Posts Tagged ‘bristol palin’

Meghan McCain Chimes in on Abstinence

May 7th, 2009

First their parents were paired together as Republican running mates in the 2008 Presidential election, and now Meghan McCain and Bristol Palin are both speaking up on the issue of abstinence.

 

Bristol, a new teen mom, and daughter of Gov. Sarah Palin, has been out and about lately, advocating the abstinence approach as the only kind of birth control teens should consider. Meghan, daughter of Sen. John McCain, says she respects Bristol’s opinion and that she is free to make her own choices, but adds that there’s a lot more to consider.

 

"Daughters of Republican politicians aren’t expected to have sex, let alone enjoy it — as if there were some strange chastity belt automatically attached to us female offspring. God forbid anyone talk realistically about life experiences and natural, sexual instincts. Nope, the answer is always abstinence," she writes in her column, entitled, "The GOP Doesn’t Understand Sex" on The Daily Beast.

So if she’s not advocating abstinence only, what is the solution to prevent unwanted teen pregnancies?

 

"The key, honestly, is communication between parents and children. At the end of the day, the worst thing parents can do is raise children who are not prepared for the situations they may encounter, especially when they’re not planned," she explains. 

 

And she’s not taking it easy on her dad’s party either, adding, "Unfortunately, Republicans typically don’t like to discuss or deal with things they think are wrong or immoral. And that’s a huge mistake. If we can’t discuss birth control in addition to abstinence, and in a non-judgmental way, kids will continue to make bad choices for lack of having access to informed, safe options."

Bristol Palin Preaches

May 7th, 2009

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Bristol Speaks Up on Teen Pregnancy

May 7th, 2009

Bristol Palin just might be the most famous teen mom in the country right now, after  giving birth to son Tripp Johnston with boyfriend Levi Johnston. And now the daughter of Alaska governor Sarah Palin is working to educate her peers about the realities of becoming a mom at an early age. 

 

Bristol, 18, joined Hayden Panettiere and others as the Candie’s Foundation hosted a town hall meeting on teen pregnancy prevention for National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Day in NYC.

 

“If I can prevent one teen from getting pregnant than I’ll complete some goals," she told reporters, reiterating her support of abstinence. “I think kids need to understand that it can happen to anyone. If you’re having sex, you have a possibility of getting pregnant. So I believe that staying abstinent is the only way you can prevent this from happening.”

 

PICS FROM THE EVENT:

 

Bristol also shared some of her experience of being a young mom, revealing that her life has gone in a different direction that she originally saw for herself.

 

“You don’t have friends. You can’t just go to the movies or go get your hair done or anything like that. You put your baby first and it’s your responsibility," she said during the meeting.  “I’m sure I would have been in college out of state, just traveling and hanging out with my friends and having a lot more freedom," she added of what her plans would’ve been without motherhood.

 

Bristol’s dad Todd Palin spoke exclusively to OK! about his daughter’s foray into public speaking. 

 
“She did a great job. She understands that having a child at that age is a big responsibility and we’re proud of how she is as a mother," he told OK!.  “It comes from her heart. The same message the Candies Foundation shares, so if she could prevent one teenager from getting pregnant, than it’s a success.”

The former candidate for "First Dude" revealed that having Bristol and the baby at home has changed a few things. 

 

"It’s a little busier around the house. We all chip in a little bit, but she’s taken charge of her responsibility.”

 

Reporting by Laura Lane

Hayden Panettiere’s Motherly Intentions

May 6th, 2009

Hayden Panettiere might still be a teenager herself, but this young actress seems to have a good head on her shoulders when it comes to teens and pregnancy. The Heroes actress joined teen mom Bristol Palin and others as the Candie’s Foundation hosted a town hall meeting on teen pregnancy prevention for National Teen Pregnancy Awareness Day in NYC.

The articulate star told OK! why she was speaking up on this important issue.

 

"I don’t think it’s something that’s talked about enough and I think that it’s just human nature to not realize the severity of an issue until it happens to you, until it directly impacts your life," she explained to OK!. "And you go, ‘I’ll never get pregnant. It will never happen to me. I know it happens but it won’t happen to me. I’ll never get in a car accident, I know it happens, but it won’t happen to me.’ Until it happens and then it’s too late.”

