Press: Back Off Bristol Palin!

When an individual throws him or herself into the glare of publicity by standing for public office, does the candidate drag the members of their family along with them? And should the press feel obligated to reveal prior or current indiscretions of the family members as they do the candidate?

There are several baseline questions that need to be addressed before answering either of these very troublesome questions: Has the candidate made his/her relationship with their family an issue in the campaign? Has the family member injected himself/herself into the campaign? What is the nature of the indiscretion? How old is the family member? Does the family member's act (or omission) shed any helpful light on the character of the candidate?

Let's look at the situation of Bristol Palin, five-months-pregnant, unmarried, 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate-in-waiting, Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska. The Palin camp announced the pregnancy in an effort to debunk rumors that cropped up in the blogosphere that the candidate's five-month-old son had actually been born to her daughter, Bristol, not to her.

With respect to the first question -- has the candidate made her relationship with her family an issue in the campaign -- the answer is a qualified yes. While Palin has not really been a candidate long enough (she was anointed Friday) to have made much of anything an issue in the campaign yet, her "family values" positions are certainly among the principal reasons she was chosen by McCain. In fact in the speech announcing her selection, he called her emblematic of "the hopes and the values of working people." So, an editor could make an argument that the "family values" issue makes a daughter's teen pregnancy fair game in a presidential race.

Has the family member injected herself into the campaign? Absolutely not. Aside from a quick photo shot of Bristol, alongside her brother and sisters on the platform on Friday, I have not heard a word she's uttered in support of her mother, McCain, the Republican platform or, for that matter, any public issue.

What is the nature of the indiscretion? A teen pregnancy out-of-wedlock. I don't think this clears the bar for press exposure. In 2001, the 19-year-old Bush girls, Barbara and Jenna, received misdemeanor citations from the Austin, TX police for underage drinking. There were those at the time who felt it was unfair for the press to inquire about and probe the incident and the Bushes' reaction. When law enforcement gets involved and there is a public record, the incident is fair game. When Andrew Giuliani put his name on a lawsuit against Duke University and filed suit, that is fair game for reporting. When a 17-year-old girl gets herself pregnant, I believe the press ought to stand down unless there's an unusually good justification for publishing.

How old is the family member? 17. Would any parent out there want to be judged as fit or unfit for their job on the basis of the nutty or irresponsible stuff our kids do? Even the proudest of parents knows that we're just a hair's breadth away from potentially disastrous consequences -- particularly with teenagers. This is not Billy Carter, or some other wacky adult relative who should be held responsible for his actions -- this is a near-child, who made a stupid mistake and now will live with it. It is very different than a responsible adult relative who screws up and embarrasses the candidate (and almost always knows that they're going to).

And finally, does the family member's conduct shed any light on the fitness of the candidate to hold office or on the candidate's morals, principles or values? The answer here is no. I am sure that in the days and weeks ahead there will be many things we learn about Sarah Palin that will make us acutely perplexed as to why John McCain thought she was the best possible option to be his second-in-command, but having a pregnant teenage daughter will definitely not be on the list. There are those that argue that having a teenage daughter get pregnant may be some reflection of her mothering skills, her attentiveness, her insight into her own family. I don't buy it. And even were that so, it would not provide any window on her suitability for the office of vice president; it would only be a measure of her mothering.

The toughest ethical questions faced by journalists involve when to involuntarily strip subjects of their privacy over matters they do not want disclosed. Since privacy is one of the most cherished values in a civilized society, we in the press need to be absolutely sure that when we do it, we have some higher ethical justification. In this case, there was none.

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

Comments

[dannyS]

Privacy is the basis of Roe V Wade, but Mrs. Palin wants it overturned.

[prafmm]

Ruth,

They can't put the kids out there for campaign props and be off limits. You can't run for national office and think this won't happen. Beside, I have't seen any sane, thoughtful people roughing up Bristol. They comments are pointed towards her mother and father's judgement at putting the family out there in the first place. Family values huhhhh !!!

[nwerle]

We are not attacking Bristol, we are attacking her mother

if Chelsea did somehting that called her mothers positions or actions into question
we would have discussed Chelsea's actions also.

when will GOP stops challenging joe bidens Son for being a lobbysist?

[FirstShirt]

Excellent article and totally lost on the incoherent blather you will see posted here. For people who are supposed to represent the progressives and those who accept others without shame and without bigotry, you are pathetic.

There has been an amazing change in politics over the past 10 or so years. Republicans are now the progressive party reaching out to others. Democrats are the party of special interests and narrow minded perspectives. The republican party was founded as an antislavery party of the late 19th century. We will return to our roots. This isn't about Bush. It is about the future. If you want to expend your energy ripping a young woman go ahead. Your behavior is more a reflection of your own inadequacies than hers.

