Sorry Joe Scarborough and others: Bristol Palin's pregnancy was fair game

(All hail Brian B.)

I can't speak to the question of whether Sarah Palin's daughter's pregnancy -- Juneau she is pregnant, right? Did Juno that? -- was a rumor whipped up by left-wing blogs. But I can tell you this. As a journalist, as a blogger , and as someone who was ahead of the pack in my arguing that the John Edwards story had legs and needed to be covered by the MSM, there was enough there to question Sarah Palin's pregnancy, just like there was enough there to question John Edwards's fidelity.

Now that it didn't pan out, we're blaming left-wing bloggers? Are you kidding me? Go find me the blogger not in bed with the GOP who would turn down the chance to blog such a juicy rumor. And here's the other thing: How long was the Palin camp going to wait to tell us about Bristol's pregnancy? They only rushed the story to the media because of a hot rumor that emerged from a legitimate piece of confusion: the absence of immediately available photos of a pregnant governor and the reports that Bristol was pregnant. Had the whole story been out front from the start, there would be no rumor, correct?

That's why the rumor was intriguing, even to those of us who found not one thing hypocritical about it. Let's face it, if there's one thing we knew about S.P. right up front, it was that she was abundantly pro-life. And even if you don't agree with her stance on abstinence, and believe her daughter's pregnancy exposed the weakness of that position (which it probably does but that's not really of interest to me), there is nothing inconsistent about welcoming another life into the world.

But good grief! Wouldn't you tell the news media this right away? And if you weren't even aware that the daughter was pregnant, what does this say about your supposedly months-long VP review process? As a teen pregnancy story, it's Jamie Lynn Spears level. As an indicator of John McCain's leadership, it's potentially Tom Eagleton level.

That's why you pursue the rumor.

UPDATE: Shari Elliker and I discussed the story this morning on WBAL Radio in Baltimore:

Listen/download: WBAL-9-2-2008.mp3

As I write this, Jon Meacham, the editor of Newsweek, is on "Morning Joe" imploring the media not to "blow it" or "screw it up" by digging into the Bristol Palin matter. If Jon Meacham were not the editor of Newsweek, and weren't appearing on this show (where Joe Scarborough is going batty claiming the media stepped "over the line" on this story) ... I can guaran-friggin-tee you if it were any other circumstance Meacham would not be saying that.

First of all, reporting a story in the blog age means acknowledging and repeating potentially damaging rumors that anyone can find online. This was what held up the John Edwards story so long, remember? MSM outlets were working the story hard. For months. They just didn't want to tell you that in print. And so the bloggers made such a cacophony that finally it couldn't be ignored.

(And by the way, if you read down into the comments on this story, some readers think we should still be pursuing the rumor. They are not entirely satisfied with the explanations given so far by the governor and the McCain campaign. I respond below, basically conceding their point, though my whole argument is that we don't cut off discussion of any newsworthy rumor just because it may strike certain people as crass or impolite.)*

The last thing a journalist should be concerned about is propriety. Is the story newsworthy? Does it set off alarms in the nonpartisan portion of the journalist's brain? Bristol Palin -- poster child for her mom's public position on teenagers and sex, as well as indicator of John McCain's vetting process for his VP candidates -- sets off at least two alarms.

So fine, MSM, go ahead and handle the story with "dignity" (Meacham's word). But don't fear the story because the hounds at Daily Kos are howling over it, and don't apologize for chasing a rumor. Sometimes it pans out, sometimes it doesn't.

Comments

[bob]

The left wing has shown the gutless, classless cowards they are by going after the daughter. Just disgraceful human beings.

[Janie]

I don't think the Dems and media are scared. Obama already came out and said that children are off limits and should not be an issue in the decision of who is to be President and VP. People are attacking quickly because (as always) sex sells. It's just like Hollywood gossip--underagers getting pregnant, divorces, cheating scandals, alcohol/drug abuse--all "juicy" gossip to sell magazines and newspapers. Take it with a grain of salt people. Stuff happens, it's life.

[ImNotBlue]

"Let me be as clear as possible," Obama said. "I think people's families are off-limits, and people's children are especially off-limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor or her potential performance as a vice president."

Obama said reporters should "back off these kinds of stories" and noted that he was born to an 18-year-old mother.

"How a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn't be the topic of our politics, and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that's off-limits."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/01/obama.palin/index.html

And we're done… unless you think Obama is wrong… and are also critical of HIS mother. Are you?

[garth]

Explain to me how she is suddenly 5 months pregnant. If she is 5 months pregnant, then she conceived while being at home on bedrest with mono. So between the mono, her parents and her 3 other siblings all being around and her being relegated to her bed...she somehow gets pregnant. Im sure guys are dying to have sex with girls suffering so severe a case of mono that they miss 5 months of school.

[litigatormom]

No one is going after Bristol Palin. They are going after John McCain's judgment. Whether he knew about Bristol's pregnancy before he announced his VP pick, it seems pretty clear that Sarah Palin's "vetting," such as it was, was hurried and slapdash. Apparently, McCain pushed 'til the end -- as late as last Wednesday -- for Joe Lieberman, but got so much pushback that he finally abandoned that pick. So then they turned to the "bold" choice of Palin, an underqualified pander to the extreme right wing of the party, which insults the former Hillary Clinton supporters whom McCain supposedly hopes to attract.

