Personally, I think Sarah Palin was a stroke of genius on the part of the McCain campaign. Until she marries her varsity hockey star boyfriend, the Republican vice presidential candidate’s pregnant teenaged daughter has something in common with 50% of American mothers under age 30  -- she’s not married. Talk about a candidate you can relate to!

           In a recent People magazine spread, I learned that Sarah Palin had amnio and knew in advance that her baby boy would be Downs. She’s pro-life, so why the amnio?  She knew her baby was at risk in utero, so why did she run around, working more hours than ever, never telling anyone she was pregnant?

        Her reaction, mysteriously, in this age of open discussion of sex, reproduction, working mothers and all things related, was to hide her pregnancy, not only from her constituency, but her own famiy. Including her teenaged daughters. Who were clearly left to learn about the birds and the bees on their own.  

          How in the world could Sarah Palin go ahead and accept the nomination, knowing the scandal it would raise? My guess: She didn’t even know her daughter was pregnant when she accepted the nomination -- because her daughter didn’t tell her beforehand.

         Why not? Well, if none of us kids – and we’re such a close family, you know – was told that Mom was expecting till her waters broke, then I guess I’m not supposed to tell Mom I’m pregnant either. I’m just supposed to deal with it myself, sit here alone with this huge problem worrying, until someone asks me point blank, like I wanted to ask Mom: Is that a basketball in your stomach or should we run to Costco for a truckload of Pampers?

           It’s not unusual for perfectly intelligent women – tune in to the last season of Mad Men, see what happened to Peggy – to be in denial about their pregnancies. I’ve known no less than four women, from teenagers to a 40-year old -- who did the same, for a variety of complex reasons. It happens, life is difficult and scary and confusing.

           But I expect clearer thinking, and a much better disclosure policy, from the nation's potentional second in command.  Don't you?