What Part of Leave the Children Alone do some of you people not understand?

[MadBadger]

Sen Obama thinks that we should leave the children out of it...is it really that hard?

[DontTreadOnMe]

1. What part do you not understand?

Of course Obama and all his staff should stay away from any comments...
but for the rest of the planet, it is open season!

[MadBadger]

4. Does that help you sleep at night? Attacking a minor is okay with you?

She was born into that family. You dont get to choose your parents, and she didnt choose to be the daughter of the VP candidate. Not to mention, maybe Obama really means it. Afterall, I know he wouldnt want his daughters thrown to the wolves like you are treating Palin's daughter.

[DontTreadOnMe]

12. you are being naive!

Welcome to American Politics. When you enter public life, your ENTIRE family
is under a microscope. That's the way it is, and you can thank Republican tactics going back to Atwater!

And do you not recognize the hypocrisy of a pregnant teen from the party that espouses abstinence?

[MadBadger]

15. Thats why we are better, or are supposed to be

Does that make you feel better? Being in the gutter with the Rovian Republicans?

[DontTreadOnMe]

29. Have you been paying attention for the last 8 years!

You go cry for Bristol... and I will work IN ANY WAY to assure my family doesn't have to live in a McCain Supreme Court.

[Matariki]

35. "and I will work IN ANY WAY to assure my family doesn't have to live in a McCain Supreme Court"

:applause:

bravo!

[Danger Mouse]

40. So it was okay for McCain to make that shitty comment about Chelsea Clinton?

[Tarheel_Dem]

49. Bravo Again! I don't like families being dragged through the mud, but

we're playing in the GOP's slimy sandbox. Obama's right, he & his staff should stay away from this, but I'll be damned if I want to be told by some on this board, what can & cannot be discussed, unless it's Skinner and/or the mods.

[Danger Mouse]

53. Oh for the love of Christ, is this really the path we want to go down? What's next? Making fun of

cripples?

[Tarheel_Dem]

66. Ya know Elrond, we've played it straight for the last two election cycles....

and what did that get us? I've heard time & time again, "we don't want to become them"...Well guess what? They win elections. I'm quickly becoming one of those cynics who says we should use everything in our arsenal, because there are times when staying above the fray just hasn't seemed to cut it.

I'm a decent person, and I do believe that families should be left alone, and I applaud Sen. Obama for speaking out on this. But, where were John & Cindy when Michelle and the girls came under attack from the RW talking heads? I'll admit, I want to win, and if this is what does it...so be it.

[Danger Mouse]

69. So let's start making fun of McCain because he's crippled. Then let's make fun of Bridget because

she's not white like John and Cindy. Then let's pick on the way Sarah Palin's kids look.

[Tarheel_Dem]

82. For the record, I have not made fun of anyone's kids. But I do think

this issue goes directly to the governor's Abstinence Only convictions. There should definitely be some discussion of that now, because once she's in office, we don't know that she won't try to legislate her beliefs on this issue. I agree that birth control is a personal choice, but you can't help but wonder if Bristol had felt that she could discuss this issue with her mother, if she would have chosen abstinence or birth control.

[Danger Mouse]

86. Perhaps that's the case...but there's no need to involve Bristol in that discussion.

[POAS]

97. Tarheel

Don't know about you but I'm tired of arguing with these moralizing wanna be censors.

With a very few exceptions NOBODY has made fun of, picked on, or in any other way used this forum to trash the reputation of any of Palin's kids.

Palin, on the other hand, is fair game and one cannot make a point about bad parenting without talking about the bad parenting and parenting involves the kids by definition.

Around here lately it is expected that any mention of the kids is picking on the kids.

I've been a Democrat for 52 years and I learned a long time ago that getting Democrats to agree is like herding cats. Well this cat is tired of the cat herders!

[Tarheel_Dem]

101. I couldn't agree more. Every four years, we're left with egg on our face,

because we try to play by the rules, and be "above it all", and then we're left wondering what went wrong. I feel it's because we aren't willing to play hardball. I get so tired of the handwringing, and being chastised by the "adults".

