Rumors and Truth

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by bluecuracao

We're still talking about politicians, aren't we? Because looking hypocritical is a pretty big concern when running for office.

Yes, I meant abortion--and adoption, and the daughter raising her child as a single parent. I don't think adoption is available as a hypocrite-free option to the conservative politician.

I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to prove with your analogy. Are you saying that Palin is so pure in her beliefs, that she could never regret her decisions leading up to her daughter's situation? Are you equating birth control with murder?

I'm saying this is not the scandal that some people want it to be. She believes that teaching birth control methods in schools will encourage teens to have more sex, and she believes that abortion should be illegal. I happen to disagree with her on both points, but the fact remains that she is reacting to this situation in a manner completely in line with her belief system.

I'm saying I don't think she "secretly wishes" that she had encouraged her daughter to use birth control--and to suggest that she does implies that her daughter's pregnancy 'serves her right,' and that the only reason she is against birth control education is because she was too stubborn to imagine what it would be like to experience an unwanted pregnancy in her own family. I think it's patronizing, and like I said earlier, partisan to the point of cruelty.

My analogy was attempting to draw a comparison with some moral belief that I guessed you would feel strongly about, just as she feels strongly against abortion and birth control education. I don't know if she regrets her childrearing decisions or not, but I would say that her behavior certainly doesn't indicate a change of heart, so speculating about it beyond that is at best irrelevant and at worst haughty. When you say

However, as a liberal, the parent and his/her child are free to choose from a variety options to deal with the situation, without looking hypocritical.

you are saying that she is not "free to choose" a path that you believe is ethical, for the specific reason that she would appear hypocritical. I'm saying she has already chosen not to follow those paths because she believes them to be unethical, and for no other reason.

If her daughter had an abortion, everyone would be screaming that she was a hypocrite. Because her daughter is going to keep the baby, everyone is screaming... that she's still a hypocrite, but one who is so desperate not to appear hypocritical that she will take the genuine path? That sneaky, sneaky politician.