Palin's Daughter Pregnant, Campaign Announces

Sarah Palin's 17-year-old , unmarried daughter is five months pregnant, the campaign has announced. Hoping to quell internet rumors about about her youngest son, Palin released the news about her daughter Bristol earlier today.

A statement released by the campaign said that Bristol Palin will keep her baby and marry the child's father. Bristol Palin is five months pregnant, and the baby is due in late December.

"Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents," Sarah and Todd Palin said in the brief statement.

"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family," they added.

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Fighting rumors, Palin mislead the press about the pregnancy as late as Saturday. Editor and Publisher has the story.

When news broke, it had not yet been reported by her home state papers, which have often been the source for outside media for other background on Palin.

When the Anchorage Daily News did report the news today, it pointed out: "The Daily News had asked Palin's press secretary, Bill McAllister, over the weekend to address rumors that Bristol was pregnant. 'I don't know. I have no evidence that Bristol's pregnant,' he said on Saturday."

The McCain team asserted that he knew about the pregnancy when he selected Palin. She has five children and now a grandchild coming as she hits the campaign trail.

Comments

[Net2006]

03:28 AM on 09/09/2008

Sarah Palin does not send a good message to this country. Her daughter is pregnant at the age of 17 and gets celeb treatment, when this country is trying to stop teen pregnancy. Also she is pregnant by by a boy who is 18. He is considered an adult. She is a minor! What message does that send for our sex offender law? What about the young men who were in similar situations and now they are registered sex offenders, but yet this adult male is getting positive spotlight. Why is this????

[emily c]

09:39 AM on 10/01/2008

She is 17 years old, I'm pretty sure she chose to have sex with him. There for it does not matter if he is 18.

[10000Lakes]

11:54 AM on 09/05/2008

Can someone please explain to me why, in the McCain introduction and announcement of Palin, the daughter was holding the baby with a HUGE, almost comforter sized blanket covering her whole abdomen? I mean, did they think they would be able to cover her pregancy up for the next 2 months? Or just wishful thinking? In the subsequent gatherings, she never used such a blanket.

[FreeExpression]

10:18 AM on 09/05/2008

In this country Gov. Palin's daughter can make a decision because our laws make it possible for her to make a "Choice" . Thanks to The Daily Show on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008 more people are aware of the rights of women to be able to make decisions because they have a choice.

Congratulations to Samantha Bee on her extraordinary segment on 'CHOICE". It was wonderful. People just don't seem to understand that they actually have a "choice" and generations before us fought a battle with society so that women in this country could have a choice.

I'm so grateful to The Daily Show for trying to get the message out that so many people just take it for granted that a female (child, teenager, and woman) currently has the luxury of being able to make a choice and not a government mandated decision.

[cls25]

10:06 PM on 09/04/2008

I'm agonna barf....they're dragging that poor baby to the Convention again tonite....and isn't it interesting it's virtually always the daughter who is pregnant who is holding him? Guess mom has figured out the child care issue while she's running for/being VP...let her 17 year old take care of TWO infants.

[GretaR]

07:44 PM on 09/04/2008

This news is relevant because the Republicans are always blabbering about "family values" atop their high horses. Gay marriage is morally wrong, but (unwed) teen pregnancy...not so much. Giddy up!

[Rbrown871]

06:26 PM on 09/04/2008

Why is it that there are thousands of teens running around daily that are pregnant. Why is it that the media has to ruin the lime light just to get viewers attention. I am a teacher and I see everyday students walking around that are pregnant. Yes, they are attending school and have had Sex Education classes but does it stop them from having sex? NO, think back many years ago to the 30's and 40's, many women were pregnant by the age of 17 and often were working on their 2nd or 3rd child by the age of 18 or 19. Why don't you scrutinize the Amish whose daughters usually have their first child around the age of 14. Just because Bristol's mother was nominated for the Vice Presidency you have decided to point all the flaws that she and/or her mother may have. Has this prevented Sarah Palin from being able to run the State of Alaska? No, I think that it is good family morals and support that has made her the way she is today. Just like Jamie Lynn Spears, just because she is famous you point out her flaws and her families. I think that if you want news like this, just visit your local hospital and see who in your town is pregnant and how old they are. Just like all of the famous personalities that have caught drinking and driving, That"s an everyday occurrence out in the real world.

