Can We Stop Talking About Bristol and Start Talking About Important Things Now?

Funny that. And I was just getting sick of hearing about Sarah Palin.

I think we mostly agree McCain picking Palin was a strange choice that informed the public that it takes more experience to break into middle management at an Applebee's then it does to get the VP nomination. Okay, yes. Can we move on now and talk about more important things like what my yet-to-be-conceived children are going to do for work (and how they are going to support me in my old age) once the economy shrivels up and the ice caps all melt? Apparently not--cuz now Palin's daughter's pregnant. It's like the icing on the frosting cake.

Meanwhile Obama's post-DNC numbers are slipping. And by the way, what is Obama even doing right now? How well did he handle the hurricane? We don't know because we're obsessed with the every move of some teenage girl whose problems are about riveting as the average after-school special. I do not, repeat, do not want to know the name of Bristol's baby-daddy and -- though I am sure he's lovely -- what makes the media think that I am in any way interested in seeing his "soon to grow up faster than he ever planned" adolescent face all over my computer screen? Seriously. Gross. Not him, us for caring about him. How do we know McCain didn't pick Palin for exactly this purpose, a clever scandal-generator that will detract attention from Obama for the remainder of the election season.

Can we please get back on the Hope wagon and not ruin all of the amazing and substantial things that have come from this campaign with the story of a seventeen year old's coming of age in Alaska.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate

Comments

[Monstertruck]

For me, it was really important to see how Barak Obama would respond to this issue. I eagerly anticipated it. And when the press turned to him, requesting his opinion, like a true gentleman, he said that family and children "are off limits." He could have run with it. He could have easily used it against them. But he responded in the way that--if everything about him has been true so far--I expected. It is refreshing to have a candidate who doesn't just promise to be some, but is actually someone. And yes, hearing about this "if there's grass on the field, play ball" story has gotten very old.

[harriscrl3]

I"m sure Obama is probably enjoying the fact that the media like a dog with a bone have found another story so they've been off him for while. He must be enjoying the freedom cause quite frankly when they focus on him they dont do him any favors. But I think Palin will get stale soon and they will be back with their fatal attraction directed at Obama.

Carol

[jacksonian1]

True... Dems do need to stay on point and focus on issues that matter. One thought on the selection of Palin, its a classic Republican move to get the evangelical vote. Evangelicals will vote for any candidate claiming to be a social conservative, qualified or not. They want to believe in Palin so bad they are willing to overlook just about anything incriminating in her backround and will embellish her accomplishments and qualifications to the bitter end which is a dangerous & irrespsonsible mindset. What ever happend to the Republican mainstay platform issue of national security? Social conservatism should never be more important than national security. Why isn't it Obvious to all Americans that Palin is not fit to lead as commander in chief? Frankly, I'm stunned that some Americans could be so careless with our national security after 9/11.

[frankinaz]

The issue is not about a teen age pregnancy, but the lack of judgement in having this young lady and her unborn child pushed into this tempest of politics. What mother in her right mind would expose her child and her future grandchild to such scutiny? What kind of man would ask a mother to do such a thing?
The issue is about judgement and foresight not about sex education, abstinence. It's about 2 adults compounding a bad decision with a huge pathetic egotistical decision and now the world knows all. I pray for the 17 year old and her baby. John McCain and Sarah Palin are on their own.

[trubski]

Amen. If this was a political ploy then the Democrats - as usual - are taking the bait hook, line and sinker. A pregnant 17 year old is none of our business. Her mother's politics, lack of experience and extremism are our business. If we can't focus on the important issues then we have no more business running the country than Sarah Palin does.

[Miscellarny]

It seems to me that if Sarah Palin wants to use "being a mom" as a mark of her "experience" that qualifies her to be Vice President, then shouldn't she her success or failure at motherhood be something that the public should evaluate? In theory, I believe that the behavior of a candidate's family shouldn't be a factor in evaluating the candidate, but if the candidate herself claims that her experience raising the family is relevant, all bets are off. Is she a good mother if she hasn't told her teenage daughter about contraception? Or if her daughter was too reckless to listen? If the Republicans want to claim Palin is handling this situation admirably because her daughter is having the baby and marrying the father, shouldn't the issue of whether that *really* is the best thing for all involved be fair game? In the 21st century do we force our children to get married if they conceive? Who made that choice for the girl?

[hopeless277]

As Ted Stevens would say, NO!!!!!

[grendl]

Bristol is important.

Sorry if she doesn't hold your interest, but teen pregnancy and the right of a woman to choose what happens to her body and her life are major campaign issues. This is a golden opportunity for Barack to stand up and say unabashedly that he is pro choice.

Sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe, instead of sitting around allowing yourself to be grilled by people like pastor Warren who seem to forget the separation of church and state our forefathers established as one of the foundational blocks of our democracy.

It is important.

[dr67401]

Good Lord - "lets have Obama stand up and point at Sarahs 17 year old daughter and say "this is exactly why we need abortion to be legal?"
The Obama presidency would be dead about 12 seconds later.

As for pastor warren - who Barrack himself said there should be more such forums - I would take Pastor Warren over Pastor Wright any day!

[grendl]

Well thats a ridiculous extrapolation.

He could say however, Ms. Plain might be prepared for this undertaking but what about all the girls who aren't. The victims of rape who don't necessarily want to see the demon spawn of some creep sitting in a crib like something out of "Rosemary's Baby".

As for Pastor Warren, he's a closet witch finder general, trying to erase the divide between church and state.

[Gogetter]

"Meanwhile Obama's post-DNC numbers are slipping."

Are you sure?
Rasmussen -- Obama 51% McCain 45%
Gallup Daily Tracking -- Obama 50% McCain 42%
Real Clear Politics -- Obama 49.2% McCain 42.8%

[dct1999]

Exactly.

I'll tell you what Obama's doing Ms. Olien, campaigning with his VP pick in the rust belt; giving an excellent response to questions about Bristol's pregnancy; and allowing the republicans to implode.

Also, it's the republican's convention, he is smart enough to hold his fire this week.

[Johnnn]

Jessica Olien, where have you been hiding? This contribution from you is a welcome change from the other posts here. McCain was clever to choose Palin because the persecution of her will open old wounds from the Democratic Primary. The bottom line is this: anytime a woman gets close to power the witch hunt begins. All McCain needs is a few undecided states, and catholic voters, like my elderly mother, are impressed that Palin brought a Downs Syndrome baby to term. That seems to be the hook for these pivotal voters.

[ragtag]

The RNC is especially adept at bribing the single value voters. Give them the one thing that they feel strongest about and they'll vote against their own economic self interests. In the current fiasco, they don't seem to care that they'd also contribute to starting a very dangerous culture war in the process.

McBush is not the answer.

Who do you think he'll want to bomb first?

[Johnnn]

The Democrats should be just as effective at herding "single value" voters into the fold but that is just not the Dem's cup of tea. Except for the Clinton operation perhaps. The Clintons know how to do that. Too bad they can't get past the Democratic Party with it's domination by young and liberal rich voters wanting the ever-vague "change, change and more change".