Breaking News: Bristol Palin is 5 months pregnant, McCain camp confirms

In the wake of rampant internet rumors that Sarah Palin's baby is actually Bristol's, the McCain felt the time is right to confirm this news. Bristol apparently will marry the baby's father.

Read it here.

Comments

[Victoria]

I'm guessing that Palin won't say that her daughter is being punished by having a child, no matter the challenges.

[Victoria]

Here's what Palin is saying:

"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. We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. 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 to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."

Seems like the Palin's are handling this with grace and dignity.

[Kristin]

I have thoroughly avoided judging Palin's motherhood, but I can't figure out how in the world I would, as a mother, choose to take a role in which my child's privacy would be so completely shattered. Her daughter is going to be judged and examined in a way that is profoundly unfair, and Sarah Palin put her there....

[Victoria]

And here's what Talk Left just said:

"This site will not host personal attacks against Sarah Palin, rumors of a personal nature or a discussion of her personal life or that of her children. All such comments will be deleted and repeat offenders banned."

[Victoria]

"I have thoroughly avoided judging Palin's motherhood, but I can't figure out how in the world I would, as a mother, choose to take a role in which my child's privacy would be so completely shattered. Her daughter is going to be judged and examined in a way that is profoundly unfair, and Sarah Palin put her there...."

I agree. Obama should step down as should all political figures who have children unless those children are perfect.

Let's be better than that. Let's shout down and shut down anyone who takes pot shots at people's kids. Otherwise, all mommies and daddies should sit at home and behave themselves. Mommy bloggers, too.

[Jessica]

I'm not a fan of digging into any politician's personal life, unless it directly relates to claim about their character or policies. With that said, Palin advocates abstinence-only education.

Hopefully she now has firsthand experience with the failures of her position, and perhaps as she governs she won't try to inflict such anti-education policies on anyone else's children.

[Oliver Wendell Douglas]

Kristin has it right. Palin didn't have to run this year. By 2012 or 2016 this would be ancient history, and the child's life would not be so profoundly affected.

Parenthood is about not being selfish. It's about putting the best interest of the child ahead of our own petty desires. That's the prime directive of parenthood, and it doesn't look like McCain and Palin followed that here.

Ordinary people turn down job transfers, or overtime, because of what's right for the kids. Some of them are going to wonder why Palin wouldn't turn this down for the benefit of her very vulnerable child, who has now been thrown to the paparazzi wolves.

[Meryl]

The thing is, it's not a pot shot when it's something she herself has put at issue. She believes in abstinence-only education. If that doesn't even work for her own family, what business does she have trying to impose it on the rest of us. If it was just that her daughter was pregnant I wouldn't care a bit, the fact that she's a hypocrite, now that's fair game.

[Kim]

Regardless of who Trig's mom is...
And regardless of Bristols current maturnal status...
And regardless of gender...
Do you really want this person as pres of your country?

[Victoria]

Sex education and birth control didn't work for my family. Plenty of unexpected adult and teen pregnancies there, too. Neither is perfect. Next.

And yes, no matter how tasty a slice of red meat it is, using Palin's daughter to further a Democratic candidate is weak and unethical.

If Obama really cared about his kids, he'd have waited until they were of age to consent to his making them public figures via his election. Also if he cared about his kids, he wouldn't smoke. Obama didn't have to run this year. We had a very capable and experienced candidates with grown children who could have run, and one who took 18,000,000 votes and who is now being called in to be a hit mom - I mean, hit woman - for Palin. If you wanted Hillary to win this election, you should have made her the candidate. She's proving to be the most powerful Democrat out there and yet she's not our nominee. We deserve Pain and McCain like we deserve a hair shirt and a time out.

[Tanya Miracle]

Because Governor Palin's platform includes morals education in schools and abstinence education, this part of her personal life is now up for debate.

I don't want her to legislate morals education in public schools any more than I want a compulsive gambler to be the national Drug Czar (William Bennett) or a temperamental, forgetful war hawk to determine how many wars we can handle simultaneously (John McCain).

[Lucas]

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 her under the bus.

[Victoria]

"Because Governor Palin's platform includes morals education in schools and abstinence education, this part of her personal life is now up for debate."

Actually, no.

And if Rebublicans started posting about Obama's daughter's grades in school or Michelle's personal gynecological decisions, that would be just as wrong. In fact, if Democrats started posting about those things, it would be wrong.

High road, here. Let's be the change we want to see. You don't tell women to stop wearing skirts so that men won't be tempted to rape them, do you?

[Valued Val]

How nice that Gov. Palin knew about her daughter's pregnancy and decided to accept VP nomination. "Hey, Bristol, you think having a baby at 16 will be hard. How about I turn the entire country's ire on you?" What mother would do that to her daughter. You gotta question Palin's judgment. That is just mean to parade her daughter through the mud for her own opportunity.

