Advice for Bristol

Flashlight was as surprised as everyone else to learn Monday morning that Greta Van Susteren’s feature segment on Fox News would be with Bristol Palin—not the governor or “the First Dude,” as Greta adoringly coos at every opportunity. Just the week before, at her first press conference since the legislative session began, the governor repeated the refrain that her kids were off-limits (to a reporter asking about “personnel” issues in regards to Talis Colberg’s resignation as attorney general, which the governor construed as a question about “personal” issues).

In the interview, Bristol tells Greta that she’d only told her mom about the interview the day before. Flashlight finds this somewhat implausible, given the apparent closeness of the Palins and the fact that Bristol regurgitated some of her mom’s talking points, about “growing up in a hurry” and wanting to play an “advocate” role.

It seemed that Bristol wasn’t quite sure what she’s advocating for. Abstinence is a good idea but “it’s not realistic at all,” according to Bristol, yet she says she’s advocating to “prevent teen pregnancy.” But when Greta asked about contraception, Bristol said she didn’t “want to get into detail about that.”

If Bristol really did set up the interview on her own without her mom’s knowledge to take matters into her own hands—after being a subject of media speculation and fascination since the McCain/Palin campaign announced her pregnancy last September—that’s understandable. But this tactic did her no favors.

Commentary about Bristol’s appearance abounds on the internet and in newspapers, and some is pretty harsh. An harsh and dubious column at the Kansas City Star counted the number of times Bristol said “um” and “like”—as if she were Caroline Kennedy vying for a senate seat rather than a 18-year-old. The column ends by noting Bristol’s comments about getting an education, and concludes, “Let’s hope she gets one soon.” That’s just nasty.

So here’s the advice, Bristol: Focus on your kid and your education and stay off the airwaves and outta the papers. Mama Grizzly can’t say that the kids are off limits if you’re setting up interviews with Fox News. Spend some time growing up, and if, in a few years, you feel like you’ve got a coherent message about teen pregnancy to share with the nation, and your proximity to celebrity still allows you to do so, do it then. 

bjk@anchoragepress.com

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