Politics | 10/14/2008 8:00 am

Sarah Palin's Future Son-in-Law Talks About Being a Teenage Dad

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin © AP

Sarah Palin’s future son-in-law is speaking out about his relationship with Palin’s teenage daughter, their unborn baby, and rumors of a shotgun wedding.

Levi Johnston told the Associated Press in an interview that he wasn’t held against his will on the campaign trail as Palin campaigned with presidential hopeful John McCain in the race against Barack Obama. He also said he’s not being forced into a shotgun wedding with 17-year-old Bristol Palin because he got her pregnant – no matter what those in the media, or "Saturday Night Live," for that matter, say. The baby is due December 18, while the wedding is planned for next summer.

"None of that’s true," said the 18-year-old Johnston, who has dated Palin since his freshman year in high school and is known as a heartthrob around Wasilla, AK. "We both love each other. We both want to marry each other. And that’s what we are going to do."

Johnston said the McCain-Palin campaign isn’t directing him what to say – or not to say – right now. “It’s pretty chill,” he said.

Even though he was surprised to hear Bristol was pregnant, Johnston said he quickly embraced the prospects of fatherhood. The teen has dropped out of high school to take a job on the North Slope oil fields as an apprentice electrician. Johnston hinted that the baby is a boy.

"I’m going to take him hunting and fishing. He’ll be everywhere with me,” he said.

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

When my daughters were young, I took the time to take them aside and explain the birds and the bees. When they were old enough I took them for birth control. I took time out of my very very busy business world day to do this for my children so a pregnancy wouldn’t occur. Because I cared.

By Rainbow Power on 10/14/2008 8:12 am

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If they are not getting married until next summer, why did he drop out of school? Finishing high school would have been much better preparation for fatherhood, college would have been even better but no time for that.

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 10/14/2008 8:18 am

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Sandbee, I agree. I think it would send a better message to young adults that dropping out isn’t the answer. We know that the Palin’s are in a position to help out financially. So why not make education the priority. This is a time when he should be close to home and his new family. He can even get a part-time job in town. Sorry, but education should be a priority in this case since the family is in a position to help.

By Brooklyn Gal on 10/14/2008 10:41 am

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This Palin bullshit has got to stop …That poor boy was GUNSHOT into this …After meeting Sarah Palin and if ya had a Brain you would run like HELL away from that bullshit ! Wanna bet he does run …..after all this election stuff ? I bet he moves to New Orleans ….I would …and Hide out by Marie Lavaue’s gave …hell I’d crawl right up in it …just to hide from her mother …

By Eliza Dodd on 10/14/2008 8:23 am

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I mean this in no way as a reflection upon the morality of the situation these kids are in. What’s happened to them can and does happen to far too many of our children in any social and economic strata. However, is having a teenager drop out of high school and work in the oil fields to support the daughter of somebody who is being portrayed as a shining example of American motherhood and family values what we want as a representation of us and our values? I don’t see this as representative of middle class America at all. I see it as redneck ignorance.

By Sherrie Crews on 10/14/2008 8:32 am

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The New York Post has excerpts from Johnston’s MySpace page: “I see it as redneck ignorance.” You nailed it! Before the GOP got a hold of Levi’s Myspace On his MySpace page, Johnston boasts, “I’m a f - - -in’ redneck” who likes to snowboard and ride dirt bikes. “But I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s- - - and just f - - -in’ chillin’ I guess.” “Ya f - - - with me I’ll kick [your] ass,” he added. He also claims to be “in a relationship,” but states, “I don’t want kids.” ~ The new York Times

By Jennifer Dooley on 10/14/2008 11:27 am

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….and was anyone really expecting him to say anything to the contrary?

By Belinda Joy on 10/14/2008 8:44 am

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Anyone beside me seeing strains of “The Beverly Hillbillies” in this situation? These are simply not the sort of people who fit into or belong in the White House or polite society. I feel sorry for these kids, victims of their parents’ ambition and neglect. They are under so much pressure and the adults in their lives are so completely insensitive. Any responsible mother would have provided for birth control for a sexually active daughter instead of living in denial. This is rather a national embarrassment, truth be told. The Republicans hold no moral high ground in this race - John McCain’s story is pretty sordid also. Can one be a “maverick” and still take the moral high road? I would hope so.

By Garden Goddess on 10/14/2008 9:08 am

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“Even though he was surprised to hear Bristol was pregnant, Johnston said “ SURPRIZED!! You have sex, you stand a 50/50 chance of becoming pregnant. Ms. Palin is trying to do it all…….the problem, as I see it, is she isn’t doing anything well. Her oldest son is in the Army……..because he was given a choice by a judge. Jail or service for dealing drugs. He did not finish high school. Her daughter is pregnant at 17 and also hasn’t finished high school. Now this boy, Levi, has quit school to work in an oil field. She keeps her 3 youngest children up until all hours, just to use as props, instead of hiring a babysitter. The first Dude, has quit work to campaign with her. MOM seems to come first in this family. HOW SAD!

By Marsha Ott on 10/14/2008 10:16 am

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How is dropping out of high school going to help him and his future at all? Is this something Sarah Palin approves of? Having her future son-in-law and father of her grandchild give up his education without a rationale? It is a terrible signal that a potential vice president doesn’t value education enough to push her grand baby’s father to get his degree, to get a quality education. Ignorance breeds Ignorance!

By Jennifer Dooley on 10/14/2008 11:30 am

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Picture this …… Obama has a 17 year old daughter, high school dropout, pregnant, the boy friend shows up and agrees to marry her, he is a dropout also, baggy pants, hat on sideways, home boy. Can you imaging the uproar ??? I mean, please ! Fox would have a field day. Maybe i’m naive living in the northeast, but dropping out of high school is almost unheard of unless you are very poor and need to work. Maybe in Alaska where you are subsidized by the state with oil money it is OK, but how about being educated for the sake of learning and becoming a better citizen ? Knowledge is a good thing, since when is it OK to drop out of High School ??? I will add in a totally non politically -correct way ….. he is a very cute young man. But jeez, didn’t anyone tell him to “put a sock” on it ? I had 3 cute sons and they were told at a very young age the importance of responsibility. Remember when Bill Clinton had his little “non-sex”, it started a huge trend in oral sex among teenagers, the conservatives said it was his fault, how shameful he was, responsible for the corruption of our young people. Where are they now ??? Is this behavior going to be acceptable now ? HOPEFULLY, in 20 or so days this story can retreat to the backwoods of Alaska. I wish them luck, they will need it.

By EKA - on 10/14/2008 11:45 am

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He’s dropping out of high school to work in the oil fields. Another casualty of the “abstinence only” creed. When will parents ever get a realty check ??

By Mary NSB-Florida on 10/14/2008 1:28 pm