or the conservatives who most resemble communists.
I agree with J. Alexander from Texas, Barack Obama, and others who feel that we should leave this poor girl out of the spotlight. She's still a child herself. I'd bet she feels that her life has become a little surreal at this point.

I don't judge the mother or the daughter. But I still remember when the party was strongly against single parenthood. Remember Murphy Brown? How quickly things change when you want the votes.

If the Palins are so supportive and upfront as they say they are, why instead of the father, the other daughter, or even the youngest daughter not hold the newborn Trig. Instead Bristol held the baby at the VP announcement ceremony trying to hide the fact that she was pregnant? Im quite sure that didnt just happen.

Liberals...your diatribe would be believable if you were consistent in your opinions. You seem to have no problem with Obama being raised by a single, unwed teenage mother. Didn't she have the same shoddy values your trying to pin on the Palin's? Better yet, where were you when Obama admitted to cocaine usage as a teen? You seemed quiet when Gore's son was busted too.
Honestly my little liberal friends....most people gave up the personal backbiting in 10th grade. If you don't like Palin on the ISSUES...then don't vote for her....(my vote will cancel yours out anyway)....Just quit dragging the kid into it. It makes you look like the corner bully that has nothing of substance to say.

You are the most misguided individual I have had the displeasure of having read a dumb comment.

WOW! I've read through this list of posts and can only come to one conclusion. the 17 year old daughters of liberals are all virgins!

I'm still waiting for one of these people to tell me how the pregnancy of Sarah Palin's daughter has any bearing what-so-ever on Sarah's ability to serve as Veep.

I'm thinkin' Obama's mere 143 days as a Senator is of a little bit more concern.

Which would you rather have? A VP whose daughter has had too much 'experience' or a President thats had too little?

maybe you never had teenage kids .you can teach your values , but they are under eminence peer pressure. which in the world today unfortunately wins out.

I am TIRED of the right thinking they own family values!! I am Pro Choice and guess what??I am not some heathen looking to kill every embryo I can find. For my body and my family it would be pro life. I took tests when preg with my daughter because I was close to 40 and wanted to know so I could prepare but no matter what would have had and loved any child no matter the health issues. Also if she was 17 and got pregnant I would encourage her to keep it BUT I would NEVER encourage her to marry just because she was pregnant. Ultimately it would be her choice but I would help my child raise the baby and if the dad stuck around and their relationship led to marriage after a number of years and into adulthood I would be happy. but no matter what I would love my children and accept thier choices.
This, however is my view for my world. I don't fault a scared 17 yr od for making the choice to abort. If it becomes illegal do these right wingnuts really think it will stop abortions??? It will only stop the safe and legal ones and once again push the practice underground where babies and Mothers will both die. I think that 24hr rules and offering counseling on adoption should be a part of it too. But it MUST be kept SAFE and LEGAL.
PS...I bet if Mom wasn't running for VP she would not be having this shotgun weddin'.

Very true!!!!!

I couldn't agree more. How two-faced. When it's a pregnant, unwed, 17-year old who isn't strongly associated with the Republican party, or a minority, the Republicans and ultra-conversatives sneer at the minor and say it shows lack of morals. If the 17-year-old is poor or thrown out of a well-to-do family for an underage pregnancy (as my Father would have done to me if it had happened, which fortunately it didn't,) they get slammed as 'welfare cheats' because they need government assistance just to barely be able to feed both themselves and the child, and no other help.

But when it's one of their own, in a high-profile spotlight? Suddenly all the Republicans start cheering about pro-life. How two-faced of them! They'll put a spin their way on anything to get votes. >:|

Now that Republicans are cheering about a pregnant, unwed 17-year old, does that mean that derision and 'fallen woman - don't go out with her' slurs, from even the neighbors is going to stop? I doubt it.

BTW, it was the Democrats who started treating people in this minor's position as real human beings who needed help - not derision - to do things like finish High School, get a car or some transportation so they could get to a job, further their education beyond High School - all while having the task of the immense time and energy it takes to raise a child. They still didn't get all the Bills passed that would resolve the sheer amount of help it takes to accomplish this - thanks to the Republicans.

So now, a lot of minors in this position end up sinking down into extreme poverty and the mess this has made of their lives, taking easily a decade to recover from, if ever. BTW, I've known some who had something this unfortunate happen to them. In other words, seen what the consequences are for the vast majority of us when this happens.

Those who realized the consequences, before we had choice, had to run yet another gauntlet with dangerous, back-alley abortions.

Keep choice an option.

PS: I also agree that this reflects badly on the parents, especially the mother, Sarah P., talking out of both sides of her mouth on a number of grounds that others here have already addressed.

The policy is let the others fend for themselves. It's not only unfair, the Republican platform leave the vast majority of women (or men) with no choice. It's the Republican or the highway . . . just like they've done to allow only FIX news coverage of Bush for the most part.

They're burying themselves. They deserve what they get. On the one hand, children shouldn't be the issue, but (on the other hand) Palin's son going to Iraq is appropriate and teenage pregnancy is appropriate, but publishing all the congratulations to a 17-year-old for not practicing what they preach is appropriate.

You reap what you sow.

Normal Liberal Rhetoric. Her Mother did not drag her into this! THE MEDIA DID. Anything to discredit a Republican and to promote their Liberal Agenda.
Conservative Values have no interest to the liberal media.
Anything to DESTROY a wholesome and GODLY way of life. The girl got pregnant and is keeping the baby (not aborting it). If she was having an abortion YOU would then say that her mother's anti-abortion VALUES (not policies or Standards as you call them) doesn't pertain to her because of who she is . Elitist as you would say. Two faced is what I would call it.
No matter what, in your screwed up views she cant win anyway. That is what happens when you have a battle of wits with an unarmed person. What would you have her do now!!! Obviously she made a mistake and she is owning up to it. You would make a mistake and blame it on someone else. That's how liberals work. More regulations, because people are too dumb to think for themselves. Lawsuits, because it was someone else who actually was at fault. Take responsibility for your own actions. Responsibility never comes from a liberals mouth, and not in their dictionary (only when it applies to someone else do they remember the word).

PS
By the way abstinence as birth control works 100% of the time its been used!!!

Exactly. Probably the same republicans that wanted to impeach B. Clinton for having extramarital adventures are the same who say now that those are family matters. jajaja

just one question...if this was obama's daughter at age 17, or any other MALE candidate..WOULD WE STILL BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION?????

"Punished with a Baby!!" Good thing she's not Barrack's daughter.

So how many of the people responding negatively have teenage pregnancies in their own families? That includes what your sons have sown. And how many of you had your own teenage pregnancy? Let's be honest here, both liberals and conservatives- and the tween.

It is well known that junior Senator Obama is the product of unmarried teenage pregnancy, does that make him unacceptable? After all, he was later raised by grandparents? Is the character of his grandmother sullied for his mother's mistake when teenage pregnancy was truly considered shameful? Think carefully about that since contemporary liberals endorse unconditional acceptance and support for single parents, financially and socially. Stop and take a closer look at your own families and realize these are facts of life for all family relations, though maybe not every household. Who doesn't have some family member who is a single mother or an adopted child? It is clear that Governor Palin knows the real struggles of family and truly understands what many American families experience at home.

I believe in the candidates who support the future of America, and our changing way of life.

As to junior Senator Hillary, if she had dumped that bed-hopping disgrace to our country, either before or after he was impeached, I might have seriously considered her moral position as a candidate. In my opinion she allowed herself to be disgraced as well.

Get your head out of the sand. Think for yourself. Or are you a sheep to follow anyone who has a smooth line. The Dem's have nothing to offer except negative comments. All they want to do is attack,attack,attack. Remember their rating is a (9), maybe you should vote some of them out of office. So again get your head out of the sand??? By the way I voted for her when I lived in Alaska she has done a great job for her state

When a Democrat is found to have an extramarital affair and a child out of wedlock, the Republicans decry that apparent moral vacuum. When one of their own is guilty, however, all they can talk about is how brave she is. Granted, Bristol (WTF with the name?) is not her mother, but if Bristol had any balls she'd name the baby Barack or Michelle. That would take bravery.

Now, onto Mrs. Palin's ample faults. My wife forwarded to me a picture of her in an American flag bikini holding a hunting rifle while some teenager smokes a cigarette in the background. Ooh, another thing: her "experience". She has none, and Karl Rove lambasted Tom Kaine for being the mayor of the 105th largest city in the U.S., as if that's a bad thing. Sarah Palin's constituency is smaller than Kaine's, so by Karl Rove's logic, Sarah Palin is not qualified.

On Rachel Maddow today I heard that the head Republican legislator in Alaska said that the only two things that qualify Sarah Palin for office are that she's 35 and a citizen.

I am as qualified to be VP if that's the case.

