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Edited title line...Rheo
Here comes the first major attempt at a smear by the left, right from Daily Kos and already being picked up by several media outlets.
***************
Percolating out in the political blogosphere is the latest allegation that GOP vice presidential pick Gov. Sarah Palin is not the mother of five, and that her daughter Bristol birthed Trig, the young baby with Down Syndrome.
Daily Kos.com alleges that her legacy in public office is "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."
The website further charges that her baby is her grandchild.
"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." writes The Daily Kos.
The website painstakingly details a timeline of the announced pregnancy and the coincidental withdrawal of Bristol from school for over five months due to mononucleosis.
From the Daily Kos:
Palin announced her pregnancy at about seven months along, with the baby due to arrive in mid-May, writes the website.
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."
The website shows pictures of Palin in the last trimester of her pregnancy, and alongside her daughter in some shots where it looks very much like the teenager is pregnant.
The website calls into question her staff's ignorance that a woman so far along in pregnancy was not noticed.
"Seven months into a pregnancy, and no one noticed." LINK
The photo gallery takes readers from the pregnancy to birth and right after.
It was her labor in Texas and the subsequent handling of delivering the baby that the Daily Kos also found suspicious.
"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."
"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."
Trig Palin was delivered one month premature, Friday night. Sarah returned to work after three days.
As for Bristol?
Daily Kos writes:
"... 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."
http://www.monstersa...New_allegations
Leftist Desperation Smear Attempt: Palin Faked Her Pregnancy to Cover Up Daughter's
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#2
- Posts: 178
- Joined: 24-August 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 07:38 PM
MiB24, on Aug 31 2008, 07:25 PM, said:
Here comes the first major attempt at a smear by the left, right from Daily Kos and already being picked up by several media outlets.
***************
Percolating out in the political blogosphere is the latest allegation that GOP vice presidential pick Gov. Sarah Palin is not the mother of five, and that her daughter Bristol birthed Trig, the young baby with Down Syndrome.
Daily Kos.com alleges that her legacy in public office is "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."
The website further charges that her baby is her grandchild.
"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." writes The Daily Kos.
The website painstakingly details a timeline of the announced pregnancy and the coincidental withdrawal of Bristol from school for over five months due to mononucleosis.
From the Daily Kos:
Palin announced her pregnancy at about seven months along, with the baby due to arrive in mid-May, writes the website.
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."
The website shows pictures of Palin in the last trimester of her pregnancy, and alongside her daughter in some shots where it looks very much like the teenager is pregnant.
The website calls into question her staff's ignorance that a woman so far along in pregnancy was not noticed.
"Seven months into a pregnancy, and no one noticed." LINK
The photo gallery takes readers from the pregnancy to birth and right after.
It was her labor in Texas and the subsequent handling of delivering the baby that the Daily Kos also found suspicious.
"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."
"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."
Trig Palin was delivered one month premature, Friday night. Sarah returned to work after three days.
As for Bristol?
Daily Kos writes:
"... 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."
http://www.monstersa...New_allegations
***************
Percolating out in the political blogosphere is the latest allegation that GOP vice presidential pick Gov. Sarah Palin is not the mother of five, and that her daughter Bristol birthed Trig, the young baby with Down Syndrome.
Daily Kos.com alleges that her legacy in public office is "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."
The website further charges that her baby is her grandchild.
"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." writes The Daily Kos.
The website painstakingly details a timeline of the announced pregnancy and the coincidental withdrawal of Bristol from school for over five months due to mononucleosis.
From the Daily Kos:
Palin announced her pregnancy at about seven months along, with the baby due to arrive in mid-May, writes the website.
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."
The website shows pictures of Palin in the last trimester of her pregnancy, and alongside her daughter in some shots where it looks very much like the teenager is pregnant.
The website calls into question her staff's ignorance that a woman so far along in pregnancy was not noticed.
"Seven months into a pregnancy, and no one noticed." LINK
The photo gallery takes readers from the pregnancy to birth and right after.
It was her labor in Texas and the subsequent handling of delivering the baby that the Daily Kos also found suspicious.