[JC22]

12:28 PM on 09/04/2008

Having a child when you are 17 is in some ways more responsible than having a child when you are 44; especially if you are concerned with the fate of the offspring and its chances for a normal life. In my opinion both of these acts lead to similar societal outcomes, allbeit for different reasons; namely a child with diminished life possibilities and likely a greater societal burden due mainly to the circumstances of their birth. After all isn’t that what it’s all about; ensuring that the next generation will be healthy and capable of becoming net contributors to society. In that regard I find Bristol’s pregnancy much preferable to that of her mother the governor.

[midland]

12:14 PM on 09/04/2008

Tacky ! Poor judgement ! Sarah Palin showed us her values last night and I for one think they need adjusting. I felt like we were watching the Jamie Lynn Spears family show. Does Palin think teenage sex and pregnancy are cute? Why was the teenage boy who knocked up her daughter standing for applause? Why was he shown being given dignitary status after we learned of his foul language? John McCain was ill served by his advisors on this one.
Was I the only one offended by this?

[claudia2455]

11:33 AM on 09/04/2008

I was wrong about the bridges to nowhere money: Palin said she gave it back and told Congress if Ak wanted a bridge, it'd build it itself ... evidently she kept the money and told Congress AK would build its own bridges *sigh.*

[fullsack]

11:25 AM on 09/04/2008

Roe vs. Wade will NEVER be overturned.

It's interesting to know that liberal are concerned about the lives of our all voluntary military who fight to protect our rights to exist, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, etc., and yet they don't care about the men and woman concieved but not yet born. What about their rights? More lives have been lost to abortion since Roe v. Wade than all the Americans who served in any war/conflict. It ills me to think that precious lives have been lost in war in an effort to protect the right to kill an unborn child. Government shouldn't have the right to tell a woman what she has to do, but couldn't there be a compromise? Late term abortion should be halted immediately unless of course the woman's life is at risk. Palin doesn't oppose abortion when the womans life is at stake.

[lacitepq]

11:02 AM on 09/04/2008

Love the photo of her from the 80s wearing the T-shirt " I may be broke, but at least I'm not flat-chested"
That should bring out the woman vote.

[drewtom]

10:31 AM on 09/04/2008

Palin: Repect my families privacy, this was a family decision; but elect me so I can take away your right to decide.

[Bernabeem]

06:39 PM on 09/04/2008

Does anyone realize this is going to be tax payers’ money paying for Bristol’s pregnancy? The Insurance laws are very clear. Mom’s insurance? Think again. So who is paying? Grandma Sarah? That is the money of Alaska’s tax payers or if elected V.P. the money of the country paying for a teenage pregnancy.

[mchll]

09:55 AM on 09/04/2008

What is wrong with these people? First off, I feel horrible for Bristol, this was something that was going to come out either way, but the media has just butchered it. I'm sure shes feeling embarassed enough by the pregnancy alone, but then to be put into the spotlight on top of it. Secondly, I don't see anything wrong with Sarah being VP with 5 kids. Women in America work all the time and raise families. Its just insane to think that anyone would even bring that matter up. I say good for her, let the dad start taking more responsibility in raising those kids. Not only that, but with a VP salary she could hire round the clock nannies.

[cartach]

03:09 AM on 09/04/2008

Check this out for a Canadian's take on Palin. Appropriately titled ' Palin sacrifices daughter'. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/columnists/top3/story/4221291p-4817685c.html

[Beninn]

02:57 AM on 09/04/2008

Why did Sarah Palin conceal her pregnancy for 7 months?

Does it make any kind of sense?