News-Record.com

"celebrated for her choice to have her child."

It's a choice that John McCain and Sarah Palin want the government to make for you.

People have plenty of personal choices before conception. After conception, they have responsibilities.

"Fashionable" to have an abortion?!?!? It seems that every other week, another young actress annouces her pregnancy. The hottest accessory for these girls this past year has been a baby. It seems that Bristol Palin is just following that trend. Will we see her photo on the cover of People magazine?

What is truly baffling to me is the lengths to which the Republicans will go to twist this issue, and the depths into the hypocrisy cesspool into which they will descend.

First, it was the Palin family who held a press conference, and issued press releases announcing the pregnancy of the teen. There was the flimsy excuse that it was to squash rumors about the mother of the youngest Palin child, but no national media had suggested this, so the justification is completely false.

Second, there is near-hysteria about the celebration of the "brave decision of Bristol Palin to have the child". The hypocrisy of this point cannot be overstated. While lauding the bravery and the acceptance of responsibility, her mother is at the same time campaigning to remove that choice from other families.

Then we see continuous straw-man arguments like the one proposed in this letter. "The choice of the pundits to use a 17-year-old female’s pregnancy as a political point is absolutely disgusting." The pundits are not using the pregancy as a point. Granted, they might be using it to highlight the hypocrisy of the party (see the link to the Bill O'Reilly double standard in yesterday's blog), but that's nowhere near the same thing.

Furthermore, a few weeks ago, in the national media and here in this humble blog, many of you were complaining that any criticism of Obama was met with cries of racism. Now, conveniently enough, any suggestion that the move from mayor to the highest level of the executive in just a couple of years is suspect, is met with cries that Democrats -- the same group who nearly had a woman as the nominee, and had a woman on the ticket over 20 years ago -- are all sexists.

The hypocrisy is really tough to keep track of without a score card.

Howard,

Do you not consider Daily Kos national media? How about Allan Colmes?

I have seen in print right here (and so have you) more than a suggestion that those who vote against Obama are racist.

I hope you score card has two sides... but I doubt it does.

Amen, Howie. How many times did the same people who are all in a tither about using a Palin family member as a talking point remind us that when Obama chose to run for office, he, his mother, his father, his wife, his pastor and anyone else associated with him were fair game? Just about every CONservative who posts here.

"People have plenty of personal choices before conception. After conception, they have responsibilities"

You are right mamab. People do have responsibilities after conception. However, that responsibility includes making a decision about the birth that considers ALL factors, not just what someone else wants you to do. Responsibility does not necessarily mean birth as you suggest.

TGordon,

Probably, she has already been the intense focus of several stories in Us Weekly, another super market tabloid. Heck, even Lindsey Lohan was interviewed and asked what she thought about her pregnancy. Lindsey Lohan commenting? You've got to be kidding.

TGordon,

Probably, she has already been the intense focus of several stories in Us Weekly, another super market tabloid. Heck, even Lindsey Lohan was interviewed and asked what she thought about her pregnancy. Lindsey Lohan commenting? You've got to be kidding.

TGordon,

Probably, she has already been the intense focus of several stories in Us Weekly, another super market tabloid. Heck, even Lindsey Lohan was interviewed and asked what she thought about her pregnancy. Lindsey Lohan commenting? You've got to be kidding.

Mother Teresa said, "It is a great poverty that a child must die so that you may live as you please."

If this were an inner-city child supporting her baby on public assistance, the conservatives would be outraged.

Teen pregnancy is an on-going social problem. Or, at least it was, until the daughter of the GOP's rising star got pregnant.

Now, it "should be applauded".

Oh, it all depends on whose ox is being gored.

John Steward showed Bill O'Reilly castigating the parents of Jaime Spears for their lousy job of parenting when she got pregnant. He was likewise outraged that some people were making an issue of the Palin pregnancy. There was no such talk about the lousy job of parenting in the Palin family. No talk of them being "pinheads".

It all depends on whose ox is being gored.

It is easy to judge when you have not walked a mile in another's shoes. Although the Almighty told us it is not our place to judge at all. That privilege is all His, or at least should be.

God gave his children (Adam & Eve) the freedom of choice. He told of grave consequences if that choice was wrong. He, however, did not rescind His gift of choice. So who is qualified to take away what God has given?

Besides, Mother Teresa was speaking very generally. It is all a matter of interpretation.

