O.K. so this wasn't the most auspicious way for Sarah Palin to start off her stint as Senator McCain's running mate. It was reported that her 17 year old daughter Bristol was expecting a child:"The 17-year-old unmarried daughter of Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is five months pregnant, Palin said in an announcement intended to knock down rumours by liberal bloggers that Palin faked her own pregnancy to cover up for her child.Bristol Palin, one of the Alaska Governor's five children with her husband Todd, is going to keep the child and marry the father, according to aides of Republican presidential candidate John McCain."
Is that what you would advise for your 17 year old daughter?
Is she really prepared to raise a child at 17? What about her education? College?
And getting married at 17? Is this the best advice to a youngster who gets pregnant?
I know that's what they always do in the movies. But it is one thing to get pregnant. Another thing to decide to have the child. Another thing to keep the child. And another thing to decide to get married at 17.
Maybe I am not as hip as the rest of you, but do you think that this Palin girl is under a lot of pressure to do exactly what her mother and the McCain campaign figure is best for them? Or best for the child? Or the mother?
What do you think? Does it matter?
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Comments: 18
I don't think many 17 year olds are ready to make permanent life decisions.
If the youngster has been raised dominionist, where I believe divorce is frowned on, I think it is terrible advice.
I advise living with someone for at least a year before marrying.
I dont see the point in not giving this child all her options..abortion being one of them.
I guess some would rather prove a point then do the right thing for their child.
As for the marriage bit. You obviously dont have to be married to make a baby...and I hate to sound cliche but 2 wrongs do not make a right.
What sort of parents are these that let their little girl date a man of 23? If he was the same age as Bristol it would be understandable, but that sort of age gap? And of course men of 23 want sex, while boys of 14 may settle for a few kisses.
And this guy must have been really lax not using contraception. I mean c'mon, he's a man, not a child, he should know what to do.
I invite you all to participate in my opinion polls about Sarah Palin.
Since she was already five months pregnant when the VP was announced, she'd obviously already had time to get used to the idea and hopefully make her own decisions regarding the baby, marriage and her future.
I also think it's none of my business.
As a father of two daughters, I know the futility of trying to control them all the time. Sometimes they are out of the house. However, I taught them that they were responsible for their own actions from a very young age, and also responsible for the consequences, not just in terms of sex, but in terms of life. (Given the opportunity, my daughter would not skip school because she was aware that if she did she'd have to make up the lost time.)
Personally, I think having a 17 year old daughter pregnant is symptomatic of a dysfunctional family. However, I would be more concerned with her mother getting pregnant and delivering a child only four months ago. This is a child who is going to need parental care. Is her husband going to stay home to provide it? (I did.) McCain's age, and the reality sex indicates this might lead us into the prospect of not only having our first female president, but also the first pregnant president if McCain is elected.
If Palin is an example of McCain's decision making ability, we need to be VERY AFRAID.
Can anyone say 'Eagleton?'