PRUDEN: The humiliation of a young girl

Very well written Mr. Pruden. This election has nothing to do with a teen in Alaska who happened to make a mistake.

This is a question of judgement. McCain's, certainly, but especially Ms Palin's judgement in deciding to run when she should be contending with two very serious family crisis occurring at the same time. I submit that her family needs all of her attention right now and for some time to come. She recently gave birth to a downs syndrome child and she either knew or should have known that the press would quickly find out about the pregnancy of her daughter. Frankly I am stunned that she was willing to subject the daughter to this international scrutiny. Don't blame it on naivete, Palin didn't just fall off the turnip truck. Alaska politics is every bit as brutal as Washington's. Should she be tending to these two very serious, emotional and fragile family crisis or running for office? In fact maybe it's the distraction of her political life that is partially responsible for this in the first place. She needs to decide what is better for her family? We need to allow her to apply some FAMILY VALUES and bow out. Maybe it's time for McCain to go find that list he crumpled up and threw in the waste basket.

Thank you Mr. Pruden for your anger and concern. I think Obama has it right in keeping families and especially children out of this election. Now if we can only focus on the issues and make this a real election .... SA

Question: Where is that Liberal Compassion about leaving a politician's family out of the political arena? Answer: It never existed or it only applies to other liberal candidates and not to evil republicans.

There is nothing anywhere in the Daily Kos article or elsewhere to indicate the gender of ArcXIX. You would do well to keep your gender pronouns ambiguous, unless you have better knowledge than the general internet community.

Another excellent commentary, Mr. Pruden, and the Daily Kos piece does enrage "the conscience of decent men and women." While Obama did tell Kos and the media to back off the Palin family story, it must also be said that Obama originally helped to loose the whirlwinds. Earlier this year, it was Obama, along with Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, who attended the Daily Kos national convention and lauded their operation --- an operation that can be described by a four-letter word: Vile.

According to the NY Daily News of Sep 1, Bristol's beau is 18-year-old Levi Johnston of Walilla. It is comforting to hear from her mother that Bristol Palin intends to marry young Levi, the man of her dreams, and that they will be wonderful parents to their child. Based on Levi's MySpace page, he appears to be a fine, mature, upstanding young man of high moral values who has what it takes to be an outstanding father and will undoubtedly make his new family proud. Here are a few lines from his page: "I'm a f - - -in' redneck who likes to snowboard and ride dirt bikes." "But I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s- - - and just f - - -in' chillin' I guess." "Ya f - - - with me I'll kick ass," he added. He also claims to be "in a relationship," but states, "I don't want kids." One can only wish Levi and his family all the best for the future.

Joe Biden's daughter Ashley was arrested for obstructing a police officer in a drunken melee outside of a Chicago bar. At age 18, Obama's mother was pregnant with him before she married Barack,Sr. Hunter Biden is so bad he became a Washington lobbyist, and one of his firm's biggest clients is MBNA bank, which also happened to be a big fundraiser for Papa Joe--he could be indicted any minute now. So could Obama after the investigation into his dealings with Bill Ayers and the Annenberg Trust come to light. So, as for "family values", the lefties better put a cork in it because they are living in a glass house.

I am continually amazed that a thing like Luciana Delacruz is able to slither out from under a rock and write such malicious venom. McCain and Obama are right about keeping to the issues and leaving the family out of the fight.

McWalnuts has a poor argument. I wonder if it was used to advise John Edwards when Edwards decided to run for the Presidency. Remember Mrs. Edwards is still dealing with a recurrance of her cancer in 2007 when JE threw his hat in the ring. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/22/edwards.2008/index.html

Does McWalnuts think that Mr Palin and the rest of the family are incapable of caring for the new baby. Maybe McWalnuts thinks babies are not supposed to be tended to by their father and siblings.

The progressives in their usual brilliant fashion, reach back into the 19th century and pull out the SCARLET LETTER. Turns out, Obama wouldn't be here now if his mom had followed her yet to be born sons advise. Who know's maybe the future child will be a democrat presidential candidate, at least in this case the world will get to find out.

I enjoy reading the Times, but its COMMENT section is one of those weirdo sites listed in reverse chronological order. That way you end up reading all the responses before you read the original comment that everyone is upset about. McWalnuts is, indeed, nuts. The post is blatantly sexist (as many others have stated, no one would have asked Todd Palin to "stay home and take care of the family" if he had been the candidate). McW is clearly a liberal just lurking on this site, because of his (her? - I doubt it) behaviour of telling other people what is important in their lives, and what they must do to take care of things. Obviously a Democrat who is scared sh**less of Mrs. Palin. Sarah Palin is a big girl, and she can handle it. Bristol Palin is a young girl, and she will learn to handle it. She has a strong, supportive family. From what I have read in other articles, she also has a strong, supportive community (something you don't see here in Washington, DC). She'll make it, and so will her brother Trig. As for McWalnuts, maybe someone can send him one of those Hillary Clinton Nutcrakers. It seems fitting to me.

What a warped world McWalnuts must live in. One where the birth of a disabled child and the impending birth of an unplanned grandchild are crises. As the parent of a disabled child, I find your attitude concerning little Trig repugnant. As to Bristol's baby, I'm sure the Palins wanted her to wait to become a mother, but they will love and welcome their new grandchild into the world. And if being conceived outside of marriage is a campaign issue, perhaps Barak Obama should drop out now and save the MCWalnuts of the world that embarrassment.

Why is it that the left always calls those of us on the right, "hatemongers?" Usually they use that word when those of us on the right side of the issues, brings up how someone on the left has either broken the law, or had a moral failing. Then we on the right are the "hatemongers" for pointing this out and trying to hold them accountable. Notice this time where this all started and the what the purpose was. There was no concern for those involved, just that the information get out to try and discredit those involved. If this were Obama's daughter and the same thing happened in the same way. The left would be in a screaming outrage over how this came out and how cruel and mean those on the right are for bringing this out. And that it is none of our businness. So the reality is the those on the left have no morals and use ours against us.