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

[sailboy]

While the revelation Palin’s daughter is pregnant should not be a concern, the matter in which the information was release is. The republican campaign made Palin’s family out to be the All American Family with Deep Christian Values. When you run for public office you should expect your life to become an open book. Have you notice John McCain’s adopted daughter is not in the news? Why, he keeps it that way, she is not paraded out on stage to say, “See how family orientated I am! I believe in family values, look here is my family as proof!” Sarah Palin was not asked to be on the republican ticket because of her experience, it was her family values! So when her family turns out to be as screwed up as everyone else, yes it is on the table. No, the focus should not be on Bristol, but more on how the story was released along with proof to the true identity of Trig’s parents, after all, that was the original story. There are a lot of questions still unanswered. The marriage of Bristol to the father Levi, who has publicly said he does not want to have kids, is he being pressured into marriage and is Bristol being pressured into having the child because of her mother’s Family Values? I think as long as Sarah Palin speaks for Bristol, and Sarah remains in the public limelight, Bristol is fair game. Bristol needs to come out and speak for herself.

[Sp8z]

I totally agree that a 17 year old is just a child and should be left out of the harsh glare of public scrutiny. But, I hope everyone will remember this the next time some poor disadvantaged preteen is accused of a crime and the righteous public outcry is to try them as an adult.

[chelliza]

She knew that her daughter was pregnant and also knew her own position on abstinance only education. She put her own daughter in this position by taking the nomination. I still can't figure out how she even considers herself qulified. If someone came up to most of us and said they wanted us to run for VP, we would turn them down, even if we were qualified using the " I have 5 kids and am a hockey mom" position. She chose this over her daughter and that is not a "family values" decision under the Republicans own definition.

[graciesgirl]

It's the press's obligation to vet a candidate? I guess that's why we heard so much about John Edwards and his mistress while he was still running for President. As for Sarah staying home because her family is in crisis-when Joe Biden's wife and child were killed , did anyone tell him to stay home and raise his other 2 kids, one of whom was badly hurt? Wow-the liberals think they are so , like liberal, until it comes to women

[Max123]

Palin's pregnancy is a political issue for the simple reason that Sarha Palin is an extremist who has ridge views that will destroy America. She has campaigned against educating teens about sex and and how to prevent pregnancy. She supports only teaching abstinence but nothing about birth control. Studies time and again show it will not work. Her daughter is a great example.

Also she has supported Republicans who pass laws to put people in prison for years if they have sex with an under aged minor. That brings up the question as to how old was her partner and at what age did they first have sex. In Cincinnati (a Republican stronghold) Republican judges have put people in prison for up to five years this type of situation. They even campaign on it. If she preaches intolerance she should live with the consequences.

This, however, is not the key issue. The key issue is her lack of experience. A year and a half as a Governor of a state with less people than most large cities is simply unqualified.

[JonW]

Its the duty of the Press to peel back the nice layers of an unknown candidate. The future our country may depend on this. Imagine if a Demo candidate has an unwed mother in the family? The phony Repub religionists would be foaming at the mouth in indignation!. Look for more gaffes by McCain and more skeletons in the Putins closet coming out as the days go by.

[WAstateliberal]

It's also relevant because it was only revealed when they had no choice. How many other secrets does she have? There is a reason why we vet. These people are susceptible to black mail.

[muhair]

But there are important points to be made about this situation. Bristol provides proof that the abstinence approach to sex ed. doesn't work. Does Palin reject birth control access for high schoolers? Would she have seen that her daughter had access to birth control had she known Bristol was having unprotected sex with her boyfriend? Is she willing to reexamine her positions on the subject of sex ed. based on her daughter's experience? These are important and widely ramifying issues that should be open for discussion.

[UnbiasView]

So if abstinence doesn't work for one person it must not work for anyone right?

I think it is funny that you think a government program from either side would solve teenage pregnancy.

[Texanna33]

I'm not saying don't teach abstinence. I am saying teach sex education including abstinence & safe sex. Obviously, there are many people who practice abstinence and it works for them but, for those who don't, teach safe sex.

Do you know that STD's are actually higher among teens who have taken virginity or chastity oaths? They become quite inventive about how to have sex and remain "virgins". Teens have sex, even the "nice" ones, so why don't we teach them how to be safe and responsible?

[Texanna33]

HuffPost's Pick

You are so right. No one is judging Bristol, I myself was a mother at 17. I do think though that she is a perfect example of what results from abstinence only sex education which really translates to no sex education. Palin is an advocate of abstinence only sex education which should concern us all.

The course of Bristol's life is forever altered due to her mother's failure to take a realistic view of teenage sexuality and discuss birth control with her daughter.

We all think babies are wonderful and we only with the best for Bristol and her child but how much better would it have been for that baby ( and for Bristol) if it could be born to an adult mother rather than a child.

[TankerRat]

I find myself in agreement with Senator Obama on this one. Privacy is something ALL people should have.
Personally I don't think much of Palin myself but her family should be off limits .

As for Roe vs Wade.
I know of no one who "likes" the idea of abortion but a woman's right to control her own body and have her privacy respected is an overriding consideration. There is no one forcing a woman to parent. Or at least there shouldn't be.

[UnbiasView]

Roe v Wade = Strawman for every election . . .

No one is going to ban abortion people.

[ellethekitty]

HOMESCRIBE SAID:

I keep reading that the campaign decided to make Bristol's pregnancy public in order to dispel the rumors that Trig might have been her son and not the governor's.

Excuse ME!!!???? Did they just throw a 16 year old girl under the bus?

If they wanted proof, why not produce the birth certificate and/or depose the obstetrician who delivered the baby?

