10 reasons why the pregnancy issues are legitimate

Politics is awfully mean, and I do feel bad for Bristol Palin, but the pregnancy issue serves several purposes:

(1) Puts the right on the defensive, i.e., sets the agenda.
(2) Reduces the right-wing myth that liberals are free-love perverts.
(3) Pokes a hole in Sarah Palin's religious credentials.
(4) Raises valid issues with regard to the needs of single mom households and the issue of teenage pregnancy.
(5) Shifts attention away from the b.s. attacks on Obama (birth certificate, Ayers, etc.).
(6) Gives right-wing extremists a taste of their own medicine and might make some of them think twice before launching outrageous attacks against Obama.
(7) Shifts MSM resources away from investigating outrageous claims against Obama to investigating claims against Palin.
(8) Creates a distraction at a time when Republicans are trying to introduce Palin and run a national convention.
(9) Raises questions about the vetting of Palin and the competency of McCain and his campaign.
(10) Allows liberals to talk about the need for sex education and services to help teenage mothers.

What we need to avoid, I think, is the cruelty of the right in talking about the pregnancy issues. We should be sympathetic, as I think most of us are, but we can certainly talk about the pregnancy issues since they in general raise questions involving family values, education, and trust.

rumors about Obama for many months--this baby stuff isn't a rumor anymore. And the McLoon/Palin campaign must be forced to address how this woman can be a step away from the Presidency when obviously her family needs her more.

Makes me think her poor daughter, holding Trig in all the photo ops, had a real reason to look so miserable. How callous of the Gov.

I cut and pasted this from cnn political ticker as it echoes my thoughts (my spelling is better).

SwayingVoter September 1st, 2008 12:56 pm ET

Sarah Palin should be ashamed of herself for putting her own child through such national shame… If Sarah Palin knew she was being considered for the Vice Presidental candidate she should have allowed the child (Bristol) get married before to the annoucement. I feel so sorry for this child (Bristol). We all make mis-steps but hers will go down in history as a part of a political campaign.

and here is another:

Suzy from Ohio September 1st, 2008 12:57 pm ET

Sarah Palin, how could you force your daughter to go through this in front of America? Shame on you! I feel so horrible for Bristol, God, imagine being seventeen trying to deal with this in front of so many eyes.

Shame on you, Sarah Palin, shame on you!