Palin's Folly: Parenting Meets Politics

September 2, 2:16 PMFatherhood ExaminerJoe Schatz

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Sarah Palin, McCain's VP Selection

I am not a political examiner but rather a parenting examiner and when the news came out about Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol, 17, being five months pregnant I cringed.  With the U.S. culture spiraling into teen pregnancy fanaticism one can only question Sarah Palin’s decision to accept the nomination to become McCain’s V.P. candidate.  With all eyes focused on the likes of Jamie Lynn Spears, the Gloucester Teens, rising teen pregnancy rates and controversial media outlets that glorify pregnant teens the Bristol Palin story was a no brainer to receive some of the most intense media scrutiny that a story can be given. 

Sarah has come out with a statement claiming how proud she is in her daughter’s decision to not only keep her child but to marry the child’s father.  This seems to be little more than political damage control from who many have called "America's Hottest Governor." All politics aside, does a family that is about to undergo some very stressful months facing local scrutiny need to go global with their dirty laundry?  Bristol is five months pregnant—five.  Sarah had to know her daughter was with child before accepting the V.P. nomination and to intentionally put her daughter in the national limelight shows some very poor decision making not only as a politician but as a parent.  I wonder does Sarah realize what she has done to her daughter in accepting the V.P. nomination.  Her daughter, for better or worse, will now be under some of the most intense scrutiny a person can face.  I have a tough enough time trying to show up on time to all the practices and games that my kids are involved in without media scrutiny.  I can’t imagine what the added weight of media scrutiny would do to just the average parent.  My headlines would read something like, “Joe’s Daughter was Late Again to Dance Practice,” or “Schatz, Forgot to Sign First Graders Homework & Permission Slip: Day II.”  Seriously, I don’t know much about Sarah Palin (mostly because I don’t live in Alaska) but what I do know is that she is willing to sacrifice her daughter to a media feeding frenzy--that is downright selfish.  

You have heard enough of my opinion on the matter, what do you think?  Leave a comment or vote in the poll  here.