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Baby Politics: Separating Personal and Political
September 02, 2008 12:02 AM
"It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor, or her potential performance as a vice president."
That was the response Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., gave when asked about the revelation that newly tapped Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is five months pregnant.
Obama may have called the pregnancy "off limits," but there's no doubt the baby news, which came on a Gustav-shortened Night One of the Republican National Convention, had people talking all day.
The Alaska governor's bio -- so far filled with intriguing details of adventure (guns, fishing and snowmobiles) and bedrock Conservatism (she's a pro-lifer in practice) -- hit a much more awkward note.
But is it damaging as well?
September 2, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (68)
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Need to check out Mike Tibbles and Todd Palin too. Seems that Todd likes to play the politics too and is being called the Shadow Governor.
"AS the World Turns"
Posted by: Thinking | Sep 2, 2008 12:13:46 AM
Sorry that was Mike Tibbes
Tibbes had earlier fired the governor's legislative liaison John Bitney, reportedly as a consequence of Bitney dating the estranged wife of a friend of Todd Palin, the Governor's husband. Andrew Halcro calls Todd Palin, who also played a role in the Monegan firing, the "Shadow Governor."
Posted by: Thinking | Sep 2, 2008 12:16:52 AM
I think its obvious that the baby is from a space alien. I know because I read the left wing blogs.
Posted by: Sluggo | Sep 2, 2008 12:32:03 AM
Please someone ask whether this broad supportive approach to teenage pregnancy will translate to a revised platform for the RNC to support legislation that provides finanancial resources for teens who find themselves pregnant and who are not the daughter of a governor.
Posted by: sunshine | Sep 2, 2008 12:33:36 AM
BACK OFF CNN ...
FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO POUND ON ....
DIG INTO OBAMA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH REZKO INSTEAD ...
DIG INTO OBAMA'S ASSOCIATION WITH THE REV. WRIGHT INSTEAD ...
Posted by: BackOffCNN | Sep 2, 2008 12:36:03 AM
There are thousands of reasons not to vote Republican. Yet the only two real defenses the GOP bloggers keep trying are "Rezko" and Wright".
LOL! They already cleared Obama of any wrong doing with Rezko you moron. And Wright was old news months ago. He does not speak for Obama and has nothing to do with Barack's ability to govern our country.
Face it, the GOP has done NOTHING for middle class America in the last eight years and McCain has not proposed a single idea that will help now.
Your desperate and know you have a LOSER candidate and un-vetted VP running mate.
Posted by: Watch FOX if you need a GOP cheerleader | Sep 2, 2008 12:44:08 AM
SHOTGUN WEDDING!
Posted by: tell the truth Palin | Sep 2, 2008 12:45:02 AM
BackOffCNN: If you are so desperate to dig into old "news," perhaps we should be begging for stories on the Keating 5 bribery scandal McCain was admonished for - you know, something actually relevant to his character and judgment and far more recent than the POW experience he frequently touts.
Apologies if you were joking - asking CNN to attack the personal life of the man, Senator Obama, who clearly came to the defense of Palin (even pointing out his own mother was only 18 years old when he was born) goes so far around the hypocrisy scale you may have been aiming for humor.
Posted by: jhw539 | Sep 2, 2008 12:52:57 AM
Obama fed off Rev. Wright for 20 years .... you are what you eat ... !!!
Rezko has been convicted .... Obama will be next.
Posted by: ObamaIsNext | Sep 2, 2008 12:54:08 AM
Old NEWS? You mean news swept under the carpet by CNN and the media?
you mean HUSHED UP NEWS?
Dealings with Rezko, Rev. Wright ETC that goes back 20 years don't just evaporate PER the wishes of DUMBOCRATS and OBAMAMANIACS.
VOTE MCCAIN/PALIN
Posted by: YetToComeOut | Sep 2, 2008 12:57:25 AM
of course because a woman can't possibly be govenor on her own you morons. Simpletons in action!!
