Abstaining from Bristol Palin

Being a politician is hard, but being a mom is more important. I think the problem is that mom spent so much time posing with the kids and telling others what is right for them and their kids that she didn't give her daughter the attention she needed. The kid was screaming out for attention.

Hey Jim I think Bristol Palin is right what she is doing beacause she is showing other teens what they should be doing when they have a baby they should put their child first

I THINK JIM IS CORRECT ON ALL LEVELS

Hey Jim I think Bristol Palin is right what she is doing beacause she is showing other teens what they should be doing when they have a baby they should put their child first

You are absolutely right.

And Candies is using her Mom's fame to promote their wares.

Anything to keep the name Palin in circulation.

I definitely agree. She is bringing the focus back to herself, yet she is trying to completely flip her view. If the Candie's foundation is so influential, why didn't Bristol listen to their advice as a "normal" teenager?

I definitely agree. She is bringing the focus back to herself, yet she is trying to completely flip her view. If the Candie's foundation is so influential, why didn't Bristol listen to their advice as a "normal" teenager?

Saving mommy's precious image- exactly what I was thinking as I watched Bristol speak. Shameful.

Come on Jim, everyone knows you are a big liberal.
Is it really necessary to pile on a confused 17-year old just because you want to score a pre-emptive take down against Sarah Palin. Palin already lost the election. Your messiah Obama won. When will you be happy? Would you be comfortable if people attacked your teenage son and attributed his behavior to your career ambitions?

Teenagers need birth control!

She's running for Republicans ticket agenda, That's what she is doing.Sad!

Amen brother. I guess given the choice she still makes poor decision.

Finally Jim is making sense.

I completely agree with you. I just hope that the rest of America sees this also as a political stunt to promote Sarah Palin's future. Bristol needs therapy, she is also hitting all the talk shows to combat what Levi Johnston exposed as well. Great job Jim...you call them how you see them.

Dear Jim,

I couldn't agree with you more! I believe she is "spokesperson" only because of who her mother is. If she was my daughter, she would not be offered that role.
I have a 26 year old daughter serving in the Navy since her graduation from high school. Having been divorced from her dad, I stressed to my daughter the importance of self respect and caring for her body, besides her reputation. Thank God my chats with her worked and she remained untouched until the birth of her son this past New Years Day.
I truly believe it's what we practice as parents that will leave a lasting and positvie affect on our children.
I am anti-abortion so I believe that if a teen does become sexually active, use birth control and protect themselves from disease. Of course abstinence is the only way to be safe.

I watch you and Kaity every evening because your broadcast is phenomenal. You tell the stories with heart and honesty.
Thank you for that!

Best Regards,
Kathie O'Brien

Bristol is clearly being "punished" for having caused potential damage to her mom's political future. What teenager would willingly put themselves out there regarding that particular topic! I'm pretty sure she didn't have a say in the matter. Major guilt trip was used. "The family is taking care of your baby, now you do your part and help mom get back her image. The whole teenage pregnancy bit, the arrest of the baby's grandma...we need to right your wrongs, now go on the abstinence tour...or no moose steak for you!"

Why her? Is it because her mother is Sarah Palin? Bristol has no clue how hard life is as a teenage mother. She has a silver spoon handed to her and she will never truly feel the effect of being a teenage mother. She needs to take herself back to Alaska and stop being a poster child for her mother. Shame on you Sarah Palin if this is your idea. I hope you get some sense knocked into you and your daughter.

Hi Jim,

Teen parents aren't so good because you can't just act like kids. Instead of you are a parent.

Sarah Palin said that her daughter is good role model because she knows what do for being a good mom. I'm happy for Bristol for being a great mother.

If she want to have a 2nd baby wait until she's about 25 or 30 years old.

Have a good day!!

Brett :)

Hi Jim,

Teen parents aren't so good because you can't just act like kids. Instead of you are a parent.

Sarah Palin said that her daughter is good role model because she knows what do for being a good mom. I'm happy for Bristol for being a great mother.

If she want to have a 2nd baby wait until she's about 25 or 30 years old.

Have a good day!!

Brett :)

Hi Jim,

Teen parents aren't so good because you can't just act like kids. Instead of you are a parent.

Sarah Palin said that her daughter is good role model because she knows what do for being a good mom. I'm happy for Bristol for being a great mother.

If she want to have a 2nd baby wait until she's about 25 or 30 years old.

Have a good day!!

Brett :)

Right on Jim. You took the words right out of my mouth!

Hi Jim,

Teen parents aren't so good because you can't just act like kids. Instead of you are a parent.

Sarah Palin said that her daughter is good role model because she knows what do for being a good mom. I'm happy for Bristol for being a great mother.

