Sarah Palin and her baby Trig
September 8, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Without Trig, Governor Sarah Palin’s infant son who has Down Syndrome, what might discussions about her being Senator John McCain’s running mate be like?
Gov. Palin’s older sister, Heather Bruce, has an autistic child, an article in today’s New York Times notes:
Before her son was born, Ms. Palin went to extraordinary lengths to ensure that his arrival would not compromise her work. She hid the pregnancy. She traveled to Texas a month before her due date to give an important speech, delivering it even though her amniotic fluid was leaking. Three days after giving birth, she returned to work.
But with Trig in her arms, Ms. Palin has risen higher than ever. Senator John McCain, the Republican nominee for president, says he selected her as his running mate because of her image as a reformer, but she is also making motherhood an explicit part of her appeal, running as a self-proclaimed hockey mom. In just a few months, she has gone from hiding her pregnancy from those closest to her to toting her infant on stage at the Republican National Convention.
No one has ever tried to combine presidential politics and motherhood in quite the way Ms. Palin is doing, and it is no simple task. In the last week, the criticism she feared in Alaska has exploded into a national debate. On blogs and at PTA meetings, voters alternately cheer and fault her balancing act, and although many are thrilled to see a child with special needs in the spotlight, some accuse her of exploiting Trig for political gain.
But her son has given Ms. Palin, 44, a powerful message. Other candidates kiss strangers’ babies; Ms. Palin has one of her own. He is tangible proof of Ms. Palin’s anti-abortion convictions, which have rallied social conservatives, and her belief that women can balance family life with ambitious careers. And on Wednesday in St. Paul, she proclaimed herself a guardian of the nation’s disabled children.
“Children with special needs inspire a special love,” Ms. Palin said, echoing the message she had shared at the shower.
For sure, they do; take it from this special needs mom.
And too, special needs kids need concrete and pragmatic and real answers, need policies and legislation (how about fully funding IDEA and restoring the ADA……..) and understanding that truly makes a concrete difference in their daily lives, throughout their lifespans.
I also saw some video about Alaska that showed her walking to her office from her house. If she lives that close to her office then should could return to work and take care of her family too. I will try to find it again. It was on one of those blogs that was posting old videos and pictures of her trying to prove that she was not really pregnant with Trig. LOL
The San Francisco Chronicle argues that McCain-Palin ‘08 are using the same “script” as Schwarzenegger ‘03:
She’s described as “Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington”; whether she is, will unfold in the weeks to come, or maybe not.
The Chronicle also says,
.”…Stuzman says that much will depend on the coming weeks, and how the media persists in its reporting of Palin’s story.
“We’re in the infatuation stages right now,” acknowledges Stutzman, who says her interview with ABC’s Charlie Gibson this week will be a watershed moment – as will her upcoming debate with Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden…”
About interviews with Charles Gibson this week, including schedule.
Vice-President candidate debate
Thursday, October 2 from , Washington University, St. Louis, MO
also,
Three Presidential candidate debates
1: Fri., September 26, 9 pm EDT at University of Mississippi–domestic policy
2: Tues., October 7, Belmont University, Nashville, TN–Town Hall meeting format.
3/final: Weds., October 15, Hofstra University, NY–foreign policy
“Palin did not cut funding for special needs education in Alaska by 62 percent. She didn’t cut it at all. In fact, she tripled per-pupil funding over just three years. ”
This quote is from factcheck.org.
“Infatuation” struck me as the right word—–sherry, thanks for noting that.
Obama is such good buddies with Planned Parenthood it should scare everybody! Palin thinks all Children are important regardless of Disability! Planned Parenthood was founded by Margerate Sanger a believer in Eugenic’s! In fact alot of Pro Abortion Democrates and thier Hollywood buddies act like they would NOT have a child like Trig! To me that says alot!