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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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 OPINION 
11

Bristol as a Role Model? You Must Be Kidding

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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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11 comments
VIEWING:
 
IN RESPONSE:
SPH
May 7, 09 2:37 PM CDT
It's an opinion piece.....
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
carol
May 7, 09 9:46 AM CDT
Typical liberal attack. First Joe the Plumber, Ms California and now Bristol. Their bias is shameful. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-2
IN RESPONSE:
Robert_Dada
May 7, 09 12:09 PM CDT
No bias. All three are just unintelligent, unremarkable people that for some strange reason, conservatives have elevated to unwarranted levels.
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
justme
May 7, 09 10:25 AM CDT
The headline reveals the bias of the article. Why read the rest.? No deep thought here, just another chance to slap her mother by slapping the daughter. Whatever happened to the liberal mantra about single parents being just as good as two paents? Guess that only applies to liberal single parents. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-2
IN RESPONSE:
Robert_Dada
May 7, 09 12:10 PM CDT
If conservatives would stop attempting to preach a lifestyle that even they consistently fail to live up to, none of this would be a discussion item.
Vote up! Vote down!
+4

View all 11 comments »

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