"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."
"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."
Trig Palin was delivered one month premature, Friday night. Sarah returned to work after three days.
As for Bristol?
Daily Kos writes:
"... 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."
http://www.monstersa...New_allegations
Jesus wept.
#3
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- Joined: 21-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 07:39 PM
Message to DailyKos: Yob tvoyu maht!
#4
- Posts: 5,254
- Joined: 19-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 07:39 PM
It's not like this is really a developing story. I've read all the rest of it in other places.
#5
- Posts: 178
- Joined: 24-August 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 07:42 PM
HaroldCHutchison, on Aug 31 2008, 07:29 PM, said:
Message to DailyKos: Yob tvoyu maht!
I wouldn't do that with YOUR kola, let alone mine!
#6
- Posts: 327
- Joined: 05-March 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:07 PM
HaroldCHutchison, on Aug 31 2008, 07:29 PM, said:
Message to DailyKos: Yob tvoyu maht!
Anybody who hangs around that site is already nekulturny who are(throwing a little Cajun) fils petains who can va la merde.
#7
- Posts: 19,368
- Joined: 13-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:35 PM
I feel like this isn't worthy of commenting on....
However, as a woman who has had 2 children, I feel that I can attest to the fact that it IS possible to be 7 months pregnant and not look pregnant.
I didn't show at all until my 7th month...didn't find out I was pregnant until I was 6 mos pregnant both times.
I had a FLAT stomach until in the 7th month.
I also had my water break....and it was 18 HOURS not laying in a hospital, before they had to induce labor. That seems to be the same circumstances as Mrs. Palin.
I did NOT have my own grandchild.
I do not though, expect anything different from the people at Daily Kos, than to go lower than gutter filth to try to win an election for their PANSY, Barky.
However, as a woman who has had 2 children, I feel that I can attest to the fact that it IS possible to be 7 months pregnant and not look pregnant.
I didn't show at all until my 7th month...didn't find out I was pregnant until I was 6 mos pregnant both times.
I had a FLAT stomach until in the 7th month.
I also had my water break....and it was 18 HOURS not laying in a hospital, before they had to induce labor. That seems to be the same circumstances as Mrs. Palin.
I did NOT have my own grandchild.
I do not though, expect anything different from the people at Daily Kos, than to go lower than gutter filth to try to win an election for their PANSY, Barky.
#8
- Posts: 11,883
- Joined: 13-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:37 PM
My mom was the same way Txsleuth, could never tell she was pregnant until about the 8th month.
This would mean the doctor is lying about telling them at 13 weeks into the pregnancy that Trig was going to have Down's Syndrome....lie about her flying at 8 months pregnant, etc.
This is leftist crap from some loser who watched Desperate Housewives. (storyline before season end)
edited to add....not a loser because they watched Desperate Housewives...cuz we did too.
(loser because they are leftists)
This would mean the doctor is lying about telling them at 13 weeks into the pregnancy that Trig was going to have Down's Syndrome....lie about her flying at 8 months pregnant, etc.
This is leftist crap from some loser who watched Desperate Housewives. (storyline before season end)
edited to add....not a loser because they watched Desperate Housewives...cuz we did too.
(loser because they are leftists)
#9
- Posts: 9,338
- Joined: 18-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:39 PM
Txsleuth, on Aug 31 2008, 07:25 PM, said:
I feel like this isn't worthy of commenting on....
However, as a woman who has had 2 children, I feel that I can attest to the fact that it IS possible to be 7 months pregnant and not look pregnant.
I didn't show at all until my 7th month...didn't find out I was pregnant until I was 6 mos pregnant both times.
I had a FLAT stomach until in the 7th month.
I also had my water break....and it was 18 HOURS not laying in a hospital, before they had to induce labor. That seems to be the same circumstances as Mrs. Palin.
I did NOT have my own grandchild.
I do not though, expect anything different from the people at Daily Kos, than to go lower than gutter filth to try to win an election for their PANSY, Barky.
However, as a woman who has had 2 children, I feel that I can attest to the fact that it IS possible to be 7 months pregnant and not look pregnant.
