[binkybear]

I so don't get invovled with political things most times, but this one kinda had me go "hmmmmm".

I'm all for giving people slack when it's appropriate, but this is a person looking to fill the most critical position in our country if not the world at times. I want and need for this person to be able to think before he/she speaks. (why is this such a tough one for these folks...meaning politicians across the board).

What made me go hmmmm is what we allow slack for and what we consider stupid. I can't say for sure but I think when hub and I are blessed with our adopted child I would cut more slack for a person totally uneducated to adoption asking me something stupid or saying something stupid. (another thread on general AP) I don't think I can cut slack for someone who has been eating sleeping breathing and living his/her particular topic..in this case political life.

I'd rather have the stupid comments in the grocery store than in the white house!!

[bromanchik]

Originally Posted by crick

Age appropriate of course, but after my dd came home at age 8 1/2 asking me what french kissing was (love them yellow bus educations! lol!) I knew things had been pushed ahead according to my little plan. Dang it! I did NOT want to have this convo at that age, but there it is.

It reminds me of the time I told a whole table of 6th graders what a B J was. You should have seen their faces.

[bromanchik]

Originally Posted by paigeturner

IMy girls weren't allowed to date until 15 and then they all went in groups. The boyfriend/girlfriend thing is so weird at 10 years old! They always had male friends, but not the dating kind!

I see it as practicing for the real thing. My son has had two girlfriends. He's twelve. He didn't kiss either one of them, I don't even think they held hands, but he learned how to treat a girl with respect and caring. He told me the other day that "Relationships are about trust and communication. Without those two things a relationship can never be healthy." I told him most sixth graders do not think that way, but it is great that he does. I swear, they should have a special group for children of therapists.

[Nicole28]

In regards to Obama's poor choice of words, I am slightly insulted, but I also see what he was TRYING to say.

Slightly insulted because the word "punished" seemed to suggest that a pregnancy/child is a terrible, horrible, awful thing. Granted, to a teenager who finds herself pregnant, I am sure that terrible, horrible and awful are all words that she will initially connect with her situation. A pregnancy is a consequence of unprotected sex. I wish that I could phrase that better, but hopefully you see where I am going with that.

I don't plan on voting for Obama based on what I feel is a lack of necessary experience. But I do think he is a dynamic speaker. And there is a guy on Jay Leno who does the most amazing Obama impression - I mean, this guy has it down to a science. It cracks me up! The Hillary impersonator? Not as good.

[lonni]

Bad choice of words IMO;~((

[IrishBlue]

I wouldn't hold that against Barack too much.. he is a man and I can tell you from experience that men don't really understand the mother/child connection like women do. That is why female adoptee's often hold a stronger sense of resentment towards birth mom than male adoptees do. We men just don't always 'get' it or emotionally comprehend what happened with mother and baby.

[book86]

why are you beating up on Obama's oratory when our current president has such problems expressing himself? He probably did not mean "punishment" the way you're taking it; though it's true that having a baby as a teen is difficult enough to warrant the term. cut the dude some slack!

[brenunder12]

I THINK PEOPLE TAKE TOO MUCH OF THE MEDIAS VIEWS IT WOULD BE A PUNISHMENT TO ANY CHILD TO HAVE A BABY AT A YOUNG AGE LOOK AT HER OPTIONS EITHER WAY YOU GO THEY HAVE EMOTIONAL,MENTAL,AND PHYSICAL ISSUES TO DEAL WITH WHEN HAVING A BABY ESPECIALLY AT A YOUNG AGE REGARDLESS WHAT OPTION THEY CHOOSE ADOPTION,ABORTION,OR RAISING THE BABY STOP AND THINK WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND REALLY THINK AND YOU COULD AGREE WITH HIM

Originally Posted by binkybear

I so don't get invovled with political things most times, but this one kinda had me go "hmmmmm".

I'm all for giving people slack when it's appropriate, but this is a person looking to fill the most critical position in our country if not the world at times. I want and need for this person to be able to think before he/she speaks. (why is this such a tough one for these folks...meaning politicians across the board).

What made me go hmmmm is what we allow slack for and what we consider stupid. I can't say for sure but I think when hub and I are blessed with our adopted child I would cut more slack for a person totally uneducated to adoption asking me something stupid or saying something stupid. (another thread on general AP) I don't think I can cut slack for someone who has been eating sleeping breathing and living his/her particular topic..in this case political life.

I'd rather have the stupid comments in the grocery store than in the white house!!

[djvj]

i agree, it was a poor choice of wording, but imo it seems he is just trying to say that education and contraception is necessary to prevent teen pregnancy.

and HOW ON EARTH can we get upset as a few poorly chosen way to phrase concepts when GEORGE W BUSH daily makes statement that would make an educated 3rd grader cringe?