I can't wait to see how all her "studying" turns out at the first VP foreign policy debate against Joe Biden. Good luck, Mrs. Palin.

Let me get this right, those of us who are perfect can criticize the youthful mistakes of a child, not running for President, but see no problem with one who is running for President and hangs or hung out for many years with several anti Americans with either violent actions or vitriolic speech toward this great nation. With the ever more disrespect for family, whether its the protection of traditional marriage, sovereignty in teaching our own children what is socially right, living our religion without interference, etc., a major revolt is surely coming and is not far off. I'm not hoping for one but are quite certain one will come and drastically change the plans of the secular humanists/socialists. A great man once said,"Ye who are without sin (having made no mistakes) cast the first stone of angry judgement". Many who support the socialist secular left along with some on the right live wicked and adultrous lives that will bring down the nation as terribly as a full scale nuclear war. I pray I don't see it and that the innocent will be spared.

In this case it is so true, Palin herself eloped, if you do the math her eldest son is most likely a child born of a premarital fling.

You can't have it both ways - teach abstinence only!! Because it clearly doesn't work. And this choice clearly shows that McCain doesn't have the judgement to be president.

He acts impulsively, and makes big mistakes. This woman was a champion of pork barrel politics until the feds started investigating Stevens. She has told so many lies - just more of the same Republican lying machine.

Family values tramped out on stage and then we are told hands off. It is not a condemnation of the child, nor of her parenting - but simply of her policies. For pete's sake - teach your child about birth control along with procreation. Teen marriages have the worst success rates in the country.

Those who are cheerleading her daughter getting married seem to forget this is most likely going to end in divorce and a single parent home. Remember the highest rate of divorce is in the bible belt.

We need a president who deliberates and takes to time to think. Apparently years of experience doesn't help us with McCain, here we have a delusional old man who thinks he will live forever, giving us the least qualified VP since Dan Quail.

CNN's Anderson Cooper argued months that Obama's spiritual leader and his wife possibly being or saying anti-American stuff should not matter, yet this does matter? The liberal news media is joking right? Do they really think that Americans are that dumb? It's OK for a Democrat President (Clinton) to cheat on his wife but it's not OK for the daughter of the Republican VP nominee to get pregnant before she is married? Talk about having your priorities out of order. When did single moms become "more evil" than an adulterer? Liberals simply amaze me with their "it's OK to kill a baby that did not die during an abortion but it's not OK to kill a convicted murderer". How do human beings begin to think in that process? And someone tell me, when did Nancy Pelosi become pope? I'm a Catholic and I did apparently did not get the memo.

Sick and tired of all the left wing extremist BS and the liberal news media proclaiming that Barak Obama is "the messiah", sent to us from heaven to create a utopia. Meanwhile they paint McCain as some crazy guy? The liberal news media can try to shift all focus away from Obama's bad points but the American people wont believe this stuff for long. Obama is friends with a lot of extremists. He is friends with a known domestic terrorist and the leader of the US communist party. Obama also praises Farrakhan. Barak truly believes that the US should not have any prisons. Is anyone looking at Obama's true self or are they just zombies following a guy that says "change" 1000 times a speech? Change can be bad too. When Obama raises taxes, companies will pass the taxes off to the consumer or their employees in the form of higher prices or layoffs. If Obama continues to not support drilling offshore while other countries are, the American citizen suffers. The funny thing is, Obama does not need to spend money on commercials, the liberal news media does a great job at portraying him as some sort of god. It's all pretty sickening that they believe the average American will not see Obama for what he really is, an extreme left wing liberal who would rather Iraq keep their nukes back when we thought they had them and keep our forces in the area patrolling that no-fly zone for next 1000 years. By not supporting our mission in Iraq NOW, the guy IS SUPPORTING TERRORISM!

Finally someone writes: about obama!

" AMEN! HE STILL HAS NOT ANSWERED THE QUESTION OF RELIGION. I REALLY DESPISE THE THOUGHT THAT IF ELECTED THERE WILL NOT BE A CHRISTIAN AS THE PRESIDENT. TOO MANY LIVES WERE LOST IN THE FIGHT FOR THE US TO REMAIN A CHRISTIAN NATION. MAY GOD BLESS US ALL!"

1. This is the common nonsense I hear everyday....why do you bring God into your prejudice & racist thinking? Christian nation??? Haven't you noticed, America isn't just a Christian Nation! What sort of Christians are you? Doesn't God ask you to love one another including outsiders? What proof should Obama give you to proove that he's christian? Be honest with yourself: Your issue isn't whether or not Obama is fully Christian, is wether he's fully American!

I was waiting for someone to say it, and so many people to agree with it! reminds me of a co-worker (who by he wat has a masters degree) who said "I voted for McCain. I just can't imagine myself voting for someone with a middle name: Hussain, its just too middle eastern for me". There's nothing worse than living in a box, I feel sorry for you! God forgive you, u dont know any better!

2. As we're sitting here, there people whose full-time job is to dig up dirt on ALL the candidates! thats how its always been done, its been fair game before, during and even after presidency for all previous candidates why should it be different for her??? Is it right to expose the candidate's private family issues? NO! But doesn't every candidate know that their past or present family issues will come into light as soon as they anounce their desire to run for President/VP? Palin knew the child's pregnancy issue would come up and she gambled anyway (if she's smart and cares about her child she must have a least thought about it!). Its just that now realizing how the scandal has escalated and disrupted the republican campain's main focus, She (along with her many supporters) are now trying some damage control where parenting skills have failed by "begging that we cut her some slack". I wonder, would you be cutting her some slack if her daughter had a drug & alcohol problem, be breaking the law, was gay/lesbian, wanted an abortion instead, or had AIDS? you want to identify with this woman, go right ahead! teenage pregnancy isn't nearly the only issues she will be faced to tackle in the white house, can she handle more? thats "my" question in deciding if she deserves my vote and i'm still waiting for answers. I've already made up my mind about McCain. There are real problems in this country, not to mention healthcare, poverty, RACISM / DISCRIMINATION, economy, law inforcement, education, global warming, International relations....the list goes on! There's always room to improve. Now that her character has been questioned and answered for, lets probe deeper and see what she's really capable of but also do it for ALL candidates and not treat her any different!

The woman is finaly in the ultimate spotlight which is probably what she's wanted all her life!!! She doesn't seem heart broken about whats goin on...actually the whole family appears to be smiling and waiving at the cameras. If candidates' private life isn't fair game and important, why did she make the anouncement, spend some time explaining it and then bring her whole family out in the open???? Because deep down she knows / we all know that we want to get to really know her!!! Every future president/vice president's character should be brough to the table and yes, it should play a major role in helping people critically decide who is fit to lead a country and not be based on some nonsense prejudice about religion or ethnicity! I say Bring out all the dirt ( and experience / accomplishments) on ALL candidates and let us decide!

Cast your votes smart, but with so many people casting votes based on thinking strictly enside a comfortable box, and all the major problems we're facing as a result of this current presidency that has been doing just that, Good luck with the future of this country! Need I remind you: McCain isn't 44 years young and exciting, SHE is! How will the governer of Alaska leading a small population measure up to the possibility of leading a whole nation? She has several children, and now SOON a grandchild. and unless she hires a nanny, her daughter (and her future husband) will both need to continue school if she wants her newborn to have a future. There's a huge need for a GOOD SOLID future that plans for peace and improvement in this country!

And by the way: I'm a 25 years young woman, no children, I have 7 very successful siblings, I'm catholic, I don't belong to any political party, I was born & raised in a war torn third world country and I now have a master's degree! how's that for parenting!?? My family certainly can't identify with her... But as a Citizen of now this beloved country, My vote counts for a lot and I'll give it to whoever earns it!

Peace / Vote smart!

How can this be a story for liberals. Where everything immoral and unethical is ok, killing babies, and loving and agreeing with the homo agenda, I could go on and on. If this was a Liberals daughter it would not be given a second look, because with most liberals after the age of 12, individuals have the right to choose when to have sex.

carmin said:
bwatkins we didnt drag a young lady out into this her mother did when she decided to get in the public eye it comes with politics I have seen personal attacks on family ever sense I can remember and it has aways came from the republican party so if you wish to jump into the ring you best be ready.

THIS IS A LIE. YOU OBVIOUSLY MADE NO ATTEMPT TO DO YOUR RESEARCH ON PAST POLITICAL ELECTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. The Democrats always attack anything that shows that a Republican candidate for any office may have questionable "family values". They do this because they know that Republicans are expected to strongly support those values, while the Democrats are known for temporary marriages, adultering Presidents, and "throw away families".

Same old idiotic Democrats who never use punctuation. It must be those government schools!

