Bristol Palin, the 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, is five months pregnant, according to reports.
In an official announcement intended to knock down rumors by liberal bloggers that Sarah Palin faked her own pregnancy to cover up for her child, the Alaska Governor herself confirmed that her teenage daughter is expecting.
One of five children of Sarah and Todd Palin, Bristol is about five months along and is planning to keep the child and marry the father.
Bristol Palin made the decision on her own to keep the baby.
Bristol Palin (right) was rumored to be the real mother of Sarah Palin's infant son, born in May. According to the Palins, that's not true - but she is pregnant now.
Presidential hopeful John McCain, who named Palin as his running mate last week, knew of Bristol's pregnancy when he selected Sarah.
McCain officials said the news of the Bristol Palin pregnancy was being released to rebut what one aide called "mud-slinging and lies."
The rumors specifically revolved around a pregnancy scandal - that Sarah Palin had faked her most recent pregnancy and pretended to have given birth in May 2008 to her fifth child, a son named Trig, who has Down syndrome.
The gossip going around was that Trig was actually Bristol's child and that Sarah Palin the grandmother, covering up for her teen daughter.
Follow the jump for the Palins' statement on the subject ...
"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned."
"As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support."
"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."
What do you think? Will this hurt Sarah Palin with voters?
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33 Comments
September 1st, 2008 1:49 PM
Why is it okay to trash the children of politicians? Are these kids someone seeking or courting the media? Is she the only pregnant teen on the planet? Then lay the hell off the spawn of politicians - unless you're going to dig through every Democrat to go along with every Republican.
September 1st, 2008 1:57 PM
Why would Palin take the VP nomination when she knew that her pregnant daughter would be subjected to worldwide censure if she did? Why not cut the kid a break and wait until 2012 or 2016 to go national?
We all compromise our lives for our kids - turn down the promotion that requires a move, cut back on optional overtime, even stay married when it's not so easy. Palin chose to put her ambition ahead of letting her kid get through this in a better way, and I question what that says about her.
September 1st, 2008 2:04 PM
I would ask, as a supportive mother...Who is going to help her daughter when that baby comes? This girl needs her mom now more than ever! I agree with the OP that perhaps she should have waited until 2012? Also, I thought her daughter was sick with mono that is why she wasn't in school for 5 months? Turns out, she wasn't that sick:( Did she drop out of school? this is truly a sad story, but I don't think it will garner votes for McCain, I think it will actually take votes away:( I respect Ms. Palin for supporting her daughter but I think that the last thing this country needs is a poster kid for having a baby at 17...
I also read on another blog that her husband has been arrested for a DUI?
What was Mr. McCain thinking?
September 1st, 2008 3:12 PM
Nice, McCain. What kind of soldier uses a pregnant 17-year-old girl as a political shield? You knew what this was going to do, how it would divert attention away from your policies. You are throwing Bristol under the bus.
September 1st, 2008 3:29 PM
When I look back on my own experiences as a teen, I accept full responsability for my actions and lived with the consequinces. However, I can't help but wonder how different things may have turned out if I had had parents that were more involved in my life rather than their own ambition.
September 1st, 2008 3:39 PM
oh my g. what kind a mother is she????oky sarah drug your family into the politic.who cares!!!!!!!!!
thats mc cain best idea.....
September 1st, 2008 3:48 PM
Bristol has nothing to be ashamed about. But her mother has plenty. How selfish she is to put her need to advance in politics above her child. Before only Alaska which nobody pays much attention to would have known. Now it has to be shared with the whole world!
September 1st, 2008 3:48 PM
"Kewl"...
Nice to see how the "conservative facade" falls apart so fast!
Applause!
September 1st, 2008 4:29 PM
In answer to your question: No, this will not hurt Palin with conservative voters; they only care when liberals or moderates appear immoral. When conservatives show any sign of vice or moral 'flexibility,' it's explained away and forgotten.
September 1st, 2008 4:31 PM
And, in support of my last comment, I quote from the statement of conservative apologist Dr. James Dobson:
"...they should be commended once again for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances.
"Being a Christian does not mean you're perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect. But it does mean there is forgiveness and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord. I've been the beneficiary of that forgiveness and restoration in my own life countless times, as I'm sure the Palins have.
"The media are already trying to spin this as evidence Gov. Palin is a 'hypocrite,' but all it really means is that she and her family are human.