So a few weeks ago, when a certain alleged blogger (read: troll) posted certain claims about Trig's "real" mother, I tried to steer my fellow Kossacks away by warning them that the story seemed like a Karl Rove dirty trick. I told people to leave these kinds of stories to the National Enquirer because, love them or hate them, they tend to get these kinds of stories correct. Take the John Edwards story for instance.
You can read my original post here.
Well, now the Enquirer has released a story that I think, if true, is absolutely tragic and raises serious questions about Palin's judgement to remain in politics period, never mind run for Vice President of the United States. According to the Enquirer, Track Palin is a junky.
According to the National Enquirer's website:
The ENQUIRER has learned exclusively that Sarah's oldest son, Track, was addicted to the power drug OxyContin for nearly the past two years, snorting it, eating it, smoking it and even injecting it.
And yes, I am fully aware that Senator Obama has declared Ms. Palin's family off limits. So let me make it clear that I am not here to attack Sarah Palin's kids. On the contrary, I am here to stand up for them - as I do every day in my place of employment.
You see, I am going to cop to something that I've never mentioned here on Kos. I am a public school teacher. And I don't work in just any school district. I teach at a school that is located in one of the toughest neighborhoods in all of New England. I have seen the ravages of heroin and oxycontin first hand. I have watched it destroy the lives of kids, of adults, of entire families. It is a horrific drug that takes no prisoners. It drives people, regular people, into lives of crime and addiction. And then it kills them.
And I will admit that there is a part of me here that wants to bash Sarah Palin for her hypocrisy, for dragging her family out and putting her kids in the spotlight.
But the truth is that the teacher in me - the advocate for children - tells me that when it comes to Sarah Palin's family I need to speak out, not as a partisan (the role I usually play here) but as the adult who often has to look other adults and parents in the eye and tell them the bad news: your kids are in serious trouble, and they need your help. You need to stop denying there is a problem, step up and take control of the situation. No matter what the political price, no matter how painful, no matter how difficult. You need to address this problem. Your son's life is at stake here.
When pictures of Palin's daughter Bristol (who is now pregnant) appeared on the internet, drinking with her friends, many raised an eyebrow, but many more of us understood that sometimes, in spite of any parents' best efforts, kids make mistakes, do stupid things, and get into trouble. Her antics were embarrasing, but not alone, not evidence of a more serious family situation.
But if the reports about Track's drug use are correct, then as a teacher I feel compelled to say that this is undeniable proof that the Palin children are in crisis.
One child drinking is one thing. One child drinking, and then pregnant? That's indicative, but not necessarily evidence of a pattern or larger problem. But one child drinking and pregnant, with another mainlining Oxycontin? This is not "normative" adolescent partying or mis-behavior. This is evidence of a family that is out of control and in need of serious help.
This is not a partisan issue. This kind of thing happens to all kinds of people - good and bad (Bobby Kennedy's kids come to mind). It happens to Democrats and Republicans. It is not an indictment of Palin's character as a human being. But it is a sign that she, and her husband, need to intervene in their children's lives in a way that in all likelihood is not happening at the moment. And most likely, they need the help and support of a dedicated group of caring adults including their teachers, principal, guidance counselors, and possibly counselors or therapists, to keep their kids on track and away from alcohol and drug abuse.
So here is my message to Sarah Palin. If your son really is a junky, then I don't care if you are running for Vice President of the United States of Vice President of the fucking Kiwanis. You and your husband need to spend more time focusing on your kids. You need to go to family counseling, and put a plan together to address the drug and alcohol abuse and addiction among your kids.
And if this is to inconvenient for your political career? Tough shit. Your children's lives are at stake. They clearly need some help establishing boundaries and following rules.
You should consider dropping out of public life all together for a while. It will only complicate recovery by making it difficult to establish trust with your children and the public, neither of whom will completely buy your sincerity if you remain a public figure.
And for the record, this is the responsibility of both Palin and her husband. This isn't about whether "moms" or women should be able to serve in office. These kids need both of their parents - and I would say the same thing to her husband if he were the candidate.