Dobson on Bristol Palin's Pregnancy

Today, as I stood in the halls of the high school where I work, I could not help but think of Palin's irresponsible position on reproductive education. Bristol and Levi are too young to understand either marriage or parenthood. Both of them stand to compromise their educational goals. I would consider Bristol's pregnancy to be off limits if Governor Palin were not taking a public policy stand on both sex education and a woman's right to choose. How dare Palin impose her beliefs on others when her own daughter has proven that abstinence education is ineffective, even in homes where it is empahsized.

Having been a teenager and the parent of a teenage boy I can honestly say that even if you are taught abstinence and have been in the church learning that pre-marital sex is wrong it doesn't mean that you will refrain from having pre-marital sex. I think that if this was Senator Obama's daughter that Dr. Dobson would make the same comments. I have sat under numerous Pastor's and they all preach about the mother staying home with their children. They should be your priority, I agree with that, but only if it is possible. Most families today can not survive on two incomes let alone one. Should we use welfare to pay for our children? Is that a good message to send to our children? Mom can work and help support the family, but she doesn't so that she can stay home with you and you can suffer without being able to go on field trips and getting shoes when you grow out of them. I think those of you who are taking aim at this woman are being self-righteous and double minded. Why aren't you questioning "how much time will Obama be able to give to his wife and children", "will he be there when his girls need Daddy's attention?" "Did Chelsea Clinton get enough attention from her mom when they were campaingin and once Bill was President?"
Sarah Palin is supporting her daughter's decicion to marry and bring a life into this world instead of aborting it. You don't know what went on in their household, or the conversations that were held in regard to this situation. Speak only on what you personally know about and in this you know nothing other than a 17 year-old girl made an error in judgement and is doing what she must to deal with the consequences.

guys, are you all aware that no matter how much sarah palin is criticised for putting politics before family, or as the rumours say, forcing Bristol and Levi to marry, it's going to happen okay? she's going to remain active in politics, Bristol will marry Levi, and they'll just have their own sappy happily ever after. teens will keep having sex, and we will keep blaming it on lack-of-sex ed.

Did we attack Hillary when she was a working mother with Chelsea? Quit trying to pin us with the scarlet letter.

I challenge Dr. James Dobson to defend his support of Sarah Palin as the VP candidate in light of the years he has spent heaping guilt on mothers who work. His hypocrisy is astounding, disgusting, and further evidence that the altar at which he worships is that of his own political agenda.

I would be willing to bet a very large amount of money that, were we talking about a democratic candidate, Dobson would decry her lack of family values.

I am not a fan of Sarah Palin's politics. However, I would not presume to judge her decisions as a mother. We do now know her; we do not know her children; and we should all stop talking about that part of her life. Let's educate ourselves on the issues and make our choices, and our comments, accordingly.

I am an abstinence instructor in Ohio. I think there are a lot of misconseptions about these programs. What we teach them are the risks involved in sex outside of marriage - such as STDs, damaged relationships, pregnancies, broken hearts, etc. These kids already know what condoms are... what they need to learn is that it is okay to say NO, in spite of what the media teaches, in spite of peer pressure. We have seen a reduction in teen pregnancies and abortions in schools where such programs are offered. But, just because we teach teens about abstinence, does not mean they are going to go along with it. As with any direction you give a child, ultimately they will make their own decisions. All we can do is give them positive direction and love them no matter what they do. I believe we can see that in Dobson's comments as well as Palin's response to her daughter. Why is it that liberals love to put the scarlet letter on conservatives but get angry if we tell them they've done something wrong?

I am an abstinence instructor in Ohio. I think there are a lot of misconseptions about these programs. What we teach them are the risks involved in sex outside of marriage - such as STDs, damaged relationships, pregnancies, broken hearts, etc. These kids already know what condoms are... what they need to learn is that it is okay to say NO, in spite of what the media teaches, in spite of peer pressure. We have seen a reduction in teen pregnancies and abortions in schools where such programs are offered. But, just because we teach teens about abstinence, does not mean they are going to go along with it. As with any direction you give a child, ultimately they will make their own decisions. All we can do is give them positive direction and love them no matter what they do. I believe we can see that in Dobson's comments as well as Palin's response to her daughter. Why is it that liberals love to put the scarlet letter on conservatives but get angry if we tell them they've done something wrong?

Funny that Dobson didn't offer the same forgiveness to Bill Clinton or John Edwards.

