Questions Raised: Does Sarah Palin Really Have a 5th Child? [Photos + Video] UPDATED

Posted by ArcXIX Daily Kos at 8:16 AM on August 31, 2008.

[UPDATE: For the latest on this story click here.]


With the news of Sarah Louise Heath Palin inexplicably being chosen as a Vice-Presidential nominee, the attentive American public was also introduced to her character. Unfortunately for all of us, it was filled with multiple instances of backtracking and outright lies. While Alaskans had been giving her an 80% approval rating, recently 87% of Alaskans polled on the subject of TrooperGate believed she was lying.



Now, I've known liars in my life. Their single core problem is not with themselves, but those around them. If they're never called out on their twisting of truths and fabrications, they simply continue to make larger lies.



Well, Sarah, I'm calling you a liar. And not even a good one. Trig Paxson Van Palin is not your son. He is your grandson. The sooner you come forward with this revelation to the public, the better.

The story begins on March 6th, when Sarah decided to come forward and announce to the world that she was pregnant, a monumental occasion for an acting Governor. Republican Governor Jane Maria Swift of Massachusetts was the first sitting Governor in United States history to give birth in office just seven years before, and now here we were once again. Yet, no one could believe the news:

JUNEAU -- Gov. Sarah Palin shocked and awed just about everybody around the Capitol on Wednesday when she announced she's expecting her fifth child.

Palin said she's already about seven months along, with the baby due to arrive in mid-May.

That the pregnancy is so advanced astonished all who heard the news. The governor, a runner who's always been trim, simply doesn't look pregnant.

Even close members of her staff said they only learned this week their boss was expecting.

"I thought it was becoming obvious," Palin said. "You know, clothes getting snugger and snugger."

But people just couldn't believe the news.

"Really? No!" said Bethel state Rep. Mary Nelson, who is close to giving birth herself.

"It's wonderful. She's very well-disguised," said Senate President Lyda Green, a mother of three who has sometimes sparred with Palin politically. "When I was five months pregnant, there was absolutely no question that I was with child."

Palin said she's not aiming to take any time off from her job as governor, assuming all goes well with the pregnancy.

With Palin riding extraordinarily high popularity ratings, pundits have mentioned her as a potential vice presidential candidate. But she said Wednesday night she's "not pursuing or perpetuating it," adding, "I have no desire to leave my job at all as governor."

She's known as a fashion plate, but said she hasn't been dressing differently to cover her barely perceptible bulge.

Funny quote on her having no desire for the Vice-Presidency aside, the article is direly clear. No one knew she was pregnant, not even her own staff. Quite a feat. Why the secrecy? Sarah has never given an answer, and upon further reading, no one has bothered to ask.



Seven months into a pregnancy, and no one noticed.



Even Harry Houdini would be impressed.



And how could anyone tell? Sarah's waistline never changed. Her wardrobe still remained tight and professional. In a video posted in February (nearing five months of pregnancy at the time), Sarah is seen trim, and walking around all of Juneau, Alaska.

@5:50

"I like running the hills, it kills me, that's why I like it, I mean it thrashes your guts"

Not exactly terminology said by a pregnant mother. Six months into pregnancy, she attended the National Governor's Association at the White House:




(Full Hi-Res, Far Left)



The Associated Press provides two photos in this timespan, one three days later on February 28th:







And another three days before the announcement, on March 3rd:







Here she is, seven months pregnant, three days after her official announcement:







And one week later:







And that infamous video in which Sarah trashes Hillary Clinton? That was at the Newsweek Women & Leadership Event in Los Angeles, in March:







After previous pregnancies (in this case, four), and at later ages, the female body is meant to adjust and show changes earlier, not later as in Sarah's unprecedented case.



On Friday, April 18th, 2008, Sarah and her husband Todd were in Dallas, Texas for a Republican Governor's Convention. They had been in town for three days already, but Sarah had yet to give her keynote speaker address on energy policy. Then early Friday morning at 4:00am, Sarah began leaking amniotic fluid. Instead of checking into a hospital, she instead made a call to her doctor, and delivered the keynote speech.

"I was not going to miss that speech," she says.

She rushed so quickly from the podium afterwards that Texas Gov. Rick Perry nervously asked if she was about to deliver the baby then.