[11907281]

So all those personal attack ad's on O showed the R's inadequacies, or does this only apply to those you disagree with?

[psych101]

The article misses the point. The criticisms directed towards Palin, for the most part, aren't focusing on her fitness as a mother. Rather, they emphasize the glaring irony that Palin, who is a staunch opponent to sex education and funding to reduce teen pregnancy (as is McCain), now faces a situation where apparently preaching abstinence just didn't cut it. This issue illustrates that even in an extremely conservative household teen pregnancy is a reality and while the Palin's are fortunate enough to help her daughter not all teenage girls are so fortunate.

This issue is not just about abortion rights or Palin's family values, its about the need to address real problems practically and intelligently, rather than brushing them off to satisfy some fanatical ideology the carries no real value in the world.

The media loves drama, no doubt, but its intolerable to allow politicians or others in privileged positions to commit acts of hypocrisy and self-righteousness while others in less fortunate positions have to bear the real burdens of their failed stance on policy issues.

[randomx6]

So if Palin was pro sex ed and birth control this wouldn't be a story? ...or it would be a story? In your world is there any way this 17 year old could maintain her privacy or does prurient interest outweigh all?

[psych101]

You missed my point. It stinks that a 17 yr old girl is being scrutinized (even though her privacy was in effect rightfully surrendered when her mother accepted the vice presidency nomination), I'll agree with that. But this issue should, without question, address the reality of teenage pregnancies and the need to provide effective framework to deal with this issue. It should emphasize that the social conservative take is inadequate and while Bristol may be fortunate to have a loving supporting family, too many teenage girls don't and are left with an immeasurable burden.

If Palin was pro sex ed and birth control, etc at least it would demonstrate her acknowledgement that this issue cannot be solved by wishful thinking. This should be a story about teenage pregnancies - many which are unplanned and/or unwanted.
Don't you think if a poltician was against drug rehab programs and for harsh penalties it would be worth discussing further if it turned out his child was a heavy drug abuser? This is not about Bristol or Sarah or privacy or prurient issues. Its about real problems that need real solutions.

[Insightful]

Sarah Palin is right out of the dark ages that women have struggled to rise above for years on end.

Is this where we want to go?? This is the ideology of John McCain. When he chose this woman to represent his party it clearly showed his total lack of sensitivity when it comes to women's issues. This party won't even allow planned parenthood. If she had permitted her daughter to learn about birth control she would not have subjected her to her current predicament. It is a form of sick control and it affects men as well.

Are there really women out there who want neanderthals like this controlling our personal lives.

[metalpipe]

It has become obvious to me, after spending a horrifically boring two hours watching the meaningless, idiological drivel being spewed like candy corn from a firehose at the RNC, that there is no way to reduce Palin's stature in the eyes of these trogladites using smear tactics.

We must use her to energize our own progressive base.

[blog4um]

Sarah Palin, who chose to throw her daughter under the bus, has PLACED her daughter in the press and world spotlight. NOW, they are bringing her baby's daddy on the scene by flying him with the family to the RNC. Is this what you call privacy?

Sarah, do you want privacy or are you using this for press? You can't ask for both.

[lady49]

This is not about "Bristol" it is about the rampant hypocrisy of the Republican party. Especially, that annoying habit they have of holding themselves out as "holier than Thou" on almost every occasion whether social or political.

[piquet]

...thank you.
Sorry this is payback to people that have made those of us that can "see" miserable for the past 8 years. I have absolutely NO PITY for any of them. In fact. I am enjoying watching them suffer from their OWN decisions.

[foxbat73]

When Palin wraps herself in neanderthal principles such as abstinance and such, you must point it out as a failed policy and what a complete and utter failure she would be as Vice President. McCain's age does not bother me nor does his health. But what would she discuss with some really smart folks? Moose burgers?
Her daughter, in and of the daughter, is not the issue. It is the fact the deliverence wing of the republican party has gutted any type of sex education and ousted Planned Parenthood from most small and rural communities. It is the behavior and the fact that abstinance did not work. Period. Not the daughter but the behavior and how out-of-touch these folks are.

[RoloTomassi]

The Corporatist MSM will do as they have been trained to do; all that matters from the dems POV is that Obama take the high road in his own comments.

We all do well to avoid behavior that encourages rock throwing, or perhaps even better to avoid living in glass houses; Palin had done both, and whatever the results are via the MSM [and their "non-issue" driven coverage] is just part and parcel. McCain chose Palin in desperation; the repercussions to the GOP are on him--repercussions for Palin's family are on HER, as she could have turned him down [and for obviously good reasons].

