02 September 2008

Obama: Lay Off Palin's Family

No sly references to “family values,” birth control or irresponsibilty. Instead, Senator Obama responded to news of Governor Palin’s new family addition with the following (from U S News and World Report):
I have heard some of the news on this and so let me be a clear as possible: I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people's families are off limits, and people's children are especially off limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics,' the Democrat said forcefully. 'It has no relevance to Governor Palin's performance as governor, or her potential performance as a VP. And so I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories'
Well done, Senator. Will this call off the rumor mongering ? Not hardly. We all know there’s an underbelly to American culture that thrives on an ugly discord. Many participate because it’s fun to talk trash, but some push scandal to somehow “help” their candidate or party. Yes, these are cliches, but for a reason.

The partisan folks who live to propel such junk better beware: this can backfire, and in a big way. The young woman’s pregnancy and plans to marry her partner will certainly concretize her family’s pro-life stance (as discussed in the Minneapolis Star Tribune). In addition, this event will make Palin even more “relatable” to the American public. The McCain campaign has presented Palin as an “everywoman,” and what family hasn’t been touched by unplanned teen pregnancy in some respect? This pregnancy could be a true boon to Palin, and in more ways than one.

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