"We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby..."
It was nine words in a two paragraph press release announcing that the 17-year-old daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was pregnant, but it should tell American women all they need to know. Implicit in Monday's statement from Sarah and Todd Palin was that their young daughter had a choice -- the same choice Palin has said she'd deny women including her own offspring.
During a 2006 gubernatorial debate Palin said that she would deny her then 14-year-old daughter choice, even if the girl was raped.
The candidates were pressed on their stances on abortion and were even asked what they would do if their own daughters were raped and became pregnant
Palin said she would support abortion only if the mother's life was in danger. When it came to her daughter, she said, "I would choose life."
While there is little doubt that being the child of such a staunch anti-choice politician, who recently joined the presidential campaign of another anti-choice politician, left Bristol with limited choices, it still remains that the campaign wanted Americans to believe two things:
- That this was not a forced or coerced pregnancy.
- That the "right" choice was made.
Arizona Sen. John McCain, when confronted in 2000 with a hypothetical of his daughter being pregnant, said that "the final decision would be made by [our daughter] with [mine and Cindy's] advice and counsel." When pressed about this viewpoint actually making him look like he was in favor of women having a choice, he shot back that he didn't "think it is the pro-choice position to say that my daughter and my wife and I will discuss something that is a family matter that we have to decide."
McCain and Palin (based on Monday's press release and not her earlier statements) believe their families should have the luxury of choice, but that the remainder of American women are not to be trusted. While some may argue that McCain doesn't really know what he believes when it comes to matters of reproductive health, it is clear that Palin believes women should be forced to carry pregnancies to term even in cases of rape and incest. Ironically enough, her view that an exception should be made in cases where the mother's life is at risk, could be termed almost moderate when contrasted with the Republican Party Platform adopted yesterday in Minneapolis. According to those voting on the document Monday, officials representing the GOP should not allow any exceptions, even if that means women die.
the same choice Palin has said she'd deny women including her own offspring.
Well, actually, Palin favors letting the voters in each State decide for themselves what they will/will not permit in their state, and under what circumstances. On such a controversial issue, I can't say I disagree
During a 2006 gubernatorial debate Palin said that she would deny her then 14-year-old daughter choice, even if the girl was raped.
Well, she is the girl's mom, and the girl was a minor... Even if we agree abortion is a constitutional right, parents can almost universally waive constitutional rights for their children. Why would this right be any different?
Most people, even most conservatives, would not have a problem with abortion after rape or incest. The GOP, for whatever reason, insists on catering to the far-right on this issue, which is unfortunate. There is some middle ground between the extreme views, is there not? No one seems to want to find it, though.