(CNN) – The unmarried 17-year-old daughter of conservative Republican congressman and Louisiana Senate candidate Bill Cassidy is pregnant, according to a published report on Thursday.
"Earlier this year, Laura and I learned we will become grandparents this summer," Cassidy, a physician, said in a statement to NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune.
"Our children have been the greatest blessing of our lives and we welcome our grandchild as a joyous addition to our family," he continued. "Our daughter now faces a more challenging future than her peers. She has our unconditional love and support."
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The announcement comes as Cassidy is considered the leading GOP contender challenging Democratic incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu.
It's a closely watched race, as Republicans consider Landrieu one of the most vulnerable Democrats running for re-election in a midterm race where control of the Senate hangs in the balance.
Cassidy's daughter is a rising senior at a high school in Baton Rouge. The campaign did not provide any additional information to the Times-Picayune, and did not immediately return calls from CNN.
The statement was similar to the one released by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in 2008 about her then-17-year-old daughter, Bristol.
The announcement came shortly after Palin was picked to be Sen. John McCain's running mate on the GOP presidential ticket, and just before she was set to deliver her big speech at the Republican National Convention.
CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
Do you people also condem those who have multiple children with different fathers and are on welfare.
J Anthony
Only a non-story: unless your name is Hillary. Wazzamatta Daddy, didn't bring up your little girl with the love of Jebus?
So he will lose Just like Palin did. Hahahaha
This is why available birth control is so important. A non story and definitely a private situation.
Children do unexpected things, these become life experiences. How you react to life's curve balls is what matters. You must respect the parent who stands by their children through thick or thin. This situation could happen to anyone in any family. Take that as the point. Judge however you wish to be judged!
Lizzie
Do you people also condem those who have multiple children with different fathers and are on welfare.
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I think anybody who has more then two children in this day and age of overpopulation , questions of environmental sustainability and quality of life for all , SELFISH .
It's great she has Obama Care !
Feel your pain dude, let's hope the haters don't cause her anymore hurt than she feels now ....the LORD tests our faith in him.
No surprise.
The social conservative's vision of a "traditional American family" includes unplanned pregnancies by unwed teenaged girls.
don in albuquerque
J Anthony
Only a non-story: unless your name is Hillary. Wazzamatta Daddy, didn't bring up your little girl with the love of Jebus?
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We will all say a prayer for this young woman, her baby and for you. Such much hate is not good for the soul. Just eats you up.
This should be a private family matter; two kids made a mistake. It is ironic though that the right wing is against abortion and helping welfare moms, but still hate birth control. I find that mind boggling!
Jeff... Go tell that to WOMEN who should know better
Anonymous
If I want prayers I will contact Mickey Mouse.
Sooooo .... hows that conservative abstinence, save yourself for marriage, purity pledge thing working for you there bubba?
Jeff Brown in Jersey
This should be a private family matter; two kids made a mistake. It is ironic though that the right wing is against abortion and helping welfare moms, but still hate birth control. I find that mind boggling!
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Don't be an idiot. Nobody "hates birth control" or is against helping "welfare moms". The killing of innocent babies is opposed. What is mind boggling are your lies.
No big deal so are about 60% of the mothers that are out there right are single with no father.
It's true, there is 2 much hypocrisy on this site. If the guy was a democrat we'd probably hear all kinds of bile from the righties. CNN must love playing their part of keeping the under-informed public at eachother's throats.
Way to go GOP. Keep instilling those family values.
That rabbit should've been on the pill. Oh, that's right, Conservatives are not allowed.
Donna, you made a beautiful statement earlier, then reverted to type. The GOP has made an unrealistic vision of the Family the cornerstone of their so-called values, which are completely at odds with their stated policies of not giving a damn about others. Note that I said policies, not personal beliefs. Keep your personal beliefs and your polices separate, because your policies as as coercive as anything found in any theocracy in the world.
@HemiHead66: "That rabbit should've been on the pill. Oh, that's right, Conservatives are not allowed."
I'm thinking this whole "religious objection" to contraceptives by "conservatives" is really about wanting their base to continue pumping out dimwits to vote for them. If contraception was affordable as it is under Obamacare, then women would have the idea that they can control their own bodies – and that kind of independent thought would be just the tip of the iceberg. Pretty soon, there'd be so few dimwits, the gop would go up in a puff of smoke.
@Donna: "The killing of innocent babies is opposed."
So not allowing a fertilized egg to implant is killing an innocent baby? That's quite the leap! What about a woman who has an ectopic pregnancy – should she be denied an abortion and just cross her fingers that she doesn't die, because that incorrectly-implanted fertilized egg that will never develop into anything is still an "innocent baby"?