Politicians' family members are off limits, especially their children.

That's the code.

It may be, but not always for the right reasons.

Of course young children of politicians have nothing to do with their parents' careers. They can be drawn into the spotlight because of who they are.

Still, none of us get to choose our parents or their careers.

What's more important is how political ideology and public policy-making is reflected in one's personal life.

Republicans have been characteristically unsympathetic to teen mothers.

They have routinely funneled public funding to faith-based abstinence-only messages, while obstructing funding to rigorous sex education.

Neither Palin's daughter nor her grandchild will likely live the life of struggle often faced by poor urban teen mothers.

This grandmother can afford to help with child care, health care, and education. Thousands of urban teen mothers don't receive this kind of help, often because Republicans oppose it wherever possible.

And when Vice President Dick Cheney's wife Lynn was asked in a television interview during the last presidential debate about her lesbian daughter Mary, viewers could just about hear the pencils snapping in Mrs. Cheney's voice.

The vice president's office quickly issued a statement saying that they loved both of their daughters.

Mary Cheney and her partner later gave birth to a son. Even though the Bush administration went so far as to try to alter the US Constitution to make same-sex marriage illegal in this country, the Cheney's are more than capable of shielding their daughter and grandson from the impact such legislation would have on thousands of same-sex couples with children.

Some states, like Florida, already make it impossible for same-sex couples to adopt children - even when the children have been languishing in the foster care system for years due to disabilities or critical health issues.

Supporters of Palin have suddenly come to the conclusion that her family is dealing with many of the same issues that many American families face. Somehow the news of her daughter's teen pregnancy has enlightened at least a portion of the nation.

"She's just like the rest of us," they're saying.

Ya think?