If you’re sick of this story already, and if so I don’t blame you, go read something else.
On Sunday, our tip line got more e-mails on the “OMG, Sarah Palin is actually her infant son’s grandma!” conspiracy theory than anything else in the short history of Deceiver. I don’t know if it was part of a concerted effort or just a coincidence, but a lot of people seemed to think there was something to it. So, since I’m now the “Writes about pregnant women in political stories” guy around here, I looked into it.
And it was completely, insultingly ridiculous. “Oh, hello, Kos weirdo. You looked at some pictures of Palin and her oldest daughter Bristol, and now you’re ready to make a medical diagnosis? And a flat-out accusation of a coverup? The governor of a state faked her own pregnancy while hiding her daughter’s, and nobody caught on?” Completely bizarre. And yet it made its way from a Daily Kos diary to the “legitimate” news within a day or two.
Then it turned out Bristol is five months pregnant now, instead of having had a secret baby five months ago. Which is apparently the most important thing that’s ever happened to anybody, anywhere, at any time. A lot of people are trying to make the case that her pregnancy is at odds with her mom’s religious beliefs, that it’s somehow hypocrisy, but I’m going to need more convincing on that one. Seems to me the only case for hypocrisy would be if the girl got an abortion.
But is there anything else about this story that’s Deceiver-worthy? Are there any famous people being complete hypocrites? Yes: the media.
I know, I know, you’re sick of people ranting about “the media” as if it’s some sort of monolithic entity, instead of thousands of people making thousands of decisions every minute of every day. But it sure does seem like most of them are focused on one goal here: Clearing a path between Obama and the White House.
Consider that just one month ago, the media was doing its level best to ignore some very solid evidence that John Edwards had an affair and a baby with Rielle Hunter, and that he was (is!) spending a fortune trying to cover it up. And some of that money may have come from campaign donations. “Leave him alone, he’s not running for public office!” Well, does Bristol Palin have more delegates attending the Republican National Convention than Edwards had at the DNC? Is she a scheduled speaker? Is she getting buckets of cash from Fred Baron? Is her old press secretary now working for Joe Biden? (Those are all “No,” by the way.)
The news went out of their way to ignore the Edwards story for almost three weeks 10 months, until he gave them no choice but to cover it. But now they’re climbing all over each other to get at any possible dirt they can find on Palin, less than a week after she was announced as John McCain’s running mate.
In addition to Bristol’s pregnancy, here are some of the other compellingly vital facts we now know about Sarah Palin:
- Her husband Todd had a DUI in 1986.
- She once got ticketed for fishing without a license.
- Pat Buchanan once visited her hometown, and as mayor she welcomed him.
- She once got on a plane even though she was pregnant.
- She didn’t get an abortion, even though she knew her baby has Down Syndrome.
- She once belonged to a different political party. (Update: Or not.)
I’m sure there’s more being dug up every second. Now, is this stuff worth covering? Sure, okay. Get it out there and let people decide for themselves. When you run for public office, that’s what happens. But the sweaty desperation of the response is amazing. “How can this woman be a heartbeat away from running the country if she can’t even run her own daughter’s vagina? She wants to make our children handle snakes in public schools!” It’s just mind-boggling. If you want Obama to be president, that’s great, but trying to tear down this woman’s beliefs and family is not the way to get him there. Even he has said so.
Am I being a hypocrite for going after Rielle Hunter but thinking people should leave Bristol Palin alone? Could be. But consider this: The Palins have already come clean about it. Odds are you’d never even heard of them a week ago, but now they’re in the middle of a national scandal and they’ve already admitted what happened. Whereas John Edwards is still insisting he doesn’t know anything about a baby, and Rielle Hunter and the Andrew Young family are still getting big cash payments and private-jet trips all over the place to keep them from talking. (And Edwards is already trying to get his public-speaking career back on track!) Say what you want about Palin’s policies and personal beliefs, but at least she’s being honest.
Not to mention that Rielle Hunter is a grown woman who’s been seeking fame her whole life and had an affair with a guy who was running for president, whereas Bristol is a teenage girl suddenly thrust into the national spotlight because her mom got a cool new job opportunity. If I’m able to discern a slight difference there, you’re just gonna have to deal with it.
So leave the kid alone, okay?
On a lighter note: We’ve already got our first Sarah Palin bikini pic! Unfortunately it’s a fake. Strictly in the interest of debunking a hoax, here it is (courtesy of Simon Owens at Bloggasm):
Get it? Because she’s hot and she likes guns. And here’s the picture of her face that they pasted onto this other woman’s body:
And here’s the comparison:
Another salvo in a disinfo campaign, or just some good clean Internetty fun? Beats me. (Update: Patterico found the bikini pic they slapped Palin’s face onto.)
P.S. Lee Stranahan will be on Glenn Beck’s show on CNN Headline News tonight to talk about this. Er, Bristol’s pregnancy, not the bikini pic. I’m assuming.
Oh, it looks like it’s time for another bulleted list of updates:
- The Daily Kos post that started this whole thing? The one mentioned on CNN and in the Washington Post, among other “legitimate” news sources? Presto. (Google cache here.) It looks like we may have yet another link to the Rielle Hunter story: mysteriously disappearing Internet evidence.
- I’m being told Palin is a book-banning freedom-hater, citing this and this as evidence. What do you think?
- In the days and weeks to come, it may be instructive to compare how Palin reacts to criticism with how Obama does. (Hat tip: Rocko)
- BREAKING NEWS: When Palin was in college, she wore a t-shirt with a corny saying on it!
- The National Enquirer has more. Hey, they were right about Edwards…
- According to McCain campaign strategist Steve Schmidt, they’re being deluged with media demands that Palin prove she’s the mother of her own son:
“The campaign has been inundated by hundreds and hundreds of calls from some of the most respected reporters and news organizations. Many reporters have called the campaign and have apologized for asking the questions and said, ‘Our editors are making us do this, and I am ashamed.’”
Not ashamed enough to do the right thing and quit, though. To reiterate: Newspaper reporters are demanding proof that Sarah Palin gave birth to her own son, based on a Daily Kos post that has now been deleted. What the hell is going on here?
- “HOW THEY COULD HAVE KEPT THE PALIN PREGNANCY STORY OUT OF THE PRESS: Leaked it that John Edwards was the father…”
Simon, I hear you, but I’m more in line with this commentary.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bonnie-fuller/sarah-palin-she-has-chose_b_123282.html
Great, thought out, mature post - prepare to be attacked.
I agree with Simon by and large but I must say that I blame Sarah Palin for a goodly chunk of what her daughter is going through; knowing she was a anti-abortion, anti-sex ed candidate with a pregnant teen daughter…c’mon. At least announce it on DAY ONE.
