Tuesday, September 2, 2008
News / Clout City Do as I say . . .
Posted by Ben Joravsky on 09.02.08 at 02:31 PM
I want to thank Senator John McCain for picking Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate -- I haven't had this much fun following politics in years.
I was just starting to get a handle on Palin's role in any one of a number of Alaskan political scandals -- and you think Chicago politics is corrupt -- when word broke that her 17-year-old daughter was five months pregnant.
As we all know, Governor Palin is of the far-right, family-values, don't-use-condoms, no-sex-till-you're-married wing of the Republican Party, which preaches abstinence as the best way to combat teenage pregnancy. I can't really say too much more on the subject because Republican operatives and writers -- having spent years painstakingly probing the most intimate details of Bill Clinton's sex life -- have suddenly declared that the private lives of public people are officially off-limits for discussion, at least when it comes to the offspring of this year's Republican ticket.
In any event, Governor Palin's revelation brought back memories of a story my cousin likes to tell about Big George and the right-wing reverend, who lived near him in a town not far from Detroit.
Big George was a loud, garrulous, and profane native New Yorker -- and proud of it! -- born and raised in Brooklyn.
The reverend was an equally proud member of the radical right, who said he was doing God's work by traveling from clinic to clinic in towns across America to scream at woman who were on their way to having abortions.
Anyway, one night Big George walked into his teenage daughter's bedroom and caught her in the sack with -- you guessed it -- the reverend's teenage son.
As my cousin tells the story, Big George grabbed the boy by the scruff of his neck, marched him down to his house, banged on the door and told the reverend to his face in no uncertain terms that if he ever again caught his mother-bleepin' piece-of-blank son in bed with his daughter, "I'll kill him and then I'll kill you."
Apparently, Big George was more effective than the tax-payer-funded abstinence classes they teach up in Alaska's schools. At least, the reverend's son got the message to stay away from Big George's daughter. However, he did knock up another teenage girl who lived in the neighborhood. Oh well, you know what they say about the son of a preacher man.
Unfortunately, Big George passed on a few years ago. I don't know if he was a Democrat or a Republican, but I think he'd have made a helluva running mate for Senator McCain. Growing up in Brooklyn, alongside immigrants from every corner of the world, he probably had more foreign policy experience than Governor Palin. And more to the point, he could teach the country a thing or two about how to handle horny teenagers.
Comments (44)
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Thatta boy Ben . Soon you will become one of us and get payed for it! Go Richie ....I mean Barack!
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Who cares if her daughter got pregnant? It is cold in Alaska and she needed some warmth. It doesn't mean anything for policy. Eddie Vrdolyak didn't use condoms either.
Should we even go to the Democrats indiscretions??????????? current or past They brought in St. Teddy Kennedy and deified him but he was a notorious drunk, drug user, and adulterer. His wife even said he abused the Church process of annullment with his connections. Kennedy let a girl drown and may have been responsible for killing her. Another Kennedy was convicted of killing a girl with golf club. Other Kennedys got off of rape charges. Should we get into Emil Jones private sex life? What about Bill Daley's sex life? What about Bill Clinton's sex life? What about Barney Frank's sex life? The Democrats may be opening up a pandoras box they cannot deal with. Stories of abortions with Patrick Daley abound but more importantly to us taxpayers what about MSS. or his drunken violent binges or the Filipino guy in the coma or the Water Department guy who got a job for it. Should we critize Barry Obama's mom? Barack was born out of wedlock and his dad never took care of him. At least these people are taking care of the Baby. Barack Obama's brother lives in a box and is homeless at $12 per momth and his grandma has no flush toilet. Obama should take care of his own family. Should we go into Dorothy Tillmans sex life? or Senator Ricky Hendons?
Wow. You could barely contain your glee reporting that a 17 year old unmarried girl got impregnated. Pretty sick. Anyway I fail to see the logic on how this reflects on Palin's ability to be a vice-president. Do you have any Republicans on record stating that preaching abstinence will prevent ALL unwanted pregnancies? Digging into Clinton's sex life was pretty slimy but at least it was HIS sex life and not one of his relatives...he was President after all and remember he was ultimately impeached for lying under oath...not for his activities with the intern.
