Reply #42: To me this is kind of why it is a story. [View All]

[wickerwoman]

It represents Republican shame and hatred of sexuality, especially teen sexuality, as if having a child at 17 is such a horrendous violation of the social contract that everything about it much be shrouded in secrecy to avoid shame to the family.

I like to think that civilized America left this kind of stigmatization of teen sexuality back in the 1950s, especially in light of the developmental and psychological damage it is known to do to tell children that someone is their biological parent when they really aren't.

Plus there is the fact that Palin continues to advocate "abstinence-only" education and further evidence of the complete failure of that policy within her own family seems to be fair political game.

It's ridiculous that her daughter is making a six figure salary advocating for abstinence-only and against abortion when her situation as a single mother that "chose life" has absolutely nothing to do with the situation of pregnant teens whose parents aren't millionaires and who can't milk their minor celebrity for a nice fat paycheck.

Anyway, I agree that the evidence is somewhat circumstantial, but I don't think it's necessary to shut down the discussion with quite the vehemence being demonstrated by some on this thread. There are legitimate issues surrounding hypocrisy, sex-ed policy, abortion rights and teen pregnancy attached to this story. So where's the harm in having an adult discussion about it?