Aug
30

And She Did So Much While Pregnant! Right?

filed under 2008 election, abstinence-only education, politics

I wasn’t going to touch upon this, however, I read a good amount of conservative blogs and talk to a great deal of conservatives. I hold nothing against them, I believe that one must challenge their world views and without doing so, you will never know what you truly believe or how deeply you believe in something until you open your mind to the other side. You truly find yourself when you accept criticism and have in depth conversations with someone whom you may not agree with; it is when you do this that you truly understand who you are and what you stand for. With that being said, quite a few Republicans are rejoicing over McCain’s VP pick of Sarah Palin; moreover, they are repeatedly shoving the phrase “feminist role model” down the throats of their readers and boasting that she is a great advocate for “traditional family values” and pro-life policies as she gave birth to a son last April who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome; not only that, but she stayed in office as a working governor while pregnant and didn’t even announce that she was pregnant until March 6.

First of all, I do not believe that a woman giving birth to a child with Down Syndrome and choosing not to abort said child when she found out about his disability is hardly a focus point on her politics. As an anti-choice candidate, she has created a pro-life record by standing up against a woman’s right to choose by using such phrases as “It’s not a choice, it’s a child,” which many pro-lifers yell, scream and carry on about during protests and harassing women outside of Planned Parenthood clinics. Using her politics, her son is a child and he was not a choice and yet her son is the first (or close second) thing people bring up when defending her as a candidate saying that it was her choice to give birth to a child with Down Syndrome; this point has also come up in the comments in my last post on Palin. People are very quick to throw that her birth to a child with special needs is a choice, but isn’t that what pro-lifers spend their hours trying to convince us is not the case? (Cara at The Curvature has a more in depth post on this specifically that you should check out)

As I stated in what I’m calling my obligatory Sarah Palin post, Palin is against reproductive rights and believes that abortion starts with contraception. Frankly, Palin is a traditional believer in not having sex until you’re married and ready to begin baby-making. That is all well and good and also fool proof in roping the pro-life voters who weren’t going to vote for McCain at first; but perhaps if her abstinence-only values and pro-life policies were concrete they would work, however as the hours tick by, more and more dirty laundry on Palin is surfacing.

We met Palin’s family at the McCain/Palin rally in Dayton Ohio; we were introduced to her children, Piper, 5; Willow, 12; Bristol, 16; Track, 17. Also amongst the clan was the newest member of the family, Trig, born last April.

Palin did not tell anyone outside of her family about her pregnancy until she was 8 months pregnant and even at 8 months, she did not resemble a woman with child; as Palin is a very slim and slender woman, a pregnancy would have been abundantly apparent. Alaskan media did comment on this, yet their speculations went no further.

Months before Palin’s birth announcement, Bristol Palin, 16, became ill with mononucleosis (mono) and had to leave school. Mono typically lasts between 2 weeks and 3 months and that is if it is a particularly horrendous and threatening case, but Bristol was out of school for 5 to 8 months, ironically this took place at the same time Sarah Palin was pregnant with Trig.

A pregnant Palin, wardrobe still fitting, her physique remaining the same in February, went hiking. A video was released where Palin said:

[5 minutes 55 seconds into the video]
…”I like running the hills, it kills me, that’s why I like it, I mean it thrashes your guts and your lungs and your thighs…”

Now I don’t believe that is something that should come from a pregnant woman’s mouth.

Rumors ran rampant through Bristol’s school while several of her classmates accounted that Bristol was gaining a significant amount of weight and appeared to be pregnant when she abruptly left school.

Sarah Palin went into labor while in Dallas, Texas just before she was schedule to deliver a keynote address at the Republican Governors’ Energy Conference. Palin, instead of checking into a hospital, delivered the keynote speech. She said:

“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.

Instead of checking into a hospital after supposed hours of leaking amniotic fluid, Palin then made the very bold move of flying while in labor to Alaska so Trig would be born “an Alaskan.” Palin is obviously wonder woman since she was said to be in labor during the entire 8 hour flight and was said to be extremely pleasant to flight attendants who oddly were not even aware that the woman was pregnant, never mind in labor.

