"it will be interesting to see how strong supporters of abortion rights react to a woman who really did a lot more, as Rachael said, than just talk about the value of every life; she consciously decided to take responsibility for the life of a child she knew would be born with Down syndrome."

Nonsense. This has nothing to do with the choice Palin made. It has everything to do with the fact that she wants the government to force every woman in America to make the same choice. Period.

That's right. It's a matter of giving other women their own choice.

I agree. Her particular story adds nothing at all to the abortion debate--especially since she likely knew there was a good chance her child could have Downs before she became pregnant (I posted about this elsewhere). My mother (who is pro-choice) got pregnant at age 43 despite the doctor's warnings she could have a Downs baby, and accepted that risk happily. No big deal.

Her story would only be relevant to the abortion debate if pro-choicers actually advocated mandatory abortions for disabled or unhealthy fetuses. As you said very well, only one side of the debate is interested in forcing decisions on women.

You've got to admit that it's nice to see somebody living up to what they believe in--even under difficult circumstances.

By the way, there are plenty of people on this board who would have kept her from having her 5th kid if they could have (or 4th or 3rd). Same process, different angle.

You've got to admit that it's nice to see somebody living up to what they believe in

Sure, that's why I said I wish her family well. Nobody is suggesting this is a negative aspect to Palin. It's just not really that notable, in my eyes. Millions of people have disabled or ill children. That doesn't make them better at their jobs (or prospective job).

By the way, there are plenty of people on this board who would have kept her from having her 5th kid if they could have (or 4th or 3rd).

Huh? What are you talking about? You think people on these boards advocate capping numbers of children per family, a la China? Whatever.

I don't admire her choice, except in so far that it is the right choice, *for her*, and she got to make it. Yet, she would gladly deny choice for other woman.

This is known as being a big hypocrite.

Its typical of the crass ad hominem politics of the moral right to use Palin's decision to keep her child as an indictment of all people who are pro choice, and some moral credential for her. First, the argument presumes its conclusion---that all pro choice women would abort a fetus they knew would be born with a chromosomal defect, or that this interest backs their desire for choice. The presumption is false, the argument fails. Second, the argument also presumes that keeping a child with Downs is morally heroic---the kind of challenge morally weak women would avoid by abortion. Which is an insult to the many people with the disease who lead full and healthy lives and their parents who raised them. That is, its also false. But the correct moral right doesnt think about insult and injury, it just thinks of ways to harm and humiliate people without the good sense to to think exactly as they do about a complex biological and ethical issue (about which the holy bible has exactly nothing to say, btw.)

bOnnylass:

Take a spin around the boards. There are plenty of people who don't think much of her having 5 kids. How is that different from her not thinking much of somebody having an abortion?

To my knowledge, she has created no new anti-abortion legislation.

Jesus, tony, there is a big difference between 'people who don't think much about her having 5 kids', and suggesting that people would physically (or legally) stop her from having kids. Can you really not see the difference? Wow. Who do you think you're fooling with that nonsense?

To my knowledge, she has created no new anti-abortion legislation.

Who said she did? To my knowledge, nobody in the entire country, let alone the Fray, has proposed a limit on children per family. Really, really, stupid pro-life 'argument' you've made there. Unbelievable.

wharwood... THANK YOU for an excellent and well thought out post.

You distilled most of what has been irking me about the coverage of this aspect of Palin. I have been *thisclose* to boiling over all day about it, and I just had to wade into the Fray to see if anyone else was with me.

I have this to add...

I was pushed over the brink with Henneberger's line:

"...she consciously decided to take responsibility for the life of a child she knew would be born with Down syndrome."

This, like the items you mentioned, sets up a false argument around the notion of responsibility in this case. It assumes that the opposite choice - not to carry the child to term - is somehow irresponsible. But how can it be reasonably argued that a successful career woman and married mother of 4 healthy children be realistically characterized as irresponsible? This is not a woman who was careless in her choice to start a family; this is not a woman who accidentally became pregnant and couldn't care for the child; this is not a woman with a history of poor sexual/reproductive choices. Furthermore, should she have decided to terminate the pregnancy, it could also be viewed as one of many possible responsible decisions, depending on her circumstances and/or ability to care for an individual with Down syndrome. Finally, I doubt very sincerely, given her religious beliefs and political affiliations, that she even entertained the notion of terminating the pregnancy as a viable option at all. Let's not get ahead of ourselves in giving this woman credit for a decision that was very likely not at all difficult for her to make in the first place.

My own positions on the abortion issue aside, I take issue with those who are giving Palin some kind of gold star for giving birth to a child with Down syndrome. It happens every day to a great number of women. Did we give Palin the same credit for giving birth to her other children? After all, it's possible they too could have had birth defects or health issues. It's a possible outcome of any pregnancy, yet it's not the norm to laud all new mothers for not having aborted their fetuses. Come on. Let's get real here.

Hypocrisy is advocating one thing while doing the opposite. What you described is walking the walk and insisting others do too, an entirely different issue/problem.