Why The Left Should Be Careful In Dealing With Bristol Palin’s Pregnancy
Obviously, if Barack Obama had a pregnant 17-year-old daughter, there’s no question that conservatives would be blowing every available dog whistle on the subject of spiritually fallen African American females and the moral disintegration of “urban” communities.But progressives should think very carefully before exploiting the fact that Bristol Palin is pregnant. Americans do not want to see this girl humiliated on national T.V. And while there are obvious points to make about the absurdity of abstinence-only sex education (and the fact that a young woman had no choice but to carry her child to term and get shotgun-married to a boy-husband), I think it will appear very unseemly if Obama or his surrogates make political hay out of this private matter.
Let’s also remember that, as progressives, we are better than our gynophobic adversaries. Bristol Palin has nothing to be ashamed of and has no reason to submit herself to the judgment of the community elders. She is not accountable to the public for her personal actions and decisions. She has a long life ahead of her and I hope and trust that she will grow up to be a better woman than the reactionary and corrupt ogress that is her mother.
Well said.
Seriously, there are so many stronger reasons to oppose Sarah Palin’s VP candidacy. Policy-wise, the McCain/Palin ticket is not going to enact the kinds of policies that would make the the lives of the USA’s women (and men, and parents overall) better. Where are you, Palin, on universal, comprehensive health care for every person in the USA? On universal, quality child care for all working parents? On the Employee Free Choice Act? On mandatory and paid sick leave/family care leave for all workers? On trade agreements? On environmental protections? According to today’s New York Times, Palin sought to have certain materials removed from the town library because they were offensive.
Media and Critics claim that Bristol Palin’s getting so much attention about her pregnant teenage daughter because she is a woman. I beg to differ. I think she should get attention because the ironic twist of supporting abstinence only programs when statics show that they are simply money black holes and unscientific religious propaganda that say things like your wiener will fall off if you make our with your girlfriend and such. I don’t support attacking her daughter and publicly humiliating her but use it to target these stupid programs that obviously don’t work.