Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media, respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates. [Governor and Mr. Palin]
Let me be a clear as possible: I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people's families are off limits, and people's children are especially off limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor, or her potential performance as a vice president. [Senator Barack Obama]
I think it's a very private matter.... It's a matter that should stay in the family and they have to work through it together. My prayers go out to them. [Roberta Combs, president, Christian Coalition of America]
It's nobody's business but the Palins. [anonymous GOP Senate leadership staffer]
People in Wasilla are Alaskan tough, so not only does a thing like teen pregnancy not seem like anyone's damn business, but it's also not seen as the calamity so many people in the lower 48 might think it is. [Nathan Thornburgh, "In Wasilla, Pregnancy Was No Secret," Time, 2008.09.01]
I am very sorry that Bristol Palin’s private life is about to undergo an investigation by people who we once considered to be caring, tolerant people. It’s none of our business. She’s very young and her responsibilities have increased enormously.... Let us send her and her family our best wishes for a healthy baby and a prosperous life going forward. And drop the subject. [riverdaughter, "Bristol Palin Is Pregnant: Life Happens," The Confluence, 2008.09.01]
Bristol Palin is a private person with a public mother. We have no right invading this young woman's life. [Carol Marin, "Bristol Palin's Pregnancy None of Our Business, But Sarah Palin's Views Are," Chicago Sun-Times, 2008.09.02]
And the kicker, a blast from the past:
The Arizona senator appeared caught off guard when a reporter asked whether, if his 15-year-old daughter, Meghan, became pregnant, he would tell her that she could not have an abortion.
''No,'' Mr. McCain said. ''I would discuss this issue with Cindy and Meghan, and this would be a private decision that we would share within our family. Obviously I would encourage her to know that that baby would be brought up in a warm loving family. The final decision would be made by Meghan with our advice and counsel, and I think that's such a private matter.'' [Alison Mitchell, "The 2000 Campaign: The Issues: Once More, the Question of Abortion Dogs McCain," New York Times, 2000.01.27]
Works for me. Let's hold government to the same standard as politicians and the media and keep it out of women's reproductive choices. Remember this when you go to vote on Initiated Measure 11, South Dakota's abortion ban.
If Obama had a 17 year old and announced she was pregnant his campaign would probably be over. But with Palin these normally judgmental conservative groups now speak with political correctness with continued hope to further their own interests. Makes me want to barf.
ReplyDeleteDo you really not see the enormous difference between carrying a child and killing a child? It's no ones business when a mom chooses to disclose her pregnancy. Should she choose to dispose of it, the Constitutional rights of the other human being get involved. What's so hard about that? Once again, desperation and faulty reasoning from you.
ReplyDeleteReally Cory, relax, despite frantic trying, you and your liberal blogging friends have uncovered zero substance on this gal. She's the nominee, deal with it. I'm starting to feel sorry for you.
Anon, I take no position on that particular hypothetical. I simply see almost everyone saying pregnancy is nobody else's business, especially not the government's. A vote against IM11 is a vote for that principle and women's rights in general.
ReplyDeletePastor Hickey, you certainly are desperate to portray your opponents as desperate. "...zero substance on this gal" -- funny, that's what I've been saying. ;-)
I was not at all considering abortion when making the above comments. I was thinking of criticisms such as Stephanie Herseth who some said should stay home with her child. In fact I believe young children need lots of time with their care giver (more likely the mother), which is why I'm bothered that those same judgments are not being applied to Palin who has a young child with special needs and a daughter who will need guidance. Is it just our nature to be blinded by emotional issues? John Hess
ReplyDeleteAnon #1. If Obama had a 17 year old who got pregnant, it probably wouldn't even make the news. She would be hauled off for an abortion; after all, he said he wouldn't want his daughter punished with a baby if she made a mistake. It wouldn't hurt his candidacy one iota.
ReplyDeleteYou know, it's a good thing that Obama's mother didn't consider him a punishment for a mistake. She was married to his dad on 2-2-61, and unless Obama was three months premature at birth on 8-4-61, or a miracle of some sort, his mother was three months pregnant at the time of her marriage. Seems he is being a little harsh considering his birth history!
ReplyDeleteObama was referring to HIV and STDs when he made that statement. To be fair, I think you should watch the news clip (jh): http://althouse.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-dont-want-them-punished-with-baby.html
ReplyDeleteRemember, Anon 2:37: Obama hasn't been harsh on anyone on Bristol Palin's pregnancy. As cited above, he believes it's a family matter, and that's the point of this post: pregnancy is a family matter that the press, politicians, and government should stay out of. Vote no on IM11.
ReplyDeleteWell argued, Cory.
ReplyDeleteBut if you'll permit me to remind the self-righteous,; wasn't it John McCain, who was a POW and is of the family values party, who had the cruel joke about Chelsea Clinton's father?
Gotta love those with situational character rules.
So the basic arguement that is being thrown around for supporting IM11 is that an aborted child cannot defend itself therefore the state needs to defend the aborted child from its mother's cruel intentions.
ReplyDeleteIf this is the true justification, why aren't the supporters of IM11 supporting mandatory birth control? I argue that it would be a far more effective method of preventing abortions. At least it would be proactive rather than reactionary.
And if that isn't Orwellian enough, perhaps we could require some type of reproductive licensing. That way the state could be in complete control over our reproductive lives. We could have a board that would approve pregnancies and everything. If the state didn't like our choice of partners, they could simply deny our license.
This is a great idea. We need to start supporting these forward thinking groups.
steve my boy you still have not explained the difference to me between abortion being nothing but murder but the death penalty being acceptable.
ReplyDeleteI am still waiting for you magic book of anwers to enlighten me.
thanks
as usual steve you are a ray of sunshine in my otherwise boring existance.
Another fair question for Steve Hickey is if he agrees with Anessa Klumb that Stephanie Herseth should put her family first and not run for office. If so, how could that be dismissed and Palin be so eagerly embraced. The anti-abortion activists I met in college saw things black and white and could so easily justify telling others what to do or not to do. I found it ironic MSNBC just earlier replayed a clip from Ronald Reagan that the American people should have the dignity to make their own decisions.
ReplyDeleteWe can talk all day about woman's right to choose. What about the father of the baby? Does he have any rights at all?
ReplyDeleteAbortion is a poor substitution for birth control.
Anon 4:55 Difference between the death penalty and abortion?
ReplyDeleteHow many times do I have to explain this? For 4000 years every civilized society's law code has recognized the difference between the shedding of judicially innocent blood and judicially guilty blood.
We will all have to answer to our actions and beliefs at the time of our death.
ReplyDeleteLife is precious and revenge is the Lord's not ours.
Sorry, anon 2:48, but... at a town hall meeting in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in March 2008, Barack Obama did indeed state that he didn't want his daughters, "punished with a baby".
ReplyDelete"When it comes specifically to HIV/AIDS, the most important prevention is education… I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby. I don't want them punished with an STD at the age of 16… "
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/348569.aspx
Nonnie
Anon 10:45: So that means we don't need to pass a law, right?
ReplyDeleteSteve, up until relatively recently, every civilized society's law code has also viewed women as the property of men. Still didn't make it right.
ReplyDeleteI think Anon 4:55 is looking for a more substantial argument than you gave him/her.