Palin announces that teen daughter is pregnant

ST. PAUL — Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin announced Monday that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. 

{mosads}“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,” said Palin, the governor of Alaska, in a joint statement with husband Todd. “We’re proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.”

Palin, who was picked by Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) on Friday to join him on the GOP ticket, urged the media to respect her daughter’s privacy.

“Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family,” the Palins stated. “We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates.”

According to Reuters, the McCain campaign was aware of the issue before Palin was picked to become the Arizona senator’s running mate.

In the past 24 hours, liberal bloggers had questioned whether Palin had faked her most recent pregnancy to cover up the fact that it was Bristol who was pregnant.