Weblogic

It won't affect my vote at all. These things happen all the time. Welcome to the real world. Sarah Palin has so much going for her. I hope she is judged by her accomplishments and not the Dem retoric

This is a person family matter. To me it makes them more like "regular" citizen than Mr. McCain who can't remember how many houses he had or how much a gallon of milk costs. They are real people dealing with real issues. Plus, as far as her views on being "pro-life" it proves she "walks the walk". Furthermore, this would not have come to light in the harsh manner that it did if the heinous rumors hadn't started that Bristol is actually the mother of baby Trig and not Ms. Palin. Those rumors, supposedly started by Democratic bloggers, should be more than ashamed of themselves, dragging two children through the mud the way they did.

Governor Palin opposes the use of birth control pills and condoms, even for married folks; she counsels abstinence only, which has been proven ineffective---by her own daughter no less.
I believe her daughter is off limits but the Governor's views on reproductive issues will impact her actions as VP and, God Forbid, possibly President.
I do not want this social conservative having any ability to shape public policy for America.

What ever happend to the times when we didn't flaunt our sins in front of the world? It is not ok that Bristol is pregnant, 17 and unmarried. Why are they getting married? And what are they waiting for if the marriage is going to make it all better?

John McCain didn't know about the pregnancy before hand anyway. What the Republicans are doing is damage conrol and the ususal lying.

Wait until you hear the rest of the sad stories about the Palin family. Vice President "NO", PTA President, maybe!

This gets gooderer and gooderer everyday.

I do not see a problem with it except the Media being stupid and keep trying to make it a problem or the Democratic party doing the same thing. Lest we forget Bill Clinton getting a BJ while he was in the White House and it wasn't from Hillary and she stayed with him and you have them supporting Obama on National TV no less. So be careful when you live in a glass house and throw stones. Remember John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy and a woman name of Marilyn Monroe. Mr. Hart in Iowa and the list can go on and on. I am a voter and I vote for who is going to help this country the most and that has nothing to do with her daughter. She is making decisions on her own. Remember 5 months ago Sarah Palin wasn't even being thought of as a VP candidate so what can she do about it. Besides a lot of people have daughters who have had kids out of wedlock and they turned out just fine. No one is perfect. Oh yeah! Remember Billy Carter and Billy Beer. Everyone thought he was good before Jimmy got in. At least we know ahead of time but I don't know why it is a problem to anyone except for Bristol and her boyfriend. If he gets married to her she won't be living in the White House anyway. Some people really show how stupid they are by making such a big deal out of a pregnant teen. It does get cold in Alaska and there probably isn't as much to do there like there is in Florida or California and I bet there are no pregnant teens in those 2 states. Remember Obama has 2 daughters to and they haven't reached that age but they were baptized by the Preacher who hates America. I want to see a stop put to all the MUDSLINGING. I want to know what they are going to do and exactly HOW they plan on doing it!!!!!!

The issue isn't really if this is real life. Of course it is.

Unfortunately Palin's daughter is in the spotlight and has become the poster child for.."Children Having Children" and the need for sex education in schools.

If your mother is such a big public figure who preaches abstinence with passion and you still end up pregnant either your mother is a very bad teacher or that is a very bad lesson to be teaching. Plain and simple !!

Let's not forget who put Palin's daughter in the spotlight....her MOTHER pushed her into her spotlight when her need for being VP outweighed her daughter's need for help and nurturing and as much privacy as possible during this difficult time.

Now not only does her daughter have to deal with all the normal issues and trauma of a teen pregnancy but she now has to feel the jugement of the world upon her.

Judgement? Whose is worse the daughters or the mothers?

Aside from that drama the biggest question we have facing us is...would I be happy if the VP suddenly became my President?

I agree with Obama when he said that the candidate's children should be kept away from public scrutiny. As the mother of young adults, I know that once they reach a certain age, parents really have very little control over their actions. That being said, I agree with Common Sense that Sarah Palin should have taken her daughter into account when making her decision to run for VP. It shows lack of consideration for her to put her young daughter in this position and I would not be comfortable with someone who lacks judgment as the VP and possibly the President.

Who and how are the votes added to our comments as - and ? Does anyone know?

Thank you

It's amazing how people that live in glass houses are throwing stones. I'd like to know how many of these holy then thou people never had pre martial sex. People are just looking for a reason to make Sarah Palin look bad. So what her daughter is pregnant and not married.Being unmarried and pregnant doesn't make you a bad person.

