By Holly Craig-Wehrle

            I am a Democrat – not a moderate one, either – so I confess I was surprised to discover that I was angry on behalf of Bristol Palin. Yes, Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s pregnant teenage daughter.

            On September 1, the Governor Palin released a statement confirming her daughter’s pregnancy and noting that Ms. Palin plans to marry the child’s father, Levi Johnston. Since then, many have speculated and some have gone so far as to assume that Bristol Palin is being forced to marry Johnston. In an interview with the Associated Press on October 13, Johnston clearly refuted these allegations: “We both love each other. We both want to marry each other. And that’s what we’re going to do.”

            I believe in a woman’s right to choose. The key word in that statement is “choose.” Bristol Palin made a choice, perhaps one influenced by her mother and her beliefs, but a choice all the same, to give birth to her child. Following that choice, she and Johnston made another choice - to do their best to provide a loving and stable environment for their child. Instead of running away as so many fathers do or are portrayed as doing, Johnston is taking an active interest in the life of his baby and in a woman he claims to love. Why are we shocked by this?

            Couples in love get married every day. I see no reason to assume, just because I dislike Governor Palin’s political policies, that she is forcing two people into a marriage. Maybe, just maybe, they love each other and want to responsibly follow through on their decision to bring a new life into the world.