Sarah Palin: Politics stinks. But you can pull your children out of the swamp.

Scurrilous rumors, like the ones about your recent pregnancy, are an unfortunate fact of political life these days. And that particular rumor about two of your children has by now spread beyond word-of-mouth and beyond the blogs. Even the Anchorage Daily News is covering the story.

At best, the rumors are irrelevant; at worst, they’re hateful. They’re also totally unfair to your daughter, whose pictures are being spread and scrutinized all over the internet. She didn’t sign on for this. You were the one who chose to dive into the political swamp, not her. She doesn’t deserve to have her life examined under a microscope. Put your duty as a mother first. Help her now.

Of course you’d rather not dignify these stories with a response. In another era, that might have been the best approach. But that’s not true any longer. It’s time for you to swallow your pride and behave like the mother you are – putting your children’s well-being first.

This whole episode is a sad reminder of what politics has come to. But it’s in your power to quickly put an end to what must be a deeply humiliating experience for your daughter. How do you expect her to go back to school with this hanging over her? Don’t allow the rumor-mongers to put her through more weeks or months of suffering. Take this burden from her young shoulders.

Politics stinks. Hold your nose and release your medical records.

P.S. Whatever doctor approved your flying through all the air-pressure changes of two long flights – while you were leaking amniotic fluid – should have his or her license withdrawn. Thank God your baby was unharmed.