Obviously, if you’ve been following the coverage of Sarah Palin, you’ve seen the conspiracy stories about whether her youngest child, Trig, was actually the son of her 17-year-old daughter, Bristol. It was pointed out at the paradigm of accuracy, The Daily Kos, that Palin’s pregnancy was a mystery to those around her, to whom she did not appear pregnant at all. The Huffington Post, hardly known as a paragon of internet journalism, debunked these rumors by posting this photo. Nonetheless, someone even went so far as to produce a flow chart questioning Palin’s decision-making for giving a speech in Texas after her water broke.
Today, the announcement that Trig could not be Bristol Palin’s daughter because Bristol is, in fact, 5 months pregnant with her own child, throws cold water on the rumor mill. But it puts into motion a series of new questions, the first of which for me is why any mother, knowing that her 17-year-old daughter was pregnant, would go through with a campaign in which the conservative credentials of the ticket rested squarely on her shoulders. Hypocricy being a common thing, the world nonetheless finds it all the more delicious when such scandal is found in the home of Christian, a conservative, or a pro-lifer.
Was there any doubt that Palin knew this issue would be discovered, and that her daughter would be exposed on the national stage for her error in judgment? Is Bristol Palin competent at such a young age, in a vulnerable and difficult time, and under the pressure of such a momentous national decision, to give consent to become fodder for the attacks of the political Left on her mother?
And while of course it can happen in any home, the question that arises immediately in my mind is whether Bristol would, in fact, have been likely to become pregnant if her mother were more concerned with being at home with her children than pursuing the ambitions of a politician?
These doubts do not impact the positions of Sarah Palin when one considers her record, but they do speak to her character. With the announcement today which will irreversably affect the reputation of Bristol Palin in a massive way, I can’t help but see the the good of a power-seeking career woman put before the well-being of her children. I would not want my children to endure this kind of spotlight. Would you? Would you willingly put them into this position, to satisfy your own goals?
Lots of people get pregnant before marriage and don’t have to spend their lives so stigmatized. Outside of family and friends, often enough only a few people are the wiser. The fact that this young woman made a bad choice and has to live with the consequences is one thing; that this choice has been concretized in history by the decision of her mother to seek national office is another entirely.
I am glad that the Palin family are living their pro-life convictions by bringing this child into the world. I just can’t help but wonder what damage it will do to the person caught in the middle.
Truly, as you say, perhaps not much longer. But this gives you no right to throw them away so cavalierly. We have them now, and I will hold onto them as long as I can. As Sarah notes, we need time to raise our children (as do future generations), which is why we ought to hold on to whatever shred of freedom we still have.
You seem to think that I assume the collapse will happen in a cataclysmic way. It could happen with the states deciding to dissolve the union, or several states seceding, or an economic collapse, etc..
I happen to think it will happen as an economic, as the boomers all reach retirement age, and the rest of us having to support them all financially, having taxes raise to 80% or more of our income, mostly because they failed to have enough system. The economy can’t hold that sort of thing, and the government will bankrupt itself, and fall apart at the seams.
Steve,
I read your Feb post on McCain and I still think that electing McCain will be better for this country than electing Obama. Obama as president would equal disaster for the pro-life movement and for unborn children and for our country. Most likely, Obama would enact PP’s agenda from A-Z. This agenda includes removing the ability of health care workers to opt out of performing or assisting in elective abortions due to reasons of conscience. I am an operating room nurse, so this has real consequences for me on a practical day-to-day level. He would most likely use the Patriot Act (or he’d push through the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Act) to arrests those protesting outside of abortion clinics - which again, has real practical day-to-day consequences for those of us who sidewalk counsel and say the Rosary outside of abortion mills. The Act would probably also close down sites like this in Obama’s America…traditional catholics would have a very hard time of it in Obama’s America.
