ST. PAUL, Minn. - John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, said Monday her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant, an announcement stealing even more thunder from McCain and a Republican presidential convention already overshadowed by Hurricane Gustav.
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(Photo: AP Images / Mary Altaffer, File)In this Aug. 29, 2008 file photo, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin comes off the stage to greet the crowd after appearing with Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., not in photo, during the 'Road to the Convention Rally,' in Dayton, Ohio. With her are her children Bristol, left, holding Trig, and Willow, center. John McCain's running mate Sarah Palin said Monday that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter, Bristol, is five months pregnant, an announcement aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin's youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter's.
Adding to the day's drama, McCain aides said the announcement was aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin's youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter's.
The national convention, which a political party counts on to send its candidate surging into the fall campaign, already had been relegated to a distant second to the hurricane on TV, in newspapers and on Internet Web sites.
Monday's statement, attributed to Sarah and Todd Palin and released by the campaign, said that Bristol Palin would keep her baby and marry the child's father, identified only as a young man named Levi. The baby is due in late December.
"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," Sarah and Todd Palin said in their brief statement.
The disclosure came on the opening day of the Republican National Convention, which has been scaled back because of Hurricane Gustav, and three days after McCain named Palin as his vice presidential running mate. Coming after the randomness of Gustav, the revelation added to the sense of unscriptedness that is hanging over the convention.
"Life happens," said McCain adviser Steve Schmidt.
"An American family," added colleague Mark Salter.
Palin told McCain's team about the pregnancy during lengthy discussions about her background, and the senator knew about it when he made her his surprise pick Friday, aides said. At several points during the discussions, McCain's team warned Palin that the scrutiny into her private life would be intense and that there was nothing she could do to prepare for it.
Prominent religious conservatives, many of whom have been lukewarm toward McCain's candidacy, predicted that the announcement would not diminish conservative Christian enthusiasm for the vice presidential hopeful, a staunch abortion opponent. In fact, there was talk that it might help.
The convention opened on time, though shortened out of concern that the party did not want to be seen whooping it up in St. Paul while thousands of Americans along the Gulf Coast were being threatened by the hurricane. From the convention podium, GOP officials asked delegates to take out their cell phones and text-message contributions to help in the relief effort.
McCain's wife, Cindy, and first lady Laura Bush were making their own appeals for relief help in the convention hall later in the day.
The delegates took up the party platform and other business, but most of the opening-day speeches — all of which had been expected to acclaim McCain and assail Democratic opponent Barack Obama — were scrapped.
Palin, the first-term Alaska governor, was in Minnesota preparing for her Wednesday night nomination acceptance speech when the campaign issued the statement from her and her husband; her family was home in Alaska. Continue >>
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"Almost all the gays that post on CP are Catholic and are trusting in their infantile baptism and confirmation that had them confessing a belief in a God that never drew them to Jesus convicting them of their sins, their need for a Savior, and that Savior was Jesus Christ. "
Who cares about people on CP Star, look at some of the biggest christian gays like Haggard or Craig.
chicago, great and meaningful thoughts to make a great Lord's Day even better, be blessed my brother, believer
Believer and Star: I'm sure this was a trial for Palin and I do appreciate the fact that she acknowledged the struggles that her family has had. If she and McCain get elected, I feel encouraged that she will be on the forefront of advocated for individuals with disabilities (a population I serve in the state of Illinois).
You know, the fact that we humans have a God-given ability to bring about so much goodness when affliction occurs is what attracts me to Christianity; the theme of death-and-resurrection that continually plays a role in our lives; that solidarity with the crucified and risen Christ. (I think it's important for me to verbalize it ever so often.)
Believer: thanks for understanding.
chicago24
Excerpts from www.adn.com/626/story/382864.html
Palins' child diagnosed with Down syndrome (04/22/08)
FAMILY FEELS BLESSED: Back at work already, governor says she wasn't in labor in Texas.
By LISA DEMER
ldemer@adn.com
Published: April 22nd, 2008 01:11 AM
Last Modified: April 22nd, 2008 07:49 PM
Gov. Sarah Palin was back at work Monday in Anchorage, holding a meeting on the proposed natural gas pipeline three days after giving birth to her fifth child.
She and her husband, Todd, showed their new baby, Trig Paxson Van Palin, to a few reporters and photographers and answered questions about his condition and the sooner-than-expected delivery.
Trig has Down syndrome, a genetic abnormality that affects a child's intellectual and physical development, the governor confirmed.
"When we first heard, it was kind of confusing," Palin, 44, said. She called the revelation "very, very challenging" and said she initially felt sad.
But the family has worked through that. Palin said she and Todd feel blessed and chosen by God. With a big family including four older kids, grandparents, aunts and uncles, Palin said, they will have lots of support for what's ahead. In their eyes, she said, "he's absolutely perfect."
The oldest Palin kid, Track, is in the Army and texted his mother after learning the news with something to the effect of "This is just so cool -- I finally got my brother."
In a letter she e-mailed to relatives and close friends Friday after giving birth, Palin wrote, "Many people will express sympathy, but you don't want or need that, because Trig will be a joy. You will have to trust me on this." She wrote it in the voice of and signed it as "Trig's Creator, Your Heavenly Father."
"Children are the most precious and promising ingredient in this mixed-up world you live in down there on Earth. Trig is no different, except he has one extra chromosome," Palin wrote.
