UPDATED: Red-neck dysfunction is to be celebrated
Update: The redneck boyfriend is in the family box seats. I guess teenage pregnancy is the cool, maverick position now. This helps McCain. Everything does.
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Byron York via Atrios via kos
Perhaps I’m focusing on an irrelevant issue, but the presence, or non-presence, of Johnston on the stage tonight strikes me as important. It’s one thing for delegates to be understanding and compassionate about the fix these two teenagers have gotten themselves into. It’s another to actually celebrate it. And, given what we’ve learned in the last few days, if Johnston is up on stage with his girlfriend and the Palin family, and Republicans are wildly cheering, it will certainly look like they are celebrating this situation.
I don’t usually engage in these scenarios, but I’ll do it here. If the Obamas had a 17 year-old daughter who was unmarried and pregnant by a tough-talking black kid, my guess is if that they all appeared onstage at a Democratic convention and the delegates were cheering wildly, a number of conservatives might be discussing the issue of dysfunctional black families.
AMEN!
I can’t believe that I am agreeing with Byron York, but he is quite right here and shows how stupid the business of using other people’s families (famous or not) to advance not just your political points, but your bigotries.
The Palins should be free to manage their lives as they see fit (and I don’t much care if the delegates applaud), but it is alternately amusing and maddening to see the right succumbing to the politics of political correctness that they so often deride to try to defend the Palins.
If this had been the Obama’s 17 year old daughter who was pregnant, Obama’s campaign would be over — NOW — aided and abetted by a mountain of commentators and pundits who would be all too happy to point out how black parents just aren’t as competent as their white counterparts.
“— aided and abetted by a mountain of commentators and pundits who would be all too happy to point out how black parents just aren’t as competent as their white counterparts.”
And yet you folks see nothing wrong with throwing the “redneck” label on Palin’s family in this situation.
Agreed – it is hypocrisy to have this young man up there tonight. Disagree – Obama’s campaign would hardly be over, but, agreed, the right would be all over it!
I haven’t called anybody a red-neck.
Troll.
And can I point out that our Troll Mike here, has not responded to anything of substance in either Jason’s or my posts?
York is right.
Well this just takes “shotgun wedding” to a whole new level!!!
And yet you folks see nothing wrong with throwing the “redneck” label on Palin’s family in this situation.
Mike,
The babies daddy calls himself a fucking redneck. Do you ever read the links?
“I haven’t called anybody a red-neck.”
Never said you did.
You are an Idiot.
Thanks. That means a lot coming from you.
I actually see nothing wrong with having him up on stage with the family. He IS part of the family now. Are the Palin’s supposed to just shun them because Bristol is pregnant out of wedlock? They are being supportive, which is what a family is supposed to do in these situations. Being supportive rather than shunning them doesn’t mean they’re “celebrating” the circumstances of Bristol’s pregnancy.
If it were the Obama’s in this situation I’d expect them to be just as supportive of their daughter and the father of her child. That would be the right thing to do. In fact, it’d be more important for Obama to do so, given that 7 out of 10 black mothers have children out of wedlock.
*sigh*
Mike, Rogue Cou. Look into it.
And what did you mean when you said… “And yet you folks see nothing wrong with throwing the “redneck” label on Palin’s family in this situation.”
Idiot.
See Pandora – This is what bugs me about you and Cassandra. You act like children with your little one word / one line responses and personal insults. Then you bitch when asked to back up what you say.
Idiot.
MMM iz in the hizzy!
Supportive and tolerant does not equate with condoning behavior. Putting the kids up on stage – on display for approval – that’s condoning. It’s just wrong what they’re doing, in that it totally negates the Right’s family values posture. They are not supposed to approve nor condone. They are supposed to be supportive.
It’s all about appearance – both sides – wake up people!!
This move tonight – if they do it – is calculated w/ about 6 advisors and as many pundits weighing the cost/benefit ratio. It is politics – good grief. Dems and Repubs do this all the time. With that said – it is bogus to tell the media to leave this girl alone (which, btw, they clearly have not done – terrible), and then bring this boyfriend/father up on stage in a manner that clearly draws more attention to this poor girl.
(And I mean that – yeah, she made a bad decision, but think of the horrendous exposure on this poor girl now. What’s worse and what nobody will ever mention, is that knowing her daughter was pregnant and that the media would find out and would DEVOUR her daughter, Palin pressed on to the national spotlight by accepting the VP nod. Had she declined, then, when this story broke – if only in Alaska, it would have been embarrassing, but manageable to go on w/ a “semi-normal” young adulthood, but now… man, forget it!)