[MadBadger]

70. We have so much to work with with Palin that has nothing to do with her daughter

How bout troopergate, AIP, Bridge to Nowhere. All these are potential gold mines for us. Why not focus on these things?

[Tarheel_Dem]

79. I agree with you, but I'm looking at history, and taking the high road

just hasn't paid off. It's a gamble, and I admire Obama's stance, but a part of me wants to use everything so the right can get taste of their own medicine.

[Pepper32]

57. LMAO... the picture is hilarious~!

[torbird]

75. "better"?

No, being "better" than the Republicans is a mentality that makes it OK to lose elections so you can preserve your supposed moral purity. Get over yourselves. Public figures have public lives, and Gov. Palin made her children fair game as soon as she joined up with and espoused the doctrines of a party that wants to tell each of us how to raise our families. She can lie in the bed she made--the daughter is incidental except insofar as she has forced the public to decide what credibility her mother has on her own championed issues.

As for these insipid, endless posts commanding all of us to "leave the kids alone!", they begin to sound like "won't someone think of the children!" after a while. I, for one, don't call myself a Democrat because I want others to tell me what to do and how to think. If you have a civil request to make, make it. But this holier-than-thou attitude and these demands that we all agree that this very relevant story be quashed so a few squeamish souls can sleep at night is unacceptable. This is politics. It ain't church.

The folks making this silly demand for "respect" and "privacy" don't seem to be all that united, either. Some want us to ignore this story because Bristol Palin has a "right" to privacy. Her mother's GOP doesn't think so. I think so, anyway, for private citizens, but it shows a galling lack of political acumen for her to have become pregnant in spite of her family's very public positions. Others on this board relate their own experiences as young parents (as Obama did with his mother), without realizing the stark difference between being pregnant and anonymous and being pregnant and famous. They are not equivalent situations. Still others on this board object to anything that will make us look like "bad guys" -- but does helping McCain get elected despite knowing what you know make you feel really great about yourself?

The Republicans, with their nonsense positions on the issues, made this mess. We have a right and a duty to observe and, if we feel so moved, to comment. It's not personal, people. It's strictly political.

[WinkyDink]

103. In point of fact, sometimes, HELL, YEAH.

[lapfog_1]

21. It's not about the kid, it's about hypocrisy

and, ultimately, about judgment.

The same idiots and assholes that were climbing all over Jamie Lynn Spears for "setting a bad example" for children everywhere by "glamorizing" teen pregnancy are now defending the Palin girl (and her mom) for "doing the right thing in choosing to not have an abortion".

But this is just one of the many scandals that now surround Sarah Palin.

we have

1) Troopergate
2) AIM membership
3) Librariangate and Police Chiefgate
4) pipelinegate (awards a multi billion contract to run the pipeline to Canada and to a Canadian firm)
5) DUI-gate
and possibly others.

So that speaks to John McCain's ability to make decisions and his judgment. She wasn't vetted. He made a snap decision because SOMEONE didn't want him to have his first OR second choice (Lieberman or Ridge). What kind of leader let's others make his decisions for him?

[POAS]

98. Amen lapfog AMEN

It's a good thing Alaska is so big, they will need all that room for all these gates.

[JeanGrey]

13. KIDS ARE OFF LIMITS.

[DontTreadOnMe]

17. Abortion Policies off limits too?

Is goverment policies about family planning off limits too?

[gravity]

Policies are on limits

The personal decisions whether to get an abortion or keep the baby aren't. You can talk politics on these matters without meddling into private matters of the family.

[JeanGrey]

89. NO. The issues never are. Imagine how this 17 year old girl

feels. You guys couldn't wait to scream all those stupid lies about her daughter really being the mother of the down's baby and now that is blown out of the water. I think we should leave her kids alone.

[Raineyb]

92. Republicans seem to have no problem demonizing other kids who get pregnant

So it looks as though it's only some kids who are off limits... Theirs.

Regards

[L. Coyote]

OBAMA "Back off" - - What part did you not understand?

Here is the real deal, wat the Rs wan you to miss wile misdirected.

