U.S. Rep. Barney Frank said Tuesday that it is fair for Democrats to introduce recent revelations surrounding GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's family into this year's presidential race, the Associated Press reports.

[img_assist|nid=496|title=U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Newton)|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=116|height=180]It was revealed this week that Palin's 17 year-old daughter, Bristol, is currently pregnant. Palin (R-Alaska) has also been accused of firing a public safety commissioner because he would not fire her brother-in-law. Additionally, it has been reported this week that Palin's husband was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in 1986 when he was 22 years old.

Frank (D-Newton) told the AP that the Republicans have been quick to focus on family values and stressed Palin's conservative credentials when she was named presumptive GOP nominee John McCain's running mate.

"They're the ones that made an issue of her family," Frank told the AP.

Frank said Palin's family troubles disprove the Republican argument that liberal values cause problems in family life.

"Apparently she's a great favorite with the conservative social movement," Frank told the AP. "They have said that it's liberalism and liberals who have undermined families - same-sex marriage has been a problem, they don't want gay people to adopt ... This helps undercut those arguments."