Bristol Palin Boyfriend Convention-Bound

After members of the GOP from the Chimperator on down have whined and postured that the pregnancy of Republican vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin's teenage daughter Bristol, is a "private family matter," the RNC and/or Palin herself seem set on making the pregnancy a public issue. As the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting, the putative father, Levi Johnson, is being brought to the GOP Convention to appear with the Palin family. If the matter is a private family matter, why parade the unwed Bristol and Levi in front of the Convention and news reporters. Or do Karl Rove and company believe that they can use the young couple to advantage with the evangelical nutcases predominating among attendees at the convention? It all seem very cynical and diametrically opposed to the alleged calls for privacy. Are the calls for privacy disingenuous? I'd say most definitely. Here are some story highlights:

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The boyfriend of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's unwed, pregnant daughter will join the family of the Republican vice presidential candidate at the GOP convention in St. Paul, Minn. Levi Johnston's mother said her 18-year-old son left Alaska on Tuesday morning to join the Palin family at the convention where Sen. John McCain will officially receive the Republican nomination for president.

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The young man's presence could set off a media frenzy around the young couple as photographers and cameramen scramble for pictures of the two teenagers. On Monday, Palin and her husband, Todd, said their 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, planned to have the baby and wed a young man identified only as Levi. The family asked the media to respect the young couple's privacy as has been the tradition with children of candidates.

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Levi Johnston, a high school hockey player for Wasilla High School, is not listed on the team roster for 2008-2009, and his mother wouldn't say if he graduated. She said simply he's no longer a student and any further information would have to come from him.

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Many social conservatives have rallied behind Gov. Palin and her family's troubles. The McCain campaign has said the Palins are like any other American family and that "life happens."