So let's compare. Sarah Palin has a 17 year old daughter who is pregnant. Does this mean that Sarah Palin is a hypocrite for championing family values? Does this make her a bad parent? Here is what Palin has to say about the matter: "We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart...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 love and adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional support."
This to me is the true humble and Christian response. No one is perfect. And there are consequences for actions which people have to live with. Even so, parents can admire the young girl's decision not to take the easy way out and have an abortion. They love their daughter unconditionally, and accept the grandchild unreservedly. I predict that this will strengthen Palin's support both with evangelical Christians and with the American people.
Now let's contrast Palin's behavior with that of Barack Obama. Here is Obama, from his speech at the Democratic National Convention. "It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it." Obama faulted McCain for his cruel and insensitive philosophy, which he defined this way: "Out of work? Tough luck. No health care. The market will fix it. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your boot straps, even if you don't have boots. You're on your own."
Obama rejected the bootstraps philosophy in favor of a Christian alternative. In his interview with pastor Rick Warren, Obama said his favorite passage in the Bible is the one where Jesus says: whatever you do to the least of my brethren, that you do unto me. Obama has actually used biblical language to make the point that we are our brothers' keeper. Obama insisted that these are the ideals that have guided his life and the ones that he would bring to the Oval Office.
Now how can Obama's self-description be reconciled with news reports that Obama's younger half-brother lives in a hut in a shanty town on the outskirts of Nairobi? Vanity Fair caught up with twenty six year old George Hussein Onyango Obama, and what he had to say is as shocking as it is pathetic. "No one knows who I am. I live here on less than a dollar a month." George's shack measures 6 feet by 10 feet, and yet he says that Barack Obama has done nothing to reach out to him or to help him. "I live like a recluse. If anyone says something about my surname, I say we are not related. I am ashamed." The two Obamas only met twice, once when George was five and then again in 2006 when Senator Obama visited Nairobi. "It was very brief," George says. "We spoke for just a few minutes. It was like meeting a complete stranger."
So far what has Obama said about his half-brother? Absolutely nothing. Yet the Obama campaign has not denied the story. And Obama's supporters, attempting to cover up for their man, have basically said that young George Obama is trying to benefit from Barack Obama's success. Their argument is that Obama owes his sibling nothing. So the Obama camp has a message for George: "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps, even if you don't have boots. You're on your own." Obama's accusation against McCain turns out to be an accurate description of his own practical philosophy.
Could there be a more striking contrast between Palin's loving approach to her family and Obama's stern rejection of his own half-brother? The media seems to be implying that Palin is hypocritical because she stands for "family values" while her daughter is pregnant out of wedlock. But parents don't have full control over their teenagers' actions. Moreover, isn't Obama an even bigger hypocrite for championing aid to the down-and-out while his own sibling lives in an African hut on pennies a day? By the way the Obamas made several million dollars last year! They are certainly in a position to relieve George's condition if they cared enough.
The major newspapers and networks know about George, and they seem to recognize how damaging this story is for their favorite presidential candidate. So they are not reporting it, even though it is one of the most revealing stories about the candidate's character. And thus, with the GOP convention under way, we have the ridiculous spectacle of Obama getting credit for talking about compassion while Palin gets criticized for practicing it.
A slightly different version of this article appears in the online edition of National Review.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 46)
16. Great analysis Dinesh!!!
Objective Journalism is definitely an oxymoron. It's impossible to miss all of the "negative" attention the major networks are giving the Palins regarding Bristol's pregnancy. Ironically, when Jamie Lynn Spears became pregnant out of wedlock, the media showcased her as a happyily expectant mom-to-be. While the media supported Jamie, who obviously exercises greater influence over female teens today, they now criticize Bristol's pregnancy, making the case that her pregnancy sets a bad example for female teens.
The hypocrisy of the media is more evident than the noonday sun. In fact, I'm confident that, apart from such subjective journalism, Obama probably wouldn't stand a chance of winning, because then he'd have to pull himself up by his own bootstraps, which, as we know, is something he doesn't think people should have to do. The media probably agrees with this assessment, because they work so hard to paint their candidate as our nation's savior. They must figure Obama needs all the help he can get, and they're eager to volunteer.
Maybe, just maybe, our nation will someday return to its roots, where people did not feel "entitled" to special treatment but rather worked hard (in other words, pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps) to improve their personal condition.
Troy at 11:26AM on Sep 2nd 2008
17. Wow, I actually agreed with Rev on several notes. I still think he's batshit crazy.
Mokele Mbembe at 11:30AM on Sep 2nd 2008
18. Is McCain not a hypocrite for championing your supposed family values, but then leaving his disfigured wife who waited for him during his hero time?
