Look back in the history books and you'll see that several US Presidents had 5 or more children. Was anyone concerned that they would be good presidents based on the number of children they fathered? I don't think so. This is the age old double standard at its best. Sarah Palin's ability to be a good vice president should be based on her political experience, not on the fact that she is the mother of 5.

It seems to me that it would be very difficult for her to give the proper attention to both her job and the position - especially in lieu of the fact that there are already significant issues facing the family. A child with Down's Syndrome, a pregnant teenager with a to-be husband, Levi (you MUST read what he writes in his personal My Space page at www.usmagazine.com/news/new-levipalin-draft), and the on-going ethics investigation. It's hard for all parents to juggle work and family, and although some people want us to believe Sarah Palin's a superwoman, it seems to me that her most important role is Mom. I have to wonder if this pregnancy isn't a cry from Bristol, who may have gotten lost in the "Ms. Govenor" shuffle, and is looking for recognition from "Mom".
Does McCain really think he's going to get the vote of any intelligent woman just because his running mate is a woman? And Sarah Palin's really the most qualified of all potential candidates? She has the experience to run this country after being Governor for 2 years? You've underestimated us John!

How dare you question the number of children a woman have and her ability to do anything! What a bunch of hypocrites! I am amazed and so disgusted with other women who question Gov. Palin's commitment or qualifications. No wonder we can't get ahead. Members of our own sex are standing ON TOP OF the very ceiling we are trying to break! Men never treat each other this way. By the way, I am a mom, former elected official, and businesswoman.

LAst time I checked, she has a husband who can assist her. Hmmm......did we forget about that?

Please get off the "mother" issue and on to the critical issues that we all should be discussing... her political beliefs, management style, personal agenda, and where and how she will influence this country moving forward. We cannot handle 4 more years of the same. She wants Creationism taught in the schools - along with evolution; She supports the Alaskan Independence Party and for those who don't know.. they hate the United States and think Alaska should be its own country; she supports drilling for oil in protected areas of Alaska.. instead of pushing for alternate energy. And how will she influence the Supreme Court selections. Do you really believe that she will push forward Women's rights and Women's concerns for health care? She used a line item veto to remove from the Alaska budget a safe medical facility and home for homeless unwed pregnant women. As VP she would be one heart beat away from President. Is this who we want to be President?

Please get off the "mother" issue and on to the critical issues that we all should be discussing... her political beliefs, management style, personal agenda, and where and how she will influence this country moving forward. We cannot handle 4 more years of the same. She wants Creationism taught in the schools - along with evolution; She supports the Alaskan Independence Party and for those who don't know.. they hate the United States and think Alaska should be its own country; she supports drilling for oil in protected areas of Alaska.. instead of pushing for alternate energy. And how will she influence the Supreme Court selections. Do you really believe that she will push forward Women's rights and Women's concerns for health care? She used a line item veto to remove from the Alaska budget a safe medical facility and home for homeless unwed pregnant women. As VP she would be one heart beat away from President. Is this who we want to be President?

I think there are many men and women with children that have important jobs that take them away from their families. For instance the men and women in our Armed Forces do this daily. They do this because of a strong conviction to their country, the passion for their work and honestly to make a living. Why is Sarah Palin being judged so harshly? I think First Ladies are also away from their children often. The are off doing work to assist the President such as visiting abroad, giving speeches, etc. and this has never been scrutinized before. With a strong support group and a solid effort to make time for what is important anything is possible.

i was supporting hillary but after learning about palin ..I'm shocked to say I'm switching to republican. every woman should vote for her just for the reason of her being attacked so hard from extreme liberals. how dare liberals say she can't be a good vp bvecause of her kids.