Joe, this isn’t about appearances. They have no other choice. Palin and her family difficulties have taken over the McCain (Who?) campaign.
Palin is a flippin’ disaster… and why do I keep thinking there’s more to come? Judgement, anyone?
Edison – What do you want them to do? What’s done is done, the kid is pregnant. Shunning the kids because of this pregnancy would be the exact opposite of “family values.” Just because they choose not to shun & disregard the kids during the campaign doesn’t mean they condone teen pregnancy. I’m sure the Palin’s would much rather their 17 year old not be pregnant.
This thing is a media frenzy because the left (and idiots on Daily Kos) are making it an issue. And jesus have I seen some despicable attacks on Palin and her daughter by the left in the past few days. Funny how once again the compassionate, tolerant left is anything but.
Joe – so Palin should have bowed out because her kid got pregnant? Why? Why back down in the face of adversity? Remember that Biden didn’t bow out when his wife died and his kids were critically injured. He did the right thing and kept on with his life, which is exactly what Palin is doing. I commend them both for it.
Pandora – My point is simply that in the wake of this “disaster” as you call it (no argument here) they are trying to figure out what is the best route to go – but that “best” is not an ethical best, but a politically-calculated “best.”
And I do think it’s a friggin’ shame that Palin, knowing this about her daughter, willingly yanked her daughter into the national spotlight for her secret to go national – international, for her own political advancement. I haven’t heard anyone say that – maybe it’s not pc to talk about women thinking about these things as career women, but I personally think the Dems would do well to bring this up.
So it’s Palin’s fault her daughter is being attacked?
You’ve got to be kidding me?! If the Dems do try to say it’s Palin’s fault I hope they get fucking buried for being assholes. The left and the media could stop attacking them and making it an issue, instead they choose to in your words “devour” the daughter and you want to blame Sarah Palin?
You’ve got a seriously sick sense of responsibility.
So it’s Palin’s fault her daughter is being attacked?
Link, please. Can y0u cite an instance of Palin’s daughter being attacked? I mean, on some site that people actually read.
If you can’t cite an example then STFU about attacks on the girl.
The attacks are on McCain, dummy.
Mike – Not at all. It’s terrible what the bloodthirsty media is doing. But are you surprised? Is anyone observing surprised? No. That’s the point. If I’m not surprised, and you’re not surprised, how could Palin be? She KNEW this would happen – not feared, not thought… KNEW.
It is like saying that you would take your kids knowingly into the worst part of the city in the middle of the night, and leave them there for an hour or so while you ran errands. You come back – and horrible things happened to them at the hands of amoral and immoral residents of the area. Who’s at fault? EVERYONE but the kids themselves.
Ignore Mike.
Now, Joe, you have a good point, and one I made over at Delaware Politics. Palin cannot complain when she thrust this issue into the National spotlight. There are countless politicians who have made different choices.
BTW, I’m not criticizing Palin taking the VP post, just her faux outrage that the press (and the world) is discussing a family “secret” that she allowed to come to light. Bottom line: Sarah Palin had the choice.
Pandora – Would you be saying this if the “evil right wing hate-speech conservatives” were treating Obama and his family like this?
You wouldn’t and you damn well know it.
As for ignoring me, you do that when you’ve got nothing, which is often. I’m still waiting for you to tell me how I manipulated the FBI UCR stats about blacks being disproportionately the perpetrators and victims of violent crime. You bitched & complained that I was “wrong” as were my “manipulated” facts, but couldn’t explain how, or even begin mount a counterargument.
“Ignore Mike.”
Also Pandora. If I have no right to tell another commenter to “back up what you say or leave” then you sure as hell have no right to tell another commenter to “ignore Mike.”
As DD said to me it,” goes against the very nature of the site. ” and it’s “disrespectful and uncivil.”
True – if one is to dialogue, and not monologue, one should be willing to let the other speak, and not attempt to silence them – that’s fair enough. If this is a civil forum – I can’t say yet, as I just stumbled upon it.
Joe. You may want to read these to get an idea. Certain folks here (cass & pandora included) are big on silencing dissent.
http://delawareliberal.net//2008/08/15/qod-81/
http://delawareliberal.net//2008/08/15/time-out/
LOL! MMM tries to change the subject or shift blame in almost every argument he gets into.
If moronic, nonfactual ramblings is dissent. Then he’s Gandhi.
…but with a gun.
People here are human; they get fed-up with bullshit after dealing with it for a while
BTW, red-neck is not pejorative; white trash, however is.
