09/02/2008
Sarah Palin: Experience vs Pregnancy vs the Female Vote vs the GOP
A note to all from Alaskan housewife Anne Kilkenny: "So many people have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . ."
"Sarah Palin admitted yesterday her "beautiful daughter" Bristol was five months pregnant and would marry Levi. The baby is due in late December"....Self-described "f---in' redneck" Levi Johnston is baby's father...
McCain's lousy record on teen pregnancy: "Republican John McCain, whose running mate disclosed that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, has opposed proposals to spend federal money on teen-pregnancy prevention programs and voted to require poor teen mothers to stay in school or lose their benefits."
Washington Post's Sally Quinn: "McCain claims he knew about the pregnancy, and was not at all concerned. Why not? Not only do we have a woman with five children, including an infant with special needs, but a woman whose 17-year-old child will need her even more in the coming months. Not to mention the grandchild. This would inevitably be an enormous distraction for a new vice president (or president) in a time of global turmoil. Not only in terms of her job, but from a media standpoint as well. McCain's cynical choice has created a dilemma for many women. For still-angry Hillary Clinton voters, they will have to decide if they want to vote against their concscience and political interests by voting to elect a Republican woman who's even more conservative than McCain."
POLITICO: New Palin details may help...
Baltimore Sun columnist: "So this is what being pandered to feels like..."
Palin sets off mommy wars: "When Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska was introduced as a vice-presidential pick, she was presented as a magnet for female voters, the epitome of everymom appeal. But since then, as mothers across the country supervise the season’s final water fights and pack book bags, some have voiced the kind of doubts that few male pundits have dared raise on television. With five children, including an infant with Down syndrome and, as the country learned Monday, a pregnant 17-year-old, Ms. Palin has set off a fierce argument among women about whether there are enough hours in the day for her to take on the vice presidency, and whether she is right to try.
DailyKos: Palin candidacy 'Death Watch'...
Obama on Palin 'experience': "My understanding is that Gov. Palin’s town, Wassilla, has I think 50 employees. We've got 2500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe 12 million dollars a year – we have a budget of about three times that just for the month...Our ability to manage large systems and to execute I think has been made clear over the past couple of years and certainly in terms of the legislation I’ve passed in the past couple of years, post-Katrina."
Obama: Palin's family off-limits. "Let me be as clear as possible. I think people's families are off-limits, and people's children are especially off-limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor or her potential performance as a vice president. How a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn't be the topic of our politics, and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that's off-limits."
Republicans try to brush off pregnancy "tempest" at Convention: "Finally, Cindy McCain walked onstage Monday night in a yellow dress that looked like a rain slicker, to something of a hero's welcome from the crowd. (Her daughters, Meghan and Bridget, and her mother-in-law, Roberta McCain, watched from the VIP box just off the floor.) 'As John has been saying for the last several days,' McCain said, 'this is a time when we take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats.' It's an odd line for a party that claims to have the market cornered on patriotism; if they're not Americans when they're being Republicans, what are they? But if things work the way the McCain campaign hopes, the public will forget that Obama asked the 5 million-plus people on his own campaign's e-mail list to send money to the Gulf (and redirected his Web site's donation pages to the Red Cross)."
John McCain turns on the media, his onetime "base": " As the relationship has deteriorated, McCain has stopped hosting his once-famous 'straight talk' get-togethers on his campaign plane. He also has abandoned regular press conferences. Instead, he stops occasionally to read short written statements in front of cameras, like he did Aug. 31 in Jackson, Mississippi; then walks away from questions shouted by reporters. His campaign plane is custom configured with a lounge area designed for hosting question-and-answer sessions with the press. McCain inaugurated the lounge on one of the plane's first flights and hasn't used it since."
Posted 11:42 AM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Election 2008, John McCain, News, Republican Party, Sarah Palin | Permalink
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This can't be true. The Republicans are f...king hilarious this year. Oh, my God.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Sep 2, 2008 11:52:49 AM
Ok -- President Palin is pretty ridiculous, but gotta admit Levi is a some hot white-trash jock trade
Posted by: nick | Sep 2, 2008 11:54:40 AM
2006 Gubernatorial Candidate Questionnaire
3. Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?
