# Track and Bristol Palin promiscuous drug users - relevant? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 10, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984 "2008-09-10T20:02:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/41 "2008-09-11T14:10:51Z")
> [@ArizonaTeach](#): > > My right-wing reaction would be… > > You can smoke Oxycontin? > > Huh. Not in it’s pill form, but yes you can with a little kitchen chemistry. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/42 "2008-09-11T14:12:26Z")
I think it is self delusion to think you actually can force a kid to act the way you want. You can have several kids and they all come out differently. Is it because you were not trying as hard for some of them? Sorry, but kids turn out the way they turn out . You do your best. If you have money they feel secure, live in a clean and safe neighborhood and go to the best schools.That does not mean they wont do drugs or get in trouble. There are endless examples of privileged kids getting in trouble. You can counter that with kids with missing parents and no opportunities who scrape by, yet go to college and succeed. I do not hold parents all that responsible for the actions of their kids. I am sure Palin loves her kids and crammed then into churches at every chance. By her standards she did the right thing. You are just not there when the big decisions in life are made. When someone wants to have teen sex or ask you to try drugs ,your parents are not there. They know their parents would disapprove but it happens in the best and the worst of families. ---
**Author:** ![50million](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/9fc348/32.png) [@50million](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/50million)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/43 "2008-09-11T14:51:51Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Once again, does Al Gore support drug legalization or decriminalization? Hell, does he support reckless driving? > > I mention him not because he has done anything wrong - he hasn’t. But I think it is instructive to note that not many politicians or pundits of any stripe went after Gore because of the behavior of his son. And they shouldn’t have. > > That sort of standard ought to be observed across the board, IMHO, unless there is a compelling reason why it should not be. The difference between Gore and Palin in this situation is that knowing Gore’s history allows us to ignore Gore’s son. By not knowing any of Palin’s history we are forced to “create”, or “fill in” her history by grasping onto any and all info on her. Any and all info on her, right now, includes her family. I’m not saying it’s right to do so, I’m only giving my interpretation of why people are talking about her family, and not other, more established, politicians families. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/44 "2008-09-11T15:38:27Z")
> [@A\_shameful\_cracka](#): > > Track and Bristol Palin promiscuous drug users - relevant? Shouldn’t be in a perfect world, but I agree with DoctorJ’s baseball analogy. However, is it funny? Damn straight it is! I am struck by how 1958 the Palins are. Bristol gets impregnated by some low-life and is forced to marry the bum. (I cannot believe significant pressure was not put on both to “make an honest woman out of her.”) And Track is a juvenile delinquent who, to stop him from embarassing his mother, joins up, though we don’t know if it was a judge’s either-or proposition that forced it. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/45 "2008-09-11T15:46:55Z")
Who names their kids “Bristol” and “Track” anyway? I think that speaks volumes more about her than anything that these poorly named kids might have done. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/46 "2008-09-11T16:00:21Z")
I feel they were doomed from the moment their birth certificates were filled out. I remember the good ol’ days when the priest wouldn’t let a parent give their kid anything but a saint’s name. Nowadays, it’s wide open. A couple years back we had a baptism of a girl named Lilith. I wanted to stand up and ask if the pastor had any idea who Lilith was. I mean, Frasier’s wife was very pretty, but the writers named her Lilith because it was supposed to be funny. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/47 "2008-09-11T16:22:11Z")