Von – Care to address things I’ve said in this thread or will you just do the usual?
And Von – I don’t shift blame, I simply attempt to get you folks to respond with rational, coherent thoughts, which is a feat in itself.
Ain’t no man showin’ up in my family photos until there’s a ring on my daughter’s finger….quit making nice ….and I’m not talking engagement ring either!!! Honestly folks….you better stand for something..or you’ll fall for anything. A little discretion please…alright..the girl is pregnant…no need to parade out for the look/see of the First Bastard….I’m sure Levi and kin have already contracted w/ every media rag and otherwise for all those rights…..
Mike W. What would I have them do? Simple. Walk the talk. Be supportive of the girl and her boyfriend. Keep them off that stage. Stick with the one statement Palin and hubby made – we know she will grow up faster, yada yada.
Using the kids in a political stunt like this is reprehensible. The left using this as political fodder is reprehensible. The media fascination is to be expected, but reprehensible.
So far, the only guy I have seen take the high road has been Obama, with his “Back off” statement.
Amen…kitty
Yeah. Personally – where is the ring? What the he**? How is this “family values” – man – having the cake and eating it too – but the cake is stolen!
Seriously Mike, there’s really nothing of any substance to respond to.
At least with some of your gun rants there was a hint of a credible argument.
That, and I take pleasure in crapping all over you.
Capiche?
All this talk from the right about how great it is to see this family go thru this….like soooo many American families, cause ya know, after all, mistakes do happen (oh really?? Now you admit it)
It would be amazing to see a real dialogue about teen pregnancy in this country based on this experience…..
but I think it’ll be all about exploiting the situation & continually accusing the left of “attacking” (ah, cause they know that is what they would be doing in this situation….)
they actually run the risk of glorifying a teen pregnancy….this is not a good message to send…..
The point is that Sara Palin wants to legislate teaching abstinence. Her daughter is a prime example of how it doesn’t work, so she’s fair game. My one question to Palin would be, “How’s that abstinence program workin for ya?” I love how conservatives follow the “do as I say,not as I do philosophy-no hypocrisy there!
Both Palin & McCain voted against funding for teen pregnancy programs in their respective positions….
but then most teens that find themselves in this situation don’t have the resources that this poor kid has. (the entire RNC for starters)
(I say poor kid because I doubt her parents prepared her honestly for what the media blitz was going to be like…..did they really explain to her what was going to happen when this became public?? And anyone who thinks the American people [any party] are going to ignore this is nuts. We are the Jerry Springer nation. Unfortunately.)
I heard one of the news organizations say, and even though I heard Fox once say that Palin had actual foreign policy experience with Russia, I still don’t think it was Fox.
But whoever it was, their commentator said that with the choice of Sarah Palin, John McCain had thrown down the gauntlet and was not going to concede, but go directly after the Afro-American vote….
Afro-American vote? he was questioned…
Yes, his choice of a 44 year grandmother as his running mate was a definite nod to the Afro-American vote.
“The point is that Sara Palin wants to legislate teaching abstinence. Her daughter is a prime example of how it doesn’t work, so she’s fair game. My one question to Palin would be, “How’s that abstinence program workin for ya?” I love how conservatives follow the “do as I say,not as I do philosophy-no hypocrisy there!”
Where is the proof that Palin wants to legislate this?
Let’s apply your philosophy to Obama. He wants to legislate gun-control and thinks bans are Constitutional. D.C., and his own city, Chicago, Illinois is a prime example of how this doesn’t work. I’d ask Barack “Hey, how are those bans & strict gun control working out for you in Chicago and elsewhere (D.C.)?”
Hmm, and he, his family, and the rest of his Chicago political cronies are protected 24/7 by men with guns and isolated from the steady violence that plagues inner city Chicago. He denies them something which he has the luxury of having. Armed protection. No hypocrisy there huh?
Actually # 41 you are getting close.
Obama has be registering black voters like crazy in N.C., VA and GA. Nobody knows yet, but they might have enough numbers to swing those states into the blue column for the first time in a very long time.
The Evangelicals are strong in those states and until the Sarah Who? nomination they had no reason to vote. Now they do. She is an electoral college strategy and she isn’t going away.
Palin is simply a foot soldier in the Class War.
And who’s perpetuating that “class war?” It’s certainly not Palin, it’s mr. Hope, Change & Unity.
For all you red koolaide family value folks on e question
In the above link there was a family photo of the McCain and Palin families together with something missing.
Where were McCain’s kids from his first marriage?
Aren’t they part of his family too?