James Dobson, president of Colorado Springs’ Focus on the Family ministry empire, weighed in on the news that McCain’s vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin, has a pregnant teenage daughter. He called for compassion for the Palin family and 17-year-old Bristol, who plans to marry the father of her child. And, as usual, Dobson blamed the media for casting Palin and her family as “hypocrites.”
ABC News’ blog Political Punch has the statement in its entirety, which is reproduced below:
“In the 32-year history of Focus on the Family, we have offered prayer, counseling and resource assistance to tens of thousands of parents and children in the same situation the Palins are now facing. We have always encouraged the parents to love and support their children and always advised the girls to see their pregnancies through, even though there will of course be challenges along the way. That is what the Palins are doing, and they should be commended once again for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances.
“Being a Christian does not mean you’re perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect. But it does mean there is forgiveness and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord. I’ve been the beneficiary of that forgiveness and restoration in my own life countless times, as I’m sure the Palins have.
“The media are already trying to spin this as evidence Gov. Palin is a ‘hypocrite,’ but all it really means is that she and her family are human. They are in my prayers and those of millions of Americans.”
Oddly enough, the Wall Street Journal had an article this morning detailing how some liberals are engaging in a sort of self-censorship when it comes to calling Palin a “hypocrite” for touting family values while mothering a pregnant teen.
The Journal quoted Barbara Lichtman, a retired social worker in Sarasota, Fla.
“This is where I see the hypocrisy,” Lichtman told the Journal. “When you’re campaigning for vice president, you’re on 24/7. Who’s watching the baby? And what kind of nurturing is going on in that 17-year-old’s life if she’s pregnant? But you can’t talk about it because it’s politically incorrect.”
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