As most of you may know, airlines typically have strict rules regarding women who wish to fly while more than 7 months pregnant. Palin said that it was through the birth of her four previous children that she became comfortable with the signs of active labor and did not feel that she or the baby were in any form of danger by boarding the flight.

I find it rather peculiar how a woman can be eight moths pregnant and deliver a 6.2lb child and no one can even notice the woman is pregnant. Palin then returned to work after three days. I understand that middle-class citizens may have no choice but to return to work, not being able to afford to take time off even after a child is born, but obviously Palin and her big oil-working husband are well equipped to take a little time off to enjoy their newborn, right? Why would any woman want to separate from her newborn child who has special needs to be taken care of after just three days?

Well, because Sarah Palin was not pregnant, Bristol Palin, her 16 year old daughter, was. Mono is a common excuse used in “respectable” families and Catholic school systems as to why teenage girls must be taken out of school when they are really pregnant. The same thing is still happening today.

Yes, Trig was born with Down Syndrome and while this occurs with newborn babies of older women, such as Sarah Palin, the same also occurs in cases of very young women, which Bristol is.

Pictures of the family, the Bristol bump and the lack of Sarah bump after the jump.

Sarah Palin pregnant
Sarah Palin, 7 months pregnant

Sarah Palin
The Palin Family; Bristol Palin obviously trying to suck in her baby bump, hence her chest sticking out to an uncomfortable-looking degree. A 16 year old girl simply gaining weight would not be in the form of a “dome,” it would be evened out along her entire stomach, not just in the center.

Sarah Palin
The Palin family again, Bristol clearly the pregnant woman in the Palin family.

Bristol Palin
*Click for larger image

Things are simply just not adding up when it comes to the miracle child of Sarah Palin and also the reason why so many Republicans are saying that she did an amazing job even while pregnant, thus making her a “feminist role model” and a woman who lives up “traditional family values.” The truth seems to be that while Palin is 100% pro-life and believes abortion starts with birth control, she was not a parent whom her 16 year old daughter could talk to about being sexually active, knowing her mother’s strict pro-life policies and knowing full well that she would not be permitted to be on birth control. It is having a closed family such as this one and so many others in this country where children do not feel that they can talk openly to their parents and the outcome in most of these cases is teen pregnancy. However, not all American families can pull off raising a child as a mother when you’re really the grandmother and fool the entire country into believing it.

I am not saying that I know 100% if this is true or not, but there are a lot of sources and apparently a lot of Alaskans who know the Palins are saying that it is indeed true. However, if Bristol Palin is not the mother of Trig then that proves that Sarah Palin was willing to risk the well being of her child to board an 8 hour flight while in labor just so her son would be born “an Alaskan.” But I do doubt that is the case.

While many will most likely be disappointed in me “going to this level,” it is only because firstly, there is way too much confusion in this alleged pregnancy and the holier than thou pedestal Sara Palin is being placed upon because she “chose” to birth a child with special needs when if she did, she would just be following her own politics and her supporters should treat it as such instead of using it as a weapon against the liberals.

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    • ^
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    Everything else aside, though, the problem is dragging a 16-year-old girl into this mess. I've got numerous issues here, but assuming this were true, it would be what's at the front of my mind.
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    Hmm, I wonder if Ma Palin gave her daughter a choice about what to do?
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    abortion in teenagers has to be approved by a guardian...so....I'm thinking no.
    • ^
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    Does it!? Not where I live it doesn't, but then I'm not from the USA. Is that the case in every state, or just in Alaska?

    Whoa. Poor Bristol. I hope she did make the choice on her own.
    • ^
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    it's nationwide. It's a big topic amongst pro-choicers.
    • ^
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    It varies from state to state. In California teens can obtain contraception and abortions without consent, and since they rarely have jobs, we use public funds to cover the costs. You can go to www.naral.org to see what each state says on the issue.
    • ^
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    I'm going to argue a couple of you points.

    1) Exercise : A woman that is used to it can safely continue during her pregnancy as long as she listens to her body about when to slow up and rest. The biggest risk is being off balance and falling.

