Prediction: Sarah Palin will decline the VP nomination in order to be there for her family in these "challenging" times. I can't imagine a mother being out on the road and campaigning all the time, with all this going on. Unbelievable and sad, but we are all human. Please, take care of your family, they need you.

The Dems aren't going to say anything about this… There's absolutely no reason to… This is one of those soap opera like stories that will make it's way around without any help. The Dems can just sit back and watch as the walls fall around the Republican campaign and keep every stitch of dignity. It was McCain who chose this trainwreck, and it will be McCain who will suffer for, yet again, making a snap decision that was VERY wrong.

The information coming out about Sarah Palin and her perfect family (NOT), like Bristol's pregnancy, the husband's DUI, and Sarah;s pot smoking, really make me question McCain's judgment. In fact, both McCain and Palin are so anti-family, neo-con in their actions as ever a pair could be. I just hope that Americans won't be fooled by these two weasels and vote Obama/Biden in as our next President/Vice-President!

As a woman that was once a teenage mother I do not understand how anyone of you idiots could fault this girl (Bristol) for keeping the baby. Really anyone who has had a baby should know that giving one up can't be easy. Besides all that wihy shoule Sara Palin encourage Bristol to give up the baby and have no consequences for her actions and then have another one of her childern do the same when they get older. Most of you are being judgemental about this because you didn't like McCain/Palin anyway. If we want to talk about Party Values lets go back to the actions of the last Democratic President we had that had an affair on his wife in the White House (intercourse or not it is steel CHEATING). Point being we all screw up from time to time and make bad choices, but good greif what makes this child's mistakes any different for any other 17 year old in the same situation?

For those who claim to be offended that Obama supporters are somehow attacking Palin's daughter is completely untrue.

The argument that we're making is that the hypocrisy of the Republicans stinks to high heavens. They claim "abstinence only" is the best way to edcucate teens, and clearly the evidence proves the contrary.

I have a problem with Palin being pushed to the forefront and being labeled as this symbol of GOP conservative values. Clearly Palin wasn't vetted, and I believe all of this news coming out about Palin so far only scratches the surface of what's to come.

Sarah Palin has her priorities right: run for VP and leave her 4 month old special needs child with her husband and nannies. She chose life and now she is ignoring that life in her own selfish pursuit of power and fame. What a shining example to other mothers in this country.

does anyone else find it strange that the only reason the Palin's decided to reveal their teen daughters pregnancy was to refute the allegations that Palin's new born was the daughter's baby?? Does this mean that if these allegations were not made, no one would have ever known Palin-teen was going to have a baby? Interesting..

Good grief, what is wrong with some people? The girl got pregnant, she didn't commit capital murder! What were her parents supposed to do, fit her for a chastity belt? I'm with Governor Palin, a grandchild is a blessing, not "punishment".

I see the leftist liberals are furious that McCain and Palin are going to win . This pregnant daughter looks healthy and happy–and will probably go on to run for office after university! I can't wait for the hypocritical libs to find more trivial things to spaz out about! Next item tomorrow? The females are probably regretting that they aborted their own beautiful babies! Obama's Mother must have been a conservative!

Like mana from Heaven. Just say NO to McCain and granny Palin.

Going to MARRY THE FATHER????? That was supposed to happen first, wasn't it ?

The nasty tone of this coverage simply shows the desperation of pro-Obama forces in the media. I'm far more upset at Obama's very visible exploitation of his kids for political gain.

Chances she is less than 5 mos along. Blatent attempt to avoid other stories floating around about Mom/grandmom S.arrah

I'm not sure who to blame on this VP pick. McCain obviously spent no time evaluating the candidates and probably picked her because she's pretty (sorry, but that's what it looks like to me). She should have questions the motives of being selected over many more qualified candidates as the VP with all her family needs and her lack of experience.

What abysmal judgement from both John McCain to pick a VP candidate knowing her unwed teen daughter was pregnant. And equally so for Sarah Palin to accept the role. Did they not think the poor girl would come under any scrutinity as the family member of a presidential ticket? What kind of mother would subject her teenage daughter to the national press during this trying emotional time in her life. What other types of decisions should we expect from this dynamic duo ticket?

she carries a rifle in one hand and a bible in the other?

Steve September 1st, 2008 2:32 pm ET wrote:

If this was Obama and his Daughter at 16-17years old, what would the GOP be saying???

If this was Obama and his Daughter at 16-17years old, what would the DEMOCRATS be saying???

Hypocracy lives…

Talk about your shotgun weddings…I'm sure this one takes the cake…
What did the republicans do, dig up Falwell and have him give her a good talking to?

Had she had proper education at home, she might have been on birth control, but I'm sure her mother would have considered that tantamount to abortion.

Republican family values??? What goes around comes around!!!

I guess the Obama family would have called this a "punishment" and gotten rid of the "problem"…..
I like this family…..they are REAL.

Imagine what we would be hearing if this had happened to a Democratic candidate.

Palin's children and husband’s shortcomings have nothing to do with this public debate and while I am an Obama supporter it never ceases to amaze me how the so-called right-wing Christian feel free to cast stones of immorality and morality while they themselves are guilty of the same sins!

Sara – It's time to go home and take care of your Downs infant son, support your pregnant daughter, and be a mother to the rest of your children.

The republcans and their evangelical cohorts will probably claim
Immaculate conception.

I thought she was still out of school getting over mono when she got pregnant .

how many of you had premarital 'relations'? and how do your rate your parents job at raising you? did how they raise you impact how quickly you jumped in the sack with someone?

c'mon, let's get real. its not the best picture for a family, but its real life. i dont condone it, but i think everyone sitting behind their computer screens playing judge and jury is just a tad hypocritical.

besides, it was the 17-yo's decision to have sex, not her mom's.

TO: jake September 1st, 2008 1:37 pm ET
——————————————————————————————–
So you say WE need Palin in Washington, for what, teenage pregnancy?

NOOOOOOO, I DON'T want my daughters to think it's OK to be holy then thou as a VP nominee when it comes to judging them, but special holy then thou treatment should be given to her because she is the first woman VP nominee and daughter. If they decide to do by example, I do not want their excuse to be this choice, just because McCain blinded by a GENDER decision!!!!

There are a lot of TEEN who has not been pregnant at 15,16 & 17 years old, SHAME ON YOU!!!

Is the Evangelical Community still ENERGIZED by McCain selection or are they really about the BIBLE?

How much you want to bet McCain's campaign knew absolutely
nothing about Bristol's pregnancy? McCain met Governor Palin just two times. How on earth is that enough time to vet a qualified vp? It takes time to get to know any person in life be it your future wife/husband, friend or Presidential VP. This truely displays rushed, poor judgement on senator McCains part. Sit back and watch folks. Who knows what else is gonna creep out of Governor Palin's closet.
My prayers go out to Bristol and her future challenges.

As a working mother, raising two daughters (17 and 12), while completing my M.B.A, I realize at some point there is a limit to commitments without sacrificing my children. Before this annoucement I was concerned about Govern Palin's commitment to raising and family while helping to run a nation. I think this proves women that while we can do everything, WE CAN'T DO IT ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

The fact that Senator McCain and Governor Palin knew this child's condition and still moved forward this campaign proves that they lack judgment.

News flash Sarah: Bristil needs her mother at home…

Remind anyone of '72 and Thomas Eagleton as a VP choice? The wheels are coming off the Straight Talk Express…

Palin's child needs her guidance. She may want to re-evaluate her priorities.

For those of you dredging up the DWI Palin's husband has, give me a break. Obama was a drug user! And as for Sarah Palins daughter, I applaude her decision to not consider this life a 'mistake' as the "pro-choice" crowd does. She will someday look back on this little life and be horrified that shoud could have so easily aborted it.

Let's not forget that Obama's mother was an unweed pregnant teenager too!

Sarah Pain's daughter is a minor. Even though she has decidied to keep her child. This isn't the point. Bristol was a minor, who was probably around 16 years old, and having a sexual relationship. How is this okay for a minor to have a sexual relationship? I wish Bristol all the luck in the world….but what does this tell us about Sarah Palin's family morals and John Mccain's judgment? Since Sarah Palin also prides herself as a politician because of her gender for women's issues, which is great because we need more women in office,,,,what is her record of legislation for women's rights in Alaska? What is her record on equal pay for Alaska's employees? I believe Sarah Palin has been offered as "Trojan Horse" by the GOP for this years election. In reality, she's becoming more of a liability because of hypocrisy.

Ahhh….now I get it!! McCain and Palin knew that Hurricane Gustav was going to make landfall soon and decided to release this bombshell at the exact moment it came ashore. Notice how the news is all hurricane? It would be all Bristol Palin otherwise………. smart!

Teenage pregnancy? Won't this make the republicans cringe?
McCain's VP pick can't get any worse (unless it was Lieberman).

I actually feel sorry for Republicans now

I'm not saying that Bristol is a bad person, but I will attack the morals of VP Palin here. She's trying to ram her values down our throats about abstinence-only policy, her drill ANWR policy, and "I know best for everything" policy.

WELL IT DOESN'T WORK. EVEN YOUR OWN FAMILY DOESN'T BUY INTO IT.

Palin is an utter hypocrite. She has no executive experience. She has no moral values to stand on her (shown by her own family's lack of faith to follow said values), and she is not ready to be president.

I had utmost respect for McCain before this horrid VP pick. Now I will not, under any circumstances, vote McCain. I'll probably stay home this election.

jackie, you are right and only spoke the truth, she does need to take care of her own backyard. April – you don't see the republican party as judgemental? Do you live here in the US?

I really can not believe the amount of people who say they will change there votes from Obama to McCain because of what a blogger says. I promise you will not remember that blogger 2 years from now, I just hope all of you dont regret your vote. Please ThinkSmart. Most bad desicions are mad out of anger.

Don't preach about privacy when you enterred the race. Also isn't the media still chewing up Edwards and he is not a candidate. If this was not covered then there would indeed be a double standard.

I wonder if this pregnancy happened in Obama's daughter, what would Rush Limbaugh say???

Thousands of teenage girls get pregnant every day. Since this little girl has parents who are abstinence education backers and pro-lifers one cannot help but wonder. She is still a minor at 17 years old, was the decision to keep the baby her's or her parents?

The comments again show nothing but hate. Discussion on issues and working togahter for change must come frome a level of mutual respect. The hate throughout the blog world from the Obama crew keeps me as an undecided voter. Change routed in hate will not be good. How can a call for hope bred endless hate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The people complaining about the media reporting this story seem to forget that this was released by the McCain campaign not a piece of investigative reporting.

First of all I am an Independent and I think that all tpeople who have something to say should look in the mirror. We do not live in a perfect world and never will. Learn to live with it!! If this was my child it is my responsibility to be there for my daughter.Which by the way I have 3.
I commend Mrs Palin for standing by her daughter and supporting her needs. Yes it is painful to have to see her have to grow up fast with all in her life. Yet it seems as if everyone wishes to condemn than to be understandings. I say to all of you Grow Up Now!!! This country will not stop the bipartisonship it so badly needs until we work together in all fronts when our most important work is to support the people in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Think about things that have happened to you before you knock someone else down.

mccain should have picked romney.

Sarah, there is no doubt that women can do many things while raising children. The issue however is a mother who is a heartbeat away from the presidency. She has a four month old special needs child, a son who is supposed to be deployed to Iraq, a 17 year old pregnant teenager and two other children who also need her attention. It is one thing being a working mother with these issues running your own house, it's another thing to be in a position to make decisions on running my life.

Obviously, most of you have not raised teens OR have been completely oblivious to teen behavior. Ask a teen for their opinion on this.

I am really proud of Obama's wisdom and good judgment in this case…He has shown great restraint when it comes to Sarah Palin. As tempting as it must be, neither Obama or Biden have taken the bait. And they are right! They don't need to attack the lady.

John McCain is the one who picked her as his second in command. Now we can just let him and the Republicans tell her story, and defend her in the weeks to come.

Judgment matters!
Obama/Biden '08

WOW:!!! Talk about family values… SAD, SAD, and SAD..

Obama Biden 08

Here's a question I'd like to see asked: "Mr Obama, how do you feel about Bristol Palin being (in your words) 'punished with a baby'?"

I am truly appalled by this fiasco of the "maverick choice" of McCains- had he been TRULY a "maverick", he would have named his first choice, Joe Lieberman as his VP- or perhaps Tom Ridge. If he felt having a woman on the ballot was important, he could have chosen Kay Bailey Hutchinson. Instead, he CAVED in to the right-wing loonies. This Independent is DISGUSTED-

When you teach abstinence and refuse to teach protection, kids get pregnant. It also leads to the spread of STDs and I'd like to see Governor Palin defend that one.

I am changing my vote from McCain to Obama – I want someone who actually pays attention to their surroundings and what is going on – it wasnt the dems that broke the news it was the republican party and the media that found out – the more I learn about McCain the more scared for this country I become and from the sounds of it – 4 days after we learn of Palin we have found out how much – what else are we hiding

To the comment that Obama would tell his daughter to get an abortion…. do you even know how old his children are?

This shows incredibly poor judgment on the part of Senator McCain, he needed to take this position seriously and vet his candidates closely. I can not vote in good conscious for someone that takes selecting his successor so lightly and tries to make us believe for one minute that he knew this before offering her the job.

IS ANY BODY NOT INTERESTED IN KOWNING WHAT THIS POOR GIRL HAS TO SAY. AFTERALL SHE WAS THE ONE INVOLED IN A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP IN THE FIRST PLACE. SHE MUST HAVE HAD PLANS .

The point is, the Palins are NOT saying that she made a mistake – they are not addressing the fact that she had unprotected sex at 16-17 – what they are saying is that they are proud of her in her decision to keep the baby and will support that decision. To me, not addressing unprotected teen sex is VERY BAD LEADERSHIP and VERY BAD JUDGEMENT.

Although I don't believe this should be made into an issue, I'm sure some of the extreme right will be angered, since Palin will seem not to have walked the walk but just talked the talk.

The Palins are caught in the throes of what many families go through and they are handling it as well as they can. Breathes there a family that does not have issues? If you do not vote for John McCain because you disagree with him – that is valid. If you do not vote for him because he chose a VP candidate whose daughter is pregnant – you are narrow minded.

What goes around comes around.

For months Repugs threw all kinds of mud at Obama. The result was that 85,000 people lined up for hours to see him give his historic speech. The TV rating broke all kinds of records. Ordinary people donated more and more to his campaign. Republicans like myself joined the Democratic Party just to vote for him in Novemeber.

Now the Repugs are hoping that Palin's gender buys them the White House. If that's all they have pinned their hopes on, I put all my money on Obama.

Not for one minute do I or any intelligent American believe that John McCain knew about this, come on people. He is just telling us a lie that he knew the daughter was pregnant and MY Goodness, after all, don't we know Sarah Palin, "is the most qualified repulican in the country to be VP nominee, Mitt Romney, Huckabee etc…. just don't meet the creditientials.

See John McCain, is a power control person and he needed to pick a "Weak VP" so he would be in total CONTROL!!! Wow, where is his "JUDGEMENT on ANYTHING!!

OBAMA will be getting my vote along with his wonderful VP choice Joe Biden.

It amazes me when people in "public" office try to hide behind a claim to "privacy" in an attempt to hide their DIRT, as if they don't understand that they forfeit much of their privacy when they step into the public arena. HELLO!!! You want privacy? Remain a "private citizen"!

Sarah Palin as VP?! The number 2 in command?! Is this a joke?! The woman can't even govern her own household!!! And, yes, I know there are some who would say that, of course, my comment has to be politically motivated. But wouldn't we be saying the same thing if Obama's had a 17-year-old daughter who were pregnant?!

Doesn't how our leaders lead their families give us some type of insight into their abilities as leaders? I say yes! And with that said, Palin is NOT a good choice. People, get real!!!

I WOULD RESPECT PALIN MORE IF SHE WOULD STOP DRAGGING HER SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD AROUND TRYING TO GET VOTES FOR MCCAIN SHAME ON HER

There is no need to say more. What was McCain thinking about?

If Gov. Palin can't take control of her own house how could she handle the whole country?

I don't vote a woman just because the gender. I feel McCain is really loosing his touch of reality. This is not a game, this is our country and our future!

After McCain's choice my choice is very easy to do.

I think you really need to question Sarah Palin's values on this one. Rumor that this is her daughters second pregnancy aside, what is it that Sarah Palin intends to do as a mother for her pregnant daughter?

Perhaps putting her family into the international spotlight at this point is not the best thing. Her daughter, now getting married to the father of her child will do what? Raise the child alone in Alaska while Mommy is in washington or abroad? This is certaliny a difficult time for her daughter, and mom is gone persuing her own ambitions.

I have no problem with the fact that Bristol is pregant, its a fact that teens have sex, we all have been there we all know it. What I cant stand is this conservitive fluff about teaching creationisim in schools, abstinance as the only form of safe sex, and the holier than thou attitude. Palin is trying to force these views on the nation and her own family cannot even abide by these fallicies.

Isnt Sex with a child under 18 statutory rape in the USA

I have a question. What is the difference between Bristol Palin and Britney Spears sister? For that matter, what is the difference between Bristol Palin and those little girls that were apart of the media's scrutiny about a few months back; remember the pact to get pregnant girls? Bristol Palin is no different from any other kid getting knocked up in this country. She doesn't deserve an award for having a baby vs. having an abortion. The important fact in this story is that she had "free will". As a christian we have "free wil". Bristol Palin chose to have unprotected sex with a boy she probably thinks she is in love with. Having sex before marriage is called fornication. Fornication occurs because we as humans have "free will". Now that she is pregnant, she has "free will" in deciding to carry the pregnancy to term. Others might exercise their "free will" to not carry a pregnancy to term.

Bristol's mother should have prepared her better and gave her the information she needed to protect herself. Sarah Palin is a disaster. I really can't imagine HRC or Jimmy & Rose Carter or GWB/Laura, George & Barbara (non of them) having something like this going on in their families. This is bringing a brand new dynamic into the process AND possibly the White House.

What does this say about the conservatives? What a bunch of hypocrites.

I think it is a DISGUST TO THE WORLD…. and REPS. want to talk about the DEMS……. Old man, 2 women on his arms that can't be raised up high……. and a 17 yrs PREGANT UN WED TEENAGER!! how can ANYONE want ths bunch of PEOPLE 2 B IN THE DC!!! GEEZ PLEOPLE WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, lets see: Obama, married once and very happy, 2 lovely daughters that he teaches morals and values. Biden, loses his wife and infant daughter in car accident and makes great sacrifices for his surviving sons. John McCain, leaves wife who waits for him after his capture, for a younger, wealthier,woman. Sarah Who? Being investigated for corruption, 17 year old daughter pregnant and being forced to wed. WHAT NEXT? THIS IS BRTTER THAN JERRY SPRINGER!

I know as an uncle of a Down Syndrome child that you can't be a full-time VP and also devote 100% of your time to the care and nurturing of a challenged child. Which is it going to be?

Someone has to say it….If she can't run her own household; how can she be expected to run a country? Is this what the Republicans are going to base as a model family? I am heading to the county registrars office to change my declaration from Republican to Democrat.

