July 17, 2009 5:01 PM
Why the Left hates Sarah Palin: Trig
[11/23 Update: Welcome, Free Republic readers. For those of you new to my site and commentary, I am the mother of 4 sons with Down syndrome - 1 by birth and three by adoption.]
I know there are a lot of reasons, really. But the thing that makes it visceral is that she had the audacity to have a baby with Down syndrome. . .
The Internet is rife with brutal caricatures of Trig and hateful invective against Sarah - simply for opting her "right to choose" - but choosing life over death. That grown-up men and women would attack a vulnerable and defenseless baby is unbelievable - except that we live in a culture where Democrat daughters are treated with dignity and Republican daughters prompt jokes about rape and incest.
There is something seriously wrong with Leftist posers who want to impose laws against hate speech as defined by gays while encouraging people like Maureen Dowd to spew their garbage in the New York Times (see Palin Proves the Trouble with Jouranlism is Maureen Dowd), and who tolerate the worst hate-mongers in our country.
Trig Palin has divided America By Gary Bauer and Daniel Allott 7/17/09Reactions to Sarah Palin's decision to resign the governorship of Alaska have been a reminder of her unmatched ability to elicit strong emotions from friend and foe alike. We know some of the reasons why. It's her evangelical Christianity and her folksy manner. It's her small-town roots and her "new feminism."
But there is something more. A year ago, Palin gave birth to her youngest son, Trig, who has Down syndrome. Since then, mother and son have become objects of the left's unrelenting scorn and the right's unflinching fidelity.
An underexamined reason why Palin is loved and loathed so fiercely is her intimate association with two of our most divisive issues: disability and the right to life.
In her resignation statement, Palin suggested her decision was due in part to her family's reaction to personal attacks against Trig. Those comments stoked the rage of the Palin-haters. At Talking Points Memo, an article sarcastically suggested that Palin resigned because "she wants to spread Down syndrome ... because Down syndrome is just too cute to be reserved for one in 800 births."
A Paliban Daily article titled "Sarah Palin's Retarded Platform: More Trigs!" interpreted Palin's outspokenness on disability rights as a political ploy to win votes. Other articles contained subtle but unmistakable eugenic overtones.
Those reactions echoed the hateful response that met Palin when she introduced Trig on the campaign trail last fall. Nicholas Provenzo of the libertarian Center for the Advancement of Capitalism discussed being "troubled" by Trig's existence because "it is crucial to reaffirm the morality of aborting a fetus diagnosed with Down syndrome."
Read more at Politico.
And keep in mind, that with ObamaBots rabid to "fix" a "broken" health care system - and a leader who has already opened the door to the idea of grading candidates for procedures by their relative worth to society - the pressure will be greater than ever to abort babies perceived as imperfect.
I submit that it's fine with Leftists to tolerate this kind of hatred and contempt towards the disabled. Fits right in with the plan.
Posted in Disabilities, Down syndrome | Permalink
Comments
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."
Isaiah 5:20
Posted by: Renee P | July 17, 2009 6:19 PM
I am constantly amazed by the hatred some on the left spew at innocent children. My son has some medical issues that caused him to look a bit different at birth. I found an entire forum discussing how "fugly" he was and photoshopping some really horrible things into his photo.
Why? Because I'm pro-life. I know that many people on this site have children with special needs, and it breaks my heart to think that any of you have experienced the same.
I think that the some on the left hate disabled children because, as the article says, they remind us of humanity and life in uncomfortable ways.
Posted by: Lauren | July 17, 2009 6:24 PM
(((Lauren)))
WOW....
I love seeing Trig... What is wrong with this world??? UGH...
Barbara, do you think they will start forcing pregnant women to get the AFP test? I have always refused it... HMMMMMMMM Not sure how they can force a needle in your arm....
Posted by: Lisa | July 17, 2009 6:33 PM
Lisa, in Texas you can be legally forced to submit to a blood alcohol test if you're stopped by an officer and suspected of driving drunk.
I can see how they could stretch that logic to force blood tests for genetic testing.
Posted by: Lauren | July 17, 2009 11:19 PM
How about that new "Science Czar" BHO picked for us!
Eugenics anyone?
Like my hubby always says"there's a reason "covet" made the top ten.
Posted by: A Mac and a Mug o 'Joe | July 17, 2009 11:52 PM
Thanks, Barbara. I posted on this, too. I'll link back to you as a related link.
Posted by: Lisa Graas | July 18, 2009 12:24 AM
What kind of a world is this where we only love our children if they are born perfect?
Posted by: Michelle Potter | July 18, 2009 4:36 PM
I'm late to this post but I want to say that I completely adn totally disagree with this. Very very very few people hate Trig. Very few liberals are unhappy he was born. People on the left do not like Palin for a great many reasons, and only a small percentage of them, as in a VERY small percentage of them (who are just plain mean) use Trig as one of them.
This post paints a stark picture that simply is not true. It really bothers me that you are promoting this kind of thinking, Barbara, and I wish you would reconsider whether or not you have blown this up into something that simply is not there and infuriated your readers into believing an untruth.
It isn't right when the Left does it to the Right, but the same goes for the Right. Truth is good enough. We don't have to add to it.
[Molly, I have answered this comment here: http://mommylife.net/archives/2009/07/in_response_to.html]
Posted by: molly | July 18, 2009 11:16 PM
Mmmm...these guys are right up there with Letterman...disgusting!
Posted by: Kathryn | July 20, 2009 12:48 PM