Yeah, **DoctorJ** nails it. Her kids are fair game only insofar as she makes them fair game. To the degree that she puts forth her being a successful working mother as part of the reason to vote for her, her parenting success and failures are of interest. Since she does present her parenting and “family values” as part of her package, those items are fair to discuss. That said it would be a huge mistake for Team Obama to try to make it so or to do anything less than everything in their power to prevent this from becoming a focus even if iron-clad verifiable. It is catty. It is low. It is distracting from the more important issues - how Palin completely verifies that a McCain administration would just be Bush with a bigger hammer. Hit on her telling lies about her record, on how she has been queen of earmarks throughout her short career, on how she was _for_ the Bridge to Nowhere until it became clear that continuing being for it wouldn’t bring in the pork after all, how she has lied about her accomplishments including the natural gas pipeline that doesn’t exist, may never exist, may be unneeded as private companiies are building one as well without the governmental give-aways, and that only represents the potential success of Big Government involvement in a noncompete fashion over allowing freemarket forces to accomlish the same goals, on how her understanding of foreign affairs (when she has bothered to think about it at all) in that of a Christian Crusader implementing God’s plan upon the heathen masses, on how she makes Bush look like a secular humanist in comparison, on … well you’ve all heard all these. There is enough to focus on that matters more. Leave her Jerry Springer family alone. Her parental incompetence may be fair game and may even be relevant but it only dilutes the more important messages. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/48 "2008-09-11T16:40:57Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > No one is less impressed with this woman than I am, but for the love of all things holy, are there not enought really good, really relevant reasons she shouldn’t be Vice President? Speaking in a totally machiavellian mode, and not as an empathetic human being, these developments are good for Democrats. Because the same people who think Palin is totally awesome cuz she’s a working hockey mom crusading maverick, will be turned off by the behavior of her children and stay home on election day. Meanwhile, the rest of us can have a discussion on the issues and vote accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/49 "2008-09-11T16:49:15Z")
“It is catty. It is low. It is distracting from the more important issues” Do you think the Republicans wouldn’t be feasting on these tidbits were the shoe on the other foot? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/50 "2008-09-11T16:55:01Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > The National Enquirer? > > On the SDMB? > > :eek: > > -FrL- Reminds me of Aunt Pittypat- “Yankees! IN GEORGIA!” But as said, the Enquirer has come a long way from the “Charles Nelson Reilly pregnant with Elvis’s baby” days. Today if they reveal a scandal (such as John Edwards’ affair) they’ll have done some fact checking. It’s due to lawsuits more than to integrity, but it’s done nonetheless. > [@Burton](#): > > Do you think the Republicans wouldn’t be feasting on these tidbits were the shoe on the other foot? They’d be all over it like lipstick on a pig. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/51 "2008-09-11T18:55:28Z")
> [@Burton](#): > > “It is catty. It is low. It is distracting from the more important issues” > > Do you think the Republicans wouldn’t be feasting on these tidbits were the shoe on the other foot? Of course not. Next question. Really, that is not the point. The point is that true or untrue, relevant or not, fair or unfair, it won’t sell the Obama brand to be associated with those tactics. Now if the gossip mongers chatter among themselves despite a consistent and solid effort by Team Obama to prevent it, well, that is not our fault. And if there is fire under the smoke I am sure even the Right gossip mongers will. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/52 "2008-09-11T19:04:04Z")
> [@A\_shameful\_cracka](#): > > I know it’s pretty easy to get in the Army if you say you “experimented” with drugs. I knew a guy in high school who applied, and he told the recruiter that he smoked marijuana, and the recruiter said “So, you’ve EXPERIMENTED with marijuana, right?” and the guy says “No, I’ve smoked pretty much every day since I was 11” and the recruiter repeats “So, you’re saying you EXPERIMENTED with marijuana” until he got the point. > > If it’s true the’s done coke and used drugs intravenously, that is pretty hard to get around, though. Agreed on the first part. My wonderful ex BF spent the better part of his late teens and early 20s higher than a kite. When he went to enlist in the Marines, they asked about drug use. He sort of looked at them- with a knowing look. The recruiter looked back and said, “Just say less than 10 times.” And, for what it’s worth, I believe she had made her family a campaign issue, as others have said. You can’t prance everyone around, proclaiming you are a super mom, but claim any criticisms of your less than stellar parenting are unfair. Everyone makes mistakes, yes. Not everyone parades their kids on national TV to gain the country’s favor. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/53 "2008-09-11T19:25:24Z")