Jesse
Colorado

I prayed this morning that GOD would reveal the truth…He did. let's pray for this child and her unborn child. This is a hugh undertaking for any teenager.
OBAMA 2008!

Once they dump Palin, anyone will look better. Nice job Karl Rove, you've done it again.

So she is pregnant now? I still believe the newborn is her as well. Because I can not believe you went 7months without showing and not telling your staff you were pregnant.

Your water broke and you still continue with your meeting in TX. But this is the part I really question you hop on a plane ( a 11 hours flight back to your home state) to have this baby.

As a mother and I would not risk my child life by flying on plane that late in term.

Something is very fishy about you.

Is Lobbyist oil money considered public funds…?

Palin smells like oil but reeks of payola..

Transfer of funds from her to McCain is AOK?

Big business always finds a fall guy to make their politicians get elected..Palin is a phony..Didn't Senator Ted Stevens endorses Palin or vice-a-versa…bring this story up CNN..

http://airamerica.com/content/indicted-hometown-senator-stevens-problem-sarah-palin-0

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0808/Indicted_Sen_Ted_Stevens_endorses_Palin_pick_by_McCain.html

boy i wonder if the tone would be different if it was Obama's 17 year old daughter

The straith evangilicals will have to explain their choice, as VP …regarding their famylies values…

As a woman who is part of the target population that the McCain, Fioroni, Whitman, Rove team is attempting to attract–I am totally insulted that we are exposed to this Britney Spears/ "Jerry Springer Goes to Washington" episode. Just validates my early analysis when looking at Clinton/Obama/McCain options post primaries–McCain rushed to judgement, is a war hero, but not presidential material, and made a very poor selection. for VP. I truly believe he is a moderate, but must pander to his party. My decision is now made-Obama/Biden 08!

McCain deserves everything that he's getting. He is completely knocked off his feet by this news, for the campaign to say he knew before he made the decision is a lie. Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Mitt Romney are laughing their butts off.

To Susan from Scottsdale.

As a LIBERAL voter I believe in equal opportunity for all men and woman, however, I want the people who run for public office to be held accountable for their actions and deeds as they go about the business of law making that the public will have to abide by.

I repeat……Sarah Palin is not ready to leave Alaska to become 2nd in command of the USA.

HAS SHE BEEN FULLY VETTED YET???

How can our children ever take us seriously when those people who are supposed to be role models are so completely lacking? Sarah Palin's 17 year old child is going to have a child. This is not a time to be taking on a major role in govenrment. This is a time for she and her husband to be putting their family first. I know it is an incredible struggle to raise teenagers but they HAVE to come first and, if Sarah and her husband had made that committment to their daughter years ago, she might not be dealing with an unintended pregnancy now.
How very sad for that family and how awful for our young people who will now get a reinforced message (started with Bill Clinton) that casual, unprotected sex is the norm and that any behavior is okay.

I feel sorry for the poor guy who has to marry into that family. Live and learn the hard way.

This would have been bad enough if this was a Democratic candidate's daughter. Imagine, if this was Biden's daughter, Rush, Hannity, Beck and all those other Republican commentators would be having a field day. I am sure Michael Savage is having conniption fits right now.

I read the objective media, which said that 100s and 1000s of media people had descended on Alaska to find out more about the mystery VP choice. As these people tried to find out information, they came across and sent out information.

To blame this on O'bama is ridiculous, since it is John McCain who had only met her once before he asked her to be his VP never vetted her and didn't have the information for the media, they went to find out on their own.

Obama has nothing to do with mud slinging. It is the lack of knowledge about Palin. Imagine there are probably people who have an axe to grind with Palin and probably gave out information about how thin she looked and how she never told her staff she was pregnant and on and on. They are to blame, not Obama or his followers.

We should all be thankful to know the good and bad about anyone who is a heart beat from the presidency. We already know about John McCain and Obama and Joe Biden. They have been vetted time and time again. Not many of us know much about politics in Alaska, a state that has about 1/5 the number of people who live in Chicago, so people are curious and there are lots of people up there who are willing to talk about Palin.

Has Obama made good on his promise to criticize efforts to bring family members into the campaigns… or did he just mean that he has special rules applying to him, but not to his opponents?

Yeah, that's what I thought.

How many of us ARE children out of wed-lock? And how many of us have been blessed by a grand-child out of wed-lock? I guess NONE of the Dems fall into this category…right?
Get your liberal heads out of your liberal behinds and try to remember what it was like to be 17….Goodness knows you forgave your own's indiscretions (Clinton/Lewensky, Kennedy/ Kopechne, & more recently Edwards/ Hunter)…How quickly we forget….And yet, you still tout them as great leaders.
Really….now remind me…who has the double standard???

I wish the Palin family, particularly Bristol, the best. Perhaps I do not agree with McCain's choice of Gov Palin as VP nominee, but concerning Bristol, parents can teach their children values and standards, but there is no guarantee that the children will live by those value and standards. Sometimes, hormones take control. Remember people, we were all teenagers at one point, and you know what that can feel like. No judgements, please.

Hooray ! Palin’s 17 year old daughter, who is a Senior in High School, is pregnant and without a husband at the moment. But she plans to marry the father and have the baby and her parents are just so proud of her. Hooray for McCain and Palin and all Republicans who have so much to be proud of today ! Hooray for abstinence(oops strike that ), the rhythm method instead of birth control ! Hooray for all High School Seniors who have a new role model. See, it isn’t so bad to get pregnant before you finish High School, the candidate for Vice President’s daughter did. Hooray for McCain who knew and picked her Mom anyway. Hooray for conservative evangelical Christians everywhere, a single Mom even they can love and point to with pride. Hooray for her Mom who accepted the nomination knowing the spotlight that would shine on her daughter. Hooray !

People the real issue here is not that the girl is pregnant or family issue or even the mother accepting the VP postion. The real issue is that the first major decision that a presidential candidate makes is picking the right running partner. And is indicitive on how successful th epresideny would be. I have to say Mccain droped the ball on this decision. Exposing a pregnant 17yr old to media crutiny is flat out irresponsible.

I cant blame Bristol, she is just a typical teenager on her way to maturity (in about 4 months) ..

But the whole Palin thing shows how immature McCain is becoming as he ages.. what was he thinking???

To one comment, Obama would not force his daughters to get an abortion, pro-choice does not mean you will force someone to get an abortion, but it leaves that option open to every woman. CHOICE!
Unfortunately Sarah Palin, and John McCain, have pushed Bristol into this campaign, shame on you both.
What types of decissions will you two make if (big if) you became the next leaders of this country.
Bristol you are too young to get married. Don't let these people make you do anymore proprieties, when you have so much to gain. My heart is with you. Good luck.

Mccain Only met Sarah one time and chose her as vp and now all these family secrets r coming out. he should have done more research on her. If something, god forbids were to happen to him. this country would be run by an inexperienced canidate that can't even control her own house so how can she run a country. She preaches abstinence, but now her seventeen year old daughter is 5 months pregnant out of wedlock. She is under all types of investigations. She has too much baggage.

Bristol is 5 months pregnant and now decides to keep the baby and marry the father. What is wrong with this picture? Two kids in love have sex, get pregnant. In a wholesome household, they would not have been afraid to immediately tell their parents, who would have supported them to go get married/elope. What's with the 5 month delay? This smacks of either lack of parental support, or the fact that the kids are not really in love, just lust. Could it be that the VP nomination has now made the choice for them?

Am I really the only Southerner who thinks this is wrong?? How dare you turn an underage girl getting pregnant into a Love Story!!!!! I am sticking with the party but the soon-to-be most powerful woman in the world cannot control her own family.

If this was Obama and his Daughter at 16-17years old, what would the GOP be saying???

It seems that the Democrats are just upset that this isn't their fathers Republican party.Now I SEE IT AS THE MORE PROGRESSIVE OF THE TWO PARTIES.Loving the person and accepting the situation, even if they have done something you don't approve of, instead of making moral judgements–that is the new Republican party.Where are all those make love not war Democrats?This new Democratic party is the party of the elite, judging everyone else, definately not my mother's Democratic party.

many will hate me for this comment but… she needs to be home taking more of an interest in her children right now. i do not mind a woman in politics but she has a baby and is now going to have to help her teen daughter with her baby. Finding time for anything outside of that would be very hard …. being a vice president is a job that requires full attention.

Is it just my imagination or does Palin's husband look like a posed Napoleon? The daughter doesn't look too happy either. Not only does the whole "Palin VP" thing look bad… it just feels so wrong. Describing her is like describing hundreds of thousands of women all over the world… but that doesnt mean they can run a country. McCain totally lost my vote. This is an insult to all women… way to go McCain.

The Republican's love to talk about family values and morals and impose their right wing agenda on others, yet they never lead or live by example. Stop preaching to the rest of us about morals and start looking at yourselves in the mirror. The Republican motto…'Do as we say…not as we do"

Now I really question the judgment on part of McCain. If he knew that the daughter of Palin was pregnant before his announcement on Thursday, it was the time to chose another VP candidate. If he didn't know (I believe it was the case) it means Palin is a con artist and has to be denounce as a VP. Wasn’t Mitt Romney good enough?

Yes, I too am changing my vote from Obama to McCain, just because some other people who say they are Obama supporters have said mean things about Palin's family situation.

That's how little I think about my privilege and responsibility to help decide who should run this country.

it’s so easy to say your pro life out of love in a relationship, but if you’re a 14 yr girl who has been abused and is pregnant by a family member or a rapist, we're suppose to deal with it…I will not have my life’s ruined and not have another Childs life destroyed because a kids giving birth to another kid. The choice of birth is up to the mother and that’s it…education and “abstinence” is the best way to stop "UNWANTED" pregnancy’s…and one more thing ask that 16 yr old girl did she know about condoms and did she want kids at 16?

Kind of ironic that they are against Roe v. Wade, which recognizes the right to privacy. Why should your daughter have a right to privacy and no other woman in America when it comes to their reproductive choices?

Just another example of John McCain's incredibly poor judgment. Sarah Palin should never have been his choice for VP even before he learned of the Bristol's pregnancy. Once McCain was aware of that, he should have told Sarah, "Family First" and sought out someone else who was not so obviously needed at home.

Palin as a nominee was a bad joke that just keeps getting less funny in the telling.

I feel very bad for Bristol, she is going to be used. But this is what is going to take Sarah off the ticket; she will say her family needs her. McCain will chastise the media; he will blame the democrats, and probably even some in his own party. Then he will pick Lieberman to be his running mate.

Why are th RepubliCANS entitled to privacy but Obama and the Democrats not. In Politics nothing is private. This statement from the McCain camps shows how one sided the are. Palin should of thought of privacy before she chose the VP slot. Just because she is a Female does not entitle her to any special privileges.

AND THIS IS A PERSON WHO WANTS TO BE A HEART BEAT AWAY FROM THE PRESIDENCY?

NO WAY, NO HOW

SHE CANT EVEN TAKE CARE OF HER OWN FAMILY.

You've got to be kidding me! Are we all just going to keep fighting back and forth over this silliness?! No matter what side you're on, the bottom line is this: SHE HAS BEEN DISHONEST. NOT FORTHCOMING. AND SHE GOT CAUGHT! Enough already! And just as I was to be stupid enough to believe that she was Hillary's replacement, I'm to believe McCain already knew about this? Color me S-T-U-P-I-D. Look up the definition of VETTING, John. There's no argument here folks. We don't need 8 more years of liars. We're already in a bad position here. Let's save our country while we still have a chance.

Is the marriage your decision? thihs kid is only 17…

C'mon – seriously? A pregnant minor and a special needs kid – and she is such an inspiration to women and this country, time to go home and take care of your family – they need you!

Well, there goes the right wing abstinence theory.

For all of you Republicans who are saying how desperate Dems are by attacking Palin's daughter, not one of these post has attacked Bristol and you know it. What they have done is attacked McCain for his crazy choice for VP and Governor Palin for her choice to accept the VP offer when her own family obviously needs her the most.

Why isn't the media holding John McCain's feet to the fire? They sould be questioning the campaign about this choice of running mate in view of the news about Bristol Palin? It's truly a reckless choice.

The media especially CNN is not raising enough concern about Gov Palin's selection. I'm astounded. CNN pounces on the Obama camapign for the flimsiest stuff. CNN has spent several years asking all the tough questions of Sen Obama putting him through the wringer. Gov Palin is not being vetted in the same way.

I agree with other posts:
Palin should have been home taking care of her family. How could she put her 17 yr old daughter thru this? So much for abstinence only.
She can't manage or control her own family, she has NO BUSINESS on the GOP ticket.
Is McCain as demented as people say? What a mess indeed!
Another Jerry Springer moment!

Something smells fishy here. The McCain campaign comes out with the news that Bristol Palin is pregnant to stop rumors that Trig Palin is truely Sarahs baby and Bristol just happens to be too far along for the baby to be hers. Hummm.

That means that Bristol got pregnant while missing school for mono. Plus Bristol missed 4 or 5 months of school for mono. Wow, really bad case of mono there, but apparently not too bad to be sleeping with her boyfriend.

I wish Bristol the best but I'm still not convinced. Show me evidence of how far along Bristol is. I'm still not convinced. Sarah chose to give a speech in Texas even though she was leakig amniotic fluid and instead of seeking immediate medical attention in Texas flew 8 hours to Alaska and then continued to travel to her small town hospital for medical attention. Then went back to work after only 3 days. I'm sorry, somthing is just not adding up here.

I don't want the facts because I care whether or not her daughter is pregant for the 1st or 2nd time. I care because I am so tired of lies and coverups in politics. If she would fudge the truth on this, there is no telling what else she will lie about.

Palin is only getting a lot of flack from this because she is a woman. If it were any of the male candidates it wouldn't be getting this much attention.

Palin happens to be a wife and mother whose job is running the state of Alaska. Why is she being criticized for being a working mother?

How many of you don't have issues in your family? No family is perfect. That which doesn't kill makes you stronger. Go Bristol! You are well on your way to becoming a strong woman.

@kathy

lol what?? It doesn't take a village… that's nonsense..It's a coherent adult to raise a child..This is dysfunctional..Doesn't matter how much money a person has, trash can always seep in..I don't think she should've had an abortion, but she shouldn't have got pregnant!!! that's the problem…Use a condom! Your 17 and when or if she goes to college, who will take care of the kid??

Why do people tend to believe that you have to marry the person who impregnates you? Studies have shown that most of those marriages fail, probably because the two aren't ready to make that decision in their life. I am sure they didn't plan on having a baby.

wow who cares, teens have sex, some get pregnant…. Not news worthy.

Does the State of Alaska have statutory rape laws??????

What a thoughtless Mother to have accecpted this nomination- knowing full well that this poor girl will have her face plastered all over the nation about this.

If you had said NO- no one would know who this girl is and she could have dealt with this in private!!!!

I think it's great that Bristol feels that she has the love and support needed to raise her child. This is a perfect example of how, to use Hillary's words, "it takes a village" to raise a family. Young women that choose to abort the pregancy do so because they don't have a "village" for support. Palin says that "she's proud of Bristol's decision to have this baby". I agree. If Bristol had chosen otherwise, it's fortunate that there are not more people like her mother in public office because she wouldn't have been allowed to decide for herself.

I stand up and take my hat off to the Palin's. Every American family faces challenges everyday and pregnancy is one of them……This future VP family shows that they are like the rest of us. We can not choose the paths of our children, we must let them trod it for themselves. I praise the Palin's for standing by their daughter and Sarah Palin will be an excellent VP. She has faced may challenges and I feel she will make our country proud!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!! YOU'VE GOT MY VOTE!!!!!!

Well, from what I read, this puts the Palins in the company of about half of the population, in the sense that almost half of the pregnancies in this country occur in unmarried women. Not a good situation, but there you are.

The bigger points here are:
1.If Gov Palin pulled her pregnant daughter out of school citing mono when she knew her daughter was pregnant that questions her truthfulness and is relevant to any debate.
2. The statement speaks of her daughters CHOICE to have the baby.
Why was there a choice if this family is pro-life?

There are a number of inconsistent positions taken by Gov Palin (being for the bridge to nowhere before she was for it, being a member of a political party calling for Alaska to separate from USA ,pretending to be a balance the budget mayor when she left office with a huge for Alaska debt etc) that she needs to explain.

Every woman in America – including Sarah Palin and he daughter – should thank there lucky stars that abortion is still a safe and legal in this country. They had the option of terminating a pregnancy and they chose not to. If the Republicans had their way, women wouldn't have any choice at all. Down's syndrome kid? Too bad – the baby's yours. Still a teen? Too bad – the baby's yours. You're on your own.

I find it hilarious that the Palin clan are happy that their daughter made the choice to keep the baby and marry the father. Obviously they don't know the stats on teen marriages. Keep the baby, yes…get married as a teenager…no way.

My heart goes out to the daughter who's having to deal with this in the public eye…thanks to Mommy Dearest.

However, I think Palin should have said no to the VP and turned her attention on the difficulties her family is facing…a knocked up teenager and a 4-month old special needs baby.

She's a joke.

Well , so much for Family Values…. It`s just like those Hypocrical Right Wing , Evangelical , Nuts….. Do as I say , Not as I do…
Did John McBush full vet Sarah Palin ? I think not…. What does this say about his Judgement ?
I wonder if the Palins , and the Brittiney Spears family are related ?
The vetting of Ms. Palin must have been done by Rush Limbaugh , or some other Nut ,of his capacity….. ( DRUGGIE )….. I would`nt want John McBush answering that Phone at 3:00 AM in the morning , with his lack of Judgement….. If he can`t use correct judgement in chooseing a running mate , how can he correctly judge whether a threat is a threat or just his Imagination ????
The world is to dangerous and the United States Too Precious , to put our trust in another Unintelligent , BOOB …..

Is this any way to show how she is ready to handle a nation?
To not be able to control her own kids from having underage sex?
She is not the right choice no matter how noble they try to
make it sound.

Here;s a shocker……….JOHN MCCAIN knew about this pregnancy BEFORE choosing Palin for his VP running mate!

Just another example of…. JOHN MCCAIN'S POOR JUDGMENT!!!!!!!!! WHAT WAS HE THINKING?????

OBAMA / BIDEN 08

I'm hearing all this talk about protecting the girl and "at least she is going to marry the guy". What is that? It's her parents' resonsibility to protect her. I as a mother of a teenage girl would not continue along this path if my daughter announced that she is pregnant. She is vying to be the second in command of our country and she and her husband, irresponsibly are staying in this race despite a sick child with special needs and a special child who needs them. This is sickening to see far right people blaming everyone but the Palins for being under scrutiny. Just anyone can't be at the helm of our country. No we all can't be president or vice president. I'm a die hard Obama supporter but I am so insulted at even the possibility that Sarah Palin could be anywhere near the center of power of this country. She and her husband are behaving irresponsibly. Anyone should be able to see they have failed the "family values" test at every turn. The blame for the harm and unwanted attention that will come to their daughter falls squarely upon their shoulders for so many avoidable reasons.

Teen pregnancy aside, I really have to question the decision making of a potential Vice President or President that encourages children to get married.