If she want to have a 2nd baby wait until she's about 25 or 30 years old.

Have a good day!!

Brett :)

I agree...what a crock! She has some nerve!

I agree with jim! I had my child at 18 and i made the same comments bristol made. Now, i am 24 and living in a shelter, working and going to college. I just recently registered the fact that i put HER life at stake.
I'm just saying, when your mom is a gov., and you already did the deed but arent paying the price (financially), you don't have a clue!!!!

I think Bristol Palin has every right to speak out. Just because her mother is a politician does not take away Bristol's rights. In fact, she probably is a good spokesperson. Teenagers tend to listen to their peers. She is living the life of a teenage mother and that is not easy - even with the strong family ties she has. I think the media is still trying to find a way to belittle Sarah Palin and they are now doing it through her daughter. Anyone who has children should know that we as parents are not always responsible for the actions and words of our children especially during the teen years. The media continues to try and make this family look like a family in constant crises when in fact I believe they represent the typical family - where there is always something going on. I wish them well and hope they have the strength to overcome the bias in the media.

You're 100% spot on Jim! Bristol Palin's re-appearance onto the red carpet as a moral compass for abstinence is nothing more than Sarah's effort to protect HER future, NOT her daughter. Although, in a way, I hope this stunt of hers will work to get the 2012 nod towards the presidential candidacy. Two reasons...1) if you think Obama won in a landslide against John McCain last time, you haven’t seen anything yet....and (2) I get to watch new episodes of SNL with Tina Fey as "Sarah Palin." Yeah!

I agree 100 percent Mr. Watkins. A total hypocrite. It is ludicrous. As a teen who got pregnant trust me. Abstinence is just not going to work. It is irresponsible at best not to encourage birth control, especially condems which will also save lives. Thank you

I couldn't agree more. Bristol needs to come to terms with the fact that she needs experience coupled with maturity that will usher her into adulthood. Bonding with her child, while trying to finish High school should be her priority. How can she be educating others about a mistake that she is still transitioning from? This is premature, and utterly ridiculous. The motive is ultra transparent! The Palin family is just trying too hard too soon. Bristol dear, its sad that you are actually still being raised, while raising a child, however since the child is already here, please focus on your "should be" priority; finishing high school, and raising the mini-Palin. Focus girl!

I have to agree, she is still a child herself and children say things that they later don't mean/regret. Basically saying that if given the chance she would do it all over again, that's saying even after everything she has "learned" and gone through in the less than one year of motherhood that she would NOT want to have her baby.
Most teen mothers when asked this question would say they would have thought twice about having unprotected sex but that they would never want to redo having their baby. Bristol Palin is suggesting that she does not want her child. Where was her child while she was doing all these talks, interviews, press conferences, red carpets? Teen mothers that are ambassadors for the abstinence carry their child with them all the time to add the visual affect of what having a baby means.
She was saying that when your a mother you don't have time to do anything because the baby comes first is a flat out lie. There are plenty of women out there that go out to the movies, can have their hair done, do everything that she said she herself can not do since becoming a mother. It's called time management and babysitting. Every mother can find time to do the things they need to do. BTW her hair and make up looked fabulous, sounds like she's found the time to get up early for the hair and make up artist to do that.
I just think it's stupid how when Sarah Palin was the VP candidate the happy couple was together and were going to get married, now that she's no longer VP they broke up. There is no need for him to be out in the media since they didn't win. I agree with the Ex-Boyfriend, birth control and condoms are the best bet against the unwanted teen pregnancy. I'm sorry but abstinence has not worked in the past and I highly doubt it will work in the future.

The age old fraise every teenage parent uses after they give birth and think their a parent. "If I could do it all over again, I have no friends, I can't go anywhere, blah, blah blah" Oh give me a break. If I had a nickel. . I'd be as rich as Madoff or as he use to be...and now become an "Ambassador of Abstinence". I couldn't be LOL any louder. .
Uh, hello its just like a gunman shooting up a crowd, and then wants to become a spokesperson against gun violence because his relative got shot.

I think Bristol should be a role model but not for abstinence. I think it's too soon for her to be preaching to the world about such topic. Her maturity level, her age and the time that has passed after executing the decisions she has taken is not long of enough time that would shape the mind of someone who is "stable" to say the proper words and to be taken seriously.

She spoke about not wanting to talk about her "personal life". This cracks me up cause one of the main reasons she was chosen to be an "ambassador" was because anything coming out of her mouth in regards to abstinence is going to stem from her personal life.

You lead by example... even after you made a mistake. REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE!

I'd rather play it safe, and if I were to be the one making the executive decision I wouldn't have her as a role model for this type of campaign. Maybe 5 or 10 years from now but I think it's too soon for most to take her seriously.

