Obama to Media, Politicos on Palin Pregnancy Story: ‘Back Off!’

Well I hope we find out what Gov. Palin’s positions are on matters not directly associated with Alaska. That said, I must question Sen. McCain’s judgment and reationale with this pick. It does not strike me that he put his Country First. Party unity maybe, but country?

Leave Gov.Palin’s family issues alone!!! I am an Obama-Biden supporter and I feel this has no part in the election race. Lets discuss the real issues such as, the economy, healthcare, the war, crime in the U.S., and etc. Remember people, its not our daughter who’s pregnant…..

Obama always takes the high road, to bad McCain didn’t when republicans and right wing talk radio was attacking Michelle. Once again, Obama shows better leadership and judgement.

*to have 8 more children with 4 different wives in total.

Leslie, you need to pay more attention. McCain did say back off from Michelle Obama and I’m proud of him for doing that. Just as I’m proud of Obama saying back off from Palin’s daughter.

As a conservative independent who would usually be voting for the Republican, this is why Obama makes it such a tough choice. He is a person of genuine class, whatever other flaws he might have, and what’s clearly good intention.

Hell no! – I disagree with Obama on this one only. If you’re running for public office, the highest in this land you should be automatically disqualified if your family morals and standards are not exemplary. Sorry. This is serious business an election.

I would MUCH rather see McCain/Palin in the White House with their Children -
then obama with all his “Friends”
Ayres, Rev. Wright, P-Ditty – what a DISGRACE to our country!

Obama is a hypocrite.
Obama said he wouldn’t go after Cindy McCain then later did.
Obama campaign was sending around e-mails pointing to the story to reporters and bringing up abstinence.
Obama lied saying he wouldn’t go after Cindy McCain then did and had the DNC go after her.
The whole campaign is hypocricy.
He should have said that is private matter instead he loves the media attention.
He should have called it a lie as there is now a picture of her being clearly present.
Obama goes on that far leftist site dailykos to post.
No one has ever asked Obama why he lied about saying he had no idea Rezko had any problems when it was later reported he knew Rezko was under federal investigation for influence peddling.

I don’t think this 17 year old child’s pregnancy should be brought out in the media as well, but Palin should have known that once she accepted this job that she was going to be dragged through the mud. I just think it is sad that now this poor child is going to have to go through an unwanted pregnancy and possible marriage in the public eye. People need to stop with all this nonsense and stick to the issues. Job loss, foreclosures all over the place, a stupid war that seems never ending. Stop all this other nonsense.

why is this family off limits? you guys made michelle into a monster and her convention performances were genuine and lovely. at least she does not make airhead comments like cindy mccain when she referred to this train wreck sarah palin having national security experince because alaska is close to russia. no wonder they are having her speak when we are all busy with gustav. I hope this story becomes LARGER than rev wright where we see more about this terrible choice surface. NO we the people of this coutry will not choose a HYPOCRITE who talks family values and does not teach her kids to have any.

OBAMA USED COCAINE, GEORGE BUSH USED COCAINE….. are’nt they both similar?
Obama will be like Bush when he become President, only from democrat side

I’m not an Obama supporter but I can’t agree with his comment enough, we need to turn this election back to issues and not focus on a 17 year old girl’s pregnancy. As a parent I can’t begin to imagine what this family is going through but this is a family issue and it should be private.

Good for Obama. This issue should be left to the families involved.

I’m sure McCain knew about this BEFORE he chose Palin as VP. It’s just part of the Rovian Game. She will drop out of her own accord and he will be able to choose the right-hand MAN he truly wanted, after having “proved” that he is the true candidate of change (by his willing to select a MAVERICK WOMAN with a history of “going against the establishment”).

It’s great… no matter how hard Obama tries to keep things above board.
You have people responding with unfounded attacks: Calling Obama a crackhead and a bastard and unamerican and all the other familiar attacks.
No rest for the wicked.

Blip,
Experts have tied the Palin smears to Obama’s website. They tried hard to cover their tracks, but they’ve been “outted.”
So quit defending your messiah. He’s guilty.

Man, today’s media is so far out of bounds with this type of story that it is sickening. No wonder no one trusts the press any more. It is just like Denzel Washington said in the movie “Training Day” while reading the paper, it’s all BS, but it entertains me. These type of reports are not even entertaining. Leave this woman and her family alone!!

What do you expect when most of the bloggers pushing this garbage on liberal sites have grown up only really knowing “Karl Rove Politics” where nothing is out of bounds.

HYPOCRITE REPUBLICANS. Pontificating to us all the time aabout what is right and what is wrong. Obama is the most genuine person in the political arena. proud supporter. but, let me tell you the enthusiasm for Palin-whoooooosh- gone out the window. Mccain is a coward- he will ask her to step down. mark it. this so called brave man wills see his support slipping and he will ask her to step down and choose Jindal. Or romney or huckabee or someone else. why this woman????????? Obaa is in no danger of losing women. you don’t know how that campaign works and registers voters. he will win in a landslide.

I beg to disagree, Sen. Obama. Family matters should in general be off limits but Gov. Palin’s family situation does raise a legitimate question of whether Palin can afford the time to serve as a VP.

I think Palin is a tough woman. She is going to go through a lot of crap over the next few months.
I believe she can handle it. This will give America a chance to see how she handles this adversity and if people still support her.
Afterall, tough times prove what we are really made of.
I’m really frightened that I actually defended Obama. Scary!
My prayers are with the people on the Gulf.

So, let me get this straight. I see the DemWits attacking and blaming Sarah Palin for Bristol’s mistake…however, its ok for you to support Obama, who himself, was conceived out of wedlock? Be For Real…you people are hyprocrits!
It’s not Obama’s issues that have made me decide to vote for McCain…its his stupid supporters!
McCain/Palin 08!

Obama had nothing to do with Ms Palin’s daughter getting pregnant, nor her outing. Women are tired of Ms Palin’s holy then thou attitude and did the research ourselves. BYW, we ARE Hillary supporters, unlike some that post here under Hillary;s name.

I don’t think Obama’s worthy stance will put an end to the speculation and inconsistencies behind Palin’s accounts of her and her daughter’s pregnancy.

OURS CITIES ARE KEPT GROWING AND GROWING UNDER CONDITIONS OF DRUGS AND PROSTITUTION, OBAMA, WAS VICTIM TOO. THIS IS NOT AN ACCUSTOMED HABIT.HE WAS VERY ANGRY ,WHEN THE PRESS POINTED THAT OUT PUBLIC.//////

Huge supporter of Obama but this issue I will not let the media deviate from. They have to keep at it just like the rev wright thing and expose the republicans and their pastors and god-men for the hypocrites they are. sorry Obama- love ya but sick of the repub crap.

Omongkosong:
Give it a break. All you can do is throw up un-truths!. All you have is Rev. Wright to go back and complain about!
Rev. Wright may have his issues, but I’ll bet you do too!!!!!
Hey, did you read about McCain? Graduated 2nd to last in his class of well over 800-900 hundred people. Wow!
McCain for president huh?????

How could McCain stick up for Edwards when the “love child” was a dirty little secret? Comparing Edwards’ actions to Sarah Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy is about as lame as it gets.

This is why Obama should be president. He displays good judgment and good leadership.
Yeah yeah yeah, GOP operatives are hypocrites. Not exactly breaking news.
Breaking news? Peaceful protesters enduring tear gas at the RNC in St. Paul. But, guess we don’t care how the Republicans actually DO treat citizens.

Bravo, Obama! Thanks for standing up for what’s right. The pregnancy of Gov. Palin’s unmarried 17-year-old daughter should not be fodder for bloggers or the media. And thanks, Senator Obama, for doing what Senator McCain has promised but failed to do — run a civil campaign based on the issues instead of one that is characterized by smears, personal attacks, and Bush/Rove tactics.

Belle Star at 3:05….PERFECT POST. Every word a truth.
McCAIN/PALIN ’08

Obama is “afraid” of Palin? That’s a laugh. Obama/Biden is leading McCain/Palin by 6 points in the Gallup today. They lead in every other poll too. McCain got absolutely no bounce from putting this unqualified bimbo on his ticket.

Clearly, since Sarah Palin believes in faith based birth control, this is a faith based pregnancy.
Gov. Palin would do us all a favor if she bowed out citing “family concerns”. This is turning out to be an Eagleton candidacy.

“McCain got absolutely no bounce from putting this unqualified bimbo on his ticket.”
Maybe. Maybe not.

the press will give palin a pass on this like they have repeatedly giving mccain a pass on all his stuff, including picking palin in the first place. and in the end if mccain is elected the press will give mccain a pass and wont challenge him like they didnt question and challenge bush, which will result in our country going right back to war for bad reasons. i wish the press would do their job so the blogs wouldnt have to do it for them.

As a middle-aged woman, I am insulted that McCain and his campaign think women are so shallow that they will overlook anything in order to support a woman. I love how the “don’t do as I do do as I say” is front and center of the Republican platform in regard to the Palin daughter pregnancy. It reminds me of the “pay no attention to the (wo)man behind the curtain!!!!!”

When does Obama get his bounce in the polls? Not after Hillary dropped out, not after world tour disaster, not after Biden, not after rock concert Convention….

sonia trevino what planet are you from. comparing hillary to palin. if i remember correctly, hillary and bill raised a wonderful, intelligent beautiful daughter who has gone to college and who made a positive contribution to her mother’s campaign. palin’s daughter contribution so far, well you know…

You cannot tell me that he didn’t know his supporters/his base on the ultra left wings blogs had not posted this days ago. He was right to say back off. He would had been creamed to said otherwise. Move on dot org supports him and look how they demean conservatives. What about that, Obama!

There is nothing wrong with the poor girl getting herself into a pickle. The only problem I have with the whole announcement is the timing. What better time than during a major national disaster? I agree Palin should have NOT accepted the VP position because of ALL the excess baggage. It would have been the responsible thing to do in the interest of the Republican party.

All I can say is thank you Sen McCain for handing us the White House on a silver platter! McCain good judgement? That’s a laugh! Obama/Biden08/12:)

Palin is NO HILLARY CLINTON. I repeat, Palin is NO HILLARY CLINTON. Hillary is an ALL STAR, Palin is still trying out for the minor leagues.

Obama shows class in this. Let’s see if he can persuade his surrogates to behave with as much sensibility. Unfortunately for Obama and the election, there is a long history of Obama taking the high road while his supporters take another.
Maybe ruthless pursuit of power isn’t the best way to get it done. Palin is where she is because she is determined, but also because she put her family first and in Alaska, they respect that. It could be we have something to learn from Americans in small towns who still raise a flag, raise a garden, and raise a baby.
Congratulations, Grandma.

Agree 100% with Obama that the family members should be off limits!
However, what CANNOT be off limits is the fact that Sarah Pollen LIED and deceived Americans as to her so-called fifth pregnancy!
LIED about her ‘water breaking’ and she flew all the way to Alaska to give birth to Trig.
LYING in a leader goes to her LACK OF TRUSTWORTHINESS!
LYING by a President and VP got Americans KILLED by the thousands in Iraq!

Obama pulls me back from the brink many times. It’s so easy to be resentful of Republicans and get caught up. He is a wonderful leader in many ways and I listen to him.

The simple fact is that most women stand against what Ms. Palin is for. McCain’s VP pic is a short term buzz followed by a long term hangover.

Re: Palin is NO HILLARY CLINTON. I repeat, Palin is NO HILLARY CLINTON. Hillary is an ALL STAR, Palin is still trying out for the minor leagues.
She doesn’t claim to be Hillary. McCain picked her for the reforms she has made in her state. Palin is a star coming up in the GOP! Keep on hating on her, it will make the base back her even stronger. I don’t hate Hillary, just disagree with her ideas. Hillary is a strong woman and that’s ok too.

No matter how many times you talk with teenagers about safe sex, no sex… if they want to do it, they are going to. Her daughter would have done it weither Palin was a stay at home mother or the working mother that she is. They will alway find a way.

