Should children and family issues be made public about president candidates?

Question

This weekend there were rumors circulating that Palin didn't give birth to Trig, her son, but that it was your 17 year old daughters. Blogs everywhere were grasping at straws, saying Palin faked the pregnancy to fool the American public.

However, Palin came forward and stated to the public today that her daughter is now 5 months pregnant. She came forward with this information to stop such horrid rumors (as Trig is 5 months old and thus impossible that the daughter can be the mother).

However, should issues concerning children even be involved in a presidential debate? Should Bristol's pregnancy even be made known to the public? Does American know too much about candidates private family life or do you think America has the right to know what's going on with candidates families?

And if we must know, does Palin's daughters pregnancy change your view of her? And would the reaction be as severe (or even noted) if Palin was a Bob instead of a Sarah?

Answer 1

We know too much about a LOT of people. I personally don't care whose daughter got knocked up by whom, or who's cheating on whom with whoever, or anything like that.

Answer 2

No, I think it's very wrong to drag that kid through the public mud like that.

I find it extremely ironic...but it's none of our business.  

Answer 3

I think Mr. and Mrs. Palin have thrown their 17 year old unwed daughter to the media hounds.  Did this couple ever discuss the scrutiny their family would be subjected to if she accepted the slot as McCain's VP?

Five months pregnant could't they have arranged a quiet family wedding two months ago?

Mrs. Palin is in the same category as Ms. Lewinsky's mother who failed to burn the infamous blue dress and get her daughter as far away geographically as possible from Washington D.C. Mrs. Palin put her political ambitions before her obligation to protect her daughter.

Answer 4

Yes. Those families are choosing to be in the spotlight.

If Palin, or any other candidates, want to  run this country, we all have the right to know if they can even run their own households.

Answer 5

Frankly, I do not feel that is any of my business.  Unfortunately, this kind of journalism is the unwanted side effect of a much needed free press.  

Answer 6

Yes you want to know how a politician is in his private life, it reflects on his work. Now kennedy was unfaithfull, yes, but he sticked with the family and stayed the head of the family, just like in office he allowed himself moments of leisure and corny jokes, but was the president when America needed one.

Answer 7

Absolutely not. Personal issues have nothing to do with how qualified she is for the job. Her daughter's pregnancy has not changed my view of her (though my view is not favorable), and it should not be a part of the dialogue.

And for those who say personal issues reflect on how well you lead... well, Kennedy and Jefferson both cheated on their wives, but they were excellent presidents. Lincoln's wife was entered into a mental institution at one point in her life, but that didn't make her husband any less great. Personal issues and family indicate very little.

Would it be as severe for a Bob? Well, if Bob is the identical male version of Palin, I doubt he'd have been chosen. This was a pretty blatant attempt to reel in evangelical pro-lifers and Hillary Clinton supporters. Her role as a female and a mother was the reason McCain picked her, not her qualifications. Sad.

Answer 8

Think children of politicians should be off limits, 21 and under UNLESS they as an adult get into the light on there own.

I was disgusted by what they said about Chelsea all those years ago, she was what 10 11 and had people bashing her looks on national tv.  Then she took a year off from school, they bashed her again.  Really none of OUR (as in the national public's) business.

Answer 9

In response to the post above me, conservatives are just as guilty as attacking family members. I distinctly recall the nasty comments about Chelsea Clinton. She was called everything from "ugly" to "the White House dog". I also remember the comments about Bill Clinton's half-brother and his mother. His wife, Hillary, has been their punching bag ever since her husband decided to run for office. In 2004, Theresa Heinz Kerry was attacked for everything from her wealth to her foreign accent and the way she pronounces her name. Even John Kerry's daughters were called "ugly". Now, they're calling Michelle Obama "stupid" and one of them even went as far as to refer to her as "Obama's baby mama".

My point is, people who put themselves in the public eye are fair game but if their family members aren't public figures, leave them alone. I may not like the Bush Administration but I think it's horrible to make nasty comments about his daughters.

Answer 10

Yes..

These candidates are willingly putting themselves into the public eye. Their business is very quickly and unavoidably going to become America's business. Whether that's appropriate or not is kind of irrelevant.

Answer 11

I believe we do know too much about the family life of candidates.  I believe we should be paying more attention to their voting records, decisions made in office, voting records, stances on issues, etc.

No, if Sarah was Robert Palin and had the same stances, I don't believe this would be as big an issue as it is to the Left.

Hope this helps!

Answer 12

No, This is not a public. I could careless. I'm focused on the issues not the daughter of the Republican VP candidate getting knocked up.  

Answer 13

It depends.  Issues regarding their children shouldn't be fair game unless how they raise their children directly opposes their stance as children will often do the opposite of their parents wishes. However, a candidates adultery SHOULD be made public because to me that is a direct reflection on their basic character.  If a politcian can't be faithful and honest to their spouse, they're not going to be faithful and honest to me.

Answer 14

It is a double standard for liberals. For the most part conservatives leave family members as off limit's and expect the same.

    Liberals do not comprehend common decency or Honor.

But it is a non issue. Some times it is not what happens but how one handles life's unexected events that counts.

    

Answer 15

Any candidate, party or media source that elects to attack a family member or situation should be discredited.  There needs to be clear lines of what it is that can be discussed and criticized politically, and those who cross the line should be prosecuted.  

As for Palin's situation with her daughter - this is nothing to be discussed within the confines of a political discussion.  Firstly, because a mother of a 17 year old girl can hardly be held responsible for the actions of her daughter - not in our time and society.

And finally - the public needs to take a good long look at themselves and accept some responsibility for the shameful attacks.  If there was no one watching or listening - if there wasn't such a voracious appetite for the sleazy side of journalism - it wouldn't exist.

As for gender - no, I don't think it would matter.  It is a case of the extreme views of the candidate, and the contradictory lifestyle existing within their family.  The Right makes it very difficult for themselves when they hold a high and mighty stance on moral issues - and their family generally has to pay the price.  Another excellent example is Cheney's daughter....

Answer 16

It should if they run on a platform of supposed family values, which is basically most of them.

It is public office after all. If you're running for the highest office, and your family lives in the White House, then really, you're signing your privacy away. Politicians and their families know what they're getting into.

As for the governor, it's typical political hypocrisy, I'm not surprised.

And the overall theme is, if you can't raise your kids to your own standards (abstinence and what not), can you really run a country?

Answer 17

In all honesty (and i know some people find it unsavory) but when you enter the public arena, especially for the Highest office of the land...EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY is going to be under the microscope, and they have to be completely blind to reality if they didn't know that.

I heard Evan Bigh (probably spelled his name wrong) joke last week that when he was up for the VP consideration that they even asked him what his junior high school girlfriends middle name was LOL. This is a no joke process.

You don't have to like it but when you become the symbol of america (which the presidency is) your life/family gets looked into.