Outstanding. When life presents consequences and we take responsibility. My sister was in the same situation and went on to have four wonderful children and then became an RN. As we make decisions and travel our journey with Christ we grow in the world. Thank you for taking responsibility of a life.

This has nothing to do with whether one is pro-life or pro-choice. I'm a Christian and am pro-choice. Even God allows everyone the ultimate choice-to believe in him or not.

What this does have to do with is the honesty, integrity and character of both Sara Palin and John McCain. If he really did know about this before hand then he's an idiot and is not fit to lead this country. Additionally, she has very poor judgement to take on this very difficult task of running for VP when she has such grave family needs (her special needs child & her young daughter's pregnancy).

It's more than obvious that John McCain is not "ready to lead" and does not put "country first"

Obama/Biden 08

How is she going to sniff out corruption in Washington DC and she doesn't even know that her daughter is having sex right under he nose! I wonder how all those Republican women feel about their "role model" now? Can't wait till all their teenage daughters come home pregnant and they are forced to get married. They'll think it's ok because Sarah says she's proud of and supportive of her daughter. Remember those words ladies!!!!!

this one one big joke…..palin sayin she is proud of her daughter's decision to keep the baby

it is soo contradicting since they are suppose to be PRO-LIFE so there is really no other choice in the matter and they are suppose to be all righteous and holy what is she doing having premarital sex……..is this the family that America want to be one heartbeat away from being the first family and an example to the rest of the world?

as a teen myself i think that the president and vice-presidental family should be a role model and set a standard for the rest of the us

Ellen and Belle,

You cannot take comments on blogs or this website to mean that Obama said it.

Just like the flip floppers and swift boat comments about Kerry were not said by Bush

To all of you whining about "what does this have to do with the VP slot"…UM, if we can question Obama because he sits in a church with a preacher no one likes, why can't we question a far-right conservative, who is pro-life and an evangelist Christian, on her inability to live up to her OWN standards? Not to mention, this was a COVER UP. From what I'm reading, Palin was trying to cover this up for months!!! What else could she be hiding? Her conflict of interest problems with a state trooper mysteriously being fired, and now her 17-year-old daughter having a so-called "choice" on marriage and keeping a baby, are DISTRACTIONS come election time. EVERYTHING is in play when a country's future is at stake. Deal with it! Your VP candidate is TAINTED GOODS.

The point is that Sarah Palin is a human like the rest of us and faces the same types of personal, spiritual and professional challenges in life. The problem is that Republicans feel that they should be forgiven for their weaknesses while they condemn and persecute everyone else for theirs. The Republicans are nothing if not intolerant hypocrits and liars. As a tax paying American forced to live in Canada with my same-sex Korean partner because of homophobic immigration laws espoused by the GOP I feel that I have the right to speak.

What great religious values the republicans show. Can they be anymore hypocritical. I cant believe she drug here daughter into this political mess. I guess this is what you call family values.

Mrs. Palin stated that she was "proud of her daughters decision". What decision? Palin is against women's rights to choose. I am greatful that this child has a supportive family and someone to turn to. Many women/girls do not.

Right Wing definition of Personal Responsibility:

Teen Not Pregnant: she's taking responsibility for her actions.

Teen Having Baby: she's taking responsibility for her actions.

Umm….what?

RyanD…do you have proof that Sarah Palin "let" her daughter get pregnant? That would be extraordinary. Were you there when the permission was granted? Do you have an email or recording?

Of course not. Sarah didn't "let" Bristol do anything of the sort. Bristol, a 17 year old, made her own choices and decisions.

Period.

Guess they thought announcing it when a major hurrican struck the U.
S. would keep it out of the news cycle.

Guess again.

Guess those abstinence-only programs that Sarah Palin supports really work well, huh?

Shame on McCain for picking a woman who places her career ahead of family.

Scott

Bristol does deserve her privacy-which is why as a mom, I can't understand Governor Palin's decision to put her family on the world stage right now. I think it was an incredibly selfish act to accept the nomination at this time. Governor Palin is young and has her whole political future in front of her-I think she should have waited to make this jump to the national spotlight at a time when her family wouldn't have suffered. Her youngest has special needs, her daughter has special needs, and now who will be there to fill them? Not the person they need the most-their mom.

As a Democrat….I DONT CARE
As an American….. I DONT CARE
This is simply a smear tactic and the media is fanning the flames let's get to a debate on REAL ISSUES. which Obama & Biden will win. We don't need this side show.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12
OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12
OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12
OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12
OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12
OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12
OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12
OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12

Thanks McCain for putting thecountry through this mess. Would you call that being reponsible. If she can't protect her 17 year old daughter, how she suppose to take caref of 300 millions of American and 6.7 Billion people in the worl.

Thanks McCain, Just what the country needs.

If this woman can't control her family and teach them the values she purports, how can she possibly lead our country as second in command?

How nice, her newest baby and her grandbaby will be best buddies…

I'm a dem, but do any republicans think it would be a good idea just to wipe the current crew out completely and start over with Pawlenty and Jindal rebuilding the GOP from scratch?

Those guys seem to have much greater sensibility and less baggage to this outsider – I could at least listen to what they were saying without wondering what they're hiding constantly.

This is really very entertaining.

But I think Gov Palin ought to revisit whether she wants to have her family subjected to this kind of exposure and publicity.

Ambition before family.

McCain/Palin 08

First of all, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. As parents we raise our children and try to teach them our values but it is up to them to follow. As a parent I can only imagine what this family must have been through and I think they should have some privacy regarding this topic. All families have different values and beliefs. I remember Obama being critized for saying that if his daughters became pregnant he didn't want their punishment to be a baby. Once again that is what he believes and as a parent I can't blame or judge either person's response. This is the beauty of living in America. We have people of all beliefs and backgrounds living together and no one should be judge.

Republicans (Not all) are mess at this time. Please we don't need this kind of values for our families. Young kids need supervision. She should take care of her family first.

Maybe she should have used her "Executive Experience" "Command Authority" t and Good Moral Upbringing" to teach her daughter not to screw outside of marriage.
If she can't control her own daughter and lead her down the right path -HOW CAN SHE HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF LEADING THE COUNTRY?????:

I'm sorry , now this brings into question the child with DS, time for a blood test to be done, and if palin wants to clear that one away, then this must be done, and proven.

We all know she is a grandmother to TWO Children, not one…

Forcing the child to marry at such a young age because of the pregnancy is absurd…her having sex out of wed lock goes against the conservative base, and obviously abstinence does NOT WORK…

What a disaster….lol

She does not have the experience to be ready on day two…her husband had a DUI at 22, mistake after mistake after Mistake

SORRY THIS IS NOT CHANGE I CAN BELIEVE IN!!!

Can you say LANDSLIDE!!

Obama/Biden 08!!

Sarah Palin:

Country first, me second, family DEAD LAST!

Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!

I guess "abstinence-only" doesn't work in the Palin household…let alone the Nation's schools.

Sarah Palin is not the mother of Trig.

Hey Look a Hurricane! pssst. My ultra conservative running mate's 17 year old daughter is pregnant.

I think the timing of this release of information from the McCain camp is somewhat suspect.

It appears that the citizens of the gulf coast areas are much more important when taking care of them is also in line with the Republican political strategy. My guess is that McCain will address Gustav this evening and be able to avoid any hard questioning about his running mates news.

I wonder how effective Palin's abstinence not safe sex stance is.

This is somewhat disturbing, if you think of it in the context of the possibilities of over exaggerating the impact of Gustav in order to divert attention from the Republican Convention.

wow… for a party that "claims" to hate the judgmental… YOU ARE ALL EXTREMELY JUDGMENTAL. Unbelievable!

The mother sets the example for the child…

I thought Republicans don't have sex before marriage because it is a sin!

I wonder why this wasn't released long before the storm….

1. So much for the success abstinence only sex education.
2. It would have been more caring for a mother in this situation to have said, "Thanks, but no thanks, Senator McCain" and saved her daughter from the glare of the national spotlight.

GOD HELP US ALL!

The Republican, McWar and the same IDIOTS that voted for the IDIOT in the White House have to go. The whole world is laughing a America and Americans when they see how stupid we are.

ENOUGH…………..

Obama/Biden 08

Dont let the door hit you on the way out.

And the spinning begins…Of course the campaign is going to spin this to try and convince women with families that the Palin's are going through the same things we are. Please don't fall for this. The truth is that Sarah Palin in also out of touch with what she preaches. Otherwise, her daughter wouldn't be having sex in the first place. Teaching just abstinence doesn't work. It never has. We have a huge teen pregnancy issue is this country. McCain compares Obama to Britney Spears when in reality, he needs to look no further than his own running mate. As an Independent, I see many other more qualified VP candidates in the Republican party.

All I can say is that I hope the daughter is doing well and that she was allowed to make HER OWN DECISION regarding keeping the baby and marrying the father.

This means only ONE thing: McCain did not run any background check on her before selecting her…and it tells a lot about Him!

I am tired of this crappola! When women of color keep their babies, the right wing point and say "Aha! This is proof that these women are morally loose. "But when they do the same, they're freakin' heroes! I agree that once the deed is done, the baby and mother's health takes precedence. These are the same people who won't offer a finger to help once the baby is on the way. Wicked! Just Wicked!

Here's a nice question for the Republicans to chew on.

What if the Palins were Hispanic or Black or Democrat? I've seen many so called "Christian Conservatives" spout that minorities have no control over their kids and site teen-age pregnancy as a symptom of that.

So, is it only REPUBLICANS who are allowed to have teen-age pregnancies and keep the child? Or only WHITES who are allowed to have teen-age pregnancies? Or only RICH families allowed to have teen-age pregnancies?

An answer would be appreciated.

Great pick McCain. Nothing wrong with this picture.

Nothing wrong whatsoever.

Countdown to republican spin in 5…. 4….3…..2……

Well, speaking from experience, one's young daughter does not simply get pregnant if you as a mother are paying attention. Also, in deference and respect to her family because of the expected scrutiny on this young girl, Sarah Palin should have declined the second spot. This more than anything reveals her lack of character when ambition stomps on the vulnerability of her oblivious daughter. Asking the media to respect their privacy when Palin decides to buck up? Please, this poor dumb kid is now at the mercy of everything because of her despicable selfish mother. This ticket just lost my vote. Palin is poison.

All of us are happy for this young lady. We are happy she chose to keep the baby and marry the father. That is a great outcome. Let's leave this family alone. We don't tell them how to live, they don't tell us how to live.
Deal?

Obama/Biden!!

Sarah Palin should have thought through her decision to be the Vice Presidential nominee. Her unwise decision to do so has put her daughter in the precarious situation of having the whole nation/world judge her on her teen pregnancy out of wedlock. This news calls into her question this woman's readiness to run the country if she can't run her own household.

Gov. Palin, you are in way over your head on the VP thing. For the first time in many years, it's time for you to put FAMILY FIRST and take care of your own children. You give new meaning to the term BLIND AMBITION…blind to what your daughter was doing.

So much for teaching her children conservative family values…

Only people of low character would smear a teenager who made a mistake that a lot of us have made in the interest of politics.Sarah Palin
and her type are needed in Washington to help clean up the mess professional politicians,both Democrat and Republicans have made of our country.
Jake

Palin, it's reported, was very religious in high school. But soon after college, she's gets married, not in a church service, but by eloping. And her first child is born not too long after.

The acornette may not fall far from the tree . . .

I see a Palin resignation coming very shortly. She's done what she was called to do, take the spotlight off Obama's convention. Now, she can get back to business being a mother of five and a governor. McCain can then get more attention when he names Pawlenty as a replacement. Just a thought.

How could you people so critical of the daughter.I know some of you also have some skeleton in the closet.Some of you whose critical of the mother had even look at yourself in the mirror and think that maybe one day youll be in that same family situation.I'm a mother of two girls and I'm trying so hard to educate my kids about this subject,but as a parent you can only do so much in trying to shelter your kids in the world that full of reality shows about sex.When your kids do things that beyond your control all parents can do is support them and love them no matter what they've done.This situation is not any of ours business and not for any politicals party to used as negative attacks.She's just a normal teenaged girl. Please give her some privacy . I hope that you guys that had some bad things to say about this girl wont be on the same situation as her parents.

Huh…………..Talk about REPUBLICAN VALUES. HYPOCRITES

Pregnant at 16 years?!!!!!!!!!!!!

We know that unwanted pregnancies happen, but what kind of a role

models do we want in the white house, a man who cheats on his wife &

one who has a pregnant teenage daughter. So much for family values!!!

Oh, come on! All these negative comments. Now Palen's not a good Christian because her daughter made a bad a choice. She's not a good parent because she's a "working mother". Almost every mother I know, including myself, is a "working mother". None of this has anything to do with Palen being a good Christian or a good mother. She seems quite delightful. I believe Mrs. Palen's statement was loving and forgiving. Of course she has to be disappointed, but she and her husband have to go on and love this child and be supportive. They've made the right choice to accept, rather than reject.

My question is this: Who among you, with all the negative, judgemental comments, (obviously Democrats) have not made mistakes as an individual or as a parent? Who are any of us to cast that first stone? As an educator of 26 years I have certainly seen many parents make serious mistakes with their children, but they still love their children. I've made plenty mistakes of my own, yet I have raised three of the greatest people this world will ever know.

Kids will make mistakes on their own, yet we love and accept them. Shame on all of those who have written these critical, mean hearted comments. Remember, What goes around comes around. I wouldn't want to be standing next to some of you when you get your "come arounds"! Good luck when you and your kids make mistakes. Hopefully others will be more forgiving of you during that time of need.

Palin is a fraud. She is not a good role model for women. She is narrow minded and that is exactly why her daughter is in this situation. If she would had gave her daughter choices she would probably not be in this situation know. But, that's right Palin doesn't believe in choices. Now she has a pregnant teenager daughter toteing around a 4 month old with down syndrome, getting to be forced into a marridge so they report, when will this take place after the election? McCain is insane.

How convenient that this news breaks out during the Hurricane. hahah good job McCain, you are now becoming a REAL politician.

They are probably fibbing about the due date to coverup the first pregnancy. Bristol was out of school for five months before Palin supposedly gave birth. Conveniently the next child is due after the election. Surprise the baby will be three months late!

This is to John McCain & Sarah Palin,

Stupid you and so much for the examples you and Sarah are interested in setting for Americans GIRLS……. first your terrible decision to choose a newbe Sarah and now the pregnancy shocker.

McCain knew about this the first day and choose to cover it up ,why was this not mentioned the first day rally ,instead he was talking about her son going to Iraq and not the daughter that she refused to raised well.

So much about John and Sarah conservative ideas,that she forgot to teach her daughter about christian values.
She is trying to save face by saying the baby will be kept ,so Sarah stop telling us to respect your privacy ,because we will not for as long as you are running for VP.
STOP SAYING SENATOR CLINTON NAME,BECAUSE CHELSEA WAS NOT RAISED LIKE YOURS.

Palin should step aside now. I was already concerned about her judgement in running for the vice-presidency with five children, including a special needs baby. I know that women, of course, have to work even if that have children– it is a fact of our economy. Still,to throw your family into the national and international spotlight is quite another level of commitment. You are stepping aside from your duties as a mother dramatically– sorry, that level of politics would require her attention first. You are leaving it up to others to raise them or even letting them raise themselves. This may be the case here with her unmarried, pregnant, 17 year old daughter. Of course, these things can happen– but it is one thing to deal with it as a private family and quite another to put this young lady in the national and international arena where she will be scrutinized and scorned. I am sorry for her and hope that she can weather this storm with her mom by her side and not on the campaign trail.

Shame on sarah palin…
Charity begins at home…
U need to be at home raising ur numerous children.
Chelsea Clinton, Biden's children and the young Obama girls are an example of what children should be like….
Stay at home and learn how to take care of ur wifely duties..u are not fit to be a VP.

Looks like the first strike against VP candidate Palin. Geez what kinda mother is she that she is so out of the loop that she doesn't know her own daughter is out sleeping around. And shame on the McCain camp releasing this the day the Hurricane hits New Orleans, they're trying to sweep this under the rug fast. Shame on you John McCain!

How can she manage the values of a country if she can't manage the values of her own family.

Um, might have mentioned this in the vetting process. Goes in the category of 'Judgement'. Oh never mind. I forgot, there was no vetting process. The choice of Palin was spur of the moment pandering to the evangelicals. Oops.

Advocating teen marriage, praising a daughter for being pregnant because it will help her grow up fast? Some family values these Palin's have. Sarah Palin has been putting her job ahead of her family. I am disgusted that she'd go back to work a few days after having a premature baby with special needs.

Thomas Eagleton, as someone said above. I wonder who the next sacrificial lamb will be. Back to Romney?

Does anybody notice the complete absence of discussion on this candidates family values? As a woman and mother of 3 , I am disgusted at Palin's BOASTING that she was back at work 1 day after giving birth to her daughter, and 3 days after a premature deliver of a down syndrome baby!!!! In a country where families are suffering because women and children, and families are not given sufficent time to bond after birth; where women are punished for taking maternity leave; where family first is spoken but certainly not practiced, Sarah Palin is the last person, much less woman to be representing a working mother on a national level. Sarah Palin is an example of what happens to families when a parent, such as herself, has put her career aspirations infront of her responsibilty to the children she has brought into this world.

So, does this mean that Sarah Palin supports the fact that her daughter had a CHOICE in the matter? So, is she pro choice now? Help me out here.

RIGHT ON to "frog" blog – Palin says "We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby …" That's Pro-Choice, "My Friends" -

What else is under the snow in Alaska??? There is global-warming, you know, and you can fool the people some of the time but not all of the time.

Diane from NYC – former Hillary supporter, now DEAD SET Obama/Biden '08 – Ladies, get behind this ticket!

How horrible to knowingly inflict your children on the world stage when clearly there needs to be more focus on her own family! Sarah Palin is clearly letting her ego run away from her own family. I like McCain, but at this point, what's next? There's clearly more dirt yet to come.

I think it makes Sarah Palin that much more "normal." She's just like one us! So many folks rush to judgement. This happens all the time. She could have had a secret abortion, but no, they are choosing to support her at this time. Maybe having a normal person in the administration will make a difference. This family is much more normal than the elitists from Chicago.

abstinence…….
Yeah… that'll work.
NOT!

Please Mrs. Palin, Focus on raising your family., Having a special needs baby and a pregnant daughter requires the attention of a mother. There is NO way you can concentrate on the needs of our country when your family needs your leadership. Wait until your children are grown to become the next President.

This is simple. If u can't take care of your own primary responsibility, then u can never handle even more complex national responsibilities.

Palin: Just quite politics and take time to tend to ur family b/4 your other children bring home more pregnancies!

this will get the radical right out of their wheel chairs and to the voting boothes.

a couple of pieces of advise for these BIBLE thrumping christians,
PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH AND PRACTICE SAFE SEX !!!!

Pathetic- here are true wholesome family values at their best! Why is it that the moral right always scews up so badly? Congratulations to Sarah Palin for raising such a successful daughter!

What does James Dobson has to say about his VP pick that he forced John McCain to select!?!? HYPOCRITS!!