This is consistent with Obama taking the higher ground and not making hay of the fact that the mother Sarah Palin preached abstinence and failed to prevent the daughter from practising conservative values.

Re: woman is a fraud and a hypocrite. This is what happens to extremist idiots
and this is not an extreme mean spirited statement.

Excellent move Obama. Stay above the mud slinging. The more the republicans and their supporters sling mud at you and the more you take the high road, the better you look and the more people are reminded of the kind of choice they have this election. When someone lacks substance they attack personally instead of focusing on the issues. Most Americans dont care if Palin is actually mother or grandmother of Trig, if Bristol is really pregnant or if this is a story to defuse Sarah’s pregnancy rumors. What matters to most of us now is the economy and the war in Iraq and good health care. I hope you continue to press on the issues and let the best man/woman win.

“Good point blip! The problem with this woman is her daughter’s pregnancy goes to the heart of why Palin was chosen in the first place.”
She’s is pro-life and her daughter is having the baby instead of aborting it. Next.

“Will Sarah Palin as Vice President advocate no birth control whatsoever?”
Yes and in fact she will visit all citizens to ensure that they are not using birth control.

Had she not been a staunch proponent of abstinance only policies and an opponent of birth control and sex education in schools, I would agree that this would be off limits. But asking why none of these things worked for her daughter when she wants to force them on everyone else’s kids is certainly a legitimate and, I would think, an unavoidable question.

Obama is right. His campaign team has nothing to do with what happened. It was McCain for trying to play poker with the Vice Presidential Seat and careless vetting process.
The media is in a frenzy to find a smoking gun on this lady, not because she’s a republican, or a woman, but because she is not known, was not vetted properly, and most importantly she could become the next president if and when McCain croaks. For a man who picked up the argument the Candidates should not be on OJT it is proof the Republican party’s only goal is power not the people’s or the nations safety, security and progress.
Because of McCain’s stupid ploy to attract Hillary voters with a PTA president, mayor of 6,000, 18 month Gov of a far away state with a population equal to that of Ft. Worth, TX primarily sitting on ice and so geographically different than the other 50, no foreign experience, no national experience, no knowledge of the constitution, no idea what the VP exactly does… the citizens joined the media in an immediate blogging hunt for anything that could, in the future, jepordize the VP and Presidential SEAT. At this time Alaska is flooded with reporters at their own will.. to finish McCain’s vetting process! This of course is the same procedure Republicans have use against the Democrats for decades and now the shoe is on the other foot.
The Who You Real Momma drama was not started by the democrats. They were picked up from multiple local written gossip articles and blogs on the woman which includes unethical firings for personal and political reasons. Yes there is a 2nd accusation at this moment. That alone is a warning to what someone having the power and authority as VP might do in the name of Moral Majority Leadership.
Can’t wait for the debates!

Re: If she had an abortion then you may have a story. Someone that is pro-life that is having a baby is not news. Desperation.
Amen.

“Palin needs to focus on raising her children instead of running for VP.”
And Barry and Michelle both work and have 2 young children. And your point was again?

Obama, please start with the talking heads from your campaign, then media then DAILY KOS, the hate sellers.

So what, all politicians flip-flop on issues. If it is for the good of this nation and they don’t hold on to two views, yeah why not. How about Obama has he not flip-flopped in a span of a few hours? Not just once but at least twice. Has he not supported two or more views on the same issue? So Obama supporters, is this the best you got? At least Plagin changed her mind when she realized taxpayers money were being wasted. And please stop blaming her for her teenage daughter’s pregnancy? It is pathetic. If she encourage her daughter to have an abortion when she is a pro-life, go ahead attack her. At least she did not advocate family values and later cheated on her spouse liked Edward. At least she did not advocate Campaign Finance Reform and later reject public financing liked Obama.

Palin needs to focus on raising her children instead of running for VP. She has a three month old and a pregnant teenager; now tell me as a mother, what is more important her children or her job!
Not many women could do this. She should be admired. Women/mothers are the base/bedrock of any family and she could be strong for our nation. Some women as men are very offended by strong women.

Teenage pregnancy happens whether you are a good parent or a bad parent to your children.

Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy is relevant when her mother and W advocate a abstinence only policy for the rest of us

If Palin doesn’t know what happens in her house, it makes you wonder how she will lead the country. Of course, teens will be teens, but surely the Governor of a US State has spoken with her 16 year old daughter about birth control?!?!
Is the GOP using this poor girl as a pawn?

We should care about the INTEGRITY OF OUR LEADERS!
Sarah Pollen is a LIAR and a deceiver!
Sarah Pollen:
Lied about her so-called ‘fifth pregnancy’!
Lied about Bristol being ‘five months pregnant’!
Lied about SECOND pregnancy!
Last time President & VP LIED, thousands of Americans DIED in Iraq, along with hundreds of thousands of INNOCENT Iraqis!
We shouldn’t care about Sarah Pollen’s family, except if there is a case of incest!
We should care about the INTEGRITY OF OUR LEADERS!

Roxanne – your post was ugly. Palin decided that her daughter not have an abortion (unlike Obama who says he doesn’t want his daughters to be punished) says a lot about Palin’s values. Bristol will get married. What would you do is an entirely personal decision! What happened to the leftists who cry foul when it comes to a woman’s right to choose!!!! It’s only right to abort, but there’s hell to pay if you keep the baby. You can tell you kids everyday about safe sex, but there’s NO garauntee that it won’t have sex! These people who are being nasty probably don’t even have kids. No one said parenting was easy! Take the plank out of your eye before you take the spinter out of someone else’s.

Both candidates have millions of supporters and some of them are going to be jerks. People are people. The candidates cannot control that, but it is nice when they at least make an effort to discourage it.

Sorry big O… When you are on the national stage claiming to be a holier than thou Christian and your underage daughter gets pregnant its’ fair game.
How many other pregnancies for the kids, is that coming out next! Sarah – if youcan’t control your kids how can you possibly help controlling the government! BTW – Sarah,greatjob on all te firings, the state police, the librarian etc…!

re: Is the GOP using this poor girl as a pawn?
Come on, Daniel. Parents cannot follow their kids around at school, at the mall, at the movies nor record their every move. They have their own BRAINS and their individually. Teens will explore sex, ok.

First off I’m a mom of three and a grandmother of 4. I think this pregnancy is a huge issue. Kids need everything, especially when they are pregnant. What happens if Palen should become the president and her daughter is having a complicated pregnancy or delivery, she’s only 17. Will she be running the country if we’re in crisis or will she be acting as a grandma. Dad will be out on a fishing boat and she’ll want her mom to be there. I think this is a huge issue. Will she pick her childs welfare or the countries best interrests? I’m not condeming this young lady either. My child was also pregnant at 17. She needed me constantly, it took the whole family to help her through her pregnancy. I think Mrs. Palen should step down and raise her family.

“I’m amazed at how many of you “Americans” don’t recognize the columns of WASHINGTON DC!”
He was in a football stadium, not Washington DC.

President Bush and the Gov support abstinence only education, which can result in young people being ignorant about how to prevent unwanted pregnancies. I assume that Gov Palin used abstinence only to teach her daughter about sex. Isn’t this evidence that this education method does not work?

Re: Her mother should have been more responsible and taught her about contraceptives.
I am sure she taught her to take the responsibility of a child vs as you like to see.. play it safe and have no accidents. Obama is for late term abortions and for not having/supporting a doctor in the room to assist a baby that was born alive. How inhumane is that. You people are hard to even think about figuring out. You’re suppose to be for the poor, the innocent.

Peach
Like all political blogs, DailyKos has both civil and uncivil people posting on it. They try to weed out the nastier stuff, but as an open forum, anonymous posters are usually allowed their freedon of speech.

Classy response from Obama, as usual. That said, I think it is legitimate to question Gov. Palin about her opposition to what she derides as “explicit” sex education in the schools.

Obama has as much to do with this story as McCain has to do with the smears against Obama.
Except that McCain hasn’t spoken out against the Obama smears.

I don’t think the issue is for women to subrogate their career until their children leave home – I think the salient issue is that if you make the decision to have five children (especially one with developmental disabilities), you should honor your first obligations before you take on more. Also, it is naive to treat the Vice-Presidency of the United States, especially in these globally trying times, as just another job that can be juggled with proper work/life balance. If your career is your primary focus, then appropriate personal decisions should be made. I am always teaching my children that there are consequences to every decision that they make, sometimes far into the future. It is irresponsible to ignore the demands of raising five children and act as if anyone who questions this is anti-feminist. Maybe true feminism is recognizing the important role both parents play in the lives of their children. Any working, professional woman knows that the “do it all Mom” is an illusion, and that that life requires a string of compromises and settlements that few speak publicly about. This fascade about the “super woman” and her family again speaks to the judgment of Sen McCain/Gov Palin and her decision to accept the nomination with the knowledge that her family would be subjected to glaring scrutiny.

And for all of those who agree with Obama not to make it an issue, just answer this, If the shoe was on the other foot and one of his daughter was the pregnant one do you think that O’reilly and hannity would not be on the TV and radio with Rush tearing them up?

Stan
Where is this “Greek God-like model” you are so upset about? If you are talking about the acceptance speech, I saw columns in the background similar to many you would find in Washington, D.C. Hardly a travesty, I think.

Hey, lets put the blame where the blame belongs.
God bless and good luck to the young Palin girl.
She had sex. teenagers do that. She got pregnant. That happens.
But why would you as a parent expose your daughter to what is out there by stepping onto the biggest and most vicious political stage in the world?

Obama already said that this is a hands off issue. Please follow his lead…..

My friends, please do not attack this 17 year old child, do not attack her mother for her holier-than thou stance, do not attack McCain for his verbal attacks on Chelsea Clinton when she was just 13 years old, do not attack the Republicans for saying hateful things regarding Malia Obama’s outfit at the convention, do not attack Governor Palin’s comments regarding inter-racial marriages/children, do not attack her for having a 4 month old baby and dragging him on the rigorous campaign trail, do not attack Karl Rove for calling Joe Biden a “blowhard doofus”, do not attack the religious right for “praying that torrential rain would fall on Obama as he gives his acceptance speech.” Just sit still and feel sorry for them, because they are a sad sack of people! Sad sack!

Mack
Nice try but all we have to do is look at how crowded China is! Birth control is the way to go. Not abstinence because it doesn’t work…just look at Palin’s own daughter!

This is not a matter for public discussion. It’s a private family matter.

By Palin announcing that her teenage daughter is pregnant is supposed to deflect from the flake baby rumor, but instead it suggest that this is her daughters second pregnancy. Her daughter’s pregnancy makes it clear that the abstinence-only doesn’t work for preventing teen pregnancies. Palin wants to keep other teenagers in America from getting birth control information and devices. Palin is anti-birth-control, and anti-sex-education for teens aside from abstinence-only. The point here, are there two or one teenage pregnancies by a daughter of a policy making who advocates no sex-education for teens aside from abstinence-only? Her daughter’s pregnancy makes it clear that the abstinence-only doesn’t work for preventing teen pregnancies.

“What makes you think it would be a punishment.”
‘Cause Obama already has stated as such? Was that a trick question?

“Nice try but all we have to do is look at how crowded China is! Birth control is the way to go. ”
Doesn’t China restrict the amount of children their citizens can have?

It isn’t about women’s rights. It is about a politian who has supported abstinence and teaching ONLY abstinence in all of her policies, whose daughter has now become pregnant- obviously not abstinent. This type of teaching does not work and for a women who is such a big proponent to make the case for all of us is just plan IRONIC.

Very wise of Obama to not raise family into the frey.
He might have to answer more about where he got his middle name.
Obama cannot attack a woman, now that he and his party refused to allow the better resume elevate because Hillary, after all, is a woman.
Decisions like the Dems made glare of Edwards support of his wife and hidden secrets.
Anyone else remember the truth about the value of life Kennedy placed on another woman unable to break the glass out in time for her own survival?
The Party has to grow up and today is the beginning of it for the boys club.
Congratulations are in order for the Palin family. Babies are pretty special.
Especially that first grandchild.

