Projo Politics Blog

GOP conventioneers already adjusting to the disruption caused by Hurricane Gustav are suddenly reacting to the news that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant.

Rhode Island delegate Kristine Greene suggested that many voters will react to the word of Bristol Palin's pregnancy with understanding. Out-of-wedlock pregnancy "is not uncommon to the experience of many Americans,'' said Greene, who heard the news at about 2:15 p.m., Eastern time, during the bus ride from the Rhode Island delegation's hotel in Bloomington to the convention hall in St. Paul.

"The first thing that came to my mind'' is that the news underlines the fact that the Palins are "just an ordinary family, and they find themselves in circumstances that are not extraordinary in today's world.''

The most important aspect the news about the teenager "is that she is still pregnant,'' said Greene, a first-time delegate from West Greenwich who describes herself as a conservative Christian.

"The deed being done, the fact is this young lady is pregnant with this child and is strongly choosing to follow in her mother's beliefs. She hasn't chosen to end this pregnancy,'' said Greene.

Rhode Island delegate Virginia Butterworth said, "This is like `Alice in Wonderland' -- curiouser and curioser.'' Far from being "the boring convention I expected,'' the gathering of the GOP ``is really getting interesting.''

But Butterworth said she doubts the news about Palin will much change the outcome of the general election. "People who are going to vote for McCain and going to vote for McCain and people who are going to vote for Obama are going to vote for Obama. "It doesn't matter.''

Politics aside, Butterworth said she reacted the way she thinks many voters will react, as a parent. "We don't want this to happen to our child. It would be embarrassing.''

"I think people vote for the president,'' Butterworth added.

What's important to voters is what the presidential candidates stand for, Butterworth said. "Mr. Obama is clearly a very liberal Democrat whose agenda is very liberal, and McCain is clearly a conservative Republican whose agenda is conservative.''

 Tags  Republican Convention Sarah Palin teen pregnancy

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