The Republicans' presumed vice presidential candidate, Gov. Sarah Palin, has a pregnant, unmarried teen daughter. OK, there it is, nobody's supposed to mention it, but we speak our minds here. What do you think?
I have to say I think the Republican leaders have been underestimating their folks. They've been putting a long line of older, traditional, straight-laced, experienced white guys in front of them. But listen to them and look at their faces in interviews. By all reports, they are completely "energized" by Palin and are optimistic about her place on the GOP ticket.
That can only mean they, like the Democrats, also are tired of business as usual and want to see some fresh new faces -- and new approaches to the nation's problems. In interviews, they don't seem to be bothered at all by the family situation of the Palins. Good for them.
In fact, they also seem thrilled to be the party that could be making history with the first woman vice president. This is coming from the party that prides itself on being "traditional." That usually means they like to keep things the way they've always been.
Deep down inside, it seems they like having a new face in the mix, some younger blood, someone who is spicy and sassy and doesn't kowtow to the Republican Party brass. They are mixing that with the highly experienced John McCain at the top of the ticket.
The Democrats also like a mix. Both parties seek balance, the experienced and tested elders, the energetic, creative younger people who see things with fresh eyes. Perhaps the parties are more alike than they realize.
Ta for proving that clever folks in the forth estate can be rude.
The young daughter is not running for public office and to drag her situation into the mix is horrid. One more reason why good folks are loathe to run for public office as their family members will be trashed to get to them.
This coming from a person who wrote MOI that it was OK to point out the flaws in a personage serving on the City Council but not OK to use her personal condition or trademarks to comment. Seems perfectly OK for this lady to bring up the very private condition of the person running for public office.
By all means speak you mind, but do try to be a decent human being and not trash one who is not fair game...........oh, dear MOI, forgot, it is OK to trash Republican and just be over the moon for Democrats......how silly of MOI.
I am sorry that the young mother to be has to go through this media circus but I don't think it is a bad mark for Sarah. She is a woman from a family not unlike many others in America. You can teach them good morals but at times in the heat of the moment it just falls out of your head and at least she and her beau are taking responsibility for their decision. I like that Palin is like many of the rest of us so she can relate to all of us.
Yeah, seriously. If people are going to go after Palin, do it for her stance, not the decision of her daughter.
After all, I couldn't care less if her daughter has a baby. I'm not voting for her because she's pro-life, pro-death penalty, probably wouldn't mind putting creationism in high school biology courses, and has ridiculously low amounts of experience relevant to being a VP.
And those aren't even the iffy issues like alleged corruption. Do like Obama did and tell everyone to leave family out of it.
Yes, it should be noted that Senator Obama got quite firm when asked about it by a reporter. He said that the families, wives and children, of candidates should be left out of this campaign. It's not fair to them and they should not be spread out in the media to be scrutinized.
Personally I don't care if her unmarried teenage daughter is pregnant. But then I'm a liberal and I understand this sort of thing happens. I have three daughters and I can only rely on my teaching because I won't always be there. I'm sure Sarah Palin has raised her daughter with love and the best of her ability, but let's admit, let he who has never sinned, cast the first stone.
I won't turn this into a condom debate because that would be cheap, but relying on abstinence doesn't always work....case and point.
I hope everything works out for her daughter. It sounds like they were getting married anyway and I wish them the best. They certainly have a blessing on the way.
The Watchdog Has Been Talking!
I think that a community such as ours that has such a high rate of teen pregnancy can get over this sooner than many others can.
Why should this personal issue, even be a part of the discussion about a woman/man becoming vice-president? Bigger secrets have made there way into the White House. Like John F. Kennedy's infidelity. Along with President Clinton's taste for a certain brand of cigar and blue dresses.
If we can't over come a young daughter becoming pregnant and her mother and father supporting her keeping the baby and the girl marrying the father, then our society is more archaic than I supposed. At least the baby won't be raised on welfare by us as tax payers.
Since when do we start holding our politicians responsible for their children and relatives? Jimmy Carter certainly was not held accountable for his brother Billy's antics.
We expect people not to be people and have faults or secrets when we elect them then become disappointed when they get elected and don't act like real people. How hypochritical of us, to do such a thing. Don't you agree?
Fred, I have to ask because you keep confusing me. Who's the Watchdog? There are many. Which Watchdog...and which part of the post is a quote and which part is you speaking?
Scot, since when did you start using a single t on Scott? You know very well who I am, the question is why aren't you where you usually are, bored?
Please try and stay on topic the conversation is about Gov. Palin, not who the Watchdog is?
The Watchdog says!
Well, I could have said something rather coy but I'll reserve that for later.
Of course Obama who never knew his father doesn't want family brought into this issue! I can't believe more time wasn't spent on him being raised by a Single Parent. Then there is the fact of his poverty stricken step-brother in another country, whom you never hear anything about. Then there is the statement the Reverend Jesse Jackson had to say: about Obama. He may have apologized but he was heard loud and clear stating his concerns.
At least Govenor Sarah Palin had both her daughter and the father to be of her child at the RNC, I didn't see Obama's step-brother anywhere near the DNC. This fund raising dynimo can't help his poverty stricken brother but lives in a million dollar multi-mansion. How qaint, he must preach one sermon and live another?
Anyone listening to her speech tonight would learn she is articulate, intelligent, informed, in touch with normal everyday people and connected to the electorate. It will be interesting to see her and Joe Biden in a debate! I think he might be outgunned in speech giving ability and she certainly isn't afraid of the good ol' boy network as she has proven in Alaska. She seems like one tough cookie, ready willing, and able to be Vice President from day one and a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
In fact wouldn't surprise me if in 2012 she is the candidate for President. Once people see how much her and John McCain care about this country and what they do to protect and preserve our nation. That would be interesting Hilary for the Dems and Sarah for the Repubs?
To Scot there are many dogs but there is only one Watchdog! You know that. . .
Fred...you thought my sincere question warranted a badgering response?
I'm assuming you are implying that you are the watchdog and you've been speaking in the third person or something. Perhaps as a means of self-importance. Forgive me for not seeing what was apparently so obvious. When you started every post with "The Watchdog says:" It was an honest assumption that you were quoting "the Watchdog." I honestly thought it was some credible publication or something. I even googled it.
I asked a simple honest question...I guess it doesn't take much for you to go on the attack.
By the way, I have always used one 't' on my name. That's the way it's always been spelled. Thank you for asking.