This child made a mistake, and is chosing to do the right thing. Unlike, oh lets see...Edwards who chose to pay hush money to cover it up and then lie about it....or how about good ol Teddy Kennedy who just left his "mistake" under a bridge to die. Or gee how about the conscious choice to raise your family for 20 yrs. in one of the most radical, hate monger churches in the country......gosh, appears to me this 17 yr. old has more values at her age then all the above will ever have in a lifetime.

Let's think about this. How many times have we given someone advice that wasn't taken. I think we were all teenagers once and have done things that our parents would not be proud of. I don't believe this situation should be used to pass judgement on Sarah Palin. I admire Barrack for his compassion on the situation. I truly believe it is genuine. I admire Palin's daughter for keeping the baby and choosing the road less traveled. Being a parent takes alot more work than choosing an alternative. McCain is a great candidate and I believe Sarah Palin is a good balance. Besides she has more experience at the helm than the other three put together, even if it only has been 2 years!!!

This is a highly sensitive issue for the young girl. She is not running for office, her mom is. So I think she should be left out of it. So somebody please tell me how this is relevant to the VP slot? I've read that "abstinence only doesn't work"... umm, yeah it does - provided they are truly abstinent. However, everyone eligible to vote should recognize the raging hormones and emotions that run rampant in teenagers. Teenagers make mistakes- anyone that denies that is a flat out liar. If this is going to be an issue, then let's start with the decision AFTER conception. This is where the true differences between parties are. Kids on both sides are going to do what they do... but the response to that is where the debate lies. Do you exclude the parent from any knowledge or input, as liberal dems would have it? Do you sacrifice the baby "for the good of the teenager", as liberal dems would have it? Or do you stand up to the challenges ahead, own the consequences, support your child, and keep the life intact... the way Republicans would have it?
I, for one, am tired of the right wing morality being criticized by people that have no clue what they are talking about. It's all fallacy and bias, based on their own desire to not ever be told they are "wrong".

The only reason that this is an issue is the Dems are disparate to cloud the real issues (the economy, taxes, Iraq, energy, medical etc...), and they can see the election slipping away. Add to the fact that Obama has zero experience working his way into politics by favors of crimmianls; but you don't see the mainstream media going down that road it's seems much easier to chase a child instead. Obama stated he has more experience than Palin while she was a mayor, did he forget that she is a governor or is he that out of touch? Why is he comparing his experience to Palin? She is number 2 on the ticket not number 1; oh I forgot he has zero experience and its easier to pick on a woman.

to kevmo ?Abstinence prevents pregnancy 100% of the time. How flip! Obviously, the kicker here is that this guidance wasn't followed (and clearly from the high rates of teen pregnancy rarely is). No matter how much you might preach to them, many teenagers are going to have sex. So what does that tell you about Sarah Palin? Perhaps her daugther should have been given other options to avoid getting pregnant? Perhaps Palin should have explained the rhythym method to her daughter? Or perhaps Palin should have told her daugther that if she wanted to be sexually active she should use other more effective methods of birth control and provided them to her? The likelyhood of the daughter getting pregnant might have been significantly reduced. One wonders, if Palin even discussed with her daughter that having unprotected sex increases the possiblity of aquiring veneral disease, most particularly AIDs? In ciew of all this, the fact that Sarah Palin wants to restrict the rights of others to protect their daughters by all means possible from unwanted pregnancies and disease is unconscionable.

Yesterday I was all for Palin's daughter being off limits. Today I am bombarded with pictures of her and the boyfriend shaking hands with McCain, being exploited politically. First of all you can not go around in places where you know the press is taking pictures and say leave the family out of it. Secondly What type of message is this sending to our young girls. Are we saying that fresh out of high school an 18 year old can provide for a family. There are people that have Master's degrees that can hardly provide for themselves in this country. Let's not feed the young women of America this fairy tale about getting pregnant and life is going to be great. You get to meet a Presidential Candidate. Don't get me wrong I'm not putting it all on young women the same goes for young men.

To Otiscole
Obviously we all know the dangers of not just premarital, but sex in general. Venereal disease, AIDS, pregnancy, etc. Christian values teach that sex out of wedlock is a sin. You know the Ten Commandments thing. So for a Christian household, premarital sex is wrong. I'm sure the girl has had sex education, and the parents have had the birds and bees talk with her. Still as stated earlier by a different poster, "I think we were all teenagers once and have done things that our parents would not be proud of." She is going to live with this action for the rest of her life, whether or not the GOP's keep the White House. That is what makes this a family matter, and no one business but theirs.

As we all know every form of birth control is not 100% effective (except abstinence). The rhythm method is also ineffective, my 21 year old daughter is proof of that!

I'm with bwatkins. That was big of Obama. I respected that.

I guess they would rather her be on the pill living in the false security of "not" getting stds or pregnant. I had my first child 3 months ofter turning 18. I was taught abstenence and raised prolife. I had my son out of weddlock.

Have the American people heard of this thing called "rebellion" in teens? That was me. Have they heard of true loving young couples with all the right intentions of waiting, getting lost in it sexually? Have they heard of young responsible adults who choose to pay the price for the choices made? Have they ever heard of young people learning far more valuble lessons about life with an equal blessing at the same time?

I learned more from my situation then anything else in my life and I would do it all over again. I had friends who were on the pill. Many eventually got pregnant and some had an abortion. Today these women are very confused and disconnected from intimacy for obvious reasons. I highly doubt this will be the case for Palins daughter. Go Palin!

The McSame/Pawnin' campaign wants it both ways though. They say family is off limits but at the same time that the campaign was pressuring reporters to stop asking about her children, Palin invoked her family several times in explaining why she was proud to run on the same ticket with McCain.

If their platform is family values, abstinence teaching in schools, and the average American family, then they should be willing to open that up to scrutiny and validation.

And, isn't it funny how the "average American family" always coincides with their views?

I am from Alaska. I have lived there 27 years and in that 27 years we have never had a Governor as amazing as Governor Palin. I happen to live in Juneau the State Capital and all I can say is "You Go Girl." Governor Palin is strong in spirit, graceful, generous and loves the everyday people like you and me. She has ups and downs in her personal life just like all of us. How prideful and arrogant of us to think that because her daughter is pregnant and not married that she should wear the Scarlett letter and be banned from public service. Shame on us. We are all human and how in the world could a parent control their 17 year old. Now if you know someone who can, you better patent it and sell it because you would be a millionaire. How unrealistic and how hurtful. I can't image that one of us reading this has not had something happen that would cause all us to shake our finger at you.I spend my entire life raising my girls to make good decisions, teaching them right from wrong and they still make some decisions that were wrong, but the good news is, we go through things that give us more compassion for others when they are having a hard time and going through trials of life. Because Sarah has experienced some trials that many American family experience, I believe that will help her become more effective in office. I know what it is like to be in the public eye not only in my city but at the state level as well. I understand betrayal, what it is like to have someone take something and twist it so it is not what even happened. What I love about her is her courage. She reminds me of the Joan of Arc I have read about, a women who is a warrior and will fight for truth,the well being of a nation and it's freedom. If you think for one moment that she doesn't understand the economy, energy or even terrorism you are dead wrong. Her convictions run strong and she would fight to the death for you and your family. (Was George Washington groomed for the Presidency? I think Sarah and George have alot in common, it called a passion and common sense, that is all you need to run a country) She loves family, her children and the generations to come. She hates the "good ole boys" and how they have raped America to get what they want. Her passion is to see women and men rise up and become leaders who will lead with Integrity. Yes, she is being questioned about firing one of our Alaska Commissioners. We question her integrity, but sometimes integrity is doing the right thing even when others don't see it that way. None of us were there and so none of us really know what is going on with that. We only have the media's perspective and my experience with the media (I have had 7 articles written about me by newspapers, so I have had some experience) is that they add to and twist something so the newspaper will sell. I would read their interpretation and think, "that is not what I said or it didn't happen like that." Don't be duped by the media. It is run by approx. 140 people in this nation and they have brainwashed us to think the way they want us to think. Who thinks that Sarah will take women back 20 years. She is all about the rights of women and will go to great lenghts to liberate us. I have talked to many girls who have abortions, they are broken and never recover emotionally. They walk in shame for the rest of their lives. Do you call that liberated? I find it interesting to think that a man could understand that! The most liberating thing we can do for our daughters is to teach them respect for themselves and that baby. That is what will liberate our women and give them the dignity they deserve so they can go out and be worldchangers. Sarah I am so proud of you. You are standing against strong opposition and you have made Alaska proud. You are independent of public opinion, you are courageous and you are ready to take on the world. You have been created for such a time as this and those experiences you have had in Alaska (you know about survival mode) have all been on purpose. You will lead our country with purpose and bring prosperity and justice back to it. Thank you for giving of yourself for our country not being a women of compromise and standing against the storms that will blow. Be blessed!