Abramoff, McCain, Palin, Corruption & the GOP...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/1829/47514

Of course, it is a real read, even complicated.
Maybe too much for the trolls pushing against OBAMA "Back off"

[Gabi Hayes]

58. you're right, but the peeple won't understand/care about such abstruse topics.

it's all about the springer effect

that's what the media try to make the public care about, and it's all they'll give

you won't hear much about abramoff or AIP, unless it's already over

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Quixote1818]

2. I won't touch anything with the kids

But it won't matter, the media and Enquirer etc. will be all over them like Brittany Spears.

[MadBadger]

6. Let them....there job is to be scumbags.

[Lucinda]

3. They seem to think he doesn't mean what he says....or they want to hurt him

depending on who they are...

[Party Line]

5. I always get "the" confused w/ "teh"

I guess thats where my problems begin.

[CoffeeCat]

7. I agree that this is not about the children...

This entire discussion about the pregnancy, etc--is not about Bristol or
making judgments about the children.

I certainly don't think Bristol Palin is in any way--at fault, or that she
did anything bad.

This is not about her. This entire issue is about Sarah Palin--her character
and her honesty, and did she constantly lie and ignore the best interests of
her family and her daughter--to further her own political and career goals.

One cannot discuss or get to the truth of all of this, without mentioning
the daughter. However, she is not being judged or called into question.

Sarah Palin is.

[MadBadger]

10. I'm not even talking about the pregnancy

How bout people trying to dig through her myspace page? Real sleazy things.

[1corona4u]

32. I find it an embarrassment. And I am ashamed of this site the last 2 days.

I can see attacking Palin over her shit, but I really wish someone would put the brakes on the rest of it.

[JBoris]

8. She touted her family as part of her ability to lead. SHE put them on stage. nt

[JeanGrey]

16. Please tell me what candidate for office like this DOESN'T

have their family "on stage"? Are you joking?

[JBoris]

22. She is the first I ever heard claim that her family is part of her resume. nt

[JeanGrey]

87. Oh come on - did you miss the "boy Joe Biden was a wonderful

leader and raised his boys alone after his wife died" stuff?

[Danger Mouse]

46. That doesn't make them targets. Hell, let's pick on the little boy and girl, too, while we're at it.

[JeanGrey]

88. I'm really surprised I haven't read slurs making fun of the

down's baby, Levi, that will be next.

[RollWithIt]

9. Srry, I don't work for the next President of the United States...

Therefor I can do whatever I want to make sure he gets elected. It's kind of important.

[L. Coyote]

30. First, you need to know how to do that, rather than vice-versa.

With everyone working in different directions, who is right?
I'll place my bet on OBAMA knows best how to run his own campaign.

[Mz Pip]

11. I agree

leave Bristol alone. It's certainly not her fault her mother's crappy values (ambition over family) has thrust her and her unborn child on the national stage.

My criticism and contempt lie solely with the super soccer mom who's 'narrative' seems to qualify her to be one heartbeat away from the most powerful position in the world.

I will not stop with my criticism of Sarah Palin, of her hypocricy and of her lackof qualifications.

No way.

[True_Blue]

14. It is sad

And this is what happens when you throw your pregnant daughter in to the national spotlight.

[question everything]

18. Right. Except... do you really think that talk radio and Fox

would have said that it was a private matter had, in 1996, it was revealed that then teenager Chelsea Clinton were pregnant?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. What part of Abstinence Only do you not understand? Oh, the it-doesn't-work part.

What part of Abstinence Only do you not understand? Oh, the it-doesn't-work part.

It is the mother's political policies that are fair game.
It is John McCain's lack of judgement and executive skill that is fair game.

She has put family values on the table, she pushes "abstinence only", she is against contraception, she is a moralizing christian. She is also an ambitious jerk who puts career ahead of family.

It is fair game to ask her "How effective is abstinence only?"

[MadBadger]

23. Of course it is, but that isnt what is happening

People are attempting to stalk Bristol's myspace page or figure out if her boyfriend committed statutory rape. Those things are just ridiculous.

[Moochy]

39. Bombastic Poppycock

"attempting to stalk Bristol's myspace page" Oh for christ's sake...

How do you stalk a web page? I know how to visit a web page. Does stalking a web page involve visiting it with a browser?

[MadBadger]

41. How bout going to a page and posting pictures of her and her friends all over DU

turns out that those pics werent even of Bristol.

