Would anyone ask this question ?

Would anyone ever ask whether a male candidate was qualified for office because his daughter was pregnant ?

Well, I think politics became a lot more personal and a lot dirtier when the Republicans spent $millions of taxpayer dollars trying to come up with anything they could to attack Bill Clinton over. In the end they spent more more money investigating Whitewater than was spent investigating the Enron and Worldcom bankruptcies combined and the best they could come up with was that Clinton lied about getting a BJ.

Attacking governor Palin because her teenage daughter got knocked up is low and despicable but it seems to win elections you have to stoop this low.

And yes, if a Democratic candidate of either gender had a teenage daughter who got pregnant opponents (probably including you) would be all over it.

Yes, you probably would...if it was Obama's daughter who was pregnant.

I highly doubt that if Obama, or any other male candidate had a unmarried pregnant teenage daughter, that it would be an issue. I think it would be overlooked, and she would be praised for keeping the child, and her father would be praised for teaching her how to make the right choice when she's made a mistake. I also think that if Obama or another male candidate had 5 children that the media and spectators would not be saying "can he take care of his family AND be pres./vp?"
Why should it be different for McCain/Palin?
I dont think having a pregnant child clouds the way you are able to run something... such as a country. Girls are getting pregnant DAILY.

I would say that of anyone, regardless of sex, who would put their daughter through what Palin is doing to hers, would deserve criticism. Stop trying to make this about her gender amblessed. It is about her lack of judgement, lack of experience, lack of integrity, and her preaching family values, but not practicing them.

I would care if it were a male candidate.

It seems like you're making the claim that the mother has more control over the child than the father.

fillet: your assumption is wrong - like Obama, I'd take the high road !

You stated: And yes, if a Democratic candidate of either gender had a teenage daughter who got pregnant opponents >> (probably including you) << would be all over it.

no, really big deal shes pregnant now its time for people to get over it, I dont care bout their personal lives, just what the mom wants to do for the country, I dont care what her husband does, her kids or anything, its politics, not personal lives...get over it people

I think a lot of people would say something about Obama not being able to control his daughter if she was pregnant. I think they'd just tack it on to the other criticism they give Obama. And don't you say YOU wouldn't say something bad about Obama. because you definitely would.

I mean if people can judge someone on there religious background, because they think that they are muslim, or a terrorits of some sort. Than I think they'd judge them about being a good parent or not.

And of course it depends on how old the daughter was.

Like seventeen, that's pretty bad. But I can't judge anyone, because my cousin was twelve. Yes, twelve. Sad isn't it?

The reason Palin is getting a bucketload of criticism is mainly because she is against sex education in schools- something maybe her daughter could have benefited from. We already know abstinence education isn't working, with America being the first world country having the highest rate of teen pregnancy. The countries with higher teenage pregnancy rates are countries with little or no sex education.

I don't think it's a matter of being black, white, male or female. It's a matter of one woman having evidence close to home that an idea doesn't work, and still claiming it does. The proof is in the pudding.

The idea that people would refrain from criticising based on the gender of the politician is laughable. Since when have people opposed to a particular politician exercised any restraint in what they base their attacks on? If they saw potential fodder for criticism, why wouldn't they?

I agree that a politician's teenage daughter being pregnant shouldn't in general be newsworthy. However, the daughter of a politician who has absintence-only education as one of her policies being pregnant - that _is_ newsworthy.

Even Dr. Phil said: You can do your holy best to raise your teenager, but you have no control over what happens on a hot summer night in the back seat of a Chevy.

That could be possible if that question ever was mentioned to a male running for office.
You know how the media is today. They make such a big deal about things like daughters like Sarah Palin's pregnancy. I'm sure that the media would eventually bring up the subject if it were a male. But, I'm not certain though.
But, its possible.

I agree with rickd
just that Palin is supporting her daughter in her (daughter's)actions that is already made and cant be changed shows a sign of someone who is family oriented and has her family's best interest 1st(which is how it should be) . We are all human...nothing more, even leaders and potential leaders.