[Valued Val]

How nice that Gov. Palin knew about her daughter's pregnancy and decided to accept VP nomination. "Hey, Bristol, you think having a baby at 16 will be hard. How about I turn the entire country's ire on you?" What mother would do that to her daughter. You gotta question Palin's judgment. That is just mean to parade her daughter through the mud for her own opportunity.

[Victoria]

Maybe Bristol was consulted with and gave her mom the go-ahead.

Or do we all still think of all teens as just hormone-jumbled children who can't be trusted to give consent? Individual circumstances here unless you know Bristol personally.

There won't be any mud if we don't fling it. Democrats are above that kind of thing, and the Republicans will circle the wagons around their own. Bristol should be fine if we become the village she deserves.

I'm feeling no ire, so that's one down.

[Kristin]

"If Obama really cared about his kids, he'd have waited until they were of age to consent to his making them public figures via his election."

Sigh. OK -- When people look at Obama's children, they aren't looking at a situation that nearly everybody, supposed pregnancy pacts aside, realizes is no where near the ideal.

And as Hillary seems to have been your candidate, Victoria, I recall that the Clinton's ran when Chelsea was, what, 13? Around the same age as Malia, I'm guessing.

[A. Perkins]

Sarah Palin's failed agenda of Abstinene Only Education is certainly Fair Political Game.

[Daisy]

I am more concerned that Palin will use her daughter's pregnancy as a tool in pushing her anti-abortion agenda. A teen pregnancy while within a secure family with a secure income and health insurance faces a whole different future from one who doesn't have that kind of support network. She would never choose abortion or force one on her child, but she isn't every woman or every teen. Her personal circumstances can not, CAN NOT dictate policy or (heaven forbid) law.

[Ted]

This is a plus. As Mark Steyn points out in his recent best seller, America Alone, if our western civilization is demographically to survive in the increasingly “hostile to the west” islamic world — and not end up like the sinking European populations — these are the precise people (the Bristol Palins’) we should thank for increasing their progeny.

[Lacie]

I was a trial lawyer before I was a mommy. If a woman chooses to give her new baby to someone else to nurture and care for while she works that is her perogative and it is not my place to comment. However if the job she means to take has the potential to impact my family's life I definitely have the right to comment. I just gave birth 18 months ago so the experience is fresh in my mind. No one is going to be more impacted and distracted by birth of a baby than the baby's mother. While the father may be sleep deprived he does not have to cope with hormones, post partum depression, mommy brain and the physical recovery from child birth. Even if a mother has none of these particular problems and has a mommy substitute step in for her no one walks away from childbirth completely untouched. This is especially true for a woman who has a new baby with health problems. After I gave birth all I cared about was this tiny precious new person I was completely obsessed with. Most mothers I have met feel the same way. The world I had previously been so interested in took a distant second to my new son. Even if I had been willing to hand over my baby to his daddy or a Nanny to nurse and cuddle while I helped run the country I would hope someone might point out it might not be in the country's best interest to have a distracted new mommy (or actually a daddy either) second in command of the United States of America. Maybe Sarah Palin is in no way distracted by her new baby but I am just not willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. That is not to say a mother cannot be President or Vice President of the United States just not a mother who is less than a year post partum.

[Kristin]

"Well, when something un-ideal does come up and the Repubs jump on his little girls, no one here will complain, right?"

Did I attack Bristol? No. Would I ever attack her? No. Sheeshamoley.

Victoria, this is getting a little sad...

[Kristin]

And where did the Michelle Obama -- hospital comment come from? A big ole "HUH?"

Has anyone asked such asinine questions about Palin? seriously?

[Kirsty Cat]

I'm all for being a working mom, but you still have to be present in your kids' lives. What has been going on for the last couple years when Palin has been governing the highly populous state of Alaska? Has she been relying on her husband to parent 100%? Being president (because honestly we've got to think that way) does not allow much time for mothering. I feel sad for all of her kids. She's missing out on a lot of her kids' times. Who is parenting them?

[Kirsty Cat]

I don't think active military compares with being a politician. That is much greater & lot less selfish than politicking. I don't like all the attention to the "working mother." So, she has five children, but I'd like to know how much she's seen them in the past week.

This is about policies - she dismisses evolution and encourages creationism to be taught alongside it. I'm not comfortable with her NRA participation or her abortion views. I was against her based on these things before I thought about her parenting.

I realize that my daughter may do the same kinds of things in the future, but I do want to know that I have been somewhat involved. I have a hard time thinking that she has been fully present recently.

[Lacie]

Hey Ron there is a difference between being tough (most moms) and so self absorbed that you don't give a shit that you are putting the country at risk by taking on more than you should with a new baby at home and a teenager running amok. You have never given birth or been a mother so you clearly have no concept of what you are talking about (unless you are a mother hiding behind your husband's moniker) and as such should shut your trap and listen to the ladies who know from whence they speak. By the way moms who are active military aren't tasked with helping to run the country. The comparison is just obtuse.

