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 3 of 46)
31. Didn't Paris Hilton declare her candidacy for President after the Celebrity Ad? That must've been the funniest thing she's ever done!
Mokele Mbembe at 1:02PM on Sep 2nd 2008
32. Who is the real hypocrite? My answer is C. John McCain. If his main claim (and it is) is that he is the ONLY candidate who can keep the US safe, be strong on defense, fight terror, and win the wars, and be a serious leader in the world, etc......his pick of Sarah Palin shows just how full of shit he is. His most important decision before being elected, to choose the BEST most qualified person to assume the duties as Commander in Chief if necessary, and he chose her? Come ON!!!
She's his trusted advisor? She can exercise diplomacy around the world? If he dies and we have troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, SHE is the one making decisions? Republicans, wake up. This is pathetic, and dangerous. I don't give a crap about her pregnant daughter, she is not the woman for the 2nd most powerful job in the land. If you want her at the helm, you've had too much Kool-aid.
Jude at 1:04PM on Sep 2nd 2008
33. unbelieveble , truly incredible...
no way to compare the lives of these two human beings...
how ever i will say this: Palin tried to lie to the American people..and so that tells you a whole lot about her.
her daughter must have gone thru the most cruel experience in her life, having to deny the child
was hers, and now having every one in her buisness.
simply cruel.
and for this guy "DD" to attempt to compare is so shameful that it makes me sick to my stomach.
Mozark at 1:14PM on Sep 2nd 2008
34. cant believe your in politrix !!!
Mozark at 1:15PM on Sep 2nd 2008
35. There is actually no comparison between Ms Palin and Senator Obama. Senator Obama has been selected by a major party (Democrats) to hold this nations highest office. Ms Palin is considered a widely abscure figure from a sparsly populated state that few had ever heard of including Republicans! She was also chosen for the sole purpose of attracting angry "white women" that have been brain washed to believe that Obama could not possibly represent them. Denish, you should consider yourself lucky that blogs have become so popular, your comments are clearly slanted. OK, you support the Republican ticket..."Only IN America" right?
Gregory A at 1:18PM on Sep 2nd 2008
36. 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.
Troy at 11:26AM on Sep 2nd 2008
This sounds like something you may have heard on talk radio or perhaps Tass, I mean Fox news(ever hear them not repeat the party line?) or even read here on AOL. Guess what, those are MEDIA. There may have been a time when the media had liberal bias( then again maybe not) when newspapers and a few powerful networks ran the show but that time has long passed. Media is big business, are large corporations known for their liberal bias?
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
Which roots are those? Give me a time period? Which mythical good old days are you referring too? This magical time never existed, you want to return to a fantasy.
Okay, I'm done picking on Troy.
tmo at 1:16PM on Sep 2nd 2008
37. 1. Why didn't Dinesh applaud that Spears girl's decision to have her baby?
2. I knew this was going to come up here. It's too big a gaff.
3. This is not good for the Republicans.
4. Thanks for helping out the atheists Dinesh.
5. Oy Vey!
oneblood at 1:15PM on Sep 2nd 2008
38. Dinesh asks, "who is the real hypocrite?" Well, allow me to answer: If Palin is out there pushing "abstinence only" ideals for young women then its PALIN who is the hypocrite. This is not an issue for liberals and Democrats so no need to drag them into it. Tell you daughter to keep an aspirin between the legs when she reaches puberty and then let me know how that works out, since birth control is now being equated to abortion by so called "conservatives" like you.
Robb at 1:20PM on Sep 2nd 2008
39. No, I don't by the hypocrisy line from any of you who are throwing it out there as if it's original. There are no "good" mainstream politicians. The two-party system must be dismantled by us, and after that...cookies and milk for all involved.
oneblood at 1:19PM on Sep 2nd 2008
40. --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... The idea of being pro-life.... means you place a supernatural fairy tale above the suffering of real people.--
So Willy, you admit that murder is a wonderful, not to mention intellectual, position? Or are you treating the fetus as though it were not a real person? Since science affirms that the fetus is a human being, how do you defend your "pro-choice" and "anti-suffering" position when the unborn baby does not have the choice of life and must endure the suffering of abortion? Or do you arbitrarily pick and choose which people have the right to live and which do not?
--The cost and emotional investment of raising a child is enormous--
Since human life is priceless, the cost of raising that life is insignificant, even irrelevant, by comparison. Dropping an atomic bomb on a Japanese city was a tough choice made (twice) in the interest of preventing future deaths that would greatly outnumber the deaths resulting from the bomb. Abortion is a service performed regularly and on a whim, resulting in the death of an innocent human whose presence, in the vast majortiy of cases, presents no threat to its mother.
From your statements above, I must conclude that you are comfortably immoral and unquestionably ignorant! This conclusion will stand until you adequately defend your position.
Troy at 1:22PM on Sep 2nd 2008
41. I will pray for Sarah Palin, her daughter, and the entire family! Being pregnant is not a sin; pre-marital sex is the sin. The hypocrisy of liberals is amazing. On the one hand they advocate pre-marital sex; glorify it in the media, advertisements, etc., but then vilify teens when they become pregnant. They scream for “comprehensive” sex education as if that is the answer. The only answer to unwanted pregnancies is abstinence. Contraception is not 100% effective and many people object to contraception on moral grounds. Other people do not want teens receiving information on contraception in school. They feel it is the responsibility of parents. Liberals want to impose their world view which is why you hear this cry for “comprehensive” sex education. The only thing that should be discussed in school regarding human sexuality is basic biological facts. Contraception should be discussed with a doctor. I have looked at some of the literature from groups like the death organization, Planned Parenthood”. It is disgusting! I am certain Sarah Palin discussed with her daughter the type of behavior she expected. Her daughter made an immature, unwise decision. Praise God she is keeping the baby and marrying the father. This indicates maturity and a willingness to accept responsibility; something the millions of abortions performed in this nation does not display!
janesophie1 at 1:29PM on Sep 2nd 2008
42. no boots?? maybe in other countries, but i don't know of anywhere in America where people don't have shoes or are starving. thats just total liberal media bullshit...not only that, but in this country there is no one that can't get an education if they want it and are willing to work for it. even barack & michelle did that. unfortunately, michelle is bitter because she had to pay back her student loans. its available to everyone!!!
mike at 1:30PM on Sep 2nd 2008
43. troy you are clueless,
for many young mother's to "do the right thing" and not opt for an abortion not only do they have to work VERY hard, but they rely on government assistance to help them get on their feet.
until you know what that is like maybe you should shut your mouth.
Richelle at 1:29PM on Sep 2nd 2008
44. Who the hell are you folks? You take lies and run with them like they are facts. Barack only met his father twice, his alleged half-brother lives on another continent - not in the same house! Barack's mother was only 18, but she was married to his father, as they met in college. Sen. Obama has said over and over that family members and especially children are off-limits. How can you then say he is profiting from Palin's situation? Obama didn't create the situation, Palin and McCain as well as her daughter and Levi Johnston (a self-described f---king Redneck on his myspace.com page), did! Get real!
Brenda Smith at 1:33PM on Sep 2nd 2008
45. The answer is simple. Anything that is inside of our bodies is ours to do with as we please. Anything outside of our bodies is subject to rules, regulations, and law.
Therefore any fetus inside a mothers womb is her business and no one elses. Once its out, then it is subject to the law of the US.
In other words, stay out of other peoples bodies.
Pope Cack IV at 1:32PM on Sep 2nd 2008