Feminist extremism

Am I the only person who was bothered by McCain in the debates labeling women's health as an "extremist" position? Regardless of how one feels about abortion (and I think most reasonable people on both sides have mixed feelings), most feel that abortion should be permitted when the mother's health is in danger. For McCain to call this "extremist" is deeply troubling.

A Loving Mother? Take Two

Well, turns out Marion might be right (see the comments) -- Trig is probably Palin's kid. Even Daily Kos has taken down the article, and shame on them if they published photos with incorrect dates.

But it's too bad, because I really liked that story about Palin far better than the one she is actually telling.

If the rumors had been true that Trig was her grandchild, I would have had far more respect for Palin. It's true she would have used her influence to cover up the truth, which shows questionable judgment. But it would have shown someone who was willing to take a fall for the love of her child. That as a mother, Palin was willing to sacrifice for her daughter's mistake.

Instead, we have Palin using her daughter -- and her daughter's shotgun fiance -- as a political pawn. She wants her daughter to make the sacrifice -- both a too-soon baby and a too-early marriage -- for her mother's political career. Palin knows that a divorce would come after the election, so what does she care if it doesn't work out?

In my book, that's selfish. So you have a pregnant daughter, ok. But parading her around as evidence for your conservative viewpoint? Dragging the 17-year-old boyfriend to MN so he can prove to conservatives that he'll do the "right thing"? What do his parents think?

They are both just kids and Palin should keep them out of the spotlight.

Meanwhile, curiouser and curiouser about Palin's own youth. Five colleges in six years?! That's just weird.

A Loving Mother?

Hmmmm.

Rumors are circulating that VP nominee Palin's last child is biologically her grandchild. The evidence, if true and undoctored, raises the question -- but in the photoshop era, can photos be believed?

Far be it for me to criticize someone "not looking pregnant," since some guy tried to pick me up for a date when I was at seven months. Sitting with legs crossed, it's amazing how many people won't notice that belly. (I was so swollen at that point I had to stop wearing my wedding ring, so you can't fault him on that point.)

I'm pro-choice, and I wouldn't vote for McCain/Palin in a million years on that and many other reasons. But I will give her credit -- assuming any of this is true -- for not being a hypocrite. If one is pro-life, then that means one should support women having children under difficult situations. In this case (if true) she took the burden (emotional and financial) off her daughter so that the latter can continue with her education and life.

Of course, it would be better for all of us to avoid these cases altogether. That means supporting BIRTH CONTROL -- in high schools, for starters. Sex ed in junior high schools. Condoms everywhere, free and accessible so that my local drug store doesn't have to keep them under lock and key to stop kids for stealing them.

But even then, there will be some teenage pregnancies. They happen. Should Palin be lying about it? Should her daughter? No. But lots of other parents -- pro-life parents -- would have turned a blind eye to an abortion. Or forced an adoption, a marriage, or thrown the daughter out of the house.

Palin may have done the old-fashioned thing of taking on her grandchild as her own. Maybe that proves she is the kind of mother she claims to be.

(That still isn't enough to make her VP, in my book, but hey, credit where credit is due.)