Palin, McCain Appear To Disagree On Sex Education

Teen pregnancy and sex education were thrust into the spotlight this week when Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin revealed that her 17-year-old daughter is five months pregnant.

Palin's running mate, John McCain, and the GOP platform say children should be taught that abstinence until marriage is the only safe way to avoid pregnancy and disease. Palin's position is less clear.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[TheAlchemist]

Here's a remark I can agree with:

"I'm pro-contraception, and I think kids who may not hear about it at home should hear about it in other avenues," she said during a debate in Juneau.

[chronic]

Sorry but every pic that I see of that woman and the baby seems fake.

The pics do not reveal a mother baby connection.

On the other hand, pics of her daughter and that back looks more natural and realistic.


Something aint right.

[righteousthought]

I just watch a youtube video of a young Black man claiming to be the father of Bristol Palin's unborn child. I know she is just a kid, but can anyone tell me if this is news worthy or not. I need to know.

[TheAlchemist]

The proof in the pudding is in the eating of it. We may know the race of the baby's daddy after the first postpartum photos. Until then...

[HealingMindN]

Why should anyone listen to a governer who allows wolves to get killed by the truckload everyday in her state?

[robeson]

The one thing they do agree on is the great educational savings in teen pregnancies.

[gianardil]

Great point. The problem is there is no insurance to cover the mom's and babies. I think you can keep your child on your insurance only if they are in school or have had a chronic illness. At 18, my first three were off my insurance, which did not matter because it maxed at a million. We have a great school in my city that lets teen moms go to school and see there babies all day. It is privately funded. If I had the money I would fund as many as I could all across this state. We need them everywhere.

[editorjuno]

The link to latimes.com has been broken for at least 12 hours. Here's one that works, apparently unlike the HuffPo staff:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-sexed6-2008sep06,0,5768481.story

[TheAlchemist]

The link above is working now.

[marymansour]

Make that 'black off her arse".....sorry for the typos. .

[gianardil]

If every single parent took the time to deal with this situation themselves, there would not be as many teen pregnancies. I did the very thing when every child turned 11. This was not just one conversation, it was many. I drilled into their heads the statistical evidence how often accidental pregnancy occurs, but most importantly, the meteoric rise in HIV infection in teens, a new form of untreatable gonorrhea, and every single thing that has to do with STD's. The problem is most parents are gone all day, or they are embarrassed to discuss the subject, or the church is the source of education. Abstinence only. That is just ridiculous. There is no way that a child will not end up pregnant or unable to have children later in life because of an untreated STD, without constant parental intervention. I believe that is exactly why Bristol Palin is pregnant. There is a post on this thread that counts back when she got pregnant and where her parents were. This topic is the parent's responsibility. You cannot hand off this subject to anyone. They are your kids and the last thing they need is to become a parent at 15. Our government has no place for those low-life children who give birth in their teens, unless it is one of their kids.

[MizLiz]

You're right...it takes far more than one conversation. If the schools fail in this regard, then it's the parents' responsibility. Abstinence is all very well, but just in case the kids ought to know about the various methods of birth control, where to obtain them, and if the worst happens, where to go for an abortion. My daughter knew if she needed anything, all she had to do was ask, no flak from me. Are parents really going to sit back and let a kid ruin their lives in a moment of stupidity, or are they going to help them any way they can?

[pupbayer]

Yeah, what in the world is wrong with this country that not EVERYONE believes the same thing you do. It is unbelievable, isn't it? It shouldn't be allowed. Maybe O can get a law passed that everyone has to believe what you believe and live their lives to suit you. Then we'll be a great country!

[pupbayer]

Wow! Aren't you wonderful? Obviously you've been very lucky. I taught high school for 30 years and, if nothing else, I learned that parents have very little control over what their kids do or how they turn out. I saw absolutely awful parents have the most wonderful kids in the world. I saw terrific parents turn out irresponsible, useless children. I saw good and bad in each family with multiple kids who had the same upbringing.

I'm also appalled that you would refer to unwed mothers as low-life. We all made mistakes as teenagers, except you evidently, and some of us were lucky they weren't big mistakes. I guess O's low life mother dusgusts you as much as you disgust me.

From my years of experience, all I can say, get ready. When we judge others so harshly and speak so definitely about things that will or won't happen, we usually end up learning lessons the hard way as our statements and attitudes come around to bite us in the a$$.

