Palin to be grandmother

MAT-SU — Responding to rampant Internet rumors that Gov. Sarah Palin’s baby, Trig, is actually her daughter’s child, the Palins Monday released a statement debunking that rumor with a revelation that the same daughter, 17-year-old Bristol, is 5 months pregnant.

Unfounded rumors that Palin is Trig’s grandmother gained traction over the past few days on Internet blogging sites following the governor’s selection as Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s running mate.

The Associated Press reports McCain campaign aides said news of Bristol’s pregnancy was released to put rumors to rest. Early Monday morning, a statement from Todd and Sarah Palin broke the news.

“We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us,” the statement says. “Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned.”

The statement names Bristol’s boyfriend, Levi, as the father and says the pair plan to wed. No last name is given for Levi.

Mondays news about Bristol’s pregnancy has also created debate about whether it would, or should, play a role in the McCain-Palin campaign.

Democratic nominee Barack Obama was quick to respond that having pregnant teen daughter is a family issue and should not be campaign fodder. State Rep. Mark Neuman, R-Big Lake, agrees with Obama and said he doesn’t think it will.

“Barack Obama said that should be a family issue and should not enter politics,” Neuman said. “And that’s right.”

In a news conference in Monroe, Mich., Obama said Bristol’s pregnancy has no bearing on Palin’s potential as a candidate for vice president. Obama went on to urge media to back off the story.

But Neuman said he’s sure some will grab onto the headline and use it as a talking point against the McCain-Palin ticket. It’s a case of dirty politics, Neuman said.

“That’s life, you know?” Neuman said of the pregnancy news. “And things happen in life.”

Neuman added he’s proud of the Palin family for not using abortion as a form of birth control and said it shows the Palins’ morals to support their daughter and her baby.

That sentiment seems to be shared by many at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, Minn.

Alaska delegate David Lewis said Bristol’s pregnancy not an issue for him at all.

“It’s her life and the family will take care of the child,” Lewis said by cell phone from the convention hall. He added the consensus at the convention is leaning toward keeping the pregnancy out of politics.

“It’s a family matter,” Lewis said.

Even so, the news seems to be the top subject on reporters’ minds at the convention, and Lewis said various media outlets are asking the same questions and getting the same answers.

Just before losing the signal on his cell phone, Lewis said the fact that Bristol will to keep the baby is in line with the governor’s platform.

Alaska Republican Party Vice Chair Steve Colligan, who is at the Republican National Convention, said the media needs to back off.

“Shame on some media for trying to make it a big deal,” Colligan said, adding nearly everyone in the Alaska delegation can identify with the Palins.

“There are parents and there are grandparents on the delegation and it’s like, you know what? It’s a family matter and I think the governor has made a statement that it’s a family matter,” Colligan said. “I think at the end of the day that everything will be all right.”

Although the Palins broke the news themselves about the baby, their statement did not include information about Bristol’s age, which is being reported as 17.

Wasilla resident Karen Rhoades, who said she’s a good friend of Sarah Palin’s, said the governor told her Bristol is 18, although Rhoades said she cannot confirm that as fact. A call to Palin spokesman Bill McAllister was not returned by press time.

Rhoades agrees that Bristol’s pregnancy should not be an issue.

“All it is is finger-pointing and slander,” Rhoades said. “You cannot let it bother you, that will take away from your effectiveness as a leader.”

Rhoades said she and Palin have, in the run up to Friday’s announcement, discussed the potential for an onslaught of media scrutiny of her personal life should she become a candidate for national office.

“We’ve spoken about this all along her journey, that when you step into public office character assassinations come with it,” Rhoades said.

Perhaps it’s Palin’s relative unknown status in the game of national politics, but news outlets around the country have placed the Bristol pregnancy story at the top of their news lists. The New York Times ran the story Monday second only to news of Hurricane Gustav. The same position could be found on the Los Angeles Times Web site Monday afternoon. Some Republican aides and officials are now reportedly concerned more unknowns about the Palin family might surface during the campaign.

No matter what happens in the lead up to Nov. 4, the buzz around the Mat-Su Valley — and all of Alaska  — seems to be touting the significance of having so much attention thrown on the state and one of its own.

For Neuman, although Palin would not be Alaska’s governor should McCain wins the presidency, he couldn’t be more excited.

“I think this is the best thing to happen to Alaska in a long time,” Neuman said.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252. Frontiersman reporter Andrew Wellner contributed to this report.