If you can't walk the walk don't do the talk. The rumors of the local Dems are lies circulated by losers ,and scum. Bill Baley is a man's man or he would have never been admitted to the Hamburg social order. Get your lies straight. Next time you creeps will try to question Mayor Daley's manhood.
11th mans right. Guys like me and Billy Bob Daley are a mans man. We are always invited to the Hamburg Club, along with little boys and Irish Catholic Priest . Father McCormack won our last man of the year award.
Wow. Admonishing the coverage of this current story (and labeling someone who deigns to mention it as "sick"), and managing to, in a oh-so-casual way, tie the discussion of it (cuz golly jeepers, you wouldn't have mentioned it but for this current line of discussion) into the Clinton story, with a tortured rationale to boot! Methinks thou dost protest too much! Or rather, thou protest just enough to show that any line of questioning that mentions this inconvenient truth (yeah, pun intended) bothers you enough that you freakin' care. How come?
Sorry Dude, I'm not following you there. The original post brought up the Clinton scandal...so I didn't have to go very far to "tie" it in. I thought I was clear- reacting with glee to a child's personal problems and issues to me is sickening. The Clinton impeachment involved CLINTON...not his child. Questioning Palin over the state trooper thing...her inexperience with foreign policy...maybe even her own personal failings are at least about PALIN. Not some kid. I have yet to hear a clear argument on how this inconvenient truth is relevant to her qualifications for the job.
Barack Obama runs for mayor if he doesn't win the presidency: 1 percent. Now this would be fun. Let him unify a major American city before taking on the country. But he won't because he's a pussy.
Cant have it both ways. When the kids are used in photo-ops to show the Palins are one big happy traditional American family, they become open season. Now, because this family is turning out to be a Jerry Springer-type clan, you cannot say the kids are now off limits.
Now, because this family is turning out to be a Jerry Springer-type clan. You just addressed 50% of the voters in this country.
An unwanted pregnancy does not a Jerry-Springer type clan make. Plenty of 17 years of olds have sex but get lucky they do not get pregnant, use coitus interruptus, oral sex, birth control, condoms, or abortion. The family is walking the walk on having the baby. The coverage of Joe Biden was gushing despite the fact they could of brought up the graduating at the bottom of his law school class, or plagarizing or copying speeches--yes this is a long time ago but so is a 1986 DUI of her husband (and Alaska has higher rates of drinking and DUIs probably due to the cold and isolated area) The media coverage of Obama has been gushing without much objectivity fair timing or even plain journalism. I don't know this governor nor will be voting for her. However, he daughter being pregnant is just not the big deal the media is making it. If we want to get into kids sex lives than a lot of Dems and Repubs would be embarrassed. Let's see if the Obama girls get the same scrutiny as they get older.
Does this mean that Rev. Wright values about America are ok? That we should just look over it since the Dem candidate is Obama? What a really crazy election year.
Should Jan Petska's first son be used against her and should that be used against Daley? Should Brian Murphy's affairs or that of his wife on the job be used against Daley? Do you want to talk about Patrick Daley's sex life? Do you want to talk about Bill or John Daley's sex life? What about Al Sanchez's affairs on the job or Brian Murphy's? What about all the sexual harrassment cases in the city of Chicago. The media is hypocritical. What was the name of that Tribune guy who was hunting the teenage girls like R Kelly?
Jan, Your right. I was fired unfairly. I proved without a doubt, I did not violate any rules that caused termination. Unlike James Stroden, John Whirity or Tim Degnan jr. Yet the continue to spend taxpayers dollars on the case against me. The media and the US Attorney sit idle while this Mayor abuse the rights of the people of Chicago. IT"S A SIN!
How about son Patrick Daley , with MSS ? The US Attorney allows that and than bust a poor spic, dago or shine.
Common Sense: I know you do not want to start comparing the academic credentials of candidates. Obama - Harvard Undergrad and Law (editor of the Law Review), professor of Constitutional Law at U of Chicago - one of the best law schools in the country The Republican - near the bottom of his class at the academy and cannot use a computer.
