Politics | 12/30/2008 7:25 am

Sarah Palin's Daughter, Bristol, Gives Birth to Healthy Baby Boy

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

The proud new parents © AP

Sarah Palin is a grandmother.

Daughter Bristol, 18, gave birth to a bouncing baby boy on Saturday, People Magazine is reporting. The healthy 7 lb., 7 oz. baby is named Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston. He got his surname from hockey dad Levi Johnston, who has been dating Bristol for three years.

"We think it’s wonderful," Colleen Jones, the sister of Bristol’s grandmother Sally Heath, told People. "The baby is fine and Bristol is doing well. Everyone is excited."

News of Bristol Palin’s pregnancy broke after Sen. John McCain chose Palin as his running mate in the White House race. Johnston, also 18, was soon seen on the campaign trail with the Palins. Johnson said in October that he plans to marry his high-school sweetheart next year.

Palin’s office did not return phone messages Monday.

The Alaska governor, who has a newborn herself, told Access Hollywood last month that she would support her daughter.

"Bristol is a very strong young woman and she’s going to be just fine and a wonderful mom," Palin said.

"Bristol and I and the rest of the family know this is a team effort. And to be thrust like that into a spotlight on a national scene was perhaps an unfair shot to be taken. But really, if we don’t have thick enough skin at this time, as candidates, and I consider our whole family – this is a candidacy for all of us, we shouldn’t even be running for office. But we know it’s all going to be worth it in the end."

Read more about: Alaska, Baby, Bristol Palin, Election 2008, Grandmother, News, Politics, Sarah Palin, U.S.

236 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

As much as I dislike Sarah for VP, I have to say that she is a good looking grandma. I wonder how it’s going to be having a uncle that is just a little bit older. Good looking grandma, but strange..very strange.

By Joan Brown on 12/31/2008 1:01 am

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Joan: I wonder how it’s going to be having a uncle that is just a little bit older. Happens often in large families — I had an uncle four years older than I. I just didn’t call him Uncle, that’s all.

By Marjorie C. on 01/01/2009 7:39 am

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Most 44 year old grandmothers are good looking!

By DeBúrca obj on 01/03/2009 3:01 pm

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All I have to say is that teenagers have been having babies for much longer than most of ya’ll think. My Great GrandMother had her first child at the age of 16…She was married and had her first child at 16…Are you trying to say that it was ok b/c it was the “old” days? I have a cousin who has 4 children and she had them all before she was 20! The $300K for baby pictures sure would have made her life easier but she got her GED, and is now going to college to get her Doctrine in Sign Language… We as a society need to stop and really look at life. Just b/c we didnt do it doesnt mean its wrong or that it doesnt happen. I have friends who had babies young and they are the best mothers ever. Their kids are super smart and excel in everything they do. Just b/c this baby was born to the Palin family doesn’t mean its tainted. Lordie some of the comments on this blog is just beyong belief but then again after all the hateful words said about Palin from the same women bashing this poor girl and her baby, shouldnt really surprise me. Those should really be ashamed…I dont think seeing teenagers having babies makes all teenage girls want to go out and have kids, for me it was the opposite. I made sure I was protected when I had sex with my boyfriend back in high school. I didnt want a baby then and waited until I was in my 30’s to have one… Again we dont know how Bristol got pregnant, well we know how, but what I am trying to say is that she could have been on birth control, gotten sick went on an antiobiotic and we, well most women, know that an antibiotic will weaken the effects of birth control…does that mean every women takes other precautions, NO and we all know we dont…some do but most dont. I just find it funny that these ladies can judge the Palin’s…WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE THEM? You have said over and over and over kids are off limits, ok so leave them off limits. Just b/c Sarah brought them out onto the stage with her, so be it. That was her choice and its your choice to leave them alone if you so choose and obivously you didnt choose too and its really sad. I just find it hard to believe that any of ya’ll wouldnt take that $300K if offered to you for a couple of pictures of your baby. Come on ladies, be truthful, you know you would and if you say you wouldnt your lying.

By C Hardy on 12/31/2008 7:33 am

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It’s amazing that people can be so hateful to Gov. Palin and transfer that hate to Bristol. I bet money that these ladies and we know who they are…..probably would have a hissy fit if we were to look into their lives and judge them. They are hyprocrites.

