Is Palin's personal life fair game?
Posted: Monday, September 15, 2008
Imagine the outcry if Chelsea Clinton had gotten pregnant in her mid to late teens, about the time Bill was running for his second term as president or when Hillary was planning to run for her first term in the Senate. Exactly how many nanno seconds do you think would have passed before right-wing politicians and commentators, the same ones who viciously attacked Chelsea during her awkward teen years merely for how she looked, attacked the Clintons and charged them with bad parenting and a lack of morals? You know the answer to that question.
So, when Alaska Gov. and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin announced that her unwed teenage daughter was pregnant, you can understand why some felt that a double standard was being applied when those same right-wingers rationalized the situation by saying it was “no big deal, “hey, it happens,” and “parents can’t watch their kids all the time.”
No one is saying that in this day and age what happened in Palin’s family is all that unusual or that it should be dwelled upon, especially when they have asked for privacy. But the privacy is forfeited and the situation is fair game for critics when Palin parades her family in front of the world as she did at last week’s Republican convention. Palin spoke of how proud she was of the “choice” her daughter had made, as if she had any choice at all. You can just picture what Sarah Palin’s reaction would have been if her daughter had come to her and said, “Mom, I’m pregnant. Now, don’t be upset, but I’ve decided that I’m not ready for this. I’m too young. I have my whole life ahead of me so I’ve decided to have an abortion.” I’m guessing that wouldn’t have gone over too well.
So, Sarah Palin’s daughter will indeed have her baby. It’s a happy occasion and I’m happy for them. I’m especially happy because I know that the baby will be well cared for. And so will the mother. After all, grandma is the governor. So, Sarah Palin’s daughter will not have to drastically alter her life. All of her hopes and dreams can still be realized. She will still be able to graduate from high school and, if she so chooses, to go on to college as well because unlike many teen mothers, she won’t have to choose between supporting a family and finishing high school, let alone going on to higher education. And, unlike most teenage moms who have little or no money left over after paying for food, clothes, medicine and daycare, she probably won’t have to sweat being able to save money for her child’s college education. It’s seems a safe bet that Sarah Palin’s grandchild will have a fat college fund.
Contrast this with the reality for the majority of teen parents who do not have the economic or social resources to provide for themselves or their children. As many as 60 percent of teen mothers are living below the poverty level and upwards of 80 percent will turn to welfare for support for at least a portion of the time following the birth of their child. This is why Sarah Palin’s family is fair game. Because if Gov. Palin wants to promote Abstinence - Only programs as a way to combat the very serious problem of teen pregnancy in America, then abstinence better at least work in her own household.
The basic fact of human nature is that teens, sex and waiting aren’t a natural combination. Palin doesn’t believe in sex education and birth control. If she did her daughter probably would not have gotten pregnant. But the message that she sent out from the Republican convention is that this is no big deal. And it isn’t a big deal when there’s a reasonable chance that the next place you call home is the White House.
Paul Guggenheimer is a free-lance writer and radio and TV personality in Sioux City. You can write to him in care of the Journal or at lvrcomments@hotmail.com.
So, when Alaska Gov. and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin announced that her unwed teenage daughter was pregnant, you can understand why some felt that a double standard was being applied when those same right-wingers rationalized the situation by saying it was “no big deal, “hey, it happens,” and “parents can’t watch their kids all the time.”
No one is saying that in this day and age what happened in Palin’s family is all that unusual or that it should be dwelled upon, especially when they have asked for privacy. But the privacy is forfeited and the situation is fair game for critics when Palin parades her family in front of the world as she did at last week’s Republican convention. Palin spoke of how proud she was of the “choice” her daughter had made, as if she had any choice at all. You can just picture what Sarah Palin’s reaction would have been if her daughter had come to her and said, “Mom, I’m pregnant. Now, don’t be upset, but I’ve decided that I’m not ready for this. I’m too young. I have my whole life ahead of me so I’ve decided to have an abortion.” I’m guessing that wouldn’t have gone over too well.
So, Sarah Palin’s daughter will indeed have her baby. It’s a happy occasion and I’m happy for them. I’m especially happy because I know that the baby will be well cared for. And so will the mother. After all, grandma is the governor. So, Sarah Palin’s daughter will not have to drastically alter her life. All of her hopes and dreams can still be realized. She will still be able to graduate from high school and, if she so chooses, to go on to college as well because unlike many teen mothers, she won’t have to choose between supporting a family and finishing high school, let alone going on to higher education. And, unlike most teenage moms who have little or no money left over after paying for food, clothes, medicine and daycare, she probably won’t have to sweat being able to save money for her child’s college education. It’s seems a safe bet that Sarah Palin’s grandchild will have a fat college fund.
Contrast this with the reality for the majority of teen parents who do not have the economic or social resources to provide for themselves or their children. As many as 60 percent of teen mothers are living below the poverty level and upwards of 80 percent will turn to welfare for support for at least a portion of the time following the birth of their child. This is why Sarah Palin’s family is fair game. Because if Gov. Palin wants to promote Abstinence - Only programs as a way to combat the very serious problem of teen pregnancy in America, then abstinence better at least work in her own household.
The basic fact of human nature is that teens, sex and waiting aren’t a natural combination. Palin doesn’t believe in sex education and birth control. If she did her daughter probably would not have gotten pregnant. But the message that she sent out from the Republican convention is that this is no big deal. And it isn’t a big deal when there’s a reasonable chance that the next place you call home is the White House.
Paul Guggenheimer is a free-lance writer and radio and TV personality in Sioux City. You can write to him in care of the Journal or at lvrcomments@hotmail.com.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 20 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
Douglas wrote on Oct 6, 2008 1:04 PM:
Paul Jackson wrote on Sep 25, 2008 8:41 PM:
To JK wrote on Sep 19, 2008 9:55 AM:
Put it into perspective.
TG "
to JK wrote on Sep 18, 2008 3:11 PM:
Like we tell our children, use your words and if you don't have any without resorting to easy cursing, slang, or put-downs, keep your mouth shut!
-and of course she had to say she made the right choice- the media was all over it like snot on JK's face.
TUGGY "
TuesdaysGone wrote on Sep 18, 2008 3:09 PM:
Why contrast when it's not even an equal comparison? Let's see, dear one, we compare Obama to MCCAIN, and BIDEN to Palin. We can't mix and match our candidates as some of you do your values. "