I didn't show at all until my 7th month...didn't find out I was pregnant until I was 6 mos pregnant both times.
I had a FLAT stomach until in the 7th month.
I also had my water break....and it was 18 HOURS not laying in a hospital, before they had to induce labor. That seems to be the same circumstances as Mrs. Palin.
I did NOT have my own grandchild.
I do not though, expect anything different from the people at Daily Kos, than to go lower than gutter filth to try to win an election for their PANSY, Barky.
My mother didn't look pregnant when she had my sister. Surprised us all.
#10
- Posts: 1,355
- Joined: 19-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:40 PM
What about the part where they claim the daughter was taken out of school?
#11
- Posts: 9,338
- Joined: 18-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:40 PM
Rheo, on Aug 31 2008, 07:27 PM, said:
My mom was the same way Txsleuth, could never tell she was pregnant until about the 8th month.
This would mean the doctor is lying about telling them at 13 weeks into the pregnancy that Trig was going to have Down's Syndrome....lie about her flying at 8 months pregnant, etc.
This is leftist crap from some loser who watched Desperate Housewives. (storyline before season end)
This would mean the doctor is lying about telling them at 13 weeks into the pregnancy that Trig was going to have Down's Syndrome....lie about her flying at 8 months pregnant, etc.
This is leftist crap from some loser who watched Desperate Housewives. (storyline before season end)
The only definitive evidence I have read that would support Trig having Downs is that the chances of having a Downs Syndrome child increases with age. At about Sarah's age, the odds drop to about 1 in 50.
#12
- Posts: 2,950
- Joined: 15-March 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:40 PM
A friend of mine got married right out of high school and when she was pregnant with her first child, I don't think she gained 5lbs the whole time. It was impossible to tell she was pregnant until about a month before the baby was born and even there it was not really that noticeable. When she had her second child, she looked like a beached whale (her words, not mine) by her 6th month.
#13
- Posts: 2,950
- Joined: 15-March 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:43 PM
ync1994, on Aug 31 2008, 08:30 PM, said:
What about the part where they claim the daughter was taken out of school?
In fourth grade, my good friend (who I've been friends with for 25 years now) got mono and he was out of school for almost 6 months. The virus would just not go away. He had to do almost the entire school year at home as he was almost always to weak to get out of bed.
#14
- Posts: 9,338
- Joined: 18-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:43 PM
But other than calling this a bunch of bullcrap, I thought children of public figures were off limits, or does that protocol only extend to liberals?
#15
- Posts: 9,523
- Joined: 13-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:44 PM
This is a photo taken shortly before her baby was born. I've seen recent photos of Palin. Unless she gains and loses weight like Oprah Winfree, I think she might be pregnant in this photo. Or possibly extremely backed up.
#16
- Posts: 1,355
- Joined: 19-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:48 PM
Rokke, on Aug 31 2008, 09:34 PM, said:
This is a photo taken shortly before her baby was born. I've seen recent photo's of Palin. Unless she gains and loses weight like Oprah Winfree, I think she might be pregnant in this photo. Or possibly extremely backed up.
Thank you, everyone! Now I feel better again. She does look pregnant.
#17
- Posts: 11,883
- Joined: 13-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:51 PM
"You need to come to the office so we can talk about it."
With those words, Alaska governor Sarah Palin knew that her fifth child would be somehow different from her previous four. Steeling herself, the 44-year-old asked to be told over the phone that day in December, when she was four months along. The diagnosis? Down syndrome.
I've never had problems with my other pregnancies, so I was shocked. It took a while to open up the book that the doctor gave me about children with Down syndrome, and a while to log on to the website and start reading facts about the situation.
[My husband Todd said,] we shouldn't be asking 'Why us?' We should be saying 'Well, why not us?' We've both been very vocal about being pro life. We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential. I'm looking at him right now, and I see perfection. Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking, in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?
----
The left disgusts me.
These are good and decent people.