Obama can only speak for himself and his campaign. This stuff is coming from folks in Alaska. Some of those blog dates are in March. No way is the media and National Enquirer backing off (Edwards anyone?)
The people in AK were surprised she was chosen as no one had questioned them.
Despite what he says, McCain did NOT vet her. He can try to shift the blame only so long.
He is now dealing with stuff bubbling up, and he better hope this is all there is.
But I suspect this soap opera has a few more episodes….

I agree political families should be off limits. I wouldn’t want my boss or co-workers meddling in my personal business, either.
However, I wouldn’t lie to MY boss (boss = voters in this case) by telling him I’m pregnant – to cover up for my own daughter’s pregnancy – then lie about it – even if there’s photographic proof that you weren’t the mother.
Again…it’s no one’s business but her family’s. I’m sure she’s MOSTLY an honest person.

“However, I wouldn’t lie to MY boss (boss = voters in this case) by telling him I’m pregnant – to cover up for my own daughter’s pregnancy – then lie about it – even if there’s photographic proof that you weren’t the mother.”
What are you people smoking? Do you believe that Bush orchestrated 9/11 too?

for all of us is just ironic.
BK, there is nothing ironic about any of this, these kids did what many of us have done and messed up, I am quite sure that any 17 year old knows the consequence of certain activities. Look at all the wonderful programs we have that hand out advice, protection etc and still 12 and 13 year old girls end up in the same shape.

In the case of Bristol Palin’s pregnancy it should be exatctly the type of story the media should be carrying. Sara Palin believes in abstinence. she is on record as not wanting any of “…that explicit sex-ed struff” taught in public schools. Bristol obviously didn’t bother to follow mom’s abstinence only program. The fact that Bristol didn’t have access to condoms, birth control pill, gel, diaphram, etc. is certainly a factor in her getting pregnant as well. Palin is also adamently against same-ex marriage. Since Palin demands that the rest of America goose-step to her tune regarding sex. The fact that Palin’s daughter is unmarried and pregnant is very relevent to the Presidential campaign. By the way if the father of Bristol’s unborn is 18 or older he is guilty of statutory rape and should be tried. If he is under 18 and the Palins are crowing about their daughter getting married now that she is pregnant.

For the people who claim that Sen. Obama will use his surrogates to post about this girl’s pregnancy, I ask, “Why would he remind everyone that he is the son of a teenage mother?”
Your posts are just mean spirited.
Sen. Obama can truly empathize with this girl’s situation, he’s been there.

For someone who boasts the importance of ‘decision making’ and that America needs to focus more on parenting, Obama’s got a lot of nerve telling the press what they can and can’t report..it just adds to his ‘elitist’ reputation. America knows so little about McCain’s VP pick, they need to know all they can to size her up, good or bad.

This young girl is a victim of innocence being forced to a degree that a girl in love could not possibly live up to. On one hand, she is not allowed birth control. On the other hand she is expected to show self control that grown ups often times cannot maintain. Now she has become a victim of her circumstance, imagine how horrendous it is for this young girl to know that her “failure” to be a perfect angel, is the topic of ridicule to the world. I am horrified for her. I feel sorry for her and all girls in her situation. Those who call her and her mother names that are offensive to ALL women are just plain EVIL.

They didn’t leave John Edwards alone and he was not in the race, they didn’t leave Rev. Wright alone, they did not leave the people in the church while in their place of worship alone, they did not leave Michelle alone now you are supposed to be better? Why? I stand to it if the shoe were on the other foot Hanniey, O’Reily Rush none of them would be above this they would b all over it because it would “affect us as Americans” how our our leader would blah blah. Fight fire with fire. show the hypocrisy. Notice how the story is buried by the storm in New Orleans. I am a republican and a lawyer I understand dirty tricks its my job machiavelli Sun Tze through out history you do what you must to win noone remember the honorable loser.

Wow! I can’t believe people posting about someone’s decision to have a child while she was governor of a state. Now, if it was a man, it would be ok to continue to have children up until he was 40 or even 50. Because she is a woman in an important position, then she needs to make decisions based on political and not personal feelings. Wow, I don’t think women are ready to have the glass ceiling shattered. It seems like so many of us really just want to stay where we are and not let others achieve and do something bigger or grander. BTW, I was a stay at home mom for 10 year, my decision. So I am not as career oriented as some women are, but I do not begrudge other women’s choices and I find Sarah Palin’s candidacy to be quite exciting!

“Palin seems irresponsible. I could not run for office when I have a down syndrome child and a pregnant teen.”
So don’t run for office then. Obviously, she is an exceptional person or she wouldn’t be the Governor of Alaska.

Senator Obama shows ethics here. This is another reason he gets my vote. The real FOCUS needs to be on McSame and his now even more questionable judgement and his same as Bush policies which will give us 4 more years of the same. Horrible, life costing, policies destined to bring this country to ruin.

Real Republican?
John Edwards was a presidential candidate that came out strongly against Clinton’s indiscretions in the WH. Jeremiah Wright was Obama’s mentor based on the words in Obama’s book. Mrs. Obama has also taken to the campaign trail which also leads to some criticism of her comments. Bristol is a minor and not someone in politics. She should be left alone, just like Obama’s girls. Even Obama himself said he was a child of a teenage mother.

….I only wish he had said the same thing when Hillary and Pres. Clinton were accused of “pimping out Chelsea” during the primary.
Yes, there’s nothing like hypocrisy.
Yavo Lem | Sep 1, 2008 4:13:25 PM
Chelsea was a grown woman of 28 who was active in her mother’s political campaign. And not an innocent 17 year old who had nothing to do with her mother’s appointment. Also, it not his daughter, so what hyprocrisy are you talking about?
Obama himself never said anything about Chelsea other than she is intelligent and was raised well by her parents.

Sarah Palin has just hired a lawyer with regards to this trooper gate story. I really think she should step down!

Running for vice president is very intense and stressful add to that a special needs child and a pregnant teenager and then throw in an old man for a running mate that spells trouble.
GO OBAMA!!!

Obama is corrent not to involve the candidtate’s families but one has to wonder about McCain’s vetting process -
that should be addressed and should be fair game…Judgement will be the key factor of the election.

By golly, the feller is right this time.

What kind of vetting did John MCCain do? It’s posted now that the husband has a DUI! You conservatives, you guys are the ones who like to pass judgement on everyone else. He sure didn’t make it easy for you guys!

the whole thing sickens me. i have supported mccain through all the highs and lows. the whole palin pregnancy thing is going to hurt him a bunch. it wont change my vote, but i think it was one dumb ass move on his part. i know he is a maverick,but come on johnny. and if she did keep it from him, that in my eyes people is as close to a lier as you are going to get. as for not being relivent, they preach thier christian beliefs in the speaches they give. like i said, it wont change my vote, or maybe it will, and that is something i would never had believed i’d actually say.

Ambition has blinded Sarah Palin and her husband Todd as well as John McCain. It is nothing short of shameful for them to drag a young girl like Bristol Palin (and even more unwillingly “Levi” the reported father of Bristol’s unborn baby) onto the front pages of the tabloids surely to replace Jamie Lynn Spears.
The Palins, both in their early 40s, could have deferred the national political spotlight for a later date when their roles as parents weren’t as important. AND McCain could have selected a running mate from among scores of others. Shame on the Palins and the McCains!
This certainly demonstrates the poor judgement and focus on self we might expect from a McCain-Palin White House.

I had a 16 year old friend who was in a similar position – pregnant, and her mother suggested let’s just tell everyone it is my baby to avoid embarrassment for my career and before friends. The daughter however said mum “no”. I want my kid to know I am its mother. She never regretted it to this day and is proud of her kid. This is an old story that happens again and again with dominating mothers. It is up to Bristol to take a stand and let Trig know that she is his mum – but no I doubt it with such a controlling parent :The barracuda.

Yup mccollegemom, I questioned a female governor’s decision to become pregnant. I am a mother of two and believe women are as valuable as men, but I also know we are physiologically different. A pregnancy is a medical condition with risks. The risks increase with age, like it or not. At 44, she CHOSE to become pregnant with her fifth child – she didn’t claim it was an oops. Being governor of the State of Alaska, (or Vice President, for that matter) isn’t quite the same as having any other job.
As soon as men can experience and choose a risky medical condition, like a pregnancy, we will see how they behave. Until then, sorry but I think she, yes a woman, showed questionable, even poor, judgement.

As a fellow Democrat, I believe that the real issues should be discussed here. I agree with Obama, families should be left out of politics. I feel that Republicans are responsible for this leak just as those who attacked McCain for adopting a black child. But if you are going to emphasis family values and abstinence, you are setting yourself up. However, private matters should remain private.

Palin is scary to the Orc’s that follow Obama. She may have less federal government experience (Obama spent 143 days in the Senate before starting his campaign for President), but she does have as much state and local experience. She has experience in the private sector as well as the public sector, whereas Obama has always been on the government payroll. She has executive experience as well as legislative experience, and is the only person on either party’s ticket that has exercised a veto. Advantage: McCain/Palin by three lengths.
McCain is defining the mission of his campaign as reform, prosperity and peace. Palin’s track record in reform and energy independence equal or exceed McCain’s; Obama and Biden are still trying to find out what the clamor is all about. Palin’s international experience running the national guard in a state that borders Russia is not in the same league as McCain’s, but it is clearly superior to Obama’s experience representing his “hood”, the South Side of Chicago in the Illinois legislature. Advantage: McCain/Palin by default.
The Orc’s will be tempted to try to tear down Palin by trying to find mud to sling. That will only expose them for what they are: Orcs.
Obama’s best defense against Sarah Palin is to have an equally compelling female candidate for his VP. I’ll bet he wishes he’d picked Hillary now.
You’ve got to give Obama credit, he is consistent. Unfortunately, what he’s consistent about is seriously flawed judgment.

the GOP spit in their voters faces.the GOP knows that they can shove anything down the GOP faithful’s throat.GOers dont get it Hate is over in AMERICA.It will be great when America leads the world in peace.

Gosh, apparently all those years that Hillary worked so hard for the American people and she let Chelsea suffer.
Those of you saying women can’t work and raise a family successfully — you can’t have it both ways. Condemn Hillary for doing what Sarah Palin is doing or be shown to be hypocrites.

While I do think the whole pregnancy thing is a private family matter, it does raise serious questions about McCain’s JUDGEMENT in picking someone who obviously will have to exercise some serious time management. I just don’t see how she will be able to juggle her family issues and the campaign or the VP spot. One will suffer. It also makes me think, what right does she have to be a moral compass (through legistalation) for me and my family when her own house isn’t even in order.
Perhaps McCain with his penchant for bueaty queens and pretty women was thinking with the wrong head.

If it was Obama who thrust is children in the national spotlight, the repubs would be foaming at the mouth about how he thru his children under the bus. The double standard is disgusting

Democrats might want to be very careful going after Palin’s daughter.
One of Biden’s sons and Biden’s brother are accused of defrauding a former business partner and an investor of millions of dollars in a hedge fund deal that went sour. They are now being sued. I wonder how many widows and orphans will suffer because of their greed. See how we can all play that game?

Peach
Stop trying to blame any of this on Obama. While he would hope that everyone would back off this story, we’re all aware that is this country we have something called freedom of speech. If you McCain/Palin supporters don’t like what you’re reading, you’re fee to go to the Christian Conservative websites where they’re trying to spin this while using this girl as the poster child for anti abortion. Just don’t expect the rest of us to forget that they also preach abstinence which clearly doesn’t work.

Peach
Are there any offensive comments on Obama’s website? That seems unlikely.

Jick59801 -
Yes – there really are offensive statements on Obama’s web site.
The web site has an administrator but I don’t think they are full time. If they are, they should be fired.
The most offensive, sexist, anti-semitic statements have stood on that web page for days at a time and been the subject of media articles.

