Chicago Columnist Right On Money With Republican Hypocrisy

How many times have we witnessed conservative commentators blasting the black community for unwed teenagers having babies out of wedlock? many times we've heard that battle cry. Now, a Republican vice presidential candidate has a 17-year-old unwed girl who is five months pregnant. Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell was right to point out the hypocrisy of Republicans who call it a great tragedy when it happens to kids in urban areas, but how it is such a beautiful thing to be proud of when it happens elsewhere and it happens with one of their own.

Here is an excerpt from Mitchell's column: "Palin should have acknowledged the disappointment and pain any mother feels when she learns her teenage daughter has stumbled onto this tough road. But Palin hid behind scripted words and blew the chance to have an honest dialogue about a problem that affects Republicans and Democrats alike. Still, some good can come from all of this after all. Conservatives like Palin have been hard on young, unwed, pregnant women in urban areas. Maybe now that she is in the same boat, they'll show a little more compassion."

Mitchell poses an interesting question about whether there will be more compassion for unplanned pregnancies with unwed teen moms. I doubt ultra right-wing conservatives will break from their double standard. Palin is one of their own and they will support her through thick and thin - as long as she is on their ticket as a vice president candidate. I don't condemn her or or family for their choices or their situation. But, I do recognize that there has been a double standard in what is wrong for some people is OK for others.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/1139356,CST-NWS-mitch02.article