Okay, let’s see now…I want to make sure I have this straight. A 17 year old girl, whose mother is running for political office is pregnant out of wedlock.
Honestly, it sounds like an interesting bit of gossip for high school girls and the town beauty salon.

The story seems inconsequential to the arena of running for a national public office, and it is not worth the attention of journalists who have their sites on the Pulitzer Prize or on building a career on intelligence, integrity to the profession and providing real quality of life news reporting to the public to whom they serve.

This sort of reporting is slimy, slanted and revealing…revealing in that it shows the true political bent of the writer or commentator or producer. Too many times in recent history major publications and television newscasts have gotten their hands caught in the cookie jar, as they have lost objectivity and allowed less-than-credible sources lead them in their story telling.

The main problem is that we start counting noses on who is being low-brow in their reporting. After all, “If xyz numbers of reporters are doing it, then it must be moral and ethical.” Wrong answer.

D L Grandy
Washington State

Does the public have a right to know whether Sarah Palin’s (or any candidate’s) daughter is pregnant or not?

Unless she hides in a cave for 9 months, the public is bound to find out she is pregnant.

Should the private lives of family members of presidential and vice-presidential candidates be off-limits?

Only if they are not part of the candidates campaign- if the candidate showcases his/her family as an example of his/her character, the family should expect scrutiny of their character.

How aggressively should the mainstream media pursue allegations and rumors in the blogosphere and tabloid media?

Ask John Edwards his opinion. What’s sauce for the goose is good for the gander.

Should journalists have reported the Palin pregnancy story before the McCain campaign’s announcement?

Would have the McCain campaign have made an announcement otherwise?

The issue here is not the daughter’s pregnancy–it is the behavior of the mother who claims to stand for so-called Christian family values, but was willing to catapult her daughter into the public eye at the toughest time of her young life. Forcing your child to carry a child unwanted by its father is bad enough. Forcing your child to do it in public so you can live out your ambitions? Disgraceful.

And you can be sure that if a Democratic woman’s child had been in the same situation the Rove smear meisters would have been all over it. The hypocrisy of the Republican right wing when one of THEIRS is caught violating their moral prescriptive code is nauseating.

I am also disgusted that the media are not reporting that the Republican Platform supports forbidding abortion in cases of rape and mother’s life in danger. If they want to make that choice themselves, fine. But when they want to impose it on ME or my daughter, that’s something else.

And my heart goes out to Palin’s daughter who is being forced to have a child so her mother can advance her political agenda. Poor kid.

Does the public have a right to know whether Sarah Palin’s (or any candidate’s) daughter is pregnant or not?

–Should the private lives of family members of presidential and vice-presidential candidates be off-limits?

The news may be of interest, but as she (Bristol Palin) is not my daughter, and may be of age of consent, it is difficult to justify, except for the fact that private lives can influence public decisions, so there is a need-to-know.

–How aggressively should the mainstream media pursue allegations and rumors in the blogosphere and tabloid media?

There should be solid research performed to vet such allegations, and rumors. If they are true, then report them. Once the item has been reported, then the level of interest should be considered.

–Should journalists have reported the Palin pregnancy story before the McCain campaign’s announcement?

No, let this be handled by the Palin family, to report otherwise would have been intrusive.

My concern about the entire affair is that more heat and light seem to be generated by the fact of who knew what, and when, then does this fact impact the abilities of Gov. Palin to potentially serve as vice-president? What are the Governor’s political views? How does she bring strengths or balance weaknesses for the ticket?

Media coverage is fine when it present verifiable facts and identifies opinion. When it comes to facts that allow people to ascertain a political candidates suitability for office, then coverage has significant value.

Her daughter’s pregnancy sheds light on her parenting skills and of course on her values. This is certainly fair game.

Governor Pallin is dealing with the consequences of her decision to invest more time in her political career than in her family.

Makes one wonder how she’d handle being a VP, when she’s mother of the whole country.

For every potential leader we must ask ourselves:
1) Can this person inspire young people to be the best that they can be?
2) Can this person set educational policies that help young people be the best that they can be ?

For Palin, we have a limited number of data points. One of those data points that we do have is her daughter.

Palin brags about being a “hockey mom.” So we have to look at her resume and ask, “Was she a good hockey mom, or did she let being a governor interfere with being a hockey mom? Did one part of her resume diminish her performance of other parts of her resume? If she does not have the skills to balance her life, then the needs of her family could diminish her performance as a VP.

If she wants to use her “mom skills” on her resume, then we get to look at the products of those skills. If she had sent the kids off to boarding schools and not put them on her resume, then the kids would be entitled to absolute privacy.

It is very easy to say that the personal life of any political candidate should remain personal. And, although as a strong supporter of Women’s rights my gut reaction is that the way a woman handles her family is her own business (as long as it does not impact the way I live my life), in this case my reason says otherwise.

It is the parenthetical thought above which is the reason why in this case Sarah Palin’s family life must be subject to debate. The truth is the personal beliefs of the VP does impact my life directly, because she will be managing the country in which I live with the same decision-making process she has managed her family, and she will be a role model for future generations.

First of all, a family must budget its time and money to be successful, because no family can do everything. For example, a parent and child may have to choose between summer school tuition or a summer job. The choices made reflect what is more important to the family: education or revenue.

Voters have a right to know how their candidates will manage the office of the President of the United States, which is why senate voting records, legislation sponsored, and programs created are all subject of debate. Well, what about how the family is managed? If the family spends 10% of their budget on a homeless shelter, or spends one Sunday a month cleaning up a beach, it would be reasonable to assume that homeless or environmental programs may be highlighted in the administration.

