The merry go round

Today marks day three of the national media circus, i.e. the coverage of the pregnancy of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter.

It also marks day three of my embarrassment in sharing the title of 'journalist' with those leading the mob attack against a family that has done nothing but reiterate its support for the high school senior and request privacy — because after all, this has nothing to do with politics. It has everything to do with a news media that has let go of its roots and forgotten its real role: to inform. Not to analyze; not to editorialize; not to endorse. It's like a merry go round that it can't stop nor jump from. And the sad part is, so much of the American public is buying into the bias, encouraging news stations and Web sites to beat a dead horse — as long as its on the 'Right' side of the fence.

MSNBC and the Washington Post are titillating viewers with exposes on the daughter's boyfriend and Slate is running a “Name Bristol Palin’s Baby” contest; US Weekly has “Babies, Lies, and Scandal” on its cover; and the Today Show had Dr. Phil weigh in on the rise in teenage pregnancy. Seriously?! But somehow, it's applauded and awarded when it's the storyline of a movie (Juno) or when single celebrities have babies. Yes, then it's celebrated.

There is so much more going on in the world, in this country ... but the simple reality is the media is gunning for the election of Obama/Biden — and they'll stop at nothing, even if it means plastering the face of a teenager on the cover of every newspaper from here to Timbuktu.

Bristol should be commended for having her baby, not criticized. I'm sure the situation actually makes the Palin family more relate-able to so many families around the country who have been faced with a similar situation — in and out of the church — and loved the child and grandchild just the same. (By the way, parents can preach abstinence all they want — but they can't follow their children everywhere.) And the pregnancy doesn't make Palin an absent mother, nor would it prevent her from helping McCain lead the country. That's the dumbest argument I've heard yet. And do you know who's saying it? Feminists! Feminists who are supportive of working mothers! Being one hasn't stopped Palin from being a successful governor and it certainly wouldn't get in the way of a vice presidency. Does it limit the women who have been elected senators or governors or first ladies? No!

When did the right become so wrong?