Evangelicals Still Backing Palin

CNN reported Monday that evangelicals are still backing the nomination of Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential candidate despite the revelation that her 17-year-old daughter is five months' pregnant.

"Before, they were excited about her, with the Down syndrome baby," conservative, anti-tax activist Grover Norquist said. "But now with this, they are over the moon. It reinforces the fact that this family lives its pro-life values."

"Fortunately, Bristol is following her mother and father's example of choosing life in the midst of a difficult situation," Family Research Council president Tony Perkins said. "We are committed to praying for Bristol and her husband-to-be and the entire Palin family as they walk through a very private matter in the eyes of the public."

Evangelical leader Richard Land also backed Palin completely.

"This is the pro-life choice. The fact that people will criticize her for this shows the astounding extent to which the secular critics of the pro-life movement just don't get it," Land said in a statement.

"Those who criticize the Palin family don't understand that we don't see babies as a punishment but as a blessing. Barack Obama said that if one of his daughters made a mistake and got pregnant out of wedlock, he wouldn't want her to be punished with a child. Pro-lifers don't see a child as punishment."

"Being a Christian does not mean you're perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect," said James Dobson, founder of ultra-conservative Focus on the Family and a key figure in the pro-life movement. Conservatives have been outraged at speculation about the Palins on liberal blogs, and any Democratic comments critical of the family are likely to meet a fierce response.