"You could barely contain your glee reporting that a 17 year old unmarried girl got impregnated. Pretty sick. Anyway I fail to see the logic on how this reflects on Palin's ability to be a vice-president." It's not about ability, it's about what the right-wingers have been espousing for decades and how some "family values" will now be swept under the rug. Palin's 17 year old daughter, who got pregnant out of wedlock, would have reflected poorly on her ability to be vice-president amongst evangelicals, and poorly for the GOP. The GOP, infected by the right-wing fundamentalists, has been going out of their way to condemn other peoples' beliefs and lifestyle choices: no sex before marriage, no condoms, no birth control or access, no sex ed beyond abstinence, no choice regarding abortions or access to services, no access to morning-after pills even in the event of rape, no gay marriage or civil unions, etc. These things are incompatible with "family values" and to believe or condone them means you are going to hell, with no compassion. At least that's what the Pat Robertsons, the Jimmy Farwells, and my mom have been saying for decades, and the GOP has been cowtowing to those family values for votes. So we see that Palin's daughter wasn't raised with the sensibility to keep her legs together, and got knocked up as an unwed minor. That would have been the sign of an unfit mother, daughter and mother must both be whores. In some small towns it would be time for the shotgun wedding to try to advert the perception of conception before wedlock, or time to send the daughter off to a baby camp or some out of town relative to spend her pregnancy out of the eyes of the community. The GOP and evangelicals, who have taken a PR hit in recent years, will now rally to embrace this heathen offspring of an unwed baby-momma as a symbol of their pro-life beliefs. Any confusion about this acceptance will be dismissed by evangelicals as others just not understanding pro-life values, outsiders will be the ones that just don't get it. Right. People and the press will attack Palin and her daughter, just as the religious right has attacked others without perfectly executed "family values". This will provide press and attention to the GOP and Palin, kind of like tossing a steak to a hungry dog; Obama's normal family is boring now. There will be a fog on nonsense that will carry itself to the election, roadblocks on what can be discussed during debates as they could be "sensitive family topics" and an overall diversion from real issues. Forget about a campaign for steering America on the proper course for the 21st century. Forget a campaign about improving the quality of life for Americans, maintaining constitutional rights and America's standing as a world leader, and increasing our competitiveness world-wide. No, the GOP has just driven the trailer-trash lifestyle into the living rooms of America to steer this election away from change and away from aspiration. It won't be about getting past mistakes, it'll be about living with them. In the end there will probably be a segment of independent voters who'll probably view the baby momma uproar as an attack on women, view Palin with compassion, feel sorry for and vote for her; maybe enough to make a difference for the GOP this November. The GOP ran the village idiot in 2000 and 2004 successfully, now they're running the old vet and his housewife with baby momma issues. It should be a disaster for the GOP but it may just work. I'm sure this wasn't without great calculation and focus groups.
I think not. I think the majority of Americans are not born out of wedlock, and would not condone having lowlife NASCAR, trailer trash types beat a heartbeat away from the White House. If the Palins were black, the GOP would scream Affirmative Action. But this dysfunctional family is now going on the world stage, with a little illegitimate child on the via a shotgun marriage between two kids that only knew each other for a less than a year.
No wonder the right has so much contempt for liberals/the left. They know that the best defense is a good offense. They quickly take control of the dialog and cow the opposition into silence. The right/Republicans demonize gays yet when it's brought up that the Cheneys have a lesbian daughter (who now has a child born outside of traditional wedlock), it's "We love our daughter, end of discussion." When the 17-year daughter of a governor who supports abstinence-only education gets pregnant, the Right yelps "It's a family matter! Respect their privacy!" (BTW, where was the outrage on the Right when Limbaugh made fun of Chelsea Clinton's looks during her dad's tenure?) Democrats can, without dragging Palin's daughter directly into this, hit back HARD by emphasizing the right of women to access not only information but also actual contraception -- things which the Bush administration continues to scuttle in its dying months. THIS INFURIATES ME. And for once, I agree with Orion: You can't have it both ways.
