The Republican party is no longer needed. There is enough difference between Obama and Clinton to hold a fair election.
Hopefully, this gun totin contradiction will put the final nail in the Republican coffin.

Jason Gottlieb, Beverly Hills,

Maybe Levi Johnston is marrying the expectant mother of his child because he loves her, he has created a child with her, and that is the morally principled thing to do. I don't know, and neither does anyone else, but taking it for granted his motives are NOT honorable is simply foul.

AnnJo, Edmonds, USA

The secessionist story is not accurate. Turns out she gave a mayoral welcome speech when that party had their convention in her town. That's something American mayors do every day, regardless of party affiliation. Partisan Dems can't bother to check facts, but what's the media's excuse?

Lynne, Draper, USA

Even a potential vice president, be they woman or man, must still prove that they are able to lead effectively. As a candidate, her problems are America's problem. When she fails in family or in any matter that requires leadership, she loses credibility in those subjects in government.

Godfrey, San Francisco, United States

If it is true that Sarah Palin was a member of the Alaska Independence Party along with an address of support to their convention in 2008, it should disqualify her from being VP.
John T, Venice, FL, USA

By that logic, Hillary should be disqualified from being President for being First Lady.

Greg, Pittsburgh, USA

Gov. Palin has the potential to be our first female pres; she represents what a true feminist is and it is driving the dems NUTS! Dems pushing these stories will only rally Americans to her defense because normal Americans suffer the same family problems all the time. If this was Chelsea Clinton...

Jamie, Orlando, USA

This is the equivalent of Howard Dean's yee-haw!

Mike Mitchell, Spalding, England

It is contradictory to be a Christian and be so passionate for guns. What about teaching her daughter sexual purity? Does Sarah know what it means to be a Christian? It is not a fashion statement but commitment and obedience to God's Word. There should be a change of attitude from the heart.

virginia, Brisbane, Australia

I am a Conservative voting for McCain. While a part of me is highly incensed at the rubbish being thrown at the Palin family by our terribly biased media, I also think it will be a triumph for the Law of Unintended Consequences. Sarah is a hero to the common woman now. They will not be silent.

Jim Flaherty, Orlando, USA

Bravo to the London Times for reporting an enormously important story well ahead of newspapers in the USA. If it is true that Sarah Palin was a member of the Alaska Independence Party from 1994-96 along with an address of support to their convention in 2008, it should disqualify her from being VP.

John T, Venice, FL, USA

I was a Socialist until I realised it's a failed theory so I changed. People change politics, religion, partners as they change. It's great that Ms. Palin at least journeyed along a political path and is not a rigid ideologue who never changed her POV. I think this makes her an interesting woman.

Jack Stack, Melbourne, Australia

apparently she's a creationist which makes her a nutter in most people's book

peter c, Devizes, Wessex

Where's your evidence Steve from Birmingham? Countries that educate children about sex from an early age (Scandinavia, Netherlands) have much lower rates of teenage pregnancy. Proper sex education (combining biological facts with advice on negotiating relationships) reduces teenage pregnancy rates.

Lindsay, london, uk

I don't know enough yet to choice betwen these candidates but did i just read correctly that Mcain has met her only "ONCE"?

james, Blackpool,

The truly frightening thing here is the fact that the Republican presidential candidate chose as his running mate a candidate he knew nothing about. McCain is somehow both a loose cannon and a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

Karen Harper, Birmingham, Alabama, US

Before you knock the Abstinence program have a look at Angola. It's the ONLY COUNTRY in the whole of Africa to have reversed it's AIDS infection rate.

I don't know about you but I'd rather be alive and healthy than, have HIV and be "allowed" to sleep around.

John, London,

Sarah Palin is most definitely an AIP Member. Why would she release a video this year wishing them all the best in their convention of 2008 unless she was sympathetic to their cause? The video is readily available on YouTube. You wouldn't find any Governor releasing such for an opposition party!

Jimmy C, Letchworth Garden City, UK

to Gregory Scott, Houston, Texas

Telling a teenager not to do something, is making sure that a teenager WILL do something! You can explain to them not to drink, smoke or make love, but they will try all of these things before the age of 21. Do you remember being young?Did you and your friends wait?

ino, west sussex, uk

Despite continued sex education to children at a yonger and younger age we still have appalling figures in the UK. It basically dosen't work.

Samuel, London, England

Who is being nominated by Mc Cain? Is it Sarah Palin or is it her daughter or any other member of her family. Obama's parents were not married, yet he wants to be President? When there is scandal as in the case of John Edwards, a Democrat, the liberal press and commentators keep quiet.

m.tobin, Leamington, Canada

Yeah Donald from Maidstone, I am sure it is just the Democrats who are 'unable to grasp the fact people can change their views'. Maybe one day American politics will be won or lost based on substantive policies and not character asassination.

Sarah, London, UK

Steve from Birmingham, it's obvious that you haven't looked at the stats on sex ed and abstinence programs. Sex ed reduce pregnancy and STD rates and abstinence programs increase pregnancy rates. Of course, you could hang with the Republicans in dangerously ignoring the reality of human behaviour.

Tanya, Boston,

This could be good. If McCain/Palin get elected we're going to see the liberal left in a quandry. Women in power = good, right wing woman in power = bad. They can never reconcile the two and start intellectually flapping about like one of Mrs Palin's landed salmon.