I wonder if many posting comments here have out-grown the memories of their own indiscretions. How many of us have done something our parents would not approve of, despite how well we know and are taught their morals? I am a classic "rule follower," and have been all of my life, but even those of us in that category have broken a rule or two. However, I always lived with the consequences of my actions. That is what good parenting is about - gentle guidance rather than imposing beliefs. If I’d become pregnant, my parents would have supported any choice that I made, but it would have been my responsibility to chose, and that decision alone devastates many adults in the same position. (Yes, single and married adults have accidental pregnancies, too.)

For those who believe it is unfair of Gov. Palin to expose her daughter to all of this – do you have the full story? I imagine that there was a family discussion about such an opportunity. If I were Bristol, I’d be more devastated knowing I caused my mother to lose that kind of an opportunity for her career than I would be by thousands of people that don't know me spreading rumors. None of us know how this played out in the Palin household, and likely never will, so it is only fair to withhold judgment of the Governor’s parenting abilities and her decision.

Moreover, it is not Gov. Palin that has “exposed” her daughter. It is everyone who is making this into a campaign issue, which it is not. We “forgive” affairs in the White House, not to mention the crimes that happen among a large population of our elected officials, yet there are those more than willing to ambush and berate a teenager who made a bad decision but is not running for public office. It makes me sick.

I went to a college where a good deal of the students had come from small farming communities in the Midwest, and I was amazed by what teens could come up with when they were bored. (I grew up in a big city where, believe it or not, I could find a lot less trouble than they did.) Boredom in rural areas, especially with so much of the year being winter, does have an impact. Drunk driving arrests are also more common in these areas - by adults! And for all of you that live in warm climates, you don't ever get used to -30 below temperatures and the lack of activity that comes with them, no matter how long you live there.

Unless you have never done something your parents would strongly disapprove of, I don't believe there is any reason to punish this mother, and publicly humiliate her daughter, for a decision made without adult foresight by a person who is not an adult.

Pregnancy should have nothing to do with the campaign. What parent has time to follow their teenagers around 24/7. A bad choice on the part of a teenager should have no reflection on the parent. We all know the difference between right and wrong, but in the heat of the moment, logic flies out the window. Sarah Palin is doing what ANY parent SHOULD do, love and support her daughter. We don't have to approve, just accept the fact and move on. It is just too bad that all this should be made public. Family matters should stay family matters.

I agree with Barack let's focus on the economy, gas, war , mortgage rises and the state of education in the United States.
I can care less about Gov. Pailin daughter issues because this is a smoke screen to steer Americans from the issues. This is typical Republican smoke screen. I know that Pailin need to take care of issues at home. From the young mans blog he had no intention of being a father and his language is to be desired. His foul language and stating he is a curse word red-neck ,something is wrong with the Pailin's family parenting.
I would never allow my daughter to date a young man like that.
Pailin is a mystery to everyone even the Republicans but all her dirty deed is dug up . Qualified for VP NO No No.......

Will Bristol be raising her own child and her baby brother too? Certainly her mother won't have the time to raise him, especially if she becomes president. Being pro-life includes actually raising the child after birth.

My concern is not directly her pregnant teenage daughter and her infant with Down's syndrome, but the lack of preparedness of this woman (granted, a highly intelligent and remarkable woman) to step up to the plate should something happen to McCain such that she becomes president.

Juggling a full family life is admirable, but then how to manage a future crisis in XXX (you name the place, or places) at the same time? She has only had a passport for two years, has traveled internationally only recently, and minimally. Does she have a world view to truly understand and negotiate with foreign powers? Is this the person we want to have the code numbers for our nuclear arms, and the power to use them?

I applaud her husband's parenting skills and role in the family, yet I know from experience that an infant with a disability and a pregnant teenage daughter need parenting, and this is best done by two adults who have the time and will do it.

Why praise the decision of her daughter to marry her boyfriend? Is this the right decision for the baby and both teenagers? Are they pressured into this by all the media attention? Ifthe boyfriend was to be part of a private family issue, then why is he paraded about at the convention?

There are so many, many unknowns here, and they become frightening when one considers that she would be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

Why is it that when a woman has a family, she's assumed to be unable to handle the family AND serious responsibilities such as the Vice Presidency, but when a man does it, no one questions it?