With those words, Alaska governor Sarah Palin knew that her fifth child would be somehow different from her previous four. Steeling herself, the 44-year-old asked to be told over the phone that day in December, when she was four months along. The diagnosis? Down syndrome.
I've never had problems with my other pregnancies, so I was shocked. It took a while to open up the book that the doctor gave me about children with Down syndrome, and a while to log on to the website and start reading facts about the situation.
[My husband Todd said,] we shouldn't be asking 'Why us?' We should be saying 'Well, why not us?' We've both been very vocal about being pro life. We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential. I'm looking at him right now, and I see perfection. Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking, in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?
----
The left disgusts me.
These are good and decent people.
#18
- Posts: 1,355
- Joined: 19-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:53 PM
Her husband's comment was precious, wasn't it?
[My husband Todd said,] we shouldn't be asking 'Why us?' We should be saying 'Well, why not us?'
[My husband Todd said,] we shouldn't be asking 'Why us?' We should be saying 'Well, why not us?'
#19
- Posts: 2,950
- Joined: 15-March 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 08:58 PM
The lefty blogosphere hasn't stopped perpetuating the rumor Sarah Palin "faked" her last pregnancy and are now humiliating her daughter Bristol on the blatantly incorrect suspicion she is the real mother of baby Trig.
"Sarah Palin is NOT the Mother" is the title of this DailyKos blog that accuses Bristol, a completely fit looking adolescent teen, of having a "baby bump" in a photo they allege was taken March 9th of this year.
"Sarah, I'm calling you a liar" wrote blogger ArcXIX. "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. "
Not only is the DailyKos disgustingly inspecting Bristol's midriff with all the fervor of LA paparrazzi examining J-Lo's or Jennifer Aniston's washboard stomachs for evidence of a "bump" DailyKos is is wrong on when the photo was taken. It was taken, and published, by the Anchorage Daily News in 2006. Baby Trig, a Down's Syndrome child, was born on April 18, 2008. That's a long time for a teen girl to be carrying a "bump" which looks nothing more than the curve of a tight sweater.
Shorly after Palin was announced McCain's VP, bloggers at the Kos started ginning up the rumor Palin faked her pregnancy, allegedly to cover for an illegitimate grandchiled, because she looked so fit and trim in a photo taken a few months before giving birth.
This is only the latest in outrageoues attacks against Palin's mothering ability. Fox News anchor Alan Colmes, of Hannity & Colmes, titled a recent post on his blog "LiberalLand" "Did Palin Take Proper PreNatal Care" that wondered if she somehow was at fault for having a disabled child. Colmes took down the post after being attacked by the blog Wizbang and later reposted a screenshot of the blog to prove he "wasn't running away from what I posted."
http://townhall.com/...04-b267282a1ce1
"Sarah Palin is NOT the Mother" is the title of this DailyKos blog that accuses Bristol, a completely fit looking adolescent teen, of having a "baby bump" in a photo they allege was taken March 9th of this year.
"Sarah, I'm calling you a liar" wrote blogger ArcXIX. "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. "
Not only is the DailyKos disgustingly inspecting Bristol's midriff with all the fervor of LA paparrazzi examining J-Lo's or Jennifer Aniston's washboard stomachs for evidence of a "bump" DailyKos is is wrong on when the photo was taken. It was taken, and published, by the Anchorage Daily News in 2006. Baby Trig, a Down's Syndrome child, was born on April 18, 2008. That's a long time for a teen girl to be carrying a "bump" which looks nothing more than the curve of a tight sweater.
Shorly after Palin was announced McCain's VP, bloggers at the Kos started ginning up the rumor Palin faked her pregnancy, allegedly to cover for an illegitimate grandchiled, because she looked so fit and trim in a photo taken a few months before giving birth.