Palin’s daughter is pregnant. It’s not something made up. It does not require opinion. It’s simply news. I think that reporters should treat the issue with delicacy. But, when a candidate opposes a woman’s right to reproductive health care, opposes contraception, and opposes teaching sexual education in the schools then her views on this teenage pregnancy are newsworthy. We’ve heard a lot about McCain’s life, Obama’s life, Biden’s life, but we know nothing about Palin’s life. If she didn’t want to step under a microscope then she shouldn’t have joined the campaign.

Good on O’Bama! Both shrewd and classy move. He knows there’s no way anyone can get people to stop talking about this, and thus will reap all the benefits of the negativity against Palin anyway. Nevertheless, he emphatically keeps himself and his campaign from the muck, giving himself a boost in the process. Bonus points for being forceful and not passive-aggressive or equivocating in his classiness.
This thing is great for Obama not only because it damages Palin, but also because he gets a chance to proclaim at the top of his lungs that he’s not using it, while still benefiting. It even lets him remind people of his life story and difficult beginnings.
That said, I wish Bristol and her family well in what must be a difficult, hectic time, and that Bristol and the baby’s father give their child a good, happy upbringing. And I’m sure Obama wishes that, too. Not only was his mother close to Bristol’s age (though married) when she had him, he appears to be that rare breed of both calculating politician and decent man.

I disagree about the Hillary comment. Hillary had one child. One child is different than having 5. We need to stop competing against Men. Being a woman is the most powerful and beautiful thing. WE are womb-man meaning that we are more than what a man is. We are whole. With that said. We (both men & women) cannot do it all and do it well. Something will be neglected. We were created to be focused. Having children takes a lot of responsibility. They are not meant to be accessories. I am a Dr. I work over 80 hrs a week and I am raising 4 children at the same time! Well there are 163 hrs in a week. Take away sleep who is raising our children? They do not ask to be born. We need to ask ourselves what is important to us. Is it
having a successful career as a professional? Or is it being a successful mother? They both take sacrifice and they should both be respected. We as women have come a long way and I thank all of my foresisters for paving the way for us. Because of you women have more choices to live the life they choose.

McCain’s judgement is flawed. Wondering what spin the Christians and Conservatives will put on this latest Palin drama? Palin should do the right thing for the ticket and drop out immediately. As it is, Obama/Biden are going to win but with Palin on the ticket, Obama will win by a landslide.

Oh, really? An unwed, underage, pregnant, teen? What has this to say about her family’s moral standards? Standards are derived from the parents. No control over her own children? Humm>…. Bad.

The subject Palin’s pregnant teenage daughter is being vastly dismissed as a private family issue. However this became a public issue when McCain nominated Palin as VP. What does this say about parental responsibility?? What does this say for proper work/life balance?? AND what does this say about the effectiveness of Palin’s own “abstinence only” polcy?? These are issues that McCain picked Palin for in the first place. The fact that her 17 year old daughter is pregnant clearly demonstrates that Palin has not taken an active enough role in supervising her daughter and that she has devoting too much of her time to her work and not enough to her family and daughter. Further, this undermines Palin’s own “abstinence only” position. No one is necessary judging the daughter here. They are judging the VP candidate, her hypocrisy, and McCain’s judgment in choosing her.

Dysfunction and disinformation are alive and well. What a way to “elect” people to the two highest offices in this country. Whatever happened to common decency??? Is it extinct???

Not only would O’Reilley be all over a story like this if it were coming from the Obama Camp, he’d be intimating that John Edwards was the father. Does that make it right? Nah… Does it further hammer home the point that a two party system in this country–both flawed in their own rights–doesn’t work? Yep. Why? Because the devil is in the details, and neither party can deal with the real issues facing America today–they simply hope that we as Americans are going to on whether to vote for a woman who’s 17 year old daughter is on the verge of a shotgun wedding, or a man who’s not only the first minority every to get this far, but, also, if we believe what we’ve been told, TOTALLY inexperienced and not ready for the job of Commander and Chief. It’s going to boil down to what it always does–who are we LEAST afraid of? But when we get down to people defending this kid because she grew up in Alaska and there’s nothing else for teenagers to do there but have sex when they’re bored, why isn’t the Alaskan population booming? If we’re to believe Obama’s years in DC make him green because he hasn’t been there long enough, then, why is JFK one of the most beloved presidents of all time? Get past the smoke and mirrors and focus on the real issues…like why I’m struggling to pay my mortgage because it costs me a small fortune to drive to the bank.

I’m actually much more curious about what it implies that Sarah Palin herself is having an unplanned baby at her age. I respect her decision not to have an abortion. But what are her views on artificial contraception? Was she not using any, and if not, was it a matter of being anti-contraception on principle? Some pro-lifers favor the rollback not just of Roe but also of Griswold, which laid down the privacy principle that is the foundation for Roe, and which was concerned with access to contraceptives not abortions. I think that’s a fair question to ask. If she’s anti-contraception as well as anti-abortion, that places her very far outside the mainstream. As someone who may end up with the power to appoint Supreme Court justices, I think that’s a question she should have to answer.

The rumors of Palin faking the pregnancy still persist and could be put to rest with the release of a hospital record and a couple of eye witness accounts of Trig’s birth. McCain allowed journalists to view parts of his medical records, so Palin could allow for the same to put an end to the recurring rumors for both her own political sake that of her daughter’s.

Folks, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, Palin is not going to be the real Republican VP nominee. Word has it that Republican strategists chose her in order to buy McCain more time and to dominate the spin cycle right up through the election. We have yet to meet the real Republican VP nominee, but we will. And we’ll meet him/her at a critical juncture in the campaign. And, what’s more, our vapid, incompetent, unimaginative newsl media will fall for it, lock, stock and barrel. Sad.

“Word has it that Republican strategists chose her in order to buy McCain more time and to dominate the spin cycle right up through the election.”
Don’t tell me, the word came from the dailykrud?

WOW! I cannot believe what I am reading. Everyone is so self righteous. I never heard of Sara Palin before McCain’s announcement. So far everything I have read about her is that she is pro-life, pro-family, pro-ethics, pro-right to bear arms, PRO AMERICA PEOPLE! AND.. she is a mom. Never have I read so much crap. She doesn’t care about her children, she is a mother who should focus on her children and worry more about them than politics? No where have I ever read anything how the men who have run for this office should be ashamed of themselves because they are fathers and should focus on their children. People, think about what you are saying. America is about equal opportunity. It’s not about the best man for the job anymore. In this case, the best person for the job is Sara Palin. She will bring a fresh perspective to Washington, something they desperately need. So instead of bashing Sara Palin, look at yourselves and honestly ask yourself about your own values and if you would have the courage to accept that invitation knowing that your life and the lives of your children would be under a microscope. Most of us would not. Seeing her family stand together, knowing this would happen, agreeing to be united a team, a family, is commendable and speaks volumes about who she is and can be for our country. I want someone who stands united with us in the face of adversity. Her ability to speak from her experience, her heart and as a mother is just what this country needs. You all should get over yourselves. Use common sense people.

If the story is true what kind of judgement does Palin have to put everyone on the commercial Alaskan Air flight in danger by getting on a 8-13 hour flight while she was in labor? It shows she does not care about anyone else. Is that who you want 1 heartbeat away from being President of the United States. If she is willing to put them at risk on the flight and her unborn child at risk waiting 22 hours until her business was done to allegedly have the child what will she do for America. No judgement at all.

Peaches – I said the rumors are still going strong and it would behoove both Palin and her daughter to put an end them once and for all. An immediate threat from the McCain campaign of a serious backfire for the Democrats followed the campaign stating that Palin’s daughter was pregnant. I don’t think threats and accusations against Democrats will dispel rumors, only proof will.

Palin’s 17 year-old daughter has been dating the 26 year-old father of her baby for three years. Thus when the relationship began, she was 14 and he 23. Age of consent in Alaska is 16. How old was she when she got pregnant?

Real, she wasn’t in labor hun….she had experience some pre-labor contractions and she was leaking—she contacted her doctor and stayed in contact thru-out the entire flight which was about 8 hours including stop overs. Her labor in fact had to be induced later. I really don’t know why obamabots open their mouths about what they know nothing about.

um.. and just how many of you actually listened to your parents when you were teenagers? and what does that have to do with anything anyway? hypocrites!

Nina writes,”Folks, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, Palin is not going to be the real Republican VP nominee. Word has it that Republican strategists chose her in order to buy McCain more time and to dominate the spin cycle right up through the election. We have yet to meet the real Republican VP nominee, but we will. And we’ll meet him/her at a critical juncture in the campaign.”
We’ll they have to give out that name by Thursday, because that’s when the comvention ends and by then the ticket will be offically nominated.
It wouldbe strange politics to say on thing and then do another.
Oh, wait that would be right in line with John McCains 2008 campaign.

There’s a credibility problem nationwide with the McCain campaign and Palin. Claiming the daughter is five months pregnant when pictures taken over the weekend don’t back it up isn’t flying.

Kat -
You aren’t a woman, are you? Do you know how many women are 5 mos. pregnant and are barely showing? Seriously, you need to get a grip.

Anyone who condemns a candidate or an entire Party based on what a few angry jerks say on the internet is not thinking logically.

chattyway: How ever you want to define pregnancy its irrelevant. Most airlines don’t allow women in the 3rd trimester to travel without a doctor note. He her water had broke several hours before the baby could have come at any time. To my understanding when a woman’s water break you go to the hospital ASAP or you risk injury to the baby, you dont wait give a speech then get on a commercial flight full of other people with places to go and lives of their own to take a 8-13 hour flight across 2 countries to land then pass 2 hospitals quality hospitals to do to a town’s medical center. How ever you want to spin it she put the people on the plane in danger and the baby in danger and i wouldn’t want her to be equally reckless with America and our lives as VP.

I can’t believe you people.
First of all, knock it off with all of the religious crap. Don’t you realize that most of you holyier then thou, fundamenalists are most of the problem in this country? Stop looking at everyone elses issues, and start looking within yourselves.
This woman stands for a lot of great things. Especially the RIGHT thing. Whether YOU believe in the right to choose or not is NOT what it is about here. SHE believes that you get pregnant, you take responsibility and she not only shows that in her OWN choices, but she has apparently instilled it in her child. This girl is getting married to her boyfriend.
Have none of you ever made a mistake? Are you all so perfect? I can bet you, you have. Stop judging. Start admiring. These are people that deserve our admiration for choosing to serve our country, choosing to allow their private lives to become pubilc, choosing to take on the challenge of public life knowing there are people like YOU out there, and choosing to not let you get to them. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.

Help me understand people… why would any of you want a President for this country who admired and sought counsel from a man who preaches hate and fear about our country for 20 years! And only after pressure from his political party, denounce him and leave his church? What kind of support does that show you? Is that the kind of leader you want?

Peaches – I’m saying that the proof hasn’t been established beyond assertions made from Palin and McCain. What’s wrong with Palin showing proof and putting an end once and for all to continued rumors? Then she can campaign freely without any lingering doubts.

Curious: right on Title 11. Chapter 41. Section 440. and 438 define sexual misconduct. If he was 23 and she was was 14 thats a crime. It would still be a crime if he is 26 and she is 17. I hope palin is following up with the prosecution since she believes in the laws being followed and obeyed. Forget that section 436 first degree Sexual Abuse of a Minor can be charged he was over 18 and she was under 16. Maybe the laws don’t apply to her family

Real republican – seriously?? is that what is right for that unborn child? How can you sit in judgement of a family like that? You have no idea of their history. If she is keeping the baby and marrying the father.. the best thing for the new family is support. Your hidden agenda is sickening. Using a painful moment in Sara Palin’s family for your own political soapbox rhertoric. WOW… some people never cease to amaze me… I’m glad you aren’t my parent…

So, Bristol Palin “will” marry the father of her unborn child. Well, I wonder if the Social Conservatives have given any thought to the possibility that the father will not want to marry Bristol. Of course, since Bristol is not due to give birth until after the election, this really doesn’t matter to a lying bunch of hypocritical right-wing nut jobs. The G.O.P. spin machine is running on high right now pumping out lie after lie for consumption by the American people. There are so many lies that are flooding the Internet from Republicans that I’ll bet people around the world are laughing their heads off at us, and wondering if we will buy this. I won’t. But, I don’t know how many of my fellow citizens I can count on to do the same thing. The Founding Fathers concept of an “educated electorate” flew out the window long ago in this country. Obama/Biden 08!!!