I’ll be on the Glenn Beck tv show on CNN Headline news discussing this for two minutes or so at 4pm west / 7pm east and 6pm west / 9pm west.
I think the Bonnie Fuller thing is horsecrap, but I agree that they should have put it out there on day one… instead of day four. Four days, you guys.
Being pregnant and a teenager is not the end of the world. Her family is standing behind her, beside her and all around her. The Palins are showing us what a family can be and should do for each other.
You were batting 1000 until that last bit. The whole “Palin used to be an AIP member” has been discredited. She’s always been registered as a Republican.
As mayor, she went to their convention, when it was hosted in her town.
As governor, she recorded a “you belong to another party, but competition is good” message for their convention.
Do you have a link, Pierce?
Oh, and Palin isn’t an anti-sex-ed candidate, she’s a member of Feminists for Life, which is pro-contraception, anti-abortion. The meme comes from when she was interviewed, and offered choices were extreme: explicit sex-ed, or abstinence-only. All she said was that she wasn’t going to choose “explicit” anything. She never actually said she supported abstinence only and she certainly hasn’t done anything like that in Alaska. So I think it was just a bad interview, not indicative of anything if your choices are porn (which never has any birth control or foreplay, have you noticed?) or abstinence only.
I have a friend who got pregnant at 18. Her parents are pentecostal. Dad believed her story, “We only did it once but the condom broke,” but mom didn’t. Neither of them wanted her to marry the father of the child. Yeah, he was a nice guy, but a kid is one thing, a bad marriage is quite another. They knew it was better to have her live in their home, with the child, and raise her all together.
It is time for all of us to move on. Poor Bristol can’t say the same thing.
Now, what’s the next story? I can’t wait……
I think most people will agree with you here. Unfortunately, John McCain has been a part of this problem in the past. Recall this sick, sexist ‘joke’ he told about the child of a political opponent:
“Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?
Because her father is Janet Reno.”
http://www.salon.com/news/1998/06/25newsb.html
That’s an ugly joke, and if he didn’t apologize he should have. But do you really think it holds a candle to all this?
Gotta agree with Simon on that one. No one is gonna actually believe that Janet Reno is Chelsea’s father. A pretty decent amount of people seemed to believe that Palin faked a pregnancy to cover for her daughter. One is a joke in bad taste - the other is blatant character assassination.
Okay, I just heard that she wasn’t a registered AIP memeber. Her husband was though. Still pretty funny.
But it is documented that she wanted to ban books and had the librarian fired.
I agree that Bristol should be left alone and I still think her mother made a poor choice. I never thought it was a credible story about Bristol and Trig. Lots of intelligent, wonderful girls get pregnant as teens and I am glad her parents are supporting her. The average girl doesn’t have health care and emotional/financial support. But mom brought her kids into this in that very first speech, making sure everyone knew about her boy Track being deployed. Not using the kids at all. Nope,nope.
Leave Bristol alone. But question McCain’s motivations.
Obama got a lot of support with his amazing speech and the DNC was solid and inspiring with lots of memorable speeches. Best convention I have ever seen. That is not why people are going after Palin. She was an insulting, reckless choice so no surprise people are upset. Personally, it scares the hell out of me to imagine them winning. Obama does not support anyone going after her family and he has made that crystal. A loose cannon with a rage problem and a book-banning, Christian extremist are not my idea of a good ticket when we are at war, (which at this point is being funded by China) and our economy is the worst it has been in my lifetime. What are they going to to do about our economy, healthcare, child care and poverty? I cringe when I see the “Women for McCain” signs because they are a pretty lousy couple for women’s issues. I do not care about Bristol. But I sure as heck care about my own daughter’s future under another Repub administration.
Link, please.
She’s got kids. She talked about them to the 99.9% of the country who’d never heard of her. Was she supposed to deny being a mom? If McCain had picked a male VP candidate, wouldn’t he bring his family up onstage with him? Would that make them fair game for a smear campaign?
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1837918,00.html
“Stein says that as mayor, Palin continued to inject religious beliefs into her policy at times. “She asked the library how she could go about banning books,” he says, because some voters thought they had inappropriate language in them. “The librarian was aghast.” That woman, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn’t be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving “full support” to the mayor.”
http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510219.html
The article in the Alaska paper says she wanted to fire not only the librarian but also the Chief of Police. Apparently, she signed letters to fire both but then went back on the librarian after she felt she “had her support.” but on both counts it was because they disageed with her. The Police Chief was not spared. There are more examples of these firings. This was not an isolated case. There is a pattern of behavior. (Yes, I will find the links again. I am not in the habit of saving them as I read.)
We need to look at their character, their temperament, etc. Both Palin and McCain have many examples of reckless behavior. This is being re-framed as “Maverick.” Palin supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it. She was for earmarks. And something about aerial wolf hunting?
And there is a difference between just showing up with your family and highlighting them for political reasons. i.e. John Edwards used his wife’s cancer and their seemingly rock-solid marriage was highlighted. I do not think McCain’s daughter was even featured in that People magazine spread.
She tried to ban books …. and get the librarian fired?!?!?!? As a former journalist and a current librarian, this - not anything dealing with any part of her children - would scare me the most; infringement on First Amendment rights, the same ones that let us post here. I’m not saying she’s either (I’m not even hinting it), but that is typical behaviour of totalitarian and/or fascist societies. This may not be an on-point Deceiver question as it doesn’t show her to be a hypocrite, but do you really want that kind of mindset in high office? Today, the hometown librarian … tomorrow, the internet? Including blogs like this one? Don’t say it’s not possible. China’s got it down to a science, and if the Supreme Court gets a strongly conservative majority, it and behaviour like it are not entirely out of the question. That, more than anything related to kids/grandkids, causes me to gravely doubt her judgement.
Post while you can, guys.
The first speaker at the RNC called her Sarah Pawlenty. You can’t make this stuff up.ROFLMAO
Hey, when the mother is against sex education (which can prevent teenage pregnancies) and her own teen ends up pregnant, this should be pointed out. Not necessarily to the extent it is being covered, but it should be noted.
Speaking of children of candidates: where the hell are any pictures of Bridget McCain? You see Meghan everywhere, sure she’s an adult, but you do see the other candidate’s younger children- why not Bridget? I find it disturbing, to say the least.
You think maybe he killed her? No wait, raped and killed her. Not necessarily in that order. I think we may have the makings of another Kos post.
Finest post you’ve ever written Simon.
Hi Heels Lo Life, did you hear the Obama campaign urged its supporters to confront WGN-AM in Chicago for having a critic of the Illinois Democrat on its air? (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-obama-wgn-web,0,6714747.story) They were later invited to have someone appear and declined the request. That seems pretty fair to me, have on a critic and a supporter but who needs that kind of balance when you just protest?
