Minneapolis-St. Paul -- Teen pregnancy is a problem in our society.
A recent report shows that teen pregnancy rates have gone up from 21 births per 1,000 teenage girls in 2005 to 22 per 1,000 in 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available. In recognition of the trend, celebrities such as the Jonas Brothers and Disney dynamo Selena Gomez have grabbed headlines by taking abstinence pledges.
Helping teens resist the temptation of sex, which can result in unwanted pregnancies, is part of the agenda of the pro-life Republican party.
Yet, Sunday we learn that GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's unwed 17-year-old daughter Bristol is five months pregnant. ...
According to the Associated Press, Palin and her husband Todd released this statement: "Our beautiful daughter
Of course, the Palins' predicament is a private family matter, but choosing Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate begs this question: Is this the image that the so-called party of family values wants to put front and center?
For his part, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said emphatically, "I think people's families are off limits; and people's children are especially off limits." He said he was offended by the suggestion that his operatives spread the unfounded Internet rumors that Sarah Palin's infant son Trig, who has Down's Syndrome, is actually Bristol's.
Meanwhile, BV took the temperature of people attending the Republican National Convention in St. Paul today.
Gustav Blows Down The RNC ... Literally
Comments: (238)
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By: Kaci on 9/01/2008 7:32PM
Goodness it looks like the Republicans have to admit that their be pure policy doesn't exactly work for Republicans teens. Hmmm.
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By: ginger on 9/01/2008 7:36PM
If Barrack's daughters were 17 and this happened, you'd see the whole RIGHT WING PRESS make this a HUGE ISSUE. I don't see how this can be ignored. Palin surely wasn't around much to teach her daughter right from wrong. And what about her down-syndrom baby. Who is taking care of him while she's running for office. She should quit and take care of her family!! This also shows NO JUDGMENT by McCain.
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By: Marcia on 9/01/2008 8:14PM
Wow! John McCain and the moral Republican party? It is indeed not a private matter, for God's sake Ms. Palin will be a heart beat away from the President of the United States being a vice president. Her teenage daughter being pregnant at 17 years is absurd and asking the public to stay out of it. This is not a private matter. It shows you how Ms. Palin runs her family home. No Family Values. She is not considered an adult. She will not be able to even vote for her mom. It is a damn shame and of course the country does not need a president who cannot not run her house, more or less to run the country.
They are suppose to be moral people and should not be having sex out of marriage. Boy, you can imagine if it was one of Barrack's daughter. They would have a field day.
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By: H HOLMES on 9/01/2008 8:21PM
MORE HYPOCRISY FROM SARAH FAMILY-VALUES PALIN. WHEN SHE GAVE HER FIRST INTERVIEW AFTER BEING CHOSEN BY MCCAIN, SHE COULD HAVE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO BE A PROUD GRANDMOTHER IN FOUR MONTHS, BUT SHE DIDN'T. SO SHE'S OBVIOUSLY NOT THAT PROUD OF IT. DID SHE HOPE THE SITUATION WOULD GO AWAY? I GUESS BRISTOL DIDN'T GET THE TRUE LOVE WAITS LECTURE. GOD GAVE BARACK PERFECT CONVENTION WEATHER BUT SENT A HURRICANE FOR THE GOP. ANYONE AT THE GOP GETTING THE MESSAGE YET?
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By: Ms. Unique on 9/01/2008 8:24PM
Some of the Republicans during the Convention on CNN said, "Things happen, love her with LOVE, and this shouldn't be brought to attention to media"? Like what Obama had said, "This should stay out of politics". That is good that she is keeping the baby and marrying her high school boyfriend but, don't be marrying this guy for the the wrong reasons just to make your family look good? This is going to be talked about all through this race and there is no escaping this truth and what other things the media might find. What happened to "Family Values"? People say, "Things happen" but you know what, it shoudln't have happened. People are going to talk, just because it is out there in the open. I just wanted to know, "What family values stands for", if Sarah Palin is suppose to represent? I mean, what more dirt is the media going to dig up of this Sarah Palin?
Look, I really don't think she is READY and ABLE to take on a Vice-President role but to take on the responsibilities of a Mother role? She has a 4 month old with down-syndrome. If, and I say if she gets to be Vice-President of the U.S. what time will she have to take care of her responsibilities to her disabled child? I have nothing against a "Women" running for President or Vice-President it's just, she is not the RIGHT PERSON for the JOB! This was more of a political strategy at the LAST MINUTE and John McCain was DESPERATE! There were other running mates that would have matched perfectly. This is what a call a DISTRACTION on the REPUBLICAN PARTY'S part. We Demarcates will do our best and keep it together and to focus on this Important Election!
"OBAMA/BIDEN 2008"
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By: bob15s15 on 9/01/2008 8:37PM
Like it or not, the President and Vice President's children tend to be role models for the young. Palin's daughter is not the kind of role model our young people should be looking up to.
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By: Betty K on 9/01/2008 8:44PM
Black, and poor white teens get pregnant and keep their babies all the time. What make Palin's daughter any different? Why compound this mistake with another? Having a baby doesn't necessarily make a child grow up. Is she ready for marriage? Big mistake. Yes, this is a private matter, but Gov Palin made it public when she accepted the nomination. She was fully aware that her life would be an open book.
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By: susan bertuccelli on 9/01/2008 8:58PM
Wow, it does not take long for someone to suggest that a women can not have a family and be able to have an important, demanding job. I really thought the Obama crowd would not go so low so fast. I thought you were for change, but I see no change. I am afraid people are so far off base with this that they will never understand how they are showing the horrible condition of the american public and mind. It is so far off base that the reality of what they are saying will never hit them in the face, at least now for awhile. Sometime, somewhere it will, but the damage will be done. Shouldn't you abide by your choosen leader's comments?
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By: Ms. Unique on 9/01/2008 8:50PM
I just wanted to add to my comment in #4. I also don't think that Sarah Palin is the right person for the job because, she doesn't have Foreign Policy Affairs experience, National Securities ect... She just got a passport, I guess to try to prove that she is going over foreign countries to make herself look good and to get that EXPERIENCE? McCain could have had a job for her in some Administration position that would have matched her qualifications? Wrong Choice!
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By: John on 9/01/2008 9:17PM
I am a Republican and I am also concerned about our children and even more than that I am a Christian who truly cares about our youth. Why is this child pregnant in the first place she is constantly the one caring for her moms child which has severe issues. She probably feels she may as well have her own child since her life is consumed with babysitting any way. Mom needs to take care of home and help her family. I love God and Family first. I am concerned about this selection, I really don't believe Mcain was aware that she was pregnant.
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