You say: The hypocrisy in the coverage has been the implication that only right-to-lifers would continue such a pregnancy and that people who are pro-choice would abort a fetus with Down syndrome.

I agree. I would describe myself as "pro-choice with reservations." I would rather see many, many fewer abortions. But not as the result of making abortion illegal.

I believe that comprehensive sex education can be improved. An important question that needs to be asked and answered is why do teens choose to have unprotected sex. I find it difficult to believe that Bristol Palin was unaware that there was such a thng as birth control. Many young women in their teens and twenties do not want to take ownership of their sexuality. Going to a clinic, getting contraception, asking your partner to use a condom - all these require a young woman to be actively engaged and responsible for her decision to have sex. If she is not truly ready to have sex she will avoid doing these things because to go to a family planning clinic means she can't be in denial about having sex. I know young men need to take equal responsibility for their sexuality but because women get pregnant each woman must be taught to take control of her reproductive life. We also need to teach her that if she won't do that she probably should wait until she will. Standrar sex ed focusses on birth control and STDs. I believe that both young men and young women need to be taught more: intimacy, respect for themselves and others, relationship skills.

Another way to reduce abortions is by providing support and resources for women who may want to keep their babies. (And, in a case such as Sarah Palin's provide support to women who a child with disability.) Not all unintended pregnancies are necessarily unwanted. But it is much easier to choose to have the baby if you have the support and resources to do so. Keeping the baby should be an option but often it isn't a feasible option. We should make sure that women have the support and resources they need: continuing their educations and training, childcare, healthcare, learning parenting skills. Some women I know who have had abortions (and these are well-educated women) say that they might have made a different choice if support systems were available to them.

Unfortunately, hardcore "pro-lifers" are not just about making abortion illegal they are also anti-sex. They believe that sex should only be within marriage. Any sex outside marriage is a sin and should be punished. I think it is funny that the punishment they choose is forcing a woman to bear a child, give it up for adoption or get married to the father. (Even worse in the case of rape or incest they would force the woman to have the child - clearly they believe these atrocities are the woman's fault.) What does this say about their respect for life? They see having a child as a punishment?

Roe v. Wade decided January 22, 1973

1973-1974 President: Nixon; Republican

1974-1976 President: Ford; Republican

1976-1980 President: Carter; Democrat

1980-1988 President: Reagan; Republican

1988-1992 President: Bush I; Republican

1992-2000 President: Clinton; Democrat

2000-2008 President: Bush II; Republican

Thirty-five years since Roe v. Wade decided; 23 of those years Republicans controlled the White House

Current Supreme Court:

Edwards, Bush II appointee

Stevens, Ford appointee

Scalia, Reagan appointee

Kennedy, Reagan appointee

Souter, Bush I appointee

Thomas, Bush I appointee

Ginsburg, Clinton appointee

Breyer, Clinton appointee

Alito, Bush II appointee

Also:

O'Connor, Reagan appointee, ret 2006

Rehnquist, Reagan appointee, d. 2005

All but 2 of these justices were appointed by a Republican president!!

Yet, Roe v. Wade is still the law of the land. Despite the fact that the Republican platform has included an anti-abortion platform during all these years. The law established by Roe v. Wade is hardly different than it was in 1973.

Why? Why hasn't Roe v. Wade been reversed? Are the Republicans just pandering to pro-life voters do get their votes? Do they really want to overturn Roe v. Wade? My opinion - no. The majority of people (including the majority of Republicans) are pro-choice. It is politically expedient to say they want to overturn Roe but they know that would not beactually do it.

Sarah Palin's speech on Wednesday night energized Democrats.

On Thursday afternoon I went into my local campaign office to phone bank. There were double the number of volunteers that day. (Most of them older white women - I am 51 and other than the interns and staffers I was one of the youngest volunteers!)

One group of people is especially angry about Palin's speech and those of other Republican speakers - community organizers. Here is an excerpt from an e-mail I received exposing the Republican's failure to "get it" and their disrespect for ordinary men and women:

"Community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies.

And it's no surprise that, after eight years of George Bush, millions of people have found that by coming together in their local communities they can change the course of history. That promise is what our campaign has been about from the beginning.

Throughout our history, ordinary people have made good on America's promise by organizing for change from the bottom up. Community organizing is the foundation of the civil rights movement, the women's suffrage movement, labor rights, and the 40-hour workweek. And it's happening today in church basements and community centers and living rooms across America."

Community organizers aren't "wild-eyed left wingers:" they are Evangelicals, they are secular moderates, they are liberal, they are conservative, etc. But they all share a common mission: to help those in need. I fail to understand why Republicans would be so dismissive of community organizers.

Thursday, community organizers put up a website:

http://organizersfightback.wordpress.com/

If you are a community organizers or know someone who is share this with them. In fact, share this with everyone who loves their country and their community.