Just Askin'…

You know what, I am getting quite peeved by this notion that someone who is running for President or VP is entitled to privacy. Especially in the case of Palin where no one knows her. There should be no expectancy of privacy when you're running for the highest office in the nation, or when you are 1 John McCain heartbeat away from that high office.

What is supposed to happen here? Sarah Palin is to be presented to us (the public) on a silver platter, and we should nod our heads silently in agreement and not ask questions? I am not sheep. I actually like thinking for myself, so I will continue to ask questions about this woman who is literally been shoved in my face 4 days ago via the media.

I am not attacking the woman's daughter because she is pregnant - and I don't get a sense that is what others are doing on the blogs. However, I am questioning Sarah Palin's judgment - and for that matter - John McCain's judgment. It is obvious that McCain did not vet Palin, and so it seems as if it's us bloggers doing the vetting that should have occurred a long time ago.

No one talked about privacy when Barack Obama was being assailed (and still is) by right-wingers on everything from his religion to his various political views, but everytime McCain is questioned about anything, they wanna claim privacy?

If he announced that she was going to marry the father and the family would help the mraise the child together, I think it would dispel a most of any negative response that occurred.

What would happen if McCain was friends with terrorists, racists, and criminals like Obama is? Just askin'.

Anna,

can you spell Keating 5?

There's a stereotype of blacks having an epidemic of unwed teenage pregnancies (and the stereotype is based on the fact that blacks do have a higher rate of that). Because of that, the GOP *and* the mainstream media would talk about this story 24/7 on cable news, ripping Obama to shreds, it would drown out everything else and Obama's campaign would be finished. None of you can honestly deny it, either.

Of course, the same would've happened had Obama confused Shiite with Sunni, Somalia with Sudan, Czech Republic with Czechoslovakia, the Anbar Awakening vs Surge timeline, or had talked of a non-existent Iraq-Pakistan border. McCain did all of the above within the span of a month, which should've put an end to his so-called foreign policy credentials. But the media gave him a pass on ALL of it. If Obama had done even ONE of those gaffes, cable news would've gone into 24/7 loop mode and torpedoed his campaign. The media sucks.

Is this a trick question? Come on, we all know what the right and Dobson would be saying about the Obama family?

Hint: their responses would not include phrases such "wonderful supportive family" or "good family values"

"What would happen if McCain was friends with terrorists, racists, and criminals like Obama is? Just askin'."

Anna have you looked at teh bush administration in the last 4 years?

Sarah Palin's family values and affairs surely are the business of the American people. This is a person that needs to be focused and ready to handle the people's business despite what's happening in her world and right now she needs to focus elsewhere. Taking care of an infant child with Down's and a pregnant teen is taxing and requires alot of a Mother's time and attention. Palin should never have put her daughter in the position she has. She's a selfish opportunist if you ask me. She should remove herself and go back to Alaska to attend to her family issues. Her daughter needs her mother right now.

his polls will go up because people will identify with it..this is not something a parent wish for and all you can do is sympathies with the parent.

Palin handled it with grace so more power to her.

Ruth: I think if Obama's daughter was pregnant out of wedlock Palin would advise her to keep the baby because she is pro-life. Plus, I don't think she would discuss it. Obama said the right thing. Its personal and private and he doesn't want to discuss it. I am not an Obama Fan but it was great of Obama to say what he said. And he didn't have to say that. Young girls are getting pregnant every day of the week, some are killing them others are thowing them in the weeds or garbage so its a blessing that Bristol's mother is pro-life. Teenage pregnancy is nothing new. Just watch the Maury show. Only most of them don't know who the father is and a lot of them have gone to bed with several men.

Easy...Obama's supporters would call the media racist for asking about it.

Poor judgement.

"Obama would make an excuse how society failed his daughter. Not take responsibility as a father. Blame the society."

That's nice wingnut talking points, except the facts are Obama has taken complete responsibility for his children. He's better educated than you, he's richer than you and I'll bet he's better looking, too. I'll also bet he started lower on the ladder than you.

Exactly.

"Ellen705 i agree parents should be responsible for their children-so how could obama raise/baptize his young impressionable children in the wright church."

Probably the same way Republican hero Mitt Romney could raise his children in the Mormon Church. The Mormon Church whose founding prophet, Joseph Smith, taught that blacks are not human.

Jake, you know the answer to your question.

How old is Levi (who should have kept his pants zipped)? Is statutory rape involved? I think voters have a right to know.

Given all we know about Palin, I don't think it was irresponsible for her to accept the VP slot, since every candidate has a family and has had to make certain sacrifices to make it work. That's not unlike any parent in the U.S. who has to juggle home and work life. JFK had two little kids running around the Oval Office, and no one asked whether his duties as a father interfered with his ability to govern.

What WAS irresponsible is for Palin to violate her 17-year-old daughter's privacy in order to dispel a rumor. Sarah Palin should have released Trig's birth certificate or her own medical records and kept the focus on herself. By issuing this statement, she made Bristol fair game for the mainstream media. Very stupid, very irresponsible.

Great question, Jake. They would be the instant and relentless victim of a "high tech lynching" at the hands of the media. Ditto if Obama had offered up Michelle at a biker rally to be in their topless beauty pageant. Or was carrying huge monthly balances on their American Express. Or had so many homes they lost count. Or if Michelle had had a drug problem and was caught stealing. And on and on.

Palin's family problems are not our problems. The following are Palin's problems as well as ours:

- She has been governor of a state ranking 47th in population for twenty months.
- She chaired a 527 for the King of Corruption.
- She was for the "bridge to nowhere" (while she was running for Governor) before she was against it.
- She fired the top public safety employees in "Moose Jaw" because they supported her opponent.
- She is the subject of a legislative investigation into unethical conduct for another firing.
- A leading Alaskan Republican State Senator says she's not qualified.
- She says she "hasn't paid attention to Iraq" and that it was a "war for oil."

McCain's judgment on this one has been about as good as his judgment on Iraq and Afghanistan. What an idiot. It says a good deal on his views on women that he seems to have a "thing" for former "beauty queens."

While (I hope) most Americans would applaud Bristol's decision, and I hope she also had a CHOICE in this decision, I feel sorry for her. There is no reason she should be drawn into this media circus. Gov. Palin is obviously more focused on her career than her family. It's one thing for her to put in long days away from her family on the campaign trail---but they need her right now---fourt month old Down Syndrome child, seventeen year old pregnant daughter. What's wrong with "Thanks Senator McCain, I'm flattered, but right now my family needs me." ??

Listen to Joe Biden's quote the day he became a US Senator contemplating whether or not he should take the job.
To me, one screams "family values" and the other seems very selfish.