Amazing that anyone would even disagree with you Jim. The reasons behind this "appointment" are so obvious, that anyone that doesn't agree with you, is either really dumb, or still drinking the hockey mom kool aid! I don't blame Bristol, however. She's obviously not a bright kid (like mother like daughter) and is being TOLD that this is the right thing to do. There are definite issues with her upbringing.

"Why her? Is it because her mother is Sarah Palin?"
It is obvious, I can't think of another reason besides her last name is Palin.
People just like to bash anyone who's last name is Palin, whether it is Sarah or Bristol.
"Abstinence is just not going to work. It is irresponsible at best not to encourage birth control, especially condems which will also save lives. Thank you"
Help me here for a minute. How can you get pregnant when you are not having sex? I can't believe many people can't understand (or refuse to understand) this simple logic. Don't want unwanted pregnancy? Don't have sex!! Is it really that hard to figure out???
Birth control is for those genius who still think that "when the boys will be boys, they are going to do it anyway, we may as well as give them protection..."
No matter this country is screw up when there are so many geniuses out there...

You are absolutely right, teenagers do not respond to "do as I say, not as I do" and no teen mother should be the spokesperson for prevention. This country has failed miserably in efforts to prevent teen pregnancy because we allow ourselves to believe that it's a mistake. Most teenagers do not get pregnant by accident. For the poor or those with limited opportunities, it is a way to define oneself (a major task of adolescence) and a wish for loving connections or a better family life. The new phenomenon of these middle/upper class teens demonstrates the influence of an over-sexualized, media addicted society that has replaced the family values and sense of elf worth, and it's the parents who are responsible for this, not the kids. Fact is most babies born to teen mothers are at high risk for everything from a life of poverty, school drop out and adult incarceration. Intervention requires tremendous and time consuming support for young mothers. Where are the anti-abortionist when these babies go without diapers and milk? Sarah Palin has lot to learn before she sends her messages into the real world of teens and their babies.

You are absolutely right, teenagers do not respond to "do as I say, not as I do" and no teen mother should be the spokesperson for prevention. This country has failed miserably in efforts to prevent teen pregnancy because we allow ourselves to believe that it's a mistake. Most teenagers do not get pregnant by accident. For the poor or those with limited opportunities, it is a way to define oneself (a major task of adolescence) and a wish for loving connections or a better family life. The new phenomenon of these middle/upper class teens demonstrates the influence of an over-sexualized, media addicted society that has replaced the family values and sense of elf worth, and it's the parents who are responsible for this, not the kids. Fact is most babies born to teen mothers are at high risk for everything from a life of poverty, school drop out and adult incarceration. Intervention requires tremendous and time consuming support for young mothers. Where are the anti-abortionist when these babies go without diapers and milk? Sarah Palin has lot to learn before she sends her messages into the real world of teens and their babies.

I agree with John P. Zeen!
Where does it end Jim?? You are actually taking a shot at Sarah Palin for wanting to run in an election that is still four years away! C'mon! I'm not saying Democrat or Republican, but if what you say is true and they are just using Bristol to make Sarah Palin look good aren't you doing the same? You created this blog to attack what Bristol is doing in order to make Sarah Palin look bad. Sad what "journalism" has come down to...

Oh please when u want attention and u don't know how to get it u talk with ur parents u dye ur hair purple or blast music these are the things normal teens do they don't get pregnant. And go around embarrasing themselfs and her family by contredicting herself all over nacional tv she was having sex unprotected got pregnant had her baby and now is a teen mom she is not convincing anyone that she is the embassador for abstenance she is just getting the nacions disaprovel and this is the daughter of the women who would possibly run our country is this the best we could do i thank god for democrates

"I’m busy, and don’t have time to list every inconsistency and hypocrisy to be found in this story."

Inconsistency and hypocrisy???
I love your anchoring work Jim, but I start to think you may be a liberal. In term of inconsistency and hypocrisy, liberals got WAY more of them, just the medias are silence about it.
And when Palin, and now Bristol, or any conservatives made some slight moves, then you people will right away put them under microscope and can't wait to mock and bash them like crazy.
Is this what people call balance report?
There is a reason why more and more people go to Fox or the internet for news. They are TIRED for the liberal media's bias report. Fox may not be conservative, but at least their reports are the most balanced. And that's why people often bash Fox as conservative, even "Bush's media" when Bush was the President.