[Moochy]

51. Sounds like you chose a sensationalist verb

But heck maybe you have a knack for it,I hear they are hiring at MSNBC/CNN/FOX!

And for the record, that thread was locked.... Are your hall monitor duties over for the day?

[donco6]

63. Especially when it's made public by the author.

It's not like someone has to hack into it.

Brother.

[L. Coyote]

33. Even the Virgin Mary says abstinence is only 99.999% effective, but

I think we should focus on issues that will impact the election positively for OBAMA/BIDEN.

[krawhitham]

20. He has to say that

DUH

[MadBadger]

24. He has two little girls

On this, he means what he says.

[uberllama42]

83. What else do you think Obama is not being honest about?

If he's only asking us for common decency in order to score political points, do you believe any of the promises he makes on the trail? It seems like you think our nominee is not the sincerest guy in the world.

[Carolina]

25. what part of hypocrisy don't you understand

Obama can stay above the fray but I'll be damned if I will.

I am sick and fucking tired of repukes saying any and everything to demonize Dems. That is not, BTW, what we're doing.

We're talking about Palin's CHOICE to run for national office and bring upon herself and her family all the scrutiny that that entails. That means talking about how her duaghter's delicate state flies in the face of momma's morals. Family first Sarah is a hypocrite who deserves to have her morals, ethics, values, and 'mommy' experience challenged.

And I will not STFU. PERIOD

[gmoney]

26. OMGZ

[MirrorAshes]

27. What if the point isn't about the kids--its about the parenting?

I admittedly have egg on my face for posting pics that turned out not to be of Bristol, but the point was to showcase the HEAVY UNDERAGE DRINKING.

I'm relatively young myself. I know how it goes. But perhaps the point is not to attack kids but to attack hypocritical, neglectful parenting.

Is that off limits? Why should it be?

[MadBadger]

28. Who cares about underage drinking?

Are you for real?

[MirrorAshes]

31. Yes, are you?

You responded similarly in the other thread by claiming "i'm in college, what do I care"

You are obviously missing the point in a huge way.

[MadBadger]

34. What's the point then?

Kids are being kids...what is the big deal?

[MirrorAshes]

45. You are aware we have things called laws in this country, no?

Keep at this though. Its funny.

[MadBadger]

55. I cant even think of the right response to your post

I'm just so shocked to be having a fight with such a law abiding citizen like yourself about of all things, underage drinking. Jesus, werent you ever a kid?

[MirrorAshes]

61. Your entire argument is based on turning a blind eye to a LAW.

I'm 27 btw, I've had my college years, and yes I even had a few drinks before I was 21. That still doesn't mean I wasn't breaking the law and wouldn't be the son of a hypocrite if my family were preaching family values while not practicing them.

This point is moot anyhow since there is no proof of Bristol doing any underage drinking, but to dismiss it as perfectly fine is LUDICROUS and, frankly, makes YOU look completely immature.

[MadBadger]

64. You know several College Presidents are trying to get the drinking age changed to 18

The Drinking age is ludicrous. And so is your ridiculous nanny-like behavior on underage drinking.

[MirrorAshes]

67. Alright, keep on fighting the good fight against the drinking age. You're entitled to your opinion.

But you're still on the wrong side of the law and look awfully silly pushing this as hard as you are.

[MadBadger]

68. Okay Mommy.

[MirrorAshes]

72. Well, somebody ought to be acting like a parent.

Do you know anyone who has died due to underage drinking and driving? I do.

Do you know anyone who has died due to underage alcohol poisoning and/or overdoses from mixing in other drugs? I do.

Do you know any good people who are currently in jail for underage stupidity committed while under the influence? I do.

But have your fun college days. Just don't kill anybody, ok?

[MadBadger]

73. The underage part has nothing to do with it at all.

[MirrorAshes]

76. Ok. Whatever. Good luck on your crusade of foolishness.

I just hope you don't look back on this when you're my age and think about this exchange and cringe.

[DontTreadOnMe]

36. Is this you?

"Kids are being kids...what is the big deal?"