At least she is the same female species

This is not a gender contest. We're talking about the understudy who may need to run the country--MY country. McCain could have chosen Kay Bailey Hutchinson or Nancy P Hollister. They're the same gender too!

I can't believe people would vote for someone because of there gender and not for their stances on the issues that face my, our country. I'm guessing that the 5 million unsold homes in this country and people having their homes foreclosed upon, the failing economy, the lack of jobs in this country, the black eye that our country has around the world, the families of the troops that were sent to Iraq fight for the freedoms that we enjoy, the suspension of Habeas Corpus at Guantanamo (which is just a step from your rights being suspended) don't mean anything to you. Gender is the main issue for you? Maybe there is another underlying issue that drives your thought processes.

What does being the same gender have to do with it? Palin is almost the opposite of Hillary when it comes to the issues. She can't compare!!! Not to mention she simply isn't prepared or experienced enough to lead if something happens to McCain. We don't just need any vagina in the white house!!.. we need someone who will speak out for women's issues, not throw us back 20 years. And so far, Obama, now endorsed by Hillary, has the best plans for improving the lives of women in America. GENDER IS NOT IMPORTANT, RACE IS NOT IMPORTANT! It's all about the issues and the policies when it comes to this election.

"Not to mention she simply isn't prepared or experienced enough to lead if something happens to McCain."

Obama has never LED anything. EVER! She has the most executive experience of the bunch! McCain was an officer in the US military (that the Dem's seem to dispise)! Obama has Zero leadership experience, he can write a book and he can vote whichever way his party tells him to 98% of the time, that's it (must have made a mistake the other 2% of the time?). That's not the "experience" that we need in the White House. We need someone who can work with the other party and McCain has PROVEN that he can with close friends in BOTH PARTIES and having always supported WHATEVER WAS BEST FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. Palin makes Obama look like a rookie first term senator that only knows how to talk to a crowd and cast a vote when you compare his experience to her much larger experience as a LEADER.

Thank you for helping to point out why we should not be voting for Obama. I know you did not realize it, but you brought it up and it's obvious that EVEN THE REPUBLICAN VP CANDIDATE IS BETTER PREPARED TO LEAD THAN OBAMA.

Thank you so much!!!!!!

Abstinence is definitely something to strive for. Shoving condoms and the pill in the hands of teens is the wrong answer and sends the wrong message. That said - did you listen to all the wisdom your parents spoke and taught?

I didn't. I was another lucky teen. I didn't get pregnant - but I could have. So could many others.

How many others would have had the child instead of aborting and getting rid of the "problem"? That is what Obama espouses for his own children. No consequences - just get rid of it....

What kind of leader do you want for the USA? I want one who cares about human life - not just polar bears.

I'm sorry, but I must have missed the part where Barack Obama said he would want his children to have abortions. Perhaps you could provide a link for that statement?

Poleclaw - it was a Town Hall meeting speech he gave March 30, this year - and got much press - when talking about Supreme Court Justices and that he would appoint those who would keep Roe v. Wade as is - because he wouldn't want his daughters "punished" with a baby.

Here are a few links to try (cannot post the link here - take out the "SLASH" text then copy and paste into a browser)

www.youtube.com"SLASH"/watch?v=eNzmly28Bmg

www.cbn.com"SLASH"/cbnnews/348569.aspx

www.washingtonpost.com"SLASH"/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/01/AR2008040102197.html

All republicans and right wing zealots really get all fired up and care about the fetus and the stem cells right to life, no abortion, no harvesting of stem cells. And some actually live this mantra like Mrs. Palin.
However, what about after these babies are born? Mrs. Palin already has an almost newborn special needs child which she elected to bring into this world. Now she accepts the vice presidential nominee spot knowing full well that she has a teenage daughter, still in high school, who is pregnant that will need her help also. So off she will go for the next 2 1/2 months, campaigning non stop, either dragging the DS baby with her or leaving the poor little thing with family. Bristol needs to finish high school and yet give birth to this baby that she is ill-equiped to do, even if she marries the teenage boyfriend. It would seem that she needs her mother right now, but what she will get is the full scrutiny of a blood thirsty media.
I would have respected the Alaska Governor highly if she would of declined the VP nomination at this time due to family obligations. All I see now is a woman who is putting her ambitions ahead of her families needs. Yes, she has a husband and extended family but ultimately, as a "family values" mom and advocate, her family should come first.

Amen to that. Her daughter's pregnancy may not be a fair campaign issue, per se. But what is absolutely relevant is that she is needed at home more so than in any other time of her life. The national spotlight can wait. If she is the great family values person we are being spoon-fed, she will remove herself from the campaign and tend to what really matters. Her family. Otherwise, this caring family stalwart will end up rasing her special needs child in Washington with the help of countless nannies, physical therapists, teachers and aides, and will get her daughter the same kind of help with her newborn. At what point will Sarah Palin stop being viewed as a family hero and instead be seen as just another privileged politician who throws money at her family's problems?

I couldn't agree with you more...keep up your intelligent thinking!!!

MAYBE GOVERNOR PALIN THINKS OF AMERICA AS HER FAMILY. IT'S ABOUT TIME A WOMAN WITH REAL VALUES, MORALS, AND JUDGEMENT CAME INTO THE POLITICAL ARENA. TO SUGGEST THAT SHE IS SOMEHOW SELFISH, AND OVERLY AMBITIOUS JUST REVEALS HOW STUPID SOME PEOPLE ARE.

KeltWolf - I think you framed his words in a highly partisan and extreme light. He would not want to punish his daughter at age 16 with a child or a STD. What he was arguing is that women should have a right to decide what to do, not be forced into a complete change of life that, at age 16, they really cannot comprehend. (I note the YouTube clip was abbreviated - I bet you could find a few sentences from any politician and make more of them out of the context of the rest of the sentences than taken as a whole.) In any event, at issue is the basic question of choice. I believe women should have it. Not a divide that I think will be settled in this discussion, and perhaps not even one that should be decided by politicians at all. I'm really tired of everyone arguing over "social" issues while ignoring the larger issues of getting government out of our day to day lives and decisions and focussed on things like deficits, ending wars, fixing a badly broken health care system, and so on. I blame the republican party for all of this "social issue" crap - it has become a mainstay to attract the conservatives to their party while they drop the ball on virtually every important, material, constitutional, life altering issue they should be doing something about. In particular, the current administration has, in my opinion, subverted the constitution, lied to us to get into war, attempted to fill governmental positions with friends and colleagues based on religious views as opposed to competence, sacrificed people at the alter of political gain, rigged the financial system to benefit those with influence, and on and on. As long as they can keep us arguing over a woman's right to choose, gay marriage, and so on we are deflected from the real issues politicians should be addressing. My 2 cents.

Kathy --First of all, I believe it is a little selfish to accept the nomination when you know full-well that your daughter will be placed in the limelight. It's not fair to her daughter. I feel really bad for the poor daughter. AND, as a mother of soon-to-be three, I cannot fathom accepting such a huge job responsibility while trying to raise five kids, including a 4-month-old infant. Soon her daughter will need her help too. I cannot imagine trying to raise a baby at the age of 17 without the attention of my mother. Who will she call when she needs advice in the middle off the night or day. I'm sure her Gov. Palin will be much too busy helping run the free world to babysit. I'm not "suggesting that she is overly ambitious." I'm just suggesting that perhaps she didn't take into account the enormity of the position she accepted. You say that she is a woman with "real values, morals and judgement," but I disagree. I think it was bad judgment on her part to accept such a position. For years and years, I have heard that the Republicans are the "moral" party. They spout off "family values this and that," but when it comes down to it, is one of their poster-children really walking that walk? To me, family values means valuing your family first. If that means passing up a career opportunity of a lifetime so that you spare your eldest child shame and spotlight and be there for your infant child during formative years, then so be it.

Quick Question-would you be thinking the same thing if she was a man? This whole train of thought sounds very sexist to me! She's not a SINGLE working parent. There are quite a few of them in this country that pull it off admirably. In fact, BO's father left, his mother left and he ended up being raised by his grandparents, whom are related to Jefferson Davis-the confederate president! Besides marijuana's uses, cocaine uses, mob connections and connections to other questionable persons, and married to a militant-("an angry black woman"-I believe she was described), he turned out OK. Just goes to show ANYBODY can run for President!