Maybe if Sarah Palin wasn't so busy ignoring her family, she would've used the family shotgun to scare off the amorous advances of the high-school jock on her fifteen-year old daughter before things went too far, rather than using the shotgun to force a wedding after-the-fact.

RE:

BJ - Real Concern | Sep 2, 2008 9:23:43 PM

AMEN!!!!!

Bristol has been a casualty of her mother's political ambition and failure of wisdom...

Although I am a Christian conservative myself, I find Palin's decision to run for VP astounding. I am shocked that so many conservative Christians are backing her. Aren't these (and I'm one of them) the same people that say God and family come first? How much time will she possibly be able to devote to her 5 children (and one is an infant) if McCain is elected? I'm surprised more people aren't voicing this opinion.

"There's nothing glamorous or fun about being an unwed teen mother."

--Bill Maier. Vice President of Focus On The Family, regarding Jamie-Lynn Spears' pregnancy.

Suddenly seems pretty glamorous to the evangelicals. I wonder why.

I am appalled that Dr. Dobson did not speak out about the Palin daughter being made a national spectacle for the sake of the Republican Party. Essentially, her mother and John McCain (because he knew before hand of her pregnancy) are causing her to sacrifice her privacy, dignity and self-respect just to have Governor Palin run on the Republican ticket. This does not show Christian concern for, or sensitivity to, the situation the young lady is in. It would have shown far more concern and support if Governor Palin would have declined the VP offer because of her daughter’s condition. Real honest to God support and concern would have been to say no to the VP offer. All the talk about family support and that we all make mistakes appear to be an attempt to justify the decision to accept the VP offer.
I am writing these comments because no one else seems to have the young lady’s well being at heart. I am also writing to you Dr. Dobson because you are in a position to address this issue from a true “Focus- On- The- Family” position. I realize that some time we can get so caught up in all the drama that we loose our bearing. My purpose here is to bring us back to the real issue.

Doesn't it seem a bit ironic that the liberal candidate has the stay-at-home mother who home schools, and the family values candidate has the VP who works, has a child out of wedlock and a daughter with one too????

Thankfully, the pregnancy issue will surely pass from our consciousness as quickly as it arrived. The debate can then return to the more pressing issues of oil independence, the economy, and our role as leaders in the Twenty-first Century.

What would Dobson have said if Palin had been a Democrat and had been Obama's choice for VP?

I under no means think that the Palin's daughters pregnancy should be taken into consideration when one is determing whom they will vote for.

I do think that she it is great that she is keeping the baby. I am glad her parents are supporting her.

If we are not to have the family involved then why is the situation being used to further the agenda of the pro-life. I don't think that they should have all the praise and adoration that is being released, but I don't think the family should be hung out to dry for a personal matter.

This leads me to the next statement even if we try to strip the the family from the picture it is not going to happen the information is already out and it is fair game.

Who cares what James Dobson thinks or says?

Let's get some real news from someone that matters. That right there scratches Dobson off the list.

i absolutly LOVE what Dr Dobson had to say about this! He said exactly what i have been trying to put into words! i think this is a perfect example of the fact that palin is not just going to talk the talk. she is going to walk the walk. i do not feel like this is going to interfere with her having the responsibility of VP. and i certainly do not feel like her daughters bad choices reflect her values. you can teach your children all the good you can but you can not force them. im proud of her!
McCain/Palin 08!

The right wing nuts can't control unwanted or out of wedlock pregnancies they will rewrite family values i.e it's ok to have premarital sex and get pregnant as long as you keep the baby .

I usually do not write on blogs, but the comments here truly astound me. Where do you people come from? This young girl made a mistake - get over it, her parents are handling it just fine. Don't bother commenting about abstinence or birth control - it doesn't matter which programs - kids make mistakes. I've worked with kids so I know.

Then we have Hollywood putting out violence, sex and drugs! That's what you should be complaining about and loudly. Some people have things happen and everyone sees, however, there are "sins" of the heart that people don't see, but God does. I for one will not attack Sarah Palin or her daughter. Some of the comments here are so distasteful and ugly. I have a friend (actually of a friend) who lives in Alaska in the same area as Sarah Palin and knows her. She tells my friend that Sarah Palin is an outstanding woman including being a mother. I'm sure all those crooks she got rid of are now after her 'hook line and sinker' - think about it. The media falls for just about anything that makes headlines. They should be ashamed of what they are doing to Palin's daughter and her boy friend. LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE!

I think I will vote for McCain/Pallin. I would have preferred Hillary to Obama. I just can't get past those 20 years going to that church with his family and listening to all that hate.