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Sadly, Bristol Palin is the most famous unwed teen mother in the country right now. So, the whole world knows that she failed to prevent a pregnancy. She is the perfect person to be out there saying, look at me, and don't let it happen to you. Yes, she is right abstinence is the only 100% sure way of preventing pregnancy. But in her interview with the Candies program, she also said that teens must be taught about contraception. And Levi, if you listen to his interview, agreed that abstinence was the only 100% method to guarantee no pregnancy, but said contraception, condoms or pills need to be taught and enforced. Both she and Levi acknowledged that they used condoms, but apparently, failed to on at least one occasion. Is anyone going to listen to people who haven't found themselves in a difficult situation like Bristol's? There are not many who will listen to Bristol, because she is white, has a family to help her, blah, blah (I've seen this in other blogs and sites) but her hope is that her being up front about her situation will help someone to avoid it. Amazing to me that in this anything goes society, one prominent young lady gets pregnant, has her baby and is trying to share a very difficult life sitation with her peers and she is referred to as a slut, white trash, and other vile insults. Does anyone really believe that her sin is unprotected sex? Obviously from the abortion stats, there are millions of young women who have unprotected sex and conceal this sin by having an abortion. They and their proud parents maintain that they are wholesome, well bred and upstanding young people. Is Bristol's real sin that she chose to have her child? Is that what makes one a slut or white trash? If you have unprotected sex, get pregnant and get married sometiime after, does that erase the slut, white trash label?

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OK. I do not agree with a lot of Susan Estrich beliefs but back up the Huffington Post Bus. Susan has always written good articles that you can agree to disagree with. I think lost in Britol's viewpoint was her abstinence first, then protective if you do it. Her message was more that the end result is not as glamorous as TV makes it out to be. I think Susan knows that Sarah is a good mother from the fact that when Bristol first told Sarah it was tough. That it telling us all that Sarah did not think this was glorious and approve but in the end supported her daughter. Much like I am sure Susan would do with her daughter. Being a lawyer I don't know how Susan did not pick out how wrong Levi was. He said enforce condoms? OK if you enforce it is then a law making it mandatory? What is the punishment? Who enforces? I assume he means the government. If he means parents does that mean they put the condom on the child? What he said was the most unrealistic of all. You cannot enforce condom use just encourage. I thought the better view point was compare Bristol and how she smiled, she didn't slam anybody else or anything now compare that to the nasty Meghan McCain. Bristol had more of a right to attack her ex and all the people that had slammed her mother but she rose above that and showed class. She stabbed her haters with a smile. One thing that does make Bristol a little different than the Hollywood types that get pregnant early is note there is no Nanny. Bristol does all the care herself and does all the care of her child. Her only help is during school. As far as the Palin's all indications they are doing what they are suppose to do and supporting their child. And yes Susan it is not going to get any easier for Bristol. Let us just support her as we do all the mothers out there. Happy Mothers Day Susan.

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Texas may be "ground zero for abstinance education," but you did not mention that we do have a comprehensive sex education program in Texas. It's called Prom.

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It is incredibly funny to listen to the right-wing racist radio jocks like Rush, Hannity and Glenn Beck tout this" bouncing baby " tour and then complain about the media coverage of this tramp. Hey, if you don't want negative coverage, don't put yourself out there. Frankly, I am a little sick of the coverage of the Alaska trailer trash Palin family. If that is an example of a fine upstanding conservative family, it is no wonder that people are leaving the Republican party in droves. Republicans used to stand for something. Not any more. Please don't talk abstinence and do it with a fifteen pound baby sleeping in your lap.

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Let's all put Bristol down for trying; maybe what she advocates doesn't work, but maybe, just maybe she is trying to do something good. God! once in awhile there has to be someone on the conservative side who does a good thing, isn't there? Please, someone, tell me that there is, I have been so conservative, and all the news about us is BAD. It must make some feel so good to name call; hate is such a terrible feeling to have inside. Try some logic and some love; it does work once in awhile, too.

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What the heck is left-wing Susan Estrich doing on this site? Shouldn't she be writing for Salon and Huffington? Get her off of here. Tell her to MoveOn. www.americandictatorobama.com

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Is Susan really that narcissistic to think that any conservative woman would ever need to consult her for advice? There are a few things that are totally lost on a liberal, so I'll use the Dr.Suess approach. 1) If one makes a mistake and accepts the consequences of the action, it's called being a responsible adult. 2) Responsible adults can become a spokesperson to their peers to advocate that it isn't necessary to make all your own mistakes, it's OK to listen to those who have gone before you. 3) At 18, if Bristol can accept the responsibility of being a parent and has found a voice to advocate for not becoming a teenage parent, then I would say that Sarah and Todd have done a pretty good job as parents. 4) The world is full of horny teenagers and there is no known cure. Being a Christian is also having the courage to confess an error in judgment and move on to whatever life presents to you the next day. I would appreciate a response from any Dem blogger who doesn't have at least one "bun in the oven" family situation ---- any takers? Shouldn't we be spending more time on figuring out how to help Bristol get the word out to more kids, they won't listen to Ms Estrich any more than their own parents?

