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Viewer Comments: Gov. Sarah Palin

We asked viewers on their thoughts on presumptive Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, given the news of her teen daughter's pregnancy and the "troopergate" investigation? Here are some of your responses:

Instead of trying to dig up dirt on Sarah Palin, the news media should concentrate on her RECORD and STOP playing up to Obama. Their discriminatory coverage of him stinks. --Roberta Walker

Everyone except the media seems to agree that her daughter's issues are personal and irrelevant to the process and that the commentary should stop. "Troopergate" is a much more serious concern. Her selection seems impulsive, I question her creds to be president some day, and I question how many independent, Hillary or younger voters she will pull to the GOP side. --Joe Moore

Aside from the scandals, I think she is a poor selection. In a year that Republicans are preaching "experience", there are far better candidates than a one term Governor from a small state (AK has only 600k people) and the former mayor of a village (Wasilla has only 5k residents). What was McCain thinking? Or did he have a choice? --Rick from Naperville

I am not impressed with Sarah Palin. She should have declined the offer to be VP and take care of her handicapped baby. He will need plenty of love and attention that will be difficult with a mom that is a VP. She should have put her ego aside and declined the offer. If Obama had a daughter that was unmarried and pregnant, she would not have been handled so gently. Nasty stereotypical racial comments would be flying. Palin has little regard for her daughter's feelings. By accepting the VP position, she allows her daughter to be the talk of the town in order to promote her pro-life agenda. Charity begins at home. A mom should protect her daughter. --Mary Maillard

At best she's a selfish person who put personal gain ahead of family, at worst she is a corrupt power abusing typical pol with no qualifications. Nice going McCain what a choice. --Kevin

I think you media morons are so preoccupied with trashing ANYone;, man, woman, or child, in an attempt to advance your collective personal agenda (socialism), that you ask this question in the first place. If the Democrats put up a 72 y/o war hero with decades of Congressional experience (who was black) and the Republicans put up some pretty white boy who was eloquent, and articulated a vague vision of a beautiful future, but had no tangible experience, how would you react? Maybe that will help you understand why "Fair and Balanced" and "you decide" resonates with so many people. I just heard your clown preface a comment with "what should be a private family matter...." and then go on to ignore that with a comment against Republicans. At least you didn't "lose" the applause to W's speech tonight like NBC did. Nice job NBC, of trying to make him look like an idiot. Talk about bias! Sheeeze! You guys are a joke. I'm ready to pay for cable just so I can watch Fox and avoid the irritation of stations like yours. --Harold Paul

Bless her and family.But if this had been a Dem.situation it would have been the most sinister of all evils with their peers. --Lionel Stansgerry Jr.

I think her selection is a joke, and sad at the same time. Any woman with any sense will see that she was selected merely as an attempt to gain the female voters. Since when do we elect based upon sex instead of issues, strength and leadership abilities? If she can't openly discuss her own family issues with success, how can we expect results as the president of the senate? You can get away with quick, "shoot from the hip" action in remote Alaska, but NEVER will that be tolerated nor accepted in Washington. Signed: A Republican destined to vote for the Democrat party for the first time. --Doug Edwards

I think it's a private affair and the media should stay out of it. What are your thoughts on Obama and his relationship with people like Rezko? and a known terrorists. Those are the subjects that bother me. --Tom Koch 

Hi Rob: Your commentary was right on target about kids not being political targets. But, when the kids are used in political campaigning (who was on stage with Obama right after his acceptance speech and who did he speak to via satellite after "mommy's" speech?), you can't have it both ways. If kids are going to be used in the campaign, then they're going to be criticized as well. And don't think for one minute that Palin's daughter's pregnancy didn't figure mightily into McCain's decision to name her to his ticket. You'd be a fool not to. Palin only announced the pregnancy before the press broke the story and if McCain hadn't named her as his VP candidate, do you really think anyone outside Alaska would've even heard about this? This woman could be president if McCain wins the election and then his health fails! Yikes! Get real. As if anyone outside of Georgia ever would've heard of Billy (Beer) Carter if his brother hadn't become president. - HS

I think she is an opportunist that is sacrificing her family for political gain. If you make reckless decisions about your own body and family, flying 8 hrs. after your water broke, knowing you were carrying a downs syndrome child; going back to work 3 days after giving birth, and 9 times out of 10 a pregnant teenager with the advantages her daughter has had is missing something at home, her mom and dad; feeling it is more important to run as V.P. knowing your daughter will be thrown into the fray The Republican Party regards itself as the family values party, yet this woman will always put politics and power over her family. She is not a maverick working for the people, she's a loose cannon and most certainly not ready or appropriate for the 2nd highest office in the land. – Pam

Before either of those two issues, I was just puzzled. How can you make the case against Obama's inexperience and then choose someone who, if something very unfortunate happens to Senator McCain, would be the "leader of the Free World." I just don't see it. What was he thinking? Governor Palin is McCain's version of what Harriet Meyer was for the supreme court - unqualified, inexperienced. I can only hope before the election - she will resign for a credible candidate to take the place and give Senator McCain a better chance at winning. Bad judgement, bad choice.

I wish the media would forget about some of the family topics and get to the important topics like the economy, ideas for replacement of dependence on foreign oil, and job creation! I think a governor like Palin is a great asset to the McCain ticket. – PJ

I am very pleased with McCain's V.P. pick. I was a Ron Paul supporter and when McCain chose Gov. Palin I decided I would now support McCain. Gov. Palin is Reagan in a dress, and that will win my vote. Her daughter proves she walks the walk. As for the State Trooper, if someone threatened to "put a bullet in my Fathers head" I would of responded the same way. – Ron M

I'm deeply offended by the Republican's choice of a VP candidate. If she cannot be effective as the CEO of her family, how can we expect her to be a good CEO for our country. – Anonymous

Neither Sarah Palin nor her daughter are the problem. Instead, America's callous, cavalier, "So What" attitudes towards Human Sexuality are the problem. – Jon K. Evans

I think she's got guts and she practices what she preaches. She's courageous, tough, and comes from a working background. She's honest and stands up for what's right. She's a wonderful choice, will make a terrific Vice President, and in four years, our first female president. McCain and Palin show OBama and Biden for what they are: empty suits lost without teleprompters. – Lisa

Sen. John McCain's selection of Gov. Sarah Palin to be his VP running mate is a prime example of the shortcomings of his leadership qualities. If Sen. McCain already knew about Palin's past, he should have known that any bad publicity about his VP selection would certainly be brought out by the news media. Either he is so careless to his duties as the presidential nominee for the Republican Party, or he has no concerns as to what the US citizens would think, by having someone with such a shaded past and, what it would bring to this second most prestigious position in the United States. Either way, this would be a dereliction of a US President's duties. – Dean

Please, enough is enough. Confine coverage to the the candidate and leave the family, especially the children alone. – Pete

I thought "family values" meant abstinence... - Karen

I think her private life should be left out of politics. She seems refreshing to have in such a great position. – Sandy

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