John McCain - United States - US presidential election

McCain's pregnancy test

Tuesday 02 September 2008

Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin said on Monday that her single, 17-year-old daughter Bristol (pictured) is pregnant. Alaska Governor Palin is seen as a guardian of conservative values. Scroll down to read our analysis.

Special Report Republicans gather in St. Paul

Tuesday 02 September 2008

By Cyril Vanier (text) / N.Rushworth (video)

Read our special report on the Republican National Convention

Sarah Palin reveals teenage daughter is pregnant

Choosing Sarah Palin as running mate was possibly John McCain’s biggest political gamble yet. The Alaska state governor did not go through the intense vetting process that vice-presidential nominees are usually subjected to. McCain will have to contend with whatever skeletons come out of her closet.

Her 17-year old daughter’s pregnancy, revealed on Monday, is the first test for the McCain-Palin ticket. Early signs are that it will not hurt the Republicans. After all, Palin has announced that her daughter will be marrying the baby’s father, thereby reaffirming her anti-abortion credentials and sending a positive message to the party’s socially conservative base.

But as media scrutiny intensifies, Palin could become more of a liability. If her past turns up more than fishing permit violations or her husband’s drink-driving charge decades ago, John McCain might be hard-pressed to justify his choice of VP.

How Sarah Palin reacts to these issues will speak volumes about his political judgment. If his running mate still comes across as a corruption-fighting, hard-working governor in a few weeks’ time, McCain will have been proven an astute gambler and a perceptive man, despite his 72 years. If she bombs, so will McCain.

John McCain - United States - US presidential election

[9] reactions :

03/09/2008 13:45:52 Alert a moderator

McCain ready to lead AMERICA?

By >enneth T. Tellis - Canada

If they take George W. Bush's advice that McCain is ready to lead America, then all hope is lost.

If you vote McCain you have to be insane and lack a brain, because America would soon go down the DRAIN.

They woul be going from Obama to a BUMMER if the choose John McCain.
03/09/2008 04:55:05 Alert a moderator

About the Bush Comment

By Anonyme - England

G.W. Bush for once it may be right McCain maybe it's the right man in his eye's to lead the country but not the world as most of the US persistent have tried to do for so may years or is a back up strategy so they would win the elections and there they gone again ?
02/09/2008 21:33:46 Alert a moderator

Sarah Palin

By K.V. Tellis - Canada, Mississauga

Thank God it was Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol that was pregnant. I was aghast when someone said the McCain was pregnant. After all we have never had a man get pregnant, or have we?

McCain could win the presidential election in November if he was pregnant. But that's now water under the bridge. Besides McCain is too old to get pregnant. Boy, how the news gets garbled. It's a pity though that the Republicans are on a losing streak,that is why McCain pulled out the RABBIT from out of the HAT. But since Bristol was pregnant the RABBIT had to die. Well that's life for you.
02/09/2008 20:33:57 Alert a moderator

Can you say "hypocrit?"

By Lee Fiore - USA

As a rational person living in a country run by the insane and ruthless...I find the revelations about Sarah Palin interesting and not at all surprising. I distrust instinctively anyone who postures themselves the way she has. I am a little surprised that all of this has come out already.
02/09/2008 19:05:15 Alert a moderator

Why Palin's announcement

By Sam Thornton - US/Burwell

Palin was forced by events to announce her daughter's pregnancy, specifically, the National Enquirer contacted her, told her they were breaking the story, and asked for her comments.
02/09/2008 09:10:47 Alert a moderator

How old is the daddy of Bristol's baby anyway?

By Eva - United States

This is too much, there were so many other potential GOP candidates with far more extensive and conservative resumes than Sarah Palin and her present soap box dilemmas.
I feel for her family and I wish the best for all concerned but sincerely feel this was a slap in the face to those other candidates that were passed by for a woman who apparently was not aware of what I vice president does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk20IySDwhw
02/09/2008 06:39:14 Alert a moderator

Media Leakage

By ARR - USA

I think she wanted to tell the country before some random family member leaked it to the press. It looks better for her if she doesn't act as if this is some horrible family secret. Could you imagine if her daughter wasn't marrying the father of her child? Do we still hold the belief that people ONLY marry for love? Smooth move on Palin's part or McCain could kiss his campaign good-bye.
02/09/2008 02:35:28 Alert a moderator

news re: Sarah Palin's daughter

By Jo -

r esponding to what Eva wrote: Isn't it great Sarah has a strong, good man to help with "family issues"?! Many in Britain, Europe and America are not so fortunate. I think they'll manage just fine! A good example for others in same situation. God bless them for loving and supporting their daughter and for her young man planning to marry her and give their child legitimacy.
01/09/2008 23:39:57 Alert a moderator

GOP VP Pick---

By Eva - United States

I believe Sarah has enough on her plate regarding her family issues without piling the troubles of the free world on it….

Geesh….