The Blame Game

A recurring theme in politics is the “ah-ha, busted” narrative. Recent months have brought us such notable hypocrites as Sen. Larry “marriage protection amendment cosponsor” Craig and Rep. Mark “sex offender registration and notification act cosponsor” Foley. Wonkette had a field day with these scandals, heralding the festive months of autumn.

But really guys? Really? Both parties have extensive platforms. Like, seriously lengthy. Your-eyes-are-bleeding lengthy. So rather than adopting a policy position you know you’re lying about as your signature issue, why not make the bold decision to run on an issue you can actually get behind? Like, say, “working with Americans in the territories.” Who’s going to question being nice to the Virgin Islands or the Marianas? Hard to screw that one up. Or “modernizing long-term health options for all”? Very few people are for going back to the Middle Ages in long-term care – after all, the average life span was 30. How about “giving students the best teachers”? Nobody’s pushing bad teachers these days, for some reason. (Or are they?) The list goes on and on. It goes without saying that there are varying opinions on how to solve these issues, and not every candidate toes the party line on every single issue (I’m looking at you, Britain.) But just don’t make the one or two divergent/embarrassing issues your thing.

This week, Gov. Sarah Palin is accused of being the latest two-faced wonder, largely for her 17-year-old daughter’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy. The media’s hysterical speculation has been harsh—to the point of Sen. Barack Obama telling reporters on Monday that “people’s families are off limits.”

But the big difference? The pregnancy wasn’t Sarah Palin’s choice. Those other guys? Uh, yeah. Pretty sure those were conscious decisions. And one more thing—Palin hasn’t made abstinence her thing.

Let’s be honest: teenagers are a royal pain. To hold parents accountable for their children’s poor decisions is a sticky situation. Telling most kids to not kiss someone after school or not try a cigarette is one thing; being held culpable for something beyond your control is entirely another. So bitch, moan, complain that she failed as a mother and didn’t impart the correct values to her family. At the end of the day, her daughter made a choice that she will have to live with for the rest of her life. HER DAUGHTER. Not her.

Personal decisions require accepting consequences for one’s actions, and responsibility for one’s missteps. This is not a societal problem, nor does it “take a village.” Don’t let the kid off the hook. But conversely, don’t lay the whole blame on the parents.

(Financial repercussions for destruction of personal property are another matter.)