Scary thought of the day
Will Bristol Palin’s pregnancy make McCain-Palin more appealing to some Obama supporters *and* social conservatives?
1) She’s keeping the baby. This is a win with pro-life conservatives.
2) She’s embarking on the struggle of parenthood a) by surprise and b) incredibly young. I imagine this makes Bristol a sympathetic character to many single mothers, pregnant teens, many of whom are not necessarily conservatives themselves.
3) This makes her mom look practically like a saint. No one can completely control their children, but they can be supportive and see that they “do the right thing.” And it makes McCain look more progressive for choosing Palin when he “knew” about the daughter’s pregnancy. Which may help him in the center and have uncertain effects on the right.
Scary, scary.
Of course, Obama shines like gold, saying that this all shouldn’t be a campaign issue.
Mr. 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.” (excerpt from NYTimes.com article here)
I agree, but only if Palin isn’t hiding something – it *is* a campaign issue if the potential vice president of the United States is a big fat liar. It’s true, the pregnancy issue has no bearing on her doubtful but possible abilities. It does bear upon her honesty.
I would like to see a campaign that is about real issues. I also think that the problem of unwed pregnancy is sadly a real situation for more Americans than anyone would like to believe. How either side would handle such a problem presents a real voting issue for many many people.
On the other hand, if it were Obama and not Palin who had a 17 year old pregnant daughter, I can only imagine the hypocrisy that would be hurled at him.
All just food for thought.
Sphere: Related Content
Antiabortion conservatives don’t care that she “correctly” chose to have her baby; they are outraged that she had a choice.
Anyone who has any sympathy for Bristol Palin should remind themselves: Sarah Palin wants her daughter to die if an emergency abortion is the only thing that would save her. Gov. Palin opposes life-of-the-mother exceptions, as does the GOP platform.
Someone needs to ask Gov. Palin the old question with a new twist: How many years should Bristol sit in prison for having an abortion to save her own life?
Check this out…
from fox news, no less!!!
http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/09/02/ldavis_0902/
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