I fell sorry for both if them. The family values right is exploiting these kids for their cause. Very sick.

I'm beginning to wonder if McCain or Palin made any recent trips to Hawaii. Remember guys, TIKI IS TABOO!

Or maybe if there is a God, he/she/it got disgusted with the GOP around the time of Terry Schiavo and has been giving them wrath ever since. Hmm.

Fair enough. So they found some other way to pressure him into this.

I'm sure it'll be a happy, happy marriage! Marry in haste, enjoy in leisure. Oh wait, that's not how it goes...

Hey maybe these teen can be the Poster children for Absteience only sex Ed.

The Democratic Party better be careful not to drive me away!

I hear from where you're coming but I'm voting for Barry Hussein no matter what "they" say!

Now:

How many small-town Alaskan hockey players does it take to screw in a light bulb?

RIFF!

So let me get this straight, this is a "private family matter" yet the GOP is flying this guy in to trot out as some sort of tribute to the deeply held family values of the right wing?

Yup, wouldn't want to pry or focus on the kids now, would you? This is deeply cynical.

And I'm sorry, while I respect whatever decisions that were made here once the pregnancy was discovered (as long as they didn't involve any "shotgun" coercion) -- unplanned teenage pregnancies are often tragedies on many levels. I think this is heading towards glorification and boy, *now* who's the celebrity?

Ridiculous.

As a psychologist, I am led to consider the possibility that the real father of Trig and the fetus are none other than Bristol's father. We have a 40-ish woman preoccupied with her career and an under stress; meanwhile, at home there is an available young woman. Why not consider that at the root of the series of cover-ups is violation of the most fundamental taboo.

Take that to Wasilla Family Court!

And needs no further reply. I don't think anyone has even suggested abuse in that family--well, except throwing them into a spotlight that is way too hot for them for your own ambition(and ruining their Labor Day weekend on top of it).

But what I do still wanna know is why the engagement was kept secret, when it would have pre-empted ALL of this. I know engagements are shameful things people often try to hide, but really...

BUT THAT'S JUST ICKY!

Look for Ryan Seacrest at the convention to try to sign up the Palin's for a new E! reality TV show.

I think Sara Palin is an embarrassment and total disaster but I feel sorry for her daughteg,did you notice that she never smiled? and look very unconfortable.I'll bet her mother has spent very little time with her children yet the GOP says they are the family party. By picking Palin McCain shows that he has very bad judgment and is unfit to be president.

How. How? How!

How can these people say "Respect Our Privacy Please!" and then trot these kids out like trophies?!?

While I find the trotting-out of this high school kid into the convention spotlights to be exploitative and deeply repulsive, something else I find deeply repulsive is the disdain and mockery being directed at him in this thread and elsewhere on Salon and the blogosphere. Redneck-bashing is a form of bigotry. Yes, I know he referred to himself that way. Lots of rural Americans so self-identify as a matter of pride in the lifestyle they lead. Lots of rural Americans play hockey, hunt, and ride snowmachines. Lots of *non*-rural Americans do those things, too. (Lots of American high schoolers, rural and non-rural, liberal and conservative, have poorly-written MySpace pages). Making recreational activities enjoyed by hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of ordinary Americans the subject of mockery is obnoxious. Moreover, "insult the voting populace" has never been a winning strategy. In a sane world, a guy like Levi Johnston (or at least, his family) should vote Democrat every time, as the Democratic party will best serve his interests, and the policies they implement are more likely to improve his life. Part of the reason he doesn't is because liberal Democrats like you all make fun of his lifestyle and the lifestyle of those just like him. This kind of mean-spirited, condescending, self-congratulatory (because the lettrists are just so much more enlightened, tolerant, and sophisticated than the stupid redneck bigots, see) obnoxiousness makes it easier for Republicans to paint Democrats as out-of-touch elitists. This *should* be a difficult case for them to make, as the Republicans are the party of big finance, big oil, and big industry in general. However, they have historically been successfuul in making the case, because of comments like the ones I've seen here. In other words, this kind nof derision helps out Republicans. Please stop it.

@Harry Cheddar: "some dedicated young liberal woman"?? I say some dedicated young conservative man would be a more fun bet. You want a real story, let's have one of the Republicans' senators or congressmen invite ol' Levi to be a page! yeeeeehaaawww!

They also planned to have a "really bitchin" prom night, and get "really loaded" in Cabo, and have "like a totally SICK post grad summer Vay-Cay." I can't beleive they are letting these poor kids get married. Who else thinks that the wedding will be called off as soon as they don't win the White House? This is the CRAZIEST shit I have EVER seen in my life.

C'mon this is the same group of people that are claiming that Palin is perfectly qualified to be the President "on Day 1" and Obama isn't.

But I agree, this is really over the top, even for them.

Close-ups of Levi should boost ratings, anyway. God knows I'd rather look at this kid's face than George Bush's.

I just hope there's plenty of napkins placed on the seats to wipe the drool off all those GOP closet queens. This kid is CUTE.