The oddities only grow from here on, as instead of rushing to a Dallas medical facility that could treat a mother who's amniotic fluid has been draining for hours on end (made even more crucial due to the fact that this is occurring a full month prematurely), Sarah & Todd instead opted to Fly all the way back from Texas to Alaska. A dangerous choice, as with each pregnancy (once again, in this case after four previous), a mother's window of labor to delivery grows shorter and shorter.



Aboard Alaska Airlines, the flight lasted for eight hours, with an additional landing in Seattle. The majority of commercial airlines require mothers seven months pregnant to provide a doctor's letter to fly, but Sarah did not inform the airline of her condition. Alaska Airlines is one of the few airlines that do not require such a notice, despite the possibility of an emergency landings being required in such scenarios. That said, no one on board noticed that Sarah was going into labor:

"We leave the decision to fly up to our customers and their medical advisers," according to Alaska Airlines representative Caroline Boren.

"Governor Palin was extremely pleasant to flight attendants and her stage of pregnancy was not apparent by observation as she didn't show any signs of distress," Boren said.

Eight months pregnant. A 6.2 pound fetus. No one notices a visible trace. By the third trimester, a perfectly fit woman not wearing anything less than a space suit should be easily spotted as pregnant. Not in Sarah's case.



The plane then made a landing in Anchorage, Alaska. Does Sarah then visit a medical facility that can accommodate a premature birth in Alaska's most equipped city? No. She drives 45 minutes away, to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, right outside the small village she used to govern as Mayor, Wasilla. Trig Palin is then delivered one month premature, Friday night. Sarah returned to work after three days.



The inherent need to absolutely have Trig delivered in a remote and possibly ill-equipped facility for premature deliveries, where Sarah would likely have numerous contacts and pull, does not sit well. The doctor, Cathy Baldwin-Johnson, approving of all of these actions borders on malpractice. Not treating leaking amniotic fluid causes infections, and time is of the essence after water breaks. Husband Todd Palin simply delivers this winner of a line:

"You can't have a fish picker from Texas," said Todd.

A poor motivation, to be sure. Another motivation began making its rounds in the Alaskan legislature, where everyone was initially shocked to hear the news.



Sarah Palin was not pregnant with child.



Her sixteen year-old daughter was.



Checking with the Anchorage High School that Bristol Palin attended, reporters were given word that her family had taken Bristol out of school due to contracting infectious mononucleosis. The amount of time Bristol was absent shifts from five to eight months.



Mono can last anywhere from two weeks to three months, but an eight month infection is a freak oddity. Yet it remains a common excuse given by girls in private & Catholic schools around the nation when pregnancy comes into play. Not the first time, not the last time.



The following photograph of Bristol has been dated late 2007:




(Full Hi-Res, Right)



The final point of interest is that Trig Palin has been diagnosed with Down's syndrome (aka trisomy 21). This is an interesting point, as chances of having offspring with Down's Syndrome increases from under 1% to 3% after a mother reaches the age of 40. However, 80% of the cases of Down's Syndrome are in mother's under the age of 35, through sheer quantities of births in this age group.



People like to think the vetting process is secure, and completed months ahead of time, but ABC News has reported otherwise, painting a picture of a quick vetting process for Sarah by a small, but secretive group of McCain's legal staff. A proper vetting process under those circumstances would only go so far, and the true media vetting process has just begun.



It doesn't come as a surprise that this story was never properly researched. Palin was never on the National scene for more than a few minutes at a time, and local reporting only goes so far on a governor with an 80% approval rating. However, the motivation to cover daughter's pregnancy aligns with her political standings. She valiantly did not perform an abortion, but fell into the fundamentalist way of thinking, and covered up for the illicit (but natural) action's of her daughter.



There could be calls below to delete this information. Calls that this type of information is muckraking and 'below us'. The truth is not below any progressive, nor any citizen of the world that is one heartbeat away from having Palin as leader of the free world. We simply ask that she be forthright, honest, and not waste our time with such juvenile games that anyone with eyes can see as fabrication.



Bristol Palin rightfully should be able to embrace her child in public as her own, with no shame, and no quarter. And a mother should be just as accepting.


UPDATE:As has been noted in several diaries here at dKos (yes, I still read as much as I can here, despite my lack of posting), the circumstances around the birth of Sarah Palin's fifth child are particularly suspicious. This link from Reddit gives the basic rundown on the rumors. Given the photographic showing what seems to be a very not-pregnant Palin earlier this year, combined with the somewhat dangerous-sounding report that she flew back to Alaska after her water broke, it would seem that there is some strong circumstantial evidence that she was covering for her now-17 year old daughter Bristol - who was reportedly out of school a long time due to mononucleosis.