Second, both the President and VP are role models to our children; they are our leaders and represent our country to the rest of the world. Children and adults want to be proud of them and strive to make the same positive impact on the world that they do, hence many will try to live all aspects of their lives making the same decisions their role models do. This is why private decisions are so important, because others will be making the same. Professional athletes are in the same situation: their conduct off the playing field is scrutinized because young boys and girls emulate them.

In Sarah Palin’s case, the news of her daughter’s pregnancy should be a topic of conversation to voters. There are some positives in the news (the family supporting the young mother), some negatives (how/why did she get pregnant in the first place), and topics very open to interpretation (how healthy the teenage marriage will be and what impact it will have on the child). But the truth is this situation is not an ideal one in any family, and without context, it is very possible some may make poor decisions while trying to emulate their role model.

Unfortunately, the truth is we are not electing a ticket that will lead the country with impartial values and pure logic. Instead, we are electing human beings to make human decisions. All their previous decisions in life are pieces of the puzzle that tell us who these people are and how they think, regardless of the theater in which they are presented. This image in the puzzle illuminates how they will manage the country, and paints a picture of life that many will try to emulate. I believe it is important to see that picture now, before the ballots are cast because once they are in office they are under no obligation to consult us first.

Re Pregnancy of Palin’s 17-year-old daughter: In general, the media should respect the privacy of the family members of political candidates. In this case, however, the public has a right to know because the candidate herself claims to adhere to the highest standard of family values. The news now show the double standards of Mrs. Palin and her conservative Republican base to which she caters.

Dear Wright before I answer your questions, I want everyone to see the “arms length” I am from the key story of the US political process. I am an outsider looking in. I am a Canadian Citizen who will not and cannot vote in this election. Therefore, I am the least biased person to address your questions.
With this said, I feel that the entire world is looking in disbelief at John McCain’s choice for a running mate. Sarah Palin is even more unqualified for the position as Vice President as George W. Bush is a President of the United States.
The mere fact that this political race is so close baffles people in France, Germany, Australia, the UK, and yes, Canada. Our view on American’s ability to look at what is rational in electing a sound politician is low. The real ethical topic that should be addressed is the media’s role in “dumbing down” American’s to the point that they cannot look at real issues that affect them in electing the proper people in office. This in no way reflects support for Obama/Biden.
With this said, here is my answers to your questions
What do you think of the media’s coverage of this story?
The media coverage of this story has been fair and just. I think the media did not search out Levi Johnston or Bristol. They took the facts, as supplied by the GOP/Sarah Palin, and applied the relative stories. A few reporters crossed the line on ethics by suggesting that Sarah Palin herself might have been an unwed mother having eloped and 8 months later having her first child.
–Does the public have a right to know whether Sarah Palin’s (or any candidate’s) daughter is pregnant or not?
The public certainly does have a right to know if the candidate has a stance which is so unrealistic (abstinence) that it doesn’t even apply to her own children. Sarah Palin’s decision making ability like all candidates should be reviewed. Sarah Palin has made “several” blunders in her decision in accepting the Vice President nomination of the Republican Party. Any parent, being male or female who would subject their family to such a media circus is blinded by ambition instead of doing what’s right for their family.
–Should the private lives of family members of presidential and vice-presidential candidates be off-limits?
Again, in certain cases, no but family members bear influence in the decision of candidates. History has proven this fact for all politicians.
–How aggressively should the mainstream media pursue allegations and rumors in the blogosphere and tabloid media?
The mainstream media has a right to leave “no stone unturned” in the pursuit of any story that might be factual. Had they not investigated allegations about Sarah Palin’s son, the Republicans would have never come forward with the truth about Bristol Palin.
–Should journalists have reported the Palin pregnancy story before the McCain campaign’s announcement?
This question is really an internal question and not for the public scrutiny. From an ethical viewpoint, I see nothing wrong with reporting on stories that are factual in a timely manner.

Does the public have a right to know whether Sarah Palin’s (or any candidate’s) daughter is pregnant or not?

Yes.

–Should the private lives of family members of presidential and vice-presidential candidates be off-limits?

Not totally. The public has a right to know who the Secret Service is protecting and why. When the VP candidate’s minor daughter is engaged, her boyfriend probably requires the same protection as the minor daughter deserves, and likely should get the same press attention.

–How aggressively should the mainstream media pursue allegations and rumors in the blogosphere and tabloid media?

The blogosphere contributes to reporting, even when its presentation is inappropriate. Journalistic articles which (incidentally) rebut tabloid rumors should be reported with vigor. Sometimes this enters uncomfortable territory — for instance, reporting on Bristol’s pregnancy as opposed to Sarah Palin’s pregnancy. However, did you print articles about Republican appeals for clemency for Jack Abramoff without mentioning the murder of Konstantinos Boulis? Obviously, mainstream journalism often does a very bad job of presenting the complete story.

“–Should journalists have reported the Palin pregnancy story before the McCain campaign’s announcement?”

Sarah Palin rejects birth control WITHIN MARRIAGE, which becomes risky as a woman ages, but that is not newsworthy. While Sarah Palin is pregnant her minor daughter becomes pregnant too, but that is not newsworthy.

The Republican party platform opposes sex education to placate “social conservatives” who reject birth control, so that everyone in America can take the risks Sarah Palin took? That is most certainly news. It speaks to societal leadership, which the Republican party is apparently incapable of providing.