The high price of Sarah Palin's candidacy
The out-of-wedlock pregnancy of Sarah Palin's teenage daughter is not news by itself. Many American families have faced the same situation.
What it implies about Palin, however, is not flattering.
The Alaska governor's decision to accept Sen. John McCain's offer to be his running mate says one of two things, take your pick: 1) She is so naïve and clueless that she didn't realize her daughter's condition would place the 17-year-old and her lover in a national media spotlight, or 2) Palin knew that and went ahead anyway, throwing her own daughter under the train in a reckless rush for national fame and power.
If this is an example of a family value of the religious right, it is one that surely is repugnant to many Americans. Both Palin and McCain are giving us a display of raw ambition that is truly staggering.
McCain has rolled the dice, and now we have a national sideshow featuring kids whose mistake would never have been known beyond their hometown had McCain and Palin shown any respect for their privacy.
Comments:
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 7:19 a.m. inappropriate
Repugnant?: The fact that McKay is allowed to spew his useless drivel in any public forum and be taken seriously is repugnant.
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 8:09 a.m. inappropriate
Mckay, you wouldn't know a family value...: ...if it hit you upside the head. Your bias is embarrassing. Sarah Palin's daughter got pregnant, and that mans Sarah Palin is unfit for VP? What rock do you live under? No doubt you love John Edwards' version of family values.
Morality is not partisan. I will pray that you will see your need for the love of God.
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 8:13 a.m. inappropriate
RE: repugnant?: I think McKay brings up an excellent point. I am a mom of 3 and I very much consider my actions with regards to my childrens' best interests. Palin pushed her daughter into the spotlight as an unwed mother as a result of her acceptance of the VP candidancy. Her daughter will face a certain amount of shame, even in this era. She will essentially be forced to marry the father of the child, as this is what the Republican campaign has promised. Questions such as, "Do we love each other?", "Can we make it in the long run?", "Are we prepared for marriage, much less a child?", are not an option now. Young adult relationships are a challenge and often fail even without the additional pressure of national headlines and grilling from the media.
I also can't help but wonder who is taking care of the kids, with Palin so busy in her political scene? A Down's Syndrome child takes much more time and energy than a "normal" child and as most of us who have children know, children in general are a handful! Are these children essentially being raised by one parent or nannies? This may not affect her ability to be the VP, but it does make one question her claim to "profamily" and all that the Christian groups support.
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 9:28 a.m. inappropriate
Children often first casualties of political ambition: Floyd McKay's point is an excellent one, although hypocrisy is certainly not limited to those who proclaim the loudest about "family values." Most successful politicians are hyper-ambitious; they have to be. And their children (as well as spouses) often suffer collateral damage. But Palin's family melodrama is primarily a private problem, as Barack Obama has recognized. The important public issue here is what this bizarre vice presidential selection may indicate about the decision-making capabilities of McCain (and conceivably Palin) in the White House.
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 9:31 a.m. inappropriate
so the palins are foxes just look at this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4iCDBIAde8&feature;=email
what do you and the amurrican people thunk folks do up in alaska when the sun's not shining? they screw and screw and screw and then they drink some beer and whisky and then they screw some more maybe even the family sled dog and sometimes they shoot each other up during cabin fever and then they amuse themselves summmers by watching the cabin fever trials two years for cabin feeeever murder, manslaughter... Palin is much easier on the eyes than any of those guys running. i just wonder whether she needs cheney to baby sit while she takes on aminijibad with her bear gun and whether she's make paris hilton sec def??? rock on idiots
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 9:42 a.m. inappropriate
Its not really about palin: The real issue isn't about this very personal family event. The real issue is McCain's judgment. The choice of a VP running mate is often looked at as the first indicator of the type of decision making that the potential President will make. If his choice of Palin is any indication of his decision making style then his will be a disastrous administration. He has apparently chosen someone without properly vetting them first, under pressure from the far right, and he's chosen someone who does not provide the horsepower to help him move an agenda. The fact that she could become President isn't just disturbing to me, its frightening.