[gianardil]

If you think, I think I am wonderful for doing everything I could to keep my kids from causing and getting pregnant or a STD, then I am. That is your opinion. I know many parents who did the very same things as I did and failed. You have to try, and you have to care. As for Low-life have you read nothing on this thread. Who is judging who now expert in child rearing. If this had been a Democratic candidate's child they were have been excoriated. Now that it is a Republican it is "my pregnant daughter." Before you go off the deep end with you moral authority, read the rest of the posts at how the poor are treated when teens get pregnant. Then after you have read every single post, go back and read mine, and get a grip. You can be disgusted all you want whoever you are, but if you are a teacher you don't understand one word that was written. If you are a Palin supporter, why is her daughter the picture of family values, while she has cut enormous sums to help special needs kids, unwed teenage mothers, etc, in one of the richest states in the union. You are clueless. AS FOR JUDGING ANYONE, YOU SIR/MADAM ARE THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND. Right back at you on the name calling.

[lioness39]

This is laughable. John and his fecund running mate disagree on sex education? No matter what was taught to the two of them in their youth, John screwed around on his first wife with is second and Sarah's daughter got knocked up by her thuggish boyfriend.

[LemonMeringue]

Palin's plan for American teenager:
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/politics/2008/09/the-authoritative-trig-palin-conspiracy-time-line.html

guns, alcohol, abstinence

[Heavenhelpusall]

Since Sarah Cheney does not believe in using birth control, how many more children might she have?
If John Bush cannot serve, who would she tap as VP?

[IronMikeHouston]

There is no John Bush. You must an idiot if you don't know who is running on the tickets. Who cares how many children she will have. Is it really your business?

[LemonMeringue]

She already cannot do the job.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26583001/

Sarah does not strap Trig into a carseat. It is the law in Alaska.

[MsLiz]

"Palin held her baby in her arms as the warden drove a short distance around the facility [Point MacKenzie Correctional Farm] ...." I infer this was at under 40 mph, and could be a slow as 30 mph. Perhaps the warden slowed down to 20 so that he could point out various aspects of the prison, and to insure that the infant was safe.

Remember, cars were on the road long before modern car seats. Of course, cars went slower then, and babies died in wrecks, but it isn't evil to hold a baby in a slow moving vehicle.

It's malum prohibitum not malum in se.

I was just surprised that she had the baby with her. That's a positive.

[pupbayer]

She believes in birth control. Get your facts straight. You sound foolish.

[gianardil]

You just said "no joke, democrats or Republicans it's both parties. I don't see an answer in this election." You have three posts here, and not one actual fact just insults. Insult everyone with your superiority. You must own a copy of the Rove playbook.

[neo1]

The more I hear, the worse it seems to get. OMG, what is happening to our country?

We need to wake up and take our country back from the people who do not have our best interest at heart. We have been manipulated, lied to, and managed by the corporate elite since the day we were born and it doesn't seem to be stopping any time soon. That's why it's time for US, you and me, to regain our common sense and bring order back into our lives.

Common sense tells us that when someone has lied to us, we should NOT believe them again? Especially if they never apologized for lying previously. Why would you want to accept anything past the lies as the truth? You don't lie one time and then change in midstream.

One candidate has lied on numerous occasions constantly. Why do you believe he's telling the truth now? Why are we giving these people the opportunity to persuade us that whatever they are saying is NOW the truth?

Think for yourself for a change. If it doesn't feel right, then it isn't right. If it doesn't sound right, then it isn't right. If it doesn't make you feel good, then it is not good. If it doesn't explain to you how things will change to help you, then what good is it?

This is YOUR life you're playing Russian Roulette with!

[UnbiasView]

"We need to wake up and take our country back from the people who do not have our best interest at heart."

So we need to take it from the Dems and Repubs . . . what is your plan?

[pupbayer]

No joke. It's not Repubicans or Democrats...it's both parties. I don't see an answer in this election.

[TN]

Why can't we call sex ed, adult ed. All those undersexed republicans hate sex. So when they hear the word sex ed, they think your going to teach their child how to have sex. Yes, children, we have the missionary position. Really, this is what we are dealing with. From now on we need to call it Adult Ed.

[thefringecenter]

Palin's position on abstinence is "less clear?" Are you kidding? She and her daughter are busy bunnies.

[SonyaInTx]

No sex education from mama = making mama into a grandma before the child reaches 18.