Bristol Palin: Media Maven with a Message

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In a stroke of media mastery, Bristol Palin harnessed the Palin-family-doting Fox News last night to announce a powerful (and decidedly non-Fox News) message for policy makers: abstinence only is "not realistic." The new teen mom also told Great Van Susteren that she would "love to be an advocate to prevent teen pregnancy." Making this announcement on one of the most watched, and most conservative, news stations in the nation is already a pretty good display of her ability to reach a large swath of Americans (particularly the most difficult to reach on this issue.)

As we all remember, Bristol and her unplanned pregnancy dominated the national news for a month during the Presidential campaign. Yet this is really the first time we've heard from Bristol herself. It appears she is striking out on her own. In fact, she told her mother about the interview, and her plans to discuss teen pregnancy prevention during it, just the day before. Some have spun this story as Bristol attacking her mother's abstinence-only policies. She clearly is not, but she is finding her own voice. (Anyway, it appears Governor Palin is reconsidering her position. She makes an appearance during the interview and admits that the abstinence-only approach is, as she puts it, "naive" which, in itself, is big news the main stream media has yet to pick up on.)

What the interview reveals is that Bristol is lovely, humble, honest, no doubt still a teenager and refreshingly free of any political agenda--except to use her experience to steer teens away from the same fate. In startling candidness, Bristol expresses the conflicting emotions that come packaged with teen parenthood; her love for her child and of motherhood and her belief that waiting ten years before becoming a parent would have been a better path.

She explained,

"I like being a mom, I love it. Just seeing him smile and stuff, it's awesome...It is very challenging but it's so rewarding...Of course, I wish it would happen in ten years so I could have a job and an education and be, like, prepared and have my own house and stuff... I just hope that people learn from my story and, I don't know, prevent teen pregnancy I guess... It's not just the baby part of it that's hard, it's that I'm not living for myself anymore I'm living for another human being...I'd like to be an advocate to prevent teen pregnancy because its not a situation you strive for I guess...Kids should just wait--it's not glamorous at all."

In many ways, Bristol appears on the national stage just in the nick of time. Teen birth rates are suddenly spiking nationally after fifteen years of steady decline and Congress is about to consider re-funding the failed abstinence-only policies that likely led to this trend. An organization like The National Campaign for the Prevention of Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy could use a spokesperson like Palin right about now. Together, armed with real data, they can educate teens about the real life consequences of sex and lobby for the policies that help delay teen sexual activity and prevent unintended pregnancy. Palin has already won fans in the organization. One is Bill Albert, Chief Program Officer. He described Palin as 'brave.'

"There has to be some real passion, great inner fortitude to come forward to talk about these issues," Albert explained, "she said something very powerful--'I wish I had waited, I wish this beautiful event could have happened in ten years.' She said it in her own words and it was not an anti-child message, not an anti-family message--it was about timing and what order you want to take life's most important events. If she could turn back the big hands on the clock of time she would have waited. That is a message on target with all the teen parents we talk to. Teen mothers and fathers are the most powerful messengers of all. She already is an advocate."

This post originally appeared on RH Reality Check--Information, commentary and community for Reproductive Health and Justice.

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Comments

[breakroomlive]

Marc Maron's thoughtful analysis on the Bristol Palin interview conducted by FOX News:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb5DupgMkMI

[historymatters]

The Palin family's melodrama is not a model the entire nation should follow. It's inappropriate to want to use an eighteen-year-old girl as a foil for her mother, and have the two of them play out some kind of psychodrama for everyone else's entertainment. Sarah Palin clearly can not be trusted not to exploit her family in whatever way she feels will gain her power, influence or prestige. Everyone else should steer clear of Bristol. She's too young to make sound judgments for her own wellbeing (at least not in the glaring spotlight of media and political interests), and she has no parental guidance to help her. It's exploitative to try to use her in any way whatsoever.

[CookieCrunch]

I'm glad that Bristol said what she said. I believe that most if not all parents want their children to abstain as long as possible for a variety of reasons. But I also know that forwarned is forarmed. I believe that education is needed. Not that educating kids is condoning sexual behavior but you get the right information so that you can make an intelligent and informed decision. In my particular case, luckily my parents wanted us to have the information up front so by the time I got to Sex Ed, I already knew what was what from the parents. Some parents have problems talking straight with their kids so it's better to get the information out there than to have kids be ignorant.

[jayburd]

It would appear that Sarah Palin is a better mother than she is a governor/vice presidential candidate. It is clear that she raised an intelligent, independent thinking, and compassionate daughter.

[Chem is she]

Seriously, where is this story other than progressive blogs? We should be making a big deal about this.

[ChelseaC]

Palin will probably use this to her political advantage--trying to attract moderate republicans. Maybe we're being played....­..........­.......?

[theconsigliere1]

I am proud of you, Bristol. I wish you would have waited, too. However, although you did not wait, something tells me you will be a great mom. Best of luck. We are praying for you and your child. Vaya con Dios.

[hazellily]

I don't know that 'abstinence only, is unrealistic. Difficult for High School boys but girls want to be 'in the loop' and ahead of the trendsetters at that time of life. Along with raging hormones, we have the desire to know ourselves better as well. But I have found that many promiscuous girls in High School turn to abstinence in their twenties. Even animals don't 'do it' just for the fun of it. I have compassion for the Palins because the entire family was covered with mud during the campaign and it was hard to find the truth about most of it. Bristol is very brave. She could have slunk into a snow bank and was never heard from again. I hope she does well in life.

