| | White House warns: Don't 'exploit' Palin daughter's pregnancy
 The White House warned the media on Tuesday not to "exploit" the pregnancy of Republican vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin's teenage daughter Bristol, calling it a "private family matter."
"The president of the United States (George W. Bush) believes that this is a matter that this family has chosen to work through together," and "believes that this is a private family matter," said spokeswoman Dana Perino.
"The family obviously loves their daughter very much, and that this baby, when it is born, will have the full love and support of a very loving family," Perino said one day after word came that Bristol, 17, was five months pregnant and would marry the father.
"Whether or not this is an issue in the campaign is actually more up to the media," she added. "The media is the one that's going to have to decide whether or not this is a story that they want to follow and that they want to exploit."
US media have scrutinized the announcement, but political figures including Democratic White House champion Barack Obama have declined to criticize Palin or Republican presidential standard-bearer John McCain over the news.
"I think the response from all the politicians has been absolutely responsible and supportive of a young woman who is going to grow up faster than any of them would have wanted," said Perino.
Perino slammed as sexist possible concerns that Sarah Palin -- who has five children with husband Todd, including a baby with Down syndrome -- might not be able to shoulder the burdens of being vice president.
"I don't think that those questions would be asked if it was Todd Palin that was the nominee. And I think that Sarah Palin has proven that you can choose as a woman to be a mother and be a strong executive and to have a wonderful, loving family," said the spokeswoman.
"And that's what she's chosen to do, and I think that's why the party has rallied around her so fully," she said.
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