Obama To Media: "Back Off" Palin Pregnancy

ABC News:

At a brief press availability in Monroe, Mich., ABC News asked Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., if he had any response to Gov. Sarah Palin's statement that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter Bristol is pregnant.

"Let me be a clear as possible: I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people's families are off limits," Obama said, "and people's children are especially off limits.

"This shouldn't be part of our politics," he continued, "It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor, or her potential performance as a vice president.

"And so I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories," he said. "You know my mother had me when she was 18, and how a family deals with issues and, you know, 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."

Read the whole story: ABC News

Comments

[genia]

I adore Obama...he­'s so upfront, honest. Oh...what a good thing it would be for this country if he were to be elected.
For me personally­.....I don't care about who's pregnant and who gave birth to that precious baby....I do care about honesty and character.
For me personally I want to know if this woman is an opportunis­t......I have this feeling...­this little voice inside of me ..telling me there is something hidden behind those perfect white bonded teeth and the winning smile. I have a feeling that Palin will have no problem deceiving us.
But Barack is right....w­e as Democrats.­..as Obama supporters do not want to attack families.

[retspan11]

"I have a feeling that Palin will have no problem deceiving us."

Well, she's entitled to use whatever strengths (or talent) she has. She is a Republican, after all.

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Barack Obama supporters --- this is our time to do as Obama states. Also, Arianna H. just stated the same thing on C-SPAN. Let's focus now on all the issues regarding how she will lead.

[thankulord13]

I totally agree... this stuff has to stop!

[browncupid]

I understand that people who are in the public eye like Obama and Arianna can not be apart of this discussion but, this is a legitimate conversation that we are trying to have. I don't get the impression from anyone that they are happy that this GIRL will have to go through all of this. I also think that WE not THEM should question the things that are going on with someone who could likely be in complete control of our lives. We can't be shamed into dropping this discussion like people were at the time BEFORE the war. If someone had only asked a few more questions, this whole world would be different. So while I am in agreement that we should not denegrate this young girl, weshould be able to ask her mother (without being the bad guy) why she would humilate her daughter in this fashion? I'm just saying!

[hmmmmmer]

I agree, it is Palin's and McCain's judgment that matters here and good lord is it about as wacked as it gets.

[spankies space]

I agree. I just don't think Gov. Palin is ready for this task, being Vice President of the USA. There are just too many issues that we have to focus on. This takes us all away from the bigger picture.

[Bademus]

You are 100% right. And also focus on McCain's judgment and how he obviously made this decision by the seat of his pants. Ms. Palin could be our C in C as early as sometime next year. Now who would rather win an election and risk our troops?

[thegreatgiginthesky]

There is advertised compassion and there is actually compassion - this is the latter.

[brabra]

Well fair is fair...he respects Palin's family and the Republican party respects Michelle. The Republican party has done it's best to try to damage Michelle, and this has never been fair.

[ThePeacemakers]

And what is John McCain saying these days?
Mission accomplished if things don't change and focus turns away from who's on top of the GOP ticket.

[mabinog]

fluffy kittens and cute puppies

[mabinog]

Anyone have a link to where mc has asked the media or anyone on the right to do the same and lay off the opponents family?

Anyone?

[takingbkourcountry]

i'm waiting also......­...whistle­s

[genia]

I adore Obama...he­'s so upfront, honest. Oh...what a good thing it would be for this country if he were to be elected.

For me personally­.....I don't care about who's pregnant and who gave birth to that precious baby....I do care about honesty and character.
For me personally I want to know if this woman is an opportunis­t......I have this feeling...­this little voice inside of me ..telling me there is something hidden behind those perfect white bonded teeth and the winning smile. I have a feeling that Palin will have no problem deceiving us.
But Barack is right....w­e as Democrats.­..as Obama supporters do not want to attack families.

[SouthpawSass]

Bill Bennett on CNN kept saying that the conversation of abstinence education and Palin's daughter should not be mentioned in the same sentence..­.

He quoted Obama with the whole lay off the family thing, and said that whatever Obama's "motive" was for saying what he said, we should listen to him.

His motive? And what would that be, Bill?

HuffPo, you have to get the video of Bennett going haywire. It was just on about 30 minutes ago.

[evekendall]

Obama's "motive" was decency.

[jeplanet]

0-bama extended a caring and compassion that she would certainly NOT have given him.
Proud of him, as always.

[SouthpawSass]

Oh, forgot to mention that Bennet claims if they should teach anything at all in schools, it should be abstinence only education.­..

[ThePeacemakers]

I agree with Obama to a certain extent.
But is Gov. Palin's support for abstinence only education in schools off limits?
And how a schools education programs such as those can affect funding?

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

Um.....did anyone bother explaining to the Grand Old Party what "vetting" means? That you're supposed to look everywhere, anywhere for any weird skeletons that may be hiding in closets near and far?

[SouthpawSass]

Anybody see Bennet of CNN go off on Blitzer when the woman reporting from Ankorage had the audacity to mention those who would bring up the idea that abstinence does not work, while Palin was big on preaching it...

Bennet was pissed!

[WillfromSF]

Obama has always been a class act unlike his competition throughout the primaries and now.