WOW, I live in Alaska but didn't even know this!!! My republican family didn't know this…It's hard for me to call this ticket conservative! Let me tell you something, family means a little bit more to me than fame!

I will vote, but not for this!

That young girl will be given every opportunity to recover from this – her family has money.

The average American cannot afford this financially or emotionally.

That's the difference.

So I have one question. Who gave any of us the right to judge anything anyone else does? I was born and raised in Alaska, I know 14 year olds who's parents are pastors. It doesn't matter who your parents are, I was raised in a very good home I had both parents and very good beliefs. I got pregnant when I was 17 and without there support I would have never made it through raising my kids. So don't judge her for choosing to support her child embrace it because not to many parents would. Sarah is a very good person who has done nothing but good for our state and we support her and her family in what ever choices they make.

President Bill Clinton was impeached for lying. Sarah Palin lied that her daughter had mono and pulled her out of her school. A lie is a lie. IMPEACH SARAH PALIN NOW AND ASK HER TO STEP DOWN! McCain did not vet this woman. If he had, there is no way in hell he would have picked her! The GOP always love to tout their "Christian" values so anyone with common sense understands that Sarah Palin was not vetted! McCain is the most reckless man running for the highest office. Please give McCain an answer on November 4th!

Obama / Biden 08 & 12.

LOL… if you look back at the video or pictures when Paling was introduced as the VP last week, Bristol is holding Trig and a blanket that conveniently covers her baby bump!

How is this news?

McCain's judgement needs to be called into question. Of the 300 million people in America, he decides Sara Palin is the best choice to the be VP. Come on, GOP, you've got to agree that she's a lightweight and totally over her head.

I feel sorry for her daughter and the boyfriend. Feels like a 'politically-expedient' shotgun wedding to satisfy Sarah's political need

So somehow it is supposed to be a good thing that this 17 year old girl is pregnant. I am switching my vote for the second time in less than a week, I had switched to McCain, based on Palin and her family values – now that I see how she in fact does raise her family and I see no values, I switch back to Obama.

Sad to say Palin is not Hillary after all.

I truely feel sorry for the girl. She is going to be strapped down at 17 with a baby so there goes the college experience and to save her parents face she is going to be pressured to marry the boy. 17 married and having her first (maybe second) baby is what I always wanted for my teenagers. WOnder if Sarah Palin has changed her ideas on birth control? And as far as RESPECTING the daugthers privacy – too bad people didn't do that for Chelsea when her parents were running an presidential election -

I see that the left wing SLIME machine came out in full force to drag Gov. Palin down into the mud on this one.

At least this mistake won't be FLUSHED down the toilet like Obama would do to his grand child.

I bet CNN won't post this because they are only allowing anti-McCain hatred to be posted.

This pleasant and principled values oriented lady certainly brings a crowd to the White House, wow!!! its going to be a daily jamboree in there, everyone is invited.

McCain, you screwed this one, another wrong judgment like the one to run for presidendency. Honestly, Bush would have been a better VP choice.

I, as a Christian, was heartened by the choice of Sarah Palin as VP, but now I simply don't know what I'm going to do. Obviously she can't even keep her own family in check and could not keep her daughter away from the sin of the devil.

Barack is looking more and more like the Christian candidate this election season.

Oh, I forgot to mention this as well. Obama is actually Muslim right? No? That's what I've heard!! Gee, unless you have proof, shut the heck up and stop the nonsense. If you all are the type of people that live in this country I just might think about moving elsewhere. You people are pathetic.

Why did McCain pick Palin if he only met her once, she had a teenage daughter who was pregnant, and she had less experience than Obama? I think this calls into question his decision-making skills.

Obviously Sarah Palin only cares about herself. She is so excited about potentially being the first woman VP that not only is she leaving behind her infant with Downs syndrome to hit the campaign trail, she's leaving behind her pregnant teenage daughter, plus her other children. She is going to be on the road for the next two months with very little time to spare for her family, same will be true if she wins (heaven forbid!).

Many woman work and do a fine job of balancing work and family. But running for VP or being VP is not a normal Monday thru Friday, 9 – 5 type of job, it's a 24/7 type of job.

There is no way she can be both a good mother and a good VP candidate. No way. And that's not sexism…it's just the facts. Twelve or fifteen years from now she may have been at a time in her life to take this on. But now obviously is not the time.

I've got a feeling we are only at the beginning of learning more about the real Sarah Palin.

I don't even have to comment.

It is too darned funny all on it's own.

McCain/ Not Yet Able '08

Why would any mother in her right mind subject her pregnant unwed 17 year old to the kind of scrutiny and ridicule that were sure to ensue when she accepted the VP choice? Not one with good judgment or her children's interests at heart.

Family Values??

This is not about Bristrol's being pregnant currently.
It is she has had the baby and they are corvering it up.
No staff member knew she was pregnant,
she had an interview a day before she announced she was pregnant with nesweek at supposedly 7 months and nobody knew.
Pictures of her first pregnancy at 7 months have surfaced and you could spot it one mile away.
This is a fatal mistake, trust jounalists, they will dig out the dirt in less than a week.
She should be truthful now.

Palin declining the nomination isn't an option. What will that say about John McCain's judgement if his VP pick is wrong? When bombs start droppoing we can't afford a president that doesn't get it right the first time. I don't believe that exactly, but you know that's what will be said, and it will be partially right.

Maybe if she paid as much attention to her daughter than she does her career….

She should try fixing her own house first befor wanting to move into the white house.

Can McCain do anything right!!!

Sarah Palin is also under investigation for abuse of power. Take a look at this link, http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/politics&id=6328112. The allegation that she tried to get her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper. She, her husband and some of her administration officials had pressured the Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan to fire her ex-brother-in-law, and when Monegan did not go along with the idea, he was then fired…

CNN should follow up on this allegation/development…

The tradition continues for the "family values" party.

The current vice president has a gay daughter and the vice presidential candidate has a pregnant single daughter. The party hypocrisy continues.

Imagine if this was Obama's 17 year old daughter.

ALL THIS HYPOCRISY IS GIVING ME A HEADACHE, NEO-CONS!

I am dumbfounded…..Why do I have a feeling that the right win zealots will even love her more.

If anybody remember. Geraldine Ferrero was derail, when she ran for VP. Because of her son drug use.

According to people who are Sarah's neighbors. She has dumped her kids on her family and basically to fend for themselves and we see the results. Sarah stated during her campaign for Govenor that her husband would quit his job and stay home with the kids, but that never happened and now this happens. This is squarely on the parents for not taking acre of their children.

Oh and if McCain knew this all along. Why did they just release this now during a huge natural disaster?

Great Family Values and great decision by McCain

RNC family values.

Ambition before Family.

A special needs infant at home, an unwed teenage pregnant daughter who needs her mother, and 3 other kids.

If this women will put ambition before her own family, what's her ambition going to do to Americas family's? She was clearly not vetted and is the wost pick for VP in the History of this country.

She needs to step down ASAP for the good of her large and young family. McCains gets a fat F for Failure in this most poorly made decision.

Yes I agree with nathan, I am Pro life, and also conservative Christian, but I ´m not letting our country in a hands of Mccain and this inexpreieted woman..Obama is the least of two mistakes….

Geoff how can you blame this on Obama…. LOL

He had nothing to do with this child getting pregnant or her parents releasing this statement in the middle of a Hurricane..

LOL This has nothing to do with OBAMA

Why do you think they waited until today to release this news?

I find it funny that McCain is trying to use Hillary to win this election. The republicans hate the Clintons. Remember when McCain laughed when asked by a supporter, how do we beat this b%$ch? This woman is no Hillary Clinton. I will not vote for her just because she is a woman. I can't You have lost John.

Looks like the Straight Talk Express just got a flat tire. And to announce this during a hurricane…? Looks like windy, wobbly talk …

Barack Obiden '08

This election is not about her daughter. It is about the lives of every American. For this simple reason Mc Cain should have pick a someone who did not have so many issue. I am not judging the family. I am however asking that the BOTH parents step down from the Campaign trail and raise their family. This should be done for the wealthfare of their children and the country. Please do the right thing.

TOOOO Funny!!!!

Notice MOST of the bloggers BLAME the woman! AS if the FATHER had NOTHING to do with it? Give me a break. At the VERY least Gov. Palin and her husband is supportive of their daughter. THAT is more than half of the families in America.

I used to be a PROUD Democrat as the Party of Inclusion. Now, I am VERY ashamed of the OBAMA ACTION WIRE TEAM.

Thanks team….I am voting for McCain and Palin. YOU are nothing but sexist, demeaning jerks.

I was leaning heavily towards voting for Obama. I wanted to believe that he represented "something different". But after 3 days I am so overwhelmed at the venomous ageism -the vicious sexism – the slanderous hatred that just keeps spewing forth – I realize something – we have become what we hated most. There is no "hope" , nor "change" – it is a charade. Win at all all cost; slander over substance.

Today, I decided I will vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin,

It could be that the poor daughter didn't understand how babies are made. The mother is against science education. Creationists are against science education because they want to waste school hours on a nonscience that could have been spent in teaching kids science.

The public is being asked to respect her privacy. Oh boy, this is going to get really painful — but what about the VP candidate made her think she should agree to run if she cared about her family's privacy? Palin has lived a sheltered life and may be innocent or unintelligent. Either way, this is going to hurt. I am sorry for her and her family.

I don't think Obama's campaign has said boo about this, nor should they. This is a VP pick that will self-destruct, no help needed.

Maybe McCain really doesnt want to win and that's why he picked this woman to be his VP. She sounds like a hillbilly

.Not to put too fine a point on this, the Palins show principle in not taking the easy way – perhaps a "hush-hush" abortion. But the issue is – have they shown responsibility? and have she educated her daughter on the health impact on teen pregnancy? – This is not just a MISTAKE that we can forget and "move forward"…. And the GOP portraying Sarah Palin as a role model….! baffles me.

Because Palin doesn't believe in birth control, we have another teen pregnauncy in american. SARAH PALIN IS AN IRRESPONSIBLE MOTHER

At least she is woman enough to keep her baby and not have an abortion. We are all sinners, God forgives us when we admit it, say we're sorry and accept responsibility for what we have done. The people who are hippocrites are the ones who make excuses or blame somebody else for what they have done. I don't think there is anybody who can throw stones.

So the poor kid got knocked up. C'est la vie happens every day.

More importantly the mother made the horrendous decision to get on a plane in Texas after her water broke, knowing she was about to deliver a child with a major physical problem, and travelled EIGHT hours to Alaska to deliver him??? No doctor would ever advise that and no responsible, right thinking parent would do such a thing. Irreparable damage could have happened to the child AND to her. She had four other kids to think of. Where is this woman's common sense?

Something smells rotten in the state of Alaska! Shall we trust this woman's judgement? Shall we trust McCain's judgement in trusting her.

If Sarah Palin had not taken McCain's VP offer, the world would not know about 17-year old Bristol Palin's pregnancy and forced marital commitments.

How can there NOT be a media storm when an "Ultra Conservative" GOP VP candidate's 17-year daughter gets pregnant and presumably pressured to marry in order to saves mom's family-values image?!?!

To be fair, it's entirely up to the Palins how they handle this situation. If they opt for abstinence-only education (which is a demonstrable failure), and a teen marriage over an abortion, that's entirely up to them.

However, the real issue (which seems to being lost among the cries of hypocrisy), is that given the opportunity, they would like to force everybody else to have to do the same thing. That's what's unforgivable.

The only thing missing from Sarah Palin's life story are the nude photographs. Come on, someone out there must have them.

News flash abstinence doesn't work, and the age of sexual debut for females is now 13. 13!!!!

Get with it, teach your kids and be prepared. They ARE having SEX!

She should have been talking to her daughter instead of running a state of 600k people.

Rush told me to vote for mrs.Palin, cause we can get all the oil in Alaska and sell it on the open market and make a fortune in stocks.I love my savior Rush Limbaugh,hes the greatest.

I am wondering how all you hate filled people know for a fact that unprotected sex lead to this pregnancy?????? Maybe contraception was used, but OH Sorry, I forgot that is the myth or irony of "safe sex".

My husband and I raised six children and I am proud to say no teenage pregnancies occured. It is a matter of being open and honest with your children and knowing what they are up to. Sounds like good parenting and direction was sorely lacking.

Family values ? Abstinance as the only approved form of birth control ? Home schooling to preserve good "Christain" values ?

And pregnant at 16 and delivering at 17 ?

Nice parenting skills. Great role model. Can't wait to see the skill set she can bring to the White House.

the republicans will now use bristol's pregnancy to show that "every family can work through this" and she is wonderful for keeping the baby. so why, republican government, i ask— why must you cut funding for birth-control and sex education so that the young teenage girls in the inner city neighborhood i work in get pregnant at 17—and then ALSO CUT FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG, UNWED MOTHERS? for me, its heartbreaking to see what teen pregnancy does in families where, sorry to say, there is not as much family loving support and money.

i think teen pregnancy is an unacceptable message to send to america. and this is confusing— so we should have kids practice abstinence but then they should have the baby and get married at 17 if they get pregnant? the dems are more consistent– YOU HAVE A CHOICE to practice safe sex and if you get pregnant, YOU HAVE A CHOICE if you want to keep that baby or not.

What a bunch of sad, pathetic people they are. Why didn't they embrace Bristol's first child? Why did they hide their daughter and the truth about her first pregnancy? Do they really believe that this will divert the attention away from the monumental blunder they made by choosing to lie about their grandson?

Once again, right wing christian values stomp all over traditional reasoning.

No thanks.

Watch a real candidate….. Ron Paul!

in normal cases a teen age daughter being pregnant is a PRIVATE family matter and should really stay that way. Yet to me I just wonder how these same folks on the religious right that condemn the likes of Jamie Lynn Spears will say about this case. Even as a Democratic voter to me this should not be an issue but for the Republicans to talk about family values all the time and then this comes out it has become an issue. Well at least she plans to marry the father which means she is no different from a lot of women nowadays that get pregnant first and marry later. I just think it's the hypocrisy that really gets to me.

Tomorrow's headline: McCain's pick ill-conceived

What a joke Palin is. If she can't even control what goes on in her own home or at least have a responsible conversation about teen pregnancy with her daughter how can anyone expect her to be responsible at the VP level. She apparently was too busy boosting her own ego and political career to pay attention to what trailer her daughter was having fun in. She needs to go back and crawl into her snow cave.

What does this have to dowith ones ability to do a job? If my 17 yr old were pregnant I would still be able to do my job. By the way I have 4 children and I work 70 plus hrs. a week, thanks to all the liberals giving my money to money sucking leeches who do not work even 40 hrs a week.

This story changes nothing – Go Uncle Fester – Morticia 2008!

Palin's daughter is not running for office, so we must respect the young woman's right to privacy and not burden her with any undue stress during her pregnancy. Which begs the question of why Sarah and Todd would drag their daughter down and around the lower 48 states and allow her to be put under such inevitable scrutiny? Obvious they are not thinking clearly and this rushed decision has them off their parental game.

That said, America deserves better from McCain and his campaign. Are there any additional revelations about Palin that the McCain campaign is not telling us or worse knows nothing about (due to a lack of fully vetting McCain's choice).

What is going on with this McCain/Palin ticket?

Why are they treating America and this electoral process as if it some kind of joke?

What the heck is going on with McCain?

Governor Palin should drop out as vice presidential candidate. She has a special needs infant that needs her significant attention as a mother, and she has streched herself beyond what she is capable of handling now that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. With these critical family issues, she needs to spend more time "mothering", and certainly cannot handle the vice presidency which will require a great deal of time and energy away from her family. She needs to focus on her family first at this time, and certainly could not step in as president if needed.

This really should be respected. There are families all across that are/have experienced this and we shouldnt choose now to single these individuals out for being LIKE many familes. We want these people to be normal but at the same time we want to call them out as out of touch but this is a perfect example of them just normal/everyday people.

At least this girl is 17. Yes, it is still young, however there are girls getting pregnant at a way younger age and then dont have the support they truly need.

McCain-Palin still have my vote! Unlike Barack… As a 22 year old I dont believe a baby is the end of a persons world.

So normally I stay out of these political debates because everyone just defends their base but this is just too much. Anyone who even says "liberal political attack machine" is just a plain hypocrite. The conservative base and specifically Karl Rove have been masters at the "conservative political attack machine" the past decade. A bunch of idiot bloggers is nothing compared to what Rove and his band of cronies have done to hurt the political process. I say if you cannot take it than don't dish it out.
On the flip side. Since when is having a baby out of wedlock EVER a conservative value. I am willing to bet there are going to be a bunch of conservatives spinning this into some sort of "blessing" and saying she is taking responsibility. Listen, if her conservative Mom and Dad actually did there job and taught her about how NOT to get pregnant in the first place she may not have. I am sorry but you guys lose this one. Time to move on as fast as you can and hope it does not hurt you too bad. And don't feed me a bunch of stuff about being able to take care of the baby on their own. Economic status is not an excuse for getting pregnant at 17.

What happened to the values of our country Sarah Palin its time to withdraw you should go back to Alaska Washington is not for you.

First, I'm an Obama supporter. That said, as a woman who also got pregnant before I got married and who was on birth control at the time, I do not think that this reflects badly on her being a Mom. My Mom was a stay-at-home mom. A woman should be free to work outside of the home whether she absolutely has to (because of the family's financial situation) or because she wants to. If any liberals are saying she should be home taking care of her kids, they're the hypocrites.

Maybe its time for Palins and her husband to focus on their family and figure out what is important to them. Familly should come first and this lady shows that with 5 kids and a pregnant daughter she still has time to become VP of the united states? Either she is super mom or she is out of touch, you can't win them all Mrs. Palins. You are not the right choice for America. Go back to Alaska and take your family on a hunting trip while you are enjoying some oil money.

If mccain know about this and still chose her, it speaks of only one thing – desperation!

So what. By t he age of 17 parents have taught their kids all they can teach, it is up the kid to make the right decisions. I think it speaks volumes about the Palin's that they will stand by their daughter with love and support. Isn't that what parents are supposed to do?

And the answer is ……………Palin is not qualified to lead this country at this time. She needs to be at home raising her children instead of on the campaign trail with McCain.

See what I mean? All these republicans who seek the vote of evangelicals by taking a stand against abortion/gay marriage, do so for political gain. This teen pregnancy is an example of PARENTAL FAILURE.

Guess she didn't have time to be a good, stay at home mom as Governer. Will she have more time as VP? Show's how much she was vetted. What else will we learn before the Republicans nominate her?

John McCain checked and mrs.Palin does know CPR and is very good at it.

How could Palin put her daughter in the national spotlight?! Something is very wrong: a woman has a four month old special needs baby and a 17 year old pregnant daughter and her number one priorty is to be the vice-president?

