Palin's Daughter's Pregnancy [Split and Merge]

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2008-09-02 03:06am

CaptainChewbacca wrote:On a different note, if the girl was sick for months, and on antibiotics, can't that seriously screw up how effective birth control is? Given that sex ed in Alaska is run by planned parenthood, I think its reasonable to assume the girl was at least somewhat educated about contraception..

The problem is, we're talking about fundie parents who in all likelihood trust to the ignorance/abstinence sex-ed programme, and that there probably are not a lot of Planned Parenthood centres out wherever the hell Bumfuck, Alaska happens to be.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2008-09-02 03:10am

On page 3 of the pdf they say they offer 'comprehensive education and outreach' which, in PP includes condoms and birth control, at the school district Wasilia is in (I think, I don't have a map).

So, the stuff was offered to the girl and she got educated in it, at least peripherally.

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2008-09-02 03:13am

Antibiotics strangely have no impact on condoms whatsoever. They can have an impact on hormonal birth control, such as the pill howevere...which is why when you've got decent medical care/sex education they tell you to use a fucking condom when they note you're on birth control pills and about to give you antibiotics.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2008-09-02 03:16am

Keevan_Colton wrote:Antibiotics strangely have no impact on condoms whatsoever. They can have an impact on hormonal birth control, such as the pill howevere...which is why when you've got decent medical care/sex education they tell you to use a fucking condom when they note you're on birth control pills and about to give you antibiotics.

Granted. We'll never know the circumstances under which she got pregnant. Was she on medication that messed up her birth control? Did the condom fail? Was she using no protection whatsoever? Carelessness doesn't have to exist for a mistake to occur.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2008-09-02 10:17am

Stormbringer wrote:
Darth Wong wrote:
FSTargetDrone wrote:GOP, what to do?

<snip>
I don't see how this is going to hurt them. The kind of voters who are offended by this will never vote Democrat anyway, and the right-wing "amen chorus" in the media has already demonstrated that they will overlook anything that their Anointed Party does: lies, corruption, breaches of the constitution, even high treason.
I know you love the stock answers but I have ask, who is supposed to be offended by what?

I know you love trying to score empty rhetorical points, but even a brain-damaged monkey could figure out that I was talking about social conservatives who think that everyone who doesn't have a Leave It To Beaver nuclear family is harming America.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2008-09-02 10:23am

Evangicals rally behind Palin after pregnancy news

Though since the CNP picked her for McCain, she could have come out and bitten the head off a puppy and the ministers would be telling their congregations to vote for her.

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2008-09-02 11:31am

I don't see anything the Republicans are doing with this as hypocrisy. (please read all of this before blasting away)

After all, they are not about themselves having 'family values'.

They are about everyone ELSE having family values, so they can hide behind the general public to cover up there own crap.

They are like the smart drug dealer that lives in a nice, upscale, family neighbourhood. To all outside appearances, we have a respectable family man, who's obviously good at his job to afford the house in the nice area.

It's when you dig past that nice exterior, you find it's a lie.

Problem is; no one that votes for the Republicans wants to go past that nice exterior to see the truth.

The Republicans are not so much hypocrists, as they are lying cowardly masters of P.R and spin doctoring.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-09-02 11:38am

Solauren wrote:I don't see anything the Republicans are doing with this as hypocrisy. (please read all of this before blasting away)

After all, they are not about themselves having 'family values'.

They are about everyone ELSE having family values, so they can hide behind the general public to cover up there own crap.

They are like the smart drug dealer that lives in a nice, upscale, family neighbourhood. To all outside appearances, we have a respectable family man, who's obviously good at his job to afford the house in the nice area.

It's when you dig past that nice exterior, you find it's a lie.

Problem is; no one that votes for the Republicans wants to go past that nice exterior to see the truth.

The Republicans are not so much hypocrists, as they are lying cowardly masters of P.R and spin doctoring.

Their spin doctoring is rather blatant actually. But, it's easy for the guy with one eye to be king in a village full of blind idiots.

bozazz · Post by **bozazz** » 2008-09-02 11:44am

Actually I was expecting Palin to have her grandson aborted, seeing that some conservatives often lie about their position but back out of it when it`s convenient for them. Now that she has proven that she actually believes in what she spews, I`m more frightened than ever by her. Imagine if she wins the election ID in every classroom...

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2008-09-02 11:49am

bozazz wrote:Actually I was expecting Palin to have her grandson aborted, seeing that some conservatives often lie about their position but back out of it when it`s convenient for them. Now that she has proven that she actually believes in what she spews, I`m more frightened than ever by her. Imagine if she wins the election ID in every classroom...

So, in this scenario there was nothing she could have done which would have impressed you or improved your opinion of her?

Post by **Surlethe** » 2008-09-02 11:49am

Ender wrote:Evangicals rally behind Palin after pregnancy news

Though since the CNP picked her for McCain, she could have come out and bitten the head off a puppy and the ministers would be telling their congregations to vote for her.

