As I surfed the Blogisphere today, I found that the .Conservative bloggers struck back today at their left-leaning Web counterparts, blaming them for forcing the family of John McCain’s vice-presidential choice, Gov. Sarah Palin, to release the news that their teenage daughter was pregnant. But right-leaning bloggers also used the megaphones of their Web sites to tout the idea — just as Republicans here at the convention site were doing — that a teenager giving birth and keeping the keeping the baby — reinforced their anti-abortion, family beliefs. And they seized the news today to attack Barack Obama on his abortion rights views.
For several days, rumors had swirled around on the Internet -– including links on highly trafficked Web sites to speculative, accusatory posts — about whether the Palins’ youngest son Trig was actually their grandson. This morning, the campaign released a statement from Governor Palin and her husband that their oldest daughter, Bristol, who is unmarried, was pregnant.
On the one hand, conservative bloggers and Republicans alike tried to put a positive “pro-life” spin on the startling news, highlighting the fact that the 17-year-old Ms. Palin intended to keep the baby and marry the young father. At HotAir, conservative blogger Michelle Malkin’s headline blared: “Bristol Palin Chooses Life. Now Leave Her Alone.”
Supporters coupled this decision with the one made by Ms. Palin’s parents not to terminate the pregnancy that resulted in the birth of Trig, who has Down syndrome, earlier this year. Anti-abortion activists and religious conservatives have cited that facet of Governor Palin’s maternal life as reassuring evidence that she embraces their views, even if today’s news about her daughter served yet again to reveal how much they don’t know about John McCain’s running mate.
If anything, this whole situation will probably make more people around the country relate to her and her family. It makes them more real. Will there by some turned off by the whole pre-marital sex thing? Of course but this type of story doesn’t sink her at all with Evangelicals.
Obama made this statement earlier this year:
“Look, I got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old,” Obama said. “I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby. I don’t want them punished with an STD at age 16, so it doesn’t make sense to not give them information.”
Several Republican commentators and bloggers were quick to point out that teen pregnancies do occur, no matter what the party affiliation, no matter what the parental policies, in government or not. But liberal bloggers and Democrats were just as fast to highlight Governor Palin’s positions on sex-education for teenagers and her stated belief in abstinence-only education.
I applaud the Palins for their candor and their decision to be compleletly transparent with the public, and expect the vast majority of decent Americans of all political stripes will respect their wish to keep the young couple out of the news. This is hardly a rare story, though it is always a difficult one for families to work through. In the end it just means that Sarah Palin will not only be the first woman and mother to be vice president, but also the first grandmother to hold the office as well.
Obama said the pregnancy “has no relevance to Governor Palin’s performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president.” He added that, “my mother had me when she was 18. How a family deals with issues and teen-age children – that shouldn’t be the topic of our politics.”
“So,” he added, “I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories.” BUT! Did he really mean it or was that a BS story knowing that this was not going to just fade away by itself?
But who was it that said "‘Let me be a clear as possible: I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people’s families are off limits, and people’s children are especially off limits. This shouldn’t be part of our politics.” It was Barack Obama, thats who!
But, the personal issues of family members have no business in the political discourse. Alas, we have seen that concept trammeled.
Thank you Victor.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
At HotAir, conservative blogger Michelle Malkin’s headline blared: “Bristol Palin Chooses Life. Now Leave Her Alone.”
Nonsense.
Palin doesn't believe in choice. How could her daughter "choose?"
Abortion for Palin is NOT a choice. THEREFORE her daughter had NO CHOICE but to keep her fetus.
Bristol did not choose anything.
Pro-choice means one can either keep the unwanted pregnancy or abort it.
Since Palin herself has stated publicly she would have her daughter carry a fetus to term even in the case of rape and incest, tell me where there is a "choice" in this matter.
Do you people think about what you say, ever?
Post a Comment