"Hey, media, leave those Palin kids alone — so we can use them as we see fit."

[Bluebear]

By TED ANTHONY, AP National Writer

ST. PAUL, Minn. - People: Make up your minds.


For two days, the chorus from Republicans on TV news and in the halls of the convention has been resounding: Back off and let the Palin family be. "That's out of bounds," said Minnesota's Republican governor, Tim Pawlenty. "There's no need to be intrusive and pry into that."

Yet Wednesday found the following scenes unfolding:

_Sarah Palin's pregnant, unmarried 17-year-old daughter and probable future son-in-law stood in a nationally televised, politically packaged airport receiving line to meet and greet the Republican candidate for president.

_The extremely cute and bubbly Piper Palin, 7, made her debut on her mother's behalf, appearing in a video on John McCain's daughter's blog. "Vote for my mommy and John McCain," she said, giggling as Meghan McCain grinned.

_Bristol Palin and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Levi Johnston, sat and held hands as they watched the Alaska governor deliver an acceptance speech that, in its opening minutes, focused heavily on her family and children. Later, the family — including Johnston — ascended the stage, basked in an extended ovation and waved.

Huh? The Republican message about the Palin offspring comes across as contradictory: Hey, media, leave those kids alone — so we can use them as we see fit.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cvn_measure_of_a_nation_palin_family_politics;_ylt=Ah7sKiSj.3nNHeZA503bW7Ss0NUE

[TwilightGardener]

1. Roger Simon made the same point--put your kids out there when

they are politically helpful, and shriek for privacy when the reviews of the kids (rather, the parenting) aren't all good.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. and they use the youngest child the same way Paris Hilton uses that chihuahua she carries around

like a fashion accessory...only poor Trig is a political accessory.

[global1]

5. So If McCain Is Going To Protect Our Kids - How Come The Palins Didn't Let ......

him hold the baby?

[Captiosus]

3. Hey media!

Leave the Palin kids alone, and leave families out of it, that's completely off limits!

Now please cover Mitt Romney who will take a potshot at Michelle Obama for us.

[EFerrari]

4. I just watched her speech.

It's like the RNC tech guys figured out how to make Laura Stepford Bush project hatred more steadily but still under the radar.

I get why they picked her now.

Every single one of those children is going to have big problems. Or, is having them now. Yikes.