So I decided to email Gregg Erickson, the reporter from the Anchorage Daily News who hosted a chat at the Washington Post's website earlier today. I asked about the rumors, including the circumstantial evidence that seems to support a cover-up.



Here's his response:

The press did a pretty good job of following up on the substitute child rumor. It proved baseless.

I'm no obstetrics expert, but flying home - while having contractions - seems dangerous to me as well. Perhaps a real expert could opine on that. You have to say this about her: she's tough.

Given that Erickson was blunt (if not a bit unimpressed) in his evaluation of Palin during the chat this afternoon, I think it's fair to say that if he says the rumors were investigated and debunked, that should be that. Let's focus on the other issues that make Sarah Palin a bad choice for VP hereon out - not a story that makes for a good rumor but has no basis in reality.



(Comments from Daily Kos)

Just wanted to let y'all know so that we can get on to posting about other matters regarding Palin.

Alright, back to lurkdom I go...

"The perfect is the enemy of the good." -Voltaire

by PsiFighter37 on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 05:55:42 PM PDT

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I'd tip (0+ / 0-)

But I don't see the quote in the chat.

by How Insane Is John McCain on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:04:21 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
*
Maybe this is worth a second look (3+ / 0-)

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I just saw a CSPAN interview in which Palin does not mention a newborn child. The interview took place Feb. 24, 2008 and she did not look pregnant in the interview. She did not say she was pregnant either.

by We Shall Overcome on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:41:48 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
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I'm just curious (1+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
A Chicagoan in Naples

not to make it political, but curious.
Supposedly she's a hero because she announced that she chose to have a child knowing the child would be DS. I have problems with using your kids as props, or at least want to draw a line somewhere about that, though that horse is out of the barn I guess. But something doesn't fit here.
If Palin is so pro life, why have an amnio at all if she or whoever wasn't going to act on it?
Why have the test if you would object to having an abortion based on the result?

by annalivia on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:48:57 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
o
That would be heroic, but the RUMOR is that the (0+ / 0-)

child was not hers, but her daughters. And now the campaign is using it as a hero story, which is not right in my book.

by We Shall Overcome on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:52:32 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
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yes I hear that (3+ / 0-)

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A Chicagoan in Naples, murrayewv, Rogneid

but why have the amnio if you are opposed to abortion at all?

by annalivia on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:54:03 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
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Maybe to check the health of the baby (2+ / 0-)

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Fabian, Rogneid

to prepare for any complications ... i'm ignorant in these areas

by We Shall Overcome on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 07:01:43 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
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From reports I have read... (1+ / 0-)

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annalivia

she knew in December, 2007 that there were problems with the child. All these quotes came however after the child was born. If a mother knew that she might have complicates with a child that has DS, why would you take a 10-11 hour plane ride back to Alaska from Texas after contractions had started. I don't feel comfortable with this but there are other issues with which to go after the McCain campaign.

Eisenhower- "We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage."

by NC Dem on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 08:57:17 AM PDT

[ Parent ]
o
I'm not thinking politically (1+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
NC Dem

really but something doesn't add up.
The National Governor's Association meeting where Gov Palin supposedly met Sen McCain was in DC Feb 23-25.
Energy seems to have been a top issue. Gov Palin is listed as attending. McCain doesn't appear on the minutes as speaking or visiting, though I suppose he could easily have come as a guest to a reception since it was in Washington.
Eight days later Gov. Palin announces she is pregnant, though apparently no one had noticed. The baby is born in April.
Back at work days later.
Odd that McCain wouldn't have noticed she was pregnant. I'm assuming that he didn't notice. It's enough of a stretch to have a woman on the national ticket at all, but a pregnant women is incredible given the physical demands of campaigning and the physical stress on baby and mom pre and postpartum.

The best time to campaign (if such a thing could be limited) is second trimester, when you have a double blood supply. First semester, not a great idea, nausea and fatigue; third forget it without a wheelbarrow and a pile of pillows and an OB on call.
You can't take chances.
McCain doesn't seem to be so out there a pregnancy would be OK since it is a risk.
Something doesn't ring true here.

by annalivia on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 10:09:34 AM PDT

[ Parent ]
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Read the article by Lisa Demers from... (1+ / 0-)

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annalivia

the Anchorage Daily News. She seems to have some real problems with the facts and decisions made. I have emailed her to get a few answers if she can.