I mean your comment is up there with the fear mongering I hear about Bush. Bush is going to institute the draft, Bush is going to listen to your dirty phone calls, Palin is going to ban the internet. If you’re worried about the First Amendment you should become an ardent supporter of the Second Amendment.
Bristol was the lead story on Entertainment Tonight. And if they lose she may feel responsible. This stinks. Just heard conservative Times writer Brooks say it is not Sarah’s fault. She “expected” privacy. Come on. Anyone being even a little honest would admit that her parents had to know the pregnancy would be revealed and that she would be the subject of negative commentary. And it is not sexist to bring this up. If one of Obama’s girls was a bit older and this happened the Pubs would go crazy about liberal values, etc. This is the most important election in a long time and it’s irresponsible to have this kind of distraction.
McCain says he knew about this. Where is his judgement? He met her once before he offered her the job. As a commentator on PBS mentioned, his friend told him he had to go through three interviews just to work as a server at Ruby Tuesdays. Again, this is why people are upset. It is insulting that she was not thoroughly vetted. And I worked in a library for 5 years so I’m right with you Hi-Heels.Attempted Censorship should alarm everyone. This is not Christian land. Nor should it be.
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/shadow_governor
This gets better. It looks like Todd Palin has also had some power getting people fired. This talks about him being a “Shadow Governor” and attending meetings with his wife. Is that usually done? This man Bitney was apparently fired because he dated the wrong person. He was a former close friend of Sarah Palin but then he got “on the wrong side” of Todd Palin. Is Todd fare game if he was attending official meetings with her and influencing her decisions?
excerpt:
So why in the world is Todd Palin getting copied on emails that his wife’s administration is classifying as confidential?
Furthermore there is something incredibly suspicious about these emails.
Ok, the lady has some problems. But doesn’t this make her *gasp* a HUMAN!?!? Now she was NOT completely against sex education which was noted in another post. You can not keep tabs on teenagers 100% of the time. If you try, they will rebel and go completely wild. I know this cause that is what I did! So leave the girl alone! Leave Sarah Palin alone because it is not her fault that her daughter is pregnant. It is also unfair to say that she can’t be VP because her infant son has down syndrome. None of this would even be an issue if Sarah was not a female. I am glad to see that Obama and Biden both have nothing to say about her family because they think it is wrong. Now if only other people can forget that this is not a celebrity, but a person running for a political position and actually listen to what she has to say, what she stands for, and what she feels like she can bring to this country…we might actually learn something about her other than her personal life! GEEZ!!!
“Censorship should alarm everyone. This is not Christian land. Nor should it be.”
Yeah, because ONLY Christians and Republicans want to censor your words, writings, and opinions. I suppose Republicans were responsible for the Fairness Doctrine, hate speech laws, and political correctness? I guess it’s their fault that you can’t raise an even remotely conservative viewpoint on a college campus without being shouted down, physically assaulted, or failed by your professors. You’re right, censorship should scare the hell out of people. So why don’t we start by dealing with the ACTUAL real censorship happening today under the auspices of political correctness and sensitivity, before we start worrying about some proposed censorship that might possibly in some obscure future time occur if we don’t keep an eye on politicians.
Methinks you’ve watched Footloose a few too many times. We live in a country where a crucifix stuffed into a jar of piss was considered ‘art’, and allowed to be shown DESPITE Giuliani being against it as a Catholic. Why? Because we live in a (for the most part) calm and rational society, that realizes freedom of speech and expression is precious and should be protected. The KKK marches downtown here in Indianapolis every year. They get viciously made fun of, but they are still allowed to do it. But you think we’re in danger of having books banned?
If Christians controlled HALF the power you people claim they did, there would be no abortion, no sex ed, no gay marriage anywhere, ect. Instead, the 10 Commandments aren’t allowed in front of public buildings or in classrooms even in conservative bastions like Mississippi and Alabama, under God came close to being removed from the pledge, and prayer has been removed from every facet of public schools. Now, does that sound like a very powerful ‘vast right wing conspiracy’ that is really capable of inflicting their views on you? Or just a very vocal minority that most of the country overlooks?
But you’d actually have to stop and think to come to a conclusion like that. You’d rather run around trying to convince people that Republicans want to overturn Roe V. Wade, take medication away from seniors and force them to eat dog food, keep women barefoot and pregnant, ban all forms of free expression, ect.
Well, isn’t this the same crap people have been trying to convince us Bush was going to do, or had already done? How many times have we had to listen to some moron spout off about how Bush was going to use the patriot act to seize absolute power over the country (which has always insulted me as a member of the military, because you’d better believe they wouldn’t back ANYONE trying to seize power - it’s that whole ‘domestic enemies’ part of the oath there hippies). But these things don’t happen, why? Because it’s sensationalist BS that is used to scare people who don’t know any better. Stop being influenced by the most vocal 5% of both ends of the spectrum, and try to realize that most Americans are moderate enough that none of these things will ever be allowed to happen.
Sorry for the essay - but come on people, don’t be that gullible.
Who’s Andrew Halcro?
Heya Rocko, just another citizen here, but I find it kinda scary that your response to someone fearing censorship is to call it fear mongering…and recommend a gun if you’re afraid of censorship?
I mean, fear of censorship has been with us since the very beginning, that’s why we have the first amendment in the first place. Any infringement up on that should be scrutinized. Sure, this might not be the sign of the end times, but that’s not what the poster said. They were afraid of someone who tried to infringe on first amendment rights being elected to high office. That’s not fear mongering, that’s wondering what a candidate will do and trying to protect your rights by being a smart voter. But damn, do you really think it comes down between “nothing’s wrong” and “buy a gun”?
“You’d rather run around trying to convince people that Republicans want to overturn Roe V. Wade, take medication away from seniors and force them to eat dog food, keep women barefoot and pregnant, ban all forms of free expression, etc.”
From John McCain’s website:
“John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench.
Constitutional balance would be restored by the reversal of Roe v. Wade, returning the abortion question to the individual states. The difficult issue of abortion should not be decided by judicial fiat.”
That sounds like a goal to me. Sometimes, progress happens in inches.
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/
He ran against Palin in the last Gov election. He knows where many bodies are buried.
I have said nothing about Bristol or Sarah because her daughter got pregnant. I think it is wrong to take a position that will subject her kid to the media.
And I stand by what I said about censorship. Why am I “gullible?” The articles citing her wanting to ban books were in a local Alaska paper and Time magazine which is hardly an advocate of Right Wing Conspiracies. I said nothing of conspiracies. I did not even say anything about Republicans in general. I am citing her history. Should she be in a position of power I am concerned because she APPEARS to have a history of abusing it for her own personal reasons and she holds extremist Christian views. I can only judge her based on her history.