John, Bangkok, Thailand

how old was she when she slept with this loser and what is State law. Are we sure this was not statutory rape?

John, NY,

The US policy on sex education, which Sarah Palin represents - ie lack of education, insistence on abstinence and rejection of contraception - is the reason why the US rate of teen pregnancies is highest in the developed world. It is TEN TIMES that of Holland, which promotes sex education.

Paul T, London, UK

"If there is one thing sex education does do it is increase the number of teenage pregnancies. 30 years of such perverse indoctrination in Great Britain demonstrates this clearly."
Steve, Birmingham,

Steve, are you sure about this, I have a suble feeling this is wholey inaccurate?

James, Leeds, UK

Palin, McCain, Obama - what is it about modern politics that makes it so that of all the brilliant and talented people in the USA, they end up with this crowd of wasters? Bush was bad enough, but these people will probably be just as inept and useless. And we get Brown. I'm in despair.

Jacques Francis, Westcott, UK

Sex Education does work.

Condoms work 90-something %

Abstinence Only education does not work

The states with the highest rates of teen pregnancys also happen to be the ones with the highest percentages of Evangelical Christians.

Just stuff doesn't make it so, you all aren't 'W'...

Bob A., St Louis, USA

"If Palin hadn't opposed sex education then her daughter might not be pregnant right now." Elizabeth, Austin.
If there is one thing sex education does do it is increase the number of teenage pregnancies. 30 years of such perverse indoctrination in Great Britain demonstrates this clearly.

Steve, Birmingham,

Elizabeth from Austin,

Telling a teenager not to do something that they shouldn't and explaining why is better than giving them license to do it and then educated them on how to do it without consequences... And have you ever looked at the failure rate of contraception? It guarantees nothing.

Gregory Scott, Houston, Texas

For the most part, we won't need to worry about watching Sarah Palin flipflop, because most of her opinions, when expressed, will be personal firsts.

And the problem with children is not that she has flipflopped but that she has been unwavering. Babies good. Mothers of any age, good.

Rob Spooner, Florence, Oregon USA

See the New York Times article. The lady from the Alaskan Independence Party had to retract her statement, and she blamed someone else for misinforming her. Palin has consistently registered Republican, although she did attend some AIP conventions, and spoke to them as Governor. Get the facts right.

Jesse, Berkeley, USA

Sarah Palin is woefully underqualified to be VP of the USA.

She may be a gun-totting, Christian right-wing extremist, but she certainly is no "Super Mom". She has made her daughter the most famous unwed pregnant teenager since Jamie Spears. As a parent, this is something I would not have done.

Lee, East Greenwich, RI, USA

Fascinating that the Republican "compassionate" conservatives who CHERISH "family values" and are quick to condemn single parents are rushing to embrace the "challenges" faced by this family while spinning it into a contradiction of their own beliefs. What if Chelsea Clinton had become pregnant?!!!

Ernest, Lexington park, USA

Levi Johnston is not runnig for the presidency of the United States. His parents, enamored with the idea of having a son so close to the White House, will insist he marry the girl. And he will comply. Because after all they are just children and these adult directing them have so much at stake.

kelly dietrick, Pittsburgh, US

Today the NY Times confirmed that Governor Palin was pregnant when she married her husband. Like mother, like daughter. Republicans need to get off their high horse about "Family Values." Cindy and John McCain admit having an affair when he was married, too.

R Brown, Atlanta GA,

Sarah Palin, The gift that keeps on giving.

Neil Heyman, San Diego, USA

I have a question for Democrats...is Levi Johnston's flip-flop on having children a more serious issue than Obama's flip-flops on energy policy, illegal immigration, and campaign public financing ?

Anthony, Charleston, WV, USA

It is really quite hilarious that there are some Democrat Party bosses who want to delve into the background of the Republican vice presidential candidates more than they have been willing to do with their own presidential candidate. Obama leaves so many questions unanswered or records refused.

Bob Evans, Anaheim, California

This is vetting via a free market! Way to go, McCain!

Philip, Stuttgart,

Excellent and balanced reporting, thanks and God Bless!

Darr, Seattle,

"Both oppose sex education, and believe in teaching an abstinence only approach in schools."
Evidently, the "abstinence only approach" is working very well, not only in Alaska but anywhere in the world. How I would like to witness what's going on between the Palin & Johnston families!

Florian, Newcastle, UK

I'm sorry, Donald, but I can't believe you can seriously pose the question "Are Democrats unable to grasp the fact that people can change their views?" with a straight face, given the Republican's glee in painting Kerry as a "flip-flopper" in the last election for precisely that. Irony, right?

Richard, Lawrence, KS, USA

A large number of teenagers will have sex whatever is preached. Trust me i am one. It’s thus a choice between decent sex education and safe sex or un-safe sex. Which would you have your children do?

James, Gloucester, UK

McCain threw in the towel with this single move.

Bill, Stoney Creek,

This is hilarious.

Stephen, Edinburgh, Edinburgh

What's the problem with someone thinking about Alaskan independence over 14 years ago? Are Democrats unable to grasp the fact that people can change their views?

Donald, Maidstone,

If Palin hadn't opposed sex education then her daughter might not be pregnant right now. Telling a teenager not to do something, rather than educating them, will only make them want to do it more.

Elizabeth, Austin, TX, USA

a good read

Otis Smith, seattle , USA