Posted by: Kim | Sep 2, 2008 1:01:24 AM
You know the funny thing is for Obama everything is heard ... all People have heard even aired : Rezko or Wright or whatever. People have already made up their mind.
Bad the stranger Palin
Who she is ?
more than 51 % American never heard of her ?
No one knows her ?
8 weeks left .... 6 weeks for her
No experience
lol
Posted by: Mic | Sep 2, 2008 1:05:41 AM
I will side with Obama, when he said that the pregnancy issue is a personal one, and should not be taken into the political arena. How right you are Senator, for this gives us some indication of your sound character and integrity.
Posted by: rev norbert | Sep 2, 2008 1:58:39 AM
McCAIN/PALIN '08
Posted by: NICHOLAS | Sep 2, 2008 2:15:21 AM
I don't want to put any moral judgment..
But in practical terms, if she is so ardent family value champion,
How could she accept the VP offer having 4 month DS baby and vulnerable pregrant teenage daughter.
Considering running mate's age, she should learn everything as soon as possible.
The whole thing doesn't make sense.
Posted by: zen | Sep 2, 2008 2:20:22 AM
Whoever comes for high office in this country has to go thru these stage.
That's why Obama has been criticized for rezko, wright so harshly on the internet by right wings.
now it's Palin's turn.
Good luck!
Posted by: zen | Sep 2, 2008 2:27:51 AM
Obama also firmly insisted that his campaign was not responsible for the proliferation of rumors about Palin’s family in the liberal blogosphere:
"I am offended by that statement. There is no evidence at all that any of this involved us," he said. "Our people were not involved in any way in this, and they will not be. And if I thought there was somebody in my campaign who was involved in something like that, they would be fired.
Of course this won't be the first time Obama has lied.
He should inform his followers.
Posted by: seah | Sep 2, 2008 2:30:04 AM
the lunanacy of this , you think if it was a guy name STAN palin he would get the offer , NOT ON YOUR LIFE.
Thank goodness if there is SANITY ISSUES will prevail.
she is NOT for equal pay for women like obama is.
no way Democrat women who are for choice and rights for women will give her the time of day .
No party have the interest of kids and women at heart like the Democrat . look at their platform of issues.. many programs to help women and children.
Pres Bush not so long VETO a child healthcare bill
Dont bother looking for any in the republican platform, remember their are for EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF.. UNLESS you are a BILLIONARE company looking for a handout or the RICH who needs tax breaks.
Posted by: sp | Sep 2, 2008 2:47:58 AM
Where is JERRY SPRINGER when you need him to host this show.
So this is what the Presidency of the United States has come to. It suddenly became the hillbilly state fair..*SIGH*
Posted by: sean | Sep 2, 2008 2:51:02 AM
Poor John McCain. This sounds more like a job for MoPo than him. There is only one way to settle this, pregnancy test on Maury Povich.
Levin Johnston...You ARE the father!
Posted by: Anthony | Sep 2, 2008 2:57:44 AM
The life of the VP should represent and reflect Traditional American Values...not American Values as seen on Jerry Springer.
Posted by: NoToGrandpaMunster | Sep 2, 2008 2:59:03 AM
Even Obama declared Sara Palin's latest challenge off limits. So good old A.B.C. runs a segment on Nightline. I am constantly amazed at the depths to which desparate, mean-spirited liberals will sink to attempt gain their objectives. All of you at A.B.C. news disgust me.
Posted by: Jim | Sep 2, 2008 3:18:16 AM
I think Senator Mccain has a problem with beautiful women. His first wife was a model. Cindy was a beauty queen and he meets the next beauty queen, 'I WANT YOU TO BE MY VEEPEE'. Senator Mccain talks of putting Country first, As far as am concerned he just put Politics first. Now Sarah Palins daughter so called father to be identifies himself as a Redneck in his facebook blog and is eighteen. In Georgia, a 17 year old boy was put in jail for having consexual 's.....x with a 16 year old boy. That boy went through hell before he regained his freedom. That boy's name is Genarlow Wilson. Now, the Republicans and that fake pastor 'Dobson' are trying to spin this as having 'FAMILY VALUES' I dont know the law in Alaska but anyone spinning this otherwise is really idiotic. I find the GOP to be energised but one thing this has also made for once all the Democrats energised too. Make no mistake we will be coming out in large numbers too. Barack Obama was never many people' choice in the Democratic party but we would be putting country first. A vote against Senator Mccain is a vote to save the United States.
