Frustration

I am sure you have heard about it, but for those of you who haven’t, Sarah Palin’s 17 year old daughter is pregnant. I am not a Sarah Palin fan by any stretch of the imagination. I disagree with her on about 95% of her positions, but frankly, I am embarrassed that her daughter being pregnant is a part of our political discussion. There are way more important issues affecting Americans: the economy, education, and the threat of a nuclear armed Iran. When it comes down to it, Sarah Palin’s ability to be a good Vice President has very little to do with her pregnant daughter. That said, who are we to blame that this is part of the political discussion in the first place? Those on the right have berated Democrats for bringing it up, but that is incorrect. The real culprits are themselves. For years, conservatives have been citing the rise in teenage pregnancy as another example of the decline of family values in America. Yet when their Vice Presidential candidate’s daughter becomes pregnant, there is no discussion of family values. Rather they conveniently pivot to the abortion issue and say that in spite of her mistake at a young age, she is going to keep the baby and marry the father. If this were Obama’s daughter, there would be a full throated denunciation of him as an “irresponsible parent.” How do I know this? Let’s look at the comments of two of the most popular conservative commentators about Jamie Lynn Spears, who is also 17 years old.

Bill O’ Reilly said:

“On the pinhead front, 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant. The sister of Britney says she is shocked. I bet. Now most teens are pinheads in some ways. But here the blame falls primarily on the parents of the girl, who obviously have little control over her or even over Britney Spears. Look at the way she behaves.”

On the other hand, Glenn Beck said:

“Plus, Britney Spears` 16-year-old kid sister is having a baby. Now more than ever, family values in this nation are under fire.”

I won’t try to defend the fact that both parties are filled with their share of hypocrites but this example is so blatant, that it makes me laugh.

I can’t believe I am going to defend Palin some more, but some people have been blasting her for being an “irresponsible” parent because she has five young kids at home to take care of. Give me a damn break people! If Sarah Palin were Scott Palin, no one would be calling her irresponsible. For comparison’s sake, Obama has two daughters who are not exactly grown up. Yet there has been absolutely no discussion about him being irresponsible. Looks like a double standard to me! As much as some of us out there would like to believe that we still live in the early 1900’s and that the rearing of the kids is primarily the job of the mother, the truth is that it isn’t. Raising of the kids is a responsibility that should be shared equally between both parents.

In spite of the fact that I have spent considerable time defending Palin, I urge you to vote against her and McCain come November 4th. But don’t vote against her because her daughter is pregnant or because you believe her to be an irresponsible parent. Vote against her because of her inexperience in both national and foreign issues. Vote against her because she shares the Republican gift of turning surpluses into deficits. Vote against her because she doesn’t respect a women’s right to choose and wants more guns on her streets. Vote against her because she speaks out against pork barrel spending but lobbies for 27 million dollars in earmarks for her little town of 5,000 people. Vote against her because she used the power of her office to oust her ex brother in law. Vote based on the things that matter!