 

PICS FROM THE EVENT:

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Hayden, who isn’t necessarily an abstinence only advocate, still had kind words for her fellow speaker, Bristol Palin.

 

"I think this is all politics aside here," she told OK!. "Different approaches to this topic, different opinions, but still saying the same thing – just to be safe, to be smart, to be educated and it was very brave of her to come up here and for the younger people to see someone their age going through it.” 

The Heroes star was candid about her life plan during the town hall meeting, saying that a family is definitely in her future – somewhere farther along the road.

 

“I want a family. I want kids. I actually want a lot of kids. Not like ten, like four. And if it’s something that you go, ‘Oh I can’t wait to be a mom,’ that’s great, but think about it for your child and go, ‘I want to be a mom but I want to be the best mom I can be. And the only way to be the best mom I can be is by waiting until I’m no longer a child and waiting until I can teach them the best morals and raise them the best I can with a good education and a good platform. ‘ ”
 

Are we sure she’s only 19?

 

Reporting by Laura Lane

Levi Johnston Wants Bristol Palin Back

March 16th, 2009

While the engagement is off between Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston, the young dad says it was a joint decision to break up, speaking to Good Morning America from the driver’s seat of his red pickup truck in Wasilla, Alaska.

 

"Both of ours," he says about who decided to split.

 

As for why, Levi is accepting at least part of the blame.

 

"Just me not being mature enough or something," he says. "[It's] better for us to separate for awhile."

 

The new father says he sees his son Tripp whenever he wants to, adding, "I’d give everything for him, anything to be with him… a lot changes when you’re a father."

 

There could be a marriage in the future still – Levi still hopes that he and Bristol will be a couple again.

 

"We both had our tough times with each other, we’ll see what happens," he says. "I’d like to get back together with her, [but] I’m not sure what she’s thinking. Whatever happens happens."

Bristol Palin & Levi Johnston Welcome a Son

December 29th, 2008

Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of former republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, has given birth to a son, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston. Bristol, who’s teenage pregnancy was almost as famous as Tina Fey’s impression of her mother, gave birth on Sunday in Palmer, Alaska. The healthy baby weighed in at 7 lb.s, 4 oz.

"We think it’s wonderful," said Colleen Jones, the sister of Bristol’s grandmother Sally Heath, who confirmed the news. "The baby is fine and Bristol is doing well. Everyone is excited."

The baby’s father and Bristol’s fiance, Levi Johnston, is an apprentice electrician and former Wasilla High School hockey player. He and Bristol have been dating for three years and became engaged earlier this year. The couple plans to wed in 2009 and raise their child together.

Bristol is the oldest of Sarah and Todd Palin’s three daughters (The couple also have two sons). When news of her pregnancy hit last summer, shortly after John McCain picked Governor Palin to be his running mate, the Palins said their daughter "came to us with news that we as parents knew would make her grow up faster than we’d ever planned."

They added Bristol "has our unconditional love and support."

Teen Pregnancy: Hollywood’s Fault

November 3rd, 2008

Forget about safe sex, the pill and abstinence – according to a new study, a new form of birth control could be parents turning off whatever their kids are watching.

 

Researachers at the RAND organization say that a three-year study of teens and their TV-watching behavior shows that those who watch shows with sexy content are more likely to become pregnant earlier than their peers, according to Reuters.

 

"Our findings suggest that television may play a significant role in the high rates of teenage pregnancy in the United States," said Anita Chandra, one of the behavioral scientist swho led the research.

 

While Hollywood can’t take all the blame, its stars are used to the criticism that they help glamorize teen pregnancies. Highly-profile young moms like Jamie Lynn Spears and Bristol Palin and movies like Juno are often pointed at as contributing to the problem.

 

"I was getting contacted by so many people regarding the plight of young pregnancy that I was beginning to think I was the leading obstetrician in this country or something," Juno writer Diablo Cody recently said said at the MTV Networks Election Effect Panel Discussion in NYC.

