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Palin's Pitch to Parents of Disabled Raises Some Doubts
Wall Street Journal ^ | September 8, 2008 | JUNE KRONHOLZ

Posted on 09/08/2008 4:14:34 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Little Trig Palin prompted more than delegate coos when he joined his mother on stage at the Republican convention. He also raised new questions among parents whose children have disabilities.

Was Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin simply including her 5-month-old son, who has Down syndrome, in a big family moment, or was she exploiting him in a tight presidential campaign? Would he help break down social barriers facing children with Down syndrome, or would those children now be drawn into the right-to-life debate?

Getty Images Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's son Trig joined her on stage with her husband, Todd, at the Republican National Convention last week. In her acceptance speech as the Republican vice presidential nominee, Gov. Palin promised special-needs families that they would have "a friend and advocate in the White House." But activists wondered whether that promise would be undercut by the Republican ticket's pledge to reduce government spending.

Many in the disability community said they hoped Trig Palin's appearance at the convention would lead to greater public acceptance of his condition. "Why shouldn't she have him there? There's nothing to hide," said Connie Hutzel of Mason, Ohio, whose son Carson, 11 years old, has Down syndrome.

Down syndrome affects one in 733 U.S. newborns, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Researchers at the National Down Syndrome Society say the number of incidences has fallen by about 8% in the past two decades because of the increased availability of prenatal testing and abortion. The condition is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome and affects the cognitive and physical development of those born with it.

Up to 90% of women who receive Down syndrome diagnoses for their fetuses have abortions, says Brian Skotko, whose practice and research at Children's Hospital Boston centers on Down syndrome.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: ada; disability; mccainpalin; palin; palinattacks; palinfamily; palinping; sarahcuda; specialneeds; trig
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1 posted on 09/08/2008 4:14:34 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

June, you ignorant slut.


2 posted on 09/08/2008 4:16:06 PM PDT by A Balrog of Morgoth (QMC(SW) USN........ CG21 DD988 FFG34 PC6 ARS53)
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To: nickcarraway

Hit the dirt! Incoming morter fire from Obama media hag.


3 posted on 09/08/2008 4:16:54 PM PDT by screaminsunshine
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To: nickcarraway

She can’t win for losing, can she. If she DIDN’T have him onstage with her, everyone would have been pointing fingers and saying she was ASHAMED of him!


4 posted on 09/08/2008 4:16:56 PM PDT by Right Cal Gal (Abraham Lincoln would have let Berkeley leave the Union without a fight)
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To: nickcarraway

Up to 90% of women who receive Down syndrome diagnoses for their fetuses have abortions, says Brian Skotko, whose practice and research at Children’s Hospital Boston centers on Down syndrome.


I’ll bet that number changes. A LOT.


5 posted on 09/08/2008 4:17:08 PM PDT by Atlas Sneezed (Guns don't kill people, criminals and the governments that create them do.)
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To: nickcarraway

Dear numbnuts reporter. She had the child BEFORE being selected as VP. The child is not a prop, no matter what you read on KOS and DU.......sheesh.


6 posted on 09/08/2008 4:17:12 PM PDT by ScreamingFist (Annihilation - The result of underestimating your enemies. NRA)
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To: nickcarraway

She would have been damned if she did (and she did) or damned if she didn’t have Trig on the stage with her. If she hadn’t had him up there she would have been accused of trying to hide him. He looked well taken care of during that time. I especially loved seeing little Piper smooth his hair with her hand and spit. Took me back years! This family is lovely and no amount of smearing by the MSM, Dem activists, etc. can change that fact.


7 posted on 09/08/2008 4:18:18 PM PDT by originalbuckeye
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To: nickcarraway

How could they really believe Palin will support legislation that will hurt her own son?

More of these articles please, just makes our vicory sweeter


8 posted on 09/08/2008 4:18:42 PM PDT by BooyahPower
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To: nickcarraway

The one (and only) thing in Sarah’s convention speech that left me thinking, “Uh-oh ... “ was when she said that she would be an advocate in the goobermint for families with “kids with special needs”.

