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Bristol as a Role Model? You Must Be Kidding

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 7, 2009 9:14 AM CDT
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(Newser) – When the Candie’s teen fashion line came under fire for dressing high school girls like hookers, it formed a nonprofit to fight teen pregnancy. And when the foundation needed a “teen ambassador,” it called Bristol Palin. “Can I say upfront that this is a terrible, terrible idea?” writes Gail Collins of the New York Times. “Surely when it comes to combating teen pregnancy, the Palin family has done enough damage already.”

Didn’t the Republican convention already send the worst possible teen pregnancy message? “If your handsome but somewhat thuglike boyfriend gets you with child, he will clean up nicely, propose marriage, and you will get a standing ovation.” But there Bristol was yesterday, preaching abstinence and bemoaning her maternal workload. Writes Collins: “It’s hard not to suspect that for her, being the anti-pregnancy ambassador is just a good excuse to get out of Wasilla.”

Hayden Panettiere, Matt Garza, and Bristol Palin pose for photographers during an event to promote National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Day yesterday in New York.
Hayden Panettiere, Matt Garza, and Bristol Palin pose for photographers during an event to promote National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Day yesterday in New York.   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
In this Sept. 3, 2008 file photo shows Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
In this Sept. 3, 2008 file photo shows Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, file)
In this Sept. 3, 2008 file photo, Bristol Palin, daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and her then-boyfriend Levi Johnston are seen at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
In this Sept. 3, 2008 file photo, Bristol Palin, daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and her then-boyfriend Levi Johnston are seen at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
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Palin is not in any way to be confused with the new Candie’s brand spokesperson, Britney Spears. Bristol is the one endorsing abstinence; Britney is the one promoting “hot bottoms.” - Gail Collins

Perhaps in the best of all possible worlds we would not have 12-year-olds dressing as if they were auditioning for a leading role in “Girls Gone Wild,” but history suggests that resistance is futile. - Gail Collins

While encouraging kids to wait is obviously fine, the evidence is pretty clear that abstinence education is worse than useless. - Gail Collins

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Shannonals
May 8, 2009 8:21 AM CDT
The article isn't bias, the media did not bring an unwed Mother into the spotlight, her Mother did. The fact that Govenor Palin has been preaching on her soapbox about how pure and sweet her family is enables the media to research further in their family background for stories, that's their job and the price you pay for being in the limelight.
Robert_Dada
May 8, 2009 7:58 AM CDT
Scared of her? Not at all. She's a vapid politician who's child demonstrates via her behavior what a terrible mother Sarah is. No Rhianna should not be our poster girl. Neither should Brittany. But while we're on the topic of Spears, why was it appropriate for the right wing media (namely 'ole phone sex O'Reilly) to bash Jamie Lynn Spears and her mother, when Jamie Lynn got pregnant. Don't even attempt to go down the hypocrisy path on this one lindamae.
lindamae
May 8, 2009 5:54 AM CDT
Just another Saul Alinsky Rules for Radicals Rule #5: ridicule the messenger in order to neutralize the message. Give it up! Or - are we facing another George Soros fan suffering from Sorosis of the brain? Either case, you are transparent in you Kool Aid drinking. I am so happy to read all of these negative barbs - they are encouraging since they point out how much Palin scares you all. I also noticed several "articles" published on the same topic today. They sound as if they had been written by the same person. Are you all copying from the same poisoned well? Seems like it. Bristol is right. Should Rhianna be our poster girl for women who allow men to slap them around? Brittany Spears - Oh I just can't continue to discuss the hypocrisy of this article.

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abstinence education • teen pregnancy • Gail Collins • Sarah Palin • Bristol Palin • Todd Palin • Levi Johnston • Tripp Johnston

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