[L. Coyote]

37. If Palin runs for parent, go with it. How would she do with her finger on the nuclear arsenal?

Think about it. In 2004 she was a homemaker raising her daughter, in 2009 she could be a heartbeat away from commander-in-chief of the nukes. Focus on the nukes, I say!!

[MirrorAshes]

50. Definitely a good point. Theres just so much dirty laundry here its hard to prioritize.

heh.

[L. Coyote]

65. And it takes time to study and learn. Everyone is jumping on the emotion wagon

and that road is the one Rove has paved!!!

[gravity]

38. Attacks on the children are cheap shots

There are much better things to get Sarah Palin on like her policy positions and leadership abilities. These things actually matter for the country. The decisions of a rebellious teenage daughter don't do leave them out of it.

[lapislzi]

91. Yup, they are. And when has that ever stopped a Republican?

This is distasteful. People's kids should be off limits, and I frankly don't give a rat's ass about anybody's sex life. But I didn't set these rules of engagement. The Republicans should have thought of that when they went after Chelsea Clinton.

You lob a hand grenade at me, I am going to fire back with a nuclear device. Too bad for you.

Yeah, that makes me mean and low and slimy just like a Republican. Tough luck. Someone's got to get dirty in this war, and it should not be our candidate. THIS is what we signed on for (along with other higher-purposeful stuff like registering voters and the like).

[tkmorris]

43. No, He's just bright enough to know he has to say that

Seriously, what did you expect him to say?

[MadBadger]

47. Yea, your right

Father of two little girls has no problem with people savaging a 17 year old kid.

:sarcasm:

[tkmorris]

77. Maybe so, maybe not

But your assertion that he did because he said that is absurd. Whatever he really thinks he's not a moron, he had to say that and he knows it.

[helderheid]

44. Bristol IS off limits. Mommy Dearest, not so much. Good thing she isn't a one scandal kinda gal!

YOU GO MORON!

(Sarah, not you)

[Danger Mouse]

48. Thank you for posting this. I'm wirh you.

[IndianaGreen]

52. “I don’t belong to any organized party: I’m a Democrat” -Will Rogers

Republicans are the ones that goose step on cue. Democrats are as disciplined as stray cats.

[ampad]

54. Jesus christ!

I swear all you nanny folks like to keep this shit going on DU. I bet there are just as many nanny threads on this board as there are Palin baby threads. Yea Obama said leave them alone and guess what some folks are not going to listen. Shock! some people are going to disagree with you and Obama on what to do or not do. Also hide thread and ignore are your friends.

Sara Palin invited this crap into her life when she ran for office. I don't really give two shits that the girl is pregnant and that her friends are behaving like normal teenagers but some folks do. The hypocrisy angle of this situation is legitimate and when you go posting crap on public pics on myspace(when there is an option to make all myspace pages private) then you invite the world to see what you are doing. I sure didn't expect Obama to come out say "the family is fair game folks have at it" He did and said what any decent elected official should say: keep the kids out of it. Palin brought all of this on herself. She was the one touting her family and preaching that abstinence only crap which obviously did not work out for her family.

If those that are posting pics are breaking any rules alert them. If it bothers you so much then why not ignore them. I guess it is one of my pet peeves to see folks telling people what to post and what not to post on a board when they are not breaking rules. That is especially irritating when you have so many options to ignore or hide their threads. Let the crap sink to the bottom for gods sake.

[MadBadger]

56. "Sarah Palin invited this crap into HER life when SHE ran for office"

What does that have to do with BRISTOL Palin.

[donco6]

60. Bristol is part of her life, no?

C'mon, even the RW paper's pundits are asking that same question - Why would she do this to her daughter? She had to have known the spotlight would be focused on every possible area of her life. And when there's hypocrisy in the air - ala, I'm a RW fundamentalist Christian who believes abstinence-only is the only appropriate way for anyone to raise their children in the way of God - well, a pregnant daughter is totally fair game.

So, as others have said, ignore is your friend.

