We’ve written before about how we feel that bringing politician’s sex lives into politics is a bit distasteful.
So what are we to think about the Bristol Palin fiasco? Should the pregnant daughter of a politician really reflect on a politician’s ability to lead? Should we really care one way or another that Bristol Palin got knocked up?
As with so many things, we’re going to have to plant ourselves firmly in the great grey area of “sort of.” Do we care that Bristol Palin had sex? No. Do we care that she got pregnant? Not really: as Barack Obama has pointed out, the Palin pregnancies are the business of the Palin family. But at the same time, we can’t help but point out the irony of a woman who supports abstinence-only education, restricted access to birth control, and the overturning of Roe v. Wade having a teenage daughter wind up pregnant. If anything, this situation doesn’t make us doubt Palin’s ability to govern — it makes us doubt the efficacy of her policies and political beliefs.
And really, isn’t that one of the most important considerations of all?
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Who said God doesn’t have a sense of humor?
Beyond the irony though, you have to feel bad for this kid and the father.
I swear… watching the news now is like watching Inside Edition or Entertainment Tonight.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:36 amnice boobies
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:43 amAgreed. Her church is super against premarital sex, and those strong abstinence-only views reflected in the church and many school do nothing but cause trouble- physical and mental.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:27 pmBristol is now the offical poster child of the failure of the abstinence-only movement. You couldn’t have asked for a more appropriate example.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:48 pmI admit, sometimes I am taken by the media frenzy of needing to know everything about everyone (especially Lux, she such a hottie! :o) but in all honesty I personally don’t care what goes on in a celebrity’s, or politician’s private life, I care more about that person doing the job they were hired or elected to do to the best of their abilities. The core of the situation may be different, but this is similar to what happened to Bill Clinton during his presidency (not to open that can of worms again). Sure his actions were not the highlight of his presidency, but even though he was getting bootie in the oval office he was still doing the job he was elected to do to the best of his abilities. That’s what “we” as a nation should really be focusing on.
Now, the way I’m looking at the current situation is this; If John McCain becomes president, and passes away in office, Will Palin be able to step up to the plate and enforce policies that are in place. Like Lux mentioned, “it makes us doubt the efficacy of her policies and political beliefs” and that may be true, but I think some will see it as, she’s only human, and this makes her a stronger candidate. Either way it is a situation that shouldn’t have gotten as much attention as it did.
Anyway, I’m not sure where I was heading with that, or if I even added to the discussion. Hopefully it made sense somewhere along the way.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:04 pmCategorically, this should be a non-story. Yeah, the photoshopped version of the above photo that’s floating around with Ellen Paige as “Juno” superimposed over Bristol is kind of funny, but really that’s the only thing that’s amusing about any of this.
First, it’s the daughter not the mother. I know my parents weren’t responsible for half the things I did when I was 17. Actually, I’d say they weren’t responsible for any of them — I was.
Second, linking the daughter’s pregnancy to the mother’s political position starts us down a dangerous path. Do we really want everyone’s family members serving as a personal test case for their political positions? For example, does the fact that Al Gore’s son has a serious drug problem mean that the drug treatment programs Gore supported are categorically useless? Of course, not. But that’s what this line of argument opens the debate up to.
(BTW, Gore’s son was largely off-limits during his political career, as Palin’s daughter should be here.)
Third, how do we know know Bristol wasn’t using birth control, maybe even correctly? I grew up in a Catholic community where supposedly everyone was practicing abstinence or, if married, the rhythm method, yet everyone I know used all manner of contraception. There was a Planned Parenthood in the Wasilla community that Bristol theoretically had access to; if it could be proved she went there (or otherwise used contraception) and still got pregnant does that then undermine the political case for supporting Planned Parenthood or providing teens access to contraception? Of course not, but the line of argument that makes her pregnancy a referendum on her mother’s political positions leads to future comparisons where the irony cuts the other way.
Third, let’s talk basic tactics. Obama’s comments on the subject are another sign of why he’s such an astute politician. Hammering on this just lionizes Sarah Palin to people who were already going to vote for McCain and maybe wins her some new fans too. How well did highlighting the disparity between Dick Cheney’s views on gay rights and the fact that he has a lesbian daughter work out in 2004?
Finally, whatever else Bristol Palin’s pregnancy is, a “fiasco” doesn’t seem the right word for it, in any context.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 pmLook, it’s a 17 year old girl who has Karl Rove discussing her boyfriend and John McCain defending her “choice”. I’m surprised she hasn’t burst into flames from embarrassment.
Her mom wants to take away the “choice” her daughter had, make marriage a mistake only straight 17 year olds can make and teach kids that waiting for marriage is the only way to think about that sex stuff.
That’s he mom’s crazy crap, and it’s just as crazy with or without a pregnant teenager.
Ok, so it’s a little bit crazier, but not by much. Let’s leave the kid alone.
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:06 amWhen Jamie Lynn Spears became pregnant the media had a field day.
How is this any different? Why does the Palin family get a “get out of jail free” card?
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:11 amXorn:
To be more clear, I meant fiasco to refer to the media situation, not Bristol’s personal life.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:54 amLUX: It’s all cool. For reasons I’m still not sure of myself, the whole Sarah Palin situation has me a bit amped in a bunch of different ways. Sorry if I got a bit strident.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:05 amThere is a difference between Gore’s drug programs and abstinence only sex ed, at least to my knowledge. See, AO programs LIE. It is known that they exaggerate the failure rates of birth control, and many don’t acknowledge different sexual orientations or races and promote typical gender roles.
Does Sarah Palin know this? Does she want her children and the children of Alaska and the rest of America to be lied to?
Maybe she doesn’t know. I get the impression that not many people do. Still, isn’t this an issue she, as a candidate, should know about? Then again, McCain has shown that he knows nothing about this issue either. I mean, teaching abstinence is great in theory, but when you put lies, fear, and guilt all together and associate it with sex, you create a generation of sex negativity that this country does NOT need.
With this kind of education, Bristol could have been screwed. If there is a Planned Parenthood around and the condom broke, she could have gotten the morning-after-pill. Then again, people try to spread around that Plan B and sometimes even the regular BC pill is an abortion pill.
So at this rate, all of us and all of our children are screwed. Yay.
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:17 pm[...] we went with a maverick pick that’s bound to inspire someone. Congrats to Alexa for her witty two-liner: Bristol is now the offical poster child of the failure of the abstinence-only movement. You [...]
September 5th, 2008 at 11:22 am[...] Gossiping about Bristol Palin. [...]
September 5th, 2008 at 6:38 pm[...] couple of days ago, they had a post about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy, and asked if it “mattered.” So what are we to think about the Bristol Palin fiasco? [...]
September 5th, 2008 at 6:52 pmNormally, I would say, “No,” it doesn’t matter. However, since she’s going on the Family ticket, that goes very much against what the Family ticket tends to – premarital sex, teenage pregnancy, and all that.
So, in a way, she’s a horrible grease stain on the Family ticket and I think people realize that on some level.
Though I like her in some ways, she needs to regroup and not sound hypocritical and get off the Family Values train she’s on. I won’t vote Republican this time around.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:12 pmNo it doesnt matter it just shows she is a normal human being with a typical family. Not some snooty nose polictician from DC
September 6th, 2008 at 9:19 pmLeave a reply :