Teen pregnancy and sex education were thrust into the spotlight this week when Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin revealed that her 17-year-old daughter is five months pregnant.
Palin's running mate, John McCain, and the GOP platform say children should be taught that abstinence until marriage is the only safe way to avoid pregnancy and disease. Palin's position is less clear.
In a widely quoted 2006 survey she answered during her gubernatorial campaign, Palin said she supported abstinence-until-marriage programs. But weeks later, she proclaimed herself "pro-contraception" and said condoms ought to be discussed in schools alongside abstinence.
"I'm pro-contraception, and I think kids who may not hear about it at home should hear about it in other avenues," she said during a debate in Juneau.
Such statements could raise concerns among social conservatives who have been some of Palin's most enthusiastic supporters since she was tapped for the No. 2 spot on the GOP ticket last week.
Leslee Unruh, president of the National Abstinence Clearinghouse and campaign manager of the Vote Yes for Life effort, said children must be given a "clear and concise" message on the benefits of abstinence.
Asked about Palin's statement, Unruh said, "I don't think it's clear. It seems disjointed to me."
From CNN Politics
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Why have we not heard anything this woman has to say yet? She read a prepared speach but won't give interviews with any media? If she is ready to lead, she should be able to go out and answer questions on her own. Dick Cheney won't talk to the press either, is she a female Cheney? We have no idea what she thinks on any topic, no one will let her talk. Where is the substance, what DOES she believe in? I have no clue except what little we been spoon fed. How can anything written about her be sexist if we haven't heard from her? Is it lack of knowledge, experience, or fear that is keeping her out of the spotlight?
I hope her soon to be son in law was allowed to make his own free choice, but to ask him would be sexist and prying. Cheney doesn't want to talk about his adult homosexual daughter, grandchild and life partner in law either.
This is another reason people should really think about the choices they make prior to voting. Don't get caught up in the hype of making history (first black president or first female vice president), the quality of life and the perception of America globally is bigger than this. Hear and analyze what everyone is saying before making a choice. And most importantly, make sure that the candidate and VP candidate are in line with each of because you never know if and when the VP will become the President.
Wake up America before it is January 2009 and we are worst off then we were in 2008.
She's not some crazy ideologue. Did you think the 90% of Alaskans that approve of her were crazy too?
Intelligent people can agree to disagree, and professionals seeking high office MUST think as individuals, not robots like the Obomination crowd. It must be a bitter brew for them to consider the absolute brilliance of McCain's VP pick, and what a superb role model in every way Sarah Palin is. She is stellar and marvelous.
That's the best news I've heard about Palin all week. I'd really liked to see her interviewed so some of this information is clarified.
surprised......not. what positions of the GOP are clear? the only ones i know of is war and more war, drill here, drill now. and, if you don't want to die, vote for us because we are the only ones who know how to keep the country safe....so tired of all the BS.
Palin is not clear enough to the people of who she is !!! she continues to change her mine of certain things lol she soooooo being used it is sad the her own capaign had the hottest VP lol
LA Times no one will buy this story do you know why
Mc Cain’s speech seen By 38.9 million
Obama’s speech seen by 38.4 million
Sarah Plain's Speech seen by 37.2 million
CBS polls show the race is tie (42 )
This time voter will bring the change in Washington and the media
Life long democrat and Hillary strong supporter will vote for Mc Cain
Hillary 2012 /Mc Cain/Palin2008
Silly Sarah seems to be at odds with her running mate and with telling the truth!
Her speech was filled with half-lies and outright deceptions – kinda like the team currently running the White House.
Trouble in paradise? Both have tempers, both are stubborn, and both struggle working with people who disagree with their position. What gonna happen?
All those clamoring for Palin to talk to the press how about getting on Obama's case about ducking debates. He's been doing that for MONTHS, not just a few days. Of course we know he's afraid. Hillary kicked his butt during the primary debates, and he failed completely at Saddleback. Without a telepropter, he can't talk. I hope when he talks to our enemies, without preconditions, they let him have a telepropter. Otherwise Russia will end up in our Georgia!
Palin disagrees with McCain on earmarks: She got $27 million in earmarks for her town of then 7,000. She disagrees with him on corporate taxes: that's how Alaska gets thousands of dollars in refunds to their citizens who already have no income/sales or property taxes.
Right now Palin would say anything, and I mean anything, to get elected. Notice in yesterdays speech – how McCain stood behind her looking old and foolish. Who's running for President here?
Hey lady ... if you are going to invest billions of dollars in the failed "abstinence only" programs you'd better believe in it – as you welcome your new grandchild.
Talk about freaking flip-flopping! this gal changes her mind as often as she changes underwear! I'm very interested in whats going to come out about her in the coming weeks... Keep Digging!
PALIN HAS 5 CHILDREN. . . THAT ITSELF, SHOULD TELL/TEACH HER THAT "ABSTINENCE" DOSEN'T WORK!
AND IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR HER DAUGHTER, WHOM IS PREGNANT!
"IS THIS WHAT ATTENDING 6 COLLEGES IN 5 YEARS WILL TEACH YOUNG WOMEN" ?
THIS WOMEN SHOULD NOT EVEN BE IN THE PUBLIC. . .
OBAMA/BIDEN '08-'12
Hi Sarah:
Do you want a sixth child. I guarantee that he/she won't had a down syndrome.
What happened to the Jet That Palin said she put on Ebay and sold for a profit??She lied,plain and simple. This woman cannot be
trusted. She is pro life, but does not hesitate to kill thousands of animals in her state.
Once For McCain
NOW FOR OBAMA/BIDEN
NEVER PALIN
Am I the only one who sees through this fraud? I do not trust this woman at all. Her views on sex education, and the fact that she is asking us to trust her to negotiate with Putin and others, but is too afraid to talk to the media, her support of Alaska separating from the US, and all of these half truths coming out about her really scares me! I fear for my country if these two get elected.
I am happy to hear that Gov Palin and Sen McCain don't agree on every single, solitary, issue. It's about time that we actually have a Presidential Candidate that doesn't feel threatened to have a different opinion from his running mate.
Thanks Earl, reading the letter from Anne Kilkinney about Sarah Palin was very enlightening. She is a typical Neocon Republican, no maverick and walks lockstep with other neocons who pander to the religious right and who demand that their beliefs be the beliefs of all Americans. She is truly frightening.
Please please google Anne Kilkinney and read her letter regarding Palin
DAWN YOUR A HATER . KIDS DONT LISTEN TO THEIR PARENTS WHEN THEIR IN LOVE. DONT BLAME IT ON THE PARENT YOU MORON. YOUR JUST ANOTHER YOUNG HATER ,PROBABLY DONT HAVE KIDS. IF NOT YOU HAVE NO ROOM TO TALK. YOU YOUNG PEOPLE NOW DAYS ARE SO FILLED WITH HATE AND DISRESPECT.
if Palin agrees with mcCain – she is a puppet.
if Palin disagrees with McC – she is too aggressive, wants to take over
Sexism 101 from the Obama surrogates.
Anne Kilkinney – do a search on this lady who knows Sarah Palin in Alaska. If you want to know the REAL Sarah read this lady's letter.
She's an opponent of government financing of sex-education programs in Alaska, and supports Abstinence but her 17-year-old unwed daughter, is pregnant, she said having a baby would make her daughter "grow up faster than we had ever planned.
They are both nuts.