October Surprise? A Bristol Palin Wedding

Folks on the GNB have commented a few times on the tragedy of the Palin family being used as a political prop in the McCain campaign. The 4 mon. old Trig being passed around like a photo op football, the constant comments about Sarah being a mom of 5, etc. etc. But this new rumor should it prove to be true, is simple beyond the pale. It is pathetic, unfair, and really quite disgusting.

This is the gossip from the UK Sunday Times;

In an election campaign notable for its surprises, Sarah Palin, the Republican vice- presidential candidate, may be about to spring a new one — the wedding of her pregnant teenage daughter to her ice-hockey-playing fiancé before the November 4 election.

Inside John McCain’s campaign the expectation is growing that there will be a popularity boosting pre-election wedding in Alaska between Bristol Palin, 17, and Levi Johnston, 18, her schoolmate and father of her baby. “It would be fantastic,” said a McCain insider. “You would have every TV camera there. The entire country would be watching. It would shut down the race for a week.”

There is already some urgency to the wedding as Bristol, who is six months pregnant, may not want to walk down the aisle too close to her date of delivery. She turns 18 on October 18 . . .

. . . McCain is expected to have a front-row seat at Bristol’s wedding and to benefit from the outpouring of goodwill that it could bring. “What’s the downside?” a source inside the McCain campaign said. “It would be wonderful. I don’t know that there has ever been a pre-election wedding before.”

This is wrong in too many ways to count. I hope against hope that the American public can see through this as a stunt, and that there will be backlash for politicizing the situation between Bristol and Levi. This is the kind of crap that makes people think poorly of all politicians- unchecked ego and aggressive aspirations taking a toll on family, friends, the community and ultimately voters everywhere.

And can I just say, "McCain, leering from the front row, ewwwww!" just what every young bride dreams of.

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Parenting While Political

VS.

I can imagine that it must be hard running for office with a family. Especially a family with small kids. And while I agree that the kids should NOT be fodder for attacks and rumors; I do think you can tell a lot about a candidate by how they treat their family on the trail.

The Obamas have made a serious and concerted effort to keep their kids safe, happy and balanced. When they do rarely appear on stage, Dad and Mom both are careful to make sure the kids are included, cared for, and not scared.

The Bidens hug- and praise and Joe even carries a grandkid on his hip.

In the case of the Palins, not so much.

How did Sarah treat her young ones when she yanked them up on stage, into the spotlight?

Palin brought one of her daughters-- 8 years old or so --on to the stage with her and then ignored her. The girl just trailed after her mom from one side of the stage to the other. Mom seemed unaware, uncaring. There is an unconfirmed rumor as well that she did not tell any of her kids why they were going to Ohio on the day of the announcement. Campaigns are hard and it is important to make your family feel comfortable. This certainly does not seem to be a Palin priority.

To be fair Sarah Palin has no experience in such big events on the national stage. But this does raise alarm bells for me.
(h/t to L.K. for raising the alert)

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