If Sarah Palin merely had five children, one of whom was a Down Syndrome child, I wouldn't question HER judgment in accepting the VP nod. I'm a full-time working mother who raised two children while at a high pressure job, and they turned out just fine. What amazes me, and makes me question her personal judgment (quite apart from questioning her political judgment in supporting such things as abstinence only education, teaching creationism in the public schools and anti-abortion legislation)is her ignoring the possibility of a pre-term birth to a handicapped child on a commercial airline flight, and even worse, exposing her teenage daughter to national publicity about her out-of-wedlock pregnancy and shotgun marriage. If Palin had simply remained Governor of Alaska, the matter would have remained relatively private (although apparently lots of people in Alaska knew or suspected). It certainly would not have gotten national attention. To make a young girl sit on a public stage in front of the entire nation while holding her infant brother on her lap to conceal her own pregnancy? I wouldn't have believed it possible. And for McCain to be complicit in this matter? Aside from the obvious pander, it's nothing more than a red herring designed to distract us from the fact that Palin is even more right-wing than he is, and that he's little more than Bush III. No way, no how, no McCain.

[Jon Do]

Since the best the left has on Sarah Palin are shrill conspiracy theories and personal attacks on her family members, I’m convinced that she was a *great* choice for VP.

[MB]

If Sarah Palin and John McCain wanted to be forthcoming about the pregnancy, why didn't Sarah mention that she was expecting her "first" grandchild when she introduced the rest of her family during her first appearance with McCain? It is Sarah Palin that is making the choice to put her daughter in the public eye; not the media, not an entire political party, not vicious bloggers. An elected official is a public figure, and a natural part of that is a certain level of scrutiny of the family. I didn't care that Bill Clinton had an affair and I don't care that Bristol Palin is pregnant. What I do care about is a public, elected figure finding offense when the public finds out stuff that they'd rather us not know. You know when you run for office that your life is not your own anymore, and that's why it is called "public service." Bristol Palin is the victim here, and she's been victimized by her mother and the McCain campaign.

[Daniel]

Why not let them interview the Dr.s and show the birth certificante and be done with it. Instead she goes with can't be Bristol's because Briston is 5 months prego and Trig is 4 1/2 months old.

[Chantix]

This movie looks so funny. It's a must-see =)

[Holy cow]

"Dems are scared ..."
Darn right, and the whole country should be.
McCain couldn't find anyone more qualified? If he wanted a woman on the ticket, how about Elizabeth Dole? Christie Whitman? Kay Bailey Hutchison?
Doesn't America deserve the best?

[Norts]

I believe the pregnant minor and flying while in labor says something of her parenting and decision making skills... But I believe the bigger story, that's just starting to get legs, is her membership in the fringe Alaska Separatist Party (Alaska Independence Party - AIP).

The AIP's motto is "Alaska First -- Alaska Always." Sure stands in contrast to the McCain motto of "Country First,"

[Mark]

"Sarah Palin makes an interesting contrast with Joe Biden, whose first instinct was to resign from the Senate in order to take care of his sons after his wife and daughter were tragically killed. "Delaware can get another senator, but my boys can't get another father."

I will take Biden family values any day of the week.

How can John McCain say with a straight face that he chose the most qualified person to be vice-president? "

Palin has shown repeatedly that her ambition trumps the needs of her family. Between this and McCain's troubling treatment of his first wife, I can't get behind these two. Very disappointing.

[Republican Supporter]

many of you probably know that this story broke on the internet over the weekend. I am glad the Palin family had a chance to set the record straight. The latest news on the internet is the Bristol will tour extensively this fall in support of the McCain/Palin ticket. The pregnant daughter will be part of a new female vocal trio, singing traditional American music emphasizing Republican family values. The other members of the trio are Jaime Lynn and Britney Spears

[ConfidentialSource]

Ok. I know for a fact that the first baby was Bristol's. ANd that she is now NOT pregnant. They just put a fake bump under her shirt now to cover up for the lies about the first baby. When will you republikuns learn? Sarah had no jugement. They shouldve aborted the first baby and none of this would have happened. Obamas kids wouldve not had that baby

[renton]

John McCain vetting questionaire for Sarah Palin:

1. Are you conservative?
__ Yes
__ No

If yes, go to question 2:

2. Are you a woman?
__ Yes
__ No

[STPAULVOTER]

Hey, come on, guys! No way can a woman handle this job, right? She has harmones every month and would have her finger on the nuclear button if she had a bad day or someone looked at her wrong! She has five kids that we are having to pay to raise, so it is our business if she has all these kids and then wants to live free on taxpayers. Go OBAMA!!!!

[Stephanie M.P.]

When is Bristol's birthday? How old was she when she did the deed? Was it statutory rape?

[Bkgtennis]

If she is pro-life and was going to have the baby regardless of the results of the amniosyntesis, then, why have the amnio in the first place?

