The 17-year-old unwed daughter of John McCain’s new running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, is five-months pregnant, Palin and her husband, Todd Palin, said Monday in a written statement.
McCain’s campaign told FOX News that the presumptive Republican presidential candidate knew about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy before he chose Palin as his running mate last Friday, and that Bristol is planning to marry the father of her child.
“We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us,” the Palins said in the statement. “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. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.”
The Palins asked the media to respect their family’s privacy.
“Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates.”
The sexual relations outside of marriage in which Bristol and her boyfriend engaged are, of course, not to be excused or minimized.
But neither should their decisions to take proper responsibility after the fact be dismissed.
That Bristol has chosen to protect her baby and give it birth is to be roundly respected and applauded. And so too her wise decision to marry, thus giving her baby the crucial blessings which only a two-parent home can provide.
But about Governor Palin's wish that her political opponents will avoid this "private matter?"
Not a chance.