> [@A\_shameful\_cracka](#): > > I know it’s pretty easy to get in the Army if you say you “experimented” with drugs. I knew a guy in high school who applied, and he told the recruiter that he smoked marijuana, and the recruiter said “So, you’ve EXPERIMENTED with marijuana, right?” and the guy says “No, I’ve smoked pretty much every day since I was 11” and the recruiter repeats “So, you’re saying you EXPERIMENTED with marijuana” until he got the point. > > If it’s true the’s done coke and used drugs intravenously, that is pretty hard to get around, though. Only if you test positive for it in Basic, at least that’s how it was when I went through. One of the first things we had to do when the bus dropped us off at the Orlando NTC was go take a piss test. A few days later the results came back. Those who tested positive for smoke had to go in some office and get yelled at about being lying sacks of stoner shit and warned not to do it again. Those who tested positive for hard stuff got discharged on a Fraudulent Enlistment. So if he’s got clean piss by the time he gets to Basic, he’ll probably be ok. Of course, he’d probably get special treatment anyway. He can probably show up hitting a crack pipe and they’ll bury it. As to the OP, I think what **Dr. J.** says is correct, it’s not relevant unless she wants to make her superior mothering skills a part of the campaign. Obama shouldn’t say a word about it, though. The intarwebs will have his back on this one. I do think it’s noteworthy that Palin threw her daughter out of the house when she first found out she was pregnant. That might even approach legitimate relevance if she gets too high minded about what a great mom she is. If I was that Levy dude, I’d ask for a paternity test. It sounds like he wasn’t the only one tapping that thing. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/54 "2008-09-11T19:27:30Z")
> [@50million](#): > > The difference between Gore and Palin in this situation is that knowing Gore’s history allows us to ignore Gore’s son. By not knowing any of Palin’s history we are forced to “create”, or “fill in” her history by grasping onto any and all info on her. Any and all info on her, right now, includes her family. > > I’m not saying it’s right to do so, I’m only giving my interpretation of why people are talking about her family, and not other, more established, politicians families. That’s some truth. Also, the woman is glaringly unqualified to be POTUS, which points toward her supporters being irrational. If they are going to support her for irrational reasons, they should have exposure to all the facts needed to make an informed irrational decision. The information is the Enquirer is irrelevant to me, but I don’t mind them publishing it. ---
**Author:** ![gurujulp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/55 "2008-09-11T19:41:13Z")
I have to say that as the drug abusing (everything I was ever taught in school about save PCP) thieving party animal conspiracy theorist majick user commune-liver free-sex-advocate swinger-club-party-attendee son of a former secret clearance fed, there is absolutely nothing my momma could ever have done to change my behavior… I was a ward of the state for a bit, which means she went before a judge and said as much. If you think that genetics downstream is an indicator, then sure- vote against her for that reason. I personally think she’s a party girl anyway- takes us back to the clinton impeachment- do you want an alpha in office? they make the rules to match themselves… laws are for proles… But!!! I don’t like her politically. If we shared views she would be my dream candidate. The only think I like is her gun props… ---
**Author:** ![gurujulp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/56 "2008-09-11T19:44:35Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Agreed on the first part. My wonderful ex BF spent the better part of his late teens and early 20s higher than a kite. When he went to enlist in the Marines, they asked about drug use. He sort of looked at them- with a knowing look. The recruiter looked back and said, “Just say less than 10 times.” A childhood friend enlisted in the marines- they asked her if she’d ever smoked marijuana- she said ‘yes, I tried it once- from 1991 to 1996’. they let it pass and didn’t ask her any more drug questions… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/57 "2008-09-11T19:49:08Z")
If they really had to rigorously reject everybody who admitted to being a regular pot smoker, the military wouldn’t be able to recruit enough people to field a softball team. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984/58 "2008-09-12T00:36:43Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > It’s Alaska. They even smoke salmon up there. I see what you did there. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/track-and-bristol-palin-promiscuous-drug-users-relevant/462984.md?page=2)