Even though I am a rapidly-approaching middle age white man, a woman's right to choose whether or not to be pregnant has always been one of my major issues. I believe it is one of the key marks of a society that values individual decision making and that values women as human beings, not as subservient baby production units. That is why I believe Gov. Sarah Palin's extreme views on choice must become one of the major issues in this most important campaign, and why simplifying the argument as one of choice will end up being an extremely effective counter to what the Republicans are surely going to push. They will try to turn Palin's choice to carry her baby with Down's Syndrome into an ethical argument by tugging at the heart strings of a number of Americans. We Democrats shouldn't allow her biography to trump a fundamental right, and here's how.
Joe Biden might be able to pull this off as a Catholic and advocate for workers, but there are a number of surrogates who could also make the argument. First, acknowledge the fact that she had the baby, and congratulate her on her fifth child. We should be absolutely clear that we consider children a blessing and the future of the nation. But we must stress the fact that Gov. Palin had a choice, and the circumstances that allowed her to make it. She and her husband have the means to support five children, including one with a disability. A good point of emphasis should be the fact that her husband is a card carrying union member, and that most Americans aren't lucky enough to be members of a union with the resources that entails. Then, we remind Americans that there are many women that don't have the luxury of making the choice she made. There are many women for which a fifth child with a disability would be absolutely devastating, both emotionally and financially. So, how does Gov. Palin dare to presume to have government make all women make the choice she made? Then, hit her on her wingnut views on rape, incest, and the life of the mother. Then, hit her again on the anti-contraception views of her friends at "Feminists for Life" and the rest of the wierdos running the Republican party. We should then make the case as Barack Obama has made it. Let's work together to reduce unwanted pregnancies, and let's work together to make sure all women and families have the opportunity to have a financially stable existence without domestic violence so women can have a true choice.
Even though I believe that Obama/Biden will prevail for a million different reasons, I see this as an opportunity to perform a little ju-jitsu. Strengthening the arguments for choice by using the other side's example of the perfect little woman who is willing to carry her man's baby no matter what could end up strengthening the support of the majority of the country who believe in individual liberties. We must not allow Gov. Palin's personal story to work against all we have fought for. We should use her story as a teaching moment, to educate the public about all of the different factors that go into making that difficult choice.