Thanks for your post about your observations of young people while teaching.

I would have to say I share Schaller's anger at this whole situation. The issue is not the girl, but the right-wingers will simply point out that we progressives are targeting the girl. Bristol Palin's actions are the not the issue nor should they be.

You raise all the important points in your post. However, I think Schaller is correct. Taking this to its logical conclusion the right-wingers are saying: White sluts who have babies out of wedlock are good, because they are affirming life. Inner city (black) sluts are bad because they are just trying to increase their welfare checks. You can have sex before marriage if you can afford it, but if you can't, that type of sex should be prohibited? It's clearly a racist, class-based, double standard.

My sister teaches inner city freshman, like you. When she asks the young girls why they had their babies, the overwhelming response she receives is that because these girls wanted someone in their lives whom they could love, and with whom they would have an unconditional, loving bond. It really hits her very hard, knowing the domestic backgrounds of these girls (much of it is not pretty).

This is not any different than Mary Cheney's lesbian relationship with her partner. How Dick Cheney pandered to the very same crowd who would crucify her, all the while privately affirming her relationship; and at the same time doing nothing for the rights of gay people! In fact, trying to destroy them!

No, I say Schaller is correct; Sarah Palin's behavior and her positions on sex and sexuality, are clearly disgusting.

Yes, I agree. The media should not leave any of this alone because PALIN herself WANTS to regulate YOUR vagina. That is the issue. Unfortunately, this stupid mother, Sarah Palin, knowingly brought all of this on her poor daughter, both in the form of sex ed, and now knowingly choosing to accept a Vice Presidential nomination. Truly amazingly stupid, insensitive, and heartless. You know how the media are...

I feel sorry for the 17 year old daughter, and I wish her well. Perhaps she can escape the orbit of her crazy mother at some point. Her mother has shoved this girl's personal business into the media spotlight.

I think that Palin's extreme views brought all of this scrutiny, innuendo, rumor, and gossip on herself. It doesn't matter whether the rumor is true or not; the parallel with Obama would be something like: Obama wants to round up Muslims and jail them while he himself is a "secret practicing one." That would be a parallel situation, while the right-wing just wants to appeal to people's prejudice with "Obama is a Muslim" or "Hillary is a lesbian." The two situations are not congruent.

She certainly deserves the scrutiny in my opinion, because this woman wants the State to be in your crotch 100% of the time!

According to the principles of the VP choice and the right-wingers. My god, this family is the epitome of hypocrisy.

Thanks for posting. This woman's views on sex and sexuality should be no less examined; and that her daughter is pregnant just goes to show how stupid abstinence-only education is. This woman's judgment is seriously impaired. But will she change her views? No.

Obama is a Muslim is racist bigotry, simply no more. What's wrong with being a Muslim anyway?

As for Palin, her views scare me, and I think that is the issue. What I find really interesting, is that she supports a "pro-family" platform that urges women to stay home and care for their babies, while she's out campaigning with her kid, having to pump her breasts in between speeches. Kind of strange, isn't it??

I fight to overturn these laws. Here in Hamilton County, Ohio (Cincinnati) this was a huge issue when the county wanted to build a new jail. I raise hell to my legislators and I harassed a judge running for office who came to my door asking for my vote.

I do agree with you that Sarah smoking pot is not an issue, generally, because as progressives, we want to overturn these laws. I personally find it a personal choice, the science notwithstanding.