Is his current wife not a hypocrite for denying her two half-sisters, allowing one to live in near-poverty?...oh, and she and her son are both voting for Obama! Is it cindy mcCain's fault that her half-sister languishes??
Bottom line...Who cares???
Sounds to me like dinesh is running scared and reaching...though not in usual reach-around fashion. This time it is a reach of desperation and a pathetic attempt to hold on to whatever it is that bush has equally-pathetically squandered away in his role as our worst president in history.
Thank you dinesh, for revealing to me the mentality of probably many of your poilitical ilk: you are running scared and getting desperate. The sarah palin pick just reassures that further.
America's Most Gangsta at 12:12PM on Sep 2nd 2008
19. Dance, little man, dance. Do your desperation dance for us. Were you not so ugly inside, it would be amusing.
America\\\'s Most Gangsta at 12:13PM on Sep 2nd 2008
20. That quote from Gov. Palin about her family brought tears to my eyes. Such love and compassion. Such bravery by the McCain campaign to go ahead with the appointment even knowing this issue would rouse his opponents and invite them to parade their values. Such genius with what I assume was their prediction that such a parade would further define the great divide in America, which is his best hope.
If young Bristol's and the Palin family's situation weren't real, and the campaign weren't so honest I would have suspected them of making it up. Wow what a woman!
GaryB at 12:10PM on Sep 2nd 2008
21. Botts clearly has no idea of the meaning of a hypocrite. If Sarah Palin was a hypocrite, as the genius Botts claims, Sarah Palin would force her daughter to get an abortion. Pushing one agenda, and then doing the opposite is hypocritical. A good recent example is John Edwards, pushing strong family values, and exploiting his cancer-ridden wife, but knocking up his video consultant. Now that's a hypocrite.
David Pitlock at 12:11PM on Sep 2nd 2008
22. "The REAL shocker for liberals these days, the soon-to-be mother and father are actually going to get MARRIED and become responsible adults! No wonder the lefty liberals want to pile-on to persecute this teen pregnancy, they did not murder the baby in an abortion--the most convenient way "out"--and they are not acting like the father has no responsibility for raising and supporting his own child and soon-to-be wife and mother of his child. - Rev 3:16
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Actually, I consider myself a liberal and I would never choose abortion for myself or my 18 year-old daughter (who is still a virgin BTW).
Just becuase I would never make that decision for myself - doesn't mean that I would force my choices on another woman. That, I have no right to do.
As a liberal parent I didn't teach my children to have sex - I educated them on the truths of sex.
For girls and boys there is a difference and it is just as emotional as it is physical.
The ramifications of getting pregnant or getting an STD and all the medical implications that go along with that. I left nothing out, and I still continue to discuss this with my kids although they are more than old enough to have their own thoughts on the subject.
It doesn't matter how embarrassed they are - the topic is too important to let pass.
There has never been the expectation of abstinence - there is the expectation of responsibility and an understanding of all the ramifications of engaging in sexual activity before one is emotionally and physically ready.
TJ at 12:14PM on Sep 2nd 2008
23. --20. Is McCain not a hypocrite for championing your supposed family values, but then leaving his disfigured wife who waited for him during his hero time?--
During the Civil Forum at Saddleback Church, McCain actually admitted that his first marriage was HIS greatest moral failure. So, to answer your question, McCain is not a hypocrite. Admitting your own shortcomings is a powerful way of upholding the moral ideals you believe in.
Troy at 12:25PM on Sep 2nd 2008
24. DD this is another of your republican and Christian biased and stupid article. This is an apple to orange comparison, Barack Obama now owes everything to his wife and children just as you are praising Sarah Palin for meeting that obligation. If you want to make an apple to apple comparison you have to find out what Sarah Palin has given to her siblings versus what Barak Obama has given. Of course Barak Obama has had absolutely no contact with this step brother until recently so this also has to be considered in the equation. You have written several times about the immorality of extra marital and premarital sex. I am amazed at your acceptance of this sin without a word of condemnation. You are the REAL HYPOCRITE.
R Shanker at 3:14PM on Sep 2nd 2008
25. "Botts clearly has no idea of the meaning of a hypocrite. If Sarah Palin was a hypocrite, as the genius Botts claims, Sarah Palin would force her daughter to get an abortion. Pushing one agenda, and then doing the opposite is hypocritical. A good recent example is John Edwards, pushing strong family values, and exploiting his cancer-ridden wife, but knocking up his video consultant. Now that's a hypocrite."
