Thoughts on the RNC
I don't think things could get off to a rockier start for the RNC. First, Hurricane Gustav blows everything off course one entire day, taking much of the wind out of the Republicans' sails. Then, while the national spotlight is on the Gulf Coast, the McCain campaign quietly announces that Sarah Palin's 17 year-old daughter is knocked up (when you are married and pregnant, you are "expecting" -- when you are single and pregnant, you are "knocked up." These are my rules, folks. I make 'em up).
I'm sure McCain and company thought the national media would minimize this story, since it was announced during the onslaught of another natural disaster, but the media is feasting on this like a fat man at the Ground Round.
Palin herself says that she is "proud" that her daughter is keeping the baby, and she is "happy and looking forward" to becoming a grandma. Holy shit, is this ever the Polly Anna version of things! These upbeat, positive comments are coming from a woman who promotes abstinence and discourages sex education in public schools. I guess the whole abstinence concept didn't catch on at the governor's mansion up in Juneau.
The truth is, teenage pregnancy happens. No matter what you teach (or don't teach), kids are going to bump uglies. That's life. It's happened for centuries! I personally think it makes much more sense to show a teenage boy how to put a rubber on his John Thomas than to tell him stay away from nookie. At least there's a chance he'll use protection. We as a species are programmed to have sex: it is called instinct. To pretend that instinct doesn't exist and that it won't be acted upon is nothing more than ignorance. Some people (such as Sarah Palin) say teaching sex ed in schools in morally wrong. I say teaching "abstinence only" is socially negligent and naive, as evidenced by the growing belly of Bristol Palin. Just my opinion, folks. But I am right.
In the end, this whole story is what the media makes of it, because the media dictates national opinion. They decide what to report, what to bring to the public's attention, and what to leave buried in the ground. If the media decides to make this story a big deal, McCain might as well concede right now (and from what I've heard so far, they are making this a very, very big deal; Fox News called this the "Palin Bombshell -- Sarah Palin, Mystery Woman: What Else Don't We Know?" It should have been followed by suspense-type music "Dum, dum, Daaahhh!!"). Good grief!
I have to give credit to President Obama, though (we might as well start calling him that now, folks!). When a crowd of reporters nestled around him like piglets at feeding time and asked him to comment on this "Palin bombshell," President Obama calmly said, "Certain things are off limits. Family is one of them. Especially children." End of comment. Way to go, Mr. Prez! Seriously, it was a very classy thing to do, because this is ammunition campaign managers dream about.
The most fascinating part of this whole story is how a clandestine teenage boff five months ago could change the course of United States history in November. Imagine that.
But what's the big deal, folks? Dick Cheney's daughter is a lesbian. George Bush's daughters were charged with minor consumption. Sarah Palin's daughter is knocked up. And they act like none of this is a big deal. Hell, you would think they were a bunch of Democrats!
So what if you were in Sarah Palin's sexy stiletto heels right now? First your teenage daughter becomes pregnant while you are governor of Alaska. Now, the entire nation knows about it and the national media is scrutinizing your very existence, while you are running for second-in-command as leader of the Free World. Could it be that you are asking yourself right now, "Is this really happening?"
I think she's under just a little stress. Imagine the PMS Mr. Palin has to endure. Yikes!
I'm sure McCain and company thought the national media would minimize this story, since it was announced during the onslaught of another natural disaster, but the media is feasting on this like a fat man at the Ground Round.
Palin herself says that she is "proud" that her daughter is keeping the baby, and she is "happy and looking forward" to becoming a grandma. Holy shit, is this ever the Polly Anna version of things! These upbeat, positive comments are coming from a woman who promotes abstinence and discourages sex education in public schools. I guess the whole abstinence concept didn't catch on at the governor's mansion up in Juneau.
The truth is, teenage pregnancy happens. No matter what you teach (or don't teach), kids are going to bump uglies. That's life. It's happened for centuries! I personally think it makes much more sense to show a teenage boy how to put a rubber on his John Thomas than to tell him stay away from nookie. At least there's a chance he'll use protection. We as a species are programmed to have sex: it is called instinct. To pretend that instinct doesn't exist and that it won't be acted upon is nothing more than ignorance. Some people (such as Sarah Palin) say teaching sex ed in schools in morally wrong. I say teaching "abstinence only" is socially negligent and naive, as evidenced by the growing belly of Bristol Palin. Just my opinion, folks. But I am right.
In the end, this whole story is what the media makes of it, because the media dictates national opinion. They decide what to report, what to bring to the public's attention, and what to leave buried in the ground. If the media decides to make this story a big deal, McCain might as well concede right now (and from what I've heard so far, they are making this a very, very big deal; Fox News called this the "Palin Bombshell -- Sarah Palin, Mystery Woman: What Else Don't We Know?" It should have been followed by suspense-type music "Dum, dum, Daaahhh!!"). Good grief!
I have to give credit to President Obama, though (we might as well start calling him that now, folks!). When a crowd of reporters nestled around him like piglets at feeding time and asked him to comment on this "Palin bombshell," President Obama calmly said, "Certain things are off limits. Family is one of them. Especially children." End of comment. Way to go, Mr. Prez! Seriously, it was a very classy thing to do, because this is ammunition campaign managers dream about.
The most fascinating part of this whole story is how a clandestine teenage boff five months ago could change the course of United States history in November. Imagine that.
But what's the big deal, folks? Dick Cheney's daughter is a lesbian. George Bush's daughters were charged with minor consumption. Sarah Palin's daughter is knocked up. And they act like none of this is a big deal. Hell, you would think they were a bunch of Democrats!
So what if you were in Sarah Palin's sexy stiletto heels right now? First your teenage daughter becomes pregnant while you are governor of Alaska. Now, the entire nation knows about it and the national media is scrutinizing your very existence, while you are running for second-in-command as leader of the Free World. Could it be that you are asking yourself right now, "Is this really happening?"
I think she's under just a little stress. Imagine the PMS Mr. Palin has to endure. Yikes!
