So is Palin okay with her 'future' son-in-law being a high school dropout?

[TeamJordan23]

Bristol Palin’s Future Husband Speaks!

In a rare interview with the Associated Press Levi Johnston seeks to debunk the rumors about him, saying he isn’t being forced into a shotgun marriage and wanted to appear on the stump with Palin.

“We were planning on getting married a long time ago with or without the kid. That was the plan from the start.”

Says the baby is due Dec. 18 and wedding is planned for the summer. Johnston has dropped out of high school to work on the North Slope oil fields as an apprentice electrician.

For more about what caused Johnston to say “It’s pretty chill” during the interview, about his BlackBerry, and his explanation of “his” MySpace - see interview here: http://thepage.time.com/more-from-levi-johnstons-ap-interview/

[ogneopasno]

1. Most apprentice programs require a high school diploma or equivalent.

Why does he get a pass?

[hobbit709]

2. It's Alaska

[ogneopasno]

5. I was going to make a comment like that,

but seriously, is that the reason?

[vaberella]

4. Mama-In-Law has connections?!

:shrug:

[ogneopasno]

10. Well, someone should point that out then.

Those positions make a lot of money, and for him to not even make the bare minimum requirement to get the job is stinky.

[endthewar]

40. That has to be the answer

[ogneopasno]

69. I think someone should look into that.

Union apprentice programs require a high-school diploma or equivalent. So is this guy working for a bunch of scabs? An outfit that would take people who haven't even finished high school? Or is someone pulling the strings or doing a favor? Either way it's unacceptable and should be looked into. Sez who? Sez me.

[mscuedawg]

3. "...with or without THE kid"....nice...

He'll be up for Father of the Year...

:sarcasm:

[vaberella]

6. I was just going to comment on that statement.

That's some Daddy. And just by his saying that I knew he wasn't planning on marrying Sarah Palin's daughter. Poor kid. He hasn't a clue.

[MaineDem]

28. Me too

This sounds like a great father.

[mscuedawg]

60. It may all sound pretty glamorous now...but I think Levi has a rude awakening....

Just by the way the night of the RNC that John McCain met the Palin family on the tarmac getting off the plane...and he kinda grasped Levi's arm and whispered something in his ear...lol...I woulda loved to have heard that one!!!

:rofl:

[axollot]

68. You noticed that too? I thought that maybe -

- I was being over critical. "The kid" sounded like he mattered to him about as much as the blackberry - just another 'thing' to own.
Cheers
Sandy

[City Lights]

7. Are her own kids still in school?

They always seem to be on the campaign trail with her. Is she "road schooling" them, or does a tutor travel with them?

[KSDiva]

20. I read somewhere she has a tutor for them.

I actually applaud her for doing this. It's Alaska, not Chicago, so she doesn't have the same advantages (proximity)as Obama does with his girls. I think it's a great opportunity for her kids and since she has to bring Trig along (apparently she's still nursing) it's great that she is bringing them all along. They'll learn more about our country in a few months than they would sitting in a traditional classroom. Good for the Palin family on this count.

Now I need to go saw off my fingers, since I typed something nice about Sarah Palin. Please excuse me.

[City Lights]

26. A tutor is what I assumed, but I'd like confirmation.

It's the only option that makes sense. If you remember where you read that, I'd love a link. :hi:

[Ichingcarpenter]

33. But no mention of dragging them as props on the political stage

Give me a break.

[TornadoTN]

37. Isn't that the truth? She even admits to using them a "human shields"

She admitted that she was bringing along her 7 year-old daughter to the Flyers game over the weekend to deflect boos from the crowd. That is horrific to even think about, especially given that this entire campaign has been nothing but an ego-trip for the Shame of Alaska. The way she's used those kids as props is disgusting.

[City Lights]

46. That whole Flyers thing with Piper really was awful.

Dressing Piper in a Flyer's jersey specifically to keep people from booing her is about as low as one can go. Family values, my arse.

I pity her children. They deserve better.

[NV Whino]

41. There's still time to redeem yourself.

You can trash her hairdo. You can laugh at her missing Gs. Lot's of things left.

[vaberella]

51. Why would you applaud her? Are you implying Alaska education is poor?!

Because that is what you're implying. She took her children out of school to parade them around the country for what?! What is there to applaud in that? They had friends, they have a family over there and she's instead taking them away from a place of stability. Currently everything in their life is not stable and she could have given that to them but took it away to use them basically as "props". YOu heard what she said about the youngest daughter when she was getting booed, that they booed her, and she was saying that they wouldn't boo the youngest girl so give her a shirt. What?!

