Also, as parents of teens know, we can do all we can do to teach them well and instill values into them. We can be there for them, we can talk to them… but we cannot control every decision they make outside of the house. I have three teens, and I, honestly, believe that they are not doing such things right now, as we do have an open line of communication, but I also know that there is peer pressure, and just growing up. As much as I wish I could… I cannot be there with each of my children 24 hours a day, protecting them from all of the evils in the world, and all of the things that I would think were a mistake. There comes a time when we have to put some trust in our children, if we want them to ever be capable of growing up and surviving in the “real world”.

If something like Bristol’s pregnancy happened to one of my children, all I could do is be there for them, showing them the unconditional love that I have always tried to let them see. At least in Bristol’s case, it sounds like she, too, has a loving and supportive family, who, rather than judging her and putting her down, is willing to be there with open arms, to love and support her as much as she needs.

The double-standard applied here is steeped in hypocrisy, so maybe everyone should take a step back and ask themselves, what if this person was not a Republican?

Oh, and forget comparisons to the Democrats, most people already expect them to be slimeballs. (Heck, look at Clintons and how well they get along there.) It sure looks like the Republicans want to claim the moral high ground, but don’t want to actually have to live there.

Just more proof that abstinence education, which she so haughtily triumphs, is ineffective. You just don’t GET it, do you?

And:

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.

Wrong.

Has anyone who has posted here met Palin in person? Have they sat down and had a heart to heart with her? Have they met any of the family members? Is what you know of her via second hand sources or personal experience?

…didn’t think so

Listen, I won’t begrudge someone who’s opinion differs from my own. But in my experience, those who have very strong opinions about things of which they have no DIRECT knowledge are either full of shit, or are simply being haters.

To that end, I have to ask – what is the point in trying to find all of Palin’s (or Obama’s, or McCain’s) dirty little secrets? I ask this because the political culture in this country is geared around exposing all of the negative qualities of our politicians without considering the futility of that exercise – if you look throughout history, there have been great leaders who have lead personal lives full of hypocrisy and contradiction. Thomas Jefferson was a slaveowning defender of freedom. Kennedy had all kinds of extramarital affairs, Nixon had Watergate, but both did much to expand American power and influence vis-a-vis the rest of the world. We’ve even had a president with Alzheimers, whom many give credit for ending the Cold War! Point is, all of these men had strengths that far outweighed their weaknesses.

Wouldn’t we be doing ourselves a favor by focusing more on what strengths the candidates bring to the table than weaknesses that potentially have 0 bearing on performance in office?

I suggest you re-evaluate your own interpretation of the Sarah Palin story. Your bias is showing.

To clarify one point, I think when Palin referred to her daugher’s “decision” she was referring to her marriage.

I think all those on the left are digging a hole for themselves in that they are taking a very prudish and anti-feminist position in questioning Palin’s mothering abilities and qualifications for the job based on rumor and innuendo about personal family matters (we were told these things didn’t matter when Clinton was in office).

Also, I have always known Alaskans to be independed minded people who do not tolerate a lot of BS. I think if Palin were half the tyrant and moral idiot she is being accused of she would not be enjoying 80 percent approval and rising in her state.

The fact is, Palin’s nomination caught a lot of people on the left flat-footed, and they panicked at the thought of Obama losing some of his lustre in comparison. They went on the attack without thinking about the ramifications, and as a result McCain and Palin each out Nielsoned Obama in spite of being on fewer networks.