Posted by: jayjay | Sep 2, 2008 3:24:06 AM
some typo errors, the seventeen year old boy had a consexual with a sixteen year old girl
Posted by: jayjay | Sep 2, 2008 3:27:09 AM
Barack is doing what McCain should have done for Obama while there was a litany of right-wing conspiracies floating around. Here's my 2 cents: Palin herself is using her children. She touts herself as a champion for the ability to produce life by constantly invoking her baby Trig's name and makes sure to remind us that her son is a hero going to Iraq. But, if her daughter does something of a sordid nature, all of a sudden McCain starts threatening anyone who even mentions a candidate's child. Hey John "my friends" McCain, were you a POW? Cause, you know, we didn't hear you the first 5000 times you mentioned it
Posted by: me | Sep 2, 2008 4:59:10 AM
McSame's decision to select Paulin as running mate is a clear demonstration of his lack of judgement, his weackness for young and beauty queens. McSame has a clear unability to undestand the world around him and putting Country First, Pauline will not bring experience, knowledge or values to this ticket. Poor old McCain.
Posted by: BKMC | Sep 2, 2008 5:01:25 AM
I think there is a level in which it might damage the GOP a little, in that it sort of has echoes of some of the 2006 scandals, in an are they being slightly hypocritical? kind of way.
I think the other thing it does a bit of is question Palin's own judgement, not because of the child itself, or because of the having a downs baby, but because Palin's family is obviously going through a ton of stuff right now, and is this the right moment to leave Alaska and run for national office? Seems like she would have been better staying in Alaska and caring for her family to me. (Plenty of candidates ahve postponed or abandoned runs at national office for family reasons, Al Gore, Ted Kennedy, Evan Bayh I think. There might even have been one or two conservatives as well.
Posted by: markymark | Sep 2, 2008 5:47:21 AM
Does anyone remember how hard it was to be a teenager. I can't imagine the harm that all of these Obama bloggers are causing Palins daughter.
I have been offended by the Obama bloggers so many times but this is just ridiculous.
I am a democrat who is proud to vote for Palin!
Posted by: Mike | Sep 2, 2008 6:34:16 AM
Good for Barack. I hope his minnions follow his example.
Posted by: a reader in georgia | Sep 2, 2008 6:51:57 AM
1. To those who say Palin can't be VP because she has a 4 month old baby. Well Obama has two young children too. Oh, that's right, only women can take care of babies.
2. Leave the kids out of it. Anyone who has had teenagers knows that no matter how well you raise them, they make mistakes. You can't lock them in their room 24 hours a day.
3. Obama agrees, leave the kids out of it. Will the press listen? Probably not!
4. "51% have never heard of Palin". Oh yeah, how many had heard of Biden if you weren't from the NE? For that matter, how many had heard of Obama before he launched his campaign... 5%? In today's world it is sometimes GOOD to be unheard of, that means you haven't been scandalous enough for the media to focus on you!
Posted by: NMA225 | Sep 2, 2008 6:54:39 AM
Mike just said he cannot imagine the harm that "all these Obama bloggers are causing Palin's daughter." Taking both McCain and Palin at face value, that they knew of this pregnancy before he offered and she accepted a place in the spotlight as a major party nominee, I'd say the source of the pain was McCain and her mother.
Posted by: ricky | Sep 2, 2008 6:56:49 AM
If she had no views on other people's morals and sexuality those of her own family would be off limits. She does, and they aren't.