At least he is not trying to take away women's choices while at the same time cutting funding for education, health care, and family services for children.

obama isn't perfect, but he sure as heck isn't the train wreck bush is. he's got MY vote, for sure.

[lacymarie]

I cant believe that we are using this forum to speak on why Obama shouldnt be president. I think that it is absolutely a punishment to a small child to become pregnant. Its punishment not only on the child but on the baby that is being born into the devastating situation. People really need to find good enough reason and a good enough place to bash someone. Reasons like war with no reason, gas prices averaging almost 5 bucks a gallon, national crisis going unhelped, things like. But here is where we offer support for people that have been adopted, have place their children up for adoption, reunited or rejected. Some of you people are desperate to find a way to not admit the inevitable. lol

[vegaschristina]

Here's my 2 cents on the statement:

50 years ago, presidential candidates were not followed 24/7 by a bevy of reporters capturing his every utterance for posterity. During that time, we managed to elect some very good presidents as well as a few duds. In today's 24/7 news cycle, there are BOUND to be a few mis-statements, poor word choices that are going to be made. Heck, I can't seem to get thru a day without mis-stating something, and yet we somehow expect presidential candidates to manage it.

I beleive that there is more to being president than having 100% control over every word that comes forth from a candidate's mouth. Each of the candidates has, at one time or another, stuck his foot in his/her mouth. Hillary and the sniper fire, McCain and not knowing how many houses he owns, Obama and his punishment comment.

While I don't necessarily agree with his word choice, I do agree that becoming pregnant at 14 is not a blessing. Every baby is a blessing, but that girl has serious issues, grown up issues to deal with, and they will be dealt with for a lifetime. I have 2 daughters, and it is my prayer that they never have to face the option of abort, place, or parent at such a young age. Regardless of the choice that 14 year old girl makes, the consequences, the pain, and the challenges will last a lifetime.

[wishfulthinker]

I choose not to get into the politics in this thread. But I would like to say that education should be provided for young girls AND boys - it takes two to tango. This education should be provided by the parents, but sad to say there are a lot of parents out there who do not discuss sex with their children for whatever reasons.

Even with sex education and wonderful parents, teenage pregnancies happen. When they do, our girls deserve to have options. And personally, the thought of a 14 year old raising a child is deeply disturbing - not sure if "punishment" is the right word, but it's just not a good thing.

I cannot believe no one brought up the point that Obama or McCain have spoken about "punishment" in light of adult adoptees who have their records kept from them. This is where I believe the word punishment fits. We have done nothing wrong, we didn't ask to be born to unwed, young bmoms, and now here we are adults with our own families, yearning to know about our heritage, our genetics, our medical histories and the government is punishing us by telling us we are not privy to our information.

I'd like to here the subject of open records for all adoptees nationwide be brought up to our candidates.

[white_elephant]

Well said, Wishfulthinker! Well said.

I am an adult adoptee of a 14 yr old birth mother, who is now 56 and I am 43, and a Grandmother of two. I think we are all old enough to comprehend the reasons for why people do what they do at this point.

On the other hand, don't we need to just cut the man some slack on his wording? I'm glad it's not me trying speak in the general public! Of course I wouldn't be allowed to be a politician because I can't get my past straghtened out, so all is well!

There might be a real political problem if all of the indentifying info was made properly open to the adult adoptee. We, the adult adoptees aren't the best for reputations and careers when they have "moved on" in life. The media tends to make it really known when the "unkown" child/adult pops up in the life of the Offical. Ever notice that???
The birthfathers mysteriously continue to remain annonymous too, while we focus really hard on the birth mothers. It does baffle me why birth fathers are not really much of a topic at all. It's the occasionaly topic, not the norm for us. It's 90% about the mothers!
Arent the majority of poloticians male, still? They just never really know now do they? DNA must be really frightening too for those men of reputation in places of office, with sordid affairs and pasts. Imagine how many politicians lives would be affected if they were all made accountable for all of thier bio children whether they were told about them or not? It would be interesting.

Just my own personal observation.


Great Thread!

[BrockBaby]

I guess I am the best punishment that ever happened to my bmom.

Although...I don't see teenage pregnancy as a punishment..it's called a FACT of life. You have sex...you take the risk of getting pregnant. That's the case for anybody, regardless of age, that has sex. Pregnancy is a natural result of having sex, plain and simple...no punishment involved.

[paisley83]

I don't understand why people on THIS message board would be supportive of Obama based on the fact that he is pro Abortion!! Its like hes saying, we should teach teens about contraceptives or birth control.. but if you do happen to get pregnant, I know a quick way to get you out of it!!

Its a nice thought, saying we need to inform teens... but seriously, they already know..