Gosh…

what a wonderful mother. teaching her child responsibility when it's too late. i hope obama is elected and his education policy is put in effect. it will help, but, if parents don't 'parent', then this will go on and on. if palin is this great of a mother ,then i'm sure she will make a solid, 'typical' republican president just like george bush. vote for change! this woman is not qualified to be a parent ,let alone a president.

this changes nothing of the vp her daughter just got caught some or more lucky not to

we need to give this girl our blessing not judge her for who are we to judge

God Bless

a 44 year old granny and a mother of an infant child with Down's Syndrome…. both Sarah and Todd Paiin will be heavily distracted w/ their family matters…. how will they be able to focus on effectively governing the country alongside Sen. McCain?

I thought Shot-Gun Weddings were a thing of the past. And a family who portrays christian values should have taught not only abstinence but birth control too. Oh I forgot Mrs. Palin is against that and abortion. She'd rather promote pride in teenage pregnacies. Well I certainly can't vote for that or her. And after watching McCain revealed on CNN I can't vote for cheater McCain who wants to play up his POW status, on to come home and cheat on his then wife who did those five yrs of POW with him, waiting raising his children. An the adultress Cindy on the same show justisfies her part in the affair by saying he saw in her that she would be a good mother. NO C

Good for her for keeping the baby. Great that she had a choice.

As a child of a mother who got pregnant as young as this, I feel for this new child. The baby and mothers life are going to be hard if McCain doesn't win the presidency. Health care will be hard to come by when you are not able to get a good paying job. Which, unfortunately is far too common with young families like this. So while I hope the best for Ms. Palin and her new child, I also wonder how she will look at this decision when she is older and wiser.

This country already has an epidemic of teenage pregnancies. Maybe this will focus our country on why this is happening. Ms Palin is fortunate enough to have a mother who is governor and gets a good health plan. But think of how many kids, yes kids, who aren't so lucky to have supportive parents or are raped and under McCain would not have all options available in their decision making.

I am a Democrat, know that! But why call the dogs in on an ordinary woman and her family, just because she is the VP candidate for McCain? Her daughter made a bad life decision. So freaking what? All of you who have posted here have made AT LEAST one bad life decision. I think she (Palin) should be admired for being transparent and real. And by the way… for all of you who think Christians are perfect… WE AREN'T. No where does it say we are perfect. We strive to live a moral life. Sometimes we fall, just like you. So get over it. Lest your daughter and son are the next teenagers with kids. I also admire Palin for giving her daughter a CHOICE regardless of her own belief.

Obama says: "We should not punish a young couple that made a mistake with a baby". So if it was Obama's daughter, the appointment down at the abortion clinic would be made already. Faced with life for the baby or expulsion from the mother's womb and deny it life, I think I go to for family values and keeping the baby every time. The Palin family seems more normal and like most families now…than ever.

First let me say that I am voting for Obama/ Biden. With that said, I do not think its fair to attack Palin or question her beliefs because her daughter is pregnant. I will pray for her young daughter and she made a courageous chocie to keep the child. This election needs to be about important issues, like healthcare, education and etc.

Wow, this sure is a liberal blog. What does the daughter's situation have to do with balancing the budget. Hypocrites most of you. What about Biden's plagerism. I'd say that is much worse. What about Obama's ties to a man who blew up buildings and killed those protecting it.

Sorry Mrs. Palin, but when you are an avid supporter of abstinence-only sex education, a story like this ceases to be a private matter.

Bristol Palin has my sympathy. Of course, she had a choice whether to carry the baby to term or not even tell her parents. Whether there are legal options for abortion or not, the choice will always be with the woman. However, Bristol has no choice but to endure all the ugly comments, rumors, and use of this situation for political purposes. She is not a candidate. It would be kind to simply leaver her alone but we all know that the press will not allow that. As an Obama supporter, I would only ask Democrats to respect her privacy. Think of her as your daughter in this situation. How would you want your daughter treated?

Here's the real story:

It was immaculate conception. That's the only way those right-wing, Evangelicals get pregnant in the first place, right?

No? They have sex outside of marriage just like the rest of us heathens? But, but thats impossible. Abstinence education works so well…

All you people need ot get off you high horses. Just because her 17 year old is having a baby DOES NOT mean she is a bad mother or needs to be spending more time with her kids…she is human as are her children…we all do the best we can with what we have and this is exactly what is wrong with the world…no one should be judgeing her as a mother beause I promise you-those of you that are are way worse than she could ever be. Comments like "keep her own housein order" I'm sorry are YOU perfect???? You all need to get over yourselves

The issue is McCain's judgment in picking a VP "family values" running mate with a pregnant daughter, and Sarah's judgment in thinking that running for vice president was appropriate given the circumstances. It doesn't matter to me that the daughter is unwed. That happens every day. The reckless decision-making by both McCain and Sarah, however, should cause people to worry. That said, I can imagine what GOP would do if this situation were reversed.

Family Vanues ? Home Schooled ? Born again Christain ? Professes to not believe in birth control, but chastity as the alternative ?

The daughter is 17 now, so counting backwards was 16 when the "act" occured.

Motherhood and parenthood come first to this prospective VP ?

Don't think so.

I wonder what Palin would do if the child her daughter' is carrying threatened her life? Palin is running partially on a ticket that she represents and values women. However, since she supports a republican platform that states a woman cannot get an abortion even if the pregrancy is the result of INCEST, RAPE, OR THE HEALTH OF THE MOTHER IS AT STAKE?? I like to think I am an intelligent person, but how does this position value women? Oh! I forget, we're only baby factories so who cares about our health, psychological or otherwise.

And what kind of message does that send our kids????? ……Total disrespect for all laws, physical, moral and spiritual.

I can't believe that McCain knew about this ahead of time and dismissed it as irrelevant! This is definitely a poor reflection on him, and what HIS standards are.

WE NEED HIGHER STANDARDS THAN THAT! Those in higher Office
need to be perfect examples for those they lead – or not hold Office.
And that includes the members of their family who demonstrate by their actions how well they were raised.

It's a disgrace that this woman could potentially be our VP – in a world where we are already struggling with celebrities who are too young and having babies, we put center stage this family! Amazing that McCain could not truly put the country first and select a worthy VP contendor – I didn't dislike McCain before but now I question his ability to lead this country – his decision making is terrible.

So Sarah Palin didn't have to fake the pregnancy. It was real, after all. Congrats to the growing trailer trash family.

This is an unfortunate situation and it is a shame that this young lady will have to handle this very adult situation while she is still a child herself. When will we realize that abstinence only programs are no match for young hormones?

Abstinence-only policy rings very hollow at the moment.

Didn't Jaime Spears, Britney's sis have a baby while 16 or 17 and was unmarried and is now planning to marry the baby daddy? Hmm, looks like McCain/Palin are more like Britney Spears than Barack, huh?

Having said that, I feel bad for Bristol. I have a 17-year-old daughter and I'd be devastated if she becomes a teen mom. Babies having babies is sad. What's even worse is having a mom willing to put her in the spotlight and subject her to ridicule just for political gain–pathetic!

Of course Trig was premature. And of course Bristol is 5 months pregnant. otherwise, the math would be too close!

Not a good thing. Not for McCain. Not for Palins. Not for republicans. Not for their supporters.

So much for the famly values platform. I'm surprised the governor didn't go after the father with her rifle.

As an Obama supporter I can understand this familiy's pain. But it doesn't stop me from adding that it shows why Sara Palin is not ready to be the vice president. She has her hands full of family issues that should have made her set her priorities straight. To be a good mom or the vice president of the united states? For me as a mom I will choose the first over the later.

I have heard people mention Bill Clinton on this issue. He may have not lived up to the standard of the office he held at the time but no one can accuse him or Hillary of being bad parents.

Let the spin begin.

I love how CNN has only covered the storm since Palin was nominated for VP, and now that they have something on her family she is now first on their story headlines. You guys are so obvious in your support for Obama, it is just crazy. That is why I watch Fox.

How will the Religious Right deal with this?

I thought abstinence was the answer for those Christian conservatives that want everyone else to think and behave like they do…..how'd that work for you?

I like how they timed this press release to go out just about EXACTLY WHEN GUSTAV MADE LANDFALL. After all, that way, the media's going to be too busy to give it the scrutiny it would be due on an ordinary news day.

I also feel bad for Bristol, her mom should have taken herself out of the running for VP as this is a really hard time for their family. A family with a new baby, pregnant teenager, and son headed to war needs its mother. This country needs a VP with the time and energy to do the job.

How old is the father? He may have committed a sex crime by having impregnated a minor. Has the governor given him immunity or will he potentially face prosecution and have to register as a sex offender?

This is a bummer for the girl as this will pretty much thwart college and career for a while. And, darn it, she's just too young!!! Still, this happens all day every day, and most of the time nobody knows about it because the girls choose abortion. Fine, upstanding families have daughters get pregnant, too. The best Mothers in the world have daughters who make mistakes. The statiatics on teen pregnancy are staggering. And, let's talk about the guy who is the father! Why are we blaming it all on Sarah Pallin? It's the guy who likely pushed the issue with her daughter, and her daughter who goofed up by not using birth control or saying no.

Big mistake. Big consequences for everyone, especially the baby on the way.

What else is the campaign hiding about their VP pick. More seriously, how vetted is this candidate. I have doubts McCain would have made this choice if they had enough warning.

And this is not an abortion issue. It is called pro-choice, not pro-abortion. Whether or not she decides to keep the child has nothing to do with the fact that this was kept from the media, and only released because other rumors about Palin arose.

DID ANYONE EVEN VET THIS WOMAN???????? MY GOD, IS THIS ELECTION A JOKE TO MCCAIN!!!???? HOW CAN ANYONE VOTE FOR MCCAIN….he is so out of touch and irresponsible…now the poor girl and young man are forced to have a shot gun wedding? WHO IS RUNNING THE MCCAIN CANPAIGN?

Apparently Palin's fundamentalist Christian approach to child-rearing doesn't work so well first hand. Perhaps a different approach would not have resulted in this obviously unplanned and unwanted pregnancy. If she can't even instill good sense in her children, how could she possibly pretend to be one melanoma away from the Oval Office?

Do you think it's an example of good parenting and family values on Governor Palin's part? Do you think it's healthy for the young girl to be exposed to harsh scrutiny and public censure during this already difficult time?

Does this show concern for Bristol's feelings or good judgment regarding what is best for her? Remember, McCain claims he knew of this pregnancy before choosing Palin as his vice presidential running mate. And McCain's campaign announced her pregnancy to the world.

Please explain how it is beneficial to Bristol or her unborn child to be put under such intense public scrutiny during an already stressful time for them both.

What business is that of ours what her daughter does? Teenagers make mistakes everyday and all the kids do make mistakes.
And, what does that have to do with Mrs. Palin's leadership skills?
Mrs. Palin is a person who CLEANS up corruption and we like that.
Timothy Jenkins
Duluth MN

I am 100 percent pro-choice…However, when did having a baby become such a sin?????

People listen to your hateful words…

Teens get pregnant. It happens. It's the hypocrisy from the Repub's and Christian Conservatives that boggles the mind.

The hate from the left wing Democrats never ceases to amaze me. May God keep us from being governed by such hate filled people.

the only thing this proves is that the Palin family has problems just like everyone else. I support the daughter's choice to have the baby. sounds like a problem millions of American families face everyday. I wish them the best.

it will be very interesting to see how much people magazine is willing to pay pallin for pictures of her baby and if they will put her on their cover showering her with praise for her jolie-pitt commitment to family!! let's see how the liberal media uses double-standards to report this compared to noelle richie, britney,etc.i guess only liberal babies are acceptable and not subject to attack!i will be looking for bias and i know i wil not be disappointed.

Not the end of this saga.

While I admire Bristol's decision to have her baby, I have to wonder what kind of mother Sarah Palin is when she has put political aspirations ahead of the needs of her family? Where is Phyllis Schaffly on this issue? Not only is Sarah Palin going to abandon her infant son who has Down's Syndrome to hit the campaign trail, but she's hardly going to "be there" for her teenaged daughter when she has her baby. By no means do I suggest that a woman can't be presdient or vice-president. But it's not the kind of job where you can call out sick because the baby is running a fever, especially if something happens to McCain and Palin winds up presdient. Real family values dictate that Sarah Palin stick to being governor of Alaska and leave the heavy-lifting to someone who doesn't have to shoulder so many family responsibilities.

McCain must have rocks in his head.

So I guess Britney's sister, Jamie Lynn Spear's pregnancy was okay now to the Republicans?

and people are calling the Democratic Convention a "spectical"???

In this trying moment we are in meetings with the Spears family . Thank You- Sarah Palin.

you don't have to post this one CNN; this is for your eyes only (Ha–you're so ignorant, you'll probably post it anyway!)
I'm DONE with your censorship; you know exactly what I mean. so, goodby! I won't post here again nor watch CNN any longer. You won't miss me, I know, and I surely won't miss YOU!

17 year old is pregnant… news at 7!

Are you people seriously living in the 50's?

If she was 15, then we'd have a story…or if she had an abortion like most you posters on the ticker would recommend.

I'm glad they didn't try to hide it and that she's keeping the child and giving the marriage a serious attempt. What more can you ask of a 17 year old? I'd say she was raised right.

I wonder how old the "father" of the child really is?? Great Family Values!!

I run my son's SADD program at his high school. Now I get to try to explain to the young ladies in that program why John McCain and Sarah Palin have made such a spectacle of teen pregnancy. MCCain's pick of Palin, with knowledge of the pregnancy, practically sanctions teen sex, despite all the efforts of the thousands, like me, who are trying to educate and guide our children. They should be ashamed.

Excuses, and more excuses.

So much for Christian values.
Where was this Christian mother when her daughter was out having sex before marriage at 17.

Where was Sarah Palin, when her daughter was out and about?

Who is Sarah Palin giving advice about pro life?
Her daughte is only 17, and she should be giving her advice on these matters.

People who are writing that Obama stated anything about the Palin baby needs to back it up with facts. Obama nor McCain can be held accountable for the blogs as no one knows the identity of the people posting. Some are rabble rousers for the other party.

Grow up you people and get back to the issues. No Matter who you vote for the decision needs to be based on issues. CNN and the media need to press for an interview with this candidate instead of presenting her through Republican talking points, surrogates like Lindsay Graham who had necer even met her and press releases.

It isn't her experience that is important but her and McCain's judgment.

I think we ,as American's, should send a clear message-VOTE FOR A THIRD PARTY

As a parent, you provide for your children and raise them to be productive, responsible citizens and hope they make the best decisions. It does not matter how "good" of a parent you are. Sometimes the decisions made, are bad. You can't blame Sarah for her daughter getting pregnant. If she had no job at all, spent all her time with her children, they (the child) is still responsible for their decisions. Lets face it, if all goes well everyone says what a great child. If it goes to hell, then it's the parents fault. Give me a break.

I don't believe for a second that McCain's campaign new about this. If they did they would have gotten out in front of it and told everyone upfront. "Look, her daughter is preganant, and is keeping the baby!" It's Public Relations 101.

Palin has aledgedly been pro-birth control. Did she bother to tell her daughter anything?

First, there is no such thing as privacy when running for the 2nd highest office.

Second, what kind of family values are you teaching your children. Has she even graduated from high school. Looks like you might need to send more time with your children…….

Congratulations to the Palin family. I know it will be allot of work for the young couple but there be lots of Joy as well.

McCain says he knew about it…even more reason to question his judgment. His campaign becomes more entertaining by the minute.

Well now I feel better,knowing McCain met Palin once and one look at her was good enough for him to make her VP of the United States of America. Good Judgement and good vetting,awesome that he put his country to the forefront on this decision. I also feel better that she and her daughter have made a decision to have the baby and get married at this age.That is just wonderful and she must have great morals and come from a Mother with impeccible judgement. Now I feel better and know for sure John McCain and Sara Palin have what it takes to run America.Along with McCains trigger happy decisions involving Gustav travel plans he is definetly, with Palin the best choice to run a small country like America.All that experience Palin has from the PTA,and being a neighbor to Russia(foriegn policy exp) and a great example to her children have me excited thinking they may be the one two punch for USA.Since the last President was a Governer I don't want to mention Palins long term experience as Governor of the very large state of Alaska.I hope Palins investigation is over soon so she can start making decisions in her office instead of jail,maybe Stevens can take her place if she gos to jail.Great to know McCain has great judgement and puts the best interest of his country first !!!

Palin's family values appear to be right up their with the Right base of the party: double-standards, bigotry, hatred, and exclusion. Way to go, McCain, you have definitely failed the second test of your candidacy. First, McCain failed to run and finance his campaign or to develop a cohesive message. Now he has failed to properly vet his VP choice. What will it take for Americans to realize that this election is too important to elect someone to be President/Vice President because of Party affiliation alone? If this were Obama, there would be no chance of his winning the election. In fact, Obama could literally walk on water and he would be criticized for having wet feet! Obama has the one quality that cannot be learned–the ability to lead, inspire, and invigorate the electorate to achieve the goal of moving the Nation toward a more perfect union. That quality is priceless and comes along infrequently in the history of a Nation–a born leader who is charismatic, poised, intelligent, articulate, pragmatic, reasonable, fair, just, and inspiring. Think JFK. I support Obama because he is that leader for this time and I believe that he can take the Nation forward for me, my son, my community, my Country and my world. Obama/Biden '08

AS A PARENT AND GRANDPARENT…WE LOVE OUR CHILDREN, WANT THEM TO GROW UP TO BE HAPPY GOOD ADULTS.. WITH THE KNOWLEGE THAT LIFE REALLY IS OF TWO TRACKS AT THE SAME TIME. THAT WE ALL DEAL WITH CHALLENGING TIMES AT THE SAME TIME AS EASY TIMES. ITS WHEN THE TRACKS OF LIFE IS UP HILL THAT WE REALLY FIND OUT WHAT WE REALLY ARE .. A LOVING SUPPORTIVE FAMILY CAN MAKE LEOMNADE OF OUT LIMONS. THERE IS NO STONGER INSTITUION THAT RELFECTS THE STRENTH OF A PEOPLE OR COUNTRY…GOD BLESS THIS CHILD OF THE PALINS .AND IN LARGER SENSE, ALL CHILDREN THAT HAVE NOT CHOOSEN TO BE BUT ARE… WE CAN DISAGREE WHEN LIFE BEGINS, BUT LETS PLAY IS SAFE AND BE ON THE SIDE OF LIFE..SINCERELY, JIMMIE W BECK

Has anyone ever thought that maybe just maybe, Bristol was under peer pressure, or seduced by this young man? Why is eveyone blaming the parents? We don't know the whole story about this, so don't go making accusations without all the facts. I happen to have 2 teenage daughters myself , who I have told time and again about the dangers of smoking, drinking, sex, ext… Hoping they would listen. I myself do none of those things, the myth of kids learning good values from thier parents and learning at home is just that… My one daughter smokes and drinks, my other youngest at 15 is sexually active,. What people do not realize is the extreme Peer pressure they are put under by other kids, So do not go blaming the parents, blame society. By the way, I am a Democrate. And will be voting as Dem.

I wish her well, but some people are missing the point here.