Posted by: Moral Quandary | Sep 2, 2008 6:57:47 AM
Why did Diane Saywer waste 15 minutes on the morning show interviewing an outsider about about Palin's daughter's pregnancy? Would you like your private lives smeared in the news. You ask questions that are none of any body's business but the family.
Find some news that means something. Start reporting the news instead of trying to make news. I was a fan of ABC morning show, but the interview about Palin's daughter was rediculious.
Who made Diane the moral judge about how families handle their personal problems. Leave this out of your so called news break.
Posted by: Ernie from Georgia | Sep 2, 2008 7:24:26 AM
Evidently Palin was for earmarks, including the "bridge to nowhere," until she was against them.
Posted by: Joel | Sep 2, 2008 7:40:23 AM
I know its silly to compare barack to Miss palin MY FRIENDS , but i have to try anything .I know barack was involve with community politics locally and state when he finish school.
While Miss palin was busy doing beauty pageants and at the news station pointing that news thingy around at the weatherman My FRIENDS.
I even finish at the bottom of my class at the naval academy while mr. showoff Barack went to harvard. i have NEVER run anything in my life; And not even educated to run for the Oval Office. but i have the P.O.W card that i can use every time.... and it shut people up.
You can say i am living a charm life MY FRIENDS .think about it with my education if i was to go on WALL STREET to look for a BOARD job they would laugh me right out the office ,
No doubt Mr . Obama and his law degree from harvard can get HIRED anywhere anytime.. and is question more than me into being President , you got to love America MY FRIENDS.
Without my P.O.W card i would really be screwed; and people would actually challenge my education and resume
Posted by: spd | Sep 2, 2008 7:42:28 AM
JHW539 you are a typical obama hussien character assin. There were 5 senators - 4 Democrats and 1 Republican. The 4 Democrats were severly censured by the senate. McCain was not even repremanded.
GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT - SHAME
Posted by: Rusxs | Sep 2, 2008 7:49:11 AM
MY only qustion is what would the Republicans be doing now if the news had been in reverse concerning Obama? And for them to claim that Palin is the BEST qualify person to be vice president at this momonet is disengenious to all people that have a little bit of a commen sense, don't you think...."those who lives in a glass house should never cast stones".
Posted by: lionel | Sep 2, 2008 7:52:28 AM
Just watch dittys video on ABC, this is the intellect that the obama worshipers are bringing to bear on our government. When this country is turned over to rappers, then the average age of a high school graduate will become 30. If they live that long.
Posted by: seebogodown | Sep 2, 2008 8:04:40 AM
D*** straight! It SHOULD be a matter of separating personal and political. But according to Palin, McCain, and the rest of the religious right, it's not. Not when they want to impose their beliefs on the rest of us. If "abstinence only" doesn't work in their household, why is it ok to impose it on the country as a matter of policy? By the way, Alaska has the highest rate of std's in the country. So much for abstinence only.
Posted by: cat on a hot tin roof | Sep 2, 2008 8:16:56 AM
If Senator Obama's daughter was pregnantwould everyone think he shouldn't run for office?
Lets hear more about what they are going to do instaed of digging dirt.
Posted by: Sandra Grant | Sep 2, 2008 8:18:53 AM
I have been watching the panel of women and commentary on GMA, and noone has raised what I feel is the most disturbing aspect of this travesty: That Gov. Plain would put her personal ambition before protection of her daughter from such humiliating national scrutiny. No mother I know who loves her
dsughter would expose her to that. It says everything about her priorities.
Posted by: Cindy | Sep 2, 2008 8:20:15 AM
When you talk about experience and qualifications the bottom line is that Obama has NONE.
Vote McCain
Posted by: mich mike | Sep 2, 2008 8:21:16 AM
When you talk about experience and qualifications the bottom line is that Obama has NONE.
Vote McCain
Posted by: mich mike | Sep 2, 2008 8:21:18 AM
Palin's statement about "supporting her daughter's decision" is a joke. I'm pretty sure her daughter did not have the right to make any "decision" other than the one that was made. I feel sorry for her. 17 year olds getting married - I give it a couple of years at the most. At least the baby will have all the advantages of living in a well-off household, unlike most.
