Why are we all in shock that a woman whose current residence is the Governor's mansion in Juneau would be chosen as the GOP vice presidential nominee? Perhaps it is because she is so cold to our view of democracy and women's rights that her ideals could have a terrifying effect here in California. She is the poster mom for the film Juno whose storybook tale of a teenage pregnancy has become incarnate in Bristol Palin. While her story is certainly played out in thousands of households across America, we all know the sugar-coated tale that winds from Hollywood to Alaska isn't the norm for teenagers facing this monumental issue.
Teenage pregnancy is an issue that we Californians will be facing once again on our November ballot. Like a bad movie sequel, it's a three time re-run for us in California. Proposition 4 will force voters to assess the idea of promoting parental notification for underage abortions. Twice before voters have rallied against this because they know it doesn't really work. Yet again we have to fight the fight for reproductive choice.
But never before has this ballot proposition had a limelight example like we do today.
Unlike the previous propositions, the opposition now has a teen pregnancy, pro-life family bursting across every media outlet courtesy of the McCain camp. An atypical example readily available for the opposition to hold up for voters as a typical prototype.
While we can all dislike Palin's ideology, we also must realize, like or not; that she represents a large population of women. Palin represents my sister-in-law, who is anti-choice and staffs a teenage pregnancy hotline encouraging girls to not get abortions. My sister-in-law and women like her can neither be ignored nor should they be disrespected. They vote too and they hold their ideals as dear as we Democrats do. And, for us as Californians, this is particularly challenging because teenage pregnancy is an issue that Prop 4 will force Californians to face once again on the November ballot. As critical as we are of her as a candidate, we should not overlook the fact ruthless forces behind this attempt to chip away at the Roe v. Wade stone will surely hold up the Palins as an example of how "easy" it is for a pregnant teenager to tell her parents about her predicament. Previous parental notification initiatives failed narrowly; Prop 85 in 2006 failed 46/54, and Prop 73 in the 2005 special election failed 47/53. A nationally recognized poster family can make this margin far narrower or tip the scales.
Who's behind Proposition 4, anyway? It is funded almost entirely by two men, James Holman (publisher of the San Diego Reader) and Don Sebastiani (a winemaker and former assemblyman). Together they gave over 2 million of the 2.4 that funded the entire movement for it. The fact that this is the project of two guys is story enough, and surely if they are willing to throw two million of their own dollars at this initiative, they will have no problem making an example out of Bristol Palin.
(Note: Planned Parenthood has provided the most funding in the movement against these types of propositions and it is time that we help Planned Parenthood defeat this proposition. Donate visit the Campaign for Teen Safety website at http://www.noonprop4.org. ) The fact that this is the project of two guys is story enough.
This initiative continues to have the boomerang effect on the ballot circling back around for a third time. However, Proposition 4 is more precarious than the first two because it damages families as well as teens. Proposition 4 calls itself "family notification," but in reality it's a cruel process that would force scared pregnant teens who wanted to notify an alternate family member to report their parents to law enforcement.
In Juneau, Palin, though adamantly pro-life, said this about her daughter: "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." The key word is decision. If all teenage girls were lucky enough to have forgiving and supportive parents like Sarah and Todd Palin they might all consider notifying their parents, but statistics show that's not the case.
This is one reason why I think that Sarah Palin's unyielding pro-life stance is so dangerous. Will her daughter's pregnancy validate teens having babies? Can her actions be construed as a role model for young girls?
Teen pregnancy is a complex bipartisan issue that requires multi-faceted answers. Blanket, one-dimensional thinking cannot solve this problem -- And don't get me started on Palin's even more narrow views on gun control or even global warming. Palin doesn't think outside the box and therefore she isn't the right leader for America in the 21st century. Palin's rigid worldview makes her to archaic a leader for the 20th century, let alone the 21st.
Right now, as we are all focused on the national debate, serious challenges face us at home here in California. We must stay focused on the issues, not the personalities to make sure that our rights for teenagers, women, and as citizens remain our choice.
If you are in California, vote NO on Proposition 4. If you are not but would like to help, please visit The Campaign for Teen Safety for more information.
Bettina Duval is the founder of CALIFORNIA LIST, a network to elect Democratic women to California state government.