[ampad]

78. Thank you

I understand where the OP is coming from and while it is admirable it is a no go. People like a good bit of gossip and this is what it is. If there is a scandal brewing people are going to talk. It's just too bad Sarah Palin does not have the same sense of decency as some of the random people on the internet do for her own child. When you sit back and think about Palin is pond scum. Why she would run for office, with the views that she has, knowing good and damn well her teenage daughter was pregnant is beyond me. The only thing I can think of is that she doesn't care about her daughter's feelings or she thought she could hide it from the world. I just think the woman has displayed so many acts of bad judgment when it comes to parenting that she is beyond hope. This is not the type of person I want making policy in regards to my children and my body.

[donco6]

80. I couldn't agree more.

What it says to me is that she is so power-mad, it doesn't matter to her what this choice does to her family. She should not have even considered it.

[npk]

59. I agree with what Obama said, but...

It seems to me that the republicans along with Sean Hanity and Bill Orielly just couldn't stop talking about Michelle Obama and stating that she was not proud of her country. Why can't they layoff Obama's family.

[MadBadger]

62. Cuz they are scumbags?

[Lorien]

71. So, Bristol reads DU?

Wow, I had no idea.

[LisaL]

74. I understand all of it. But I don't have to listen.

[uberllama42]

81. How much wailing and gnashing of teeth do you think there will be on DU

next time the Republicans roll out some sleazy attack on Michelle Obama?

This is how it always works. We whine and cry at how mean the Republicans are when they push some trashy attack line, but we seldom miss an opportunity to do the same. And the excuse is always, "they started it." Standard Operating Procedure.

[rhett o rick]

84. We should leave the families out of it. But what about the hypocrisy of the mothers?

People like herself that look down at others that have problems, but when it is them, it is soo different. Don't forget we are at war for our freedoms. Sarah Palin is the enemy.

[Bluebear]

85. "Leave the children alone!" - you make her sound like she's 6.

[gmoney]

90. If she wants CREDIT for having a son in the military...

then she gets scrutiny for failing to teach her daughter about birth control, and questioned for her "abstinence only" policies.

Abstinence-only education is like telling your kids to never eat candy or drink soda, instead of teaching them how to brush their teeth.

[mitchum]

94. Beautifully said

[mitchum]

95. Beautifully said

[mitchum]

93. Obama said tha the children are off limits for his campaign; I have no problem with that

However, I am not a part of his campaign

[JuniperLea]

96. It's not the children... it's the hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is fair game.

When someone enters public life, they are going to be scrutinized... it's part of the deal. If you are a movie star who cannot stand the paparazzi, get a new profession. If you are a politician and you want the public to leave your kids alone, get another profession.

Or deal.

I hated all the talk about Chelsea Clinton. That is one swell kid and she didn't deserve all she got from the GOP, or a few choice DUers if the truth be known. I'm sure Chelsea is now old enough to understand what went down, and the fact that she stumped for her mom shows she understands the game. She played it all very well, imho.

I don't think it's right. I also don't like how lions kill pretty zebras to put food on their family, but it's all part of how life on God's Green Earth pans out.

I truly feel for that young girl... on so many, many levels. Her mother put her in the limelight. If she didn't want her daughter to be scrutinized, she shouldn't have accepted McCain's offer. Period.

All that said, there is still nothing wrong with pointing out the hypocrisy of the RW. Never.

[David__77]

99. Obama can do as he pleases, and that's the right thing for him to do.

There are different roles for different forces. The key thing is to win political power and exercise it.

[cwydro]

100. I love the rationalization on this thread.

Waaah. Well, THEY do it! Waaah, THEY started it.

Sheesh.

I'm amazed at the nastiness of some DUers; even more amazed at the prurient interest some particular DUers are showing in a teenage love affair.

Ugh.

[jonestonesusa]

102. As usual, Democrats eat their own rather than attacking their opponents.

We're oh so determined to be nice to political opponents that, guess what, they got 25 years to dismantle much of the socially progressive legislation that it took half a century to get passed.

If this country is going to stop careening toward perennial political disaster, we are all going to need some outrage. And nominating this unqualified candidate for vice president ought to get us outraged.

No wonder we end up with the H. Clintons and Feingolds of the world praising the opposing candidate in the middle of a presidential race - we're more determined to be nice to Republicans than to win. Welcome to endless war, financial bankruptcy, environmental disaster.

And, of course, abstinence only education. No need to put any "sex" in sex education, right?