[Kristin]

I'm beginning to get a bit concerned about Ron's tether to reality. If such spite is what it means to be a Republican, boy, sign me up!!!

[Marissa]

I'm listening to Republican Congresswoman and James Carville discussing Governor Palin's qualifications. Carville says that her daughter pregnancy is "not an issue," the Congresswoman takes the opportunity to kvell about Palin's "judgment" and "values". Unbelievable!! What a hypocrisy - the Dems say back off, the Reps say back off but then shove family values down our throats.

[Ron]

@Kirsty n Lacie.
Are you two so narrow minded you can't even understand what a Comparison is, but instead attempt to turn it around into my not knowing what its like to give birth and be a mother. And further you make elementary accusation of me being a lady hiding behind my name. HAHA!! WOW!! Your hate for Sarah Palin because she IS such a great choice is screaming.

Are you so ignorant to think that only because I've not given birth I don't HEAR women say what it is like and speak in reference to that? If that is your point of life in general, don't ever say a damn thing to a man about fixing your car, repairing things around the house, carrying heavy items you can't, sawing down and cutting up trees blown over in your yards, amoung numerous other things. OH you COULD be one of those independent types that refuses to ask for a mans help, which would make you .01 of 1% of women.

Sarah Palin's Purse has more executive experience that BHO. BHO, the corrupt Cook County "made" politician. He is bad enough himself, I don't have to go for the throat of his family or family issues. But since your lacking substance, keep targeting Gov. Palins personnel life. Meantime the rest of America will concentrate on all the other issues.

[Stefania]

Hey Ron Ross or Interested American or whatever handle you are going by these days, if you aren't targeting Barack Obama's personal life by constantly referring to him as BHO like that asshole Ann Coulter does than what are you doing? Because the way I see it, you sad people are stooping to the lowest level by trying to paint Obama as unpatriotic. And that's pretty personal, isn't it?

Perhaps you haven't been trolling around our blog long enough to see that we, along with dozens of other bloggers, have already addressed your little pet issue. Been there, done that, dude. Behold our Call Me Hussein blog action:

http://momocrats.typepad.com/momocrats/2008/02/just-call-me-hu.html

I bet that just made your eyeballs explode. Keep talking, Ron. We got a million of 'em.

--Stefania HUSSEIN Pomponi Butler

[Ron]

My BAD Stefania...I was abbreviating for sake of shorthand. Are those NOT his initials? Hmmmm? I use my REAL name and you question me trying to hide under another name?..haha..your dumb as you sound.

As for BARRYs Patriotism... what American should go to ANY country and talk Bad about the USA? B.O. goes to Germany and puts down the U.S. THAT is NOT someone that should be the leader of this country? Patriotic? He passed up seeing hurt soldiers to go to the gym and go shopping. OH YEAH, some Patriot. OH, but he did support Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago and his friend John Stroger, Cook County board of commissioners President, two of the crookedist politicians known in this country. Stroger so bad even the Democrats wanted to vote him out, UNTIL Mr. OBAMA jumped in to support him and get him re-elected.

Look into Barrack H. Obama's history Stefania H P Butler. Or are you as big a crooked person as he is and proud of it also.

[Jo-Ann]

"...your dumb as you sound."

Hey RONNY, back to the name calling again I see. But if you're going to call someone dumb, you better have your grammar correct. That should be "...*you're as* dumb as you sound."

[Lacie]

Ron

The problem with your posts are that they lack logic. You are arguing about what it means to be a mother with mothers and then say,
"Are you so ignorant to think that only because I've not given birth I don't HEAR women say what it is like and speak in reference to that?"

According to your logic I can debate what it feels like to have a penis with you, since I have heard men talk about it and that makes me an expert.

A couple of thoughts, in order to make a comparison you have to have two items that are comparable. Soldier and Vice President of the United States are not comparable positions.

Finally, when you laugh in all caps it makes you look demented. Wipe the slobber from your chin and change your shirt. It has probably has crusty food stains on it.

[Ron Ross]

@Lacie sorry for the delay, someone felt my grammar error reason for lockout. I was curious, what part of my text said I thought I was an expert? SOrry I'm not as Super as you, I'm just not so ignorant that I have ignored the talk of women the last 46yrs, or 27yrs I've been married. Now if your a penis expert, more power to you. You GO GIRL!

@Jo-Jo.. please call me Ronnie with an "IE", that's how my friends spell it. Otherwise Ron is sufficient. BIG HUG :-)

[Lacie]

I was worried. Thanks for the update. Perhaps your frequent use of all caps and your rather overbearing diatribe on motherhood led me to think you consider yourself one of the girls since you are clearly not a democrat. Given your easy use of the expression "you go girl" (one that has long been popular with drag queens), I think I better understand your loud persistent presence on this blog.