OK, so I detest everything Sarah Palin stands for (though she could park her snowmobile boots under my Tempurpedic anytime). Even I have limits to which I hold myself, however...and her 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy is, as far as I'm concerned, absolutely beyond the pale. There are certain topics that add nothing to, and have no place in, a Presidential campaign...especially one with so much at stake as this one. Yes, you can argue (and I certainly would) that Sarah Palin is about as qualified to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency as I am. You can argue that she supports thoroughly corrupt Republicans from Alaska (et tu, Ted Stevens??), despite her self-portrayal as a reformer and opponent of corruption. You can argue that she's a bald-faced liar. You can even argue that she lacks gravitas. Those, and so many other topics, go directly to the question of whether or not Sarah Palin- and by extension, John McCain- is qualified to land in the White House.
Palin's minor children, whatever their issues may be, are- and by any standard of decency must be- off limits. There is absolutely no purpose- none, whatsoever- that can be served by dragging the travails of a 17-year-old girl through the media meatgrinder. Yes, you can ridicule Palin and her husband for rank hypocrisy if you think it's germane to her qualification to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. A candidate's children, however, should be left alone, no matter how many newspapers you might be able to sell by disclosing all the lurid details you can ram into a story.
There are issues to be discussed...starting with Sarah Palin's status as John McCain's vanity VP. We can, and should, be debating Gov. Palin's lack of qualifications and credibility to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency and what her selection says about John McCain's frighteningly shallow decision-making process. The trials and tribulations of a 17-year-old girl have no place in this, or any other campaign. As Barack Obama made clear yesterday, families are off-limits. It's about the candidates...and with McCain/Palin, there are enough questions to keep us occupied throughout this campaign season.