Scott F.: Your post says a lot more about you than me since you are assuming an awful lot based on what I wrote. I never said only the Right and Christians were responsible for censorship. That is your idea, Scott. You imply I don’t think. Why are you atacking me personally? You imply a lot based on what exactly? How do you get Right Wing Conspiracy from anything I wrote? I am not attacking you.
I am concerned about my country and your “that could never happen here” mentality is not all that reassuring. Look at what has just happened this very week at the RNC. Preemptive raids on houses thought to hold protestors. 18-year old kids had weapons held against their heads.Homes invaded without proper search warrants. Pepper spray was used on protesters. Who let that happen? Why isn’t it being more widely reported by MSM? Google raids and protesters at the RNC and read up, Scott. Look on you-tube for the videos. I am not gullible. I am doing my best to be informed.
Rocko, chill. I’m not fearmongering, I’m defending the right of people to access information - everybody, and information of all kinds, even the people I don’t like and information I don’t like or agree with. And don’t put words in my mouth; I did not make those parallels. (That congress gave the telecoms immunity for then-unconstitutionally providing the government with telephonic communication information on US users shows that W. isn’t going to do that, he DID do that. And we found out about it afterward, not before - bit sneaky of them, but sneaky is one of the nicer adjectives for the current administration.) Don’t assume that because I made some vaguely-liberal noise I can fit your profile of them; I also attend church and am not pro-choice, and I also firmly believe in clear separation of church and state. It’s not as black/white as some people would like it to be, since that makes things easier for them.
Additionally, since when does support for first admendment rights imply I don’t support the second? I grew up in a house with hunting rifles, and a handgun; I was taught to properly respect their power and effects, and appreciate proper usage. The main reason I don’t own one now is because I live in NYC and the paperwork for legal ownership is more stringent than in most places, and I’m not interested in being a felon with an illegal piece. Are you implying I may need my arms to keep my right to speech, information, and assembly? That almost sounds like you expect that I’ll get them taken away. All the more reason to stress how important they are. For all of us. Even people we don’t like or agree with - and especially them.
Um, Scott F.?
Book banning is still a real, actual problem. I’ve seen it happen. This is not a theory of a possible evil, it’s still an actual problem. We do live in a country where the KKK is allowed to exist if they don’t hurt anyone and where someone can make fun of a your religion in a deeply offensive way. That’s the great part. You can also have a religion that hates gays, jews, whatever you want as long as it isn’t publicly funded. Swings both ways.
Lest you bang the gong of the oppressed conservative too much, please note that it is still happening on both sides. I’ve watched books banned, seen the ten commandments placed in a government building, and watched creationism being pushed in biology. Also watched people being attacked for being republican at the wrong place. It happens on both sides.
Yes, there is a need for freedom of speech for conservatives too. Yes, conservatives rights are impinged. But dude, that doesn’t mean that liberal rights aren’t infringed too. We haven’t swung completely either way, our rights are always and always will be infringed on both sides. Both sides gotta fight for each other.
I think we can protect first amendment rights for conservatives and still be a teensy weensy worried about book banning at the same time. Hell, it’s not like I’m okay with it if they’re “conservative” books.
HOW THEY COULD HAVE KEPT THE PALIN PREGNANCY STORY OUT OF THE PRESS: Leaked it that John Edwards was the father . . . ..
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/
Ah… An unbiased observer, then.
Hey Simon, excellent post as per usual. So nice to hear a voice of reason cut through all the slimyness of the last few days. I’ve been glued to my computer since Friday morning with mounting horror at the level some will stoop to. Thanks for sticking to the straight and narrow…and the facts!
And Scott F., great ‘essay’!
Simon,
Actually, Andrew Halcro has been one of the more saner bloggers on this. You should read his posts. He’s banned ANY discussion of the Palin’s kids. He wants to focus strictly on the issues.
I still doubt that Baby Trig is a child of Sarah Palin. While Down syndrome offspring are far more frequent to older mothers, and there are some pictures that claim to show her pregnant.
1) There are pictures and video at 7 mos that show no waddle. It is easy to fake a pregnant belly, not a walk.
2) the Anchorage daily article expressing surprise by her staff at her pregnancy
3) If life is precious to her at any gestational age, what was she waiting to publicize?
4) pictures of her with a prior pregnancy show her carrying a large abdomen and facial fullness common to pregnant women, not pictures from April of this year.
5) The trip controversy is the most troublesome; if she was pregnant, which I doubt, she was exceedingly reckless. A 43 multigravida with premature rupture of membranes and an aneusomic fetus should not fly and drive for 22 hours, should not delay medical care to give a speech, should not deliver in a rural hospital without a level III neonatal unit.
6)The baby was 6lbs 2 oz, larger than one would expect for a 8 month gestation Down baby.
7) The rumors of her daughters pregnancy are months old, and she changed school in the fall.
To rebut the rumors, Sarah Palin should have stood on a podium and asserted that Trig was her biologic son, shown a birth certificate, medical records, and assert that she was willing to obtain a confirmatory DNA test (two cheek swabs and $200 give you 100%). Anything short of this now, to me, will not remove my doubts. I am accusing her of being duplicitous, of using her children, treating her daughter as incapable of being a mother, of whitewashing her family resume.
Does her statement now that her daughter is 5 months (conveniently) pregnant convince me of anything? No. It reminds me of the common story line in murder trials, where the accused states, “I couldn’t have killed my wife on tuesday night, because I spent that night with the red-haired prostitute sitting over there in the yellow dress with blue ribbons and fishnet stockings. Now I could easily have just said I didn’t kill my wife, but I am so honest that I have admitted to you what I really did.” The truth is always that such an event is a screen for the real sin, which is far more evil.
@Phoenix:
“Lest you bang the gong of the oppressed conservative too much, please note that it is still happening on both sides. I’ve watched books banned, seen the ten commandments placed in a government building, and watched creationism being pushed in biology. Also watched people being attacked for being republican at the wrong place. It happens on both sides.”
And both sides are allowed to speak out about these things when it happens because they have a right to do so. If you want to silence me in the interest of fairness and balance, then either to it to those opposite me as well, or don’t do it at all. Hint: There isn’t really a choice in that sentence. Don’t do it at all.
Just because I don’t agree with someone doesn’t preclude my fighting for their right to say whatever they want. There’s a reason the founding fathers made that the first amendment - it was the most important.
Bruce: Pure class again with that comment. That girl is underage; the “joke” is insulting. Leave her alone and leave her out of it. (I don’t make the rules, I’m just pointing out the title of the thread.)
