Palin pregnancy news could trouble conservatives

ST. PAUL — News that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) 17-year-old daughter is pregnant could lessen the enthusiasm conservatives expressed for John McCain's running mate, strategists said Monday.

Social conservatives were initially overjoyed that Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) had picked the anti-abortion rights governor. They sent out glowing statements, with some even saying that Palin being on the ticket made it easier for them to vote for McCain.

{mosads}"The selection of Gov. Palin is great news for conservatives, for the party and for the country," David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, said in a statement over the weekend. "Her dedication to principle, her courage both before and after her election as governor of Alaska and her personal qualities make her a perfect choice for vice president. I predict any conservatives who have been lukewarm thus far in their support of the McCain candidacy will work their hearts out between now and November for the McCain-Palin ticket."

By Monday, however, Keene, who also writes a column for The Hill, declined to comment on the pregnancy of Palin's daughter, Bristol.

The Family Research Council (FRC) over the weekend enthusiastically hailed Palin's spot on the ticket, but on Monday FRC President Tony Perkins put out another statement, this one about teenage pregnancy.

"Unfortunately, teenage pregnancy has become all too common in today's society, regardless of a family's economic or social status," Perkins said in a statement. "It is a problem that we remain committed to reducing through encouraging young people to practice abstinence."

While the news is likely upsetting for some conservatives, Republican strategists said Monday that the Palin family's statement could go a long way to soothing any conservative consternation.

"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. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents," the Palin family said in a statement. "As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support. 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. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi's privacy, as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."

Several conservatives indicated Monday that they were standing by their support of Palin as the GOP's vice presidential candidate because her daughter is getting married and because she did not have an abortion.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) expressed sympathy with Palin.

"Fortunately, Bristol is following her mother and father's example of choosing life in the midst of a difficult situation," Perkins said. "We are committed to praying for Bristol and her husband-to-be and the entire Palin family as they walk through a very private matter in the eyes of the public."

{mospagebreak}FRC Action Senior Vice President Connie Mackey said the news about the out-of-wedlock pregnancy has “absolutely no effect” on their enthusiasm for Palin’s candidacy for vice president.
 
“It shows Sarah Palin once again as the all-American mom that has to deal with problems in the family, and they’ve dealt with it in a way that’s most healthy for the baby and the mothers and that’s what’s the most important thing to the Family Research Council,” she said.
 
In fact, Mackey said, the daughter’s decision to get married and have the baby makes FRC even “more enthusiastic” about Palin.
 
{mosads}“I didn’t think that was even possible,” Mackey remarked. “She’s walking the walk, not just talking the talk.”
 
Evangelical leader Richard Land said at a forum early Monday that Palin’s selection had effectively closed the “enthusiasm gap” between the Democrats and the Republicans.

Upon learning about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy after the forum, Land stood by his assertion that Palin was a boon to McCain among evangelical voters, because her daughter had opted to keep the child.

“I can tell you that my e-mail and my phone messages have gone absolutely off the charts since Friday morning from evangelicals and social conservative friends of mine who are ecstatic over Sarah Palin — most of them women,” Land said after the forum.

Former presidential candidate Gary Bauer released a statement on Monday offering his support for the Palin family. "Bristol Palin and her family understand that a new life has been created. The commitment to bring that life into the world is a testament to their pro-life philosophy. I commend them for the example they are setting for other women in crisis pregnancies," he said.

{mospagebreak}For months, McCain’s campaign has aggressively pursued endorsements from evangelical leaders, such as Focus on the Family’s James Dobson, without success. Dobson, however, only jumped on McCain’s ’08 bandwagon after the Palin pick, citing her opposition to abortion, Christian background and conservative credentials.
 
After hearing Palin’s announcement about her daughter Bristol’s pregnancy on Monday, Dobson issued a lengthy statement commending Palin for living out her “pro-life and pro-family values” and chiding the media for trying to cast Palin as a “hypocrite.”
 
“In the 32-year history of Focus on the Family, we have offered prayer, counseling and resource assistance to tens of thousands of parents and children in the same situation the Palins are now facing,” Dobson said in a written statement. “We have always encouraged the parents to love and support their children and always advised the girls to see their pregnancies through, even though there will of course be challenges along the way. That is what the Palins are doing, and they should be commended once again for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances.

{mosads}"Being a Christian does not mean you're perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect,” the statement continued. “But it does mean there is forgiveness and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord. I've been the beneficiary of that forgiveness and restoration in my own life countless times, as I'm sure the Palins have.”

Dobson said the Palins are in his prayers as they handle the glaring national spotlight during their daughter’s pregnancy.

"The media are already trying to spin this as evidence Gov. Palin is a 'hypocrite,' but all it really means is that she and her family are human. They are in my prayers and those of millions of Americans."

One Republican strategist said that "there will be some" conservatives who will decry the pick because of the teenage, unmarried pregnancy, but many will likely view the pregnancy as a blessed miracle.

"It will concern some," the strategist said. "But lifers, evangelicals and other conservatives will judge it by how the family really reacts to it."

The strategist added: "It doesn't have to be a Jamie Lynn Spears situation."

The McCain campaign said it is not concerned that the story might upset some conservatives or make them less likely to vote for the Arizona Republican.

"The bottom line is no, we're not concerned about it," the official said. "[Bristol] chose life when it came down to it."

Aaron Blake and Manu Raju contributed to this report.