Could John McCain's running mate be the mother of a baby with Down's Syndrome? Disability rights reporter Nat Hentoff thinks so, and he's not alone. Many political commentators are suggesting Sarah Palin as a potential Vice Presidential candidate.
The 44-year-old Governor of Alaska, known for motorcycle riding and referring to her husband as the "first dude," gave birth to Trig Paxson Van Palin on April 18, 2008. The baby boy is Palin's fifth child, and was diagnosed prenatally with Down's Syndrome. When the first dude, Todd Palin, got the news of the diagnosis, he reportedly told Governor Palin: "We shouldn't be asking, 'Why us?' We should be saying, 'Well, why not us?'"
According to the blog Draft Sarah Palin for Vice President, Governor Palin is "A (sic) energetic, young, fresh face who will energize the electorate." The blog cites her pro-life and pro-gun stances as advantageous to a McCain candidacy, and says Governor Palin as Vice President would "Put to rest the idea that America only elects white males."
What do you think? Is the American electorate ready for a Vice President with a developmentally disabled baby? Would Palin's strong opposition to abortion and her choice to have Trig help Senator McCain win back support among right-wing Conservatives who have been put off by McCain's moderate stance on some issues? Would Palin's candidacy force the Democratic nominee to address the issue of selective abortion due to a prenatal diagnosis of Down's Syndrome? Leave a comment, or talk about it in Disaboom Discussions.