I don't appreciate the approach the MSM takes to their coverage, but there is no doubt that the GOP would gleefully exploit these kinds of issues were they part of the Dem candidate's personal life. The GOP platform and core ideology is nothing more than a sham, a morally bankrupt semblance of moral virtue, and their VP candidate illustrates that perfectly.

SO, to me, if Palin has chosen to piss-off rock throwers and also live in a glass house, the responsibility for the broken glass and injuries lies with the owner, and the silly man who put her there...no­t the MSM, or any other critic.

[JanP]

You have to back off Bristol Palin's pregnancy because it mirrors Obama's mother's pregnancy.

Obamas mother concieved Obama early in November, 1960. She got married on Maui on 2/2/1961 to a man who was already married. Obama was born 8/4/1961.

Obama's mother chose not to abort him so you will sound really hypocritical if you criticize Bristol Palin for not getting an abortion.

[shaunmarie]

No one is criticising this teen for not getting an abortion. Heck, very few people are criticizing the child at all.

However, Palin, using her daughter as the poster girl for the pro life movement sickens and disturbs most of us. Its Disgusting.

[applespider]

I haven't heard--or read--anyone suggesting that this girl get an abortion or criticizing her for not doing so.

[ceejaygee]

Obama's mother's pregnancy is not something he is ashamed of. In fact, didn't he bring it up himself when asked about Bristol's pregnancy?

[JanP]

He did bring it up.

did he bring up the fact that she wasn't married?

[metalpipe]

I don't believe any articles I've read have suggested Bristol should have gotten an abortion. Nor have I read anything outwadly abusive being written ABOUT BRISTOL. This is about her hypocrite mother, her ninteenth century ideals, and her total lack of compassion for women's rights.

If it weren't for the women who faught hard for the last 100 years to give HER the right to vote, to join the military, to become judges, to work side by side with men in industries which were previously exclusive men's clubs, she would not have the oppurtunity to spew her BS. Christianity has always been about elevating the position of men in society and putting women in their place. Sarah should remember that as she champions the Christian extremist movement.

[JanP]

There have been stories that she didn't learn any sex euction beyond abstiance, knew nothing about birth control and didn't know that she had a right to make a choice.

[becky54]

I do not know how old you are but there is a real big difference between today and the 1960's. Young pregant girls were either sent away by their family to have the baby or the young girl had a illegal abortion. Both of these options were terrible and thank goodness young women have options today. They can keep the baby, as Bristol is doing, give the baby up for adoption and the last choice is to abort the fetus. There is no comparision to today and the 1960's, and no way you can compare Obamas mother's choices and Bristol's choices.

There is no hypocracy except maybe yours because your comparison makes no sense.

I do hope that the families do not force these two young people into a marriage, because these kids need to grow up before they get married. That would be not a marriage of convenience but a marriage for political approval.

[tjwdraws]

A major plank of the republican party's platform is telling others how to conduct their private lives. While I believe Bristol and all the underage kids of all the candidates) should be off limits. McCain shouldn't have made that nasty joke about Chelsea - I am sure we would agree. I do judge a MOTHER who is running under the slogan: COUNTRY FIRST when her family (including an pregnant teen and special needs child) clearly needs her to put FAMILY FIRST. No, I don't think that is sexist. How often do we hear of male politicians taking time off to "spend time with family".

[randomx6]

How often is it BS? 99.9% of the time. Usually they are about to be indicted.

[mheister]

Senator Obama has said Bristol's pregnancy is off-limits. I agree, with one limited qualification, which Ms. Hochberger already referenced.

First, though, let's grant that Bristol is honoring her mother's opposition to abortion by choosing to carry to term, and should be supported for this. Further, Bristol should not be judged for her actions. It really is her and her family's business. I wish them a happy and healthy bundle of joy in about four months.

Now, Governor Palin is by no means off-limits. Palin specifically opposes to any birth control education in the schools other than abstinence. If such a policy is shown to yield a pregnant underage daughter in the candidate's own family, isn't that anecdotal evidence at least of the flaws in the governor's position? IOW, if Bristol and her boyfriend had received sex education and had proper access to contraception, would the likelihood of pregnancy have been reduced?

The broader question is, do we as a society want to encourage safe sex practices through education and access to birth control, or do we want to continue to sing the praises of abstinence when such advice is largely ignored, even amongst the children of Evangelicals???

[Bettysdad]

When someone's entire political career is based on telling people how to behave in private, EVERYTHING they and everyone they are related to MUST be covered by the media.

If politicains don't want their families exposed to the light, they shouldn't talk about anyone else's.