Sarah Palin on Families & Children Republican Governor (AK); 2008 nominee for Vice President

On Down baby: God won't give me something I can't handle

I didn't know if my heart was ready. I didn't know if I was patient & nurturing enough.

But when Trig was born I understood that God DID know what he was doing! What at first seemed like an overwhelming challenge has turned into our greatest blessing. All the time, it seems that God was whispering in my ear and saying, "Are you going to trust me? Are you going to walk the walk or just talk the talk?" But when they laid Trig in my arms & he just kind of melted into my chest, he seemed to say to me, "See, Mom, God knows what he's doing. He gave me to you, and you to me, and this is going to be a wonderful journey."

Mistake to assume teen daughter was a "good girl"

I helped deliver [my grandson] Tripp. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything, but at the same time I knew it all should have been happening ten years from then. A contradiction? Perhaps. But Tripp is a dream; he's the most beautiful baby I have ever seen.

Founding Fathers took strong families for granted

What the founders focused their energy on, then, wasn't a government that sought to control or shape families, but a government that could capitalize on the virtues of trust and self-restraint that families create--a government that could respect and honor good citizens by allowing them to liver and prosper in freedom. The Constitution's relationship to the family, then, was meant to be reciprocal: to depend upon the virtues of family life to make its system of government work, while protecting the freedom of families to create self-governing citizens.

Happy family of origin means all is in order in her life

She is unique among those who populate our public life because she is not angry, raging, bombastic, or rude. Instead, she is about her ideas and her vision because all else is in order in her life.

What she may lack is introspection, the gift for soul searching that the lonely, the bruised, and the wronged naturally have. It may cause her answers to come too easily, her principles to be too unexamined. It can make her come off as a lightweight. She is not, of course, but this is the downside of the healthy, happy childhood she enjoyed, and she should know it and seek to dig a deeper well.

Bumper sticker: My kid has more chromosomes than your kid

Down Syndrome comes in a range of severities. Some people with Downs can live self-sufficient lives. Others may be totally dependent. It was after meeting all these amazing people that Todd and I proudly displayed the bumper stickers a very cool group from Arizona sent us, which read "My kid has more chromosomes than your kid!"

Daughter & teen mom Bristol helping prevent teen pregnancy

She graduated from high school on time, while raising her son & working two part-time jobs, and then immediately started college. You don't read about any of this positive progress in the tabloids

Caring for special needs kids is part of culture of life

V.P. role would include helping special-needs children

A: Sure have. I’m very excited about the role that I will play as his partner. And I will focus on energy independence and reform overall of Washington and tax cuts for Americans and reigning in spending.

Q: These are specific roles that you already talked about?

A: Yes, absolutely. Absolutely.

Q: That you will take on as vice president?

A: Right. So I’d like to talk about each one of them. And I wish we had hours to talk about this also.

Q: I have nothing to do.

A: OK, good. Because another thing that we’ll talk about also is the role that I will play that is very near and dear to my heart. And that’s helping families with special-needs children and being able to strengthen our National Institute of Health also and find cures for presently incurable diseases.

Special-needs children will have her as a friend & advocate

Children with special needs inspire a special love. To the familie of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons & daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend & advocate in the White House.

17-year-old unmarried daughter is 5 months pregnant

Bristol Palin, one of Gov. Palin’s five children with her husband Todd, is about five months pregnant and is going to keep the child and marry the father, the Palins said in a statement. Bristol Palin made the decision on her own to keep the baby, McCain aides said.

“We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us,” the Palins’ statement said. “Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support,” the Palins said. The Palins asked the news media to respect the young couple’s privacy.

Praised by pro-life groups for keeping Down syndrome baby

Recognize the vital role of family child care homes

• WHEREAS, family child care provides a vital service for Alaska families, neighborhoods, and communities. By caring for the youngest Alaskans in home-based environments, family child care providers ensure that children are able to grow and learn where they are also happy, safe, secure, and stimulated.
• WHEREAS, family child care providers understand the importance of family & home; ensure long-term stability; and give parents convenient support close to home, among other benefits.
• WHEREAS, family child care is thus able to nurture children across a broad spectrum of development. With help from neighborhoods and communities, they can uniquely cater to, support, and include children of all levels of ability, need, activity, and curiosity.
• Family Child Care Week in Alaska, and encourage all Alaskans to recognize the vital role family child care homes play in the lives of our children.

Opposes explicit sex-education programs

A: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.