Oh please when u want attention and u don't know how to get it u talk with ur parents u dye ur hair purple or blast music these are the things normal teens do they don't get pregnant. And go around embarrasing themselfs and her family by contredicting herself all over nacional tv she was having sex unprotected got pregnant had her baby and now is a teen mom she is not convincing anyone that she is the embassador for abstenance she is just getting the nacions disaprovel and this is the daughter of the women who would possibly run our country is this the best we could do i thank god for democrates

Sarah Palin is promoting her political career by trotting out daughter Bristol Palin in the same way Jim Watkins promotes his journalism career by trotting out his autistic son.

Leave children alone, Jim. Bristol is 17. You should show some maturity and leave your liberal venom to attacking adults.

I applaud Bristol Palin for speaking out and saying I made a mistake. However her being a spokesperson for abstinence is ridiculous. Im a couple months older than Bristol and have two teenager siblings and she's not someone I would want my younger sisters watching. The choice to be abstinent would come across stronger if the spokesperson was someone who was actually living it. Sex is everywhere today and for a teenage mother to go on record as being for teen abstinence is pretty hypocritical.

I applaud Bristol Palin for speaking out and saying I made a mistake. However her being a spokesperson for abstinence is ridiculous. Im a couple months older than Bristol and have two teenage siblings and she's not someone I would want my younger sisters watching. The choice to be abstinent would come across stronger if the spokesperson was someone who was actually living it. Sex is everywhere today and for a teenage mother to go on record as being for teen abstinence is pretty hypocritical.

I applaud Bristol Palin for speaking out and saying I made a mistake. However her being a spokesperson for abstinence is ridiculous. Im a couple months older than Bristol and have two teenage siblings and she's not someone I would want my younger sisters watching. The choice to be abstinent would come across stronger if the spokesperson was someone who was actually living it. Sex is everywhere today and for a teenage mother to go on record as being for teen abstinence is pretty hypocritical.

I applaud Bristol Palin for speaking out and saying I made a mistake. However her being a spokesperson for abstinence is ridiculous. Im a couple months older than Bristol and have two teenage siblings and she's not someone I would want my younger sisters watching. The choice to be abstinent would come across stronger if the spokesperson was someone who was actually living it. Sex is everywhere today and for a teenage mother to go on record as being for teen abstinence is pretty hypocritical.

I applaud Bristol Palin for speaking out and saying I made a mistake. However her being a spokesperson for abstinence is ridiculous. Im a couple months older than Bristol and have two teenage siblings and she's not someone I would want my younger sisters watching. The choice to be abstinent would come across stronger if the spokesperson was someone who was actually living it. Sex is everywhere today and for a teenage mother to go on record as being for teen abstinence is pretty hypocritical.

Bravo...... Bristol Palin is living up to her responsibility daily as a teenage mother. She has learned the hard way that females seek love and a monogamous relationship.
Where is the boy's responsibility in all of this? He has gone on with his life. He is preaching birth control so he can continue to sleep around from girl to girt breaking more hearts.
Abstainance and respecting your body should always be the priority. I will pray for her to meet up to these expectations and someday meet a young man who will appreciate her choices.

Bravo...... Bristol Palin is living up to her responsibility daily as a teenage mother. She has learned the hard way that females seek love and a monogamous relationship.
Where is the boy's responsibility in all of this? He has gone on with his life. He is preaching birth control so he can continue to sleep around from girl to girt breaking more hearts.
Abstainance and respecting your body should always be the priority. I will pray for her to meet up to these expectations and someday meet a young man who will appreciate her choices.

Bravo...... Bristol Palin is living up to her responsibility daily as a teenage mother. She has learned the hard way that females seek love and a monogamous relationship.
Where is the boy's responsibility in all of this? He has gone on with his life. He is preaching birth control so he can continue to sleep around from girl to girt breaking more hearts.
Abstainance and respecting your body should always be the priority. I will pray for her to meet up to these expectations and someday meet a young man who will appreciate her choices.

Bravo...... Bristol Palin is living up to her responsibility daily as a teenage mother. She has learned the hard way that females seek love and a monogamous relationship.
Where is the boy's responsibility in all of this? He has gone on with his life. He is preaching birth control so he can continue to sleep around from girl to girt breaking more hearts.
Abstainance and respecting your body should always be the priority. I will pray for her to meet up to these expectations and someday meet a young man who will appreciate her choices.

I think from now on I need to abstain from Jim Watkins and his liberal views...

I just wanted to comment on that Bristol Palin has no right to speak about teenage abstinence telling other teens what to do. She knew the consequences that she was getting into when she was with her baby's father. A lot of young teens have sex, because its a natural humanistic thing to do. A lot of them know and are very aware or how to protect themselves. She seems like a hypocrite. Your a mother now worry about your child, you did something that what your going to regret, your decision to have sex was yours why should the world have to hear about it and then have her as advocate for teenage abstinence. That's what i don't understand. She took a risk that has changed her life hey you don't have friends well maybe the people she calls friends aren't good ones. She can go to school so that is no damn excuse. She can still be someone if she wants to. There are a lot of teenage single parents out their who have it harder than she does, who made her someone to speak out for others or to even give advice. Bravo... Bristol live up to your responsibilities change diapers read a psychology text book become a better person.