It's utter nonsense. Onto to the education, Alaska has some good schools and I believe at one time it was the highest ranked in regards to primary education. To imply that Chicago has in some way better schooling than Alaska is a slap in the face to all Alaskans. Especially those who don't have the money or luxury to afford to hire a tutor for their own children. They must all be wishing to be the Veep candidate.

On another note, they wouldn't learn that much. They go to hate-filled town hall meetings where people are screaming "Bomb Obama", "Kill him", "Terrorist", "Arab" (as though that's an epithet), "Treason". If you think hate, anger, violence, resentment is something worthwhile to learn on the road, then sure. Not to mention they won't be around people their own age and spend more than half their time on an airplane.

Right now I'd like to find out who's picking up the tab for that little luxury. The voters who donated their money from their earnings? McCain's pocket book (which I doubt)? Her own pocket book (which I doubt)? The citizens of Alaska (like when she charged them so she could fly to a church meeting for herself and her children)? Who in their right mind is paying this tutor?

[Ichingcarpenter]

56. Make sure they get a good "Abstinence Only Sex Education!

I'm sure they will get a good tutor for that.

[XemaSab]

62. I actually sort of agree

So they miss a semester... big deal.

Being able to travel and see the country like that cannot be substituted for... school, you can do any time. :shrug:

[axollot]

70. That's pretty much what I took from the comment and...

... also agree that Palin was (and is!) very *wrong* with her handling of the Flyer's game, the hate-filled rubbish etc. The kids do not need exposure to that, but other exposure from traveling can be very good for them.

It was for me when we traveled 3 months a year for my first 17 years - then I started to go it alone. Moving to Oz then moving the family here. The short trip to Tokyo, despite it being an over night pit-stop is still something that stuck in my boys head, despite that they were young it's still one of their favorite memories. We savored every moment we spent in Japan.

Cheers
Sandy
edit: for clarity

[phleshdef]

8. Ah. Leave him and Bristol alone. Besides, it sounds like he is doing the right thing...

He is learning a trade that will enable him to support a family and he is taking the responsibility a person should take if they end up bringing a child into this world.

This doesn't have anything to do with the real issues. We can't bitch about them harping on irrelevant BS like Bill Ayers and then turn around and harp on irrelevant stuff like this. Thats called hypocrisy.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KSDiva]

25. Hey, let's not eat our own. Who knows...

They might wind up married 40 years from now with 5 kids of their own. You never can tell. My aunt told me the night before I walked down the aisle that it would never last. 15 years and 2 kids, 2 masters degress and one PhD in progress, we're not only together, but happy and we think, successful.

I do think Bristol's pregnancy is fair game but only in relation to her mother's stance on abortion and funding to help young mothers, etc., but let's give those young kids a chance.

[TornadoTN]

32. My wife and I met and dated for two months and then got married - flash forward 5 years

We're still together, have a great child, we're both professionals with graduate degrees and we're just as strong as ever. This in spite of the fact that everyone aside from a few family members whispered that we wouldn't make it past year one.

Who knows? Bristol and Levi might be one of the few that beat the odds and make a great marriage out of it. It doesn't happen often and the odds are stacked against them certainly, but there are certainly examples of people that make it work.

I think it's a little concerning that the guy dropped out of High School and I think that shows poor judgment by he and his family. Beyond that, I can't wish ill-will on someone who who appears to be doing what he can to be a decent father (not graduating certainly doesn't fall in that category, though).

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[phleshdef]

50. Such unjustified anger. If I was on any other board, I'd take you for a Republican.

[phleshdef]

42. Oh my. I'm not sure how to respond to such an ingenius and rational argument.

And no, I have a bachelors degree and I make pretty decent money. I'm not advocating dropping out of high school either. However, I'm not going to spend my time pouncing on some kid who, at least from the article, seems to be taking measures to support a family and be what a father should be. Thats a whole hell of a lot better than my biological father ever tried to do. I certainly don't see how its relevant to this election and THAT was my point. I'm sorry you were so caught up in trying to be "holier than thou" that you missed it.

Of course, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. This is the Internetz where a lot of people type without entertaining any critical thought beforehand and you are obviously part of that group of people.

[Marrah_G]

48. I suggest you ignore the poster

[Arkansas Granny]

53. Have you read the DU rules lately?

Do not post personal attacks or engage in name-calling against other individual members of this discussion board. Even very mild personal attacks are forbidden.

Do not hurl insults at other individual members of this message board. Do not tell someone, "shut up," "screw you," "fuck off," "in your face," or some other insult.

