I Would Never Condemn a Pregnant 17-Year Old

[Mr. Ected]

However, Governor Palin's political discomfort merely indicates how utterly misdirected and pointless the "abstinence as birth control" movement truly is....at least insofar as it's the ONLY program touted by the evangelistic right.

[question everything]

1. Of course not. A 17 years old does not know any better

(perhaps was told that one has to "enjoy" it to get pregnant) certainly cannot control surging hormones - both of them.

But the hypocrisy of the mother and her supporters, who insist that "abstinence" is preferred to sexual education and, yes, providing of birth control methods is what should be condemned.

Here is another angel: if the Palins do not believe in birth control, and the chances of having another Down Syndrome baby increases with the age of the mother, what are they planning to do? Yes, it is our business. Will society eventually have to take care of these babies?

[tburnsten]

4. Probably not. They make enough money

to support their child/grandkid with downs. I don't think society will eventually have to take care of the baby, not that it is society's responsibility anyway.

[Breeze54]

13. Not only is it society's responsibility and obligation.. it's the law!

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm#anchor62335

The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. It also applies to the United States Congress.

To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability or have a relationship or association with an individual with a disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered.

snip--->

ADA Title II: State and Local Government Activities

Title II covers all activities of State and local governments regardless of the government entity's size or receipt of Federal funding. Title II requires that State and local governments give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services, and activities (e.g. public education, employment, transportation, recreation, health care, social services, courts, voting, and town meetings).

more...

Complaints of title II violations may be filed with the Department of Justice within 180 days of the date of discrimination. In certain situations, cases may be referred to a mediation program sponsored by the Department. The Department may bring a lawsuit where it has investigated a matter and has been unable to resolve violations. For more information, contact:

U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Disability Rights Section - NYAV
Washington, D.C. 20530

www.ada.gov

[phone] (voice)
[phone] (TTY)

Section 504

Section 504 states that "no qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under" any program or activity that either receives Federal financial assistance or is conducted by any Executive agency or the United States Postal Service.

[tburnsten]

14. A little different than having the child be raised by the state

Of course the little guy legally and ethically must have access to all suitable government programs, but I don't feel that it is societys' responsibility to RAISE the child. Making help available and raising are two totally separate things, I will check my first post to make sure I worded it properly.

[question everything]

16. I did say "eventually"

Yes, they can take care of the child. But what happens when they are gone and he is an adult? How rich are they, with four other kids as heirs.

And, again, if there are second and third disabled children? She is not getting any younger.

[Silent3]

2. I won't codemn the girl either...

...however, I will gladly point out the irony of Palin's "abstinence only" sex ed stance.

I'll gladly point out how the wingnuts would be acting if the situation were reversed, and Obama had a pregnant 17 year-old daughter.

I'll gladly point out that it doesn't looking like Palin was vetted very thoroughly, and that McCain has demonstrated less-than-Presidential judgment in his first big decision as the nominee of his party.

[rurallib]

3. What is sad is that the pukes will use her to gin up sympathey.

Her mother could have chosen to not out her. Mommy used her to save her own ass.

[DangerDave921]

5. A point of logic if you don't mind

Using one example as proof that abstinence-only programs don't work is really faulty logic. The same could be said for sex-ed and the advocacy of birth control. Hey, if one girl who went through sex-ed and condom lessons gets pregnant, it's proof that sex-ed doesn't work. Doesn't make much sense that way, does it?

This is all getting a little silly. If anything, this whole episode shows that all families, no matter their background or political leanings, can go through the same host of problems.

[pampango]

9. One reason why focusing too much on the pregnancy of an unwed teen

can make us look judgmental and could hurt us electorally if undecided voters feel any common bond with the problems the Palin family is having.

We are not going to convince the conservatives to dump Palin (and if they do it anyway they can try to portray her as a martyr who suffered at the hands of liberal commentators). Liberals (the genuine one anyway) are already on our side. It is arguable whether focusing on teen pregnancy and bad parenting may or may not be a good strategy to win over independents.

Obama seems to think that it is better to leave the families out of this. That's good enough for me.

[DangerDave921]

11. I have the same concern

that Palin will resonate as a real mom with real concerns, and that middle-america will therefore identify with her. Also, if we start questioning Palin's committement to her kids, her time away from home to run, etc., then invariably someone will start to investigate how many nights Obama was away from home the last two years, and how many dinners and bedtimes he missed with his own kids. You know the drill.

I would be glad to get back to issues and the candidates themselves, not the People Magazine brand of politics. Forget kids, forget spouses (unless they inject themselves into the fray), and let's debate issues.

[StClone]

6. Social Cons see this not as a failing!!!

George Lakoff has the take that I have come to believe is accurate for Palin's imagery.

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/1728

[Warpy]

7. I don't think anyone IS condemning a pregnant 17 year old

However, it's an opportunity to take a close look at her mother's political positions and decisions in office and they are incredibly bad for young girls, especially.

The 17 year old's choice to carry a baby isn't the point. Her mother's appallingly bad choice to promote her religion as public policy is the point.

Anyone who can't tell the difference needs to cash a reality check, answer the clue phone, get a grip.

[EFerrari]

10. I agree. No one is condemning her, they're just using the hell out of her.

We can never criticize anyone who uses their kids as props again. Ever.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3906026

[Thothmes]

15. And what public policies are inplace in Alaska

Because of Palins religious beliefs.

[RaconteursChick]

8. It's not condemning a teenager

It's saying, "See? Shit happens". While the Palins were probably bragging to everyone about how they teach their kids abstinence, they had no clue their daughter was having unprotected sex. They only found out she was becuz she got pregnant. Now their answer to this is "Well, even if shit does happen, it's a "blessing" to have this grandchild".

Perhaps on Palin's next eight-hour flight while in labor she can Google "Shotgun teenage weddings" & see just how long those blessings last. An unwanted child being born to teens who were forced to get married is not fair to the child. For that matter, it's not fair to the bride & groom. Adoption is still an option. It allows the parents to provide a home where the child is wanted & move on (hopefully) smarter for what they've been through. Not unlike hubby paying for his DUI & then moving on.

[DangerDave921]

17. I like how you slip in the DUI! LOL.

[gratuitous]

12. For a long time, neither would I

Then I worked with a young woman fresh out of high school (this was many years ago, when I was an old fossil in my late 20s - I'm even more ancient now). I made some offhand comment to her about teen-age pregnancy and excusability. She let loose with a very impressive five-minute rant about how "every girl" she went to high school with knew damn well how pregnancy happened, what steps it took to avoid it, and the generally low regard any of the girls had for someone who got pregnant at that age.

If a 17-year-old can sign up for combat, a 17-year-old should be able to insist on a condom. There may not be much to do in Alaska but hunt and fuck, but you wouldn't juggle loaded hunting rifles.