Although I understand why Sen. Obama is telling people to back off Palin’s family, it was Palin, herself, John McCain, and the McCain/Palin campaign that brought her family into question and under scrutiny.
I agree with Obama that children should not be part of the political process. I agree that he should tell people to leave them alone. He’s a father and it’s a parent’s obligation and natural instinct to protect their children.
But Palin has stated that her motherhood makes her qualified to be Vice President of the United States. She said it demonstrates her ability to multitask.
What testaments of a mother’s job performance are there other than her children’s health and behavior?
If her children do not abide by her “policies,” then Palin’s ability to “lead” is doubtful.
McCain/Palin needs to quit stretching her “qualifications.” They need to take her motherhood, her children — all of them, and her anti-abortion stance out of the game. If they continue to flout her position as a mother in her qualifications, then I want to see all of their medical records and school records including grades, attendance, health and behavior.

AMB: Don’t blame me I didn’t put Palin’s family in th spot light SHE did . You don’t want to play with the dirty political people drop out. Don’t put your name in the paper. She put her family at risk. Thats like someone taking their family to warzone then then they get hurt and you blame those shooting. Republicans started the dirty play I of all people would know because I was against strongly against Obama but when i look at my options as a pragmatist I rather his hope then the Republicans dirty tricks when the country I love is in danger. So don’t blame me when the unborn baby i targeted or Bristol or anyone else. Edwards baby was not off limited, Michelle was not , Wright and the people worshiping at their church were so neither is Palin’s family. Sun Tze said attack you enemy when they are weakest and if the Republicans wanted to play that way before they are fair targets now.

Olivia – so what does being a father mean? Taking care of your kids first? Then no one who has kids should be in office! Sara Palin represents us all, as women. We have the right to be mothers and work. That is what alot of us do every day. Some of us have no choice because we are single mothers. Obviously, pro life means alot of things, more than there is space to mention. The point is this: PRO “LIFE” = Sara Pahil.. she is the People’s leader. and btw.. what the heck was Biden talking about when all all he could say about Sara Pahil is that she was “good looking” and the he is “old”… Typical…..

Real republican – are you serious? PLEASE! It is up to us as “human beings” to stop the BS .. instead of promoting it as you do… Our country is in danger because of simple minds that think simpleminded things and propogate simplemindendess. PEACE brother… stop bringing war against your own..

Bible Betty is a Hypocrite!

no devils plus..
“Demands for military information were accompanied by threats to terminate my medical treatment if I [McCain] …”
You have to read the W H O L E book to get the complete story!
As for Bristol Palin, this must have been a difficult year for her… knowing that a beloved but imperfect child would be born into her family.
Although none of us condone the birthing of children out-of-wedlock, ..it happens!
And when it happens, it is better to either have the baby or abort the fetus….rather then birth and literally bury the child.
I do not envy the Palins the burden of these heavy decisions this last year….
but I do NOT think any less of her as a reformer and a maverick and a sharp, focused woman than I did yesterday>
Mccain and Palin
COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY

Hey, AMB, the candidate you’re defending is named Sarah Palin, not Pahil.
And yes, of course mothers have the right to work, though personally I would question the judgment of any parent–male or female–who decides to seek the absolutely most demanding jobs in the country when they have five children, one of whom has special needs and needs extra care, and now we learn that their 17-yr-old also has a child on the way, which will require extra care. I don’t believe that it’s wrong for a woman to run for VP under these circumstances; I think it’s wrong and irresponsible for ANYONE, male or female, to run for VP at this particular point in his or her career. There are plenty of more manageable jobs that a politician can have at this particular point in his or her life without it being the second highest job in the country.
Not too hypocritical on the whole family values thing, eh?

Why on earth did she agree to become a VP candidate if she knew that her 17 year old unmarried daughter was 5 months pregnant? What kind of parent (mother or father) would put their child in the spotlight during such a terribly emotional time? It’s disgusting. The media is going to rip her family to shreds; and all of it could have been avoided.
And what does this say about McCain’s judgment (if indeed he did know about the pregnancy)? When McCain says “I support her 1000%”, then we know she’s toast.

One other comment: Despite all the issues/scandals surrounding the Clintons one thing they always excelled at during Bill’s campaign/administration was protecting Chelsea.

AMB- 100% serious. You show no quarter for an enemy who who do what they can to destroy you. Thats the problem with liberals and democrats you can not reason with irrational people. Republicans attack they run a negative campaign you whats right is to attack with equal or greater force or people will push you over. Thats how you deter these things to show people they have just as much to loose. Most Americans are not smart enough to understand intelligent explanations all they want is the gotcha one liners. They don’t care about about being nice. McCain when negative and went up in the polls turn about is fair play. When I was 7 my soccer coach told me “second place is for losers to make them feel better about themselves.” I never forgot that. Democrats and be nice and loose but ask yourself this do the history books remember who was negative, do they remember who was lost, or do they remember who won. Noone asks how. machiavelli the ends just the means and “… anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved.”

McCain’s judgement on making Palin his VP pick is an example of ambition first. He chose her with the sole purpose of aiming former Clinton supporters. Obama put country first, he could have chosen Bayh, Kaine or Clinton to secure more votes or tilt a state like VA or IN in his favor but he put country first asking Joe Biden to help him govern our country. Palin may sound good, but let’s check the facts. Another fanatic evangelical rapture-awating far-right governor of an oil/energy state, just like George W. Bush, who believes that we, already behind in education, should be teaching our kids creationism instead of science. Palin is more of the same, McCain is Bush the third, more of the same, McSame is insane !!!

AMB: Why because I understand what it takes to win? Are you suggesting it is better to be nice and let Mccain destroy our country? That when he lets gas get to $6/gallon thats acceptable. When he starts the draft to get soldiers for his war against Iran and North korean and his 100 year war against Iraq, while ignoring the people who attacked us in Afghanistan but our country in danger. So sit by be a nice guy while he destroys social security and our economy. Yes thats right we should not be negative, so protect yourself turn the other check second place is good enough. You are right. I am sorry as i said before Palin put her family in the middle of the war that the Republicans started. What ever happens is her fault. Someone has to stand up and do what needs to be done to protect our country by any means necessary. Throughout the history of the world that is how people have survived and protected the future, Sun Tze said it Machiavelli said it Malcolm X said it, Churchill said it, FDR aid it and it is still applicable today. If she doesn’t want people to talk about her family get out of the race because the Republicans would not grant the same quarter.

AMB:
I never said she wasn’t capable or smart. If you re-read what I wrote, I said that in my opinion–and after all that’s what these comments are–I don’t think it’s right for any candidate, male or female, to run for what is possible one of the world’s most demanding jobs when she has a 4-month-old baby, and her 17-yr-old is 5-months pregnant. That comment has nothing to do with Sarah Palin’s personal abilities or her husband’s. It has to do with their judgment about what kind of time commitment they thought was appropriate for their careers at a time in their lives when they have their hands full. Of course it’s their decision and their judgment. Nothing I say is going to change that, but MY OPINION is as I stated. If you can’t handle people expressing their opinions, then that’s your problem.

I wonder how many liberal parents have teenage children that get pregnant.

Some of you are wasting your brain cells on a personal issue that is none of your business while our fellow americans are going through a major calamity. Shame on you.

SP – and my “opinion” is that people who make statements or express “opinions” about the judgement a person makes about his or her own life is simpleminded when they don’t even know the person or aren’t even a part of that’s persons life. So if you don’t like my opinion, then that is your problem. :-)

deb – move to iraq, iran or afganistan… where women have no rights at all.. where women are fightng and dying to have our rights… and then say what a woman’s place should be.. good grief…

Yes, AMB, of course. You have every right to express your misguided opinions.
;-)

SP – I think there is a saying about the pot calling the kettle black??? I think you know it.. right? hahaha

Obama is absolutely right – she’s a kid, leave her out of all discussions.

FortuneFavorsTheBrave: I am a real republican because I know I mut protect my country before I protect a corrupt party. McCain awful decision, he is feeble and pathetic. Palin being 1 heartbeat off of the reigns of control of the free world. Worse descion. I have voting Republican all my life, and i may have been wrong, but I know not to make this mistake and risk the whole free world to protect a political party. Thats why I am a real republican because I know to protect my country first.

america*centric
I am glad you made this comment. You are right teenage pregnancy has no party affiliation but I was basically trying to bring out the same point to the liberals on their attack on Sandra Palin. Thanks. So whatever happened to Palin’s daughter is a family issue. It is none of these people’s business.
“And does being conservative or liberal, republican or democrat…. have anything whatso ever to do with teen-age pregnancies? Naah!”
————————————–
“I wonder how many liberal parents have teenage children that get pregnant.
Posted by: FortuneFavorsTheBrave | Sep 1, 2008 7:51:33 PM
_____________
And I wonder how many CONSERVATIVE parents have teenage children who have gotten pregnant?
And does being conservative or liberal, republican or democrat…. have anything whatso ever to do with teen-age pregnancies? Naah!
Frankly, maybe we should re-instate those “modesty belts”….. the ones which can only be opened with a very special key held by G-d and released to the owner only after the marriage vows are declared and legalized.
Posted by: america*centric

Real republican – A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.

CHUCK LESTER
NEVER MIND WHAT OBAMA WHOULD DO.OR DID MR MAVERICK McCAIN GOT YOU IN THIS MESS. IS IT HIM BEEN MORE CLEVER THAN ANY ONE ELSE, HIRING SOME FOR THE SECOND TOP JOB IN THE LAND WITHOUT VETTING HER THAT IS THE QUESTION MY FRIEND.

For me- what matters is- Holy Palin is not able to save her own daughter from committing sin (Is not getting pregnant without marriage a sin in Ultra-Conservative world)…It is- and trust me when I say it will effect McCain’s candidacy. I come from Oklahoma and I really know those Ultra Conservative people. They will not vote for Obama- but they will not vote for Palin also. Pregnant at 17 without marriage- oh- that is a disaster in that circle.

DailyKOS jumped the shark into the fever swamp on this one. Leave the girl alone

Real Republican,
I respect your opinion. You made a good point but we just differ in opinion. I am in the military. I stayed in because of the 9-11 and believe in protecting this country. I truly believe we already wasted our best chance to kill Bin Laden when Clinton ignored an urgent call to ask permission to shoot Bin laden when our snipers got within eyesight of him. I know a lot of people will disagree in my comment, probably including you, but I think we did the right attacking Iraq but we used the wrong tactic after the invasion because of Donald Rumsfeld’s unwillingness to listen to the commanders on the field. The problem with Bush was he only listened to Rumsfeld when this guy was the Secretary of Defense. Bush and Rumsfeld had ignored the Powell Doctrine. Bush only agreed to the McCain’s surge because Rumsfeld resigned. I think Rumsfeld was the key person why Colin Powell resigned. Obama reminds me of Donald Rumsfeld for he setting his policy before he had a chance to the generals and the troops and for not giving the crediting the troops enough for the success of the surge. On the same token, he is advocating the Iraq surge tactic in Afghanistan. I am also surprised with Obama’s comments and flip-flop on foreign policy. I think he lacks the sense of accountability and structure that is a must for the job of the Commander-In-Chief.
—————————————
FortuneFavorsTheBrave: I am a real republican because I know I mut protect my country before I protect a corrupt party. McCain awful decision, he is feeble and pathetic. Palin being 1 heartbeat off of the reigns of control of the free world. Worse descion. I have voting Republican all my life, and i may have been wrong, but I know not to make this mistake and risk the whole free world to protect a political party. Thats why I am a real republican because I know to protect my country first.
Posted by: Real republican

“Do NOT tell me this was done without Obama’s knowledge… or without information leaked from his headquarters!”
america*centric – you are wrong.
No one had to leak anything. I went to some Alaska online papers to see what Alaskans think about Palin. I ran across those rumors after about five minutes. The orinal comments date back to around the time Trig Palin was born.
I get email from Obama (and McCain) always asking for cash – never spreading rumors or anything else.
The “internets” have all kinds of stuff – lots of it NOT engineered by Barack Obama, so get over yourself.