Polecolaw, you hit the nail on the head:
Deflecting our attention away from the real issues. I have wondered why McCain was chosen as the Republican nominee considering how many blunders and repeated blunders he has made. I've wondered why he has changed so much since 2000, and I think he is almost as inarticulate as G.W.B. I can't trust the Republican party, thanks to the Bush administration. I think they want to stay in power in order to continue getting richer. I have been amazed at the bad judgement of Bush and even more amazed that he was re-elected. I'm not convinced that he was indeed re-elected. Why would the Republican party want someone like that in office? Because, I think, he makes the perfect puppet, allowing Chaney to run things from behind the scenes. That explains the McCain choice to me. McSame = McPuppet. I think it also explains their choice of Palin. She's just too inexperienced to know better, or she fits right in with them. Now that many are off topic, their tactics may work a while longer.
Writermomof3, I too think that Palin should have declined the job under the circumstances.
It seems that her choice is is conflict with her family values stance. How do we know what her family values are? By observing what she does rather than what she says. I think she could have waited for a more appropriate time. If she was worth her salt, it would have become evident in time. As sad as this situation is for her daughter, it does allow us some insight into Palin's character, which I feel is relevant. By comparison, Joe Biden didn't move his sons to Washington or leave them with extended family or nannies after the death of their mother, (and sister). He kept his job, supported his family, did not disrupt the home life of his boys further, and got home to them almost every night. That's valuing family first.
It also provides us with yet another example of just how bad McCain's and the Republican party's judgement is. Deflection won't work forever.
I can't wait for the debates!

Just An American-- I assure you my comments were not "sexist." I was speaking honestly as a mom who has worked full-time outside the home and inside the home. I applaud women for having careers and children. I think that it's a personal decision. However, I do think that being vice president of the United States and one breath away from leader of the free world is a bit more than being just a "working parent." It's essentially a job with limitless hours. More than anything, I just cannot get over the fact that she would forfeit her daughter's reputation for her own career gains. Is that "family values"?

As for your jabs at Obama and his wife and his drug usage, blah blah blah: I believe that Gov. Palin has dabbled in marijuana too (as she admitted). Though, of course, she says she didn't like it. Our current president did cocaine AND both Bush and Palin have received DUIs. But for some reason, it's only unacceptable when Democrats do such things. For some reason they are labeled amoral and unworthy, but Republicans simply are excused as having a lapse of judgement while their party looks the other way. I'm SO tired of the hypocrisy. And one more thing: Why would you call Michelle Obama a "militant angry black woman"? Because she is forward-thinking, educated African-American woman who is passionate about her husband's cause? While you may call my comments "sexist," I'll have to say that that comment of yours smells a bit of racism.

No wonder the rest of the world sees us as hypocrites. Our Hollywood idols pop out kids from their latest flame yet we put them up asx role models. I am a democrat but like the idea that our vice president lives in the real world with real issues. Hillary was praised for standing by her man while our president got a blow job from a young intern in the oval office. You hypocrites said it was no one elses business. No wonder many of us think we are heading down and fast !

Are all of these liberal posters seem to be trying to say that basically "a woman's place is in the home"? I think that is pretty offensive to women and so does my wife. Most women are capable of having children or they have kids that could have children, should ALL WOMEN BE DISQUALIFIED because of this? Or would it be OK if we pass a law saying that if you are pregnant or have young children, their lives must be terminated before running for office? I'm not sure why so many liberals seem to be so against the idea of a WORKING MOM, I was raised by one!

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH GRANMA' BEING VICE PRESIDENT!! LOL.

This is actually sad. You have standards that you try and live up to, and sometimes you fail, it doesn't make you a bad person, just human. I failed this morning to live up to my standards, and I will make sure that I do not fail tomorrow. I guess now I don't live up to what I preach, or maybe like everyone else, I preach it and have compassion and help those who have failed to live up to the standard and would hope for the same from someone else.

Her daughter wants to have a baby, she gets to wear the grown-up panties now. That means dealing with the consequences of her decisions. Feeling bad for her is not up to you or I, she made the choice, she knew her mother was the Govenor of a state, she knew her mother was involved in politics.

I also find it sad that everyone is talking about how Palin will need to be there to help raise the child. The child has two parents, they can handle it, just like the rest of us.

Third assumption is that young Ms. Palin is a Republican. She has yet to register to vote, so how can we be sure that she felt that abtenance was the right choice (obviously she didn't). People make thier own choices.

Now, I would rather have sex education left to the parents, not the teachers. But since it is obvious that people cannot parent any longer I wonder why you are so adamant about what they are taught? If you cannot find the time to tell your kids about condoms and STD's and expect the schools to do it, then accept the fact that you have failed as a parent. That's your job, not Mr Johnson's, so buck up and do it and stop wasting people's time with this idiocy.

At least Palin told her kids not to have sex, that more than most people. Now can we talk about her earmark spending and legal issues? That is a lot more important than her DAUGHTER'S poor choices.

It'll be like the Clampets in the White House.

Joann-474191 Said "I would have respected the Alaska Governor highly if she would of declined the VP nomination at this time due to family obligations. All I see now is a woman who is putting her ambitions ahead of her families needs. Yes, she has a husband and extended family but ultimately, as a "family values" mom and advocate, her family should come first. "

My guess is you wouldn't be saying this if the VP candidate was a man.

Obama has two very young daughters and as a father I know how important dads are in forming a young woman's self-esteem... Barack should consider the needs of his children first [snort]

You can vote for me. I was PTA Vice President, Softball Commissioner, Softball Coach, Secretary of the High School Football Club, and Vice President of the local school board. Doesn't that make me appropriate for the position?

Wow! You have almost the same qualifications as Obama. Go for it.

You know, sit back and think about this. McShame keeps saying that Sarah Palin is experienced (she has executive experience because she is in charge of the Alaskan National Guard). He forgot to mention that every state Governor is in charge of their National Guard. That's for the people to think Missy Sarah is the only female governor in charge of the National Guard (and there are some who will think that). So if Missy has all this executive experience and is suitable for the Vice Presidency, that means she actually has MORE experience and should be running for President because McShame has no executive experience.

Please tell me how long the demoncrats have had majoority power in the house and the senate? Hasn't it been about 3 or four years now? And what the hell has happened in that time? Gas prices have soared,,,people everywhere are losing their homes....there are no jobs. Hello foks!! and the is Pre. Bush's fault how? When these demoncrats got control of the house and the senate didn't they tell us everything would be better? Wrong and wrong again. Just like blaming Bush for the Katrina fiasco. Let's see who was in charge? A demoncrat Gov. This go around...three Republican Governors in the gulf states and what a fantastic job they did....I guess it's all about who you have in office....Yaeh!!!! go Republicans

Your ignorance is embarrassing, the Democrats achieved a 1 vote plurality on 20 January 2007 in my arithmetic that is 20 months. Bush and Brownie were clearly the biggest screw ups in the Katrina disgrace. The reason people are losing their homes is because the Republicans in the Congress did everything in their power for 6 Years to thwart oversight and regulation of the bankers and Wall Street types that invented CDO's whose collapse
is the main cause of the present mortgage debacle.

The Iraq War has kept enough Iraqi Oil of the Market to raise the of oil about 50% of the present run up; which has pumped Billions into the pockets of Bush's and Cheney's OIL Patch buddies. Do you think that the bosses of the companies that have shipped Jobs overseas were not mostly Republicans?

Obama Mama-410419 Said: "You know, sit back and think about this. McShame keeps saying that Sarah Palin is experienced (she has executive experience because she is in charge of the Alaskan National Guard). He forgot to mention that every state Governor is in charge of their National Guard. That's for the people to think Missy Sarah is the only female governor in charge of the National Guard (and there are some who will think that). So if Missy has all this executive experience and is suitable for the Vice Presidency, that means she actually has MORE experience and should be running for President because McShame has no executive experience."

At least McCain was a senior officer in the military. I think that officers in the military should count as leaders. They do lead soldiers, sailors, and airmen! The only side that has zero leadership abilities is the Dems. Who is going to hold Obama's hand and tell him which bills to sign and which to veto when he is president? I will tell you, same as when he was a senator, he will continue to do what his party wants him to 98% of the time. No what's best for the average American, just what's best for the socialist extreme left wingers of the Democrat party. We need someone that can work with EVERYONE in Washington to get bills passed that will help all Americans! McCain is the only one that does not mind working with the other side if that means helping Americans! The real reason the Democrats hate McCain so much is that he was in the military. We in the military know all to well how the EXTREME liberal left feels about us in the military, we have to listen to their anti-war chants while we are burying our fellow soldiers, sailors, and airman that died for this country.

Of course not...we would not want our families dissected, but and this is a BIG BUT....If Palin had not made such a big deal about abstinence, no sex-ed in schools, involved herself with the bridge to nowhere, being a member of a group that wanted to secede from the U.S. only a few years ago....this would not have been an issue. McCain did not even know her until the day before he announced her as his running mate. Being a maverick is one thing; being foolhardy is quite another.

No, but all of us are not running for Vice President of the USA. No one is criticizing the daughter. These things happen. This whole rebuttal about how she didn't get an abortion is a red herring and has no basis in the issue. Most women would not get an abortion. The issues are McCain's vetting, GOV PALIN's DECISION to accept the VP nomination and push her whole family including a pregnant 17 year old into the national spotlight and her stance on abstinence only sex education. If she didn't want the scrutiny, she should have just stayed a govenor of AK. The pregnancy would not have been able to be hidden much longer anyway. You have to question her whole family values and care for her family and whether she placed her own ambitions and need for power above the needs of her family.