That's no surprise; loyalty is, by far, the chief Republican value. Everyone knows that if she were liberal, Evangelicals would be on the warpath, trying to crucify her for 'neglecting' her baby with Down's by holding office and for permitting her daughter to go off and get pregnant.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2008-09-02 11:52am

That's why it is hard for People of Thought and the Reality-based Community to make sense of People of Faith and the Faith-based Community. We judge, at least in principle, on actions and harm done - on reasonable standards of ethics. They judge based on which tribe you have displayed loyalty to - they judge based on who you are, not what you did. Therefore a white Christian can do all kinds of things because they're already a white Christian. But a black Muslim?

bozazz · Post by **bozazz** » 2008-09-02 12:00pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:
bozazz wrote:Actually I was expecting Palin to have her grandson aborted, seeing that some conservatives often lie about their position but back out of it when it`s convenient for them. Now that she has proven that she actually believes in what she spews, I`m more frightened than ever by her. Imagine if she wins the election ID in every classroom...
So, in this scenario there was nothing she could have done which would have impressed you or improved your opinion of her?

Oh no she definitely impressed me. I do find her sincerity rather refreshing, though I certainly can`t predict that her actions will be consistent in the future. However very few of her political stances I actually agree with in the first place. I would have been very impressed, and mind you would have tremendously improved my opinion of her if she went out and admitted that her position on abstinence education doesn`t work given her daughter`s situation and took a new position that is more positive towards a detailed sex and contraceptives education. But some how that just didn`t seem likely.

bozazz · Post by **bozazz** » 2008-09-02 12:09pm

Just to clarify I realize that she was probably educated in school about condoms, birth pills, etc. However her mother`s stance on these issues might have affected her somewhat. I suppose we`ll never know if she used protection or not. But CaptainChewbacca what do you think she could have done to improve your opinionÉ I`m just curious if you share a similar view as me that she would have to have done quite a lot to impress you.

And for some reason every time I insert a question mark I end up with É. Can`t seem to fix it at all.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2008-09-02 12:09pm

I would have been very impressed, and mind you would have tremendously improved my opinion of her if she went out and admitted that her position on abstinence education doesn`t work given her daughter`s situation and took a new position that is more positive towards a detailed sex and contraceptives education. But some how that just didn`t seem likely.

Sadly, I think that THAT admission would've broken the camel's back with the Republicans, which is why she didn't say it. I'm sure she'll give this issue some mention in her speech Wednsday, even if its only that she's proud to be a grandma.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2008-09-02 12:24pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:
Superman wrote:Jeez, is Palin and her family straight out of the 'Beverly Hillbillies' or what? You can take the trash out of the trailer park, but it seems you can't take the trash out of the white.
What are you characterizing as white trash? That she got pregnant at 17, or that she's going to marry the father.

Let's see, Palin has five kids, gives them names like "Bristol," and one of them now gets knocked up at 17. Sounds a little on the white trash side to me.

FSTargetDrone · Post by **FSTargetDrone** » 2008-09-02 12:27pm

Wait second, aren't these Palin People home-schoolers? If so, there's no way the eldest daughter would be exposed to any sort of state-provided sex education, let alone instructions about using contraceptives, right?

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2008-09-02 12:34pm

FSTargetDrone wrote:Wait second, aren't these Palin People home-schoolers? If so, there's no way the eldest daughter would be exposed to any sort of state-provided sex education, let alone instructions about using contraceptives, right?

She was out of school for a month with mono, so she's not homeschooled.
I don't know about their other kids, though.

From reading a few blogs by Alaskans on Palin, I get the idea that Wasilla is practically the buckle of the Alaskan version of the bible belt.

bozazz · Post by **bozazz** » 2008-09-02 12:39pm

Actually I can`t seem to find any sources that would back the claim her kids are being home schooled. Only thing I found was that her daughter signed up for a high school correspondance course. Other than that lots of blogs from left and right that claims that it`s either great or very wrong that she home school her kids. Can anyone find a credible sourceÉ

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2008-09-02 12:48pm

Keep in mind, in rural alaska its a LOT harder to support large schools like we're used to in the lower 48. In many communities, you only go to school once a week to go to lectures and turn in your work. Its like they say, its Tougher in Alaska.

bozazz · Post by **bozazz** » 2008-09-02 01:06pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:Keep in mind, in rural alaska its a LOT harder to support large schools like we're used to in the lower 48. In many communities, you only go to school once a week to go to lectures and turn in your work. Its like they say, its Tougher in Alaska.

Sounds like the perfect place to test out distant learning.

wautd · Post by **wautd** » 2008-09-02 02:02pm

Ender wrote:Evangicals rally behind Palin after pregnancy news

Though since the CNP picked her for McCain, she could have come out and bitten the head off a puppy and the ministers would be telling their congregations to vote for her.

Wow, what a suprise

Hypocritical bastards

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2008-09-02 02:07pm

Bloody Hell, I just had a 'whoa' moment when it comes to this.

What is the R.N.C knew about the Pregnancy ahead of time, and are playing dumb deliberately?

