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Biden: Palin Family Off Limits to Critics

By By Glen Johnson, Associated Press Writer | AP
Sep 4, 2008 | Updated: 11:21  a.m. ET Sep 4, 2008
 

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Republican presidential nominee John McCain began his final drive for the White House on Thursday with a boost from running mate Sarah Palin while Democratic opponent Joe Biden declared her family "off limits" and suggested that some news media coverage of her had been sexist.

Palin and her husband, Todd, announced this week that their 17-year-old unmarried daughter was pregnant and would be marrying her boyfriend, saying they were making a private matter public because of Internet rumors. Biden said the Democratic campaign was not attacking Palin over her family.

"It is off limits to talk about her family," Biden said in an interview with "Fox and Friends" on Fox News Channel. "Every family has difficulty as they're raising their children. I think the way she's handled it has been absolutely exemplary."

The Palins have five children, including a 4-month-old son with Down syndrome, which has sparked widespread discussion over whether Sarah Palin could balance her family responsibilities with the duties of vice president.

Asked if some of the criticism aimed at Palin has been sexist, Biden said: "Yes, by you guys in the media. ... When I heard that media response, you know, this coming from some of the right-wing guys, saying that, 'Well, how can you be a mother and a vice president at the same time?' ... I mean, millions of women in America are going through exactly what she (is going) through. And guess what? They can handle it."

Meanwhile, McCain's wife, Cindy, said she doesn't agree with Palin's opposition to abortion in cases of rape and incest. She also parts ways with Palin on sex education.

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: BeachSaint @ 09/06/2008 8:11:24 PM

    I cried when I saw that poor special needs baby being passed from one person to another. The only bright moment was when the younger daughter licked her hand and gently smoothed his hair. What kind of mother, even a political one, allows that to happen? While I was never much of a Hillary supporter, you have to hand it to her that she never allowed Chelsea to be used as political fodder.

  • Posted By: BeachSaint @ 09/06/2008 8:10:36 PM

    I cried when I saw that poor special needs baby being passed from one person to another. The only bright moment was when the younger daughter licked her hand and gently smoothed his hair. What kind of mother, even a political one, allows that to happen? While I was never much of a Hillary supporter, you have to hand it to her that she never allowed Chelsea to be used as political fodder/

  • Posted By: notconfused @ 09/06/2008 8:54:35 AM

    Sarah Palin is the epitome of traditional womanhood. She is very intelligent, well balanced and is capablle of doing an excellent job. She has an extremely supportive familly. There is much truth in the adage"it takes a village to raise a child." We in the United States are so busy supporting whatever the ACLU's agenda is. What is next? Are we also to approve of sex with animals as has been the case in, I believe Switzerland or the Netherlands ? We need government which represents the majority. This country was founded on Christian principles yet the government has decided to allow abortion at any point, before and after birth. If you don't want the baby, put it in a different and let it die, or tear a baby apart in the womb and cause tremendous suffering of the baby and mother. Obama supports letting the ifant starve in anothe room.Where doe it all end? Isn't this legalized murder? I am a Christian and I am a public servant. Allowing an anything goes policy in the United States has created a monster in the mental health fiield. We need to support lisomeone who supports life and family values.

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