The thread through all of the known facts (leave the rumors aside) stunning lack of self awareness

[grantcart]

Palin is a person that seems totally oblivious to the basic realities that surround her. Pregnant in less than optimum circumstances she takes exceptional risks from taking a long trip to Texas late in her pregnancy to not immediatley seeking medical assistance after she had begun the early stages of labor. Passing up hospital care in Texas, Seattle, and Alaska over 26 hours later she finally gets to her home and her preferred provider. Bread and Circus outlines in detail here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6860560

Now they confirm that their 16 year old daughter is pregnant. Let's leave all of the family aspects out of this and look only at the clear policy issues involved. Time reports that it is an earthy rural area and that feelings like this are common "It makes you realize that a thing like a little teenage pregnancy isn't such a big deal," his mom said. "Bristol—and lots of other girl like her out there — are going to be just fine." http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1837862,00.html?xid=rss-topstories

Fine but if you live in an area where young teenagers are going to be sexually active, you do not fight sex education, you make sure they are informed and have access to birth control and protection from STDs. (Remember when a reporter asked McCain was asked if condoms stopped the spread of STDs and he said that he would have to ask his staff on that one?). If your children are going to be in a position where sexual contact is likely then you do not simply give them an abstinence only education. You give them what they need.

There shouldn't be relfection on the child but the Governor who is contributing to Alaska girls facing their future without being prepared. This continual lack of self awareness can only be compared to a funny old guy who when someone asks them how many houses he has will contact his staff and get back to you.

Obama simplified it to a single phrase - "They don't get it" and the issue that the media should be persuing with vigor is why does the Governor turn her back on all of Alaska's girls by not making sure they have the reproductive knowledge and protection they need rather than blather about abstinence only policies?

[grantcart]

1. ...

[crispini]

2. K&R nt

[grantcart]

3. MSNBC: both McCain and Palin support Abstinence only education

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/01/1320417.aspx

PALIN BACKED ABSTINENCE-ONLY EDUCATION

From NBC's Katie Primm and Mark Murray
By the way, as has been pointed out, Palin backed abstinence-only education during her 2006 gubernatorial race. In an Eagle Forum Alaska questionnaire, Palin gave this response to the following question:

Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?

Palin: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.

*** UPDATE *** NBC's Abby Livingston adds that a McCain spokesperson in May 2007 said the Arizona Republican supported abstinence-only education, too. "Sen. McCain believes the correct policy for educating young children on this subject is to promote abstinence as the only safe and responsible alternative. To do otherwise is to send a mixed signal to children that, on the one hand they should not be sexually active, but on the other here is the way to go about it. As any parent knows, ambiguity and equivocation leads to problems when it comes to teaching children right from wrong. Sen. McCain believes that there are many negative forces in today’s society that promote irresponsible and dangerous behavior to our children. The public education system should not join this chorus of moral equivocation and ambiguity.”

[kestrel91316]

4. She's also clueless about the Pledge of Allegiance she SOOOO

worships. Thinks the Founding Fathers had something to do with it.

Somebody please tell the Twit From Wasilla that it was written in 1892, 100 years after the Founding Fathers were dead and buried, by a SOCIALIST.