P.s. Bristol came out because shes in denial she didn't make a mistake she made a choice. And for the baby's father, what else would you expect him to say look at what hes putting Bristol through she has no friends and no eduction etc....All jokes aside Bristol needs to rethink what she has to tell the public about her personal and maybe then she can be a better spokesperson for teens.

Thank You and Good night

Maybe she should consider talking about WHY teenagers have sex,,,(Low self-esteem, looking foe attention,etc), and not what happens after. Everyone knows about babies and STD's. Perhaps it's time to empower girls and make them feel that their sexuality is in their hands and they don't have to have sex to feel sexy or loved. Abstinence does not work, for example, Bristol Palin. I would like to know why abstinence didn't work for her and then can an intelligent conversation about this begin.

Mrs. Paylin's daughter should not be a spokes person for teens to stay away from sex.
I really do not feel that even though she IS a teen mom, she is not the right type person to speak up as any role model. Her life appears to be pretty much a spoiled privleged young lady. One that has not really overcome true trials and tribulations. She does not look hungry, tired, ( as new moms look ), and she has family to support her in her endevers. I would love to see a young lady that had to overcome some adversity in her life. Let the viewers know that what comes out of her mouth truly is spoken from the heart. A young person who had to figure out the rough times and have beaten the old adaledge, that you are no good, and you will never will become anything/anybody. That is more beleveable to teens, some one that most kids could identify with. Who today, moreover, what walks in Palin's shoes.

God Bless and Goodnight

ok !!! So I spelled a few words wrong.

Good night

Mr. Watkins,
So is your argument actually against the Palin agenda, or a shoe company?? I mean seems to me you have some pretty strong opinions about women wearing "come get me" shoes too. That IS what you meant by "racy" shoes, correct?
I'm busy, and I don't have time to list every single assumption that you've so loosely thrown out in this particular blog, but here are a few: For all we know, Bristol's all-too-sudden, as you say, change of heart is due to the ASSUMPTION that she's actually practicing abstinence! Shocker, people learn, change and grow from their experiences! After all, the baby's father is no longer with Bristol. But no, according to you since she's already had sex, gotten pregnant, HAD the baby and now is big enough to admit all this on national television, there's no going back. No second chances, right? Well that's funny, because being a liberal means always giving second chances...and thirds...and fourths (if the jury doesn't lean their way)..."I demand a recount!" COMICAL.
Are you really that desperate that you have to take a jab at Britney Spears? Stay focused Jim.
You can only hate on one celebrity at a time, doesn't matter if they're in different categories.
And why SHOULDN'T that be Candies' slogan?? Now women can't be sexy and baby-less? Hm, guess I should get pregnant soon, especially since my closet is just full of sex shoes, lol.
And are you actually trying to make the argument that Bristol HASN'T processed all that's happened to her in the past 9 months? I think it would be safe to say that she has, seeing as how she was there. I'm sorry if you simply can't fathom making a mistake and then realizing it and doing something about it within a year's time, but it does happen. Let's give Bristol the benefit of the doubt and say that the second she found out she was pregnant, she knew she was in for some life-changing experiences.
Do YOU have the wisdom and experience of being a teenage mother in the public eye? You DO! Wow you've got some good make-up artists.
Why wasn't she in school? Ever heard of home-schooling, Jim? That's like asking why Miley Cyrus isn't in school. Every mother needs a break to do their own thing in their own way. It's not like she popped her kid out and ran away to do some promotion, for all we know she's been with her baby every day since it was born up to that point.
It was a nice touch playing both sides of the fence, by the way. But any intelligent person would see right through that facade and laugh, because by playing both sides, you proved that what she's doing really isn't as bad as you wish it was, and the fact that the only reason you're hating on this girl trying to turn her life around is to take yet another jab at Sarah Palin.
Any way you try and twist this story, it can't go bad. If what you said about the hidden agenda really is what's going on, then all the power to the Palin's, smart move on their part keeping their name in the game. "Any press is good press." Smart move for Bristol, she's finding a way to support herself and her family, AND the preaching is coming from one who knows the experience best...her.

p.s. Shout out to John P. Zeen, for beating me to the punch.