Um, according to the Time article, the only evidence that Palin is a book banner is that one of her political opponents claims he “heard” that’s why she fired the librarian. It could be true, but we’ve already seen what happens when you base character assassination on a rumor.
And Astrid 24, Bridget is at home in Phoenix, in high school, where she has chosen to be:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3748634
The joke isn’t about her, it’s about the media coverage. I can explain it to you if you’d like.
Hey mig tayler, you should really check out the Daily Kos. They would LOVE you over there! We tend to stick to reality on this website. And although I can’t throw around obscure medical terminology, I can still attest to the fact that I worked with a woman who hid her pregnancy til the 7th month and it was only dicovered because a fellow employee ratted her out. So there.
I have been pregnant. All pregnancies are different; even one person can have totally different experiences with different babies.
Never waddled, not even at 36 weeks which is what she says she was when Trig was born. Lack of waddle is a very weak argument, especially if she runs marathons.I could still do inversions in yoga and run stairs. Gained the recommended weight-30 pounds. Healthy babe- she just stood up by herself today. (Sorry, proud mama
)
She should have presented a birth certificate and DNA to convince you? Is it really relevant to her holding office? I think the other things brought up like her lack of experience, attempted censorship, possible abuses of power, extreme views and McCain’s recklessness are far more relevant.
almostblue - I was going to try to write out a long response, picking apart everything you said piece by piece, but I really don’t need to after the last paragraph you wrote.
“Pepper spray was used on protesters. Who let that happen? Why isn’t it being more widely reported by MSM? Google raids and protesters at the RNC and read up, Scott.”
You’re one of ‘those people’, which is why I’m not even going to genuinely try to convince you otherwise. ANYONE who can believe those anarchists at the RNC have a beef about getting pepper sprayed… yeah. I suppose the black helicopters over your house are watching your family and checking up on your library account to, right? You’re out to convince yourself that the government is trying to curb-stomp your freedoms, and why should logic stand in the way of something like that?
Why isn’t it being reported? Who let it happen? Yeah, if I hadn’t implied you were missing a few screws already, I’d be doing so now to cover all my bases.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080901/D92U49RO0.html
These ‘protesters’ are hardcore anarchists. Most of them don’t even believe in the doctrine, they just get off on wearing masks, screaming at cops, and burning trashcans. We shouldn’t crack down on violence, intimidation, and arson? Yeah, and all those ALF guys are just political prisoners.
Oh, and before you get off telling me that I misconstrued something about your statement, I’ll repeat your own words for you a second time: ““Censorship should alarm everyone. This is not Christian land. Nor should it be.”
That’s not an implication that it’s Christians who are the cause of the censorship you’re griping about? What exactly is it an implication of then?
If you want you ‘inform yourself’, I’d try making more of an effort.
I think I saw Bridget McCain sitting with Meghan at RNC Tuesday night. They were sitting in the row behind Cindy McCain.
Hi Heels, you’re right I should chill. So I did, then I re-read your original post and not only did my mind not change, I was un-chilled.
Maybe it’s me, maybe when I read lines like “do you really want that kind of mindset in high office?”, “Today, the hometown librarian … tomorrow, the internet?” (that’s not possible), “Including blogs like this one?” (::gasp:: this very one? But I post here!), “Don’t say it’s not possible” (b-b-b-but what if I already did?), “China’s got it down to a science” (damn repressive communists!), and “Post while you can” (but what about tomorrow and the day after?) they sound fear monger-ish to me. Just my thoughts, prior to and post chill.
I didn’t put words in your mouth, I made those parallels and I take credit for them. And since I didn’t do it before but got accused of it anyway, I will do it now. you’re a liberal. No need to worry though, you already defended yourself.
Scott,
Um, did you see all the videos? Follow journalists on Twitter. Many of them saw these things being done firsthand and recorded them on video. What did you think of the preemptive raids and guns held on people who had done exactly nothing? I’m one of “those people, ” says plenty. Those people who don’t like their rights violated. Again, not about me but about you. Lots of peaceful protesters got hurt and arrested trying to follow the orders to disburse and that is even being reported on CNN, not some lefty blog that you are likely wont to discredit. Go to CNN now if you doubt me. Read.
BTW, I hope for your sake and those around you that you are less miserable than you sound. I am nowhere near a conspiracy theorist and since you are continuing to attribute ideas and beliefs to me that are totally erroneous I will not address you again. Your portrayal of me makes me laugh though. Thanks.
I just keep my eyes and ears open.
Does CNN have “screws loose?” Are you comfortable with the actions of these police at the RNC? I am not. Most of the people were peaceful. I never said they were all peaceful. Are CNN conspiracy theorists? Who was intimidating whom at the RNC, Mr. Scott? Preemptive raids are what I would call intimidating. I am very far from extreme in my views.
My comment is an implication that I fear Palin’s extreme Christian views and as it has been suggested that she has wanted books banned and she is running for Veep, that this type of thing could affect her decisions once in office. That’s it. No conspiracy.
And give yourself credit: You did write out a long response. It just has nothing to do with me or my stance on anything. And I live close to 2 places where helicopters land frequently so there are indeed choppers over my house but they are not black. Have a good night.
Is it hypocritical to continue to entertain fools on this topic? Granted, I’m here reading and posting, but I admit my own sickness.
I’m reporting both of us. Oh. Wait.
* Famous people only. We don’t care about your two-timing ex, nosy neighbor, or belligerent boss.
I don’t qualify, and you might be marginal. Though status post Edwards mess, you’re pretty famous.
It’s funny watching people do mental gymnastics in order to argue that Barrack is more qualified than Palin, but it will be even more fun to watch this Palin bashing backfire on the lunatic left.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN54Fb9dLKs&eurl=http://www.newsbusters.org/
IMHO, if family members insert themselves in with speeches and campaigning, then they are fair game. Like Bill Clinton. Or Michelle Obama.
Yeah, wasn’t there a flap a few months ago where Chelsea was campaigning for her mom and some reporter asked her about Monica, and everybody was like, “How dare you bring up such a personal matter?” And that was about something that actually happened in the White House, and about how Hillary dealt with it. Which would seem to be a legitimate question considering she was trying to go back there. But no, that was off-limits…
That does relate to the “insertion” of Bill, doesn’t it?
Sorry. Never mind. Move along.
@Simon: “I can explain it to you if you’d like.” That’s OK, I can read between your lines, and did so first time.