[rphillips4165]

You honestly don't know many high school girls anymore. Abstinence only doesn't work, because it doesn't give people any other choice. It just says don't have sex. It never says if you do have sex be careful. Use condoms, use birth control. Telling children about birth control is not telling them to have sex. It is just giving them information.

[taddles]

"Even animals don't 'do it' just for the fun of it"

Wow, slept through basic biology didn't you? Do yourself a favor and read a book.

Abstinence only is a failed concept, teen pregnancy has increased everywhere that these programs have been instituted and that's simply a fact. I know you faith basers don't use real facts, just the ones you make up, and that's a big part of the problem.

Teaching about sex is not condoning sex any more than teaching about war is condoning going out and shooting someone. Sending your kids out with no real knowledge about sex and hoping they "just don't do it" is stupid, head in the sand, foolishness. If you aren't smart enough to teach your kids about sex then let someone who is do it for you so the rest of us don't have to pay for your child's mistake.

[GolfingDevil05]

"Abstinence only" is about as realistic as assuming teenagers won't drink, smoke, or do drugs because their parents said "don't do it." Curiosity alone ensures that kids will do things their parents forbid, so why not provide the very best information we can to help them make safer choices? Silence on these issues breeds ignorance.

The very best line I ever heard about abstience only? There's a name for mothers and fathers who don't teach their kids about birth control: Grandma and Grandpa.

[weatherwaxx]

"I wish it would happen in ten years so I could have a job and an education and be, like, prepared .."

Like, yeah, good time to think about it, kid.

This says a lot about the mindset of teenagers who are raised without training in birth control. It's a sin if you take precautions because sex is premeditated, but if it just "happens" it's okay. And pregnancy also, apparently, "happens."

It's good to see that Bristol has at least *learned* something. But I wish someone would leg-shackle her attention-hog mother out of range of any camera.

[Liberalforsure]

Does anyone but me notice how the rethuglicans ideology is out of date, out of touch and impractical?

[weatherwaxx]

...how many people voted for Obama? I think most of the country has finally noticed.

[shotgunblast]

I'm glad she doesn't just parrot her mothers silly abstinence only policy. Good for her. Smart girl.

[exhale09]

Sounds to me like Bristol has taken a small leap for "maturity"

Good for her. I encourage her to continue to think for herself, and annalyze the issues from all perspectives before she forms her own opinions.

Open minds are just as important as open hearts.

[aliceinks]

Her parents raised her well. From all I have read on her and their family they are all real close and as we saw on the campaign, they really love and respect each other. She has a good head on her shoulders..she'll be fine.

[weatherwaxx]

What family were you watching? I saw a woman whose ambition led her to neglect her daughter and pimp her own children -- the Obama girls were in school most of the time. If Bristol does all right it'll be because she rejects some of the medieval nonsense Mommy and Daddy crammed into her head.

[aliceinks]

I am glad you are sticking up for a Palin. lol If you knew what you were talking about, you would know that she Bristol has the same beliefs that her parents do. Guess that means in a WAY. you are standing up for all Palins. Cool : -)

[woody1291]

All Bristol did was prove that abstinence only works to create more childhood mothers with or without fathers. I am 65 years old and I can tell you when the hormones are cranked you will forget that kind of training. We need to inform kids with infoformation that can prevent pregency and std's. Otherwise we will continue to have many teenage births. But remember folks that people on the right wing do not facts to prove their point. they know they are right and no amount of facts will change their minds. God told them they are right in their thoughts.

[learnsomething]

""All Bristol did was prove that abstinence only works to create more childhood mothers with or without fathers.""

Not so. If Bristol had abstained, she would not have a baby right now.

[superstition]

Yes, and if teenagers were older adults with reduced sex drives from weight gain, lack of exercise, and antidepressants then they could more easily pretend abstinence is a magic bullet.

What society really needs are socially-acceptable methods for dealing with the sex drive that don't involve sex acts that cause pregnancy or the passing of STDs. In other words, humanity needs to adopt safe sex practices that are not shamed and which can allow people of all ages to get off without getting STDs or getting pregnant. Masturbation clubs are a fringe part of the gay male community, but ideas like that point to the right direction. Instead of pretending that our bodies are something they aren't (teenagers' bodies as hormone-free), society needs to grow up and stop being afraid of naked people and genitalia. But, it's far easier to promote violence in a society that's sexually repressed, isn't it?

[suemj]

Very refreshing to see Bristol speak for herself, unrehearsed and not "picked over" by Repubs., advisors, and being "pimped" by her mother. She was believable, speaking intelligently and "from the heart" for the first time. Kudos to her! Mom came down from the clouds for a second to state being naive about abstinence; but of course conservatives will ignore it and act as if nothing was said.

[arabella57]

I thought Bristol was refreshingly different from her overbaring mother and had some honest and careful advise to other teens in regards to teen pregnancy. I was turned off completely by Sarah Palin barging into the interview, uninvited and taking over. The look in Bristol's eyes tells it all. Sarah...go away! Let her be!

Do you think that Sarah Palin could ever walk away from a camera? I seriously doubt it....she is obsessed with herself and any opportunity to get her mug on TV she will take advantage of....even if she looks like a jerk for taking over her very sweet and honest daughter's spotlight. Ughhhhhh!

[Punchumgum]

Sarah Palin barged into the room with the baby as a distraction after Bristol spent quite a bit of time detailing the families' reactions to the news of the pregnancy. That's also why she wouldn't go away. There was much more to tell.