Do not call another member of this message board a liar, and do not call another member's post a lie. You are, of course, permitted to point out when a post is untrue or factually incorrect.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

[cali]

22. bullshit. it is not hypocrisy. no one is arguing that this has anything

to do with the election or Palin's qualifications. It's simply idle conversation. repukers are arguing that Obama isn't qualified because of Ayers. See the obvious difference?

[phleshdef]

45. Last time I checked, this is the forum to discuss the presidential race.

And the post in question insinuated that this had something to do with Sarah Palin... at least it came across that way to me. My thought is that there are enough valid negatives regarding Palin's lack of qualifications that we can talk about.

But hey, if you take pride in going on the Internet and talking shit about average citizens that have nothing to do with the issues or the campaigns short of a social connection and have done nothing to you personally, then be my guest.

[cali]

71. oh for the love of reason. yes, things get discussed here that

are tangential to the campaign, but that hardly negates the point I made about how stupid your comparison of repukes defaming Obama with Ayers and DUers discussing Johnson. oh, and please point out to me where I talked shit about about Johnson. Oh, that's right, you just pulled that out of your ass.

[phleshdef]

74. Your point was 100% negated because what I said was was 100% true.

Picking on outside family is stupid.

The Ayers thing is stupid.

Get over it.

[City Lights]

23. Education is a *real* issue to me.

And comparing education to the irrelevant BS Ayers speaks volumes about you.

[phleshdef]

47. Education is important. But talking shit about some kid who is facing the real world...

...has nothing to do with improving our education system at a national level.

Of course I didn't compare anything regarding Ayers to education and you know that, but you don't have a real argument, so I guess you will twist mine to fit your own needs.

My point was clear. People DO want to make her daughter's situation a campaign issue. Thats stupid. And the whole Ayers thing was stupid. I think behind your phony outrage at my comment, you are probably smart enough to see that. But if you still want to harp on something so unimportant and act like I said something that I clearly didn't say, then that most certainly speaks volumes about you.

[traveller]

58. I agree on both points. Thanks.

[gatorboy]

36. Doing the right thing? With a single year of school left and he drops out?

Guess you didn't finish either. :eyes:

[phleshdef]

49. Of course I did. That doesn't mean I'm going to act all judgemental towards others that didn't...

I don't approve of dropping out of school. But I do approve of the fact that he is pursuing a career. If he is able to support his family with a lucrative job, then that achieves the same goal in the long run.

[traveller]

54. Do you know he does not have plans for a GED or to finish later

when things settle down? No you do not. Leave the families out of the dissing. Obama has asked us to do this.

[gatorboy]

57. Settle down? Why couldn't he finish now? Palin certainly can afford to support him.

And that would be a clear sign of real family values. Set an example for the country for God's sake.

And did I "diss" the family? Please show me where.

Thank goodness people like you and Palin won't be running the educational system. Otherwise, I shudder to think where this country would be heading.

[traveller]

61. Since when are you the expert on 'real family values"?

[gatorboy]

63. And Palin is?

:rofl:

Your true colors are showing.

[traveller]

64. As yours are. As Obama said --leave the family out of this.

[gatorboy]

65. You want this woman running our educational system, do you?

Now that's scary. Obama would agree with me on that, I'm sure. ;)

[traveller]

66. Yor are making assumptions about what I said. But enough

talking to you. bye.

[gatorboy]

67. Typical.

Go Obama! :)

[lumberjack_jeff]

73. Maybe he doesn't want to be anyone's dependent.

Perhaps he doesn't want his child to be dependent on his mother in law.

I respect what he's doing. I would do the same.

[thereismore]

38. I agree that her kids and their lives should be off limits. Levi is at least trying to earn

his money by working.

[glowing]

39. I have to agree.. I don't like the mother's policies or her stance on anything.

I have questions about her own judgement and parenting... but the kids don't bother me. Young people do things as they wish.. Hard to tell a 17 and 18yr old what or what not to do.. especially if they've been dating since Freshman year and they are in an environment that seems normal to marry a highschool sweetheart.. AND really, they're good looking kids.. I bet their kid is going to be a good looking baby.. I'm sure he'll be raised as a God-loving, gun-toting, red-neck.. who knows.. but Johnston seems rather grounded in reality.. He knocked up the Govenor's daughter, he's marrying the daughter, and trying to provide for the family. He looks at the election as: Obama seems like a cool dude, but you know, I support my family that I'm marrying in to .. Why would anyone expect anything else.. AND seriously, what 18yr old wants a baby? None that I know.

[lumberjack_jeff]

72. I agree. Boys have dropped out of school to support their unexpected families...

... since time immemorial.

