By Kathleen Gilbert
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 2, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The news that Gov. Sarah Palin’s 17-year-old daughter Bristol Palin is pregnant and has chosen to keep and raise the child with the support of her family became public within days after Palin accepted the Republican vice-presidential nomination – news that pro-family advocates consider further proof that the Alaska governor upholds the pro-life values she preaches.
Sarah and Todd Palin released a statement on Monday describing their family’s reaction to the news of their grandchild: “We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned.
“We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.”
The Palins revealed that their daughter is to marry the father of her child. “Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family,” they wrote. “We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates.”
Though some feared that the news puts the spotlight on Palin’s personal life at a time when voters should be learning more about Palin as a politician, some pro-life advocates have welcomed the personal revelations as further proof of her pro-life credentials.
“Today’s announcement is just one more example of how Sarah truly represents authentic women’s leadership,” said the President of the Susan B. Anthony List Marjorie Dannenfelser. “When it comes to choosing life, Sarah Palin doesn’t just talk the talk, she personally walks the walk, time and time again.”
“Sarah Palin’s family is a microcosm for every courageous pro-life story there is, and I admire her even more now. Her response of boundless love and inclusiveness is a shining example for every family facing a crisis.”
Dannenfelser contrasted the Palin family’s unconditional acceptance of new human life to Barack Obama’s statement that he would not want his daughter “punished” with a baby. “The unexpected child —what Barack Obama has called ‘punishment’—is praised as a blessing by Todd and Sarah Palin,” she said. “Once again, the contrasting worldviews of the pro-life Sarah Palin and the pro-abortion Barack Obama come into stark relief for American voters.”
Internet bloggers and commentators counted Bristol Palin’s pregnancy as a strike against Gov. Palin’s advocacy of abstinence education in schools, but many believe it simply reveals Palin as a real-life mother who faced a situation shared by many American families, and encouraged her daughter to choose life instead of taking the easy way out.
The BBC reports that values voters generally share Dannenfelser’s praise for Palin in the wake of the announcement. They quote James Dobson, founder of Focus on the family, who commended the Palins “for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances.”
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins noted the added difficulty the Palins face by keeping their grandchild in the face of public scrutiny. “Fortunately, Bristol is following her mother and father’s example of choosing life in the midst of a difficult situation. We are committed to praying for Bristol and her husband to be and the entire Palin family as they walk through a very private matter in the eyes of the public,” said Perkins.
According to the most recent Zogby poll, which gathered the opinions of voters the day following McCain’s Palin pick, the new vice-presidential nominee gave the Republican campaign a large boost, with McCain/Palin now at 47% and Obama/Biden at 45%. Republicans themselves were overwhelmingly positive about Palin, as 87% said she helped, and only 3% said she hurt the ticket.
Pollster John Zogby commented: “Palin is not to be underestimated. Her real strength is that she is authentic, a real mom, an outdoors person, a small town mayor (hey, she has dealt with a small town city council – that alone could be preparation for staring down Vladimir Putin, right?). She is also a reformer.”
The poll’s results showing wide acceptance of Palin were foreshadowed by pro-family leaders’ glowing praise that flooded the press upon McCain’s decision. (See LifeSiteNews.com article: https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08082904.html)
Related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
McCain Selects Strongly Pro-life Governor, Mother of Five Sarah Palin for Running Mate
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08082901.html
McCain VP Pick Delivers Hard-hitting First Speech, Calling for End to “Politics as Usual”https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08082910.html
Pro-life, Pro-family Leaders Praise McCain’s Choice of Pro-Life Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for VP Running Mate
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08082904.html