Jim, I agree with you. Bristol Palin has a distorted view of "having a baby". She belongs home with her child, not on telvision preaching to anyone. Many young women in her circumstances, live at home, take care of the baby and complete their education. Most are forced to work. Bringing a child into the world because she is opposed to abortion does not make her a mother. It does seem to have made her alot LIKE her own mother. I have quite enough of the whole family. Regards, Like your show and everybody on it.

Anna

Jim, I agree with you. Bristol Palin has a distorted view of "having a baby". She belongs home with her child, not on telvision preaching to anyone. Many young women in her circumstances, live at home, take care of the baby and complete their education. Most are forced to work. Bringing a child into the world because she is opposed to abortion does not make her a mother. It does seem to have made her alot LIKE her own mother. I have quite enough of the whole family. Regards, Like your show and everybody on it.

Anna

I honestly have to disagree with, Bristol Palin speaking out against teen sex. Just like her mother, she is wrong for the job. I feel like sex is every where and no teen is going to listen to her. Most teens get their info and guidance from watching TV. How many shows on regular TV show teenagers having sex? ALOT! I just think that Bristol speaking out is an insult to the intelligence of our youth. They already know that not using a condom will get you, HIV, STDS, and or a baby. Her speaking out after the fact will change nothing. She is just up there with a hidden agenda and that is a public apology to the "disgrace" she caused her family. I don't believe that having a baby is a disgrace because a baby is a sign that the world should go on, but that is just me. When is giving birth to human life ever a mistake? Yes, I know age is factor, but so is finances. There are many adults out there who are old enough to have children and can't because they can't afford to. That’s just my take. Now back to Bristol. Its sad for her because she is no longer with her boyfriend, she should be speaking out about that instead of telling teens how difficult it is to raise a child. We know that already. Its almost laughable to see her speaking out at all these media events. Where is her child during all of this? Why doesn't she just stay home and raise her child like a mother should be doing instead of being the poster child for not having sex. How old is she anyway? I think 17, 18, 19? How many woman in the past already had children at this age? I know my grandma had two kids by the time she was 20. So, what’s the effective message here? Who is she trying to speak to? I feel that a girl here age is at a better advantage to getting her life together if she has a child at a younger age because she has more time to think about what is important. Look at the teenagers now. They drink and do drugs, go to college and then graduate without out a clue as to what to do with their lives. Having a child at a young age does not ruin your chances of having a life. This could motivate you to do better for yourself and your child. Of course this will not be the case for everyone, but if a girl has good guidance and a good partner, she should be ok. In Bristol's case she is well off and has lots of people to make sure she will be ok. So, how does her speaking to the rest of us help? She is not affected by the same troubles as most teens. Just like Jamie Lynn Spears who has more money and fame to help her along. Lets not turn our backs on girls who get pregnant at a young age. Lets show them that everything will be ok if they take on the responsibility of having a child. Being older does not make you more responsible. I'm in my late 20's and I have no children. I have friends who are also in their late 20' and had children at a young age. Yes, they struggled, but now they are smarter and on the right track. Speaking to teens about not having sex will not do a thing. As humans we are programmed to create life. Bristol's story is not scary enough to make a teenage girls or boys stop and think. Just pass out the condoms like they are candy because that does not promote sex like most idiots think. I remember when I first had sex and I was so glad that I had that condom that my health teacher gave me in my wallet. To tell you the truth, at the moment, if i didn't have a condom, I would have had sex anyway. Give it up to hormones and the whole love thing! I'm not promoting teen sex in any way because I already know that they are out there doing it. Its up to the parents to do their job and talk to their kids about sex. That has been the message all along. Keep a box of condoms in your bathroom for your kids to see. Just like you would keep a box of tampons in the bathroom, just in case she needs one. Do the same for condoms. Let the kids know that you know even if you don't know. You would do it for a drug test, which parents should be more concerned about, now do it for condoms. You could also print out pictures of what certain STDS look like and show your teen. I think that would be more scarier than, Bristol with all her pampered perfection starring back from a screen that no teen is watching anyway. Enough said!