By T P on 12/31/2008 11:43 am

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Tanja you what their response would be to that “were not running for VP of the US”…they have an excuse for everything they say about someone. I truly also feel that its so sad when the media first broke the story of Bristol being pregnant the mean, ugly, hateful words said about a 17 year old being pregnant just b/c her Mom was running for VP. I mean it was just awful…I know there are women on this site that had kids young and maybe have daughters who got pregnant young…does it make it alright for others to judge them? NO We were not put on this earth to judge one another…we will all be judged in the end. I really would like to flip back the clock to when some of these ladies had their babies and if someone offered them $300K for photos and see how many of them would have taken it without even having to blink. I would welcome $300K right now for tasteful photos of my daughter. She is beautiful and would love to see her beautiful face on cereal boxes or ads for baby stuff.

By C Hardy on 12/31/2008 12:21 pm

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Tanja, I think what has many people questioning the Palin’s is the fact that during the election the Palin children were to be off limits. Even Obama ordered his campaign to leave the Palin kids alone. Sarah Palin even requested that her children be left alone. Now all of a sudden they are seeking the spotlight, and are willing to put this newborn in the public eye for money. I think many are confused by their once need for privacy and now the sudden “hey look here’s my baby!” for the world to see. Surely you can understand why some people can see this as hypocrasy, I certainly do.

By Catherine Kaiman on 12/31/2008 10:16 pm

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Catherine The parents are 18 years old — their judgement might be a little bit off. That being said, if there were no market for the photos, there would be no exchange of money. Whether you realize it or not, you and all those who agonize over Sarah Palin, are creating the market. Stop talking about her and she’ll be forgotten. In reality she, as an also ran, should not be getting the publicity she does. I rarely hear much about John McCain, and nothing about Cindy McCain, and even less about their children. Remember, you guys are the ones keeping Sarah Palin on the front page, so don’t complain when it happens.

By Marjorie C. on 01/01/2009 7:54 am

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Marjorie, First of all I don’t agonize over Sarah Palin. Secondly, I was only pointing out the fact that I think it’s rather ironic that they ask for privacy in regards to Bristol, and yet she will exploit her newborn for 300k. Lastly, Marjorie I agonize over far more serious issues than Sarah Palin, as far as I’m concerned she’s yesterday’s news. I agonize over the Gaza conflict, I agonize over the fact that our local food bank desperately needs more donations and I and the other volunteers are trying to come up with new fundraising ideas. I agonize over the 22 dogs we couldn’t accomodate in our rescue over the holidays, many who have since been put to sleep. Agonize over Sarah Palin, give me a friggin’ break.

By Catherine Kaiman on 01/01/2009 8:49 am

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Catherine: …give me a friggin’ break. Consider it done.

By Marjorie C. on 01/01/2009 2:46 pm

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Thank you!

By Catherine Kaiman on 01/01/2009 4:46 pm

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Marjorie — Happy Obama Year! I agree that there is a market for the photos, but let’s face it, the parents are adults & don’t have to sell, either. They should be held to the same standard as all parents — i.e., do what is best for their baby. Even if the public created a “market” for the photos, they have to be mature enough to say “No.” I assume that you are sympathetic toward them and just want to get people off their back, but is it really doing them a favor to make excuses for them?

By Linda Mason on 01/03/2009 1:07 pm

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I agree! Several people in here are indignant at the thought that a parent might actually say “NO” to exploiting their child by selling photos to the highest bidder. I find that shocking. I for one wouldn’t do it, my childrens’ well being and safety are more important to me than a big check.

By DeBúrca obj on 01/03/2009 3:04 pm

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Tanja: They are hyprocrites. And they are bullies. They circle around the Palins and throw rocks every chance they get. For the life of me, I don’t know what they get out of it.

By Marjorie C. on 01/02/2009 3:10 pm

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Tanja; I would hope that you could try to see this thread from both points of view. Because some women have differrent views and are questioning Bristol’s choice to suddenly take money for Tripps picture, certainly does not make them hypocrites as some would suggest. The real hypocrites, are the ones that pleaded for their children to be off limits during the campaign, yet thrusted their children onto the world stage every chance they got, then condemned the media for taking their pictures. The real hypocrites are the ones that requested privacy yet do not think twice about accepting 300K for pictures of the newborn to plaster on the cover of a magazine. Some can’t remove their rosy colored glasses long enough to see or try to understand why some see the Palin’s as hyprocrites when it comes to this situation.

By Catherine Kaiman on 01/02/2009 4:52 pm