How old is this “Man” that articles refer to that is the father? Are we talking about a 17 year-old boy as father? Or a “Man” of legal age and thus technically and legally a rapist or sexual predator in todays legal playground? Will this affect the future vice president’s view on such relationships? Or will she give it her own a special exemption? This isn’t entirely a private issue, it reflects on this woman’s political views and ethics.

Obama is always a class act.. . his responses are strong, solid, fair and issued with judgment… he never fails to walk his talk… unlike McCain whose sleaze is oozing all over.

Origood, it was nice for Obama to tell the media to back off but he failed to denounce Daily Kos and Moveon.org… If he made a bold move to denounce this two organizations, I will vote for him.
————————————-
Obama is always a class act.. . his responses are strong, solid, fair and issued with judgment… he never fails to walk his talk… unlike McCain whose sleaze is oozing all over.
Posted by: origood

Real republican – so what about Sara Palin scares you so much? So far I haven’t been able to get any real substance from your comments about her.. I am not sure that you even really know why you don’t like her.. Do you know?

“My creed is that public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation with full recognition that every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration, that constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought, that smears are not only to be expected but fought, that honor is to be earned, not bought.”

AMB: Noone wants war but when it is brought to you if you continue to turn turn the other cheek you will have no more cheeks only a red face. I don’t advocate starting something I advocate finishing it the best way possible. if that means some innocent blood needs to be split to protect the masses its worth while. I can be wrong but it seems it takes evil to defeat evil. Thats why cops carry guns and our military does not go to battle with flowers then go with guns

Real Republican,
“Obama has promised to do that in my opinion McCain has done the opposite.”
A promise is a promise. Word is cheap. But as I said, I heard enough promises. Promises are cheap with no meat in the bones. In order for a Commander-In-Chief to become successful, the president must know accountability and structure. So far, for 19 months, I think he has not demonstrated both. For Obama to say that Iran is a small country and does not pose a threat to us is plain ignorant. I myself have seen the Iranian with their guns pointed at us, provoking us to engage on them first to make us look bad to the rest of the world. You DO NOT hear everything in the news. Same as you, I don’t see all muslims as enemy. I also don’t like war. On the other hand, I still believe we did the right thing invading Iraq. We had to create a central battlefield against the terrorist that we can keep them busy liked a conventional war. Iraq turned out to be the perfect place since her former leader was obviously an evil person. I was also concerned about Saddam’s sons who are much more evil than him. Otherwise, we are going to end up with sporadic attacks and fighting all over the world and at home. I think that is the main reason why we have not been attack in the past 7 years. I also like what I see when women are getting treated better and equally in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Real Republican, I also see the nomination of a strong women liked Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton as a major slap to Bin Laden and to both Shia and Sunni terrorists and fundamentalists and to their fundamentalist view.

AMB: Why I don’t like McCain in summary, he betrayed our military, he stands with oil companies, he cares more about being belligerent to the world rather than protecting our country, he is for cutting taxes for the rich and leaving the middle class and poor to suffer, he is for draining our Social security so my generation will have nothing, for that matter the man has 100s of millions of dollars and still instead of saying look I want to forgo my social security check because i don’t need it just as a gesture not he happily take the check to add to his stash, he graduated almost at the bottom of his class and he is incompetent in general and that is for starters. Palin well, lets see what i know, one she is a religious fanatic as you described it easier. he want to stop the teaching of evolution in schools, she wants to ban abortion, ( I don’t support abortion but I would not pass a law to ban it its a person choice between you and your God.) She said she knew nothing about international politics she doesn’t know what the VP does, she has only in her life been on the city council of a town of about 6000 people governor for 20 months of a state of less than 1 million people. And this person is supposed to be next in line if god forbid something happens to the 72 year old cancer patient. Oh I forgot she was the sports anchor for that little bit there. You can call me elitist but she only has a journalism degree from the university of Idaho, not a degree in politics or economics or an MBA or a MD or a JD a journals BA from U of Idaho. Thats for starters, there are plenty of qualified women to be VP why pick the beauty queen no excuse me runner up to the beauty queen. Our country the free world is at stake and this is what McCain has planed a shotgun, joining of him and a beauty queen.

AMB said “so what does being a father mean? Taking care of your kids first? Then no one who has kids should be in office! Sara Palin represents us all, as women. We have the right to be mothers and work.
————————————-
You are right – women do have the right to work when they have children. Many women do not have a choice in the matter. But when a family is in crisis, which it sounds like this family is, is not the time to seek a demanding high political office. Most moms would take advantage of the family leave act in this situation. Frankly, it makes me very skeptical of her and of John McCain and his motives. Picking someone only because they are a woman and attractive to the conservative base makes me question his judgement. I think he was looking for shock value to steal the limelight. I always respected McCain, now I wonder if he deserves my respect.

McCain has known about Palin and her accomplishments for a long time. Why are women so threatened by a woman who has a family and a successful career? I think she is a role model for all girls that you can do it all. She also has a very supportive husband who co-parents with her. You diffenently cannot call her an elitist. Her family has problems just like the rest of America. You deal with the problems as they come long and get on with life.

Real Republican- is your real name Karl ROve?
Obama walk the walk, and McCain’s campaign has tried every slimy trick in the book, calling Obama a muslim and an elitist (while mcsame lost count of his homes!), comparing him to paris hilton… You sit here and call obama inexperienced when McSnarky thinks the ecomony is just fine and we need a 100 more years of war in the middle east?!?!?
McCain has set the bar so low during this election, any scumbag politician would seem decent. please show me how moveon.org is spreading any rumors about this promiscuous VP daughter (teaching abstinence only works in theory btw!), please post a link to validate the propaganda/lies you write. The Bush administration supports torture, gave contracts to their buddies like Halliburton, let New Orleans drown, decided to wiretap americans, created trillions in debt (now China owns us), spread the military so thin it can’t defend any other countries, and lied to americans about WMDs and let Bin Laden go free once they cornered him… If you were a “real republican” you would have asked this country to impeach bush and saved your party from being the disgrace it is today.
Even if McCain weren’t a snarky old man that thinks this ecomonic downtur is “psychological” and it’s funny to tell jokes about apes raping women and sing songs about bombing Iran- he would still LOSE. Bush ruined your party… no one will ever trust it again.

FortuneFavorsTheBrave,
I never suggested that parents are perfect. My points were:
1.) When your family is in crisis, you make sacrifices. Let’s face it, she has a job close to home, so saying no to the VP role would not likely hurt the family financially, and could in fact help it through what I would consider a very challenging time.
2.) She is pro-life and pro-abstinence. She has proven that a pro-abstinence approach is not effective.

We live in an interesting time.
Liberal candidates with real family values – no affairs, no divorces….
Conservative candidates with questionable values… divorce, affairs, teenage pregnancies….
Hmm, what happened to “practice what you preach”….
makes me wonder about those liberals.. They appear to be setting an example for America rather than trying to preach… sort of what being ‘Christlike’ is all about
and the conservatives….. do what I want you to do , not what I do… sort of the ‘Christian’ theme these days
quite an eye-opener!!!
What would Jesus think if he was around my dear fellow christians? Sometimes I am ashamed to call myself a christian with your deep depths of hypocrisy.
Killing an innocent is evil whether it is an unborn child or an Iraqi child.. collateral damage takes place in both cases and neither is acceptable.
It is not a case of being liberal or conservative, it is about respecting life!!!!!

Real Republican,
We attacked Iraq for reasons that we believed were right. We thought that they had weapons of mass destruction and we wanted to take out Sadaam Hussein. It turns out that the current admin cooked the evidence of weapons to get us in there, but our brave soldiers proved that there were no weapons. Sadaam is goine. Mission accomplished. We didn’t go in to fight the Iraqi civil war. The Iraqi government is willing to shoulder the burden and wants us out. Leaving isn’t defeat. We already won. Let’s now get out of Iraq and kick the butt of the guys who attacked us on 9/11 in Afghanistan.
Obama’s right. Leave family alone. Let’s also have McCain tell his wife enough of the catty comments like “I’ve always been proud of my country”. It was sick what Bush did to McCain in the SC primary. McCain needs to show a little backbone and also call the dogs off of Obama’s family.

It’s too bad that the young daughter has to be put under the microscope on what must be a very difficult time. Having said that, Ms. Palin knew that when she accepted McCain’s offer, so that’s that.
This actually says more about McCain than Palin. Of all the qualified Republican women, like Condi Rice, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, or Olympia Snowe, he picks a 20 month governor of a state smaller than greater Louisville with NO foreign policy experience in a time of war? I don’t get it and this revelation makes me question his judgment and how good a job he did vetting this choice, which is looking increasingly reckless for GOP prospects. Down ballot Republicans, like congressional candidates, are probably sitting around going, “John, what were you THINKING?”

More Realer Republican: You said exactly what I said, the war is over mission accomplished time to come home. Let the Iraqis fight their own civil war.
I only disagree in the point of leave them alone. There should be no quarter to Palin’s family there was none for Obama’s what’s good for one is good for the other. You want them to back off let them know if they continue with their attacks they have something to loose too. Dente worked with the Russians did it not?

Parenting.. making the right choices…
Vice Presidency v/s daughter’s privacy
Political big step v/s personal family tragedy
Fantastic Opportunity v/s unbelievable embarrassment for child
The choice was clear…. let nobody fool themselves. A simple no to McCain and we would have never ever heard about this!
It is all about priorities and what we love more.
I guess that is what the Christian Right is calling Real Family Values

This is what you get, people, with abstinence-only education and when correct sex ed is banned. Un less they just don’t have condoms in Alaska…

I knew this would happen. Liberals can’t help themselves. This will only get worse and it will get tied back to Obama every single time. This campaign is going perfectly. Every time liberal henchmen open their filthy mouths they alienate more decent Americans.

Well is the tough Gov. Palin tough enough to ensure her under age daughter doesn’t get Knock up?
Evangelical pure than thou?????
How stupid, for Dobson and the rest to think it’s right because it Gov. Palin’s daughter.
I bet if it were anyone in the DEMS party, they would be condemned by now by the Holier Than Thou Evangelicals, and how bad or evil they are.
Women need the freedom of choice, what if she Hate’s his gut’s afew years down the road?…

I support what Barack has said.
I believe that Sarah Palin’s selfish actions to accept the nomination and the fact that John McSame did not vet this person has demonstrated that he is not a good judge of character, and thus is not prepared to be the commander and chief of this great nation.

exuse me, ree spect walk, “filthy mouth”,? is that any way to talk about a decent woman who could have been YOUR mother. get a life. my advice. I didn’t say anything about obama, I said in the case of Sarah (as with Edwards), the ego and politics prevailed, and the family suffers. not a good sign for someone who may need to pick up that 3AM phone call.

J Jeffrey, his words don’t matter much if he does not denounce dailykos and moveon.org…

Obama is right just because her daughter is pregnent doesn’t meen they should make a big deal out of it they should just stick with the polls and govt. stuff

I can’t think of much I like about Barrack Obama. Nothing really. I disagree with almost everything he supports. He’s so far to the left that he makes Hillary Clinton look like president of the NRA! Still, I have to give credit where credit is due. He is demonstrating character and leadership by insisting that Miss Palin’s pregnancy not be used as a political too against her mother. He still isn’t qualified to be President.