I honestly have to disagree with, Bristol Palin speaking out against teen sex. Just like her mother, she is wrong for the job. I feel like sex is every where and no teen is going to listen to her. Most teens get their info and guidance from watching TV. How many shows on regular TV show teenagers having sex? ALOT! I just think that Bristol speaking out is an insult to the intelligence of our youth. They already know that not using a condom will get you, HIV, STDS, and or a baby. Her speaking out after the fact will change nothing. She is just up there with a hidden agenda and that is a public apology to the "disgrace" she caused her family. I don't believe that having a baby is a disgrace because a baby is a sign that the world should go on, but that is just me. When is giving birth to human life ever a mistake? Yes, I know age is factor, but so is finances. There are many adults out there who are old enough to have children and can't because they can't afford to. That’s just my take. Now back to Bristol. Its sad for her because she is no longer with her boyfriend, she should be speaking out about that instead of telling teens how difficult it is to raise a child. We know that already. Its almost laughable to see her speaking out at all these media events. Where is her child during all of this? Why doesn't she just stay home and raise her child like a mother should be doing instead of being the poster child for not having sex. How old is she anyway? I think 17, 18, 19? How many woman in the past already had children at this age? I know my grandma had two kids by the time she was 20. So, what’s the effective message here? Who is she trying to speak to? I feel that a girl here age is at a better advantage to getting her life together if she has a child at a younger age because she has more time to think about what is important. Look at the teenagers now. They drink and do drugs, go to college and then graduate without out a clue as to what to do with their lives. Having a child at a young age does not ruin your chances of having a life. This could motivate you to do better for yourself and your child. Of course this will not be the case for everyone, but if a girl has good guidance and a good partner, she should be ok. In Bristol's case she is well off and has lots of people to make sure she will be ok. So, how does her speaking to the rest of us help? She is not affected by the same troubles as most teens. Just like Jamie Lynn Spears who has more money and fame to help her along. Lets not turn our backs on girls who get pregnant at a young age. Lets show them that everything will be ok if they take on the responsibility of having a child. Being older does not make you more responsible. I'm in my late 20's and I have no children. I have friends who are also in their late 20' and had children at a young age. Yes, they struggled, but now they are smarter and on the right track. Speaking to teens about not having sex will not do a thing. As humans we are programmed to create life. Bristol's story is not scary enough to make a teenage girls or boys stop and think. Just pass out the condoms like they are candy because that does not promote sex like most idiots think. I remember when I first had sex and I was so glad that I had that condom that my health teacher gave me in my wallet. To tell you the truth, at the moment, if i didn't have a condom, I would have had sex anyway. Give it up to hormones and the whole love thing! I'm not promoting teen sex in any way because I already know that they are out there doing it. Its up to the parents to do their job and talk to their kids about sex. That has been the message all along. Keep a box of condoms in your bathroom for your kids to see. Just like you would keep a box of tampons in the bathroom, just in case she needs one. Do the same for condoms. Let the kids know that you know even if you don't know. You would do it for a drug test, which parents should be more concerned about, now do it for condoms. You could also print out pictures of what certain STDS look like and show your teen. I think that would be more scarier than, Bristol with all her pampered perfection starring back from a screen that no teen is watching anyway. Enough said!

I TOTALLY AGREE.

Why can't she realize that she made an error in judgement? At least she is being honest and saying that she should have waited. Is it realistic? Probably not. Everyone seems to think that President Obama was entitled to have people look the other way when he sat among a white race hating preacher. I guess there is a double standard.

Tired, tell me about it, it has longggggggggggg been a super double standard ever since Obama got the presidential seat.
Apparently Obama is not only a president, he is also a saint, who cannot be touched, not even used in humor. Otherwise the race card will be used (actually abused) like crazy, that the one who made fun of Obama WILL BE bashed as racist when the issue itself often has nothing to do with race.
On the other hand, other conservatives who made the slights move with be bashed and mocked like crazy, and the liberal medias will be ALL OVER it.

by the way, a tips for some others who posted long messages wanted to make points.
If I were you, I would post a much shorter message (at least cut in half), and use paragraphs, otherwise no one would bother to read. I mean, would you read the same whole bunch of words with no paragraphs? I don't think so. So you probably wasted your effort.
Try to write like this in a college paper, and I can guarantee you some not to nice professors will fail the paper without reading it - it is unreadable.

Jim, just watched your response in TV about this.
yeah, touche, right? If Palin did indeed use her daughter for her purpose, you did the very same with your son.
And I still remember when someone made fun of your son, you went outraged and blasted at that guy. I don't condone that guy's words, but are you a bit double standard in this as well?
I doubt you are a liberal because you said there are hypocrisies in this story. Yeah, there are 10 times more hypocrisy from the liberals, yet people are silence about it, another double standard.

Jim:

Your position lacks logic on the basic issue of a person who made the mistake being in the position to warn others about making the same mistake---of course they are in the BEST position to warn others.

In fact, your news show ran a anti-smoking ad tonight featuring a woman who lost fingers because she smoked and it was very effective. Would you suggest they feature a non-smoker?

Do you think alcoholics would listen to a lecture by someone who never had a drinking problem?

The problem is that you and your viewers did
not consider the logic but only the possible motivations that you simply choose to interject---your subjective interpretations based on your own bias.

Of course, this being New York, it is clear where the bias will
lead.

Jim:

Your position lacks logic on the basic issue of a person who made the mistake being in the position to warn others about making the same mistake---of course they are in the BEST position to warn others.