Obama/Biden '08

Didn't Quayle attack the Murphy Brown character for having a child out of wedlock? Now here comes Palin's daughter a teen pregnancy? With a sorry trumped up arranged marriage to the father in order to keep her high moral conservative image intact! Republican never practice what they preach

What about the Republlican's high and mighty stand on "family values"? McCain picked Palin knowing her teenage daughter was pregnant! What a hypocrite! How many more reasons do we need to proclaim Palin unfit for public office? She is a liar, a hypocrite, and has absolutely no experience to be in charge of anything. She couldn't even manage her own family and people think she can handle the VP job? What a joke. Palin is not worthy and should be immediately removed from the ticket. She and McCain are a disgrace.

Bristol, please put the child up for adoption. You are 17…

It's amazing that Bristol has parents who care and actually has a family to go to in this situation. That's family values. the irony of both Palin's choice to have Trig and Bristol's decision is that it underscores the woman's personal decision about pregnancy. At the end of the day, there's a person deciding about the pregnancy. That's what pro-CHOICE is all about.

Now let's move onto the real issues with Sarah Palin. How she was FOR the bridge to nowhere, and now suddenly, is not. How she is in an investigation. She has ties to corrupt Republicans in Alaska. etc etc.

It is sad that this is happening in this family, but they do have choices and they are fortune to have the opportunity to make those choices. Many familes don't have the options available to them that the Palins have. Many girls don't have the family support Bristol has, or the monetary support that will be available to her. Many girls don't have the educational opportunities that are sure to remain available after the birth of her child and the pre and post-natal care. It's a whole lot easier to make decisions when you don't have to worry about money. The Concervatives love to say they are PRO-LIFE, but they just seem to stop caring once that life is outside the mother.

This just illustrates the utter failure of the Bush policies with regard to health care and education and contaception…oops I forgot there weren't any!

Sarah Palin had better be supportive of her daughter. . . After keeping Bristol from learning about safe, effective and reasonable tools to avoid pregnancy, it's really the least she can do. Here's hoping that Bristol Palin has a healthy, beautiful baby who has access to something other than the backward excuse for education this family seems to favor in general.

Go home Sarah and take care of your family. Can´t stand the idea to see a milk bottle next to the red button.

Jack: No this is not sexist. You guys think everything is sexist! Do you have anything else in your head?
Biden thinks Palin ist good looking. Buuuu, sexist!!! Man, she is good looking. So is, in my opinion, Obama! Am I a sexist?
Some people think maybe Palin should take care of her family first!Why the heck is this exist? Are you not for family values?

This is just an example that Palin is wrong on her sex education position.

Ok, let me get this straight. Sarah Palin's daughter gets pregnant out of wedlock, they try to keep it secret. Then they have to announce it but say it's nobody's business but theirs? Meanwhile, Sarah Palin gets the job of VP candidate because she wants to keep every woman in America from having the same choice as her daughter? Changing the law so that the government would control every woman's uterus? Words fail me. I've seldom been faced with such evil as is the Republican Party. Well, at least not since the 1940's.

love those GOP family values…. what a pack of hypocrites!!!

Guess that proves how effective the accepted evangelical birth control is… huh?

If this woman can't control her own 16yr. old, tell me again why she's qualified to be President?

Sarah, my friend, if there was ever a time that your family needed your undivided attention, it would appear to be now. Who will be raising your special needs son and supporting your daughter in her new and difficult role while you are attending to the needs of the country and the overwhelming demands of your potential role as VP? This feels more like personal ambition than a true devotion to family.

How well do we know this woman? First she's under investigation, now her Daughter is 5 months Pregnant. I'm not surprised if John McCain knew nothing of this, but to protect his choice for VP! Patlin should've declined the VP offer and focus on the issues surrounding her family. NOW she ask the public for privacy for her and her family, well I think not, this is a close presidential race and her don't tell attitude has made my choice clear.

Put Family First!!!

Asking to respect the children is one thing, but I have always believed that once having a baby makes you an adult. So requesting the media to lay off the children is not a request that should granted.

It is good that she will keep the child and eventually get married. Grandparenting is a wonderful things.

However, what message does this seen to other high schoolers.

This event goes to show the difference between the democrats vying for the office and the republicans currently in office.

Had this happened to Biden, had he had an unwed daughter who got pregnant, you can bet anything that the republicans would be trash talking Biden and calling his a bad father, I think this is sexism.

Hopefully the democrats will stay out of this and respect the family and let the media and blogs tear them apart.

And did you know that Dick Cheney's daughter is a LESBIAN!

Palin's daughter is 5 months pregnant and McCain knew it when he selected her for VP.

So far the left-wing has gotten excited about a.) criticizing Palin for dismantling a good ol' boys network tried to protect a cop who beat his wife, tasered an 11 year old ,and threatened to to kill a person; and b.) trashing a 17 year old pregnant girl.

So much for feminism……

Timing of the announcement right in the middle of the hurricane? Well, it won't go unnoticed! This is nuts! What kind of fool is McCain? First, a pick of someone who is so unqualified it is laughable. Then we hear about trooper-gate and the investigation of Palin. Now this? A pregnant daughter of 17? If McCain wins now, I will have to move to another country!!!

Make no mistake – these rumors originated in ALASKA, not the so-called "liberal blogs". McCain can't pin the fall-out from thie revelation on anyone but himself. He has shown increadibly poor judgement in choosing Ms. Palin. A decision that may come back to hurt not just Sarah Palin, but the rest of her family as well. And that is a shame.

This republican VP choice is going down in flames! It is not only Sarah Palin's lack of knowledge on critical issues such as foreign policy (Sarah Palin stated that she has no opinion on the war in Iraq in a recent interview before he VP nomination), science and global warming (she does not believe it is real), etc. Now we found out that she does not even know what is going on in her own family! Maybe if Sarah Palin spent some time with her family she would be able to teach her daugther about the basic facts of pregnancy and how to avoid becoming pregnant as such an early age (the kid is really 16 not 17 as CNN states). The selection of Sarah Palin as VP is truly frightening!

Oh give me a break (as John Stossel used to say). Even good parents can have a child make a mistake. What a stupid issue! This is worse than what Bill did in the Oval office? … and we put him back in. Ok, even fantastic parents don't have perfect children. Put your "stones" down.

Nice comments, people! Things happen in families that are sometimes difficult. It's how they deal with it as a family. Seriously, back off the judgemental garbage and move on. Maybe clean up your own house while you're at it.

If they had cared about their daughter's privacy, they would have said no when McCain was reckless enough to ask her to be her VP.

This is not a normal story on a candidate's child.

It reveals Palin and the religious right's hyprocrisy.

She has said she won't fund effective sex-ed which would help prevent other teens from getting pregnant.

She supports "abstinence" education, and her daughter like most teens didn't abstain.

Preaching abstinance, even in a very religious family, often doesn't work.

All over this country, young women face this issue everyday .Many voters are the children of, or the parents of teenage pregnancies. Pro-choice people need to understand that keeping the baby is one of the choices.I made that choice 35 years ago yesterday,I have a wonderful daughter and I have never regreted it for a moment. If all families were as kind, loving, and supportive of their daughters as the Palins seem to be, the world would be so much better for women everywhere.
Bristol has my deepest respect, it is the hardest job she'll ever love, and remember the saying-The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

This is a sad day for conservatives. Its a slap in the face. McCain had only talked to her once before – great…….! My mother always told us to take our time and learn someone's character before opening our lives to them. My mother clearly has superior judgement to McCain.

Roe vs Wade is clearly back on the table and must be discussed in this election. I am mother of two little children and I do not want either of them becoming parents before they are ready!

And to imagine that McCain wants to entrust the future of this great nation into Palin's hands? No way, No How, No McCain!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All jokes aside, this woman was not properly vetted. McCain had only met Palin ONCE before choosing her as his running mate. Now, her daughter is unmarried and pregnant. Now I know stuff happens, but I wonder what the conservatives would say if this had been Chelsea Clinton. Watch them talk out of both sides of their mouth!!! Palin is a bad choice for VP, McCain's judgement is off!!

For the daughter's sake, I hope this blows over quickly. What a time to have to go through this. Mom didn't get her pregnant; 17 year olds will have sex if they choose to. But this is why we should be supporting adequate sex education and pregnancy and STD prevention in schools!!! Condoms should be made available because preventing teenage sex is impossible!
What I do judge Sarah Palin for is campaigning for VP with a 4 month old special needs infant at home and not being there for her daughter now!

Let those without sin, cast the first stone. We will keep all of the Palin family in our hearts and prayers.
I do not think this is the first teen that has become pregnant and she will not be the last.

I don't understand how the McCain camp can say that Bristol made the "choice" to keep the baby and that her parents are proud. Bristol didn't have any choice whatsoever. Palin is anti everything; she would never even consider letting her daughter have an abortion. So what choice was there to make?

why would palin put her daughter through all this scrutiny?? seems very unfair to the daughter

Through all this, the republicans will still blind their eyes to the V.P. choice. It seems kinda ironic. As far the pregnancy, seems as though she may have just ignored one of the ten commandments. Honor thy mother and father, and I am sure they really didn't want her to become pregnant in her teen years. As for the parenting, kids will do what they wish, she is probably immature. Although I do agree if the lines of communication were more open the mother may have found out earlier. Still Sarah Palin had no choice but to allow her daughter to keep the child, loose all those evangelical votes? I think not!! Oh there he is in the picture the guy(BY THE WAY HER HUSBAND) WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE OIL COMPANIES IN ALASKA) isn't that even more ironic?????

This woman doesn't care about her kids….SHE CARES ABOUT POWER!!!

So she got pregnant while she was out of school for 5 months with mono?

Fantastic!

it will be very interesting to see how much people magazine is willing to pay pallin for pictures of her baby and if they will put her on their cover showering her with praise for her jolie-pitt commitment to family!! let's see how the liberal media uses double-standards to report this compared to noelle richie, britney,etc.i guess only liberal babies are acceptable and not subject to attack!

thats what happens when you meet with a candidate once…you don't get to know the person

Come on you morons.
What did you think/say when that sleaze ball wagged his finger at us and stated " I did not have sex with that woman…. Miss Lewinski"
While all along the sleaze was lying. His values were ?
Cheating on his wife with a gal almost as young as his daughter.

Palin's daughter made a mistake. Sure. But did you never make a mistake as a teenager? Get real.

How old is the father and how long has this relationship been taking place? If Gov. Palin knew her underage daughter was seeing this man she is just as responsible. What is the age of consent in Alaska? Amagine if this had happened to Chelsey, the GOP would be all over it.
Perhaps the people of Alaska need Sarah more than her family. The up side of this is they can afford to care for the child unlike many ordinary folks who this happens to. In the real world if the father said he was out of there the mother is on her own. How would she manage if her mom was not the Govener?

Like Obama said personnel responsibility parents be a parent to your kids. You can't have 5 kids one who is pregnant and one with downs who needs constant attention from BOTH parents!!!

Abstinence only? How many teenagers are really going to not have sex because someone said they shouldn't? Come on folks, lets be real. Contraception is the best way to go. You can't stop teenagers from having sex at least you can teach them to have protected sex so we won't have babies raising babies.

Pro-choice, pro-birth control

Obama/Biden '08

Sen. McCain knew about his VP's unwed 17 yr. old daughter preg. and didn't feel that it would be a problem. What's wrong with this picture? What a role modle, what a winderful addition to what would be a part of the first families. NO WAY, NO HOW, NO UNWED TEEN MOTHERS, NO McCain!!

Not relevant-we are all missing the point. None of this has anything to do with Palin's qualifications. Rather, it is all a reflection on McCain, who recklessly picked a running mate he doesn't even know. She may be a perfect fit for the job, but we don't know, and neither does John McCain. Not only is the selection not putting "country first", it is nothing short of unpatriotic.

Sarah Palin put her Down Syndrome baby at risk by flying 12 hours from Texas to Anchorage when her water had been leaking. She should not have even been allowed on a plane. What could have happened to the baby. This was a 44 year old woman. She and the baby was at risk just because of her age. Why did she not put the baby's safety ahead of her political needs? When she got to Anchorage she did not go straight to the big hospital, instead she went to a small town one, which was less prepared to handled a birth emergency, especially a premature Down Syndrome baby. I don't understand this woman. Why did she make such a reckless decision. I guess she and McCain really are soulmates.

I feel sorry for her daughter. Now she has to marry some guy (I can't say man, he might be the same age) whether she wants to or not (we'll never know), and she's still just a kid herself. She's still in high school. There goes her future.

It especially hits home, because she's the same age as my daughter. NO girl at this age can handle that responsibility when it hits you out of the blue. What a shame.

I hope there's time in her campaign schedule to support her daughter… Doesn't this put her due date somewhere around election day?

You have got to be kidding me! Sounds like mama Sarah doesn't govern her own home judiciously! She doesn't speak to me, as a woman, and I am greatly disappointed in McCain's choice. Shameful.

If the Palins really believed in what was best for their daughter, the selfless option of adoption would have been chosen. However, Bristol must be a selfish girl, to place her mother in this sort of position, knowing how badly it would reflect on the governor of Alaska to have a daughter who wasn't raised to make reasonable decisions about sex.

What I find most boggling is that McCain knew about the pregnancy when making his choice. What does that say about his decision-making abilities?

Interesting that she requires their "privacy" be respected, yet she wants to intrude fully into the private relationship between a pregnant woman and her doctor and remove ALL options for the woman. "Hypocrite" is barely sufficient a word for this shameful sham.

How old is the father? If he is over 18, I guess it was either marry her or go to jail.

I wonder how the far-right media (ie. foxnews and rush) will react to this news. More to the point, I wonder how they would have reacted if OBAMA'S 17 year old daughter had became pregnant. Oh the hypocracy.

Gov. Palin decided to release this after people have made their point about her being a grandmother already….

This is what happens when McCain thinks with his lower gut… excuse me gut… i mean the striaght talk…

When knew Bristol was not a lady… If envangelicals support this… They are major hypocrites… We will be a mockery to the world not number one.

Another failed Republican choice…

If Bristol Palin is a committed feminist, why all the rush to get her married? Surely our society has learned to accept the unwed single parent. An old-fashioned "shotgun marriage" is a terrible way to affirm our up-to-date family values that certainly ought to include divorce and a woman's right to choose. And what about the father's rights? He can pay child support without binding himself in a loveless union that mocks a real marriage, like the Palins' own marriage, that's built upon mutual respect and responsibility.

No one is mocking her daughter, we're mocking the right wingers in this country who are all a bunch of freaking hypocrites! You tell us liberals that we are all immoral and have no family values. Yet McCain divorced his 1st wife and filed for a marriage license in 2 months to marry Cindy, then this woman's teenage daughter is pregnant and she's all about NO CHOICE. So what she's saying is she is going to force her daughter to have this child AND marry the father. You think she wants to be married and with a child before she even finishes HS? What is up with people being OK with teenage pregnancy? Its wrong, I don't care who's kid it is. Stop throwing Stones Conservatives!

It is so blatantly obvious that this VP choice went virtually unvetted. More Bush-style appointees–100% political and absolutely no concern for the well-being of our country. This is a glimpse into a John McCain presidency. No way, no how, no McCain.

McCain reportedly knew about this all along. Why weren't they honest with the American public in the first place? I can't believe John McCain announced his pick as someone with great ethics-she's a liar and so is he. Does he not know what great ethics are, or did he just think he could fool us? The fact that he knew about this tells me that he also knew about the investigation in which she is undergoing in Alaska for the firing of her former brother-in-law.
Bill Clinton was raked over the coals for not being honest, and for denying sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky. Why is it okay for John McCain, Sarah Palin, and the republicans to hide the truth??
By the way, if Sarah Palin really got on a plane and flew for 8 hours from Texas to Alaska after her water broke prior to delivering Trig, wouldn't one think that is irresponsible and an endangerment to his health as well as her own? What kind of idiot does this? What kind of "good mother" does this? Maybe she just needs to stay at home and make sure everything is okay there before ever trying her hand at being our VP, and maybe President.

Palin can't run her own house and McCain wants her to help run mine? I don't think so.

Teenage pregancy occurs in all socioeconomic levels. This incident proves that sex education is needed at home and in school. Yes, abstinence should always be the first choice, with contraception as an alternative. Too bad her mother doesn't believe in contraception.

Where were you Libs hiding when the Edwards scandal came out? Hiding. At least Palin had the guts to come out with the truth. If Clinton's approval ratings weren't hurt by Lewinski, I'm pretty sure Palin will come out just fine.

Ah Shut Up! Bet everyone of you babbling liberals has a illegitimate child in your close family!!!

Maybe you should look left and right before casting stones there Christian.

I don't know why McCain picked her if he knew about the pregnancy. I mean, what was he thinking? Did he think this wouldn't hurt his VPs reputation before people even got to know her?

Who cares ??????

It should be noted that Palin is actually a firm supporter of birth control as a means to avoid pregnancy. She is part of a woman's group that, while being against abortion, advocates contraception.

EVEN THOUGH I'M MODERATED 100% OF THE TIME, HERE GOES:

"In a statement from Sarah and Todd Palin, they said they were “proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents.”

My friends, therein lies the beauty of being pro-CHOICE! Under Bush/McCain, there is only ONE option regarding pregnancy.

Such hypocracy! Where is all the outrage from the right? The silence from them is deafening! Great family values from this potential White House – HA!

So…her 17 year old daughter is 5 months pregnant and has now decided to marry. Just more pandering to the religious groups.
I am absolutely astounded that John McCain is running for president – and even more astounded at his pick for Vice President.
Palin is not fit to be VP and even more unfit to be president!
That people will vote for the McCain-Palin ticket is simply crazy!
Obama -Biden will lead this country – McCain-Palin will destroy it.
Vote Smart – Obama-Biden '08!

How come no one is questioning the statement about how please Palin was that her daughter has decided to "have" the baby? I thought she would make that chioce against the law.

-Doug

It's funny they feel that they "have to get the truth out" during a hurricane.

Man or woman, ANYONE that has to take care of 4 children, (one being an infant with special needs and another who is a pregnant teen) SHOULD NOT TRY TO BE VICE PRESIDENT.

It is a morally WRONG decision for the children involved AND our country.

Most of all, concealing the truth until you feel it might come out anyway is LYING and it is WRONG.

Talk about a shot gun wedding! I am sure mama Palin had hers out and aimed at the poor father to be! If mama Palin can't keep her child under control how is she going to manage as VP or, God help us, as President?

I would say that they were waiting for the best "political" time to release this news. Right in the middle of a hurricane where the networks would look like they were picking on them if they broke into the hurricane news to report this.

McCain has dug a hole he may not be able to get out of soon.

It is too bad a private, non-public, citizen like Palin's daughter has to be thrown into the media spotlight to refute the mud slinging, lies and hate of the left wing bloggers.

May the left wing bloggers that spread these vicious rumors seek the help they need to remove the hate from their hearts. May they let the private citizen, Palin's daughter, live in private.

Clearly the right-wing "abstinence-only" strategy didn't work in this case. I'm glad Sarah Palin feels blessed. I'd like to know how, as someone who values family, Ms. Palin plans serve as VP and at the same time take care of an infant with Downs Syndrome, a pregnant daughter, and an infant grandchild. The fact that with all these familial responsibilities Palin still wants to be VP shows both selfishness and arrogance on her part. It is anti-family values at their worst.

