Sarah, Bristol and privacy in American politics

Bristol is Sarah Palin's daughter. She is 17. On the day her mother was introduced as John's running mate, she was carrying her little brother wrapped in a blanket that was covering a nascent potbelly.
Yes, the world learned today that seventeen-year-old Bristol, 17, is pregnant, although she is a 17-year-old teenager. Of course, she is not married. And her mother is an evangelical Christian.

What a shame! The work of the devil has struck at the core of Alaskan virtue! Vade retro!

But this is none of our business, American voters. This is a private matter. John said so, Sarah said so, even Barack said so. The families should be out of the game. The kids especially.

Er... excuse me, people? The families and the kids should be out of the game?

Okay, I don't quite understand something here. Do I keep seeing Barack's two lovely daughters, Joe's precious grandkids, Sarah's cute little ones -- the knocked-up teenager included -- every other time their presidential or vice-presidential parent appears on TV? Did I hear Michelle and Cindy talk to the conventions and brag about how great their husbands are? Do I know the whole biography of Michelle, Cindy and Todd because I read it in the newspapers? Do the candidates keep mentioning their families and kids? Didn't Joe say that his wife is "drop-dead gorgeous" on the day he was introduced as Barack's VP pick?

Hey guys, I'm sorry, but you set the rules of your game. They suck -- indeed, I don't think your families should get involved in all this, because really they don't have much to do with the job you are applying for -- but they are your rules, and you have been using them as much as you can. So, yes, let's talk about Bristol and her teenage pregnancy and let's try to find out how she got knocked up.

And I hope we learn soon that she was dead drunk and stoned when she had sex -- oh, my god, sex, no, no, get away from my blog, cursed three-letter word!