I do not think it is hypocritical or having it both ways. While certainly Rush Limbaugh (an idiot and hypocrite in mybook) should of been criticized (and he was by some) for calling Chelsea Clinton the White House dog (or any other "right wing" or non right wing jokes about Chelsea Clinton true or untrue) And John McCain has criticized the right wing. Supporting abstince based education (which is the best solution)alongside biological information that is correct and comprehensive (and not ideological and akin to Penthouse letters or indoctrination)(and as a side note it is not hard to get condoms, most Public High Schools have them and still have high pregnancy rates vis a vis the Private High Schools although they certainly happen in private High Schools) and colleges, and clinics and are given free everywhere. They were given out in fishbowls at bars, given out at my High School or at least available, and given out in college so there is not a shortage of condoms being given out nor other birth control although some birth control is not contraceptive but abortificacient (understanding that most do not believe that the life is a person or a human afforded rights and a blob of cells) The Right Wing did not criticize anyone's kids for getting pregnant but is right (as is the Democratic late Senator Daniel Moniyhan or plenty of Democratic Black Pastors) in criticizing illegitimacy in the African American community (and supposedly in this case at least initially and superficially the young couple is getting married) Many parents make mistakes whether it is with Daley and his son going to different High Schools and Colleges or beating up a Filipino in a coma. Roman Pucinski (D), Dan Rostenkwoski (D), and Henry Hyde (R)(and after his wild younger days into his 40s became a devout Catholic) all had children on drugs and problems with the law possibly (by the admission of the parents) because politics took time away from the family. This does not necessarily mean they were bad parents (but it may mean that) So the VP pick's daughter getting pregnant at 17 to me is not that big of a deal. It is not hypocritical because it can happen in the best of families and is natural. It is not hypocritical to have a mistake of an unitnended pregancy and still believe that high rates of illegitimacy are bad for society (as Sen Moniyhan did in 1960 as a Democrat). Moreover, many males (higher in African American communities but not just) do not take care of their children at all or unless forced to by child support laws. Nonetheless, two parent families are superior not because I say it or it is religiously true but becaust statistics back it up. Kids in single parent families (not withstanding heroic mothers and great kids like Barack Obama andmany other who beat the odds) statistically do worse in terms of school and problems with the law. The conservative criticism of the lack of two parent families and illigimacy (which is caused from promiscuity as well as arguably a lack of birth control) The attacks on the McCain VP pick are biased and out of proportion to the issue. The Democratic convention did not have discussions of ethics on Rezko and others but adulation of Obama. When Jesse Jackson Jr gave his hugging spree they did not talk about his illegitimate half brother or his family problems. When Joseph Biden was picked they didn't go into problems in his past. The husbands DUI was 1986 and Biden ran for President in 1988 when various scandals came out about him (and Delaware corporate scandals that he at least intervened in) Barack Obama and Joseph Biden are the firt ticket with NO military experience (not even reserve or Air Reserve even if phony) and no key advisors (David Axelrod, Emil Jones etc) with Military experience. Yet no mention of that The bias of the media is overwhelming. the Sun Times might as well become an extension of the Obama campaign. The girl getting pregnant is not that big of a deal and does not demonstrate the need or lack of need for more birth control and against abstinence based education.
Yes, its open season on Michelle Obama based on a paper she wrote as an undergrad and a misquote in a speech (the "proud" comment). But dare not mention Ms. McCain's pill popping or now Bristol's preggers.
Alex: When you get simple facts wrong - "When Jesse Jackson Jr gave his hugging spree they did not talk about his illegitimate half brother or his family problems. " It weakens everything else you write. Jesse Sr. and Karen Sanford have an illegitimate baby DAUGHTER.
Instead of the media worrying about a teenage pregnancy--what about?: Tim Degnan Jerry Joyce Jon Burge Freddie Barbara O'Hare contracts Jobs Hired Trucks Mike Tadin John Daleys Insurance deals Jerry Joyces airport deals Tim Degnans mafia connections John Daleys mafia connections Michael Marchese land buys Vaneckos pension deals Patrick Daleys MSS Maggie Daley's friends bookstore in the airport Pension grabs by Degnan and Bedore Hotels by Paul Stepan McDonough Construction Walsh Construction Arson at 69 West Washington Arson and murder by Elzie Higginbottom Higher taxes because of all of this Oscar Dangelo and inside deals and eminent domain Drug dealers, murderers, sex criminals and gang bangers in HDO Victor Reyes and CTA deals Police torture including electrocution of testicles Finnegan and bribing of Commanders contract killing bad schools The ComEd Nuclear deal with the Daley family Bill Daley's financial deals and sex life John Daleys in laws the mafia Briattas Tim Degnans gambling and mob ties Jerry Joyces ties to dirty cops and drug dealers The national media should really do a story on Daley not some 17 year old girl because we the taxpayers are the ones getting f-ck-d and Daley is the rapist and Obama is silent and will pull out Fitzgerald.
