Any time personal lives of candidates intersect with policy, it becomes America's business. Republicans have made it there business to be in the bedrooms of gay couples, why can't Americans return the favor and debate what it means when the child of a conservative Republican plays out a scenario that they themselves rally against? Palin is against sex education in Alaska schools. She only advocates abstinence. I want to know what she's thinking right now because the abstinence-only has failed and obviously no "protection" was used. I want to know if Palin has changed her mind in light of her policy failure. And while the Republicans are dizzy spinning all these events into something positive--Palin stands by her daughter/the daughter keeps the baby--not one word is mentioned about HIV. HIV is something you keep whether you want to or not. It is a far more serious problem than teenage pregnancy. It needs to be mentioned. Remember back in the 80s, SILENCE=DEATH. It seems where in the 80s again. I think Palin needs to think a bit more about what's going on in her own family before she is allowed to invade all American families.

Tom makes excellent points. Conservatives and right-wing Christians seem to believe that discussing biology and the science of reproduction somehow results in promiscuity. The worst irony concerning Palin and her daughter is the claim that it is "private" and a "family decision." She permits privacy for herself but the laws she would impose would strip every other American woman of their right to privacy and their right to a "family decision." Decision means the same thing as CHOICE, Palin would deny it to everyone else.

The hypocricy is certainly enuogh to make this an issue, but if you're going to trot your pregnanat daughter out on stage and show her off as an example of family togetherness and your pro-life poisitions then she's fair game. If you leave her in Alaska and keep her out of the spotlight then you can plead for privacy. But if your mother can't exploit you, who can?