A stupid post from a first-time poster. Do you honestly think Obama will score points by pushing this convoluted story? Are you anywhere close to wanting him elected?

No one asked Obama to persue this story. This potential story is more about the hypocrisy at the root of the Republican party. Rather than the actual literal story.

Actually this is not as outrageous as it originally sounds.I'm not saying it is true. There is no real "evidence". But there are a number of unusual circumstances regarding the pregnancy and delivery I find intriguing.

A lot of details can be found here:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/30/121350/137/486/580223

Very questionable situation.

If this baby was her daughter's or someone else's, then a much more interesting headline and meme would be: "The father of 'Palin's fifth child' is NOT her husband. Who is the baby's father?"

(This is a serious comment, Palin having to defend her initial lie (if there is one) could weave a terrible web of deception that could totally unravel her wholesome mother of five story.)

This is a domestic family
story. If this child is her daughter's, more power to the family for choosing their way to deal with it. It wouldn't in a million years be my way, but it is none of my business. Compassion for the daughter fits with my values, even if the story is true, but what if it is not? And what damage does trying to prove it make?

There are so many other fronts that are relevant to governing on which to make one's case. This story isn't necessary to show she has rash judgment. How about Dairygate, how about Troopergate, how about her hardball tactics with other firings and then hiring of unqualifieds? And then how about waiting to see how she comports herself on understanding either foreign policy or the rest of the U.S., urban issues, etc.

Please don't gin up this pregnancy mystery, I see it as a moral issue to refrain. There is a teenager at stake.

It's not about the dear little baby, it's about his dishonest, hyper-political mother/grandmother.

The most repeated Republican talking point for Palin has been, "she not only talks the talk, she walks the walk." The walk was her decision to continue her pregnancy after she found out the baby had Downs Syndrome.

"Not only is she 'pro-life' she actually just came through a real life experience showing she has the courage of her convictions."

This "walk the walk" and the parading of the little guy when she accepted John McCain's offer is the most annoying part of her pr package. Exploiting a baby for political purposes, ick!

Facts:
None of her co-workers knew she was pregnant until she announced at 7 months. Photos of her during her 'pregnancy' are being scrubbed from the internet. No doctor would advise an 8 hour flight for a woman who was leaking amniotic fluid. Her daughter had to be in seclusion for 5 months for mono as opposed to the usual 2 weeks. No there is no evidence here whatsoever.

Agathena, could you confirm this fact, "Her daughter had to be in seclusion for 5 months for mono as opposed to the usual 2 weeks." with a reliable source. The other parts seem to be confirmed by reliable sources (contemporary media reports), but I cannot find confirmation for the mono part.

Posting about the mono part on the internet prior to two days ago would constitute supporting evidence (in my opinion).

Any contemporaneous news reports that mention the eldest daughter having mono for an extended period (or at the time of the birth) would be great to have.

Thanks!

This is a legitimate story with all sorts of suspicious details, i.e. she went into "labor" in Dallas, but flew back to Alaska and drove to a private clinic in Wascilla to "deliver" a premature baby.

What makes this a legitimate story for journalists to investigate is that Palin has claimed that she made the decision to keep the downs baby. However it appears from the chronicle of events that the true story is that her daughter did not reveal the pregnancy to her parents until the third trimester--too late for an elective abortion.

If Palin had not tried to make political hay out of this baby, then it would be best to let it alone, but as it stands she can not be permitted to pretend she took a moral stance when the opposite is true.

The very Conservative base that she pitched the pro-life story to will be less than thrilled with the unwed mother story.

This story, if true, really points to her ability to look America in the eye and lie. She's supposed to be a straight shooter, but she's already had to cop to 1 untruth in the troopergate thing.
And to those that say that troopergate is a better story, only Dems care about troopergate. The Pugs couldn't care less about abuse of power; they want their leaders to have more power. This story is the kind that will capture everyone's attention.
But, again, only if it's true... which it probably isn't, or isn't easily verifiable. If I was the National Enquirer tho, I would be up there in a heartbeat. And I would try to figure out who the potential father is... and maybe look for any financial transactions between the 2 families (ooh, now the GOP'rs are gonna slam me)

This post (and others like it) is misogyny at its classic Rovian best.

Let's question a woman's fertility, sanity, stability, honesty, and fitness to be a mother RATHER THAN assess how she ran the state of Alaska.

Let's examine her body closely by sharing photos and discuss her bodily fluids obsessively.

Let's hypothesize and call it fact.

Let's smear her daughter while we're at it.

Let's not mention the father because that would prevent us from getting our rocks off when we put women in their place.

Anyone promoting, disseminating, or believing this story is a troll. Shameful but not surprising it's the most recommended story at Talking Points Memo for 3 solid days.