I think it's a slippery slope if you go down that road. Should we always condemn parents because of the actions of their children? First, I think it's a mistake to say that Bristol Palin's actions (teenage pregnancy) reflected those of her mother. Just as it's a mistake to say the same about Jill Biden's ALLEGED actions.

Children learn from their parents, and vice versa. But you cannot condemn a parent solely on the basis of their child's actions. Just as you can't see a parent's bad act and immediately say that the child should be condemned because he/she will end up the same way.

Definitely. I think in both cases it shows a either failure on the part of the parents to pass along morals and values or an absence of moral fiber in the parents. It's not enough to tell you children what you want them to do. They need to have a basis, a reason to follow those guidelines, and if you are not able to provide the basis, your children will have no reason to follow them.

While I think it's unwise to discount the impact of "nurture" on any individual's moral compass, it's also equally unwise to judge the parents solely on the actions of their offspring. I'm certain that we could find plenty of examples where the parents of mass-murderers were completely normal, loving and law-abiding people. There are plenty of factors that could easily outweigh or overcome a strong, ethical upbringing. One which no one should discount, and which probably everyone has experienced at some point in their lives: peer pressure.

I've seen plenty of "really good kids" do plenty of really dumb things, just because they are young, insecure, attention-starved and surrounded by the same. That being said, I agree that if the media is going to represent itself as "objective" (quotes are deliberate), it should report on Ms. Biden with same amount of moral outrage, apologia, and general hysteria as was leveled at Ms. Palin.

One might also argue that being a competent politician and a competent parent aren't necessarily corollary value sets, but maybe that's just me speaking as a parent, and not a politician. ;-)