Eisenhower- "We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage."

by NC Dem on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 10:51:35 AM PDT

[ Parent ]
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Thanks. Can't imagine (0+ / 0-)

getting on a 6 1/2 or 9 hour flight after breaking water. I'm not blaming but it's a huge risk imho.
Guess that breast feeding is out.

by annalivia on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 01:56:20 PM PDT

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It wouldn't even make sense ! (5+ / 0-)

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MrHinkyDink, jj32, labwitchy, tosser, sulthernao

The risk of the cover-up wouldn't justify the reward.

-5.38/-3.74 I've suffered for my country. Now it's your turn! --John McCain with apologies to Monty Python's "Protest Song"

by Rich in PA on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 05:57:26 PM PDT

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It would probably win her winger votes if true.nt (1+ / 0-)

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Rich in PA

Ah no, it's always just my luck to get/ One perfect rose

by kat68 on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 05:58:58 PM PDT

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It wouldn't have hurt her career (2+ / 0-)

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karmsy, Rich in PA

The world has changed a lot since the 1950s, even for most conservatives.

by tosser on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:01:44 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
o
maybe not for gov (0+ / 0-)

but she was on the list for VP.

by annalivia on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:50:04 PM PDT

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do you want me to name all the politicians (6+ / 0-)

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raatz, Fabian, Rich in PA, Cassandra Waites, MAORCA, SPD

who took risks that could never justify the rewards? I'll limit it to decisions about sex to keep it on one screen :)

by MattR on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:05:01 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
o
Good point, but maybe not so much... (1+ / 0-)

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MattR

...since you're presumably talking about politicians (all male, fancy that!) who took risks for sexual gratification. That's not the issue here.

-5.38/-3.74 I've suffered for my country. Now it's your turn! --John McCain with apologies to Monty Python's "Protest Song"

by Rich in PA on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:06:03 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
o
men don't (1+ / 0-)

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Fabian

count. / snark

by annalivia on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:51:47 PM PDT

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Plus, a young woman would be less likely... (7+ / 0-)

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... to give birth to a child with Downs Syndrome, a syndrome that really has to be watched carefully for women in their late 30's and up.

It's a stupid rumor and I think she's got enough fact-based things about her to go after.

hink

Hyperbole will be the death of us all!

by MrHinkyDink on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:10:59 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
o
Most Down's syndrome kids are born to young (0+ / 0-)

mothers. A relatively high % of babies born to old (>40) mothers have Down's but there are few babies born to mothers in their 40s.

We are in a time where it is risky NOT to change. Barack Obama 7-30-08

by samddobermann on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 07:54:44 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

#
Off-topic: why can't I tip? (0+ / 0-)

Not sure I want to, but there's no checkbox next to that comment.

I haven't forgotten The Path to 9/11, Disney. You're still dead to me.

by beemerr on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 05:57:29 PM PDT

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There is for me! (1+ / 0-)

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citizenx

by MrMichaelMT on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 05:58:41 PM PDT

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Beneath us (2+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
loyaldemocrat, converse

Down's is statistically associated with mothers over 40; she should never have gotten pregnant!

by MrMichaelMT on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 05:57:51 PM PDT

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Stop sounding like a Republican scold. (15+ / 0-)

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It is not any of our places to tell someone when or whather they can have a child.

Just as it is not their place to tell others that they have to have a child.

by Mike S on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:01:43 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
o
Wanting people to make (0+ / 0-)

informed, intelligent choices is certainly not a Republican trait.

by converse on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:05:12 PM PDT

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Saying someone should, or should not, (8+ / 0-)

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have ever gotten pregnant is.

Telling people what they can do with their own boddies is the quintesential Republican trait.

by Mike S on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:07:58 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
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I certainly didn't mean that (0+ / 0-)

Palin had made a choice, governor. There are times when you must make sensible choices. Risking the life of a child because you don't have time to go to the delivery room is a very, very bad choice.

I totally support choice. But women who have babies and farm them out, so that they can do everything, are not making good choices. Flying after one's water has broken isn't just an infection risk to mother and child but risky to everyone on that plane, who might have had to divert.

With choices come responsibilities. Choose to get pregnant, and you must choose to take care of the child.

by MrMichaelMT on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 04:19:47 AM PDT

[ Parent ]
o
My 44 year old friend (6+ / 0-)

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Mike S, annalivia, MazeDancer, Rogneid, Cassandra Waites, second alto

had gorgeous twins.

