CBS: Bristol Palin the Face of ‘Growing Crisis’ of Teen Pregnancy

In the final half hour of Thursday’s CBS Early Show, correspondent Bianca Solorzano reported on an increase in the teen pregnancy rate, using Bristol Palin as an example: "Teen pregnancy was on the RNC platform this year, literally, as Sarah Palin's 18-year-old daughter, Bristol, was about to give birth. Jamie Lynne Spears made headlines at 16, not for her acting, but the grown-up, real-life role of becoming a teen mom. These famous faces front a growing problem." A graphic appeared on screen declaring: "Teen Pregnancy: The Growing Crisis."

Later, Solorzano explained: "After more than a decade of progress, experts fear we've been lulled into a false sense of security. And have stopped pouring resources into prevention." A clip of the movie ‘Juno’ was then played, after which Solorzano exclaimed: "And unlike the comedy 'Juno,' there's nothing funny about the nation's growing number of teenage mothers."

Here is the full transcript of the segment:

8:31AM SEGMENT:

RUSS MITCHELL: We're going to begin this half hour with a story about teen pregnancies on the rise. It is a reversal of recent trends. CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano has more.

[GRAPHIC ON SCREEN: 'Teen Pregnancy: The Growing Crisis']

BIANCA SOLORZANO: Teen pregnancy was on the RNC platform this year, literally, as Sarah Palin's 18-year-old daughter, Bristol, was about to give birth. Jamie Lynne Spears made headlines at 16, not for her acting, but the grown-up, real-life role of becoming a teen mom. These famous faces front a growing problem. A new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows for the first time in almost 15 years, the number of teen birth rates is on the rise.

BILL ALBERT [NATIONAL TEEN PREGNANCY CAMPAIGN]: We've got a problem nationally, that we've got a problem in nearly every state, and that we have a problem among all racial and ethnic groups.

SOLORZANO: Teen births are up significantly in 26 states. Mississippi now leads the nation with the highest teen pregnancy rate. 68 births for every 1,000 teenage girls. New Mexico and Texas aren't far behind. In comparison, New Hampshire has the nation's lowest rate. 19 births for every 1,000 female teens. After more than a decade of progress, experts fear we've been lulled into a false sense of security. And have stopped pouring resources into prevention.

[CLIP OF MOVIE 'JUNO']

JENNIFER GARNER: Your parents are probably wondering where you are.

ELLEN PAGE: Nah, I mean, I'm already pregnant, so what other kind of shenanigans could I get into?

[END OF CLIP]

SOLORZANO: And unlike the comedy 'Juno,' there's nothing funny about the nation's growing number of teenage mothers. Bianca Solorzano, CBS News, New York.