I promised myself that I would never vote for the lesser of two evils again and was prepared to vote for Ron Paul in this election. But, I looked into McCain a little more closely and found that his pro-life voting record was better than I thought. I’ve read his remarks (the ones you posted which I’d seen awhile back and others). The 75% pro-life rating seemed pretty accurate. I thought to myself that who he picks as his running mate would tell us much about where he really stands or, at least, where he wants us to think he stands. Picking Palin, in my view, says that McCain is drawing a line in the sand and standing on the pro-life side. I’m hoping this choice is an indication that his convictions have gotten stronger. Despite some of my questions and concerns about her, I was happy with the choice. I’d heard about her prior to him choosing her as his running mate so she wasn’t completely unknown to me. I researched her again and came to the conclusion that she is really pro-life. I am a traditionalist but don’t necessarily believe that means staying home 100% with your children. I don’t have children, but if I did I’d want to stay home - I’d also continue to do pro-life work, volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center, be involved in my community and parish, and other things. I think that a mother’s involvement in the world (neighborhood, parish in particular) and working for what she believes in (pro-life, etc) teaches kids as much as her words do. Anyway, Palin won’t have to do laundry, grocery shop, cook dinner or any of the other things which take up a mother’s time. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that she has worked out a way to be there for her family while fulfilling her public duties. I am also assuming that she is in public service as a way to make the world better for her children. I also wonder if saying to her 17 year old that she was going to pass up the VP nomination because the daughter was pregnant might not make the girl feel pretty badly (if she’s supportive of her mother’s public service). I don’t know, I’m just throwing it out there. Anyway, some people really are able to carry a lot on their plates. Phylis Schafly (sp?), St. Gianna, for example.
Still, it was looking more closely at Obama and realizing what his presidency would do to our country that convinced me to vote for McCain. If McCain had chosen Ridge, Lieberman or some other pro-abortionist then there’s no way I’d have voted for him, but he didn’t. He chose Palin and that says to me that his pro-life convictions are real. They may not be as strong as yours or mine, but they are real. Obama is a radical pro-abortionist and, if his politics are what they seem, a socialist. The Democratic Party is basically the abortion party. The Republican platform is unequivocally pro-life, even if many Republicans aren’t. Unlike, Aaron I am not willing to watch my country crumble or explode. Others have addressed the issue of implosion with Aaron so I won’t go further. I will recommend the reading of Chris Ferrara’s piece. I don’t know how to link something but it’s available on The Remnant’s website. I knew before reading it that I’d vote for McCain, but he sums the argument up well. I can theoretically understand why you’d not vote for McCain (and certainly I feel your GOP pain), but I can’t understand not voting against Obama. Anyway, thanks for all of your thoughtful pieces on this issue. It is, if nothing else, way more interesting than talking about McCain/Ridge.
Mary,
I hope you’re right. I simply haven’t been able to reach the same conclusion. I will continue to pray for guidance on this…there’s obviously a lot at stake.
I can theoretically understand why you’d not vote for McCain (and certainly I feel your GOP pain), but I can’t understand not voting against Obama.
I have said, multiple times, that I may vote third-party. That would be voting against Obama.
I can’t stomach the idea of voting for someone who wouldn’t make it a top priority to overturn or nullify Roe v. Wade. Someone blind to the silent holocaust of the unborn is, stupid, selfish, and unfit to lead. For me, it’s looking like Constitution Party or nothing.
If pro-lifers were serious about sending a message to the republican party, they’d start voting for actual pro-life candidates, regardless of things like party affiliation or likelyhood to win, in droves.
Think about the message that would be sent to the republicans if the number of people voted for, say, Chuck Baldwin in greater numbers than the margin that Obama defeats McCain? I guarantee that the republican party would instantly make life issues #1 priority.
Steve,
I hope I am, too.
Aaron,
I have voted for and do vote for pro-life candidates., some more pro-life than others. I don’t want Obama to get elected because I think he is the worst candidate that’s ever been on the ticket in my lifetime. I think the damage he will do is scary. McCain has chosen a running mate who makes me believe that he is more pro-life than he’s getting credit for. I don’t think he’s a poster boy, but I think that he will support pro-life legislation and, therefore, decrease access to abortion. His voting record already shows that he’s wiling to do that.
Abortion will never end until the culture changes. The only use for politics in the meantime is to lower (with the hope of eliminating) the rates of abortion. Until the people of this country make life issues #1 priority nothing will change.
And I agree, third party is voting against Obama….but
Mary
BTW, I don’t agree with McCain on multiple issues, but I am voting for him because of the life issues. It is the #1 priority for me when voting.
Mary