She should not be useing what is wrong with her baby to get votes.Would I vote for her just because of that?no.But if I liked every thing else she was about then I would vote for her.

Would I vote for her because of this? No.  I think it's good that the issue gets some attention, but I won't make my vote based on only one issue.

I like watching her speak.  She is assertive and confident.  I like seeing a working mother of 5 up there on the podium.  I am deeply disgusted by how she has been attacked in the media as a mother - male candidates are not questioned about how they can hold political office and still be a good parent to their children.  It has gotten very personal and very nasty very quickly.  I'm speaking of the press as a whole, not comments on this site.

However she is a Republican candidate for VP.  She holds all or almost all the Republican platform views which include smaller government, less services for under privileged citizens which include children, and an end to reproductive freedom for women.  So I think any voter needs to look at her politics and decide which candidates most match their personal political beliefs.

Not liking Republican politics is a fine reason not to vote for McCain/Palin.  Nobody needs to trash her as a woman and mother, sticking to the issues works fine.

What gets to me is the media's hype over Palin's decision to have her baby "even though she knew he would have Down Syndrome." 

I think that perspective is appalling. A child, with or without a disability, is worth having. Let's not begin diminishing the value of a life because that life includes a disability.

What exactly is she advocating?

Great quote from NYT - “What is behind the announcement?” she said. “An advocate is someone who pleads another’s cause, so what is her plea going to be? To get rid of Medicaid wait lists so we can get kids services? To quickly pass the American with Disabilities restoration act? That is what I haven’t heard.”

Iwas hoping that in this site we would not have to face the politics at hand. Having said that, I would absolutely NOT vote for Palin.

You have to look at the whole picture and Alaska does not seem to present the best picture, please,  during campaigns we get promised the moon.

Let's not forget that. It is politics and it works if you are vulnerable and do not delve into the whole of the problem. Do your homeworl on all fronts.

I am not saying that you should not vote for her, that is your right and privilege, I am telling you to make an internet investigation on your own of pros and cons.

We are just beginning to see the surface of the achievements and problems in Alaska during these 2 years, we have time to check out what is yet to come on all fronts.

 My vote she will not get that is my choice.

I have to agree with calla. Someone who touts abstinence-only sexual education just doesn't seem to have health in mind at all. I'm not saying kids shouldn't abstain, but seriously, barring that kind of health education is like telling teens they can never eat with their hands and must always use a fork. When they inevitably pick up a hamburger, they're far less likely to have, so to speak, washed their hands. How is that healthy, or responsible?

Also, earlier this year Palin slashed funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers in need of a place to live...read about the Covenant House

Honestly, I don't trust her.

She told her pregnant daughter that she'd support her no matter what she decided (including abortion), yet her political platform is anti-abortion.

This dichotomy of views on the abortion issue says to me that when it comes to her family she wants options and privileges that she doesn't think the rest of the country should have.

She may understand what her DS son needs, but that doesn't translate into her knowing or even wanting to advocate for special needs children in America.