Posted by: counting crows | Sep 2, 2008 8:21:23 AM
Of course it matters whether the potential VP's daughter is pregnant. They are a huge example for the rest of the country. This is just one more example of how the "abstinence only" program doesn't work! If this were a Democrat the Religious Right attack dogs would be all over it. I read on line how they (RR) are saying what wonderful people they are to "keep the baby" and have the teens get married because "they're only human" and humans sin. I guess only Republican sins are forgiven -- what about Pres. Clinton's sin?
Posted by: KC | Sep 2, 2008 8:24:03 AM
isnt it odd that Sarah announced her pregnancy at 7 momths??? And she wasn't showing... but boarding planes... Also her daughter Bristol missed 5 months of school due to Mono???? Isn't it odd that with all the recent pics on the web that NOW... Sarah and McCain announce that Bristol is prego??? Wouldn't itbe odd if in a few months if Bristol had a miss-carriage???? Hmmm
If Sarah is such a good family Mother why wasn't her daugher on birth control??
Posted by: lisa | Sep 2, 2008 8:24:35 AM
I am a mom of four. My children age 10-16. I had my 16 yr. old when I was 16. I had a great devoted mother and I made my mistakes because I was human not because my mother did something wrong. Which by the way became the greatest thing in my life and made me who I am today, strong, independent and a survivor...the very defenition of America. To be honest I beleive it takes more courage and diligence to have a baby and then allow it to be aired to the public then to run for Vice President. Mom must be doing something right.
Posted by: Amy Welch | Sep 2, 2008 8:25:43 AM
Is it me but do evangelicals support pre-marital sex now????
Posted by: Nvas | Sep 2, 2008 8:26:38 AM
My biggest concern is whether this is Palins's decision for her daughter to marry and have this child or is it the daughter's decision. I feel very strongly that the daughter has the right to choose. I believe that Palin's views regarding prochoice are too extreme. I may never have an abortion personally, but I am not willing to say that women who have been raped or abused by family members should bear that child. I have worked with persons who were the products of incestuous relationships and they have never been able to overcome the trauma. Neither has the teenager who bore the child. Even if Palin's daughter wants to have the child, does she want to get married?
Posted by: Bevstew | Sep 2, 2008 8:27:20 AM
Has no one read into the fact that Palin's daughter was pulled out of school for 5 months last year? Supposedly she had "mono" but the talk on the internet is the 4 month old baby is Bristol's 1st child. Isn't it curious that no one knew the Governor was even pregnant? And suddenly she has a baby. They say she's good at keeping secrets, I'll say.
Posted by: Kelly | Sep 2, 2008 8:29:29 AM
i think that was a poor choice McCain made from the start.Palin daughter expecting at 17 years of age, i dont think this is good for people with teenagers daughters, seem like they are giving a message that this is okay.i know nobodys perfect but she should have turn this positions down.
Posted by: peaches | Sep 2, 2008 8:29:48 AM
"Sarah Palin and her church and her pastor have made themselves abundantly clear on issues of reproductive privacy -- there won't be any. In a Palin world, if my daughter wanted birth control, she wouldn't be able to get any, and if I wanted sex education to be taught in my son's school, I would be out of luck. If a girl I knew were raped and impregnated by her uncle and she elected to have an abortion, she would not be allowed to do so. She wouldn't even be allowed to take the morning after pill in case he got her pregnant. Maybe there's something you guys don't get about this. Bristol Palin's pregnancy is at the heart of what women and the right wing have been fighting over for thirty years, and it isn't abortion, it's privacy and the right to control your own reproductive choices. There will always be abortion, and there will always be choice, but Palin would like the choice to be illegal and punishable. Same with birth control.
I like you, Barack, but you don't get it either. The issues of birth control and abortion have been made into public issues by the right wing, and millions of women and girls have suffered because the right wing wants to impose its ideas of what women should do upon every woman in America including those who don't share and have never shared their values. So, Barack, I suggest that you, as a man, should do the backing off.