I couldn't care less if the daughter is pregnant. These things happen. But it's curious to me that they start talking about this literally as a hurricane makes landfall. Just seems like they're trying to air their dirty laundry in the middle of a crisis hoping that no one is paying attention?

Amazing how they announced this during a hurricane – a blatant (and truly sad) attempt to bury the story.

The Democrats would prefer the girl have an abortion the way Obama said he would allow for his daughers "rather than for them to have to live with a mistake and ruin the rest of their lives." Certainly all of these kind people's daughters will grow up and not make a mistake – just like they have done with their perfect lives.

Another case where birth control was a sin but pre-marital sex was okay. That young couple faces some tough times ahead. Of course, I do have to wonder if the union or keeping the child would go ahead if "grandma" wasn't running for the VP?!

As a evangelical christian, I'm confused this election. First we have Focus on the family praying for rain on the Dem Con, yet look what happens….Then the next day, the VP pick to add conservative values, gets hit with more scandal then any Christian parent would want to deal with. Sheesh, I'm starting to think that even God Almighty might want a change in this countries direction. Yes, I'm a creationist, yes, I'm pro-life, yes, I'm against gay marriage, yes…..I'm voting for Obama.

she pregnant and getting married thats not news

I am sure Palin's "Executive Experience" is at par with her parenting skills.

How can people be so cruel. I'm sure that you have had family troubles that you wouldn't want the whole world making judgements on you. I hope the baby is healthy and we have the right to choose life.

Interesting how this statement avoids the obvious problem here….That the Palin's high school attending, teen-aged daughter, was having unprotected sex, which led to her unintended pregnancy.
I highly doubt that the media, planned parenthood groups, or any health education outreach programs will ignore this reality, however. How sad it is that VP nominee Palin is essentially celebrating unproected teen sex and unplanned pregnancy through the endorsement of her daughter's actions….SAD!!

This is just unbelievable. I cannot express what I honestly feel right now as a republican except to say that I am completely disappointed in McCain and those within the party who accept Palin's nomination. I am sure she is a fantastic woman and a great leader for the state of Alaska, but she is not ready for the White House. Sorry McCain, but you just lost my vote.

Something tells this will be the reason Gov. Palin will step aside and in steps Romney. Much to McCain's reliefe, because I think he's having buyers remorse. know what I mean ?. No surprise here.

SO WHERE IS THE GOP FAMILY VALUES?

Naturally, most family-value believers support marriage before raising children. That is a good thing.

But forcing a 17-year child to make a life long commitment to marry the father, just to save momma's image is not considered family-values!!

I find it quite ironic (and yet, not surprising) that someone who touts "family values" and "abstinence" now has a 17 year old unmarried pregnant daughter. D'oh for the McCaign campaign!! Frankly, the whole story is still fishy, but we should just focus on the fact that this woman has no business serving as VP!! I really hope that undecided voters (esp. women voters) are smarter than McCain apparently thinks they are and will see through his rash pick for what it was–completely political shameless pandering.

Remember Palin is a nominee…until she officially accepts the nomination, all she is, is a NOMINEE.

Im sure we will see more information about the Palins surfacing. McCain only met her once or something to that fact. There's probably alot he doesn't know about her.

the was suppose to quell the rumors of the infant with M.S. being the daughter's baby…

by admitted that their daughter is pregnant now, only scrutinize this even more…but it's smart to put this out while in the middle of gustav

Unanswered question: why was Bristol Palin out of school for almost six months before the birth of Sarah Palin's first child?

If the GOP VP. Nominee can't even keep her own house in order, how on earth do we expect her to keep The White House in order if she is a heartbeat away from the presidency?

Very irresponsible of Mom to put her seventeen year old daughter into the national spotlight by accepting to be McCain's running mate. I guess with Mom, she comes first and her children come second.

I wish the daughter and baby well.

So I am an Obama supporter and think that teen pregnancy happens.
Now, that being said lets address the real issue here.
The McCain campaign would have kept the truth from us if they could have.
So now we ask, what else are you hiding?????

Do you mean she is not mother of the year like the GOP has told us? I wonder if she was a better mom to her daughter would this had happen. She cares more about her political future than she does her family!

Mccain told us on saturday she was a great mom and had great family values. She needs to spend more time with her kids and not worry about the V.P. spot.

Palin actually lied to the nation.
She was the one pregnant.
There is ample evidence and this won't go away.
This will definetly cause a disaster for McCain.
McCain you should have done your vetting.
So much for squeaky clean image

Pregnancy is normal! The problem I have is when will she have the time to be a mother? VP is not a 9-5!!! I am a woman so i feel i have the right to bring this out!!!!!!! Also, why are they MAKING this 17 year old marry this boy!!!!!!! She is too young…She is still in high school!!!!!

BUT HEY, TO BE A REPUBLICAN, YOU MUST BE RIGHTEOUS!!!! TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS AN EVANGELICAL??!!!

ARE EVANGELICALS MORE RIGHTEOUS? GETTING INTO HEAVEN FIRST? CLOSER TO GOD?

IF I HAD TO BE IN THIS YOUNG GIRL'S SHOES, I WOULD PREFER NOT TO BE…SOUNDS MORE LIKE A CULT TO ME!!!!!!!

GOOD LUCK AMERICA WITH THIS DUO RUNNING THE COUNTRY!!!

Again, where were Bristol's Parents? I guess they forgot to teach her abstinence.

There is just so much wrong with ALL of this. The fact that her daughter is pregnant drives home the point even more that abstinence-only education, which Republicans staunchly support, does NOT work. If this girl had gotten an abortion, she wouldn't have to care for a child, when she is still a child herself, and she wouldn't have to marry someone out of obligation, rather than thoughtful consideration and love.

You Are Going To Find Out That You Have Very Little Privacy Once You Hit The National Stage! There Has Been Nothing Off Limits During This Campaign! People Are Going To Dig Into The Very Cracks Of Your Life And Expose Every Little Detail No Matter How Irrelevant To Make A News Story! Its Only Going To Get Worse From Now On! Give It A Few More Days And You Will See What I Mean!

ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE.MCCAIN HAS COMMITTED POLITICAL SUCIDE.OBAMA I HOPE YOU ARE READY BECAUSE THERE IS NOW NO DOUBT YOU ARE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Obviously mom never had "the talk" with her daughter or her daughter obviously did not listen – Abstinence is the only really real method of birth control. Just wondering when the daughter turned 17 – maybe 16 when she got pregnant???

A loving and supportive family to their 17 year old daughter, just the kind of family values that is needed in the White House.

When things get tough, the tough get going. On discovering her baby would be a Down Syndrom baby, Sarah opted to bring that child into the world because of the love that family has for each other.

And now that Bristol has discovered she is pregnant, she has decided to bring that child into the world because she is surrounded by a loving family.

Admiration for a family that knows how to decide on tough issues and have decided on the postive side on both of these issues.

Bristo have you have a healthy, happy baby which I am sure you will welcome with open arms… God Bless you and your family!

McGimmick may want to vet this woman. Her husband had a DUI @ 22 and I don't think it stops there.

Another Gimmick brought to you by the McCain campaign

I don't know why this is news that Sara Palin 17 year old daughter is pregnant ,can we focused on the issues that matters Eunice ,Louisiana

They finally got the memo and are responding to all those rumors.
Pictures don't lie, keep the young pregnant girl at home and close to a doctor. She might not want to fly back home to give birth in Alaska.
MCPalin, you did it again.

Family values? I'm tired of the Republicans preaching family values when their "party leaders" can't keep their own house in order. "Country First" ? What about "Contraception First" !

Every child is a blessing and how wonderful it is that the family is supportive. I'm curious about the comment "We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby". What other decision could there be?

She is suppose to manage the country? She can't even manage her daughter. I wonder how many times her daughter has been pregnant before and if so what happen to the baby. watch for that. FAMILY VALUES!

Are you kidding me??? We are going to have the teenage daughter of the possible VP of the country pregnant???? Encouraged to marry the father at only 17?

What kind of role models are these? I do feel sorry for her, but we cannot lift up children in these dire circumstances as if it is "normal" — we cannot have our teenage girls thinking that if it is accaptable for the VP's kids, it must simply be "acceptable".

It isn't .

I was already wondering what Sen. McCain was thinking in choosing Gov. Palin…younger and less experienced than Obama. I'm a mild conservative, she seems very extreme. Clearly the governor needs to be home, taking care of her sick child and supervising her teenage daughter. I don't know if I should sit out this election, or place my bet on Obama. But I believe in the power of the vote, so I'm leaning towards Obama. I'm just so disappointed this election year….so disappointed.

Seems to me if you can't control what happens at home how can you lead a nation if/when McCaine expires? Perhaps you cannot juggle the responsibilities of a mother and a working woman. I've also heard that her daughter is the actual mother of the child with Down Syndrome! So much for Conservatism. By the way we have three children all of whom are married, the youngest grandchild being born into a three year marriage, all with college degrees and homeowners not bad for liberal parents! As of August 30 th we celebrated 28 years of marriage

I believe that if the Democrats make an issue out of this that it will show the American people that it is the Democrats that are out of touch with the majority of the American people.

My daughter was 17 when my granddaughter was born, and has since graduated from high school, college and is now self employed.

So, Obama and Biden need to just plain shut up be concerned with the major issues.

I just read an article about Biden receiving 5 deferrments for keeping him out of the military, WHAT A JOKE!

McCain/Palin 2008

PS: I am a Hillary Clinton supporter that Obama needs to win, and I am voting for McCain/Palin instead of Obama/Biden, for the reason that Obama should not be the nominee, and for him choosing Biden instead of Hillary Clinton!

So, the Palins are like the Spears family–ironic that John McCain should have used Spears in an ad against Senator Obama. Now, the spokepeople for McCain are somehow blaming this on Senator Obama? So is this the family values that we should all embrace?

what were we expecting from an anti-feminist VP who doesn't believe in ANY FORM of birth control and abstinence only education.

teens are going to have sex. we might as well make it as safe as possible. this woman is totally unpractical and look what it has done to her whole family. is her daughter going to go to college now? is the husband? they are NOT ready for marriage or a baby, but thanks to "family values" and holier-than-thou thinking, they will be thrown into it all way too young.

so sad. but so predictable. look how young her daughter looks!

They are proud that she's having the baby and proud to become grandparents. I'm sure as Conservative Christians they are even more proud that their daughter was having unprotected sex as a minor before she was married! Hurray for their parenting abilities!!! After all, being a mediocre mother of 5 qualifies Palin for the 2nd highest position in the world! I mean….that's the most impressive part of her resume besides being mayor of a town of less than 9,000 or being Governor of the 3rd least populated state in the country….but hey, it's not as if McCain's choice for VP was a gimmick at all…………..

is she being forced tom marry the father??? how many people really want to get married at 17??? If the PArents are forcing them to get married to save face of the campagin then that is terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bad timing ! Really bad timing from all sides !

As a professional American Female, I am totally disgusted that Senator John McCain believes we Americans will vote for this joke. Maybe if Gov. Palin would stay at home and raise her children she wouldn't have to hide her family's dysfunction. This "conservative" nonsense should be thrown away for reality. Women's choice not only abortion but also protection against disease and pregnancy.

I feel for this young girl and the hard road she has ahead. But her parents have let her down, her mother insists on abstinence-only as a way to educate teens about sex and prevent pregnancy. Talk about clueless!

And then on MSnbc's website McCain's respresentatives had nerve to say —"The despicable rumors that have been spread by liberal blogs, some even with Barack Obama's name in them, is a real anchor around the Democratic ticket, pulling them down in the mud in a way that certainly juxtaposes themselves against their 'campaign of change,"' a senior aide said.–

Obama had nothing to do with the fact that they had not properly vetted Sarah Palin. I wonder what will come out next about this lady?

Why doesn't this suprise me?

This is an oops for Palin as a candidate?

How?

These situations can happen to any family.

||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Wow ! A teenager that made a mistake, am I ever surprised !
Come on and grow up – when you have three fingers pointed at another person there is three pointing back at you folks.
Both parties try to pick like a hungary chicken.
Janice Johnson
Denver CO

Wow, Gov Palin is turning out to be quite the role model for teenagers across America…….NOT!!!! Was Gov Palin too busy in her career to know what her teenage daughter was doing?? Is this the face America wants to present to the world? That a teenage pregnancy is OK??? What a joke both parties, DEM and REPS, are…… the American public deserves better leaders than this…..we hold ourselves to higher standards, we should expect nothing less from our political leaders.

"privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates"

Dear Sarah Quayle Palin, are you kidding me???

You may want to review the tapes of the fund raiser where McCrypt was joking about Chelesa Clinton looks, or the ones where the Obama's were ravaged by the Republican party over their kids.

Sorry Sarah but the Republican party has shown that nothing is sacred on this election, so don't expect this to be either!

This one is a shocker- what kind of values did Sarah teach her daughter? How is this going to be an example to my own 15 year old girl? Not sure what to think anymore of all politicians- I guess nobody has family values anymore- I'll just stay home come November…

So that makes potentially TWO kids this 17 year old has popped out. What happened to teaching abstinence?? Obama is right that we need to address ways of lowering the rate of unwanted pregnancies. This problem is prevalent and relates right back to the parents.

CNN, — I'm hoping you can share your coverage of Gustav with this story and allow my comments to be published.

For a party that espouses family values, this is a disgrace. Having a 17-year old pregnant and making light of it by saying the family is supportive without going deeper into the issues of hypocrisy is short-selling the American people.

So she's not getting an abortion — whoppeeedeeedoo. What message does this send to American teenagers — that if you have a supportive family, it's okay to become a mother as a teenager — just like Jamie Lynn Spears. Shame on all of you for drinking the kool-aid. I'm disgusted with this, and I hope you are too. Shame on McCain for approving of this and saying "families have difficulties."

I am sick and tired of the Republican hypocrisy. No Way, No How, No McCain!!!!!

So does this mean that the baby's father will come to live with them too if they win? It will be hard to support their daughter if she returns to Alaska. So along with her infant and other three kids, there will be a grandchild and a teenage son-in-law in the Veep's residence? Sounds like an episode of Roseanne.

WOW!. THE GOP knows how to do BREAKING NEWS.

These attacks on her are dispicable. She failed her kids as a mom? you've got to be kidding me. This kind of attack is sexist and should not be tolerated.

This just makes me laugh.

those 18 million voices you heard were actually screams from the right. lol

Ah, the Grand Old Party, institution of family values. Makes you proud, doesn't it?

Ooooooooops! Apparently the lofty rhetoric and the judgmental attitudes that these pious politicians inflict on others doesn't even work in their own families. We're shocked! Absolutely shocked…

So her 17 year old daughter is pregnant and she has a young infant with Down's Syndrone? Why is anybody in this position running for Vice President?! Obviously she and her husband need to be paying more attention to their own household. These aren't the family values Republicans are supposed to be pushing.

"We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."

"As has always been the tradition of chidlren of candidates"…gimme a break…

Remember Rush's and other comedians' relentless attacks on Chelsea Clinton?

I also find it funny that they think that Obama would attack that…I think that McCain/Palin should have more to fear from the ultra-conservative, holier than thou, small-minded people that are members of THEIR OWN PARTY than attacks from real human, hard-knocks liberals. Democrats will not have to say a word about this because it is these lowlifes of the GOP that will do the judging. It is what they do best…they do not need anyone to show them the way….

This is the Republican female role model? SAD!

Somehow I don't think this press release is going to make the story go away — first because it's abundantly clear to all but the most firebrand right-wingers that Trigg is not Governor Palin's child, and second because the announcement today only shifts the hypocrisy from lying about which one of them is/was pregnant, to the sanctimonious nonsense these people claim to embrace about contraception.

I agree about the problems with abstinence-only education, but this young woman needs to be left alone about this. She made a mistake and is owning up to it and accepting responsibility. Let's let this story die a natural death.

Family Values!

Poor Gal……17 she will be overanalysed this election season…hope the young man can also stand the scrutiny…………

Getting pregnant isn't always planned and no matter what your parents views are some times things can happen. It is awesome that she is going to keep the baby. Some times it just happens no matter how many extra cautions are made….2 forms of birth control etc. I know when I thought I was pregnant abortion rang towards me loud and clear. I then realized I wasn't pregnant, but the fear was their. Would I have gone through with it, if I was for real? I don't know, I can't say for sure. i always said I was pro life, but then the first reactions was for me to get an abortion. Her mother is the one running for office, not her daughter, so we should leave them alone, pregnancy is something very private, until it is wanted to be shared. I wish Palin's daughter the best wishes with her pregnancy and maybe we as young women and as a nation rally behind her daughter b/c she is going to be a young mother. TO become a mother is such an awesome gift and not easy at any age, but especially as a teen.

Kinda sad.. Maybe we should try something other than just the abstinence approach? The Republicans are holding this country back.

Cnn you forgot one detail:

Palin told school officials her daughter had MONO and thats why she pulled her out of school.

Palin is clearly dishonest

During her first public apperance she lied and said she was against the "bridge to nowhere" however there is actual footage ofe her being for the bridge to no where in addition she never returned the federal money for it

She is lying about trooper-gate…when there is actual evidence of her lying

hello…… what is going on??

sorry palin dont you realize that you are running for vice president… regardless the media will have a field day with you… just like they did hillary clinton, barak obama and john edwards….and even to some extent john mccain…. what makes it worse is that you are totally NEW to the national scene!! the public knows nothing about you and for that reason alone people will still investigate you and find out who you really are.

Opps… Looks as if the conservativeness was overlooked on this one. McCain look into your VP candidates a bit harder, you just screwed yourself over!

My GOD McCain is really going to lose now.

Does the MCCain Camp really expect us to beleive that he knew about the pregnacy of Saeah Palin's daughter before he selected Palin as is running mate? If he in fact did know, then that does not show much for his judgement.

This family needs stability right now, not a national campaign followed by a potential move to DC.

Unfortunately, this is what happens in the world of today, just as it has occured for eons. Only the Victorian Era decided it was 'taboo,' and hid such problems from the public. We, as a world, are far from that philosophy today, other than the strong belief that every child born should have an active and present Father and Mother to raise and nurture the child throughout life. Sad that this has happened to the Palin family, but this is the 21st Century, and such a disclosure is no longer a disgrace to anyone involved or not involved. It is also unfortunate that the Palin daughter is so very young and has not experienced much of the world and finished her education; however, both of these problems can be easily solved. This disclosure does not in any manner reflect on Governor Palin's strong qualifications to be the VP Nominee. From all reports, Governor Palin can handle any decision at any time for any cause. Great choice by Senator McCain!!

Well, this is not a big deal to democrats. But I wonder how conservatives react to this. They make me sick.

On another note, Gov. Palin said about her infant son;s condition "Who is perfect or even normal?"… Governor, how about offering the same courtesy to homosexuals and others that are different?

