I think this Palin baby story has legs.

[Max_powers94]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6846891&mesg_id=6847357

[liberalmuse]

1. Like the Edwards story...

You can bet if true, one of the tabloids is going to come out with it eventually. But I still don't think we should go there. Of course I'm not ordering people not to talk about it, or "yelling" at the people here, or anything like that. It's just that we know that O'Rushannity likes to sniff our panties here at DU, and they will have a heyday spewing that the Big Bad 'Ol Democrats are picking on poor wittle Sarah Palin. I hate to give those asshats fodder.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

3. Agree 100%.

[dbonds]

2. Even if proven true, it won't be a negative.

It will be entirely consistent with her anti-abortion stance and look like she is protecting her family. It runs the risk of actually making her look sympathetic if the rumors are false.

[jefferson_dem]

It would make her look like a fucking liar.

How many times have we heard "five kids" "she had a baby with Downs Syndrome"...?

What else is she covering up? What other crazy stories lurk beneath the "annie get your gun" persona?

This is my first post on the issue and I'm not sure what to make of it just yet. It is interesting to watch as we all learn who this woman really is. Let's hope the press vets her for America even if McSame didn't vet her for his Veep.

[vi5]

7. But she will have lied to SAVE A LIFE!!!!!

Her lie will have brought a precious child into this world!!!!

Never mind that all these same right to life yahoos want to cut any and all necessary services and government agencies that could assist this child once it is alive to have a good life and be mainstreamed, she lied instead of aborting a baby. Hallelujah!!!

[jefferson_dem]

13. I get the point. But it's so obviously lame. Did she have to lie to "save the life"?

Was this the only way her daughter could carry to term - if her mom (the governor!) lied about her being the one who was really pregant? This whole thing is just too wacky I can't even wrap my head around it.

[vi5]

18. Uh...need I remind you we're talking about republicans here...

..nothing they do makes sense and nothing they do or say they believe is consistent in the least.

I understand the point, and I understand why this would be ridiculous and idiotic but don't people realize now that these yahoos will do or say anything to get or keep power, and that there's a solid, at LEAST 30% of the population who will twist themselves into knots to justify and defend everything these assholes do.

[JVS]

29. Jesus! It's like you've already conceded their fucking spin. Learn to fight!

[vi5]

40. I'm not conceding anything......

We should fight like hell. But have people NOT been watching the past 8 years and how these people will justify and spin anything? I'm not saying to believe it, but I'm saying if people on here are foolish enough to think that anything is going to get through to that 30%, or that those same people won't defend or justify or twist themselves into knots to simply blame others for pointing out the truth, then they're probably foolish enough to believe that people at the cable news networks actually read and pay attention to their irate, indignant letters and e-mails complaining about their bias coverage. Oh wait. On second thought.

[WillieDee]

14. my thoughts on Palin

If true, the baby story shows the lengths Palin will go to to protect an image. There was simply no reason to lie about this OTHER THAN to save face as a "perfect" Christian family.

That said, we shouldn't touch this story... It will backfire.

[JVS]

27. The truth does not kill!

[dailykoff]

4. Fine, let her admit she lied then

and let's see how it "helps."

[IndianaGreen]

6. She appointed the obstetrician to a state position

and she has exploited her "baby's birth" for advance her political career.

Bristol Palin us the mother of the child!

[crispini]

11. Get OUT, really? I hadn't hear that.

Everytime I check DU there's another interesting tidbit about this story.

[IndianaGreen]

20. Governor Palin appointed Baldwin-Johnson as a commissioner to Health Care Strategies Council

From blog:

Here's an interesting bit: The linked article (http://www.adn.com/626/story/382864.html) states that the baby was delivered by Cathy Baldwin-Johnson.

Google her, and you'll find this page: http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-alaska/103983-1.html …where she was named 2002 Family Physician of the year after the then mayor of Wasilla — you guessed it: Palin — (among others) sent a letter of recommendation.

Also, you might find this page: http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:e0U6tvTkFHwJ:gov.state.ak.us/archive.php%3Fid%3D368%26type%3D1+%22Cathy+Baldwin-Johnson%22+palin&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us …which is a cache of a "no longer existing page" which says Governor Palen appointed Baldwin-Johnson in May of 2007 to Alaska Health Care Strategies Planning Council.

http://www.reddit.com/comments/6f3nq/coverup_alaska_gov_palin_r_announced_she_was/c03o1ma

Turns out that it was then-mayor Sarah Palin that nominated Dr. Balwin-Johnson for 2002 Family Physician of te Year:

The 48-year-old doctor was nominated by the Alaska Chapter of AAFP, which had presented her with the Alaska Family Physician of the Year award for 2001. Letters of recommendation came from a variety of people, including the mayor of Wasilla and a commissioner for the state of Alaska.

http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-alaska/103983-1.html

Governor Palin appointed Baldwin-Johnson as a commissioner to Health Care Strategies Council:

Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson of Wasilla is a private practice family physician and the 2002 National Family Physician of the Year from the American Academy of Family Physicians. In 1999, Baldwin-Johnson co-founded and is the volunteer medical director of The Children’s Place, and since 2005 has served as a consultant and trainer on child abuse issues. Baldwin-Johnson graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine where she participated in the WWAMI Medical School program.

http://www.hss.state.ak.us/hspc/members.htm

[madaboutharry]

16. If you are going to make that accusation, you need

to document it.