However, flying that late in the pregnancy is definitely a no-no.

"If religion is the opiate of the masses, then fundamentalism is the amphetamine." Miz Vittitow

by MillieNeon on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:14:07 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
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That was a bad choice. (0+ / 0-)

The risk of complications and infections is very high. I'd have risked a baby born in Texas over flying!

Goodnight, Mr. droogie6655321, wherever you are! -5.75, -7.18

by Rogneid on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 07:02:27 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
#
She (0+ / 0-)

"If religion is the opiate of the masses, then fundamentalism is the amphetamine." Miz Vittitow

by MillieNeon on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 07:32:04 PM PDT

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Particularly given the fact (1+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
kat68

that she already had four healthy children.

Either callous recklessness or extreme hard-line anti-choice (including birth control).

by converse on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:02:16 PM PDT

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It's a very low statistic though (3+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
murrayewv, Fabian, Albatross

Something like 1.5 per live births for a women age 42. That sticks in my mind because of my sister, numerous cousins and an aunt became pregnant, and chose have the child, in their early to mid forties (one was actually 48).

The only incident of Down's syndrome in my family is a boy born 23 years ago to one of my 22 year old cousins. He lived at home, attended regular schools, and was just two years behind his cohorts. He now lives in an apartment, supervised by a case worker and his parents, and shared with another Downs fellow. He works part time upholstering furniture and is taking a classe in American literature at his local community college. He loves reading. He's very happy with his life. His parents have made arrangements for his care if something happens to them; fortunately they are very comfortable financially.

Not all Downs Syndrome suffer severe disabilities either. Today's DS babies have much better medical, social and educational abilities available to them.

Having a Downs baby is a hard decision to make. No one can tell the level of disability, and if something happens to the parents, who will care for the child? How will the medical expenses be covered? If the child is severely disabled, can the family withstand the stress? Even a mild to moderate case can cause relationships to go sour.

It's a leap of faith to decide to continue a pregnancy knowing you won't have a "perfect" child, and every woman and her family chooses what they feel is right for them.

It's their right to make the choice, and their burden to bear. We don't have the right to tell them "No you shouldn't have this baby".

Goodnight, Mr. droogie6655321, wherever you are! -5.75, -7.18

by Rogneid on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:59:27 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

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Ok, that rumor is busted but (17+ / 0-)

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I heard she was a muslim and have yet to see her wearing a flag pin.

by citizenx on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 05:57:53 PM PDT

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The strongest argument (7+ / 0-)

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jj32, murrayewv, citizenx, AnnCetera, NC Dem, SnowCountry, second alto

is that she busted the budget of a tiny town!

by MrMichaelMT on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 05:59:18 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
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giant flag pin for the announcement....n/t (1+ / 0-)

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SnowCountry

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad. Aldous Huxley

by murrayewv on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 07:05:23 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

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Thanks Thats it for me. (1+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
citizenx

by B P Pgh on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 05:58:19 PM PDT

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Accept the rumor as just that (7+ / 0-)

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MillieNeon, MazeDancer, lilnubber, MattR, murrayewv, Cassandra Waites, second alto

but where in family-based fundamentalism is there the basis for the mother of a 4 month old special needs infant being away from home for most of two months?

Before anyone slams me, I've already heard 30-something women (non-fundies) express surprise that someone would do this.

Is she going to limit her campaign to a few days a week, then go home?

It's not really an issue I care about, but when the same fundies want to deny gay partners or step-parents the right to foster parent special needs children, the point should be made.

by seanflynn on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:01:16 PM PDT

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Exactly (3+ / 0-)

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And how is she going to fulfill a VP job with small children?

Doesn't she believe in staying home with the infant? I thought that's what Repub values are all about.

"If religion is the opiate of the masses, then fundamentalism is the amphetamine." Miz Vittitow

by MillieNeon on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:15:29 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

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Wait a second (0+ / 0-)

I don't see your above quote about the "substitute child" anywhere in that chat. Someone help me out?

by How Insane Is John McCain on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:02:48 PM PDT

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Diarist said this was an email response. (4+ / 0-)

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Gray, MattR, AnnCetera, damned if you do

John McCain: Old is the new Black?

by ThatPoshGirl on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:10:02 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

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what about the rumor that her unmarried daughter (1+ / 0-)

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AnnCetera

is currently pregnant?