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 9:45 a.m. inappropriate
Palin: What nonsense. The timing of the announcement (start of convention, hurricane watch) suggests the pregnancy was known to the McCain team. It would be dealt with in the context of a supportive group at the convention and they can have more control of the message. (It will also probably increase viewership). As for throwing daughter under the bus. How silly. It had to be revealed, and Palin, not her daughter is taking the heat. If Palin pulled out, the pregnancy would have been in the spotlight at some time anyway, given her political enemies close to home. But what would you have her do, sit at home with daughter and knit booties? Guilt and resentment all around? The daughter will marry and move on with her life. Palin needs to get on with hers. I want her as VP even tho I am a lifelong Democrat.
I don't think this will cost her support among conservatives. My family, very much of the Christian right, have unwed daughters and/or hasty marriages (with the newborn in attendance), while other families have kids who are gay etc. Families deal with it and move on. It is only small minded critics who stay stuck and want to glory in someone else's misfortune.
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 9:58 a.m. inappropriate
SAME FOR MEN?: If a male candidate revealed his daughter's unwed pregnancy would it cause such a fuss? I am guessing no.
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 10:43 a.m. inappropriate
glass houses: In the specific, the imminent grand parent hood of Gov. Palin isn't a valid campaign issue. It is personal, a matter for her family to deal with, and in essence, no business of the American people at large.
However the screams of "privacy" from the Rght do seem a bit hypercritical in light of the right's continued insistence that public policy determine private, often sexual, behavior. Whether it's the status of gay and lesbian unions, right to life and death issues, teenage sexual activities, the Right has continually maintained that the state has the obligation to penetrate our bedroom privacy. Only when the indiscretions of the members of the Right come to light, do they retreat behind hastily erected barriers of personal privacy. In short, they are quick to condemn others while being the first to hide when their own come under scrutiny.
As Senator Obama has said, thie Palin family problems are not proper issues for the campaign. However, the judgmental and often destructive public policies that reflect the "social conservatives" (ie Christian Right) aims and desires are and should be campaign issues.
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 10:59 a.m. inappropriate
glass houses 2: Upon further reflection, one must wonder if the McCain campaign, knowing the Palin situation when they picked her, isn't trying to remove these social questions from the debate while at the same time luring the Christian Right back into the Republican fold. Any Obama-Biden mention of these issues will be easily turned into "intrusion into the privacy of the Palin family" by the Republican hacks. This may indeed be a cynical ploy, one that McCain just couldn't resist. If so, the next question is "Was the 17yr old a willing co conspirator or just a convenient shill?" Either way, may their Christ have mercy on them. No one else should.
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 11:05 a.m. inappropriate
Get Real!: Since when was it OK for us to know such intimate details of a candidates children? It was hands off on Carter's Mutt. This is going to turn into moose droppings for the liberals!
It's not about Hillary!
Its not about experience!
It's about fighting corruption, not talking about it.
It's about making government effective, not talking about it.
Cutting costs, being real.
Palin can out shoot, out fly and out manage Obama in the court, in the woods, in the air and in real government action!
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 11:37 a.m. inappropriate
Excellent analysis: The pick of Sarah Palin for VP was so wrong on so many levels it's beginning to be difficult to keep track. The willingness to sacrifice her family on the altar of her ambition is only the latest and saddest example.
That the McCain campaign would stoop so low in selecting someone so clearly unqualified simply to pander to a backwards faction of their party is a national disgrace.
Last year, by Palin's own declaration, she didn't even know what the duties of vice president were. She's sitting in the highest executive postition in her state and doesn't know what the number two executive position in the federal government does?? I wouldn't hire her to manage a Chuck E. Cheese in Nome, much less let her sit as Vice President of the United States of America.
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 1:48 p.m. inappropriate
Who made McKay Judge? He is just another has been with a PC and a bottle of prozac: Mckay couldn't find a point if he stood on top of a pencil sharpener. Why are you so afraid of Palin? What is it Floyd? Are you sexist ? Too Bias to see beyond your own party's drunken, stale VP candidate? I know you must see alot of yourself with uncle Joe.
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 7:16 p.m. inappropriate
Taz, are you for real?: Would you consider that maybe Mrs. Palin discussed with her daughter the probability that if she accepted the nomination her pregnancy would be revealed? Some parents actually discuss things with their almost-adult children.