@Rocko: You can choose to remain unchilled, and my response to that is that if you truly think I’m fearmongering, then you seem to scare easily. If your apparently delicate nervous system can’t read “tomorrow the internet” and not take it completely literally, that’s not my problem - and if you’re accusing me of hyperbole, there’s plenty on both sides of this thread, in addition to your facetious reply. As well, I wasn’t “defending” myself, I was taking time to explain that not all liberals fit into your easily-dismissable cookie-cutter concept of them. I’m not the easily-spooked, defensive one here.
What I said later in response to Phoenix, I’ll say again. Just because you don’t feel your views or voices or information access doesn’t seem to be impeded doesn’t mean its OK when it happens to someone else, now or anytime in the future. Is your attitude that you have yours, and to h*** with everybody else? I ask that seriously.
“Just because I don’t agree with someone doesn’t preclude my fighting for their right to say whatever they want. There’s a reason the founding fathers made that the first amendment - it was the most important.”
Apparently not, if you’re chastising Bruce for going after the kid when he’s actually mocking the media’s double standard. Actually, that’s the best, most concise summation of the whole thing I’ve seen. I wish I’d said it… (I will.)
If you’re not defending yourself then why are you explaining that you’re not a cookie cutter liberal that you seem to think I think you are? I mentioned nothing about liberals, I certainly didn’t call you one until my last reply, really, I never hinted at you being on one side or the other.
“Just because I don’t agree with someone doesn’t preclude my fighting for their right to say whatever they want. There’s a reason the founding fathers made that the first amendment - it was the most important.”
There goes the defense of the First Amendment cliche, I was wondering when you were going to use it. Sorry if I missed it in Phoenix’s reply. When it comes to the First Amendment, I do scare easily and I take it seriously, which is why when people throw around accusations that people are going to attempt to impede it, I don’t take it lightly. If you take it seriously, then your original post was fear mongering. Let me summarize your original post (with all the hyperbole): Sarah Palin wants to deny you free speech! Maybe not but can we afford to take that risk?
Here is an article about Palin’s nomination reigniting the culture wars. Food for thought:
http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/weblogs/pressthink/2008/09/03/mccain_strategy.html
Why are people sweeping this under the rug? Palin is anti-choice (yet talks about how proud she is of her daugther and HER CHOICE to have her baby), is anti sex-ed (yet has a pregnant teenage daugther and will soon have a son-in-law as quoted as saying “I don’t want kids”, which is completely fine, bet he wishes she could’ve got an abortion or knew how to use a condom though) and removed funding from programs like Passage House, which help TEENAGE MOTHERS ACQUIRE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
So yes, it’s all wonderful and bliss and serene that the family is so proud (WTF? Who in their right mind is PROUD their teenage daugther threw her life away?) of their daugther for getting knocked up - but Sarah Palin’s actions are RIPE with hypocrisy and require her to explain her beliefs and actions when those exact same beliefs and actions have placed her daugther in this predictament (don’t care what people say - it’s never a blessing when a teen and her mom can share baby rearing tips or the both reminisce about the pains of child birth).
Oh and let’s not forget her fondness of the Alaska Independence Party, how her husband was a member form 1995-2002 (6 YEARS AGO!) and how she addressed the AIP nationial convention, IN 2008, as her “duty” as governor.
People may be getting sick of Sarah Palin but that’s because the GOP would like to see all this mess ignored. It’s funny, if Obama had a 17 year old unwed pregnant daugther or if his wife was part of ANY state independence party - this race would be OVER IN A SECOND. You see, when a gay-scandal or a pregnancy-scandal or a loyalty-scandal hits the democratic party (or any party NOT republican) it’s a public matter that needs to be called on, addressed, and talked until everyone talking about it is blue in the face. When the EXACT same kinds of scandals hit the GOP, it’s suddenly a “private matter”.
“Does CNN have “screws loose?” Are you comfortable with the actions of these police at the RNC? I am not. Most of the people were peaceful. I never said they were all peaceful. Are CNN conspiracy theorists? Who was intimidating whom at the RNC, Mr. Scott? Preemptive raids are what I would call intimidating. I am very far from extreme in my views.”
Yeah, you’ve got a really good point there. Why on Earth would they have gone out and searched houses before the RNC!? Oh wait, because they had leads that those anarchists were planning acts of terror, and even an attempt to kidnap delegates. But like I said, you’d have to research the issue for 5 minutes to know just how full of sh*t you are.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_10365754
Feel free to try and defend their actions under ‘freedom of speech’. Because we all know it’s legal to plan for kidnappings and firebombs under the guise of a peaceful protest.
Seriously guys there is an easy way to control the drivel comming out of the main stream media today. ******click******* simply turn it off like I do.
This is all a pile of crap and it cements my belief that the Media is in the Tank for Obama 110%.
haha, now i know why there’s hardly any right-wing bashing. because, for the most part, you guys at this website ARE right-wing. Guess i’ll take you off of my favorites list, then.
I would like to hear more about what makes someone right for the job of president and vice president and not why the other candidates are wrong for the job. *sigh*
Here’s a question: IS Palin anti-contraception and/or anti-sex ed? I know she opposed a particular program directed at elementary and middle school students; I also seem to recall a direct quotation from her indicating that she has no problem with contraception. I haven’t even read anything definitive on her abortion position; I only know that SHE didn’t abort her own child. These premises (anti-contraception/anti-sex ed) are presumed as a justification for discussing Bristol Palin’s pregnancy, yet I’ve seen no evidence at all that the presumptions are correct.
Palin, as far as I can tell, is not anti-sex ed. She’s a member of Feminists For Life - http://www.feministsforlife.org/ - which seems to focus on giving already pregnant girls the skills and resources they need to cope with having a baby. She didn’t mess with Alaska’s Secondary Health Curriculum - http://eric.ed.gov:80/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/2f/79/15.pdf - which seems to me to be a “comprehensive” program as recommended by the APA - http://www.apa.org/releases/sexeducation.html.
Broxie - she’s anti sex-education and believes in only abstience-only education for kids.
If you need a quick run-by on what she believes, here’s a link (with supporting links for it’s claims
- http://slog.thestranger.com/page/2 - it’s right under the story about the cloned beef, lol. It’s titled “On Palin” and should answer your questions
Silly me — I actually believed you were non-partisan in your zeal to expose hypocrisy.
“Am I being a hypocrite for going after Rielle Hunter but thinking people should leave Bristol Palin alone?”
Damn straight you are. Self-silencing your own posts with one-line shortcuts.
Your work on Riellegate was admirable; your apparent unwillingness to openly discuss the enormous hypocrisy at the heart of this candidate and her daughter’s “decision” (Choice!) is sad and really puts you into the conservative hack category. Not sure I’ll be back.