[IndianaGreen]

22. Link on post 20

Record of abuse of power when added to trooper gate.

[madaboutharry]

28. I see now.

n/t

[dbonds]

19. If there is proof of that then it can be added to the trooper-gate scandle.

That would add more weight to the abuse of power angle and wouldn't have the risks associated with the daughter's baby issue. Risks vs. reward on the baby story is not in our favor. Many will see it as a private family matter even if it is true and not related to her function as a leader. I know it brings up the honesty issue, but trooper-gate has more all that plus abuse of power.

[Blue-Jay]

17. If proven true, it will destroy the Republican ticket.

I doubt that it IS true however.

[Heather MC]

25. I disagree if it's true it will be another Notch in the post of a women who abuses her position.

Her stance on sex-education is Abstinance, if her daughter got prego, that stance is proven idiotic.

She is being investigated for using her pull as Gov. to fire people to get what she wants
The is proof that she CC's her husband if not confidental at the very least Offical state related business emails.

And she lied about the Bridge to no where project, will a lie of Omission, she was insupport of it.

If this story is true, it will show her to be a mini-Cheney, not a noble mom protecting her daughter.
ANd it will also shine a light on How insane and destructive the strick Moral values the Right wing really are.
IMO

[dbonds]

32. Those are valid issues to raise if it is true.

But I think the covering for her daughter issue will not go anywhere on its on. I have no problem with people investigating this. But we shouldn't put it out there until we know, and then concentrate on the type of issues you mentioned. But don't dwell on the covering for her daughter aspect - that won't go anywhere.

[TexasObserver]

34. Yes, it will be. If true, it will end McCain's chances of winning.

[dbonds]

36. That's assuming he has one now.

There is the abuse of power issue we should be getting out there, but the risk vs reward ration on this one is not in our favor.

[vi5]

5. I don't see how this hurts her with any demographic...

Honestly the fundies would LOVE it. She's so pro family and pro life that she risked her career and family shame to make sure this baby was given life. The fundies and the pro-embryo crowd will eat that up like you wouldn't believe. If anything it will make them more rabid.

[dailykoff]

8. If they thought it helped, they'd claim it was true

whether it was or not. They're neocons remember? Evidently, they don't think it will help.

[dkf]

9. Well it goes to basic honesty.

Also, the story would change from deciding to keep the baby with down's syndrome to forcing your teenage daughter to bear a child.

[Hepburn]

24. If it was her daughter's baby...

...she could have seem the baby was given up for adoption.

What? If the baby is her daughter's, when is someone going to tell him the truth? After all, at some point in time, isn't the child entitled to know who the hell HE is??? And why the TRUE circumstances of his birth had to be hidden?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

31. I think it would hurt her with the "people who don't like creepy liars" demographic

The baby being her daughter's would be less of an issue than the elaborate ruse she concocted to fake a pregnancy of her own and hide her daughter's. That is, if this thing is even true (which I doubt).

[pocoloco]

10. WTF? Start a shitstorm and get caught right in the middle!!

Why would anyone have to be told to follow Obama's lead???

[seabeyond]

15. medias job not obama. why does anyone have to be told we are discussion board and dont have impact

on this story. that what media shows isnt obama being a part of. that it isnt obama in the shit storm. he is talking about healthcare, not pilan

[HereSince1628]

12. Sort of depends on how CSI-Campaign 08 works out.

I have these strange images of campaign followers and reporters trying to get their hands on left-behind baby bottles and used napkins at pancake breakfasts and chicken dinners.

[True_Blue]

21. I'm not so sure about this

Aren't older women a lot more likely to have a Down-Syndrome baby than younger women are? I have a feeling it might really be Palin's child.

[torbird]

23. Legs

The only thing with legs is the Palin baby. And, if he were old enough, he'd use them the same way we all should AND WALK AWAY FROM THIS NON-STORY!!!!

This is a no-win, guys. It's petty, it's wishful thinking, and it's sleazy. It doesn't call her character into question for Democrats (who already think, as a Republican, that she's a liar and a fool), and it would only ignite conservative pro-lifer adoration for her as a sensitive, private, astute mother.

Is that clear enough?

The ONLY group that would be swayed by this story is the MSM, but good luck with that. I think it has made it clear for at least the last 12 years that it has no interest whatsoever in getting off the Republican bandwagon.

[TexasObserver]

35. Bullshit. This story, if true, will end McCain's chances.

Isn't it interesting that you are most concerned about what we might find by digging here?

You do know we're the ones who want the GOP to LOSE, right? We're not on the side of the GOP.

[dorktv]

37. Eagleton

[vaberella]

26. What's up with the low post posters pushing this...Something is up here!! n/t

[TexasObserver]

38. NOT.

Notice the one barely above you.

[NashVegas]

30. Do You Have the FULL, Uncropped Photo?

The one where there's a woman with a body build, hairstyle and glasses similar to Palin's, only she's hiding her belly behind a newspaper?

[applegrove]

33. She was pregnant. She had a baby. Claiming it was her daughter is a slur.

We don't slur in the democratic party. We are better than that.

[stevietheman]

39. Except that mounds of evidence point in the other direction.

So let's turn our heads away from that. mmmm-k.