The world of "religion and politics" just got a whole lot more interesting now that the Republican Party has chosen a woman to be their Vice-Presidential candidate, who also happens to be an evangelical Christian. She is also the first woman on a party ticket since 1984 (Ferraro). Sarah Palin, who has been the Governor of Alaska for 20 months, is anti-abortion and helps McCain with the Christian right. Some women were impressed while others were offended by Palin's description of herself as a "hockey mom" as part of her self introduction to the nation. Despite this initial introduction, the question of Mccain's vice-presidential selection process got even more bizarre when the news came out that Palin's 17 year-old daughter is five months pregnant. It does not seem that this rather "shocking" news has had any impact on the Christian base of the Republic Party and their platforms against sex education in the schools that move past abstinence. Obama has referred to his own mother's age when he was born and that it is beyond politics to discuss the Palin family's personal matters. In essence, this announcement may be helpful for self-reflection in the United States. With more young people watching the news and following this year's election, it might be beneficial that the topic of teenage pregnancy is making headlines , although clearly Bristol has it far easier than most teenage girls. Families and schools can look together at this high profile case of a small-town America girl (now the daughter of a VP candidate) and what kinds of problems will await her and her family. Even if it shouldn't affect Palin's candidacy, this "unwanted" pregnancy should be a topic for reflection and questioning among all groups in the U.S., particularly the Christian right and the anti-abortion groups , which so far were planning to fully support Palin for the VP post.