In fact, your news show ran a anti-smoking ad tonight featuring a woman who lost fingers because she smoked and it was very effective. Would you suggest they feature a non-smoker?

Do you think alcoholics would listen to a lecture by someone who never had a drinking problem?

The problem is that you and your viewers did
not consider the logic but only the possible motivations that you simply choose to interject---your subjective interpretations based on your own bias.

Of course, this being New York, it is clear where the bias will
lead.

Difference is: Austism ISN'T a choice.

"Sarah Palin is promoting her political career by trotting out daughter Bristol Palin in the same way Jim Watkins promotes his journalism career by trotting out his autistic son.

Leave children alone, Jim. Bristol is 17. You should show some maturity and leave your liberal venom to attacking adults."

Difference is: Autism ISN'T a choice.

"Sarah Palin is promoting her political career by trotting out daughter Bristol Palin in the same way Jim Watkins promotes his journalism career by trotting out his autistic son.

Leave children alone, Jim. Bristol is 17. You should show some maturity and leave your liberal venom to attacking adults."

I think this blog and responses are really interesting and rather telling. You usually do not get this many comments or such volume to your blogs. The name, Palin, really strikes a nerve. It really doesn't matter whether the first name is Sarah or Bristol, opinions abound. None of you have first hand knowledge of this situation but you all know what is behind the behavior and you all offer judgement. One thing that is certain, Sarah Palin has made a major impact on this nation. She has been uniquely honest and up front about her family and her beliefs and she gets shelled, but other public females such as Hillery Clinton can look the public straight in the eye and lie through her teeth numerous times, flip flop on major issues, and get caught at it but she is revered. What ever happend to knowing all sides before passing judgement or condemnation.

Amazing how the Dems and libs now have total control of the instruments of government but still feel threatened by - of all people - Sarah Palin!! So much so that even her teenage daughter becomes fair game for their attack dogs. Meanwhile we continue to hear Nancy Pelosi lying pathologically about torture, with no rebuke from those same pitbulls.

So many magnificent postings have been offered citing the hypocrisy of the liberal media in general and Mr. Watkins in particular. I can't improve upon KC's reference to the radio autism critic or Casey's reminder of Hillary Clinton's whopper trail or Ken's mention of anti-smoking ads or John P. Zeen's great early post. So I wasn't going to weigh in. But Jim - you'll have to (or you should) come out of hiding and answer directly to these reactions which observe a liberal hypocrisy that filters through this blog, one which you chose.

I for one do not believe that Gov. Palin is concerned about 2012. She and other top contenders will probably write off that election to a massive enrollment surge that will guarantee Obama's second term. In particular, the entire current high school population will be mobilized to get him 12-15 million new votes. In 2016, Bristol Palin will be tending to her little second-grader while her still youthful mom (52) will give Hillary all she can handle - PLUS MORE. Obama's pledge to Hillary that he will clear the field for her in '16 will assure her the nomination, and only that.

Jim, I think you nailed this one. That kid is under tremendous pressure from mom. I think that in 10 to 20 years we'll be reading the tell-all book. Mother, BTW, seems to be intellectually dishonest. I think she torpedoed what slim chance the Republicans had in 2008. Cheers, Ted.

Pretty dopey point of view Mr Watkins.

@ken - Nice display of common sense, people who have experienced making such mistakes are usually the best at helping/warning others from making the same mistakes.

Good thing for you, Mr Watkins, Kaity Tong continues to keep up whatever ratings you have.

"One thing that is certain, Sarah Palin has made a major impact on this nation. She has been uniquely honest and up front about her family and her beliefs and she gets shelled, but other public females such as Hillery Clinton can look the public straight in the eye and lie through her teeth numerous times, flip flop on major issues, and get caught at it but she is revered. What ever happend to knowing all sides before passing judgement or condemnation."

Yup, Sarah Palin is a good lady, a rarely good one in political area, honest about her family and her beliefs, and ironically this is exactly the reason the liberals hated her guts and bashed her like crazy in the election time, and many (willing) ignorant voters believe in the liberal lies.
Apparently people don't judge based on right or wrong anymore, they judge based on what the liberal medias told them, and take it as is.

KC You are dead on. I have done my own research on the Palin Family And Sarah herself. I see a very classy American Family Grounded In American Traditional Values.
Sarah has a very bright future and I'm certain her daughter Bristol will be a very fine woman.
I have heard some ignorant people say that Sarah doesn't deserve a book deal. Hey This is America. If a major Publisher thinks a Book from Sarah would be great why would liberal mental midgets wish her to be denied.
Wake up and at least respect her. You don't have to agree and or vote for her but you should respect her.