Just wondering.

Why doesn't Barack Obama strongly tell his Democratic followers to stop talking about this issue? He stated that children are "off limits" once, yet he hasn't done anything further to stop the chatter. This is a negative statement about his character and his willingness to step up and do the right thing.

It shouldn't have any bearing on the nation's choice to elect John McCain. It is a personal and private familly matter which should be kept within the confines of her family life. Hollywood stars get pregnant out of wedlock and they are admired and accepted for their talent in their chosen field. I think it is admirable that she supports her daughter just as she supports the other issues she is commited to in a dignified and refined manner. It happens every day in every social level of America. I am offended that this news has been brought out to discredit her ability to be the nominated Vice Presidential running mate of John McCain. Let's all grow up and mind our own business. Let he who is sithout sin cast the first stone!!!

Isn't the hypocrisy blinding?

It is not about pre-marital sex not happening.
It is about those who think there is no need for sex education and preach abstinence ( just say no ) and think it works. That was Sarah Palin's soapbox. How's that working for you Sarah?

It is about those who try to have books they feel are unsuitable banned from the library to keep teens from having sex. That is Sarah Palin's soapbox .How's that working for you Sarah?

It is not about judging a child for making a mistake.
It is about people who preach family values and judge others for thinking sex education needs to be taught outside the family. That was Sarah Palin's soapbox. How's that working for you Sarah?

When you are in the public eye, by your own choice or by association people pay attention and have opinions.

Britney Spear's little sister wasn't spared the scrutiny of being a pregnant unmarried teenager and most of that judgement came from the " family values ", just say no, teach sex at home group. That is Sarah Palin's soapbox. Why does that very group think Sarah Palin's daughter should be spared judgement and yet they are able to judge everyone else and only their way is the right way?

It is only natural to question if someone's preaching/teaching methods work when the very example of their preaching/teaching is staring everyone in the face. The teacher/preacher is Sarah Palin and the example of her teaching/preaching is her pregnant unwed teenage daughter.How's the preaching/teaching working for you Sarah?

Spear's sister, who also happens to be a teenage unwed mother, now feels she can reach out to someone she has alot in common with....she's sending Sarah Palin's pregnant unwed teen daughter baby presents.

Regarding the demenaing McCain ad trying to show commonalities between Obama and Spears....it appears there is more in common with Palin and Spears.

It is about the HYPOCRISY of it all. It's about the HYPOCRISY !!!!!!

No one has addressed the view of the rest of the world on this teenage pregnancy. If Governor Palin is ever to ascent to the presidency, this is something the GOP should be considering, as well should the country.

In many parts of the world where I have worked, (particularly in ethnic groups in Africa) having children out of wedlock is viewed as admirable, as a sign of the girl's health and future ability to have many children.

However, in other conservative countries where I have worked (most notably in Southeast Asia), a pregnant unwed girl can only be one thing. No matter how open-minded and liberal many Americans are on the topic of unwed teenage mothers, many countries are not, and a mother who has raised such a daughter will be viewed with disdain and lack of respect. If and when Sarah Palin is going to be negotiating with difficult and conservative leaders who are antagonistic towards the US, she will have no credibility as a mother who raised a daughter and "allowed" this to happen (these are the words of my colleagues in these countries, not mine).

I am very surprised that no one has mentioned this in the news or the op-ed pieces.

Sarah Palin's daughter is not the first teenager to get pregnant out of wedlock - she won't be the last. She is 17 years old (one year younger than the age you can vote). She is almost an adult and it doesn't matter how conservative or religious her parents may be, kids are going to do what kids have been doing for years and years!

As for Sarah, her family and her career. Women in this day and age have to make these types of decisions, career, no career, family, sacrifices.

Kids in political family grow with the same issues as most other kids - with a few notable exceptions but to say Sarah should not run for V.P. because she has kids is just plain sexist.

My crystal ball is broken, so I can't predict what the public will think of the McCain-Palin ticket in light of Palin's daughter's pregnancy.

Pesonally, however, I don't give a rat's rear end whether any of the candidates or their family members are pregnant, black, white, some other race, homo- or heterosexual, Christian, athesist, Jewish, some other religion, ambidexterous, left-or right handed, or endorsed by famous people and the media.

I AM interested in their stand on the issues, their abilities, and their personal code of conduct.