If Obama continues to step in and defend McCain’s military “heroism” or Palin’s right to privacy once more time, I am suspending my donations to his campaign. Frankly, he does more image work for the Repubs these days than he does for his own party. In the end, he’s runs the very real risk of taking that High Road right over the heads of low information voters all the way to a big loss. This is why Repubs always win. They take advantage of every political opportunity, while Dems muzzle themselves and go into slumped-shoulder apology mode for absolutely everything.

what about country first? and he puts a successionist on the ticket. shame on you john mcshame. WWLD (what would lincoln do?)

U know what this whole conversation is pointless and i think if people are gona have somethin to say they should express it on election day i for one am deffently voting for obama and anyone who is smart will do the same :-P

What a wonderful mother Sarah Palin is! If she has had five kids and has a 17 year old daughter who’s pregnant, I just know she’s got what it takes to lead our nation! She could get real smart people to advise her on that foreign policy and complicated stuff. Bless her!

She should have been vetted! The McCain camp is solely responsible for these damages because they FAILED this BASIC requirement. This underscores a last minute pick. I’m still going with no cognizant long-standing Republican wanted to go down the drain with McCain. He needed someone (anyone) to accept his VP offer. She is ambitious and accepted the FASTRACK. It is very very sad for a family to be involved like this, but it all gets back to McCain and competency. The press can lay off the pregnacy but Palin and her Flat Earth Society policy of abstinece education (no contraception) is highly revelant in this case.

I got to go. As I said, Palin’s daughter is none of your business…

I didn’t know that Daily Kos posters ever left their insane asylum to wander over to post at ABC. But apparently they do.

This one Republican that will be writing in Mitt Romney on my ballot along with millions of other Republicans.

And this is why I will vote for him, well one of the reasons! Such a honest respectable man of God! Humblness! Can you say any other politician would have handled this so nicely, or would they have attacked the canidate and used this against them! GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And god bless him and all the canidates and theyre families! Be blessed!

This election will be a gauge of the sane and insane, A kinda census of who would really vote for a senile old man and a woman that has not clue to the harm she doing to her family and especially her daughter. Holding her up for the public to ridicule. You are a special kind of stupid if you think this woman should be a heart beat from the Presidency.

I think Obama is going to be the next president. Palin better get her views straight and beliefs. She should of known it would get out, the family is in the public eye. Obama reacted like a true gentlemen as he is one. I do not think McCain investigated Palin to well. To me she is a phony. McCain’s wife is a snob. Obama and his wife Michelle are gracious and they are very classy, honest and most important true people, this is my opinion.

The pregnancy doesn’t matter. What does matter is the amount this will be a major distraction from McCain’s message, which can’t be good for the GOP no matter how the public views Palin – all of which speaks to the vetting process. It’s obvious this VP selection was made rashly and in haste – which reveals the rash and poor judgment of McCain. I certainly won’t vote for a man (or woman for that matter) whose judgment is this impulsive.

Palin and McCain, Winners are they not

>>>>>YaRight<<<<<
BY GOSH, YOU'VE GOT IT!
;-)

As an Obama supporter, I was dismayed when Sarah Palin was announced as McCain’s VP pick. It seemed like the perfect answer to the democatic ticket. As events have unfolded, I now think it was a big mistake. I raised two daughters as a single father. Things went as well as they could have for me, but it was still very hard. With the drama going on now in the family, what are they going to do if she’s elected? Would her husband take on some more responsibility? Would he quit his job to do it? I can’t believe she wouldn’t be distracted by what’s going on. It seems to me that she’s putting her career before her family. I think a lot of voters might feel that way, too. Also, the ethics investigation has yet to play out. She looks like a vindictive person, not a good quality for a politician.

Sen. Obama,
Here’s something we SHOULD be talking about, before we give you the keys to the White House. I wonder if you are presidential enough to have it freely and honestly reviewed:
* You and your people are trying to intimidate and shut down examination of your relationship with unrepentant American-bomber William Ayers. Why? Why did you lie about the nature of your relationship in the Spring? Is it just the relationship with him you are hiding or does it go deeper, like his family ties to the whole Chicago machine, or to ACORN and the sleaziest of bullies, or more?
Are these lies covering up a situation worse than your 20-year support for Rev. Wright’s spew?
How sleazy does this get?
We really need this conversation with the man who may be President.
<>

Obama is dead on about this. Family members were long off-limits to press scrutiny and it raised American political reporting to its highest level ever.
Those days are rapidly disappearing, lost in the daily spew of Limbaugh, Hannity and their less-talented but no less corrupt ilk. Journalism is being pushed aside by “talking points” from the left and right.
Jake, keep up the good work and don’t let the nattering punditocracy move you in any way. You’re just fine the way you are.

I just hope that Palin is not forcing those two young people to have the baby and to get married for their political aspirations.
Unfortunately, I think that is exactly what is happening. It is sad!

I think that everyone should as hard as they can, IGNORE Sarah Palin’s very interesting family drama and pay attention to the real problem with her being selected as McCain’s running mate.
I live in a housing project in the BRONX that has a population about the size of Wasilla, Alaska! Our tenant association president is sort of our MAYOR and a pretty responsible lady, but I don’t think our next step should be to elect her GOVERNOR of NEW YORK!
I just looked up the population of Alaska (626,932) and the population of the Bronx (1,364,566). For all the talk about her being the GOVERNOR of a STATE, from my perspective, it’s like someone who was in charge of HALF of the BRONX being declared to be qualified to be the “Leader of the Free World”. If you believe that being the govornor of a state with a population smaller than 20 US cities, then maybe my Tenant Association President should throw her hat into the ring and declare that SHE is ready to LEAD on DAY ONE. But we all know that just aint so. My TA president knows it, Sarah Palin should know it and so should all of us.

This response by Mr. Obama is probably the event of the highest caliber in American politics since World War II. Not only does he avoid petty politics he clearly “machine guns” it in two sentences. Who could you pick in American politics ….maybe EVER who would respond that way!
Mr. Obama, what an overwhelming blast of clean air in a world flooded with dirty politics- Thank YOU!

Mr Obama is right ….to many times important things are missed and non relavent things are noticed …we should not judge a canadate on actions of her children … what is important is what she plans to do for the economy and about the issues in the middle east …and the soaring cost of living

Republicans preached for decades Family values. Republicans preach that it is the Republican Party who have the HIGH MORALS. They preached that it is the parents responsibility to teach their children morals. Republicans preach that teen pregnancy is the fault of the parents NEGLECT, and they preach that one of the things that bad parenting results in is teen pregnancy. After being pounded for decades about moral issues I cannot believe that Sarah who NEGLECTED her daughter can ever fill the shoes of the president. I want a VP who will not neglect my issues. But all I see is a future of neglect of both me and my country if I vote for John McCain and Sarah.
I am glad that obama took the high road on this one, by refusing to give into the gossip of the teenager’s mistake. Obama is a decent man.
I used to vote Republican. I believe in Family values. That is why I will vote for Obama and Biden who are both happily married men and who are loyal to their wives and children and do not neglect their families. Biden has a history of putting his children first after he was widowed as a young father. Biden did a terrific job raising his sons alone, before meeting his second wife.
I do hope that Sarah finds what is missing in her relationship with her daughter so her daughter does not do a repeat. Many young girls who made the mistake once due to neglect, will most likely do it again unless the problem in the family is resolved.

It seems that one of the values Obama’s leadership is supporting is respect, civil disagreement and not stooping to the base tactics of one’s political “enemy.” McCain, too,seems to be trying to raise the level of discourse, after Obama’s speech he took time out to place an ad congratulating Obama on the speech, anniversary on which it was given and the incredible achievement of OUR country nominating a American who is also a person of color. Maybe we as a national are ready to turn a corner and return to a political debate that is about issues not about the vulberabilities of humanity all of us share. Let’s rise to the challenge of “better selves.”

ron paul.

I understand all the rage and sure it is another great example for Republican hypocrisy.
But Barak is right. You don’t hurt McCain or his campaign, nor Doe-eyed Dubya Palin but the Kids. And that is utterly wrong.
IT’S THE FAULT OF MCCAIN’S POOR JUDGMENT – NOT THE KIDS SO LEAVE THEM ALONE!

My present concern goes in the direction that the apparent lack of knowledge about Mrs Palin’s record may fear what other revelations lie in wait….

I can’t believe the left want to condem a teenager for her getting pregant. there the last one to say anything about any one. the left has no morals. they believe everything is find. just look at calif. and mass. no matter who the party is you shouldn’t talk bad about a kid. tha’s just not right. that’s the family job to deal with it. besides every family in america has there on soap oprea.

I think that people need to lay off the poor girl… I mean she is by far not the only teen pregnant these days. It’s just unfortunate that her life is the public eye. I just want to praise her for having the decency to keep the child. I was a teen mom and it’s not easy. So back off…

Of course he says ‘back off’, it’s the right thing to do as a candidate. As non-candidates not on the payroll, we the people have a right to discuss this, since it speaks to the so-called family values and personal/moral positions of those involved. It also speaks to the judgement of Mccain. If he knew about this before he selected her, and believed it would not be a big deal, then he is seriously out of touch with Americans. If he did NOT know about it beforehand, then he was either misled or lied to by omission, by Governor Palin. Neither scenario bodes well for the Mccain/Palin ticket…..

I wonder which part of abstinence lessons
her daughter didn’t understand???
Now what makes her parents sooooooo sure that she wants to get married NOW since she didn’t want to respect abstinence recommandations…Can you believe that she actually …had SEX!!!!!!!!!!!!! with no protection!!!!!!!!!!!!!???!!!!!!!OMGGGGGG!!!!!!
BWAHA…..HHA….HAHAHA……..
AH republicans, always giving lessons
Party of Family values blablablabla
And do they plan to divorce??????
How silly. I don’t care what family values people follow, conservative or liberal on sex, parent wants their child to be pregnant at a young age. Now whether or not the child follows abstinence or did not follow up on using the patch or condom, thats another matter. Many teenagers are known to take risk. Many of us who are adults now have taken those risks.

What is wrong with everyone today? Why is everyone so judgemental? It’s sad how everyone claims to be Christian, yet they’re all throwing stones when the same thing is happening in their own back yard. First, this is NOT a political issue and should NOT be discussed in the race for president. Most teenagers, and some younger, are having sex, ehether you want to accept it or not. Just because your child didn’t get pregnant, doesn’t mean they’re not sexually active. You should be praising this girl for having the guts to keep her child, knowing the difficult road ahead. And to the person who compared this teenage pregnacy to Monica and Bill, PLEASE, there is not comparison. SHE is NOT the president nor did it occur in the White House while on the phone conducting business! She is your average teenage girl, period! Barack is right, this is a family matter, just like it is to all other families in this country. Children are off limits. You can teach a child until you’re blue in the face, but they’re ulitmately going to make their own decisions. You also should be praising Sarah for supporting her child instead of throwing her out in the street like some parents do. Keep the race about policical issues, not about family issues that happen to both democrat and republican families alike. Her pregancy is NOT a disgrace, all you people slamming her is the disgrace!

“Whether you are the Governor of Alaska, a working mom, a stay at home mom, this has nothing to do with your teenager becoming pregnant. As a parent, you can talk safe sex until you are blue in the face. Teenagers are given more sex education in schools in the past 20 years then ever before, and they still do what they want to do.”
The issue you seem to ignore is Ms. Palin believes that sex ed should be ‘abstinence only’. Mom did not talk safe sex, she talked no sex. She did not give her daughter the info needed to help prevent pregnancy, she merely said ‘don’t have sex’. She apparently believes this is enough info to stop her daughter from having sex. Well, it wasn’t, and this is the result. This woman BELIEVES that abstinence-only sex ed is the right course for, not only her daughter, but ALL teens. As Governor she is in a position to roll back any and all advances in her state regarding the practice and education of safe sex. As a Vice President she could take her cause to the national level. I say this is irresponsible, and incredibly narrow minded.

