Umm, guys? they were forced to announce this because National Enquirer had already been in touch with the dad and were going to break the story. You all remember the National Enquirer don't you?
Also, if the father is 18 and the daughter is 17, are the Palin's going to have him prosecuted for statutory rape? Is She of legal age in Alaska?
How is this a good example for anyone? The irresponsible mom didn't teach her daughter to use contraception properly, now the daughter is knocked up. Unless you consider teens getting pregnant a blessing, how is this anything but a complete and utter failure on the part of another self-moralizing christian crackpot?