I'm looking at it this way:

If the shoe was on the other foot, and Obama's daughter became pregnant, I wouldn't want McCain or Republicans using her as the example for why "safe sex" teaching in the schools doesn't work.

It's not because the ISSUE shouldn't be addressed...it's because his daughter's circumstance, in and of itself, doesn't prove anything. And thus, it's not worth dragging that minor's name into the national spotlight to make a point.

That's Daily Kos Rant stuff, and turns people away

Sad to say, but the negative stuff works, just a little while back I saw a report that showed when McCain went negative, his numbers went up.  Obama's camp will do the same, politics is a nasty business, always has been, always will be. The crap that bothers me, is when the negative stuff is not true and tries to just scare people, like the swift boat stuff.

And thus, it's not worth dragging that minor's name into the national spotlight to make a point

Her mother was the one that put her in the spotlight, I just do not understand a mother that would put her daughter in this position. My heart breaks for the daughter, it is all very sad. Go back and watch when Palin announced she was on the ticket, her daughter looked tortured. On this issue alone, I can't stand Palin.

Her mother was the one that put her in the spotlight, I just do not understand a mother that would put her daughter in this position. My heart breaks for the daughter, it is all very sad. Go back and watch when Palin announced she was on the ticket, her daughter looked tortured. On this issue alone, I can't stand Palin.

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If Obama had a pregnant 17 year old daughter would you be saying the same thing?

Obama has two daughters who will now have to grow up under the glare of the spotlight and public scrutiny, whether they make mistakes or not.  Is it equally cruel of him to do that to his family?

No, because he's a democrat!

Well, the fact is, Obama does not have a teen age, pregnant daughter.  You can "what if" all you like.

Anyway, based on how the religious right crucified Jamie Lynn Spears and her family for her being pregnant at 16, I wonder how they'll handle this one.

QUOTE: Surely she has a work record, a voting history, and quotes on file that we can talk about and endlessly debate.  without bringing in family issues as well.

She certainly does, Don.  For better or for worse, this is a situation where the work record and family issues are, at the very least, at odds.  And where her family issues are at odds with her running mate's work/voting history.  In such a situation, while it would be great to leave the family 100% off limits, when the family's specific circumstance dovetails into the candidate's public positions, I'm not sure it's entirely possible.

 Is it equally cruel of him to do that to his family?

No it isn't even close to the same.

If Obama had a pregnant 17 year old daughter would you be saying the same thing?

Yes I would, I am a mother first a democrat second.

No, because he's a democrat!

Joel you don't know me very well,  neither does Thom or Christopher. You see when my party screws up, I write them letters and hold them accountable. In this thread I have slammed Bill Clinton for lying under oath and I didn't support Hillary because she voted for the war. I spoke against my own local party because they are crooks and liars.  I am loyal to my party, not to idiots that bring down my party.

In many posts on here, I have stated I would put my child above my needs in a heartbeat.

If Palins daughter were not pregnant, I would have no problem with Palin running, but to do that to your own child is poor mothering and self serving.

Edited to add: If you don't like "what if" scenarios what about JFK? Was he wrong to expose his pregnant wife to a Presidential campaign?

Way different, Jackie was an adult and supported her husband, being a pregnant wife and in the spotlight, is far different then putting an underage pregnant daughter in the spotlight.

but to do that to your own child is poor mothering and self serving.

She impregnated her own child? Wait until the conservatives here THAT!!

Just kidding. Ok, I get your clarification Jodi. Good point.

I'm sure there was much discussion of this within her family. And they probably all came to the decision to do this. In fact, her daughter may have insisted ("mom, I'll feel 100 times worse if this is what holds you back!" or something like that) And while Obama doesn't have the same situation, you never know what the next 4 (or 8) years might bring...one might get pregnant, crash a car, etc. so you're always going to be putting your child "at risk" of exposure.