Sarah Palin: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.
http://eagleforumalaska.blogspot.com/2006/07/2006-gubernatorial-candidate.html
Posted by: John C | Sep 2, 2008 12:07:43 PM
I think this clearly illuminates the fact that faith based abstinance programs DO NOT WORK and funding for sex ed, pregnancy prevention programs and in school condom distribution should be increased and not cut like the Republicans have a history of.
I just looooove this shit.
Posted by: Derek | Sep 2, 2008 12:09:45 PM
With gay boys coming out in High School now, this highlights the need for AIDS education in school. Every candidate should be asked about that, though it is more of a state issue than federal.
Posted by: anon | Sep 2, 2008 12:14:38 PM
My respect for President Barack Obama only grows. He is so classy. I am glad that he said Palin's family and daughter is off-limits. I expected him to act in this manner. I am glad he continues to be a man of great integrity.
Posted by: Ty A. Allison | Sep 2, 2008 12:16:03 PM
while i find little redeeming about palin, two things puzzle me. one, if this was either obama's or biden's daughter the christian right would be screaming it's head off about the lack of morality and supervision at home. were is this outrage, a double standard? secondly, why is the left doing the moaning, groaning, complaining about palin not staying at home to care for her family. i thought it was one of their key points on the rights of a woman to have both a family and a career. is it because she does not march lock, stock and barrel with their views? another double standard? of course not.
Posted by: titus | Sep 2, 2008 12:17:00 PM
Hmmm...
Cindy McSame's mother and daughters (who knew she had kids?) were just "watching" from the VIP box? Not cheering wildly? Not even applauding? Just "watching..."
>Yawn<
Posted by: MikeinSanJose | Sep 2, 2008 12:17:16 PM
Hmmm...
Cindy McSame's mother and daughters (who knew she had kids?) were just "watching" from the VIP box? Not cheering wildly? Not even applauding? Just "watching..."
>Yawn<
Posted by: MikeinSanJose | Sep 2, 2008 12:18:02 PM
Derrick From Philly: your comment is so lame. Go back to watching that gay tv channel and let people with real thoughts comment.
Posted by: me | Sep 2, 2008 12:18:26 PM
ah i've just returned from a fabulous weekend in palm springs, my husband surprised me with this treat-- he's such a dear.. so i was off the internet all weekend and come back to find all this scandal about la palin and yet don't ask me why but i still like her and feel she is a tough cookie and will emerged unscathed... i still say we will have a republican president no matter what... we shall see... toodles, dahlings...
Posted by: the queen | Sep 2, 2008 12:20:58 PM
Smart move by Obama for his "family is off-limits" stance. No doubt he realizes that take the higher road and letting this all play out by itself he'll come up smelling like a rose. Diplomatic and savvy...traits I like to see in my presidential candidate.
I think that arguments about her ability to do a job and raise a family should be off-limits, even though she's opened the door with her anti-feminist stance.
Posted by: Mark in NYC | Sep 2, 2008 12:22:19 PM
Whow this is Andy again, Right? I'm askign because it is properly posted....and seems he came back with a vengeance...lol
Well, I'm glad palin is with McCain because now the eyes are on them and it isn't pretty....I feel for Bristol, though. I know we are talking about her...but the fact it isnt about her it is about the candidates and their policies...hipocrites!~
IF it had been a democrat...they weren't be as nice as they are to the palins.
SOOO....nothing off the table! SORRY bristol....but I'm sure in your heart you knew this was coming soon or later...is this her 2nd child, then?
Posted by: Bosie | Sep 2, 2008 12:23:08 PM
@Nick
LOL. Simmer down boy. Levi's hot, indeed, and who doesn't love chewing on some frozen mulleted foreskin. But unless you're a NAMBLA member, you might wait a few more months.
Sarah Palin might be into the "old enough to bleed, old enough to breed (and marry)" philosophy, but that dog just don't hunt in normal Amuricah.
Posted by: MikeinSanJose | Sep 2, 2008 12:26:10 PM
In a sane world, wouldn't this event mark the official death of the abstinence-only education movement?
Posted by: paul | Sep 2, 2008 12:38:17 PM
Let's not forget Obama was an "oops" when his mom went slutty and let the man put in more than "just the tip"
Posted by: obama no daddy | Sep 2, 2008 12:39:24 PM
"A Republican president" ? Queen, please. And as for Anon, Anon are you saying or implying that STRAIGHT boys don't get AIDS?