As for people who think a baby like Trig shouldn't even be born, look around, the governor wrote. Who is perfect or even normal?
Palin said she won't take maternity leave but will go with Trig to doctor's visits, physical therapy, whatever he needs. She's breast feeding and plans to bring Trig to work with her, just as she did with Piper.
"It just feels like he fits perfectly," Palin said. "He is supposed to be here with us."
pvlman, I've heard Dr. Dobson numerous times thank parents who were encouraging their teens during difficult circumstances such as unplanned pregnancies. But it amazes me how many parents encourage their daughters to get an abortion even though the daughter would prefer keeping the child and possibly put the child up for adoption.
chicago, my apology for assuming and to be honest it did sound out of character for you, but I would say she did struggle some with that issue, but perhaps not as much as a person who is not as committed to pro-life views as she is. Thanks for your gracious response.
Why didn't Dobson commend ALL parents who support their pregnant teen daughters or is such commendation reserved for Republican candidates? Yes it's great that Sarah Palin is able to take her take here son to work and care for him. She is lucky to be able to do so. How soon will Christians, be pressuring corporations to put the means in place so more, working mothers can do the same? Again ALL mothers just not those who are at the executive or management levels. Of course Christians who are not Catholic, have to find problems with Catholics. They have to jusify to themselves the liberal act of those split from the Catholic faith. The word liberal used here in it's true meaning, not in the perjorative manner too many use it in.
Believer: I would have never implied that she kept her child to be politically correct. What I meant was that she already had a pro-life stance and would have never considered aborting her baby in the first place.
The Republicans have jumped on the bandwagon, implying that she may have battled with the choice once she learned the child had Down syndrome.
She obviously never considered abortion as an option.
I was criticizing the Republican pundits; not her.
chicago, I know we disagree on several issues, but that was really a low blow to suggest she kept her son Trig in order to be politically correct. Totally uncool.
DP, I said a prayer for your son and his unit, so drive safe and look forward to hearing from you soon, be blessed as you continue to serve Him.
Just FYI, my son got deployed yesterday so I'll be headed out to pick up his car. I know just how much you'll miss me Ifeelfine72 and others but...you'll just have to get along without me for a few days. :D
I understand Kansas has two elevations...flat and flater.
I might get a chance to post in the morning. Later!
Does anyone actually think that Palin ever considered, for one moment, having an abortion when she learned that her baby had Down syndrome?
No way! Her anti-abortion stance well-known. This was a no-brainer for her and hardly meritorious on her part.
I think it's pretty pitiful the way the Republicans are spinning this in order to garner the evangelical vote.
ifeelfine72 - Below are some excerpts from a news article detailing the level of involvment Mrs Palin has with her children.
Gov. Mom
The Land of the Midnight Sun's New Claim To Fame: Being Led by a 24-Hour Mother
Excerpts taken from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090102998.html
The facts of life for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are fascinating and seem, frankly, exhausting. Her children range in age from 18 years to 4 months. Track, the oldest, recently enlisted in the Army and is headed for Iraq. Daughter Willow, 14, is in high school, and Piper is 7. The baby, Trig, was born in April with Down syndrome.
Palin has carefully portrayed herself throughout her career as someone committed to both family and profession -- and tough enough to handle both. She made a show of dismissing the chef at the governor's mansion saying she wanted to do her own cooking, and that the kids were old enough to make their own sandwiches. And no one can recall her ever having a full-time babysitter.
"You walk into her office and Piper is sitting there, the baby is in the crib -- that's just the way it is. This is how she lives her life. Someone who was in a meeting with her recently said she was discreetly nursing Trig," said Palin's biographer Kaylene Johnson.
From interviews with those closest to Palin emerges a description of a hectic lifestyle, but one in which the hominess and rural community of Alaska have enabled her to have her kids around her while she works and have offered a deep bench of family and friends for child-care support. She has shown up to meetings and news conferences carrying Trig in a baby pouch.
She and her husband kept their family house in the small town of Wasilla, where her parents, three siblings and closest friends live. Most of the year, she is able to commute back and forth from Anchorage daily, except when the legislature is in session in Juneau. Todd Palin is currently on leave from his job as an oil field worker, making it possible for him to be a full-time dad, said two friends. Sarah Palin's mother said ...that Palin's two youngest girls, Willow and Piper, attended school in Juneau for the second semester last year when the legislature was in session to be near their mother. The baby was also with Palin.
Trig Paxton Van Palin could end up being the best-traveled infant in America. Campaign sources said that the baby would be with his mother a good part of the time, and that arrangements are being made to have a babysitter travel with them. Confirms grandmother Sally Heath, "I can't imagine she would leave him behind."
Governor Palin still has an active role in her family's life. She takes her baby to work with her. She has Trig with her in her business meetings, changes his diapers in her office, and etc. The kids come in and out of the office during the day. Their drawings are under the glass top of her desk and etc. She let go the chef hired by the state to cook for the Governor's family and cooks for her family herself.
ifeelfine, the exception is she is presently the Governor of Alaska and from the articles I've read she and her husband are doing a good job in balancing both her role as a Mom and as Governor. She is very involved in the life of her children and even when she was presented with the option of aborting her son Trig because he has downs syndrome she and her family opted to keep the child. Sounds like a pretty good Mom to me.