I agreee, it is not so much that she is pregnant, as far as I am concerned; she is just another statistic. However, this questions Palin's child rearing...is she too busy to see deal with what is going on in her own home? Did she speak to her daughter about the dangers of unprotected sex if she chose not to remain abstinence? So now what are her views on premarital sex. She is a strict conversavatist, so what happens now? Is her daughter going to get married because she wants to or have to because her mother is running for VP? I never agreed with McCain's choice for VP, it is too drastic and not thorough. This only proves of the lack of concern he has for America. Your VP is your right hand person, someone you intrust with America God forbids something should happen to you. I mean really, even if I was a Republican, I would not vote for McCain. Since he was unable to have the VP he wanted, he decided to pick Palin....that is just insane. Their are so many qualified women out there and he chose her. There is something utterly wrong here guys!

I agree it is news and it is relevant. It shows Palin puts her political career ahead of Family and also shows McCains poor judgement.

Hamlet-267954 has right when he says "If Palin had not made such a big deal about abstinence, no sex-ed in schools, involved herself with the bridge to nowhere." She is a big on drilling and in the pocket of Big Oil just like VP Chaney. Do we really want big oil in the VP office for another four years.

State Trooper Gate shows she is also vindictive and holds a grudge.

I know LOTS of "stay-at-home-mom's" who have a pregnant daughter. It is not Palin's job to put a chastity belt on her child. A 17 yo is going to do what they are going to do -

Palin taught her kids morals; her child got pregnant and is having the baby - given Obama's stance and his own words; if his daughter was in the same place, likely would have abortions so as not to be "punished".

YOU MAKE A VALID POINT! AS THE OLD SAYING GOES, "YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER, BUT YOU CANNOT MAKE IT DRINK!" I'M OLD FASHIONED AND BELIEVE SEX SHOULD BE AFTER MARRIAGE, BUT I'M SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW MY TEENAGERS, NO MATTER WHAT I PREACH TO THEM, ARE GOING TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS (19). IT IS MY PRAYER THAT THEY CHOOSE THE SAME BELIEF, HOWEVER, IF FACED WITH THE SAME PREDICAMENT AS GOV PALIN I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE THE GRANDCHILD THAN TO SUFFER THE FACT OF ABORTION! I'M REPUBLICAN AND PROUD OF IT!!!

Being a President/Vice President should show judgment... neither McInsane or Palin shows any good judgement. She has her child under PUBLIC scrutiny because of her hunger for POWER.... she should have declined

Things don't 'just go away with an abortion', and you don't really think that. But you would foist that view on others, wouldn't you? that's exactly why your views should not be imposed as the law governing others, and why those views cannot be trusted. Simply stated, you don't have any faith in other people's capacity to have moral views. in stead, you dehumanize them with presumptions to the contrary. try having some faith in the integrity of others, some of the blue may rub off your nose, and maybe your smile wouldn't seem the creation of too little sugar in your lemon-aide.

Not all of us are running for Vice President of the US! I'm not saying anything bad about the daughter. I don't care if she's pregnant. I don't care if she has the baby or has an abortion. It is her right to choose (for now)and I will not condemn either decision. I will however wonder about Palin's judgement of throwing her teenage daughter into this media frenzy just to further her own ambitions. It was inevitable that we would all find out about and it will be news. Like it or not. By the way, Abstinence only doesn't seem to work very well. Maybe Palin should have taught her daughter about condoms.

Barack Obama has absolutely NO experience, but he's at the top of the Democratic ticket. Michelle Obama got one thing right: this is a MEAN country!!!!!!

With Barack's "lack of experience," that includes a law school education at the nation's most prestigious school, years of teaching at the University of Chicago (a virtual conservative think-tank), his time in the Senate, a beautiful family, and all achieved wearing a visibly dark skin that is not exactly a ticket to privilege, he has managed to skyrocket from virtual unknown to filling a stadium with 90,000 supporters and garnering the first nomination for President ever accorded a person of his race. With her pretty face and parochial notions, Palin has risen from Mayor of Wasilla to Governor of the state that takes more out of the Federal budget than any other of the 49. There's a Chinese proverb that says that both a sparrow and an eagle fly, but there the similarity ends. Given what Sen. Obama has made of himself, there is simply no way to compare him to Gov. Palin. You would have to weigh him on a real scale. She would not register on anything larger than a micrometer.

Rory O . . you should adhere to the quotes you throw around.

Barak Obama won a primary, putting together an organization that beat Hillary Clinton's campaign in a hard fought contest. Even the most rabid Republican would agree that this feat must give his candidacy legitimacy. Sarah Palin does not earn this legitimacy as her due by the ill conceived last minute appointment made in a fit of pique because he was denied the opportunity to nominate Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge because the radical pro-life wing of the the republican party threatened to blow up the convention.

I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTUALLY FALLEN FOR THE "OBAMA PERFORMANCE". HE IS JUST A MIRAGE, NO SUBSTANCE.

AMEN! HE STILL HAS NOT ANSWERED THE QUESTION OF RELIGION. I REALLY DESPISE THE THOUGHT THAT IF ELECTED THERE WILL NOT BE A CHRISTIAN AS THE PRESIDENT. TOO MANY LIVES WERE LOST IN THE FIGHT FOR THE US TO REMAIN A CHRISTIAN NATION. MAY GOD BLESS US ALL!

Religion!!! That's important. Economy/ Health care/ Poverty/ This BS war. And you're yelling out religion. Whichever religion Bush is affiliated with didn't stop him from proving he's a Jackass did it??

Do you live in a barn? How can you still not know that Obama is a Christian. He has ANSWERED it! Where on earth have you been?!? Not that he has to be a Christian to lead this country. You need a history lesson. This country was founded on the basis of religious freedom and freedom from persecution. The fact that he is a Christian does not qualify him to lead this country, but you have to be completely ignorant to believe that he still has not answered the "religion question."

Tammy,
People didn't die to keep this a Christian country, but a country that allows us religious freedom to choose whichever religion we choose. Not saying Obama isn't a Christian, just pointing out a misleading comment in your post.

OK. A bit of a history lesson here. #1 - Our Constitution specifically says that our government will not support any religion - not even a Christian one. In fact, when it came time to read the Declaration of Independence, our Founding Fathers almost came to blows over whether or not to allow a preacher to open the meeting with a prayer. They finally agreed only after choosing a very liberal pastor. #2 - During George Washington's term, we began negotiating a peace treaty with the Bey of Tripoli about the Barbary Coast pirates. Finally signed by John Adams, The Treaty of Tripoli was read to, discussed and signed by Congress then published. It reads in part: "We want to assure the Muslims that the United States was not founded as a Christian Nation ..." Now, if the very men who founded our nation said that, who are we to disagree with them?

Sounds like status quo to me.

Go Navy!

I personally would love to live in a state that seceded. The United States is going down the tubes. The DUI arrest was 22 years ago. Are you kidding me that you care?!

Why is her husbands DUI from 22 years ago being brought up??? SOMEBODY please explain that to me. Also unless you spend every waking hour (kids waking hr.) with your kids at some point they will have sex before marriage. It doesn't matter what you have told them and taught them about waiting to have sex and/or how to avoid a unplanned pregnancy they can and do happen. Is everyone commenting about it because it is Mrs. Palin's daughter??? Would your opinions be different if it were her son??? After all it is usually the girl who gets the bad reputation when something like this happens.
You all need to leave Mrs. Palin's children alone. Obama gets my respect for saying that much. LEAVE THE CHILDREN OUT OF THIS ELECTION!!!!
One more thing those who voted Clinton in 2 times didn't seem to mind that he was having an affair and all the controversy while he was running and then after he got in the white house. And he was the one running for president of the US. Check your memories.
AGAIN, LEAVE THE CHILDREN OUT OF THIS ELECTION!!!!

I think it is very sad that we just write off a pregnant teenager as "kids will be kids."
Whether this reflects on Palin's parenting or credibility - I can't judge. But I hope that in debating why this shouldn't affect her campaign, we don't start passing off teen pregnancy as a non-issue in general. It isn't - and shouldn't - be accepted as the norm by voters at any end of the spectrum.

I will feel so much safer with either of them with their finger on the atomic button!

I lived in Alaska for several years, married there, had my daughter there while both my husband and I served in the military. Alaskans in their own "frontiersman" way of thinking have for YEARS talked about separating from the US! - never came to anything when I lived there in the 70's, hasn't come to anything now. Now, what would REALLY be news and worth dwelling on is if they form a group that wants to rejoin Russia!

