by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 29, 2008
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- In a decision that's sure to unite the pro-life advocates behind his campaign, presidential candidate John McCain selected pro-life champion Sarah Palin as his pick for vice president. Palin, the 44-year-old governor of Alaska, takes a strong pro-life position on both abortion and bioethics issues.
Palin is the youngest and first female governor in the state of Alaska and she brings the same kind of reform-minded attitude to the governor's office that McCain has brought to the U.S. Senate.
She won election to the gubernatorial seat in 2006 by defeating the incumbent governor and then defeating a former Democratic governor in the general election.
Palin is a Christian who was the head of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at her high school.
She is strongly pro-life and was a member of Feminists for Life of America, a leading pro-woman, pro-life organization that has championed reducing abortions by helping pregnant and parenting students with financial and other resources.
As LifeNews.com reported in April, Palin put those pro-life views into practice.
As many as 80 percent of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome become victims of abortion, but Palin didn't let her child become a statistic. Palin, who has deeply-felt pro-life views, gave birth to her fifth child and the baby was diagnosed with the condition.
Palin confirmed her baby, named Trig Paxson, has Down syndrome.
"Trig is beautiful and already adored by us," Palin told LifeNews.com at the time.
"We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives," she said.
'We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed," the governor added.
Trig was born one month before his due date, and he weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces.
Pro-life advocates heaped praise on Palin about the news and said she and her family made a courageous decision to keep the baby.
“I can't help but remember Governor Palin’s campaign slogan ‘Take a Stand,'" Debbie Joslin, the president of Eagle Forum Alaska told LifeNews.com.
"Her choice to value life in a very personal way speaks volumes and gives those of us in the pro-life community in Alaska cause to believe that we truly do have a pro-life leader in charge of our state," she said.
"When so many in our culture have chosen to devalue the lives of those who face special learning disabilities, Governor Palin shines as a great positive role model," Joslin added.
The Palins have four other children including Track, 18, Bristol, 17, Willow, 13 and Piper, 7.