She will experience a certain amount of shame? You have got to be kidding. The norm today is co-habitat and if you get pregnant either abort, move on to the next sexual partner, or marry the guy who impregnated you.
The Republican Party can't force her to marry the father. Where do you get this from? Do you think if Chelsea had gotten pregnant while unmarried and by a miracle it was made public (very highly unlikely) the Democratic Party would tell her she had to marry the guy? In all likelihood, she would be wooshed off to Planned Parenthood for an abortion and no one would ever find out about her "shameful" pregnancy.
You wonder who is taking care of the kids. Do they look neglected to you? Maybe she and her husband share the responsibility for the kids. Anyway, isn't the usual liberal mantra that a woman can have a career and raise children at the same time. Or is that possible only for liberals?
How does your not knowing who is raising the kids have anything to do with Mrs. Palin's Christianity or her pro-family stance? Guess you don't know anything about how Christianity teaches that parents are responsible for raising their children rather than the nanny state and even if a nanny is involved how is that not pro-family?
Posted Tue, Sep 2, 7:28 p.m. inappropriate
Pebblecreek,: the real national disgrace is the fact that so many otherwise intelligent people still fall for snake-oil salesmen.
What experience does Obama have doing anything of substance? None. Nada. Zilch. He's a big talker but little else. (Oh yes, he was a great "community organizer", i.e., Communist agitator.)
What does he promise to do if elected? Tax us into bankruptcy unless we are nuked by Iran first and in that case, it won't matter. That is another real national tragedy.
The greatest national tragedy is that more Americans are apathetic, lazy and indifferent to the fact that the Democratic Party has morphed into a Communist/Marxist/Socialist party run entirely by the insane, the most extreme feminists, homosexuals, and anti-Americans and intends to destroy this great democratic republic one small (and some large) step at a time.
Posted Wed, Sep 3, 12:41 a.m. inappropriate
RE: SAME FOR MEN?: Depends on which party he is in. If he's a Democrat, you can bet the right-wingers (including those on this thread) would make a HUGE STINK of it. However, if he's a Republican, then his failings (e.g., marital infidelity, alcoholism, cocaine use, drunk driving, gay sex in public restrooms, obscene language) and those of his family members are personal matters that are irrelevant to his candidacy.
Judging from the reactions here, it appears that right-wingers are just as hypocritical when it comes to female candidates.
Posted Wed, Sep 3, 12:55 a.m. inappropriate
RE: epugnant?: This comment is nothing more than an ad hominem attack. It contributes nothing constructive to the discussion - no ideas, no information, no counter argument, no reasoning. Basically boils down to "Shut up, McKay, you're stupid."
It would be ashame to see angry blowhards ruin Crosscut's comments section, just as they have Sound Off! and so many other internet forums.
Posted Wed, Sep 3, 7:13 a.m. inappropriate
RE: Pebblecreek,: Most of your post is unfiltered delusion, but I'll respond to the more coherent point, Obama and experience. Let's see, president of Harvard Law Review, civil rights attorney, community organizer (doing those oh-so-communist things like registering people to vote), state senator (in one of the most powerful states in the country), Constitutional law professor, author, U.S. Senator.
My main complaint with Obama is his over-willingness to compromise with the deranged right. You don't compromise with the crazy--you medicate them.
And Palin? Chief muffin maker for the PTA and mayor of nowhere -- where incidentally she ran up a 20 million dollar deficit--in a town of 10,000. Hey, that's conservatism you can take to the bank!
Posted Wed, Sep 3, 8:25 p.m. inappropriate
Palin's speech: Now what do you think after Palin's speech? She was great! Watch out!
Posted Thu, Sep 11, 5:17 p.m. inappropriate
RE: SAME FOR MEN?: It all depends on his position on the issues related to sex. Where has he stood on abstinence only sex education, abortion, unwed mothers in general; and how loudly has he spoke on those issues?
When you yell and scream that abstinence only and virginity pledges are enough education teenagers need about sex, decry premarital sex and all that goes with it then the fact that your raising of your children could not stop them from having sex before you wished then yes that is something we need to discuss -- it is the failing of your position we are talking about and not necessarily your daughter herself.