Bristol Palin's pregnancy, which her mother has known about for months, is at the heart of this battle. It has been shown over and over that abstinence education doesn't work, while sex education does work. Do I accept that teenagers have sex? You bet I do, and I tell the ones I have borne how to make it safe and what to watch out for and be careful of, girls and boys. Sarah Palin, for whatever reason, did not do the same thing, and yet she presumes, PRESUMES, to tell me as a mother and a woman what I can and cannot do with my body, and what I can and cannot provide for my children.
Sarah Palin has constructed her appeal to the right wing around this "social conservatism" in exactly the same way that John McCain has constructed his appeal around his aggressive foreign policy views. Both are equally political, and as political as Cheney's ideas about the unitary executive, for example. Women are citizens, too, and our privacy is a political football, and has been used as such to win elections for a generation, so I supposed you mean well, you guys who are telling me to back off, but you don't get it. So shut up."
Article - Jane Smiley author
Posted by: cds | Sep 2, 2008 8:30:59 AM
Palin's stance on sex ed and contraception is "abstinence only" OBVIOUSLY "just say no" R-E-A-L-L-Y doesn't work.
Posted by: Texas Lil | Sep 2, 2008 8:42:14 AM
Had Gov. Palin and her daughters aborted their babies, all this garbage from the left would be instead focused on calling them hypocrites for embracing abortion instead of life. No matter what, hatred of conservatives will always drive the left to criticize and try to destroy anyone who does not share their socialist beliefs.
Posted by: Joaquin B | Sep 2, 2008 8:42:16 AM
First of all, since republicans are still talking about Bill Clinton's moral failings and "BJ with Monica" then the issue of premarital sex and pregnancy is "On the block". Maybe if they had been a little more forgiving of President Clinton. After all a BJ is not grounds for impeachment. Now all of a sudden teen pregnancy out of wedlock being "inspirational and a show of family strength" and if off limits and not an issue for Vice President? What a typical Republican double standard. As a HIV/STD health educator who believes "Abstinence Only" does not work, this should mean that the above republican platform of Abstinence Only is "DEAD"!!! I have heard some republicans say how this shows that it is even more important. Give me a break. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Maybe if they had not impeached, tarred and feathered the Clintons I might be willing to give a little. The fact that the Clinton thing is still being joked and talked about is enough proof. That was a private matter too, and the Republicans would not let it go or give it up, so now I am supposed to just turn the other cheek....NO NO NO!!! While I agree that the Palin's daughter is off limits, I do not believe the topic of teen sex and pregnancy and HIV/STD's is. Comprehensive sex education is the best weapon against all three things listed. Abstinence Only is now a dead issue and should be given a proper funeral. Time to deal with the real world Republicans, and that includes talking intelligently and comprehensively about sex and disease prevention.
Posted by: dynamo | Sep 2, 2008 8:57:09 AM
The only thing positive that would come out of a McCain/Palin winning ticket would be if Palin had to take over - at least we can be assured that Palin is more intelligent than our present leader! Right??!?
Posted by: Obama 08 | Sep 2, 2008 8:59:39 AM
Rusxs:
"JHW539 you are a typical obama hussien character assin. There were 5 senators - 4 Democrats and 1 Republican. The 4 Democrats were severly censured by the senate. McCain was not even repremanded.
GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT - SHAME"
Quit lying. Both John Glenn and John McCain received the same criticism from the ethic committee for showing "poor judgment" (an admonishment as I originally said and hardly "severly censured" as you claim John Glenn was). For goodness sake, this is a matter of well reported public record. Spin all you like but reality doesn't change.
Posted by: jhw539 | Sep 2, 2008 9:21:29 AM
As typical, the media is looking for someone to focus on in this world of news. Leave the pregnancy issue to the ones who need to know, the family who deals with it. Remember the 17 year old you are displaying to the world in your news story about a subject that should be left at home. May I have a show of hands of the families in America whose teenage child has never made an error in judgment?