This is a red light Emergence!!! DNC Please do something!!!! Now is the time for Hillary to come out thowing the kitchen sink!!! and what can Bill do with all his talent??? Don,t forget Chelsea, she,s a good girl and she,s not pregnant!!!!!! Power to the DNC!!!! Obama// Biden 08
McCain’s team selected Palin for one reason and one reason only (in my opinion) and that is to get the Hillary votes from Obama.
It was a desperate act that has come back to irritate them. You know what? If the rest of her kids … Bark, Moss, Dog Droppings or whatever their names are … want to get knocked up? Fine.
And taxes are going to go toward paying for the “f–kin’” nannies (as I’m sure Papa Levi Hairdo would call them).
At least John Edwards has means to support his bastard offspring.
I don’t know if you’ve turned on the news in the last couple of days, but the rug is being shaken out 24 hours a day.
Of course, because who else but a right-winger would have a problem with attacking a 17-year-old girl because of what you think you know about her mom? “haha” indeed.
I’d be sorry to hear that, None, if I had any idea who you are. Well, if you do grace us with your presence once more and you feel like explaining why I’m such a hypocrite, I’ll be glad to listen.
What’s “partisan” about common decency? Are you guys really trying to tell me this is like the Edwards coverup, just because they both involve uteruses?
darek, your link includes no info on Palin’s position on sex education, and the links for her position on abortion lead to a self-defined “Liberal” blog with no references.
This, however, is what Time says about Palin’s position on abortion:
“Nor has Palin made social issues the cornerstone of her governorship. When a parental consent law was struck down by Alaska’s highest court in 2007, Palin called the decision “outrageous” but refused calls from conservatives to remedy the defeat by introducing antiabortion legislation in a session that was supposed to be about drilling rights.
Wearing her faith quietly fits more with Palin’s personality, says St. George. “In all the years I’ve known Sarah and her parents, we never talked about right-to-life or any of that,” he says. “She doesn’t let those issues get in the way of getting things done for the community.”"
Hey, Not so fast, hold up I forgot to include this comment…Saw the GOP nomination,s Ho Down but not a Show Downn with the same old song, music, speech, rooting for the same old politics as usally, with the same old McCain, MacSame,MacINSANE hoping to play G.I.Joe war games!!!No Joking My Friends, it will be our young Sons and Daughters of the good old America That will be sent off to die for an Old Man,s war with No End in sight… Oh excuse me didn,t McSame say for a Hundred years or so would be just fine!!! Now listen My friends, this is just McacINSANE!!! Wake Up Folks and kick this M.M.M.ClAN to the Gutter beore they start World War Three!!! Do the right move for the 21 century ..Obama//Biden 08
Okay; well since I’m still gracing you here today (and by the way was visiting your site well before Rielle-anything), let me answer your request to “explain why you’re such a hypocrite”. Oh wait, I ALREADY DID, though you chose to ignore everything I wrote except 5 words. (In fact, you did too, in providing the original quote.) You’ve already ignored the two admittedly small points I raised above — (a) you purposely minimize the presence of this thread by shortening it to a single line on your front page, contrasted with your dogged and very visible pursuit of the Rielle story, and (b) while positioning yourself as an even-handed exposer of hypocrisy you don’t seem to find it hypocritical or worthy of calling-out that Ms. Palin had the temerity to call her daughter’s baby-carrying a “decision” while being renowned as a pro-life (anti-”choice”) politician when it comes to other peoples’ lives. There are many other aspects, of course, which are being hashed out ad infinitum/nauseam in the press, on other forums, and right here above in the thread.
But I wasn’t looking to type out an entire point-by-point debate — I was simply expressing my disappointment in you.
Wow Simon, you really called me on that- I TOTALLY am making the assumption that McCain raped and killed his daughter by pointing out her lack of inclusion in family photographs. Bravo, you see right through me!
I merely find it odd that they tend to not include her as part of their family when they are photographed. That’s all.
Oh my God, you guys, I’m a hypocrite because I used the More tag! It’s not that I was heading off the people who inevitably bleat, “Why are you talking about this?” Making it so only the people who actually give a crap need to hear any more about this nauseating debacle. No, I’m trying to hide it. Er, by publishing it on the Internet.
As I said, the only way I’d see hypocrisy in Palin’s daughter being pregnant is if she had an abortion. Or, I don’t know, if Palin kicked her out of the house. Yes, Palin proposes abstinence. What’s she supposed to do, put her kids in chastity belts? Did you do everything your mom told you to do when you were 17? Yeah, her daughter made a very embarrassing mistake, but it sounds to me like their family is pulling together and dealing with it. It’s not like she’s shivering in an alley. She’s surrounded by her family, and they’re saying, “This is going to work out.” How that’s a bad thing, I honestly cannot fathom.
By the way, how is keeping the baby not a decision?
Well, I guess I’ll have to muddle through anyway.
Is that any more outrageous than saying Palin faked her pregnancy because the kid’s really her grandson? If we’re going to make baseless accusations, why not go all out? Not you personally, but that’s the general trend. But if you really are offended, I apologize for my misguided attempt at humor.
I honestly have no idea what McCain’s family life is like, but maybe the one daughter just doesn’t like having her picture taken? Doesn’t want to be in the spotlight? Like the one Osbourne daughter who didn’t want any part of the reality show. Not everybody wants to be on TV. I mean, if I’m required to throw out a theory here.
Or maybe it’s some kind of horrible family secret. Let’s hope she gets attacked too. (Another joke! Relax!)
Another thing that just occurred to me: Isn’t it possible that having a pregnant daughter might change Palin’s opinions? Why is everybody assuming she’s so hidebound that she’d continue to advocate abstinence-only? Just because she’s a devout Christian? How about getting her side of it, and then furiously attacking her? Why assume you can read the mind of somebody you’ve known about for less than a week?
This is hysterical! Palin isn’t qualified to be VP because her 17 year-old daughter disobeyed her.
If this is the new standard, can we flush Biden because of his jail-bird daughter and Al Gore because of his crack-head, prius racing, brat of a son?
Please…I love all the speculation that she’ll drop out because her pregnant daughter. *sheesh*
Note to Minnie:
Your fantasy of ‘endless war’ is over. And the war is won. Even the NYT agrees.
John McCain knows what it means to go to war. He actually knows the consequences, because he’s suffered them, unlike your heroes Bill Clinton & Barak Obama.
““Am I being a hypocrite for going after Rielle Hunter but thinking people should leave Bristol Palin alone?”
“Damn straight you are. Self-silencing your own posts with one-line shortcuts.”
Note to None: Bristol Palin isn’t running for office. John Edwards was. Hence the relevance and significance.