If we cannot elect this man, we don't deserve him.

by lisastar on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:05:01 PM PDT

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Sarah And Her Daughters (5+ / 0-)

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raatz, AnnCetera, MrJersey, SnowCountry, Cassandra Waites

Clips of her with McCain accepting the VP choice show her children onstage next to her and she's paying absolutely no attention to them.

A little blonde girl (I guess her daughter) is looking up at her with a bewildered expression that tugged at my heart.

I hope I just missed the part where she hugged them before she waved to the crowd and grimaced grinned at McCain.

Joe Biden: Get up! Al Gore: Pray, and use your feet! Harriet Tubman: Keep going!

by JG in MD on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:06:40 PM PDT

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CSPAN - Feb. 24, 2008 Interview (1+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
smartcookienyc

no mention of a fifth (newborn) child, just say it a few minutes ago - she did not say she had a newborn, and as far as i know was not pregnant in Feb. of this year ...

by We Shall Overcome on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:23:19 PM PDT

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Maybe baby was a preemie? (0+ / 0-)

Goodnight, Mr. droogie6655321, wherever you are! -5.75, -7.18

by Rogneid on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 07:03:56 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
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She didn't announce her pregnancy (1+ / 0-)

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SPD

until March, stating that the baby was due in mid May.

Everyone, including co-workers, were shocked because they didn't know she was 7 months pregnant.

The baby came early - a month after her announcement - in mid April.

Every time Obama speaks, an angel has an orgasm. - The Daily Show Aug. 28, 2008

by arielle on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 07:43:15 PM PDT

[ Parent ]
o
According to the articles I have read... (1+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
arielle

she returned to Alaska from Texas on Thursday night, April 17th at about 10:30 PM. They went straight to the hospital. Tig was born at around 6:30 AM on Friday morning.
A child is born who they knew in December had Down Syndrome and after birth on Friday morning, she returns to work on Monday morning at the governor's office.

Eisenhower- "We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage."

by NC Dem on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:04:50 AM PDT

[ Parent ]
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Oh I don't think for a moment (0+ / 0-)

that kid is not her grandchild.

Just saying she didn't say anything to anybody in February.

Every time Obama speaks, an angel has an orgasm. - The Daily Show Aug. 28, 2008

by arielle on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 11:11:51 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

#
"Pretty well investigated" ??? (1+ / 0-)

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MrJersey

By whom?

She gave a speech and flew home from Texas to Alaska after her water broke? Was that a direct flight? How many direct flights from Texas to Alaska are there in a day? Does she have her own private plane as Governor of Alaska?

Cummon. How much bullshit do you think smart American women will accept in one afternoon.

Sorry. These allegations are a serious -- they concern truth-telling and trust. Third-hand speculation by a single reporter is insufficient.

Now someone get the Enquirer on this!

Pain is a part of life. Misery is a choice.

by smartcookienyc on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:27:25 PM PDT

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An Alaskan may know this (2+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
murrayewv, SPD

better than I, but doesn't the Permanent Fund provide immediate annual financial benefit for a child born in Alaska, whereas that wouldn't come until one has lived there a while, if not born in Alaska? That might be a motivation for flying home to give birth.

by NWMethodist on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:33:07 PM PDT

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what? (1+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
murrayewv

so if you are on vacation in Vancouver and give birth you aren't eligible? Harsh.
I don't know. But travel in that state is tough esp in winter.

by annalivia on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:43:54 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

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Sexism was rampant throughout (1+ / 0-)

Recommended by:
Fabian

...the primary & we are seeing it in the reactionary analysis of Palin as well.

by jmknapp on Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 06:34:44 PM PDT

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Someone needs to look more closely (0+ / 0-)

As someone in the medical field, there are all kinds of bizarre issues with this here that make no sense. Someone really needs to dig more. Don't trust the hometown news paper to have done your work for you.

by Politicalmama on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 08:32:26 AM PDT

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This diary does NOT put the story to rest at all (0+ / 0-)

Sorry, but quoting an Anchorage reporter who claims he investigated the story doesn't put an end to it. I recognize that this is National Enquirer stuff and we should lay off it out of taste. But don't think this is all settled. The pictures of Palin in her earlier pregnancy and this one are completely different.

by Elrod on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 03:52:18 PM PDT

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Tagged as: sarah palin, trig, down syndrome