The Irony of Sarah and Bristol Palin

It’s interesting that the Palin family and McCain campaign are asking that we all respect their privacy and not politicize the out-of-wedlock teen pregnancy of Bristol Palin. Well, guess what. Republicans, and more specifically the Christian Right-wing of that party, have always been the ones thrusting private issues into our politics. Whether it was Gay Marriage or Abortion or the failed Abstinence-only education programs, it was always okay for them to force their alleged “family values” on the rest of us.

Gov. Sarah Palin is against abortion even in cases of rape. She and Sen. McCain are against sex education in schools. And now that the Palins' unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, and will have the baby and allegedly marry the father, they are being hailed as wonderful because they are choosing life. Of course when inner-city teenagers have babies, they are accused of being welfare moms gaming the system for a government handout and never celebrated for "choosing life."

From John Nichols at The Nation:

Sarah Palin says she is "proud" that her 17-year-old daughter, who is five months pregnant, has made a "decision to have her baby."

Foes of abortion rights are celebrating the decision. Richard Land, the president of the Southern Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the 16-million-member Southern Baptist Convention, says, ``The Palin family, in making this choice to affirm life and affirm the baby, is giving a pro-life stance."

Referring to Palin's daughter, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, said, "Fortunately, Bristol is following her mother and father's example of choosing life in the midst of a difficult situation."

Interesting words those: "decision," "choice," "choosing."

Palin and her family are being celebrated for making wise and responsible decisions and choices. Yet, Palin and her party would deny Americans the right to wise and responsible decisions and choices.