Posted by: too much info | Sep 2, 2008 9:23:34 AM
Abstinence Only doesn't work as proven by one of the staunchest families in the country. Is a 17 yr. old really ready to raise a family? What regrets will she have with her self-proclaimed redneck husband? Poor girl must have had a terrible upbringing.
Posted by: Just say KNOW | Sep 2, 2008 9:40:21 AM
I am an Obama supporter and I think the family should left out of it. We all have skeletons in our closets. Please give this one a rest. Who without faults cast the first stone. This has nothing too do with Obama or McCain running for President.
Posted by: Rosa | Sep 2, 2008 1:25:15 PM
I'm amazed at the ignorance & hypocrisy of the far left, conspiracy goofball Democrats in this forum.
1. Clinton's sex scandal had to do with purgery, not his daughter Chelsea. He was also the President where personal character (his, not his child's) DOES matter.
2. "Absinence only never works" - Gov. Palin is against forcing the sexualizing of our children within the PUBLIC school system. It says nothing of what is taught within the walls of the/her home where sex education can be given in a moral context. And it assumes parents, not bureaucrats, are the best source for teaching that information. Is anyone suggesting that Palin's daughter or her boyfriend didn't know how to use birth control because they didn't get the cucumber demonstration in school? Bull crap--you can't escape it in this world.
3. "Troopergate" - No one in Alaska questions the grossly unqualified nature of her former brother-in-law to be a trooper. She never had ANY personal communication with others in charge of or having influence over the trooper's employment in relation to a request that he be fired.
Some "qualifications" of Trooper Wooten, the Trooper in question:
“The record clearly indicates a serious and concentrated pattern of unacceptable and at times, illegal activity occurring over a lengthy period, which establishes a course of conduct totally at odds with the ethics of our profession,” Col. Julia Grimes, then head of Alaska State Troopers, wrote in March 1, 2006, letter suspending Wooten for 10 days. After the union protested it, the suspension was reduced to five days.
[...]
Troopers eventually investigated 13 issues and found four in which Wooten violated policy or broke the law or both:
-Wooten used a Taser on his stepson.
-He illegally shot a moose.
-He drank beer in his patrol car on one occasion.
-He told others his father-in-law would “eat a f’ing lead bullet” if he helped his daughter get an attorney for the divorce."
>>
I give Obama credit for his decency in calling the children of politicians off-limits for political gain. The media respected the request completely for Chelsea Clinton. The pro-Obama comments justifying such egregious conduct merely reveals their indecency in the matter. The politics of personal destruction has been a specialty of the far Left.
Posted by: Independent | Sep 3, 2008 1:44:54 AM
Oh Really on the day of her VP Announcement....
Obama & Biden were in a Small town in Ohio of 18,000 people and 15,000 the next day !!!
------------
Why is'nt there been any Gains by Mccain, with this Big Farce called sarah palin
--------
The the Illegitimate Baby has really come back to haunt the UnVetted Palin and it will soon Expose Mccain as a Reckless Gambler...
Watch the chirade with that 17 yr Old proposing on stage to Palin's daughter.
The ratings are not going to be like last weeks DNC Convention.
Michelle Obama: 22 Million
Hillary Clinton: 25 Million
Bill Clinton: 25 Million
Barack Obama: 38 Million & 80,000 In Attendance !!! ---------
Alaska is a very Corrupt place and sarah Palin is just as Corrupt
Posted by: o. | Sep 3, 2008 2:20:15 AM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/palin-partys-founder-ive_b_123193.html
Sarah Palin Supports an Organization and was a Member of an Alaskan Seccessionist group, that wants to Sever TIES with America and Alaska be it's own Sovereign Nation.
She's Seen in the Video Congratulating the Organization and on it's Objectives, as well as Supporting them !!!
Those Alaskans Actually think that because we are Preoccupied with other In State issues, that they are their own !!
