2008 Woodie Awards
Palin pregnancy issue should be private
Jocelyn Noveck, AP
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: News
Sen. John McCain's surprise choice of Palin made headlines a few days earlier, the revelation of her daughter's pregnancy has sent shock waves across the political landscape - and spawned countless Web references to "Juno from Juneau," a play on the name of last year's popular movie about a pregnant teen.
But what do voters really think? Will the pregnancy reflect negatively on Palin or on the man who chose her? Or will Palin's predicament instead humanize her and draw some sympathy votes?
Interviews across the country by The Associated Press on Tuesday found many said it should be a private matter. Yet some of these same people wondered whether Palin could be an effective vice president and deal with the obligations of parenting both her own and her children's children.
Back when teen star Jamie Lynn Spears revealed she was pregnant at 16, chatter centered on her mother - more famous for her older daughter, Britney - and whether she was somehow to blame.
But in Palin's case, voters of all political stripes expressed the view that parental guidance only goes so far.
"As a parent, you cannot be totally responsible for your child," said Kurt Farrell, a 71-year-old Atlanta resident. "This is not a crime, and it doesn't mean she did not do her job. You can't guide your child 100 percent."
The story, he said, is simply "not our business."
Farrell, who is originally from Trinidad and is a staunch Barack Obama supporter, added he was certain Obama wouldn't use Palin's personal situation to gain political leverage, and indeed Obama has said forcefully that he believes candidates' children are off limits.
But one supporter of the Illinois senator felt the information was fair game. "It gives you insight about her," said Joanell Williams, a 37-year-old high school teacher from Hahnville, La., who fled Hurricane Gustav and was visiting relatives in Atlanta.
"What I keep asking myself is, if you can't take care of your own household, how can you take care of the nation," said Williams. "If she is so strong on conservative values why wasn't she able to get that through at home? My mother raised seven daughters. ... None of us came home pregnant."
But what do voters really think? Will the pregnancy reflect negatively on Palin or on the man who chose her? Or will Palin's predicament instead humanize her and draw some sympathy votes?
Interviews across the country by The Associated Press on Tuesday found many said it should be a private matter. Yet some of these same people wondered whether Palin could be an effective vice president and deal with the obligations of parenting both her own and her children's children.
Back when teen star Jamie Lynn Spears revealed she was pregnant at 16, chatter centered on her mother - more famous for her older daughter, Britney - and whether she was somehow to blame.
But in Palin's case, voters of all political stripes expressed the view that parental guidance only goes so far.
"As a parent, you cannot be totally responsible for your child," said Kurt Farrell, a 71-year-old Atlanta resident. "This is not a crime, and it doesn't mean she did not do her job. You can't guide your child 100 percent."
The story, he said, is simply "not our business."
Farrell, who is originally from Trinidad and is a staunch Barack Obama supporter, added he was certain Obama wouldn't use Palin's personal situation to gain political leverage, and indeed Obama has said forcefully that he believes candidates' children are off limits.
But one supporter of the Illinois senator felt the information was fair game. "It gives you insight about her," said Joanell Williams, a 37-year-old high school teacher from Hahnville, La., who fled Hurricane Gustav and was visiting relatives in Atlanta.
"What I keep asking myself is, if you can't take care of your own household, how can you take care of the nation," said Williams. "If she is so strong on conservative values why wasn't she able to get that through at home? My mother raised seven daughters. ... None of us came home pregnant."
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
aem2x
posted 9/03/08 @ 11:46 PM CST
I want to start by saying that my heart breaks for Bristol. It's tough enough being a statistic but having it rubbed in your face on national TV just makes this time in her life that much harder. (Continued…)
MTSU Parent
posted 9/04/08 @ 12:13 PM CST
I totally agree that the Governor's pregnancy, or that of her daughter, should be private. However, the fact that she supports hunting wolves from airplanes; doesn't believe that global warming is man-made; opposes abortion, even in cases of rape and incest; supports failed abstinence-only sex-ed programs; is currently under investigation for allegedly abusing her power to help her sister in a messy divorce; lied about her support of the "Bridge to Nowhere," meaning that the first thing out of her mouth after being selected as VP was a lie; has big money ties to indicted Sen. (Continued…)
deadhead
MTSU Parent
posted 9/05/08 @ 5:47 AM CST
I totally agree that Palin pregnancies, either the governor's or her daughter's, should be private. However, Gov. Palin's positions need to be thoroughly examined. (Continued…)
Bret Hooper, '79, '84
posted 9/07/08 @ 9:21 PM CST
I, too, agree that Governor Palin's love life, and those of her family, should be off limits for public discussion, just as President Clinton's should have been. (Continued…)
For Real?
For Real?
posted 9/11/08 @ 10:46 AM CST
We as the American public should look more closely at all our politicians home lives. That way we can pick all of them apart and cause them loose focus on the whole running the country thing. (Continued…)
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