However, when one of those teenagers is the daughter of the Republican Party's candidate for Vice-President of the United States, that pregnancy does make news. Monday the campaign of Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin announced Palin's oldest daughter -- 17-year-old Bristol -- is pregnant and unmarried.
Just three days after being introduced to the country as McCain's running mate and parading her family out for all to see, Palin made the announcement adding her daughter will wed the father of her soon-to-be-born child. It should come as no surprise that the campaign did this at a time when Hurricane Gustav was setting its sights on New Orleans ... the first major test for that city since Hurricane Katrina devastated it in 2005.
The Republican campaign announced the news, stating it wanted to put an end to internet stories suggesting Palin's youngest son -- Trig, who was born in April -- was really the child of Bristol Palin. One can calculate the campaign was also hoping the hurricane would outweigh the pregnancy story in the news cycle. It didn't. Gustav got his attention, and so did Bristol's pregnancy.
Despite that, Bristol Palin was granted a degree of compassion. Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama was gracious is his statements. "Let me be as clear as possible: I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people's families are off limits, and people's children are especially off limits," he explained in an interview with ABC News in Michigan.
"I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories," he added.
McCain campaign officials claim Palin was upfront about Bristol's pregnancy during the vetting process, stating the official announcement is no surprise. Steve Schmidt, chief strategist for the Republican campaign, claims McCain calls the pregnancy "a private family matter."
The pro-life conservatives and evangelical Republican advocates are lining up in support of Bristol Palin's decision to keep the child and marry the father. In speaking of the pregnancy, Palin stated her daughter "has our unconditional love and support."
Palin can thank previous residents of the White House and Number One Observatory Circle for creating an environment where children of presidents and vice-presidents are off-limits.
If, in fact, Bristol Palin is now pregnant; and if, in fact, Trig is her brother and not her son, then this story should end. On the other hand, if the internet rumors prove to be correct, the story will continue. Nevertheless, the Palin family won't be the first family to protect a daughter and grandchild.
However, it is very hard to believe such a fact could have been kept from John McCain and his vetting committee ... meaning the "internet reports" are not to be confused with "news reports."
" ... and so this news junkie thinks!"
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