This must be a joke. Boy Mccain you surely know how to pick em.

let me first say i am an independent but just DONT GET IT!!!!!!! If John McCain knew all this and still chose her over Romney, Huckabee, Pawlenty, Ridge (i can go on and on), something else is going on here…I don't know what and I don't think America really knows what is going on but I now know i won't be supporting the ticket…not sure who yet, but this STINKS TO THE HIGH HEAVENS!!!!!!!!!!!! I KNOW QUESTION HIS DECISION MAKING AND WHO HE WILL OWE IF HE GETS IN OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!

And are they proud of a daughter that had unprotected sex at 17 and will now begin a family while still in high school?? As a 53-year old, self-proclaimed feminist, I don't think I'd be too proud of a daughter who made such poor choices…but i guess like everything else, they have to spin this as a positive…"But she's getting married and KEEPING the baby"….ah, nice message for teen girls in America….it's OK….no problem…

How wonderful….. This lowers my opinion about Sarah Palin because if she really was a kind mother, then she would have never accepted the VP spot and potentially dragging her daughter thru the mud.

Why not teach children about birthcontrol and reproduction? Hopefully she will graduate high school and college in the future.

Unbelievable!!!!!!!! Terrific that she's keeping the baby!!!!!!! She should after all she has all the money in the world to hire nanny's baby sitters, food clothing etc……… Emotionally, this baby will be toast. What in heavens name could a 17 yr old girl or guy possible offer a baby????? I think it's child abuse myself. This poor innocent baby has insurmountable problems and he/she is not out of the whom. The best thing would be for the baby to be given up for adoption to a couple who is ready for a baby. Why is it that people won't learn about birth control and their bodies cycle and actually plan on having children???? Things to consider, how much love can I give, am I willing to put the baby first etc….. Disgraceful how cavalier both married and unmarried couples are about having children. Baby making machines!!!!!!!

For the record, you don't represent Conservative women out there.

For that matter, you don't represent women in general…you're just making this hard on yourself.

What does she mean "Shes proud of her choice"? What choice did she have when her mother was thrown unto a ticket based on being a women who is strictly pro life.

But I don't buy into the story that McCain knew about this before he choose Palin. They only met once and I find it hard to believe two complete strangers getting into such a personal conversation.

As a life long republican, I do not think I'm voting this year.

Gov. Palin is a strong proponent of teaching abstinence-only sex education to teenagers. I guess she forgets about to educate her own teenage and unmarried daughter. Oh well, i guess these are the kind of ethics reform that McCain wanted his VP pick to bring to the white house. The American people knows a gimmick when they see one.
McCain did not properly vetted this woman. Is it too late for McCain to change his mind and pick Elizabeth Dole, or any better selection for VP?

Republican voting for Obama/Biden 08

Respect your privacy when you're running for the No. 2 spot of the most powerful nation on the planet? Get real "hockey mom", this ain't the PTA your running for.
American is ENTITLED to know about your family when you put it out there for public approval in the first place.
Bulletin: You gotta take the goood with the bad when you politicize your family for your partisan gain. If you can't buy into that contract then break it and go home..

Who is paying for the health insurance for Bristol and her fetus? Will Bristol have to get her own health insurance for her baby and herself once the baby is born? How will she pay for it?

If this were a Democrat, the Conservatives would be ripping her apart for loose values but because she's a Republican we're supposed to admire her for being strong enough to keep a baby and marry the father? Please. What a joke. Palin lost her right to privacy when she allowed her family to be put in the spotlight knowing this would come out.

The issue with Palin's daughter's pregancy is fair game for the media as it speaks to McCain's judgement and the fact Palin was not properly vetted. This is a p.r. disaster, happening DURING the RNC.

Do you really believe McCain knew? The politically correct thing to do if that was the case was to have Palin announce the pregnancy a month or so in advance of her selection, to give the media time to mull it over. That way it doesn't look like you're trying to hide it from the American public, as that's exactly what it looks like now.

What it looks like is that bloggers caught on to it, and forced Palin to confess it. McCain has no choice now but to lie and say he knew, as if he doesn't, he looks like the irresponsible, impulsive, Bush knowing thsidekick that he is.

Palin has put her teenage daughter in a spotlight no teen should ever be in. She should never, ever have accepted the nom knowing this was lurking and could blow up.

Again, I can't stress enough, any politician in their right mind would have released this long ago, so that it could blow over BEFORE the announcement.

They're releasing this during the Hurricane because they'll hoping it will blow over. Instead, its blowing up in their faces and will follow them, not because of the actual pregnacy, but because they tried to hide it.

Haven't we had enough of politicians trying to bend or hide the truth from the American people?

Eight is enough.

She didn't raise her daughter. What about abstinence? Hmm?

That's none of our business what their children do? Only the lowest of people would come up with crap like that.
James Jones
New York

Sarah Palin is just making an excuse. Nothing she says will change my view….She should have been teaching abstinence or to protect herself from becoming pregnant…She's asking the media to respect her daughter! Why? That child (Bristol) made a decision to have sex. I know that Bristol is not the first, nor will be the last to have a child out of wedlock, however putting this mess out in the Media gives other 'little girls' the notion that this is ok. IT IS NOT. Look at Jamie Lynn Spears!!! Awful role model. Sarah Palin, your unconditional love should have taught your daughter that to respect herself and not let this happen. (Sarah you want to help in leading this country, I DON'T THINK SO) Go to college, travel, work, enjoy your freedom, Then settle down get marrie and have children. So many girls I knew growing up messed their lives up by having babies too young. They regret it terribly. I am so glad it didn't happen to me. I listened to my Father & Mother. All 4 of us girls did.

I guess J.M. wanted to ensure that Obama/Biden won the white house with the great news.

This lady is a disaster. Who in their right mind could vote for the Republican ticket?

I will bet $1,000,000 that the Republican's are going to twist this story to their advantage. However if anyone says anything negative about Sarah Palin or her daughter, the attacking person will be displayed as being wrong.

What is wrong is how Mc Cain will twist this to a please the for anti-abortion groups. Think about it. First is was Sarah Palin's fifth child that had down syndrome and now it is her daughter under age daughter that is pregnant. The Palin’s family can choose what the want to do, which is great because we live in America. However their personal life choices should not be use by the Republican to re-direct from the major issues that affect every American.

Gee well they better not start anything about this, cause guess what. It would open a whole whole whole can of worms for obama. His father who was married when he got obama's 17 year old mother pregnant….when he was 24. After obama was born he deserted her and moved on to four more women, after they got pregnant and gave birth he moved on from each of them. Do you think obama wants to compare this young girl to his father's escapades.

That's a family value ……….. LOL

Yea right she is proud to be an unwed, another statistic, teenage mom. I am sure she had NO choice but to keep the baby, and marry at 17.

What about school?
An education?

Every day there's another OOPS!!! Maybe the McCain camp is trying to get all of Palin's negatives out early so that we'll forget about them by Nov. 4.

The one former VP candidate nobody has mentioned is Tom Eagleton.

Palin has failed her duty as a mother. I knew it! You have five kids and you're a working mom, who is educating your kids? TV?

A couple of years ago, I read this funny cartoon in the newspaper. This working mom was asking her 1-year-old baby son, "who loves you?" and the baby looked at her and said "TeleBision". Basically, she was never there for the baby.

What a heart-breaking disappointment!

So actually the Hurricane hit McCain's campaign…

To much information and a little to late.

"Family Planning."

First troopergate, now babygate? Wow, I guess we liberals don't have an exclusive on hypocrisy.

So, does this mean that Sarah Palin supports the fact that her daughter had a CHOICE in the matter? So, is she pro choice now? Help me out here.

How does this put the rumor that the child with DS is the daughter' s also. She, VP nominee Palin, must address the question. We are not looking for a diversion. We are looking for an answer. What we need is for Palin to state that this pregnancy is the "first and only" pregnancy for her daughter! We are not judging the teenager if she chooses to have premarital sex, against her evangelical religious tenets, we want to know if this is her "first and only" pregnancy.

so much for Christian values. She got knocked up.

I hope that the media does respect the privacy of these families – this can happen in any family, even political ones. I admire Bristol for taking responsibility and choosing to have the baby, especially knowing she will likely face the scrutiny of the public.

So Sarah Palin and McCain chose to ruin this young woman's life by forcing her in the spotlight?

This will probably force Palin to withdraw from the race. Will McCain pick Lieberman after all?

Must Be Hard Having A Mother That Does Not Believe In Any Kind Or Birth Control! This Is What Happens When You Teach Abstinece Only!

You daughter should have respected her body like it is her temple.

Who cares ! That's Mrs. Palin's daughter's business.
Young people make mistakes, do they not?
Janice Jones
Sacramento, CA

Wow, and McCain is the one who brought the whole Britney comparison into the race in the first place. Right back atcha, McCan't!

No one asked me to be Vice-President. But if they had, I would have said, thanks but no thanks. I'm a working woman with two small children (4 year old twins) and I couldn't possibly have spent two months on the road 24/7. I'm a professional with strong and (I think) valuable thoughts on our nation but I'm also a mom and I put the welfare of my children first. I don't know how Palin, with a small infant with Down's Syndrome and a teenager about to give birth can just glibly decide to be on the road for the next two months. I think it shows a decidedly selfish and ambitious streak that I find thoroughly unattractive. It has shown itself in her laughing on radio programs at unconconscionable used on fellow female lawmakers. She is not a step forward for woman & I certainly don't want her in a position to make decisions that will affect the future of my children.

what happened to family values?"

Just when I thought that McCain could not sink anymore. This just guaranteed Obama's victory.

Another abstinence only success story.

I presume that Mrs. Palin taught her daughter an abstinence only sex ed program, being the social conservative that she is.

How's that working for you Sarah?

Dear Sara Palin, I do not wish to interfer in your private lives, however – I dont feel like you are a good canidate to be one heart beat away from being president, since your kind of family values is sorely lacking ! You should immediately resign, since you didnt know what was going on in your own family, and control your own daughter, how in the world could America trust you to know whats going on in the world, and handle way more serious problems ? This IS disgraceful ! you are NOT a good role model for Americas young daughters ! Please resign !!!

Can you say 'Hot Mess'? Pop some corn, sit back and enjoy because I have a suspicion that this Palin is going to provide us more drama than a soap opera!!!

Interesting. I congratulate the new family on the coming of their first child. I find it interesting that VP-Nom Palin said that Bristol made a decision and that they are proud of it. I was under the impression that Palin was pro-life and did not support the pro-choice movement. But the statement she put out seems to indicate that Bristol had a decision. I feel like a pro-life family would not have given her a "decision." On top of this … Is she rushing into marriage? What is best for the child… a shotgun wedding that will end in divorce (Palin holding the shotgun) or is this a relationship that will work?

I urge Bristol to be open minded and not rush into anything. Good luck to all parties involved!

And where is the acknowledgement that this was premarital sex and fornication which is SIN. Republicans cant have it both ways.Its not just about keeping the baby…it is also about the Sinful sex that coulud have been avoided.If you preach abstinence then make sure that your philosophy doe not fail and bring forth unwanted pregnancies.

I am so proud of parents who support life and their childrens decision. The more and more I learn about Palin, the more and more I like her. She represents the everyday persons and true American values.
Obama the elitist needs to stop talking about change and actually do something about it. His record and his VP choice speak for itself. Biden the longest term Senator in Washington. Yea, thats change.

McCain/Palin-The True reform Party.

Obama/Biden-Teleprompter kings

All families face difficulties and life must go on. I know my own has had its fair share of trials. I admire McCain for his decision to pick Palin despite the possible political repercussions and Bristol Palin for keeping the baby.

Bristol will still get to go to college because………

Going to MARRY THE FATHER????? At 17? This makes absolutely no sense to me!!!!!! Great judgement there as a parent, Sarah. Shows the kinda judgement you would have as VP, and GOD FORBID, president of this country. Oh Lord, please help us.

Palin is not ready to be a V.P. This is a mess.

Why did McCain chose to reveal this information now? What qualifications did Palin have that more senior conervative female government officials in the Republican party, Romney, and Huckabee didn't?

UNBELIEVABLE !! What next…………..?

I hope she knows we will all know what she had for breakfast and dinner and her midnight snack pretty soon. Welcome to being a celebrity. Your personal life is over. Should have thought of your family before you made this decision. What other kind of dirt is the media going to dig up on you…

"Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned" This a bunch of bull, these are the kinds people that support teen pregnancies

The Democrats sound desperate. Attacking Palins daughter. Why?
The "Obamaites" need to get a life. Next you will hear that they want to protest the war in MN rather than help Hurricane victims in LA & TX

How old is the father?

I am not being disrespectful to the Palin's but had this been a democrat the christian right wingers & McBush campaign would have been hitting the pavement about their families values. If a democrat female or male had been chosen as a vice presidential candidate with the limited number of years of experience & no foreign policy experience the GOP would have put the attack right wingers out in full force…

i am not crazy mccain didnot know that the girl for pregnant he is trying to play it off. I believe and always will believe he didnot know.

Oh – now you want privacy. But your party wants everyone else's dirty laundry aired.

OMG! I knew there was some reason why that blanket was covering her daughter when she was holding the baby during the announcement of Palin as the VP choice. Did she talk to her mom about thinking about having sex? Did she not feel comfortable talking to her mom? Why didn't her mom prepare her for having sex? If the daughter did not feel comfortable telling her mom what does that say about their relationship?
Is she so busy with getting famous that she ignoring her family that is suspose to be so important to her? Does she not believe in birth control? Answers to any of these questions would be appreciated. I am so confused. Why did she accept the nomination knowing this McCain is old and feeible I honestly do not see him making it for the next four years so she will be President is this okay with everyone?

Hold now….hold on! arent these republicans the same people that have been shoving their morals down our throats for so long? specifically issues of pre marital sex and abstinence. I cant help but feel outraged at the irony in all of this. Party of morals what a bunch of hypocrites!!

This is what happens when you push for abstinence-only and deny contraceptives… fortunately the girl has a supportive family.

Ironically, the 'abstinence only' education that Republicans support has been shown to increase the rate of teen pregnancy.

Less ironically, I don't think this really reflects on her as a person, mistakes are made by even kids with the best of parents. What reflects on her more is the fact that her office is under investigation over charges she abused her power.

So much for evangelical "family values". I thought sex before marriage was no-no. She can't even manage her own daughter.

I wonder if they would provide her with unconditional love and support, if she wasn't marrying the father of the baby? I guess somehow mariage makes it all okay.

This smells very funny… as I am researching a story that I received this AM about Palin being a grandparent not a parent, their daughter is suddenly pregnant??!! They are also asking people to leave them alone.

This needs some research and a good reporter.

Now that is good old Christian morals for you! Bristol must have missed that day in Sunday School.

Bristol will now provide an example all ofl America's 17 year-old girls to emulate!!

This headline should read "Governor Palin finally receives memo that abstinence-only education does not work".

How do we expect Governer Palin to give decent care to a downs child who demands more care than any healthy 17 year old who should be preparing for college?

Yes, yes, that is the right way to act, of course, However, "we are not proud of the fact that our daughter became pregnant at 17″ would have been in order as well. Wouldn't any parent be disappointed in their daughter as well as "proud"?

True. These kids are going to have a hard enough time, they don't need the media bothering them. Palin is obviously someone who loves her daughter and is not trying to hide her. Every family has difficult times and I think having this happen now is a good way for the country to see how Palin reacts in the face of these decisions and will shows what a good candidate she is for VP, the support of the Pres.

Don't forget the husband's DUI charge in 86.

Interesting that they dump all this news on the day a hurricane hits New Orleans.

Ah, the values party. The Palins have really brought up their daughter very well.

Does this make Obama the only non-grandparent running for the highest two offices?

All those pro-CHOICE people seem to have a problem when the choice is not to end the pregnancy. Everyday all over this country young girls face these issues.I was one of them, and yesterday my daughter turned 35 years old.There has never been a minute, that I have regreted my decision to keep my child.I wish this young lady all the best, she has my deepest respect . If all families were as kind, and supportive of their childern, as the Palins seem to be, this world would be a much better place.

Abstinence education at work!

Republicans will support john insane even if he choose Mickey Mouse as his running mate.sad,sad,sad!!!

remember whenever you point a finger @ someone there are three pointing back at you bravo for the future V P of this country

Sarah Palin, how could you force your daughter to go through this in front of America? Shame on you! I feel so horrible for Bristol, God, imagine being seventeen trying to deal with this in front of so many eyes.

Shame on you, Sarah Palin, shame on you!

good for sarah, even though i am completely for obama biden! poor bristol, i hope she isn't marrying levi simply for the media and her mother's sake. i mean, she may not love, truly, deeply, love the boy, which means it could be a very unhappy marriage. that's no family for a child to be born into.

Sarah Palin should be ashamed of herself for putting her own child through such national shame… If Sarah Palin knew she was being considered for the Vice Presidental candidate she should have allowed the child (Bristol) get married before to the annoucement. I feel so sorry for this child (Bristol). We all make mis-steps but hers will go down in history as a part of a political campaign.

Okay repuglican christian evangelicals, spin this story, dare you to try….
John mccain must hate this country and he has proven that he cares much more about trying to win an election than this country by putting a woman who has 1.5 yrs experience as governor of Alaska and is a hockey mom for a gamble to pander to women and Clinton voters. No enlightened republican who has a conscience will vote for mccain, they couldn't.

So much for abstinence only education.

what a inresponsible vp, and what kind of example will she show american family

Why is she dragging a special needs child around the country and letting her 16 year old get pregnant while she persues political power?

She has no experience, and this is the "judgement" thats supposed to outweight that?

No.

Please don't politicize the 17yr old girl … yes we all can agree that abstinence only education doesn't work, but leave her alone, at least she is going to marry the father!

I love the timing of this? " Let's make sure we announce this right when the eye hits landfall" Sounds great.!!!

This should have been released by them days ago….but again we catch the Republicans in a life or cover up. What I can't wait for is what comes down in the next few weeks about abuses of power in the Reindeer state……McCain is off his rocker if he thinks this is a winning ticket! Kiny Freedman was right…Obama could even win with Chemical ALi as a running mate. As a Republican I find this ticket to be a sheer joke and one that will backfire on McCain. He really thought he could get the female vote with a woman the is PRO LIFE? 80% of the women in the country are PRO CHOICE….do you think they want their rights stripped away just to get a woman in the Vice Residency? Give us a break!!! They wanted Hillary not someone would governed a state with a population the size of Ft. Worth Texas!!!

Good for her! While Obama would have told his daughter to get an abortion.

Now if only the Dems could be proud of themselves. Maybe they are proud of the horrible, horrible way they're throwing around all the mud? Obama need not get into dirty politics with his fans doing such a good job for him.

This has definitely shied me away from Obama. I've been in the middle, but I don't want to be lumped in with the folks on the Obama side.

bristol looks so much more pregnant at 5 months than sarah looked at 7 months, on her 5th child

I guess the best comment here would be …. "no comment!", as in "need we say more?"

Sure, I'll respect her privacy, but not yours. Anything you say, teach, or do (or have every said, taught, or did) is fair game.

First of all: congratulations to Bristol Palin, I wish her all the happiness in life.

Secondly: Mother Palin walks the walk and talks the conservative talk but it seems that her own family doens't agree with her extreme stances on abstinence and sex before marriage. This only shows how out of the mainstream this woman is.