It is obvious at this juncture that McCain caved in to the right wing, therefore he's no longer a Maverick, he is Bush III. Had he chose Lieberman or Ridge he would have shown the GOP that he is the independent that he claims to be.

He is not a maverick and used poor judgment. Case Closed. His candidcacy is over, unless he has the guts to say, "I made a mistake". I have to think he is one, very pissed off guy. Let's see how his temperment is.

He still has a chance to get it right. Once the convention confirms Palin, he is toast.

[Jed and Granny Clampett]

DNA testing for the whole northern redneck Palin clan. We can't wait for the movie! Jed and Granny Clampett

[Angela]

I'm probably voting for the Obama/Biden ticket but really don't care about Palin's daughter being knocked up. More focused on the economy and health care. My only concern is McCain's decision making process. Selecting a running mate is probably one of the most important decision of McCain's career and from where I sit he didn't do enough homework. That seems to be a pattern for him.

[AndyB]

McCain always did have eyes for hot, good-looking women much younger than he is. In April 1980, he divorced his wife of 15 yrs, Carol Shepp, a former swimwear model, ["who was in an auto wreck (1969), thrown through her car's windshield and left seriously injured. Despite her injures, she refused to allow her POW husband to be notified about her condition, fearing that such news would not be good for him while he was being held prisoner...When McCain returned to the United States in 1973 after more than five years as a prisoner of war, he found his wife was a different person. The accident "left her 4 inches shorter and on crutches, and she had gained a good deal of weight, http://www.usvetdsp.com/mcaindiv.htm] A month later, he married Cindy Hensley (she was 24, he was 42), a beautiful, blonde beer heiress, a trophy wife. Now, here's SPalin, a former beauty queen whom everyone shamelessly refers to as the 'hottest governor in America', his trophy VP...Yes, Elizabeth Dole, Christie Whitman or Kay Bailey Hutchison had more to offer, but they just don't look as sexy. So which party sells more and BUYS more of the Spears/Hilton facade? I sure hope they don't get the White House in Nov. We need a mature decision maker this time around (not another 'decider' who seems absent-minded to boot! (See Lieberman coach him during his trip in Jordan, http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/03/18/a_mccain_gaffe_in_jordan_1.html)

[Juneauite]

For the first time in my life I am embarrassed to say I'm from Juneau. On Friday (with his VP nomination) McCain made history. An historic mockery of the American political system and an historic mockery of the American public.

[jay]

I agree "Dems are scared ..."

Dems don't want a women President - so, they don't want woman VP, too.

I don't view a unplanned pregnancy as tragedy. A baby is a blessing. The baby wouldn't a welfare child.

We have more important things to face us.

[Ginn]

Aaron,

Your entire piece is riddled with inconsistencies beginning with your own claims about your involvement in the Edwards' story.

You never "pursued" the Edwards' affair rumors. Period.

As for Palin, you argue that since she is pro-life then the rumors of a "fake" pregnancy are fair game. Since when is having a baby "fair game" when the candidate is pro-life?

Edwards denied he had an affair to AP reporters on October 11. Look it up. Whenever a politician running for office makes a statement to the press it is called news.

But then again, you're the TV Barn guy who argued that if you were in Edwards' shoes you'd hide behind your wife's cancer and hope the story went away.

"And let me say this as someone married to a breast cancer survivor. If I were in John Edwards' position, and I could pull myself away from the nearest mirror (that hair is to die for), I would play the Elizabeth card as aggressively as I could. I would have my advisers tell the press, on the QT, to keep quiet about the story because it's a painful time for the family as it is. That's an unpleasant truth (not that I'd ever cheat on my wife), but as long as it kept alive the possibility that this story might go away again, I'd do it. I wouldn't be proud to do it, but I'd do it."
--Aaron The TV Barn Guy July 31, 2008

[Well, I did have to explain that one to Mrs. TV Barn, but she got it, as did most of my readers: I was putting myself into Edwards' lyin' deceitin' shoes for a while to show how it was that he could, in fact, be cheating on Mrs. E. (If only I'd known it was with her complicity!) But that, of course, would require not thinking the absolute worst about me as you obviously do. This same tic has also led you to state that I "pursued" the Edwards rumors; nooo, I said "that's why YOU (deceiver.com, Enquirer and MSM) pursue the rumors."

And it has led you to comically misrepresent my position on the Palin matter, since I made it clear that this is NOT about her pro-life stance -- I mean, what part of "that's not really of interest to me" do you not get?

What this story is about, and why nonpartisans are concerned about it, is that we see governor failing to disclose key information and also, we see once again McCain's desire to make a point trumping his interest in making a sound, well-executed decision.

I understand, though, why you don't want to make this story about those failings. It's for the same reason Rush Limbaugh spent an hour of his show today defending the honor of this fine pro-life woman and her charming daughter -- because it kills the pro-life hard core to think that a bunch of filthy abortionists are seizing the high ground. Sadly, from my vantage point this is exactly what is happening. And yet it could have been avoided, had Sarah Palin just told the McCain people what apparently everyone in Wasilla, Alaska, knew -- that Bristol was preggers by her longtime BF. --AB]