    2) No one on the plane knew she was in labor: I've had two children, both without medical intervention and I can assure you that no one knew I was in labor until the very end. With my second I spent the day at the library, park, and playing with my oldest while in la. bor. Not all women resemble labor and delivery as shown on TV. It is possible for her to carry on like normal and be in labor

    3) She did not separate from her newborn only 3 days after giving birth. One of the perks of her office is being able to take the child with her. http://images.morris.com/images/juneau/mdContro...
    • ^
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    REALLY? She just gave birth and was back on her feet at work in three days? I thought you at least spend a day in the hospital after birth. My sister spent at least a week from work as a regular citizen. Your telling me the Governor that could take a couple of days off?
    • ^
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    I find it very troubling if Gov. Palin was the one who delivered Trig, that she would risk delivering a premature infant with Down Syndrome in a plane. In addition, the risk of infection rises steadily from the moment membranes rupture, and so women are advised to go to the hospital immediately when their water breaks. That she would delay for several hours and risk a complication while she had no access to medical care speaks volumes about her lack of judgment...or it was all a lie. Damning either way.

    One other point, because I've read posts where people are skeptical regarding the likelihood of a young woman having a child with Down Syndrome; although women over 35 are at greater individual risk of having a child with Down syndrome, most babies with Down Syndrome are actually born to young women, because they do more childbearing. This is why initial screening with the "quadruple screen" is offered routinely to all pregnant women. If the result is abnormal, then a diagnostic amniocentesis is offered. The amniocentesis is offered routinely to women who will be 35 at the time of delivery.
    • ^
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    Actually, the risk comes not from ruptured membranes but from outside objects being inserted in and increasing the risk of infection. In the US they say immedicately, in other countries they don't mind a wait. The vaginal exams from doctors are a bigger risk then the simple rupture of the membranes.

    http://www.womens-health.co.uk/prom.asp

    "Some believe that labour should start within 24 hours or the risk of infection outweighs the risks of induction of labour.

    Others feel that the risk of infection remains low for the next 72 hours and waiting gives the benefit of avoiding the 'cascade of intervention' that may occur with induction of labour"
    • ^
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    Oh, and #4 is the breastfeeding. It is extremely difficult to regain milk supply if it has been years after giving birth. Her second youngest is 6/7, which would mean a lot of pumping, stimulation, medications, etc... I know women who have done it for adopted children, but it's not easy and very time consuming.
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    Has anyone actually seen her nursing?

    Interestingly, the baby always seems to be with Britstol while they're on the stump. Today in PA, Gov. Palin mentioned the baby and Bristol were not present because he was napping in the bus and his big sister was caring for him.
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    I don't think that strikes me as even remotely wrong.

    I will always be pro-choice because my great-aunt, when 20 and impregnated, died during a crappy abortion (because abortion was illegal at the time). My grandfather was in the next room (it was in-home as you couldn't get a real one at the time) and 17 years old, and heard his sister die. He drank every day of his life, partly because of that.

    However, while also agreeing with the previous poster, I have to say that this type of personal issue holds NO sway over me. People have their reasons for living their lives as they do, and I don't fault Palin (assuming this is true) for trying to keep her family private like this. This isn't, to me, some major flaw of character or morality, or some proof that there's an overarching inability for the woman to lead. Simply, that she's been through tragedy.
    • ^
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    WOW..this is the first I am hearing of this and I admit that it is very convincing. It makes sense that if she were sexually active she could not tell her mother because of her mothers public abstinence beliefs. I really hope for her daughters sake that this is not the case. I cannot imagine that if this indeed were true that Palin is the supportive mother that she claims to be.
    • ^
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    The Anchourage Daily News article about her announced that she was 7-months pregnant and didn't look it and nobody had any idea is NOT a fabrication. Add the pre-birth travel and behavior and birth in the hospital near her home town -- both indisputable facts -- and there are certainly some questions here. I have an instinct for these sorts of things and there's enough here.

    Here's the kicker, add to these facts to Gov. Palin's story about it and it would not likely stand up to cross-examination, which she did not get in Alaska. Still, she would still get the benefit of the doubt from me and most people that it is indeed her child.

