Actually you did talk about excusing what she did in 9/2/008 @3:25 pm post, “Once again, the “values voters” are the hypocrites here. Because if you believe something like sex before marriage is wrong, but then you excuse it when it involves your candidate, that’s hypocritical.” Correct me if I am wrong but you were saying that the value voters are excusing Bristol’s behavior when Palin is their candidate and that doing so is hypocritical.

But the points that you and others bring up, that kids do what they will sometimes no matter what they’re told, runs exactly counter to the reasons why conservatives think we should have abstinence-only education. Of course teenagers have sex. But admitting that would mean that we should be responsible about it as a country, and people would rather tell themselves that the polite fiction that telling kids to wait actually works.

First, teenagers don’t always (dare I say they rarely) do what they’re told. Even the most even-handed, progressive, approachable parent can be faced with a recalcitrant kid; even pro-sex-ed people can end up with pregnant teens. And while sure, it’s likely the abstinence thing had something to do with Bristol’s current situation, there’s no way to prove it, and any attempt on the dems’ part to do so will only make the “values” voters love Palin more.

Second, women should have the right to control their own bodies. This goes for Bristol Palin, too. (Of course, it’s anybody’s guess whether the “choice” to keep the baby is hers … but again, it’s not a question to which anybody’s going to get a straight answer.) She’s got a tough road ahead of her, even given her privileged position, and it’s not going to win any elections to go attacking a 17-year-old mother.

So as sweet as it seems to say, “see!! Abstinence-only education doesn’t work!!!” can you imagine how quickly the GOP machine could turn around and start pointing out pregnant daughters of pro-choice, pro-sex-ed activists? I’m sure they’re out there, and they don’t deserve that kind of treatment either.

Anyway, I do think it’s silly for the Palins to think, given their stance on the issue, that their daughter’s situation wouldn’t be talked about.

But unlike the folks in the original post, the Palins are not hiding her and are not having her get an abortion.

And I don’t think the Dems should call them out on it. What I meant to point out was this: The values Palin has espoused as governor justify the pregnancy as a news story. It’s the press who should be holding people accountable. We shouldn’t be relying on politicians to do it.

Otherwise, I don’t find that there is hypocrisy in both touting family values and supporting your teenager who’s becoming a parent. Scott said it well.

I think that going on the offensive over this is a bad strategy for Dems b/c it could trigger sympathy for McCain’s ticket. If Dems want something to attack, it should be McCain’s judgment (or more accurately, the lack thereof) in picking someone he barely knew anything about after having six months to make his choice from all the people out there.

Absolutely. So how can the Republican party run on “family values” when they behave just like any caring family does, regardless of political affiliation?