Serious question. Did Bristol Palin really *choose* anything, legally?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Reading this snippet from the 2006 Knowles campaign oppo report raises a question. Does Alaska have a "parental consent" law?

(I am not suggesting Bristol Palin would have wanted an abortion. In fact, I seriously doubt it. But if someone is to be lauded for making a choice it kind of matters whether they actually had a choice under prevailing law.)

Palin Said She Supported a Constitutional Amendment To Enforce Parental Consent Law if Supreme Court Declared it Unconstitutional. Asked if she would support a Constitutional Amendment to overturn the Supreme Court and allow a parental consent law to be enforced if the Alaska Supreme Court declared the parental consent law unconstitutional, Sarah Palin responded, “yes.” Council Voter Guide, 8/22/06]

________________________

On Edit: Got my lazy fingers to use 'the google.' Alaska did indeed have a parental consent law. It was struck down by the Alaska Supreme Court about 6 months before Bristol conceived. So she did have the legal power to make the applauded choice, but only because her mother's opposition to the court decision failed.

Alaska teens can make own abortion decision
3-2 VOTE: State Supreme Court justices say notification is OK.

By SHEILA TOOMEY
[email protected]

Published: November 3, 2007

The Alaska Supreme Court threw out an embattled state law Friday that required parental or judicial consent before a teenager can have an abortion.

In a 3-2 decision, the court said the consent requirement robs a pregnant teen of her constitutional right to make such an important decision herself and transfers that right to her parents or a judge.

However, a law that required parents to be notified of a juvenile daughter's plan to have an abortion would probably be all right, said Chief Justice Dana Fabe in the majority decision for the court. It's a option many other states use, she noted.

As illustrated by the vote, the decision was a close call. Both sides agreed that the state has a compelling interest in protecting juvenile girls against their own immaturity and that parents have a constitutional right -- a duty -- to guide their children. They differed over whether giving parents veto power over a pregnant juvenile's abortion decision went too far.

http://dwb.adn.com/news/alaska/story/9426719p-9338863c.html

[liberal N proud]

1. She lives in a repressive conservative family

Do you think the kids have a chance to choose anything?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. No, I don't. But could have legally obtained an abortion on her own in any event?

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Exactly. I grew up in a family similar to hers. Your choice is whatever your parents'

choice is.

[rurallib]

4. In their original statement on Bristol's pregnancy

it was stated "we are glad she has chosen to have the baby." This tells me that abortion was discussed.

[davepc]

6. or adoption.

[Cronus Protagonist]

9. Perhaps, but that would be "keep" the baby

Apparently the choice they discussed was whether or not to HAVE the baby. Abortion, in other words.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

8. That's the point... with a parental consent law that sentence would have no meaning

The idea of a parental consent law is that you can't get an abortion without parental approval.

So there's no choice for the minor.

The only actual choice a minor could make would be to have the baby, rejecting a parental demand that she get an abortion.

(Funny that a minor would need parental consent to have an abortion but not need parental consent to have a child! But that's the theory.)

[Stop Cornyn]

5. Apparently, she chose her wedding date (which her mom tried to schedule for last week).

[maseman]

7. Are you kidding me?

Mommy probably took her into a back room, told her to keep her fucking mouth shut, marry this asshole and fall into line.

[NYC_SKP]

10. We know what she didn't choose: her parents.

And with parents like these, I'm not surprised that she chose to have, presumably, unprotected sex.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

11. Updated OP with the answer