Consider. The young lady in question is what, 5 months pregnant?

Okay, so she needs to get married, and quick (according to conservative thinking).

Imagine the 'sympathy/good vives' vote that would come about if she were get get married, on say, between Thursday, Oct 30th and and Monday, November 3.

(For those that don't know, the election is on Tuesday, November 4th this time)

Especially if the Republican loyal media harps on it / celebrates it despite Republican protests.

Imagine this scence in a voting booth;

"Pallin? That nice young girl that just got married? This must be her mother on the ticket. How nice, I'll vote for her!"

It's all about P.R. And nothing says good P.R then 'Young People Getting Married to Start a Traditional Family!' (Vote Republican)

Covenant · Post by **Covenant** » 2008-09-02 02:47pm

I'm not sure, the republican base is pretty bizzare on the issue of teen pregnancy, so while I'm sure they feel good they can trumpet her decision to keep the baby, they're still cursing her as a slut for having sex out of marriage, and so early. Fornicators! She's going to have to get married pretty fast or else she'll be nearly to term with the kid before she can walk down the isle. Plus, when she does get married, it's going to make the husband a target for speculation. I think Bristol deserves respect and privacy, but it will be hard to avoid at least a google lookup of the kid to see what the family is going to be looking like.

Anguirus · Post by **Anguirus** » 2008-09-02 05:03pm

Obama has always said he would fight a clean election - he would lose a lot if he would start using these types of attack.

Of course, to the Republicans, any criticism is evidence that Obama is fighting dirty.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080902/pl_ ... ics_dc_140

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Reuters) - Republican John McCain rallied behind his vice presidential pick Sarah Palin on Tuesday and his campaign accused Democrat Barack Obama of sexism for questioning her level of experience.

His comments came as the Republican convention to nominate McCain and Palin as their party's candidates was to finally get started, after a delay due to Hurricane Gustav, with President George W. Bush to speak via satellite hookup.

McCain, in Cleveland, said he was excited about Alaska Gov. Palin and predicted a warm welcome for her from Republican delegates when she addressed the convention on Wednesday.

"America's excited and they're going to be even more excited once they see her tomorrow night," he told reporters. "I'm very, very proud of the impression that she's made on all of America and I'm looking forward to serving with her."

Palin's disclosure that her 17-year-old, unmarried daughter is pregnant, in addition to the news that she had hired a private lawyer in an ethics probe in Alaska, led some to raise questions about McCain's judgment and how thoroughly her background was examined in selecting the relatively unknown governor last week as his No. 2.

"My vetting process was completely thorough and I'm grateful for the results," McCain told reporters in Philadelphia after a visit with firefighters.

McCain's campaign fought back hard after Obama told CNN on Monday that Palin's level of experience as a former mayor of tiny Wasilla, Alaska, did not match his own, citing the size of his campaign.

"My understanding is that Gov. Palin's town, Wasilla, has I think 50 employees. We've got 2,500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe $12 million dollars a year -- we have a budget of about three times that just for the month," Obama had said.

SEXISM?

McCain adviser Carly Fiorina said she was appalled and accused him of sexism, a charge the Obama camp had faced during Democrat Hillary Clinton's primary battle against him.

"The facts are that Sarah Palin has made more executive decisions as a mayor and governor than Barack Obama has made in his life," Fiorina said.

"Because of Hillary Clinton's historic run for the presidency and the treatment she received, American women are more highly tuned than ever to recognize and decry sexism in all its forms. They will not tolerate sexist treatment of Gov. Palin," Fiorina said.

The McCain campaign released a copy of Palin's Republican voter registration card to rebut a report in The New York Times that Palin had been a member of the Alaska Independence Party, which wants the state to vote on seceding from the United States, for two years in the 1990s.

"The allegations that Gov. Palin was a member of (the) Alaska Independence Party are false. She's never been a member of the Alaska Independence Party," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers.

When Palin was announced Friday, Republicans welcomed her entry into the presidential race against Obama and Joe Biden in the November 4 election as bringing a burst of energy to the McCain campaign.

They like her anti-abortion, pro-guns stances and her history of government reform in Alaska in her two years as the state's governor.

There was every indication that McCain and other Republicans were standing by their woman despite the hubbub.

"He absolutely keeps her," said Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia. "If he drops her, the election is over. There's zero chance that he'll drop her."

Bush was the headliner among Tuesday's speakers, a group that also included former Sen. Fred Thompson, who lost to McCain in the Republican primaries, and close McCain ally Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-independent from Connecticut.

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said the timing of Palin's speech was not yet set. He would not comment on whether she would use that speech to address any of the controversies surrounding her.

But her remarks will be "the most important speech the nominee will give in the course of the election" because of the large television audience, he said.

(Additional reporting by Jeff Mason, Richard Cowan and Tim Ryan; editing by Patricia Zengerle)

Obama is sexist for questioning her experience, Fiorina? Please. Another indication that McCain's campaign will continue beating the dead horse of Obama "not being ready" despite the fact that McCain also lacks any sort of "executive experience."