 

So, ‘fess up, Sarah Palin! What was on your TV up there in Alaska?

Diablo Cody: Influence Broker?

October 16th, 2008

With the election around the corner and the media spotlight on republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, Juno writer and director Diablo Cody has found her 2007 hit back in the spotlight amidst controversy surrounding the teen pregnancy of Palin’s daughter, Bristol.

"I was getting contacted by so many people regarding the plight of young pregnancy that I was beginning to think I was the leading obstetrician in this country or something," Diablo said at the MTV Networks Election Effect Panel Discussion in NYC.

She laughed off questions about her teen comedy "glamorizing teen pregnancy."

 

"If I would have know that I wielded that kind of power, I would have written a movie called Don’t Vote for McCain," Diablo joked.

 

Since Juno’s release, the surprise hit has grossed nearly $144 million domestically on a mere $7.5 million budget. The coming of age film staring Ellen Page and Michael Cera has been thrust into debates surrounding the election, but Diablo says that was never her intention.

 

"For me it was not political propaganda in any way," she tells OK!. "What’s strange to me is that anybody’s even asking my opinion. I wrote a movie. It was just a story and it’s strange to me that it’s become this sort of totem for teen pregnancy.

"The key thing that people tend to overlook is that Juno gives the baby up for adoption, she adds. "These girls that are being used as examples in the media are keeping the babies and becoming teen mothers. That is a very different thing."

Although Diablo would rather keep her Oscar-winning movie out of elections discussion, she has no problem speaking out about her own political views.

"I think Sarah Palin is creepy actually," Diablo says. "Creepier than McCain. But you know I think my beliefs have been very liberal my entire life, so naturally I’m voting for Obama. I used to think that McCain wouldn’t make a bad President to be honest, but I think this election has exposed so much ugliness that its just cemented my beliefs."

Following Juno’s comedic success, Cody’s decided to take a career turn by writing the horror movie Jennifer’s Body, which stars sexy starlet Megan Fox and is planned for a 2009 release.

"It’s a downer but it’s really fun," Diablo reveals. "I say Juno is life affirming and my next movie is death affirming."

 

By Laura Lane

Kate Beckinsale Just Says ‘No’ To Sarah Palin Role

September 23rd, 2008

Kate Beckinsale shoots down speculation that she’s gunning for the role of Sarah Palin during the Nothing But The Truth premiere held at Roy Thomson Hall during the Toronto International Film Festival.

During the afternoon’s Film Festival press conference, Nothing director Rod Lurie says he’s going to write the Sarah Palin story for Kate. Playing along, Kate laughs that her pregnant costar Vera Farmiga can play Bristol Palin.

But tonight the saucy Brit, 35, has changed her tune about wanting to try her hand at the U.S. Republican vice presidential candidate. “Not especially,” Kate tells me when asked if she’d like the role. “I’m not aware of anything going on about her right now. It’s not my dream. I’d rather do some ’30s or ’40s comedies.”

Director Rod is holding out hope, though.

“It was a joke, but I texted with Kate and she said she’d like to do it. She’s going to start killing caribou to get ready. Kate actually would do a good job. I don’t think there’s anyone that Kate couldn’t play. She couldn’t play Rosa Parks, but that’s about it. She’s a very fine actress.”

Back to Nothing But The Truth, in which Kate plays a reporter who is asked to reveal the identity of her CIA source, played by Vera. (Yes, this is a veiled version of the famed Valerie Plame case.) How difficult was it for Vera to keep her burgeoning baby bump a secret in the beginning?

“It was agony because my husband [Renn Hawkey] and I wanted it more than anything in the world – something tangible of our love. There’s a protocol that you have to wait for a little bit before you expose that secret, but it was on my face.”

Here’s Alan Alda, who says Brad Pitt would be almost perfect to play his role if a M*A*S*H movie happens. “Brad could play me if he were more handsome,” he tells me. “He’s a hunk! He’s also a good actor.”

 

For more on the Toronto International Film Festival, pick up the OK! on newsstands now. “Miley’s New Man” is the cover line.  

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