Advice for Bristol

By Brendan Joel Kelley
Published on Thursday, February 19, 2009 4:15 PM AKST



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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Comments

10 comment(s)

    Lamont Cranston wrote on Mar 30, 2009 11:44 AM:

    " The reasonable result of Palin's political views is knocked up single teenage mothers. If you dare to point out the evidence, specifically that she has raised one, you are immediately accused of "attacking children".
    Meanwhile Palin whores out her family as props for her photo ops.
    Hypocrite is too kind of a word for her. the cynicism is breathtaking. "

    bearheart wrote on Mar 6, 2009 12:21 PM:

    " Students need sex education. They need to learn the facts so they are not caught up in a parenting situation they are not ready for. Less teen pregnancies if they know what could prevent a baby. "

    Natasha wrote on Feb 24, 2009 11:13 AM:

    " Palin should know just how well abstinence works.....just check the dates on when she and the first dude were married and Bristol's birth date.

    Why do you think Sarah & the first Dood eloped? "

    D wrote on Feb 24, 2009 12:00 AM:

    " Ha, look at Sarah Palin jumping in trying to steal some of the interview. Pathetic attempt at trying to continue getting airtime. In my opinion, having someone like Bristol in an advocacy role just wouldn't work. Kids are going to see that she has a baby and think, "Oh, look at her and her family, we can have a baby too at an early age and do just fine." That's not exactly the message that needs to be sent. I believe in educating teens in abstinence, but I also believe they be educated in the choice of having sex. "

    NoSarahPalin wrote on Feb 23, 2009 7:06 PM:

    " I think finally the truth has been spoken. The daughter of Her Holiness Sarah admits that her mother's precious idea that abstinence is an effective birth control method for teens is not realistic. Should her mother listen to her own daughter? And, by the way, Bristol is still not married and she will never marry Levi. Even if she does, the marriage will be soon quietly dissolved. But even such a poke in Sarah's eye still does not prevent her from the extreme self-righteousness. Rather stupid at this point like everything she does. "

    maribelle wrote on Feb 23, 2009 3:04 PM:

    " Bristol didn't say or imply that abstinence shouldn't be taught or encouraged, she said it isn't "realistic". Good point. That means other things (like birth control) need to be discussed.

    God bless her and her baby, they've got a tough row to hoe. "

    Deiter wrote on Feb 23, 2009 11:09 AM:

    " Advocates of abstinence "education" (I'd prefer to call it advocacy of ignorance) relentlessly push the talking point that abstinence works. Does it? Where is the proof? Studies overwhelmingly show otherwise. Abstinence advocates who deny teens sex and contraceptive information unwittingly promote STDs and teen pregnancy. This is certain: Ignorance does not work. Bristol Palin is only echoing the majority position of her demographic: Just Say No doesn't beat out teen desire. For youth, the Republican agenda is as relevant as the Cadillac: A Bronze age intolerant & sex-ignorant dogma doesn't interest them. "

    dnono wrote on Feb 23, 2009 7:53 AM:

    " @corymac: "I have 2 nieces who are successfully practicing abstinence and there are millions of people who successfully practice abstinence, everyday" I'm sure Sarah P. said the same thing about Bristol ... shortly before Bristol made her announcement. I've no doubt that there are teens out there maintaining their virginity, but I've also no doubt that many of those who say they are - aren't. "

    Josiah wrote on Feb 23, 2009 5:21 AM:

    " I know several teens that claim to be practicing "abstinence", but in fact have regular oral and anal sex. Because what they're doing isn't straight missionary-style, they think they're clean. "

    corymac wrote on Feb 21, 2009 9:14 AM:

    " Bristol Palin needs to speak for herself. Simply because she does not have the self-discipline, self-control, and fortitude to practice abstinence (if she was ever really trying to practice it, at all) does not mean that abstinence is absolutely unrealistic. It just means that abstinence is unrealistic FOR HER. I have 2 nieces who are successfully practicing abstinence and there are millions of people who successfully practice abstinence, everyday. It\'s not easy to do and it\'s certainly not common in this day and age, but it is also not unrealistic. "

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