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Ms. Estrich has lost the essence of her argument. She has fallen into the trap splitting the blame between Bristol and Sarah but has left out the perps; the media and a political party that revels in personal destruction as the means to end discussion and opposition. Going as far back as Richard Nixon his daughters were attacked by members of the media and democrat gadflies. Surprisingly the press left Gerald Ford's children alone. Maybe because Steve was an actor and very good looking. The media returned with the ballet dancer Ronald Reagan Jr. and his bad girl sister. The first Bush children were full grown and so escaped some of the glare except for Neil. Barb and Jenna Bush were being stalked for one misstep whereas Chelsea escaped notice until after her parents left the White House and she started staggering around England looking for another drink. If you've been around long enough you know that democrats have targeted political children with the aid of the press. This is not about Bristol or Sarah, it is about how far people like Ms. Estrich and her friends will go to silence Sarah Palin.

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"Condoms work and abstinence doesn't." What?!?! If you abstain from having sex [abstinence] you WILL NOT get pregnant; so what does "abstinence doesn't [work]" mean? Condoms work? Except when they don't -- I have a two friends who became pregnant while using condoms, and one who contracted an STD while using a condom. Abstinence is the only method that works -- IF YOU ARE NOT HAVING SEX. If you are sexually active, there are birth control methods that provide a MUCH GREATER DEGREE of protection than condoms; condoms are for preventing the spread of disease [when they work]. Pregnancy is not a disease; get on the Pill or use contraceptive foam with nonoxynol-9 AND monitor your cycle. Even then, you run a +/- 2% chance of becoming pregnant.

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I find Robert Lipka's comments offensive. He throws personal, but untrue, insults around like hand grenades. As an astute observer of life once said, "we see the world, not as it is, but as we are". Clearly Lipka is a very angry man, lacking in love and compassion. If he sees others as "racist", or as a "tramp" or "trailer trash" it ought to raise a red flag. Perhaps Lipka would benefit by examining his own motives and moral character. Until then, perhaps he ought to retire from public discourse until he control his hateful, personal insults and disrespectful attitudes.

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Anyone seeing how the media treated Bristol Palin and her situation should be enough to make anyone abstain.

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Come on' Susan, I know you gotta keep your job in this economy and sell rags but really "abstinence doesn't work?" Can you puhleez explain to me how you can get pregnant without having sex? That is one of the dumbest things you've said. Oh wait, did you mean it doesn't work because liberal parents recognize that their kids are going to have sex anyway so vive la doggie style! Just use condoms! Don't misunderstand me. I am going to give my sons an order of parental suggestions: (1) masturbation (2) abstinence (3) use of condoms and so on. I'm not going to stop at "Just Say No." And (here comes the big one) I even think women should be able to get safe medical abortions if they want one (although I personally eschew murder of zygotes.) So, why oh why do you have to dog one "familiar face" (Bristol Palin) for doing her part in trying to get teens to grow up just a bit slower? Might you accept for one minute that she is sincere or do you just begin your article with the assumption that she's about being fake, free shoes and publicity? I think it takes a lot of courage for young girls to stand up and "speak the truth" (it is the truth - single, teen motherhood sucks and abstinence DOES prevent pregnancy AND instill a sense of self-respect within young girls.) Your disdain for anything Palin is the ONLY message that comes through loud and clear in this hurtful article. Use white space positively. Even the Happy Mother's Day was tainted with ugliness. Life is good. Cheer up Susan.

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quote "Condoms work and abstinence doesn't". Actually, Ms. Estrich, I have to point out that condoms, in fact, do not always work. It says so on the package if you'll take a moment to read it. Abstinence on the other hand has worked always, with the possible exception of one time (and most liberals don't even believe that happened, really). Abstaining from sex is very effective. I think what you meant to say was that abstinence only education doesn't work, and education about condoms works. That still isn't completely accurate, since obviously education that includes birth control training is nowhere near 100% effective, but I know that accuracy is not terribly important in an opinion column. How about just saying that abstinence only education is less effective than education that incorporates birth control? thanks, mark