It seems the letter writer is part of the media focus in that he chose to bring up the pregnancy. I think the Democrats have handled the issue with class. Even Palin admits that Obama and Biden have not used it against her but she whines about the media and "Democratic bloggers" commenting about it. Geeeez...what did she expect. This is just another non-issue to keep the Republicans from having to focus on the war and the economy.

Excellent points Howie and Yvonne.

Love this quote in the WaPo.

"Palin's mixed message says: Please respect the privacy of my family--as I exploit them. Respect my family's privacy, but let me wrap myself in baby Trig to prove my anti-abortion stand."

Good description of the situation.

"Do you not consider Daily Kos national media? How about Allan Colmes?"

I do not consider Daily Kos "national media". It's an opinion based web site, as I understand. I've never visited it, so I'm not certain.

Allan Colmes? Maybe in the most "liberal" definition of the term would I consider him part of the "national media", but I'll take your bait. What did he do -- suggest that Trig Palin was Bristol's? I certainly missed that.

You seem to have already decided how I use my score card, but I'll address it anyway. I wouldn't go so far as to say that there were people suggesting that anyone who voted against Obama is a racist. I will allow that the term was being applied too generously. But my point is really that many of you who were so quick to chastise this tactic are the same ones who are calling anyone who would question any single aspect of Sarah Palin a sexist. And this, to me, is blatant hypocrisy.

I hope the msm, Democratic party and left wing kook blogosphere attacks on Palin continue, especially the juicy tabloid style attacks for the following reasons:

1) Obama has been out of the news since she was picked. Granted the RNC was this week, but there is a new fresh face in town to compete with his.

2) The more they attack Palin, the less they attack McCain.

3) The more they attack Palin the more it will rev up the conservative base who loves her.

4) The more they attack Palin, it will alienate undecided voters, especially women, especially mothers. One of my sisters (mother of two) is an undecided voter and was leaning towards Obama, primarily because she wants us out of Iraq, but the relentless attacks on Palin are causing her to reconsider. She still likes Obama but is disenchanted with Obama supporters who launch such vicious attacks.

Thousands have canceled their subscriptions to the tabloid rag US magazine after their hit piece on Palin.

From today's Rasmussen poll more people have a favorable opinion of Palin than either McCain or Obama:

Both Obama and McCain are now viewed favorably by 57% of the nation’s voters. However, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is viewed favorably by 58%--a point more than either Presidential hopeful. Forty percent (40%) have a Very Favorable opinion of her.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

So please keep up the attacks folks. It's working wonderfully.

"...relentless attacks on Palin are causing her to reconsider. She still likes Obama but is disenchanted with Obama supporters who launch such vicious attacks."

Dan,

Any woman, sister or not, who would change her mind because of something her candidate has no control over does not have much of a conviction to begin with. Obama has asked his supporters to back off Palin's children. To punish him by not voting for him because his supporters don't listen is a childish thing to do, imho. After all, it would be like refusing to vote for Palin because she can't quite the rumors about her family.

I said she is reconsidering Yvonne, read my post please, never said she has changed her mind.

Agreed, Obama has asked his supporters to back off, I've posted his quote several times this week in case you haven't read it, and applaud it. Ditto Biden. I understand Obama and Biden cannot control this but you have to admit it doesn't help their cause.

My sister merely mentioned she was leaning Obama, that the smears on Palin have turned her off, yet she is still undecided.

Unlike Dan, I don't let some politician tell me how to feel. Therefore my opinion about Sarah Palin is my own opinion--another divergence from Dan's modus operandi.

When Palin prayed at her church, saying Iraq War was "God's will" she lost any credibility with me. It was not God's will, folks, it was Bush/Cheney's will. The lady is a loon.

Besides, one needn't look far to find the obvious flip flops. She was for the "Bridge to Nowhere" before she was against it. BP sponsored her inauguration!

And was it not hilarious at the lemmings clapping whenever John McCain uttered the word "Change" while they all voted for 'W'...not once, but TWICE!

McCain playing the war hero is like me claiming some mantle for being Student Body President in High School! Tell me what you've done for me today!

If he's gonna keep trotting out the POW stuff, then that makes being a member of the Keating Five just as relevant!!

If Palin is going to tout her anti sex education agenda, then her teenage daughter being pregnant IS an issue!

Get real people, this is not about voting for President of the Lions' Club!

"Unlike Dan, I don't let some politician tell me how to feel."

Congrats, at least you don't get tingles up your legs like Chris Matthews when Obama speaks.

"Get real people, this is not about voting for President of the Lions' Club!"

heh heh, you don't get it.