Ah David Pitlock. I guess you're in the "I don't read and jump to conclusions because I'm ignorant" group.
Read my post again dude.
She is hypocrite towards what a Christian is.
I'm Pro Life by Choice big guy.
Botts at 12:40PM on Sep 2nd 2008
26. ATHEIST
Reply to: Sarah Palin and her family are showing the country the RIGHT way to handle this situation: Do not murder the baby in an abortion, and, the REAL shocker for liberals these days, the soon-to-be mother and father are actually going to get MARRIED and become responsible adults! The baby of this teen mother is not a mistake (end)
______________
You really don't understand the term "pro-choice", do you?
In this country, today, those kids had a choice.
Under the stupidity of a Palin administration, they might not.
Being "pro-life" means you are NOT qualified to be President.
Hypothetical: A woman gets test results. She is four months pregnant, and her baby has the markers for Down Syndrome.
Pro-life... means this woman can't get a LEGAL abortion.
Which is a ridiculous, stupid position.
Pro-life people are idiots. Seriously.
Learn to THINK.
All life is NOT precious, sacred, or whatever terms they use in your silly churches.
We fought a war with Germany and Japan... where we dropped atomic bombs on Japanese cities.
Christianity is ridiculous. It teaches you NOT to think.
Why in the world would anyone want to make an abortion in the fourth month, to stop a child from being born with Down Syndrome, illegal?
The cost and emotional investment of raising a child is enormous.
The parents should have a choice. Christianity encourages your children to be stupid.... oh, wait is there a connection? If you start out with dumber kids, are they more likely to be Christian?
That's why the nomination of Sarah Palin might work.
So many americans who think "dumb is good."
New campaign slogan for McCain-Palin
"Embrace the Stupid Part"
The idea of being pro-life.... means you place a supernatural fairy tale above the suffering of real people.
Which is why we have Roe vs. Wade ... to keep stupid pro-life people from making others suffer.
William Hays at 12:40PM on Sep 2nd 2008
27. David,
You're also being a typical brainwashed conservative as well. You are deflecting. I don't care about Edwards. He's a scum bag. Anyone that cheats on their wives is a scum bag. You know, just like McCain.
And the funny part here, is that if this was a Democrat's daughter, you would be all over it. You would be talking about immoral liberals and all kinds of nonsense. Blow your smoke up somebody else's ass. I'm not buying it.
Exposing your Daughter to this stuff, knowing it would happen and ignoring it to further your ambitions, is selfish, egotistical and couldn't be farther enough away from Christianity.
Hypocritical is what it is.
Botts at 12:46PM on Sep 2nd 2008
28. DD:
If we were to dig into it would we find you have established the "Dinesh D'souza Caritable Foundation for His Poor but Very Distant Relatives in India"? I think not.
John Galt
John Galt at 12:51PM on Sep 2nd 2008
29. Objective Journalism is definitely an oxymoron. It's impossible to miss all of the "negative" attention the major networks are giving the Palins regarding Bristol's pregnancy. Ironically, when Jamie Lynn Spears became pregnant out of wedlock, the media showcased her as a happyily expectant mom-to-be. While the media supported Jamie, who obviously exercises greater influence over female teens today, they now criticize Bristol's pregnancy, making the case that her pregnancy sets a bad example for female teens.
Troy at 11:26AM on Sep 2nd 2008
Uh Troy the point of the 'celebrity' add was that Obama was like Britney not that she was actually running for office. I couldn't tell you how the media treated Jamie Lynn as it is unimportant bullshit and I have better things to do. I'm not sure were Obama stands on the Spears pregnancy issue.
As for Palin it's pretty simple, don't talk the talk if you can't walk the walk. I'm a godless heathen liberal piece of crap(just ask thomas gasset) and my daughter managed to make it to college without getting pregnant.
Or how about this, If you can't keep your own house in order how are you supposed to run a nation?
tmo at 12:59PM on Sep 2nd 2008
30. "Which is why we have Roe vs. Wade ... to keep stupid pro-life people from making others suffer" - Hays
But pro-abortion people never want to talk about the truth of abortion.
Does the baby suffer? You bet!
You get washed in saline, or have your limbs pulled off one by one. Do you not know that these smallest of humans have central nervous systems from very early on?
Decades ago, I stumbled across an article in Lancet, the British medical journal. It talked about how they administered pain medication during abortions -- for the BABY!!! Who was about to die at the hands of its mother. This doesn't get any play here, because the pro-choice media wants to pretend it's "nothing" growing inside the mother.
People have many choices -- but once you are pregnant, your only choice should be to have that baby.
mary at 1:02PM on Sep 2nd 2008