So what did that mean, more goobermint programs?

Always be very very wary when you hear the words, “We’re the governmint and we’re here to help”, or any variation thereof.

Having said that, I’m fully on board with the Palin and McWhatshisname ticket.


9 posted on 09/08/2008 4:20:30 PM PDT by webschooner (McWhatshisname/Palin 2008 !!)
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To: Right Cal Gal
If she DIDN’T have him onstage with her, everyone would have been pointing fingers and saying she was ASHAMED of him!

Exactly. Darned if she did, darned if she didn't.

10 posted on 09/08/2008 4:22:33 PM PDT by Sister_T (Sarah Palin can lead a horse to water AND make him drink.)
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To: Right Cal Gal

Many woman across this country are recognizing( finally) that the gig is up re the media bias and they are mad as hell.
They saw media women savage this woman, make fun of her 7 year old trying to fix her baby brother’s hair etc.
They also saw Sarah pick up and hug her baby at the end of the convention, then turn him around for all the world to see him..as he is. No political stunt.
It was an amazing moment.
May God bless this woman and her family, and may she have His strength and guidance for the days ahead.


11 posted on 09/08/2008 4:22:48 PM PDT by pugmama
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To: nickcarraway
Others are wary of being labeled as social conservatives if they choose to have a child knowing it will have a cognitive disability.

In an amazing article, this might be the most amazing sentence. I wonder if this concern is #1, #20, or somewhere in between for people who know in advance.

12 posted on 09/08/2008 4:24:31 PM PDT by Bernard (If you always tell the truth, you never have to remember exactly what you said.)
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To: nickcarraway

Keep the hits and smears coming, leftard media.Your propelling McCain-Palin to the White House with a landslide in NOV.


13 posted on 09/08/2008 4:25:26 PM PDT by Carl LaFong (Building Code Under Fire)
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To: nickcarraway

we dumped the NY Times to get the WSJ and this is what we get. :(


14 posted on 09/08/2008 4:25:46 PM PDT by ari-freedom (We never hide from history. We make history!)
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To: nickcarraway

The WSJ figured big in the Dem. political contributions list. They appear to be taking the lead in making attacks on Palin.

Want they feel she has against “wall street”, or the connection that this may have with investments and business is beyond me.


15 posted on 09/08/2008 4:26:03 PM PDT by Wiseghy ("You want to break this army? Then break your word to it.")
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To: pugmama

There’s a phrase in psychology: projection.
Where you take your faults and deficiencies and attribute them to someone else.
There are no “less than perfect” children on the opposing side. They destroy all of them. Therefore, if you have a baby that is less than perfect and you are proud of them and love them and show them off, there must be something wrong with YOU.


16 posted on 09/08/2008 4:29:56 PM PDT by Right Cal Gal (Abraham Lincoln would have let Berkeley leave the Union without a fight)
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To: nickcarraway

“ov. Palin promised special-needs families that they would have “a friend and advocate in the White House.” But activists wondered whether that promise would be undercut by the Republican ticket’s pledge to reduce government spending.”

So, one can’t advocate for a cause without its involving government spending ?


17 posted on 09/08/2008 4:30:31 PM PDT by EDINVA
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To: All

This is such garbage I wonder how these people figure they are still writing for a living....

Making an essay piece about a little child not one year of age the focus of his mother’s political ambition???

Absolute monsters.


18 posted on 09/08/2008 4:31:36 PM PDT by imintrouble
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To: nickcarraway

The MSM is really grasping at straws.


19 posted on 09/08/2008 4:32:30 PM PDT by yazoo
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To: nickcarraway

June, you are one ignorant bigot. Trig is a member of Sarah’s family. He is loved and adored. How DARE you suggest he has no right to be on stage or to even be born! Thank God, in His infinite wisdom He gave Trig to Sarah and not YOU.


20 posted on 09/08/2008 4:34:33 PM PDT by tioga (Big Mac and the Cuda - 2008)
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