Reader comments
The Republicans' party crashed by 'details' on Palin

Whats the deal Lee, slow news day. When has a child of a candidate been an issue. You are poking at a fire that has already cooled. Yesterdays news. So what, a 17 yr old is pregnant and is marrying the father. How does this private family matter become a "qualifier" for vice president. Nobody said she was a perfect parent. Her initial comments did not belay that fact. You are feeding into the media frenzy that has no business sticking their nose. Frankly I am glad I cancelled my subscription because of writing and analysis like yours.

Why should'nt they test the DNA of the baby to find out who the mother is ? Did the doctor who delivered the baby attest to anything and why not ? Why did Palin state that her daughter had just told them about the pregnancy whereas she and Macain knew about it before Macain's announcement ? She is hurting Macain more than helping him with honesty

Don't worry, the GOP can make Satan look like an angel so Palin will be easy as pie. In their world, the economy is doing well, Iraq is a success and peaceful place, and Bush is a great president. So what do they have to worry about with this Palin woman? Contradictions don't exist for them. Peace through war, generousity for the poor through greedy policies for rich corporations, finding security by manipulating fears, compassion for immigrants by building a wall...and on and on. Jeeeze.

What do repubs have against competence? Palin is a worse choice than Harriet Meyers!

Come on Lee. You can't be serious. Do you honestly think that because Sarah Palin's daughter is having an illegitimate child or because she went back to work three days after having a baby, it disqualifies her from being vice president? This does not add up to a "dirty" past and does not constitute grounds for not selecting someone to be VP. Sarah Palin doesn't have a dirty past. She doesn't have friends that are unrepentant terrorists, doesn't attend a racist wacko church, and didn't smoke pot as a youth. She is a true conservative and a true American and any objective journalist (not lee benson) can see that any 'blemish' she may have pales in comparison with Barack Obama's sketchy, scary past.
Come on Lee, you lose credibility when you write articles like this.

Though undecided politically this year, I find it disturbing that the media will attack Sarah Palin over the fact that her 17-yr old daughter is pregnant. The mere suggestion that fault should be blamed on Sarah Palin is deplorable.

Those who have teenagers certainly understand every parent's fears of getting their kids through those tough years. Despite one's best laid plans and consistent lessons on the importance to stay away from drugs, premarital sex, etc., sometimes the child makes poor judgments and mistakes.

If Sarah Palin was negligent as a parent, then let her get blasted. My guess is that she was not.

Great article, Lee.

Of course, we're all supposed to hold Gov. Palin above reproach just because John McCain and the Republican party say so.

Sorry. I'm not going to do that. Somebody (or more likely some bodies) didn't do their homework. I get the sense that we are just scratching the surface . . .

Lee, you seem to be trying to justify the ugly attacks on a 17year old by your colleagues in the media. Why is it all Democrat families are off limits and private family matters are rally private family matters? But republican families are fair game?

Shame on you Lee Benson.

If Palin was a man, these would all be non-issues. Why do people not even question that Obama with two young children can run the country, but Palin cannot since she is the mother of young children? I find the sexism remarkable.

Regarding her husband's dui, let us not forget that was 20 years ago and hardly relevant to today. To the best of my knowledge he is not running for office. Regarding her pregnant daughter, would it have been better to quietly demand abortion, which would be illegal since only the pregnant woman has choice? Should Palin also have aborted her "deformed" baby as unseemly? At least she puts her actions where her mouth is...still waiting for Edwards to acknowledge his alleged child with his mistress that he managed to have while his wife was battling cancer.
Regarding Palin's view on sex education, what most people seem to skip is that she did not oppose sex education but EXPLICIT sex education instead supporting abstinence education. For the record, I know a girl that was given explicit sex-ed and still managed to get pregnant in high school the next semester. It seems that she ultimately choose sex without safety.

It is sad that some believe that the two greatest qualification for public office are being pro gun and anti-abortion.

I understand that those may be a litmus test, but should be just a bit further down the list.

With a 72 year old McCain, this choice shows extremely bad judgement.

Would anyone really feel comfortable with Palin at the helm based on what we know of her today?

Reading comments to stories about Sarah Palin on this and many other sites gives you a great insight to the mindset of the left in this country. Angry, bitter people with small minds.

Palin has a pregnant daughter who is going to keep the baby and marry the father, why is this such big news? How about when Obama said he supports abortion so his daughters won't have to have their babies and live with a mistake? I would rather see Palin support her daughter through a tough time than have Obama call babies mistakes.

God, will greatly bless America, when John McCain and Sara Palin become Americas Commander in Chief and VP !!! Let us all get behind this light for America. A word to the wise is sufficent.

If Palin one day becomes President I would be worried about our Canadian neighbors. What would happen when millions of Americans start fleeing north? The Canadians haven't even built a wall yet.

Let us be reminded that LDS doctrine does not condone unmarried teenagers having sex and getting pregnant. And if that does happen, adoption is recommended over single parenthood.

I feel that if one of Obama's daughters had gotten herself into that kind of trouble, the Utah GOP would be up in arms, and would not be praising the errant teenager and her negligent mother. The double standard is repugnant.

This really has been the last straw for me: I will not be voting Republican because I cannot stand hypocrites, and now I feel their "family values" platform is a total lie.

This election cycle is merely a sideshow meant to distract the child-like and easily fooled American populace while the NWO finalizes plans to collapse our economy and return us all to feudal times.

There won't be an election btw, because the US police state will be under martial law to curtail the panic that's coming.

Question. Why do democrats, liberals, and most of the media seem to have a chip on their shoulder? This is America! You will not always get your way. So please don't ALWAYS go around crying about this and crying about that. Help make this a better country for everyone, not just yourself.

Let's see -
Palin's daughter is 17 and pregnant but not married -
Obama's mother was pregnant at 18 with Obama and not married to his father.

Palin's husband got a DUI 22 years ago for drinking a few beers when he was in his 20's - Obama was snorting coke and smoking pot when he was in his 20's.

Obama was closely associated with Bill Ayers - Amercian born terrorist; associates with a convicted Chicago slum lord criminal who he had financial dealings with; has no executive experience at anything - etc. etc. etc.

So, who is the one that was not properly vetted? Oh, that's right - Obama is the standard bearer for the Democratic Party and all of that shouldn't count or be brought to light!!

They are 17 and 18 year old young men in prison for 10 years for having sex with minors. Remember the kid in georgia who was sentenced for 10 years. The state charges them with sex crimes and they spend the rest of there life on a register. These laws must be for the lower class people in this country only. These politicans who pass these laws should have to live them. Sarah Palin was not attacked if it would have been in any other state or a low class person it would have been posted everwhere news, web sites, her daughter Bristol would have been proteced but this young Man would have been charged with sex crimes. Read your state laws on sex crimes. Some can use there offices and power to protect against the laws they pass. Every young man and man and women need to know about the sex offenders laws in there state. Young men do not think this is alright think to do is have sex with a 17 year old some states you will find yourself in prison or on a sex offender list.

Just out of curiosity, whose personal life to you prefer: Sarah Palin or Hillary Clinton? Hate her for her record if you like, but I think you are applying a huge double standard if you would have voted for Hillary but not Sarah Palin based solely on her personal life.