Sarah Palin is a Danger, she's Alaska 1st as Joe Lieberman is Jeruselem 1st and America 2nd !!
-------------------------
Sarah Palin addressing Alaska Independence Party convention
The words of founder Joe Vogler are proudly displayed on the Alaska Independence Party's website (at least as of this writing): "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America and her damned institutions."
Given that one of America's "damned institutions" is the Department of Defense, this raises a few questions about Gov. Palin's strength on national security issues.
In covering Sarah Palin's reported membership in this extremist party (see update), Jake Tapper quotes its current leader as saying that Sarah Palin is "a fine individual. She's forthright and she puts Alaska first."
She puts Alaska first. There's an endorsement to remember.
And in case we think her past association in this party was just some youthful indiscretion, she addressed them by video hookup earlier this year.
In the video shown above Palin says she is "delighted" to be addressing the group, that the party "plays an important role," and wishes them "good luck on a successful and inspiring convention."
The Alaska Independence Party wants to open all Federal lands (like state parks) to private ownership - presumably by the people who live nearby. It also wants to abolish all property taxes. It has a few other pretty extreme views, too.
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Posted by: o. | Sep 3, 2008 2:21:16 AM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/31/alaska-national-guard-gen_n_122860.html
NOTE: Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, considers Palin "extremely responsive and smart" and says she is in charge when it comes to in-state services, such as emergencies and natural disasters where the National Guard is the first responder.
NOTE: But, in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, he said he and Palin play NO ROLE IN NATIONAL DEFENSE ACTIVITIES, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard.
The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations.
Stephen C. Donehoo, managing director of Kissinger McLarty Associates in Washington, and former military intelligence officer specializing in Latin America:
"No doubt the campaign staff have her hooked up to a fire hose on foreign policy issues," said Stephen C. Donehoo, managing director of Kissinger McLarty Associates in Washington and a former military intelligence officer.
"No doubt they fear a debate with Joe Biden that touches foreign affairs," Donehoo said. "My guess is Graham and (Joe) Lieberman are doing a lot of tutoring."
Republican Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota appears to have no such worries, given what he considers to be Obama's lack of experience.
"The president sets the tone," Coleman said. "The experience issue is on the other side. The No. 1 guy there is the guy without the experience."
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Contributing to this report were AP writers Tom Raum, Jim Kuhnhenn, Glen Johnson and Nestor Ikeda in St. Paul and Anne Sutton in Juneau, Alaska.
Posted by: o. | Sep 3, 2008 2:22:42 AM
So, blame the media for all the choices and judgments made by Palin and McCain. That's the sign of good leadership. If she had just said, "NO" to McCain, we would not be having this debate. If she had taught her daughter to say no, if her boyfriend was in jail for statutory rape, and if McCain wasn't just using women, we would not be having this debate. And, does this now mean that teenage age girls now have a legitimate argument for getting pregnant? If it is O. K. for the governor's daughter . . . .
Posted by: cheguapa | Sep 3, 2008 3:53:57 PM
Republican (dysfunctional) family values.
I tried to watch & listen to the Palin speech tonight, but had to turn it off and watch the Daily Show.
Palin is cute but if you only hear her voice it sounds like a teenager.
She is a whirling dervish that just spins and spins the Republican line and then if she is (rightfully) criticized for her poor choices blames the media.
Typical right wing Republican.
Posted by: findlayway | Sep 3, 2008 11:47:28 PM
I just hope the media doesn't wimp out like they did in '04 when the Republicans whined about media bias.
They backed off of some hard investigative reporting just to appease the Republicans.
Posted by: findlayway | Sep 3, 2008 11:52:25 PM
The Republicans are NOT tough on Terrrorism so stop using Bush scare tactics.
FACT: Bin Laden is still at large after 7 years...7 years...HINT: he's in an Afghan cave and not in Iraq
FACT: The Taliban, the real terrorists, are gaining strength again in Afghanistan
Posted by: Roger | Sep 4, 2008 1:52:23 PM
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