Please note that the political celebrity gossip story below is based on circumstantial, albeit fairly compelling, evidence. There is no proof, although that's how it was with Rielle Hunter, and we all know how that turned out.
Just saying. The Daily Kos, a leftist political blog, is reporting that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican nominee for Vice President, is not the mother of her fifth child, four-month-old Trig Palin. Rather, her 16-year-old daughter Bristol is.
The "evidence" for this - you can read the full, and far more comprehensive account here - includes the following:
- On March 6, the governor announced she was seven months pregnant, to the surprise of everyone.
- Sarah Palin's water broke a month before Trig was due, but she kept a speaking date in Texas, then flew eight hours, direct, home to Alaska.
- Upon going into labor, instead of heading to an Anchorage medical facility that could best accommodate a premature birth, she drove 45 minutes to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, outside Wasilla, where she was mayor.
- On April 18, 2008, Trig Palin, who has Down's Syndrome, was born a month premature. Sarah Palin returned to work after just three days.
- Bristol Palin was taken out of Anchorage High School due to "mononucleosis." She was absent from school for 5-8 months (accounts vary).
Some believe 16-year-old Bristol Palin (right), not Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was the one pregnant, and starting to show, in this family photo from early 2008.
It's an interesting conspiracy theory, but the thing we don't get is why a major public figure would risk the humiliation of being exposed as a liar when the thing she's trying to cover up isn't that unusual or scandalous.
At least with John Edwards, he knew his career was over the second his affair with Rielle Hunter was exposed, so he might as well roll the dice and lie about it.
But with approval ratings above 80 percent, would Bristol becoming pregnant at 16 really damage Sarah Palin's image that much? Look at Jamie Lynn Spears!
Would it jeopardize Sarah's chances to become Vice President? Maybe. But wouldn't fallout be 10 times worse after having lied repeatedly? The desire to protect her daughter from scrutiny couldn't be worth it, could it?
Either way, the mother of Trig stuck to her guns and did not have an abortion, which regardless of how you feel about that issue, proves Sarah Palin is true to her stated conservative beliefs. We're curious to hear what you think.
UPDATE: Follow the jump for a photo of what appears to be a pregnant Sarah Palin earlier this year. Does this put these rumors to rest?
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29 Comments
September 1st, 2008 9:31 AM
If there is a speck of dirt, some perfect soul will find it, and publish it even if it's a rumor, which even if true, so what. With all the dirt on the Democratic side, we
just have to point to the "possibility" that a 16 year old had a child out of wedlock and the mother tried to protect her. How simply awful is that. If true, Sarah should have done what every lib mother would do, throw her out on the street, or wait..........have an abortion!
September 1st, 2008 9:40 AM
Okay, is it just me or, WHO CARES? I really couldn't care less who had the baby. All that matters is their is a little baby in the world now who has a loving home, that's more then a lot of kids can say. There are kids starving, being beaten, etc etc. Yet the entire country is wasnting to poke their nose in a family that loves and supports their children. Hey country, let's drop the gossip, and focus on the real issues.
September 1st, 2008 9:46 AM
There was plenty of proof with Rielle Hunter. It was just a matter of getting anybody to pay attention to it.
Now another Kos diarist is putting up pics of Palin clearly pregnant:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/31/234157/516/1017/581734
Although they're holding out hope that it's a "fake pregnancy suit."
September 1st, 2008 9:48 AM
I should say: There is plenty of proof. The story isn't over yet, and there's a lot more to it than just some hanky-panky and a visit from the stork.
September 1st, 2008 11:07 AM
It was not a direct flight. She had a layover in Seattle making it a 13-hour flight.
September 1st, 2008 11:40 AM
The family photo has been proving on other sites to actually be from 2006 - which if Bristol was pregnant with Trig, would have been a world-record gestational period!
I work at a high school, and unless a girl has a completely flat stomach (which of course many don't!) then the low waisted pants they wear make any little bit of a pooch more pronounced.
September 1st, 2008 12:37 PM
Regardless, who is the mother, at least the child was born and not destroyed. Although I feel the real mother should be proud of this wonderful gift of LIFE!!!!
September 1st, 2008 2:12 PM
As a republican this bothered me at first. However upon further research I came to the conclusion that this is a good family regardless of the situation. President Clinton has done worse and America loved him.
September 1st, 2008 2:38 PM
Even if it's not true, that the baby is not actually her daughter's, then she shows incredible lack of judgment because of flying at such a late stage of pregnancy, leaking amniotic fluid, and bypassing the major hospitals that could actually care for a premature baby. Don't tell me that those risky choices are definitely put into question through out all of this.
She's definitely a "wonderful mother" who would put her child's life at such great risk.
September 1st, 2008 3:12 PM
Yes...in fact we do care very much. I do not, nor should anyone else judge this family for personal business or choices. However choosing to be placed in the national and world eye by running for one of the most important offices in this country allows for closer scrutiny by all of us. These are not tradtional American values and I do not want them pushed down my throat or my children as being the ideal or remotely acceptable. This is not the right candidate, and I'd hope if Palin's family were the most important thing she'd exit quietly stage right.