There are good reasons why pundits shouldn't talk about Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter1, or any other politician's child for that matter. It's already bringing out mean-spiritedness on the right. And for the left, it's the wrong scandal.
Check out this blog post from conservative commentator Robert Stacy McCain (no relation to John Sidney), who writes:
Since the McCain campaign has released a statement declaring that 17-year-old (daughter) Palin now faces "the responsibilities of adulthood," might I be so bold as to suggest that they arrange a press conference where (daughter) can attempt to address the horrible embarrassment she's caused her parents?So this young girl was supposed to envision how one action might affect her family - if it resulted in pregnancy, if people found out, if her mother suddenly became the Vice Presidential candidate (which experts didn't expect), and if the cumulative result of all of the above was, according to some pundit, a "crisis of global significance."Excuse my paternal (and political) indignation but I am in no mood for pleas that the media respect anyone's privacy at this point. I don't think it an exaggeration to say that this girl (and her boyfriend) have caused a crisis of global significance ... (she) ought to face the consequences, including about 45 minutes in front of the klieg lights while reporters shout stupid questions.
It's not (the daughter's) fault her mother was picked as the GOP running mate, but she certainly should have understood how her personal behavior would reflect on her family.
Let's see: A 17-year-old girl was supposed to foresee the future, although we forgive adult politicians for thinking we'd be "greeted as liberators" in Iraq. Now you'll just have to face the music, young lady, by submitting to interrogation by media vultures - as the klieg lights draw out beads of sweat on your forehead and the world watches your public humiliation. (Maybe a digital enhancement expert can even superimpose a scarlet "A" on her forehead.)
First, waterboarding. Now, Campbell Brown and Chris Wallace. Is there no limit to the punishment some people would inflict upon innocent and guilty alike?
This peculiar, Puritan, vindictive screed is directed against a child. At the same time, oddly enough, it completely exonerates the authority figures around her: the mother who accepted this new role knowing what might be revealed, the Presidential candidate who might have learned of this problem during vetting yet proceeded anyway, and the reporters shining a spotlight on this young person. There's a subculture within the American Right that revels in punishing the powerless for their errors while forgiving the powerful for theirs. It's not pretty to watch.
Not that the left has any more running room in this matter. It's tempting to use this incident to argue that abstinence education doesn't work, but - come on. No method is 100% effective, which is why we avoid using anecdotal evidence. There are comprehensive studies that disprove abstinence education, but one young woman's actions mean nothing.
It's also tempting to play gotcha with the fact that Sarah Palin said, back when her daughter was only 14, that if the girl were raped Gov. Palin would "choose life" and refuse to let her have an abortion. That's a private matter. What's far more important, and not addressed by anecdotes like these, is the fact that Gov. Palin would refuse to allow your daughter to get an abortion if she were raped at age 14, no matter what you wanted for her. That's what we should be discussing, not the personal issues, beliefs, or private actions of one family.
This scandal couldn't have come at a better time for Palin and the GOP. It's taken the abuse of power investigation off the front page. And it's distracting us from Palin's views, which will disturb a lot of people. She's cozy with big oil . She thinks creationism should be taught in schools.
She thinks global warming is a myth, too. In the context of modern scientific thought, that makes her roughly equivalent to 9/11 conspiracy theorists. It also makes her a threat to the well-being of the planet, and the future generations that must live upon it and with it.
There's more, but you get the picture. The debate we should be having is getting lost in the noise of this salacious gossipfest at a young girl's expense. It's tactically wrong for the left to push this scandal - but more importantly it's morally wrong.
The principle should be: Finish any political streetfight they stir up, but don't start one - especially not one with children in it. We - on the left and the right - should be better than that. When we traded insults in junior high the rule was always, "no mothers." (Usually pronounced as "hey, man, no muthas.")
Let's all take a pledge: No kids, either. That includes the media. No muthas, no kids. Whaddya say?
(other sources: Washington Monthly, atrios)
1It's pointless, since everybody knows it anyway, but I've decided not to print the girl's name.
RJ Eskow blogs at:
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Yah. It's a private matter FOR BRISTOL. Not Sarah's choice.
It's not Sarah's life, it's not Sarah's womb, it's not Sarah's education and it's not Sarah's future that's at stake here: it's BRISTOL'S.
All of which Queen Bee Palin has vigorously opposed.
She should keep her prying mother-in-law nose the heck out of MY womb.
It's even about poor Bristol's right to choose. Do you think she's going to get a first-class education now?
Read this:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/2/12360/51031
What we have lacked thus far in this campaign season is a debate on the validity of policy decisions. Here is a perfect chance to have a real discussion about an issue that is having a significant impact on our nation.
But too many Democrats would rather lose than appear unseemly, so nothing will be done.
McCain, as Presidential nominee, has selected Governor Palin as his Vice Presidential candidate, demonstrating the quality of his judgment thereby.
Governor Palin has chosen to take her daughter on stage, bringing her into the campaign fabric, as her introductory and validating act. She could have kept the children off stage, but she played the family values card. I'm sorry for Bristol, and I wish her Godspeed in life, but there are important issues at stake.
The fact that this set of "family values" would draft a 17 year old into an internationally reported campaign at a moment's notice at such a vulnerable stage in her life, with the potential for incredible emotional damage to her, speaks volumes about the candidates' characters. They are unsavory opportunists.
These actions at the campaign launch show a lack of respect: a lack of respect for Bristol and her privacy in this difficult time, a lack of respect for the baby yet unborn, and by implication a lack of respect for considering the consequences in future, in favor of the transient victory of today.
By all means avoid critiquing the children; but by no means avoid critiquing the parents for their choices concerning those children. We are not so dumb as to miss the distinction.
What debate? While she's at it, why not teach all forms of creationism from all religions? What makes the christian myth so superior?
These Christian right-wing hyporcrites need to be hit where it hurts.
What's important is that she doesn't think her daughter should be able to have an opinion in the matter, or that anybody else's daughter should have the right to choose differently.
I actually don't mind if she opposes abortion even if my daughter is raped, but I mind very much that she thinks I should be required to agree with her.
McCain himself is said to have called Obama kids brats, and has compared them to Drew Berrymore and the Cabbage patch kids....
the Democrats would love to talk about the issues, but all McCain has been able to do for the past 6-7 weeks is talk about Obama his celeb status (bunch of trash talk) and him being an elitist.. when in fact McCain is the POW Celeb, and the 7+ house elitist with a bank roll of 100 mil plus vs Obama net worth of 772 K plus. So lets get real and talk issues. McCain will lose on that one too.
Does anyone remember the heartless jokes made by Mc Cain and LImbaugh about Chelsea Clinton?
No, I don't advocate that we do the same. I just wanted to vent.
The problem is that not everybody shares that value system. If the Rupublicans win in November then the Supreme Court will be stacked with justices who support overturning Roe v. Wade, and the Palin value system will be forced on those who do not share it.
The "pro-family" conservatives believe you should not put your political ambitions ahead of your family and hire nannies to raise the children. To stop coming home because of your demanding career is wrong they say, I mean used to say. Now it is fine!