    But there is strong additional circumstantial evidence that must be explained adequately or the reasonable conclusion is that she is covering for her daughter. First, her daughter not being in school due to "mono" for months on end. This should be fairly easy to confirm with school records and discussions with her friends. If true, that's quite a coincidence. Second, the purported rumors in school -- not reliable as hearsay on their face -- should nonetheless be reviewed with adequate scrutiny. It is not the left or democrats which started them, but high schoolers who knew her, and can probably shed some truthful light on this situation.

    Third and, perhaps, most inconvenient are the photos. If they are accurate, and they appear to be undoctored, someone has to explain why Gov. Palin does NOT appear pregnant and her daugher does. That seems like quite a coincidence given the rumors, unless the photos are doctored. If they are doctored -- which could be hard to prove -- then I think we can conclusive pass this off as a hoax.
    • ^
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    This is very intriguing! I wonder if we will ever find out for certain what happened?
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    Oh..wow..Holly! I don't even know what to say about this?!?!?! I can't believe you really went there.
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    I find the argument very compelling. Regardless of the governor's health, a 44-year-old woman would be considered a high risk pregnancy by any competent OB. She lied to the airline (yes, not divulging her late term pregnancy on the flight to Texas and the fact that she was in active labor on the return trip is a lie!) and she put herself and her baby at risk, not to mention possibly inconveniencing an entire plane full of people had her labor moved along very quickly while in the air. And she changed planes in Seattle, thereby lying once again! After the governor arrived in Alaska, she still had to be driven 50 miles to the hospital.

    And this was supposed to be her 5th child? Delivery would have occured soon after labor began, not 12 - 18 hours later as it would in, say, a first delivery for a young girl.

    I agree that this is a private family matter, but the Palin family moved it to the national scene when she accepted the VP slot on McCain's ticket. She's a rapid anti-choice/anti-reproduction rights advocate, against all forms of contraception and sex education, an abstinence-only fanatic, and she finds herself with the shame (in her eyes) of a pregnant teenaged daughter.

    If this is true, DNA testing will prove it one way or the other. If it is true, the birth certificate would have had to have been doctored (another abuse of power investigation?) and if it is true, there may have been insurance fraud involved, depending on who was on the hospital bills, let alone the prenatal care, amnio, ultrasounds, etc.

    John Edwards, in collusion with his wife, knowingly entered the presidential race with a hidden scandal. They were found out, and it ruined his career and reputation. If the Palins did the same, they deserve what they get.
    • ^
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    my biggest worry on all this speculation, is that it could backfire horribly. i mean, we know this has all the signs of a classic teen pregnancy cover-up, but with only this circumstantial evidence, it's a huge risk. if the embattled Mrs. Palin were to come forward with medical records refuting these allegations, the backlash would be severe, and a terrible public relations disaster. the sympathy that would be afforded Mrs. Palin and Bristol could easily sway a significant portion of the undecideds.

    i would hope that, as this story spreads across the internet, the Obama/Biden camp should step forward and issue a strongly worded statement condemning those making the allegations. i'm not saying you, or the diarist at Daily Kos, or any of the other hundreds of bloggers out there digging into this deserve condemnation, just that the campaign must make sure to steer clear of any connection.

    if it is true, then there were a good number of people involved in the coverup, and chances are someone will succumb to the intense pressure (or a huge chunk of cash) and give some hard evidence.

    until then, i think it's important to tread lightly on this, if only to avoid burdening the Obama/Biden campaign with the potential consequences. but, it's probably a bit late for that, eh?

    between this and Michael Moore's HUGE faux pas on the Olbermann show in which he implied that the hurricane bearing down on New Orleans was proof there was a God and he was punishing the republicans in the week of their convention, the left has given Fox News enough ammunition today to do some serious damage to the Obama campaign. this could not be worse timing, on the heels of a powerful convention.

    i am not blaming you, i am glad that there are people willing to put themselves out there to expose corruption and dishonesty. my best hope at this point is that someone does come forward with hard evidence, and that this turns out to be true.