Let's get beyond the blah blah blah of any of the candidates - including the microscopic examination of things that have little if any bearing on their ability to lead - and consider what Joe L. said so well last night - WHO and not which party would be the BEST choice for AMERICA?

My dad who was a staunch DEMOCRAT for years often crossed party lines to vote. I'll take my example from him!

To Ellen in Chicago--I hope it is not " kids will be kids", but teenagers have their own free will and things can happen no matter how good an example or how well they were raised.

Teen pregnacy is an major issue, however it the media, tv, movies, music and our current society as a whole that glamorizes sex that undermines a parents teachings. We as parents can only do our best with what whe know is right and hope our kids rise above what is presented to them in the real world. If there is to be real change, people need to fight back against the crap that is out there. I am in no way a prude, but there is a lot of stuff out there that is wayyyy over the top--no wonder parents have so much competition.

Another thing is, that in this day and age, parents and schools are supposed to make the kids happy-- there are no losers, everyone is a winner, there are minimal consequnses for bad behaviour and actions, no wonder kids do what they want!! Our society is to permissive as a whole and thats the way it is going to be unless people start standing up and raising their voices against it. It is so easy to blame the individual parents, but as I said, until it stops being glamorized, it will contiue.

"...presume that Sarah Palin's pregnancy doesn't matter..."

Sarah Palin isn't the one that's pregnant, Bristol Palin is.

Cognitive dissonance? Those words are too big for Alaskan voters, and could mark you as a liberal. Not ready for prime time -- now that's a sound bite! Palin's on fire and takin' the whole GOP with her for good reason. McCain's playing to the hard right, and their main characteristic is "loyalty," a loyalty that has survived the Abramoff influence peddling scandal, the Cheney-Rumsfeld-Rice Iraq debacle, the Cheney-Libby CIA leak, the Katrina catastrophe, the home mortgage and related financial collapse, and so much more. But Fundies will desert you in a second of you say "gays and lesbians have rights," or "women should have choice," or "the Iraqis think we should leave, so we should." McCain concluded, perhaps logically, like a Navy man, that some votes are better than none. From the looks of these comments, he'll get some, but from what I see on threads like this all over the Net, it's the Battle of Midway out there, and just like the Japanese thought they won until the losses were tallied, the GOP thinks it'll come through this thing. But the Dems know this is do-or-die time, and Palin has made armies of them see red. It's gonna be ugly, but it's over.

C15084, "We as Christians are to lead by example"

I will Pray to GOD that You do not have to go trough a test like Palin. And that you do not make wrong decision and Kill and unborn child so YOU can look like a good parent.

You call yourself a Christian.

What a ridiculous statement. No matter how many times we say we are not attacking the daughter you seem to not hear. What we are attacking is the idiotic and failed policies of the religious right. I mean how much proof do you people need! Her own daughter showed just how unrealistic the abstinence only approach is. Barack had it right. ENOUGH !

Judging by your remarks I assume you voted for President Clinton? You are attacking the daughter of a VP candidate for becoming pregnant while unmarried, and saying that the Republicans are supposed to be the moral compass of our country.

Did you feel the same way when it was revealed early in Pres. Clinton's presidency that he
is basically a horny dog? Running around on his wife any and every chance he got, from well before the time he was Governer through his presidency.. And knowing this did you vote for him a second time?

Of course because it sounds like the way you see it, it is okay for a liberal to do immoral things but not for a conservative.

So you're telling me that if Palin were to go to Europe, she'd get thousands of people out to hear her speak about hunting blinds? Give me a break. Obama is a law professor. Palin is a beauty queen with a journalism degree. Even if one were to allow for your "zero experience" comment, who has more potential? Obama has his house in order and is ready to go to work. Palin is running a nursery out of her own home....

You have put it better than I ever could have. Agree with you 100%

Amen to that! I am loving all the comments from those who are appalled that a 17 year old is pregnant and keeping the baby. Let's look at the demigods of the Dems, Ted Kennedy is a murderer, JFK & RFK major adulterers and then there's client who can't keep it in his pants either. Of course we can't forget the man who in a desparate effort to be an inventor, when called on his claim of inventing the internet invented global warming Al Gore

Sarah Palin has way more experience. Do any of you happen to even know what Obamas middle name is???? Its Hussian. You know, like the terrorist. Do you really want that person leading our Country?? Besides, go online and look at his voting record. Most of his votes in the Senate were done absentee. Sarah Palins daughter is a teenager. All teenagers make mistake, and none of them listen to there parents. It has nothing to do with her ability to lead. If her children were robots, walking around perfect doing everything right, then I would worry. She has a normal family, with normal problem. And that is what will make her a GREAT leader. No one on here can say they did everything their parents told them, or that they have lead perfect lives.

Are you kidding by implying that Obama's middle name has an impact on his ability to lead? You are ridiculously ignorant and clearly uneducated. I'm scared that you have the right to vote.

Palin as a parent is a guide and mentor, she can only teach her children right and wrong, but unless she is following her kids around 24-7, she can only hope that they do the right thing. A teenager is an individual and has free will, so as with all parents we let our birdies fly and hope they stay aloft. The pregnancy does not mean she was/is a bad parent, her child made a bad choice. This should no way affect the campaign. I would like to know how many of the bashers out there made excellent decisions as a teenager?? I am sure at least one or two parented a child as a teenager, drove drunk, drank under age or some other thing that a parent would have tried to teach the opposite of. How many of you have had kids that have done something against your teachings?? I am sure, plenty!!

Our former (adult!!) Democratic president Willie, couldn't keep his willie in his pants, family man and former candidate Edwards couldn't either. They were in office or running for office, and adults, those are the kind of actions that should not be tolerated. Not the teenagers bad choice--she is not the one running for an office.

I am not an Obama supporter, but I do agree with what he said!!

I would much rather hear more of her qualifications as a vp candidate, than how she has a daughter who is pregnant.

Excuse me idiot what does the middle name assigned to Barack by his parents have to do with him. By the way Hussain does not mean terrorist. It means good, small handsome one. As it turns out I thought his middle name had nothing to do with him and actually it does. He is good, and no question he is handsome. It also means royalty. Have you ever noticed the regal swagger of his walk. I'm sorry I thought you were an idiot.

This response is for Mario-473480 . . . Obama sure doesn't SOUND like a law professor, at least w/o his telepromptor. I'd like to see a debate between Obama and Palin . . . you'd listen to that little beauty clean verbally run circles around him .. . that is if he could talk w/o going "ahh" or "umm" all the time.

Barak Obama won the nomination in his party,s nominating process you can disagree with the voters' choice, but to compare the organization that Sen. Obama put together to defeat what even the most rabid Republican would concede was a juggernaut, the Clinton campaign. McCain showed extremely poor judgement in nominating her in a fit of pique because the radical pro-life wing of the Republican party wouldn't allow the nomination of Joe Lieberman.

This election is serious business. This isn't a popularity contest decided by who is the most beautiful or who might generate the most votes because of gender or race. This is SERIOUS business. Its not about teen pregnancies, its not about right to life issues, its not about religion, its not about sex education, its about which team can better run this country and work hard to protect us from the many dangers and evils that would destroy our way of life in a second if given the chance. Its about which team can get this country out of the hole we have dug and get us back on track as proud Americans. If you believe that the values and business-as-usual policies of the Bush administration were good for this country and should be continued then by all means vote Republican. If, however, you believe its time to care for our own people then a chance is needed. I hear many Republicans claiming that Democratic programs purporting to support Americans will bankrupt this country. I say I would rather spend on Americans than throw money out the window and run up the largest deficit in history on mistakes and programs that benefit others. Never mind the prejudices of race or gender, think about the last 8 years and how this country has suffered under the current administration. Think about the horrendous mistakes and misjudgements that have been made. Are we happy with the present economy and our world position? Are we pleased with being so far in debt that we may never recover? Do we enjoy this downward spiral? If you can honestly say yes then you deserve what you get. That my friends is what we need to consider very carefully. I have always been a Republican and felt that McCain would be my choice however this current thoughtless "political" blunder has me wondering about who is pulling the strings. Its time for a change everybody, open your eyes.

AMEN! I consider myself to be an independent, and have normally voted for the person whom I felt would do best for me and my country. I'm tired of Carl Rove politics, FOX "News" and the rest of these "Neo-Conservatives" who have taken over the Republican Party. It's definitely time for a change of direction. I think Obama/Biden is the best choice for me and my country. I personally don't care about who's sleeping w/ who, or who impregnated who. I voted against the Dems in 2000 because of Bill; I learned now (the hard way) that there's more to consider when choosing your country's leader than their personal life gossip. This is not a "reality show"; this is a decision that will hang over us forever!

I,agree with you both I know I am worse off than I was 8 years ago.And if our country has to go broke I would rather it be over one American,than a million Iraqi's.Iknow how I'm voting in Nov.