Frankly, Levi has a lot more class than his future mother in law. Faint praise, I know, but our fixation on McCain's runningmate's daughters' boyfriend reflects poorly on us.

[nichomachus]

9. Look at it this way

If he's up on the North Slope, he's kind of under lock and key -- out of sight, out of mind.

If he's hanging around Wasilla, with Bristol preggers and on the campaign trail, there's a chance Levi could knock up some other girl (raging hormones don't you know) and that might not sit well with the Christo-Nazis.

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. Did anyone ask him about this?

[uponit7771]

17. +1

[StopTheNeoCons]

12. There will be no birth, there will be no marriage, Bristol is NOT pregnant

show me a picture of her being 7 months pregnant in oct and I'll stop

[cali]

24. no you wouldn't. and yeah, she's pregnant and yeah there'll be a birth.

[ericgtr]

13. She's okay with forcing a raped woman to keep their child.. what do you think?

[glowing]

14. I'd have to say.. living in Alaska and having the Palins as in-laws isn't going to be

rough on the kid at all.. He'll be well taken care of.. and I'm sure that he and Bristol would have ended up together anyway.. He's another "Dude" and she's the spoiled bratt Princess.. and I'm sure they would end up together...

[Tim4319]

15. Isn't this where that "Abuse of Power" comes into play?

As long as he is married to her daughter, he has a job in the oil fields. He'd better not rock the boat! Just ask her brother-in-law!

[uponit7771]

16. WOW!! If this was a young black man there's NO WAY he'd get a job ANYWHERE!!!

Makes me sick

[Sorceress]

19. “We were planning on getting married a long time ago with or without the kid."

A long time ago? Um...a long time ago would be when these two kids were what...14, 15, 16? Dude, come on! At that age, I had planned to marry Brad Pitt and have his children. Come on!

[skygazer]

21. Oh, for Pete's sake, are we going to start ragging on high school dropouts now?

I'm a high school dropout - I suppose that makes me some sort of loser here.

We've got so much legitimate shit to call out McPalin on and people are jumping all over an 18 year old kid because he dropped out of school? Jesus. :banghead:

[gatorboy]

27. How is this not legitimate? Palin doesn't have the sources to support these kids?

He only has one year of high school left. They can't support the poor kid through that? One single year of school?

This does matter. I don't want someone running the educational system of this country that doesn't even feel the need to educate her own family.

[RamboLiberal]

52. I'm with you on that - it's not like the Palin family doesn't have the $$$s

to support Bristol and her child for one year while Levi finished high school. Then go out and get the electrician apprenticeship job.

If nothing else their family being in the limelight with her as VP nom and governor of Alaska should be setting the example for young people to stay in school. They should be pushing Levi to get the degree.

Imagine if this was a young black kid who got one of Obama's daughters pregnant in future years then decided to drop out!

I don't say he won't be a success w/o the degree though being related to the Palins sure isn't going to hurt his chances like some other poor schmuck. And I don't say their marriage won't be a success and even loving.

Still I'd take a bet that this is a marriage that won't make it.

[thunder rising]

35. I am a HS drop out ... a veteran, have a BSCS, Masters in Systems Engineering. And what have you

done to improve your lot?

This dick head is going to be a good Republican, ignorant as hell and displaced from any chance to improve his lot.

Also, that field is declining. I really don't think there's a future in it.

[BlooInBloo]

29. Idiots rarely have a problem with family members being idiots.

[TornadoTN]

44. It's plainly clear that Levi is being used by the Palin clan for this election

The way I see it is that he and Bristol probably had their little fling, probably had a decent relationship (for that age group) and then this little "Accident" happens. They trot him out, throw the best wishes at him at the convention, and then throw him back to Alaska and abandon him hoping that no one notices. I can't really fault him for being caught up in this mess and being made a spectacle of by the media in his mom-in-laws ego trip to Washington.

It speaks a lot of her leadership and parenting. Here she and TAAAAAAHHHHHHDDDDDD have the financial resources to see to it that Levi can stay in school and finish his education, which is of paramount importance. But they go back to campaigning and forget that this guy is even in the picture. It's all just political window dressing to them.

[dkf]

30. I wonder if Bristol was ever planning to go to college?

[traveller]

59. Maybe the opportunity will come in the future. I hope so.

[Tatiana]

31. Nice example set by America's Baby Daddy. n/t

[stuntcat]

43. Education = Evil

Seriously, too much of it will bring about belief in evolution and environmentalism.. we can't have that, not now!

[Essene]

55. edumacatoin is overated