I ASK: Why isn't the Mainstream media asking this? I mean, the doctor cannot come forward because of privacy issues, but Palin should. Why not provide simple explanation and proof of Trig's parentage?

The irony of this is that conservatives are up in arms saying that Bristol deserves her privacy, yet they want to do away with Roe V. Wade, which is fundamentally based on privacy. Interesting how republicans, who are supposed to be against government interference in people's lives, selectively champions rights when it suits them.

[jonjjones]

Why did her parents subject Bristol to this and why isn't anyone asking that? And, as a side note, talk about Karma! I don't think I ever believed in it until now. This goes way beyond "celebrity" that McCain tried to pin on Obama. This subject is tabloid trash!

[DrMikeC]

I am not a journalist! What puts this in the public domain is the reported fact that Ms Palin is an advocate of abstainency (sp?), a quite ludicrous proposition in the 21st century as her own daughter has demonstrated. A planned pregnancy is a great thing, when one comes as a surprise in a longterm relationship it might be a delight, but children getting pregnant is disastrous for all concerned. This young woman, at 17, will change dramatically as she grows to full womanhood - which of us long out of our twenties would deny the truth of this? That this young woman and her lover will marry is supposed to put everything to rights - I don't think so. I hope the kids are not being pressured into this to salve Ms Palin's political ambitions. The fact the Governor returned to work some three days after giving birth also strikes me as worrying on many levels. This lady could be your next VP. Her judgment must stand up to public scrutiny.

[cxx]

Hear, hear -- Ruth!

Democratic platform . . . republican platform . . . this young lady's life is now on the "national" platform.

C'mon, can you imagine being 17 and having your life exposed as such and your mom running as VP? My only question is did Gov. Palin put her interest in wanting to be VP before that of her daughter, Bristol -- Palin must have known that this issue would be catapulted into the political stratosphere at some point and that her daughter would become be a focal point. I would hope that these issues were discussed as a whole with the Palin family. I feel so badly for Bristol -- put yourself in her shoes -- please, let's leave her alone and move on.

[Petesdaddy]

I don't agree that this is solely a Palin family issue. The governor chose to accept the VP nomination knowing that this could be a thorny issue. The American people deserve to know and to judge this woman's ability to make decisions that affect not only her own family but an entire nation.

[SDSL]

It's Mom, not Daughter who's in the spotlight.

It's also my liberal Democrat/Feminist dream to see this unfolding - the Religious Right coming forward and protecting their own. HYPOCRITES!

Another question to the Dads of Sarah and Bristol. Why didn't you take these girls to a Purity Ball instead of looking the other way?? As everyone now knows, Sarah set the "pregnancy before marriage" example for her daughter.

And it keeps on spinning...

[pipp]

Why wasn't another approach taken to debunk the rumors regarding baby Trig's parentage, instead of throwing her daughter (not to mention the other children) to the wolves. Newspaper articles coming out of Anchorage the day of the birth, name the Governor's Dr. she was in contact with in the flight from Texas to Alaska in April, while in labor, and alluded to as having been the attending physician, Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson ( coincidentally sharing a same last name as Levi Johnson). Couldn't she have easily released a statement instead? Haven't seen any statements made on Governor Palin's behalf, made by the hospital or Dr.

[Galt907]

Dear Ms. Hochberger,

You are so way off base, I'm not certain that the limited space Huffington Post alots to me will suffice as a compass to steer your ship back to reality.

First, the public did not choose to make Sarah Palin John McCain's running mate. John McCain chose her, but even he did not hold a gun to her head and force her to accept. She chose to accept the offer, knowing that everything in her private life would be subjected to scrutiny.

Second, although I feel sorry for the young lady, her choices do reflect upon the parent(s). I did not impregnate the youngster, nor did I encourage her to have sex, nor did I publicly proclaim that teaching sexual safety to teenagers was bad. (But the mother of the young lady in question did) Are you suggesting that Sarah Palin's views are not relevant to her candidacy? And if her opinions and views are relevant, then the practical, everyday results of those opinions and views are equally relevant.

Third, the press did a cover-up on George W. and the country was saddled with an alcoholic criminal in the White House. Apparently, you are suggesting that program be followed again.


Lastly, do the voters a favor, stay in your hallowed halls of ivy and your ivory towers, let us decide what we think is relevant to our decisions based upon all the available information.

[KodeBloo]

Wonderfully stated. Thank you.

[UnlikelyMichael]

I'm surprised that Gov. Palin accepted the nomination. Whether we are high-minded in the press or not (of course not), it was inevitable and apparently forseeable that poor Bristol was going to be hung out as a pregnant teen before millions upon millions of voters. Speaking as a parent, I would never do that to my child. Speaking as a sometime journalist, privacy is given up by ambition. Gov. Palin wants to be Vice President more than protecting the privacy of her child's circumstances. To my mind, that's a Road to Nowhere.

[insanityfollows]

I don't want to know or dwell upon Bristol or any of Palin's children's indiscretions or activities, etc... and don't need to know. However, I do want to know why a public candidate running on a platform of "family values" would not place her family first, and turn down this nomination to provide very private maternal support to her daughter. Pregnancy, especially when you are a governor's and US VP nominated daughter, tends to be somewhat of a public condition, especially when you start to show. Bristol isn't old enough to posess the maturity to say to her mother, don't run, I might hinder your ambitions, and I need your support right now. Sarah Palin is old enough to come to the same conclusion though, and should have turned down this nomination. Now, her daughter's life has become a living hell.

[slanglie]

PLEASE! If this had happened to Obama the Republicans would have made an ad about it for all the world to see. The hypocrisy of McCain and Palin in breathtaking.