This is only the latest in outrageoues attacks against Palin's mothering ability. Fox News anchor Alan Colmes, of Hannity & Colmes, titled a recent post on his blog "LiberalLand" "Did Palin Take Proper PreNatal Care" that wondered if she somehow was at fault for having a disabled child. Colmes took down the post after being attacked by the blog Wizbang and later reposted a screenshot of the blog to prove he "wasn't running away from what I posted."
http://townhall.com/...04-b267282a1ce1
#20
- Posts: 19,368
- Joined: 13-February 08
Posted 31 August 2008 - 09:00 PM
For ync1994! and all that read the UGLY article of this thread! 
http://corner.nationalreview.com/
Quote
Trig Paxson Van Palin (Rich Lowry)
I meant to post this the other day (so please don’t take it as a response to Rick—in fact it might constitute pleading guilty as charged!), but I got sidetracked. I found the Palin event Friday incredibly moving. Partly because of Trig.
The sentimentalist in me would be willing to see anyone who is loving and unselfish enough to welcome a Down kid into their family elevated to high office.
When I was thinking of Trig, I was reminded of an encounter I had a couple of weeks ago on the Delta Shuttle from Washington to New York. It was a mostly empty plane, but I went all the back to the very emptiest part of the plane to spread out and enjoy he quiet. And there was a man sitting in the very back row who immediately piped up, "Hi. I'm Ian. Would you like to sit next to me?"
He was a guy with Down Syndrome, maybe in his twenties. I declined the offer, but we struck up a conversation. He was going to New York for a family celebration, including for his birthday. I told him I had a birthday coming up too and he lit up and came over to vigorously shake my hand in congratulations—more delighted by my birthday than his own.
When the plane began to fill up a woman and her daughter came all the way to the back with a huge bag. I began to wonder to myself if I should offer to help them with it, when Ian popped up, told them he'd get it, and lifted it up and shoved it in the overhead compartment. When two men came down the aisle with a box they weren't sure would fit overhead, he intervened and told them it would—"trust me"—and put it up for them.
He chatted amiably with his neighbors during the flight, and when we landed was up out of his seat first thing to help that woman get her bag down.
From this brief encounter, I dare say Ian is friendlier, better adjusted and more considerate than about half of the people on the streets of Manhattan or San Francisco on any given day. Yet most of those people are perfectly unperturbed by the elimination of babies with Down syndrome in the womb. To hell with them. God bless Sarah Palin for bringing Trig into the world, and may he shower those around him with as much sunshine as the gentleman I met on that flight.
08/31 08:00 PM]
I meant to post this the other day (so please don’t take it as a response to Rick—in fact it might constitute pleading guilty as charged!), but I got sidetracked. I found the Palin event Friday incredibly moving. Partly because of Trig.
The sentimentalist in me would be willing to see anyone who is loving and unselfish enough to welcome a Down kid into their family elevated to high office.
When I was thinking of Trig, I was reminded of an encounter I had a couple of weeks ago on the Delta Shuttle from Washington to New York. It was a mostly empty plane, but I went all the back to the very emptiest part of the plane to spread out and enjoy he quiet. And there was a man sitting in the very back row who immediately piped up, "Hi. I'm Ian. Would you like to sit next to me?"
He was a guy with Down Syndrome, maybe in his twenties. I declined the offer, but we struck up a conversation. He was going to New York for a family celebration, including for his birthday. I told him I had a birthday coming up too and he lit up and came over to vigorously shake my hand in congratulations—more delighted by my birthday than his own.
When the plane began to fill up a woman and her daughter came all the way to the back with a huge bag. I began to wonder to myself if I should offer to help them with it, when Ian popped up, told them he'd get it, and lifted it up and shoved it in the overhead compartment. When two men came down the aisle with a box they weren't sure would fit overhead, he intervened and told them it would—"trust me"—and put it up for them.
He chatted amiably with his neighbors during the flight, and when we landed was up out of his seat first thing to help that woman get her bag down.
From this brief encounter, I dare say Ian is friendlier, better adjusted and more considerate than about half of the people on the streets of Manhattan or San Francisco on any given day. Yet most of those people are perfectly unperturbed by the elimination of babies with Down syndrome in the womb. To hell with them. God bless Sarah Palin for bringing Trig into the world, and may he shower those around him with as much sunshine as the gentleman I met on that flight.
08/31 08:00 PM]
http://corner.nationalreview.com/