What the Palin pregnancy issue does for me is shore up the fact that I am voting for a real person who is facing real American issues. She is doing it fearlessly and with pride of her child. She is supporting her child unconditionally. I know all of you democrats, you so-called Americans can’t possibly understand a teenage girl getting pregnant in today’s society – you are all such wonderful role models yourselves. I am even prouder to support Palin’s bid for the VP, and prouder still that John McCain had the guts to add her to his ticket with the knowledge of the young girl’s pregnancy. It doesn’t make him senile, or present him as being senile…far from it…it shows that in addition to being a maverick, that he is also human, and understands human frailty. I just want to offer kudos to Senator Obama for his statement that Palin’s family should not be the subject of any story in any paper, and that privacy should be given to the children of any candidate. Thank you for that.

Those without sin cast the first stone.
Obama is correct the family is off limits, because this woman (Palin) has enough baggage coming to the VP position aside from her family issues. Actually I feel for her. You talk about inexperience, she could not understand she is being used as a token, as women have been so many times. We All must remember this woman will become Commander in Chief, if anything should happen to McCain. I am sure the terriorist foreign and domestic is just waiting for this to happen.
This proves that John McCain is out of touch, lacks concern for the American people and will do anything to win the election. What other spontaneous decisions will he make once he is in the White House? Many of his decisions maybe made out of spite or impulse. John McCain, nor Sarah Palin can be trusted. This issue about the girl should have come out on Friday, when he made his pick. Now it seems that he knew nothing about this woman. Americans being duped again by these GOOD OLD BOYS!

For those of you saying McCain should have laid off Michelle Obama, I have one thing to say – Michelle Obama is out on the campaign trail promoting and campaigning for her husband. The same way Palin’s husband should be open to criticism of his 20 year old DUI…Michelle can be criticized for the racist views which she cronicled in her thesis. CHILDREN ARE NOT THE SAME AS ADULTS. Bristol Palin is not on the campaign trail stumping for her mother, and I’m sure that she is just an average, scared, teenage girl, who in addition to having to tell her parents that she was preganant, also has to announce it to a nation and answer to them as well. Once more, I appreciate Obama’s stance on not involving the children of candidates in discussions about performance, experience, and leadership.

I don’t care what no one says, Mitt Romney should have been VP. Now once again John McCain has sold us Republican voters out for a horrible pick for VP. THIS YEAR IS ABOUT THE ECONEMY STUPID! John I’m a Republican and you sir are no Republican you are a traitor to my party and deserve to lose. Many Republicans have decided they will not allow McCain to hijack our party and sell us out for a few trashy socialist women Hillary Clinton Votes. We are the party of values and reason and you have threatened to destroy our party by picking Palin who is a unknown and has accomplished nothing that would sugest she was a good pick for VP. Palin’s family morals and family values are in question and if we allow this woman to stay on this ticket then you have lost this race already because we will not vote for you. Either you put Mitt Romney on this ticket or we will allow the Democrats to take the White House. Choose wisely my friend! Romney/2012

I agree with Obama it is time to ignore these crazy republicans and focus on the country. By the end of the week we will hear so much about this women they are trying to compare to Hillary Clinton. This is too funny. I am having a ball with this. Now look at them she is woman, leave her alone. What was Michelle Obama? I guess a deserved what she received. Now the tables are turning. I still say if this was one of Obama’s kids the country would be exploring right now. Putting down Michelle Obama and her kid could not come out the door because whites with remain her of typical black people in America, as if this could not happen to anyone.

This election has become a soap opera. All parties and most people are guilty of this wretched monthly edition of the Digest, but I blame the media the most. They have stooped to the lowest common denominator and attracted as many reality-tv viewers in order to raise ratings. Shame on you, ABC News!

Obama’s right… families should be off limits. We get so caught up in throwing dirt during the elections all of the major issues of this country are forgotten. We need a change! My concern is that if something happens to McCain and Palin becomes the President will she be able to handle that type of responsibility having a small child, and a grand- baby on the way? As a mother I put my child before anything in this world. So what would Palin do?

James and others, the left (including me) does NOT want to talk about or condemn a child. It’s the MOM. And not just the mom, but McCain. You may not know this, but a VERY BIG reason McCain chose her was to GET THE HILLARY VOTERS on his side He figured if he chose a woman, any woman, that would show he’s for women’s right. Well, duh. I’ve got news for McCain- HILLARY is nothing like the woman you picked for VP, so why would you expect women to vote for you because you have a token woman on the ticket?

Bravo Obama. This is perhaps the one outstanding moment of this entire election period. A politician who meant what he said and stood by what he said regardless if the piece of information could be exploited. Ms. Palin needs to learn some very important sentences. “The decisions my daughter makes are her own and are not fodder for the political machine. Whether I approve or disapprove of her descisions are a private matter between the two of us. Now, having said that, let’s talk issues.”

To Orlando B. Fremont – i personally had another republician that i wanted to win president but that didnt happen..so i have to get over it and know that i am seriously scared of what will happen to america if the democratic delegate gets the white house! sure there may be some things that McCain does or says that i might not agree with but atleast i will be able to sleep at night knowing i am more safe with him in the white house! if you were a REAL republician you would not be trying to “punish” McCain…you would be trying to keep an unworthy delegate away from leadership!
McCain/Palin 08!

typical Obama reply, he attacked her at first. Then let his surrogates do the dirty work, and now tries to take the high road.
sickening.

@ typical Obama reply, he attacked her at first. Then let his surrogates do the dirty work, and now tries to take the high road.
sickening.
——————’
How did he attack first?? Stop making up stuff. That was his first reply about this prego thing and he finally said something in response to them saying she’s more experience when she’s not. The only thing he said when she was announced as VP was “I welcome her to the campaign”. So stop making up stuff you can’t back up with facts.

I am shocked with McCain’s decision to pick Sarah Palin for VP?!! All I am saying is where in the heck is she going to find the time to be VP of this country? She has her hands full as it is, kids and now a daughter having a baby at 17. All I am saying is she should not be a leader running this country she should be more concerned on being a mother and soon to be grandmother!!

Palin looks more like a celebrity than a political leader…

Why is everyone so concerned about Palin having time to take care of her kids? Does anyone bring that issue up with Obama and his two young daughters? I’m sure the Obama’s have a support system for their young girls and I’m just as sure the Palin’s have a support system for their family. It’s not an issue but of course the left just has to make a big deal of it. If Obama had the EXACT same situation going on (five children, a daughter pregnant, and a child with a disability) I’m sure he’d still be hailed as a messiah by the media. Is that because he’s a man or because he’s a Democrat? I think it’s much more a male/female issue because if it were Michelle Obama running for President the right would be ‘worrying’(NOT!) about her family the same way the left is so ‘worried’ (NOT!) about the plight of the poor Palin children. Aren’t we all just ‘Holier Than Thou’!
It’s all just politics plain and simple. There is no candidate to vote for, maybe we’ll have better luck in the next four years and a breath of fresh air will step up for the job. As it is now it’s the same old same old.

OBAMA is the right man for the job! Plain and simple. Don’t be afraid, Be smart, and support the man who will go down in history as one of our betst Presidents ever!

As an Obama supporter, I am extremely proud of my candidate for not being hypocritical and standing by his previous stance that family members (especially children) are off limits. However, I’d like to offer some insight to McCain supporters as to why this issue is so “newsworthy.” Since the 1980s, the religious right has been standing at the pulpit condemning Democrats as immoral because of the National Party’s stance on abortion and more recently gay marriage. The self-righteous behavior of candidates and elected officials drawing their support from this demographic has left them even more open to criticism from progressive members of other religions as well as agnostics and atheists. Like it or not, when you paint yourself as the banner carrier for moral integrity and Christian values, you draw closer scrutiny by the media and pundits when you or someone else around you suddenly descends from grace and becomes human again.

I have to be skeptical about McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his vice president. I just think it’s incredibly hypocritical of McCain to give such an important position to the governor of a state with only 670,000 people, not only that but she has much less political experience than Obama. McCain’s main attacks against Obama were based on his so called lack of experience so how is her situation any different or better?? It would be very nice if he would send a clear message instead of sending mixed signals. Do his own rules or beliefs not apply to him? As for Palin’s family situation….I do think that the general public should have a right to know but on the other hand it should NOT be getting the news coverage that it is. There are much more important things going on in the world right now and I can not believe that this is one of them to some people. Focus on whats important!

Don’t like either candidate, but have to respect Obama for his comment. That showed a lot of class.

Palin’s own statement about Bristol’s pregnancy has the word “choice” in it. Apparently it’s okay for her own daughter to have a “choice” but she’d like to make abortion illegal even for cases of rape and incest.
The GOP is done. You knuckleheads have screwed-up this great country enough and it’s time to step aside. Or maybe you should put your money where your mouth is and head off to Iraq.

One issue I can’t help thinking about. Everyone is applauding Palin’s decision about having a baby with Down’s Syndrom.
The point here is that she had a choice to have the baby. No one came banging on her door to force her to have her baby. Also this holds true to her daughter. They both had a choice. If it were up to them that choice would not be there. A child having a child makes little sense. What about those seventeen or younger girls who have no family support? Are they less valuable than Palin’s daughter?

I think Michelle should live in Pakistan or Afghanistan where women have no rights and live in fear for wanting to be treated as equals.. honestly.. this woman should not represent our country as first lady!
Michelle Obama quote
“For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country,” she told a Milwaukee crowd today, “because it feels like hope is making a comeback.”

This is especially for: Taylor who posted comments on September 5, 2008 at 2:45:10 A.M.
You are the main reason why people are voting for Obama, and I love every moment of it. I see, I’ll have to break this down into layman’s term. First of all, Mrs. Obama’s message went completely over your head. You didn’t understand the intended first ladies message. “When she commented on being proud of her country for the very first time”, she meant, she was aware that there were people before her who began the long, turbulent, and difficult journey, a journey that was marked by sustained suffering, struggles, perseverance, bravery, achievement and survival, a triumph over adversity for African Americans. Mrs. Obama was fully aware of the complexity of racial disparity, and the experiences she and others had to endure. But now, now in her life time, she is able to see the journey of those before her, had to pay a price, in order for the people to choose a man because of his moral and intrinsic values, his honesty and integrity, and love of unmixed liberty, with the ability to lead. Senator Obama is now in that position, all because of that journey. This is a historical event for all of us, it’s an African American Odyssey which tells a story.
Senator Obama is experiencing uncommon favor, and he always will. And
no, weapon formed against him, his wife, and children or anyone who is connected with him will ever prosper. You can take this to the bank and make a deposit because, This is Real Word.

I find laughable the way mainstream paints everyone, ”out of touch,” but it’s collective self. The ones so upset with John McCain, they actually ”issued” PRESS CREDENTIAL to an code pinker, to disrupt the speech. Shame on you also when you allow welfare to replace minority men as ”fathers” to teens as young as 14, that’s your responsibility. Since the focus has been on Gov Palins teen daughter whose ”accepted” her responsibility, I’m sure Obama&Michelle have found ”quality family time” to raise there family, beyond medias destructive influence?? So from my ”prespective” the media is out of touch on reality, or chooses to be for the sake of electing an man with questionable background as Obama lingering question IS HE AN LEGIT US AMERICAN CITIZEN TO BECOME NEXT ”POSSIBLE” TO OCCUPY WHITE HOUSE?? WHY DOESN’T HE PRODUCE HIS ACTUAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE? THANKS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND CHANGE, THATS THE RULE AT GOV’T OFFICES, ARE YOU ACTUALLY YOU??? PLEASE MR.OBAMA PROVE YOUR LEGALLY US RESIDENT, THE REST OF US HAVE TOO!

edit. I stated Obamas Birth certificate (type) was crystal clear. Mistyped. I meant it was not totally readable.