Can we make it a point to at least keep the children's names out of the crush

[Az]

Sure the issues are important and need to be addressed. But these kids did not sign on for this nonsense. This is all on Palin's head. She is the only one that should be paying the price. We have enough nouns in the language to get the meaning across of who we are talking about.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Ooh! Eve MORE pre-handwringing!

Because you just can't WAIT for somebody to step outta line - you want to be first with the criticism!

:rofl:

[Az]

3. Just a suggestion

No need for the drama.

[BeatleBoot]

2. I thought the same way before they went after Chelsea.

Fuck 'em.

[Az]

4. Fuck who?

Palin or her kids? Or the boyfriend?

[BeatleBoot]

5. The Republican Party.

Fuck 'em.

[Az]

13. Agreed

But the kids can't even vote.

[BeatleBoot]

16. You mean they can't fight the terrorists, yet?

[trueblue2007]

6. NO WE CAN'T. Their mother brought them in. Let Sarah take them out.

[pampango]

7. Every candidate brings their kids on stage. Just doing that doesn't make the fair game. n/t

[Window]

8. Someone should mention that to Palin.

Now, she's parading around the not-so-proud papa-to-be.

[ClarkUSA]

9. "these kids" DID "sign on for this nonsense" - did you see them greet McCain at the airport today?

If Bristol Palin and her boyfriend Levi Johnson want to be out in public, they're going to
be treated like public figures.

WTH cares whether we mention their names (Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston, i.e.) or not?

I doubt they do, since they seem to be enjoying the spotlight quite a bit and seem not the
least bit perturbed.

[Az]

12. Yeah and the thought of what passes for a shotgun wedding passed throuhg my mind

I mean what sort of legal issues did they bring down on this kid? Or did he step up on his own? I want to know these things before we eviscerate him.

[ClarkUSA]

15. Levi Johnston looked pretty damned happy to be hugged by McCain in full view of photographers.

Holding hands with his pregnant girlfriend, grinning like the "redneck" he's so proud to be.

So as far as I'm concerned, he's signed up to be publicly discussed. He certainly didn't look like he was
forced to be there.

[Az]

17. The thought that occurred to me in that photo was "How hard is McSame squeezing his arm?"

I have no idea what he signed up for or what he is going through. I just know that he's a kid and I don't think its right when they tear into our kids so I extend the same consideration to them. Yeah yeah I know there is a ton of anger and vengeance desired for the absolute crap they have put us through. But I am not going to become the same as them. We don't need that to win this. I can't make others comply to my ideals. I can only live them myself and hope that they set an example.

[ClarkUSA]

20. Both Levi and Bristol looked delighted to stroll hand-in-hand for the photogs, too

If my son did such a boneheaded thing (not to mention the crap Levi scrawled on his Facebook page),
I'd expect him to be scrutinized and would not have any illusions as to why. I sure as hell wouldn't
let him go meet McCain hand-in-hand with his pregnant girlfriend and expect people not to mention
his name in the blogosphere. Ditto for Bristol Palin.

[yardwork]

10. I agree. We don't need to mention the kids by name.

[saltpoint]

11. Hi, Az. I get your point and for what it's worth feel that Bristol

Palin should not be undermined as a human being owing to her pregnancy.

I'm not exactly impressed with her boyfriend's public comments on the web about himself, but on the other hand, I'm one of those die-hard First Amendment people who feels he's at liberty to post virtually anything he pleases shy of threatening harm to others, etc.

There remains the further problem of "public Families." What motivates Sarah Palin to accept the job she was offered knowing it would expose her family to global media scrutiny. The nature of the scrutiny, the intensity of the scrutiny, and so forth, are secondary points to the essential point that her family is part of her public profile the second she becomes a public figure.

Despite the hard fact that it is no one else's business, whether Brad and Jen were going to get back together or not a few years back was much less the point than the fact of their faces plastered over the covers of gossip rags in the grocery checkout lines. When a person steps onto the public stage he or she lures the spotlight onto everyone in his or her family.

It ain't fair. But that's how it is.

Palin in particular is unable to claim victim status for "the liberal media" picking on her family when she as Governor opposed funds for pregnant teens.

[Bucky]

14. Damn straight, Az.

Being classy and attacking her only on the issues that work for us is how we win.

[Critters2]

18. As they say on L&O:

You opened the door, counselor.

[stolivodka]

19. no

Sorry, Az. Sarah already has them campaigning for her at the RNC, so they are fair game. Pointing out that half of the McCain ticket looks like a Jerry Springer episode is good politics. Playing defense doesn't win you football games.