You have got to be really kidding me ? once again we women of America according to you Dem's are not qualified to have any part in the World except to have Babies and raise them what a sick one sided country we really do live in whats the SAYING BEHIND EVER GOOD MAN IS A GOOD WOMAN well we women must know how to balance file and work we seem to do it everyday without the help of alot of baby daddy's who are not present anytime and do a good job lets see oh wait BIDENS A MALE AND HE RAISED HIS KIDS AND WORKED WITHOUT A MOTHER lets not saying anything about that huh . GROW UP COUNTRY AND MOVE ON TO MORE IMPORTANT THINGS BESIDES THE SEX OF A CANDIDATE . and as for experience lets see she is only running for VP not President but oh wait that guy running has HUM ZERO . SHAME SHAME ON ALL OF YOU

Sarah Palin MADE THE DECISION to have a 5th BABY just THIS YEAR. But, her job doesn't end with giving birth.... pro-life... okay, but you still need to take responsibility for those children, raise them, and care for them, even when they are 17. She has an infant at home! It looks like her plate is just a little full for now. Maybe when her children are grown she will have time for Presidential things, like keeping up with foreign news.

Parenting can be both parents responsibility. Who says a women should just be the only responsible person. We are not living in the 50's. And how many of you listened to your parents as teenager's, and never did anything they didn't approve of, or tell you not to do? You can not watch your children 24/7 especially a teenager. All of you that are so critical- I hope your children or grandchildren end up making the same mistake- after all Karma will get you sooner or later. People in glass houses shouldn't throw bricks! If it was a man running none of this would be an issue. Even Obama has the common sense and dignity to say family issues such as this should be off limits. At least we all know she's just like all of us and things happen to her family just like everyone elses. DUI 22 years ago - come on -unfortunately this happens to alot of 20 years olds now a days. It's not so uncommon, you wouldn't believe how many adults can't get health or life insurance because they have DUI or DWI's. Something 20 years ago big deal, it was a mistake and has never been repeated. Stick with the real issues.

The real issues: The republican party adhering the the power of the religious right and their failed policies. Is that "issue" enough. Her daughter simply serves as an example of how stupid the abstinence only policy is. Just plain stupid.

dark.energy- We have more sex education in our school than ever before and more teenage pregnancy than ever before. Abstinence is a parents choice to teach and I don't even agree with it. Just like it is a parent's choice on what religion they raise their children. Honestly, sex ed is a very little part of the issues. Let's focus on MAIN issues, after all not everyone will not agree 100% with a party's opinions or we wouldn't have so much controversy. Do you agree 100% with your parties views? Democrats were found originally on the theory less power to the states more to the federal. More government ,more social programs. Republican theory- more state power less federal. Less government- people should have the ability to make more decisions. Now NO party follows the original theories and they are all to corrupt. When our government was founded it was an honor to represent your state or country, was not full-time and paid little to no compensation. I wonder.. do you think that's what led to the corruption- turning it to full time job, paying them and not making them more accountable?

I thought conservatives were supposed to be the 'sexist pigs'. It's mind boggling how many liberals here seem to think a woman's place is in the home, behind her man raisin' the wee-ones...and that what their near-adult children choose to do in their sex lives is a direct reflection on a "bad mommy".

I thought libs were all for the 'right to choose'. Apparently they ae against it if the woman making that choice chooses life.

Where's the proof that Plain's the one pushing her daughter into the news? Are you seriously oblivious to the fact that this is American politics!?! The media never has and never will mind its own business! Their jobs depend on ratings and they'll do whatever it takes to get and keep them. If that means exploiting a young womans decision that didn't necessarily turn out how she wanted, then that's her business. Don't blame the parent, but acknowledge that the young woman has freedom of choice too. How many times have you done something your parents didn't approve of? And be honest. If you have kids yourself, would you want everyone talking about them the way everyone's talking about this? Running for President or not, politicians deserve their privacy too!

Poor Child??? You mean a 17 year old doesn't know that having sex could produce a child? Where has she been her whole teen life? The boy knows what makes babies, also. What needs to be taught in the school system is RESPONSIBILITY for the CONSEQUENCES of your ACTIONS. If you don't do your homework and study, you don't make the grade. If you don't make the grade, you don't pass. This no child left behind is BS. Parents and children should do their part to keep from being "left behind". If you don't work, you don't get paid. What's wrong with this country is that a lot of people do not want to be responsible for the consequences of their actions. They want the government to take care of them. Too many social programs, too much government support, too much propping up and bailing out. The prison system should be just that, prison. Inmates should have to to SOMETHING constructive to help defray the cost of keeping them. Everyone should accept responsibility for the consequences of their actions. This includes everyone from single teenage parents to mortgage lenders. Take responsiblity, people. Stand on your own two feet. Social programs are sucking the life our of self-respect and self-esteem. Earn what you get in some way or another. I personally know of young black girls who are on SSI because they have asthma and their illegitimate children are on welfare. And they sit at home waiting on "the check" to come in the mail. What is going on here????????

chelli....Bristol IS NOT a victim. Bristol MADE A CHOICE. Bristol put herself through this. No one held a gun to her head and made her have sex. Has anyone mentioned the word 'rape'? Why is everyone feeling sorry for Bristol? She made a decision and she needs to be responsible for the consequences of that decision. The end!

Southern56
The reason I feel sorry for her is not because she has gotten herself pregnant. It is because her parents have decided to put her in the national spotlight. Have you read what some people are saying about her? She's been called many things that I won't repeat. She knows what she did and has to live with the consequences, but does not deserve the harsh judgment and criticism of an entire nation. Let's remember, she's in HIGH-SCHOOL. Let's be adults and remember our place is not to pick this girl's life apart to make a political point.

Amen to that! It is very wrong for people to think that this is acceptable. It is ridiculous! Palin should have turned down the offer to run as a VP. But since she is selfish and is only thinking of her personal gain, she did not consider what her pregnant 17 year old will have to go through. She did not think of her family! She didn't pay attention to them, she was very busy making her name known in Washington!

I really doubt if Mrs. Palin agreed to run for VP without discussing this with her husband and children... including the girl who is pregnant. I am sure she discussed what might happen in the media when the news of the pregnancy came out. I am sure this is not a surprise to her daughter... her mom has been in politics long enough for all members of the family to have some idea of what to expect from the prying eyes of the media.

The fact that this girl is pregnant has absolutely nothing to do with Palin's running for office, with her ability to govern, or her ability to be a good VP. Anyone who has had teen children knows that you can teach them you values, you can teach them about drugs, about premaritial sex, etc., but teens have a way of making their own choices on these matters without thinking that the entire family has to live with the fall-out of these decisions. This family is going through things that the average family has to face at some time or another. It does not mean the parents were bad parents... it means the child has made a mistake. A good parent continues to love that child, regardless of the mistake she/he has made. I was a good parent, I taught my children about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, smoking, pre-maritial sex, etc. One chose not to do those things, the other chose to smoke and do drugs for a few years. It was a great heartache to me, but we continued to love him unconditionally and he turned around. I found the hard way that you cannot control every minute of you child's life. You do the best you can do to raise them to be good, caring people, but you cannot do more than that.

How many of you who are criticizing this family have never made a mistake? How many had children out of wedlock? How many have a child out of wedlock? This girl's mistake is not any worse that Ex-Pres Bill or John Edwards. At least she is still rather naive and is just learning how to be an adult. They had no excuse! How many of you are working Mom's with families? How many of you are doing a good job at work and still doing a good job raising your children? Stop being hypocritical! If you and every member of your family has never made a mistake, then go ahead and throw the first stone!

From what I understand, Sarah Palin did NOT consult her husband before she accepted the offer of possible VP. She stated to a reporter, who inquired as to who would take care of the baby she said "My Mother does what she's told, and my older children can care for him." I feel sorry for her children, trying to be teenagers and saddled with the care of a special needs Down's Syndrome child, which is hard even for adults to manage.

Lucene

What about Alaksa makes a woman stronger? Does living in Alaska for 44 years qualify you to be vice-president? I think not!

I believe that she is a strong woman. An individual is deemed strong/weak by the choices they make. When she ran for office in Alaska becasuse of all the great reasons and won, that is a good example. Few days ago when she accepted the nomination for VP, I think that showed her weak side. She was blinded by her personal career gain, it was a very selfish move. So if people think that the media is being unfair the way her daughter is being treated, they have to think again, because Palin made this STRONG decision to be the Republican VP candidate!

WHY ON EARTH would you vote for McCain..not because of him but becuase of Sarah Palin??? That's like being a vegetarian so you can eat meat. It doesn't make sense...she wouldn't be the president...McCain would!!!!!!!!!!!! Look what kind of difference Cheney has made in our country...NONE!