Michelle Obama's paper (which I read online) was a paper which seems to state (in her own words) a separatist Black African American ideology and reverse racism that has nothing to do with her spelling. It claims to be sociology but is ideology. It is hard for most people to appreciate her victimization when she was making $300,000 a year (not saying she didn't deserve it or didn't earn it only that she has opportunity in the USA and not racism) or was at top schools Ivy League where she did not get discrimination yet has an edge and victimization. A similiar ideology of Rev Wright That is the problem I think that a brief discussion of Michelle Obama's paper (as was done and not dwelled upon by the media and she has had numerous front page magazine articles) as well as substance abuse of prescription drugs for pain (even if analagous to crack or heroin for pain for poor people) or a young girl getting pregnant from a conservative family--is all brief and put in context--there is a Paris Hilton lead story (like when Mika Brezinski wouldn't read the lead when Republican Senator Lugar broke with Bush and that should of been the lead) element that this is sex and sensationalist. But my point stands that it is not necessarily hypocricy or a broader policy conclusion and that one can generally be critical of illegitmacy (which is higher in the African American community and has worse consequences there by stastitics of crime, violence, death, education levels, income, drugs etc) I am sorry about saying Jesse Jackson Jr's brother when it was a sister. The point being is that there was not a mention of that when he was hugging everyone (nor his allegations of being involved in heroin dealing with Nigerians, money laundering, in the mob run Hanley union or his own girlfriends (and boyfriends) while married. Put it in context. The media has not been fair on this and it is not a big story. The media has been gushing over Obama and I think at this point it hurts him. People are fed up with the uncritical absurd media coverage and creation of a messiah.
I did not know she made $300,000 per year while in college. That must have been one hell of a work-study program job they have at Princeton.
Daley is supporting a pig like Obama. Obama supports late term abortions. Literally sucking the brains out of a live baby after the head is smashed. Obama also supports murder to nine month old babies. I do not like bush, but Obama is a Daley boy, plain and simple.
.... all for Change and Hope in Washington. However for the screwed up governments in Chicago and Springfield he supports the status quo. His endorsements of buffoons Daley and Stroger speak volumes about his judgment.
Why and the fuck can you preach some fake ass self-telling otherrighteous bullshit and turn around in the same breathe and contradict yourself.Palin is a hypocritic,telling the world her shit doesn't smell. If she can't manage her own family how and hell can she manage the nation? Your racist rants are typical for a white supremacist obessessed with boosting even White trash at the expense of the darker races.
This guy named Ben Alexander is on some bullshit according to the above poster." Ben Joravsky ROCKS"
She made $300,000 at U of C hospital after Obama won and was offered a job as part of her husband getting a professor offer (even though he was an editor and cite checker and not a writer of any articles) Michelle Obama gets big salaries not as a feminist nor because she is a victim of racism but because of her Obama. Name one case that Obama tried,
You don't have to be a rabid pro-lifer to think that partial birth abortion is bad. Killing a baby after it is outside the womb and alive and can live without the mother is homicide and barbaric. Even Hilary Clinton voted for the Infants born alive. Obama is a radical on this issue.
"Should we go into Dorothy Tillmans sex life? or Senator Ricky Hendons?" If you write that story, I wonder where you'd post it...
"Killing a baby after it is outside the womb and alive and can live without the mother is homicide and barbaric." That's not what Palin believes. She believes that *all* embryos that are extracted or bypass the womb due to human intervention (ordinary birth control pills, the morning after pill, first trimester, etc.) is tantamount to homicide.
Boyfriends Tony, Spaced-Out Marko, Coconutty, et al. And STAY the hell out of the festivals; Parading & canvassing for the married to the Al-Qaeda GOP RINO.
"Larwerence Should Go Back With His...... September 8th - 3:04 p.m. Boyfriends Tony, Spaced-Out Marko, Coconutty, et al. And STAY the hell out of the festivals; Parading & canvassing for the married to the Al-Qaeda GOP RINO. They Want To Turn Chicago Into Another...... September 8th - 3:32 p.m. East St.Louis........Just so lilywhite suburbia could flourish." Speak English, you ignorant old maid.
Tony, Marko, Their Taliban Relative, Frankie Boy Coconut, Mick The Prick, Ben & Their State Police Internet File Bunch.