This should tell the American people that she doesn't spend enough time with her family. She is more worried about her career. I understand that kids will make mistakes but you have to guide them and educate them to understand that some things are wrong. I feel if she was a big family person her daugther would not be pregnant. Then she too just had a baby with special need somewhere you have to draw the line.

I agree completely with most of the people that answered. I think it should have been a "family matter" but let's be real, Bristol's mother is in the public eye, she's running for a high political position. Unfortunately, this makes Sarah Palin's life and her family interesting.

I applaud Bristol for going to her parents and telling them what is happening with her. I applaud the Palin's for being honest and supporting their daughter.

I think Bristol has a good set of family values in place, she made a mistake and she's being mature about it. I think she'll be fine and I think she'll learn to be a great mother.

Now can we focus on the issues that matter to our nation. The war in Iraq, better health care, better services for our senior citizens, and less taxes.

I live in Alaska and I voted for Governor Palin, I agree with her on some issues and disagree on other issues. I want her to answer the questions that affect the nation as a whole. Let's move on from the pregnant daughter topic.

LET'S TALK ABOUT REPUBLICAN STROM THURMAN RACIST, WHO HAD A BLACK MISTRESS AND A BLACK DAUGHTER WHO HE THOROUGHLY DENIED UNTIL HIS DEATH DID IT PART, LET'S TALK ABOUT DICK CHENEY, RACIST WHO VOTED AGAINST SETTING NELSON MANDELA FREE, A MAN OF PEACE WHO WAS IMPRISONED FOR 27 YEARS, FOR HIS EFFORTS TO FREE BLACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA. LET'S TALK ABOUT JOHN MCCAIN, PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL WHO VOTED AGAINST GIVING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING A FEDERAL HOLIDAY, THE ONLY BLACK WHO HAS A HOLIDAY IN HIS HONOR, A MAN OF PEACE AND LOVE FOR ALL MEN-- LET'S TALK ABOUT GEORGE WALLACE A BIG TIME RACIST WHO TREATED BLACKS LIKE SUB-HUMANS UNTIL HE BECAME SICKLY, NEAR DEATH AND NEEDED THE BLACK VOTE TO BE RE-ELECTED. I COULD GO ON AND ON.

THERE IS BAD JUDGEMENT ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET AND THE REPUBLICAN TICKET.

OBAMA IS GOING TO WIN THIS RACE. AMERICA HAS AWAKENED.

MCCAIN FELT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, A MAN WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THE STRUGGLE AND WAS VERY ANTI- THE VIETNAM WAR, IS NOT WORTHY OF A HOLIDAY.
MCCAIN WAS A PRISONER OF WAR. IS HIS BRAIN SCRAMBLED??

WOW - #1 - BO here blames Obama (it says negative things about his character) for what his followers are saying, AS IF he has control over what other people say. Please think because you speak or blog.
#2 - whether you like it or not Bristol is part of the package and it was Palin's decision to accept VP fully knowing she was putting it in the public eye. And I dont think anyone said anything about Bristol being a bad person, But Yes it totally does look bad for Sarah Palin to have a pregnant 17 yr old daughter and be against teaching sex ed in school. As someone else stated above "Hows that working for ya Sarah?" Its quite ridiculous actually.

I agree with Young Adult & Karen. Who in their growing up years didn't make a bad decision? If this is the only one Bristol will ever make she would be a rare individual. I know I made my share. But each provided me the ability to learn and grow. Bristol will have many opportunities to learn and grow in the future...a marriage, a child, adult responsibilities......But at least she will have family for support and guidance. Now let's move on.

The issues facing our country should be the only concerns. The ideas for solutions presented by the candidates are the only way to decide who will be best to lead as our President and Vice President. You have to LISTEN, and know what you are voting for. Emotions and empty words are just that, EMPTY.

Can you imagine if this was a black woman being named as vice-presidential candidate and her 17 year old daughter was found out to be pregnant. Give me a break here. It would be an outrage but when you are white and Republican and pregnant, all of a sudden it is not important. What double standard and hypocracy. And what a piece of low-class trash the boy is. We all know she is not the only one he is sleeping with, nor is she for that matter.

John McCain didn't know about the pregnancy before hand anyway. What the Republicans are doing is damage conrol and the ususal lying.

Wait until you hear the rest of the sad stories about the Palin family. Vice President "NO", PTA President, maybe! louis vuitton

This gets gooderer and gooderer everyday.