Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband Todd released a statement this morning announcing that their eldest daughter, Bristol, 17, is expecting a child.
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 statement also indicates that Bristol will marry the baby's father and requests the media respect the young couple's privacy.
According to Steve Holland of the UK Independent, senior officials within the McCain campaign confirmed they knew of the girl's pregnancy at the time Palin was selected. The officials indicated that the statement was released in hopes of curtailing "rumors" regarding the couple's youngest child, Trig, and the oldest daughter's possible involvement.
In light of this news, I've been looking at my own 16-year-old daughter and wondering if I could further my own political aspirations at the expense of her privacy. Obviously a chance to run for the nation's second highest office would be tempting, but my first priority has always been to my children -- their nurturing, their care and their protection. I fail to see how thrusting my young and pregnant daughter into the national spotlight could be construed as protecting and caring for her.