Posted by: SONNIE | Sep 2, 2008 12:50:10 PM
"...let people with real thoughts comment."
OK, what you want to talk about? Abstinence for right-wing Republicans' kids?
"go back to watching that gay tv channel"
Oh, no, darlin', I'm too busy enjoying this "John McCain & the Republicans meet Jerry Springer" TV channel.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Sep 2, 2008 12:52:01 PM
I think like Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter, Governor Palin's unwed, teenage daughter's (second?) pregnancy is a private matter.
Posted by: John | Sep 2, 2008 1:06:07 PM
I know many of you idealists like to see Obama as being above all this by not commenting on the pregnancy. If the roles were reversed frankly I would see McCain doing the same thing. First, this is a political minefield of huge proportions.
At the crux all of you want to see this as some sort of proof that abstinence only education doesn't (which frankly I agree with you). Obama doesn't need to comment because plenty of other people will do it for him. The same tactics the right would use as well by having other "mouthpieces" do the dirty work. However there are some really much more deeper themes that could be brought out and cause many more problems if Obama were to jump in.
Such as, it could be pointed out that Ms. Palin, like her mother, would never think to terminate a pregnancy. Where if this were Chelsea Clinton, mama would have dragged her down to planned parenthood and had those cells sucked right out of her. So now abortion would be on the table and frankly the last thing EITHER side wants is to spend the next two months rehashing issues with Roe V. Wade.
The age of consent in Alaska is 16. There were no laws broken here either. So the statuatory rape whistle can't be blown either.
So what's left with all of this? Her daughter slept with someone and there is a baby and they are getting married. The father is stepping up and taking responsibility for his actions, the whole family is supporting the girl, and there is no governmental support being given (such as WIC or Welfare).
As much as most of you would love to beat the drum and say shame on you Sarah Palin for raising a slutty daughter you should have been a better mother. The reality of the situation is that this girl is taking a responsible route and not asking for a hand out...if more people took this route the "gimme gimme" people who look to Santa Obama for more presents would not be such a big voting bloc for the Democrats.
Posted by: Las Vegas | Sep 2, 2008 1:08:16 PM
I think the Daily KOS has nailed it; Palin is only on the ticket to make women think "Oh, McCain is progressive", then she will drop out before the nomination. She is to McCain what Harriet Meyers was to Bush. I just cannot see any momentum for her developing as the stories, the FACTS filtering through the media, are just too horrific for even the smug and hypocritical GOP to rally behind.
She'll be gone before the week is over.
Though the thought of having Levi being in the spot light... Mmmmm....
Rad
Posted by: Rad | Sep 2, 2008 1:11:14 PM
Political mess aside...
Hockey HAWT!
Posted by: Andy | Sep 2, 2008 1:28:42 PM
Rad
If you think this is going to knock her off the ticket then you are living in a dream world.
Ms. Palin has done the one thing that McCain could not. Energize the Republican base. Even with the daughter issue this has given the COnservative base a reason to smile again.
So here is a sample of what will probaby be said about this issue through Conservative radio and media.
One of the reasons Ms. Palin is pregnant is a direct result on the attack on the family by the liberals. The constant drum beat of liberal teachers in school and he media to have sex and be free has taken it's toll on this Conservative family. Certainly by removing a moral basis in education, perpetuated by the liberal NEA, children now have to be subjected to a value system that is not matching what they are getting at home and/or church.
This is not something to take Sarah Palin down. This will be spun into a battle cry that liberals are ruining the children of America.
I've been waiting for something like this for weeks to happen and get the Conservatives going. If the Conservative base gets it's steam up and going then Obama is in for a rough ride and a tough fight.
Posted by: Las Vegas | Sep 2, 2008 1:29:44 PM
How come liberals end up being the most sexist (see Sarah Palin attacks) and most racist (see Condoleeza Rice attacks) in politics?
Have we forgotten what we are fighting for? Hit Palin hard on inexperience but leave her fucking family alone.
I need to take a shower.
Posted by: Thorsen | Sep 2, 2008 1:34:07 PM
No we haven't forgotten what we're fighting for -- THE END OF THE LIKES OF YOU!!!!
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Sep 2, 2008 2:01:43 PM