I'm Sorry, I have four children ages 26 to 8 and a job that is not half as demanding as the one she plans to take on, none of my children have any special issues yet and I can honestly say that I had to take time off from work to raise my children for a while because I did not feel that I could give each job 100% Sadly the only people that will suffer the fallout of Sarah Palin's ambitions will be her children, starting with that poor 17 year old. If what McCain wanted was a woman, choose a qualified one, that could give the job 100%

This question never crossed my mind. What has crossed my mind is how her previous (limited) experience as an elected official has prepared her for this role. The more we let trivial topics deter us from important issues, the more we will make poor decisions.

At what point do you stop asking foolish questions?

"Can Palin be supermom and Vice President?"

Would you be asking this question if the VP were a 'superdad'?

"I'm all for women achieving the highest political offices. "

No you aren't. You're just another liberal hypocrite who is asking tough questions of a conservative woman that you would never and have never asked of a liberal man running for office.

It's not about the number of kids she has, or her kids have, it's about how many bullets there are in her M16. I'm personally offended by the fact that there are people out there fighting and dying to protect the rights of idiots who are so flippant about this entire process. Yes, she's hot, but apparently she's hot in the way General Lee was hot. Are y'all really voting for a gun-totin' moose hunter who wants to lead the country she wanted to secede from not long ago? Stick to the issues!

The Sun Sentinel should be ashamed for even posting this. It is akin to asking if Obama has enough white in him to be president. Would that be posted/tolerated??? Sexist and Racist dribble from the ignorant only clouds the real issues. I was/am VERY skeptical of Palin, but I respect her because of her children and the tough choices she is making as a parent. I would think that everyone would want a politician male or female who knew what it was like to raise children (especially those with special needs). Maybe the decision to go to war would be made much less often if more children of politicians were involved. Anyways, readers need to use their voice to speak out against sexist media commentary like this.

The voters of Alaska are apparently not as rigid as voters elsewhere in the US, because Sarah Palin was elected Mayor and Governor. No one asked if she could be both Mom and a Chief Executive.

I am especially annoyed by the poster who opined that Palin's daughter got pregnant as a cry for more attention from Mommy.

Grow up and quit playing Dr. Phil! Most seventeen-year-olds are trying out their independence and, if anything, want less Mommy and more time on their own with their friends. There are plenty of full time stay-at-home Moms who find that their teens made some choices that Mom and Dad would have preferred the youngster not to make. What did 'Mommy' do wrong in those instances?!

The reality is this: Palin does have a husband; nobody would have asked this question of a young male VP candidate with children; and teens make mistakes.

I'm more concerned about her political views, which have a chance of impacting all of us. She apparently doesn't even favor equal work for equal pay for women, which McCain supports.

If we are going to disqualify all women with young children from running for office, we will miss out on the input of many fabulous (and some not so fabulous) Americans. Can we really afford that?

If you want all women to just stay home with their children, go live with the Taliban. They'd love you. The rest of us don't.

as you can see she is not doing a very good job of being a mom considering her 16 year old was sleeping around!!

The number of children the Palins have is irrelevant to whether or not she's qualified for the job of Vice President. The double-standard mentioned in comments above is only part of the issue--a person in Sarah Palin's position has access to all sorts of resources that the average family facing those challenges wouldn't have.

But the important thing is that, from my perspective, it's Palin's positions on issues that makes her a candidate I cannot support. Her family--whether we're talking about its size or the difficulties they're having--is not a part of the issue here.

Of course she can. Why are you even asking?

Questions like this drive me crazy! Who ever thinks to ask if a father of 5 can do their job, or should do their job? How ridiculous!

I don't care if she has an entire orphanage full of children.

I care about her policies -wanting to teach creationism on an even par with evolution, wanting to overturn Roe V Wade, supporting abstinence only programs (even in the face of a pregnant daughter), wanting to continue to give the highest earners the lowest ever taxes during a war while the middle class is dying.

I don't care if she has an entire orphanage full of children.

I care about her policies -wanting to teach creationism on an even par with evolution, wanting to overturn Roe V Wade, supporting abstinence only programs (even in the face of a pregnant daughter), wanting to continue to give the highest earners the lowest ever taxes during a war while the middle class is dying.