I’m sorry, you’re just wrong. It IS our business because Bristol’s actions are reflective of how her mother raised her. And yes, her pregnancy IS a contradiction to their family’s faith–out of wedlock pregnancy, duh. Just more proof that abstinence education, which she so haughtily triumphs, is ineffective. You just don’t GET it, do you? Accuse the “media” of trying to clear a path for Obama, when you seem to be pulling out all the stops to defend the Republicans, sheesh. And you guys were supposed to be the ones who aren’t hypocrites!
This site is lame, anyway, it seems that all you do is repost stuff that people send you. All damn day. Damn, I wish my job were that easy.
Oh and may I remind you all that part of the reason those conspiracy theories arose, was because of Sarah’s very stupid actions in the twelve hours before she gave birth. The enormous risks she took, over and over and over again, would have anyone wondering if she was actually pregnant.
Not to mention, her daughter being out of school for that extended period of time, with the excuse of an illness that usually only lasts six weeks, is also very telling.
I’m not saying it happened, but Jesus Christ, you’re acting just like THEM by posting about this and ranting, without all the facts. I can see how the conspiracy theory arose, given all those fishy tidbits, but seriously, get off your high horse–by presenting only half the picture you’re being just like them!
Oh and Simon, having been a Christian, and the daughter of two Evangelical ministers, I can tell you that no, her mind will NOT change regarding abstinence only education. It absolutely will not. For one, politicians never admit it when they change their mind about anything–it would later be used against them as evidence of not being reliable in office to keep their promises. And with the Bible and Jesus and the Right Wing and all the behind her, I’m sorry, she will absolutely not change her mind. Period. I know these people and how they think, trust me on this one.
“By the way, how is keeping the baby NOT a decision?” Are you serious? You actually can write that knowing that the candidate’s position is that no one should ever be able to MAKE such a decision? That there can not BE the concept of such a decision (that is, Choice) in the minds of “pro-life” people (or in the law if they get their way)? You’re too smart to miss that, so I can only gather that you’re baiting…
“Note to None: Bristol Palin isn’t running for office. John Edwards was. Hence the relevance and significance.”
Uh, sir or madam, Edwards was most certainly NOT running for office when Mr. or Ms. Deceiver began his or her fabled coverage of Rielletown. And in this pisspoor contrasting game, one would have to be comparing Ms. Palin’s daughter to Rielle and Mr. Edwards to Ms. Palin, not Bristol v. Edwards as you’ve inexplicably done here.
Anyway, if this is just a rightwing site I’m in the wrong place. I was only here for the boobies.
Good grief, Holly, just un-twist your wee-panties and go vote for the messiah, already.
You hate Palin because she’s tried to teach her daughter solid values? She isn’t qualified because her 17 year-old disobeyed her and DUN!-DUN!-DUN!…had sex. out. of. wedlock.
And good God, the 5 minutes of abstinance-only schooling Bristol ever had, never stood a chance against the EIGHT YEARS liberal “here’s how to use a rubber” training she undoubtedly received in public schools.
Apparently THAT education didn’t work too well either, did it? So I guess we should scrap funding for all of that phoney education, too, huh?
Unfortunately, I have no such impression of you. If all you can do is accuse me of bad faith, I don’t know what else to tell you. You asked for an explanation, and I gave it to you as clearly and honestly as I could. Have a nice day.
Sorry. This isn’t the go-to site for me on Sarah Palin. It was great for a possible Democratic VP pick, but not for the Republican one.
[Link deleted, please do not spam. --The MGMT.]
So Palin’s husband was done on DUI 22 yrs ago. Pity he didn’t have the connections this fat murdering bastard had
http://www.sandiegoduihelp.com/duiblog/2008/05/chappaquiddick-incident-ted-kennedy.html
then he woulds have got away with it, after all he didn’t murder anyone.
But then he is a Dem and they love murdering and rapist scum.
It’s an issue because Palin is making it an issue. Flying the kid in now, come on. If he was so much a part of the family last week, then why wasn’t he there in Ohio with them?
And there the heck is Rielle with her baby?
Which kid? I’m really struggling to keep up with all the conspiracy theories, honest.
“It’s an issue because Palin is making it an issue.”
Making it an issue? What, because she didn’t keep her family locked in a closet away from public view? Jesus, talk about “distraction”.
No one did anything illegal or even questionable here, most especially not Sarah Palin.
Derek, you said: “Who in their right mind is PROUD their teenage daugther threw her life away?”
Well, over 30 years ago I was date-raped as a teenager and got pregnant. I didn’t tell my parents that I was forced, for fear of the legal issues that might ensue, and I coudn’t bear it at that time. My mother assumed that I asked for it and chose to treat me like I was the spawn of Satan, and gave my child away to strangers. If she only would have said to me, “This is not a good situation, but I believe that you can rise above it and make the right decisions in your life from here on out. I love you and your child, and am still very proud of you,” it would have made a world of difference in my life, and I would still have my first and only born child.
That is how someone in their right mind could and should still be proud of their daughter in that situation. And why does having a child in this way mean that the daughter’s life is thrown away, assuming you mean, over, useless, meaningless, etc.? She and her child (with or without child’s father) could have a very rewarding and fulfilling life ahead of them. Try to look at life from more than just one narrow perspective.
Hilarious example of pot-kettle-black! better add another disclaimer that reads, “Famous liberals, lefties, and pinko commies only!”
Hi Heels to life-
Um, when exactly did I tell you that as I wanted other viewpoints than my own suppressed?
My entire point was respond, in fact not to you but to Scott F, who was adamant about how book banning was NOT a problem to worry about and that we should be worried about how conservatives are oppressed. My entire post was directed AT HIM and noting how no, we shouldn’t ignore book banning just because conservatives are oppressed too, and that rights are being eroded on BOTH SIDES. I did tell him to cool banging the gong of conservative oppression, perhaps you interpreted that as STFU when it was meant to be “tone down the propaganda, dude, it isn’t just you you need to worry about”
I love how you looked at my post, which was a direct response to *someone else* about how they were wrong to dismiss liberal rights in favor of conservative when both are in danger, and then proceeded to lecture me on that exact same point. Then used a reference to what you told ME when responding to another poster.
Let’s be clear- I have really, in actuality, gotten punched in the face and beaten up for defending the right of someone to speak their mind, someone who I completely disagreed with. I fully support your right to shout at the top of your lungs about something I completely disagree with. I never, ever told anyone they had to right to their opinion. My post was stating that we should not ignore the possibility of a book-banner in office because then all our rights are in jeopardy, regardless of our opinion.
Please, if you’re going to respond to a post directed at someone else, maybe read it first? You’re preaching to the choir, honey. If you need an example of someone who wants to support only their rights, mebbe look at the post I was responding TO, the one about how book banning isn’t an issue because people are disrespecting the crucifix.