Like many professions, motherhood is challenging and requires judgement, organizational ability, and other desirable traits. In that regard, I think it's indicative of progress in our national awareness that not only does motherhood no longer disqualify a woman outright for public office, we're actually debating its merits.

That said, motherhood, like many other professions (teacher, machinist, journalist, comedian, mountaineer), while it can indicate sterling qualities, is not by itself a qualification for high national office. I'd also like to see knowledge of the job, good ideas, high principle, and all the other qualities that we claim to want in our public servants.

In Palin's case, she herself raised her motherhood as a qualification. That means that she has made the quality of her mothering a legitimate campaign issue. Evidence that the upbringing of the Palin children was problematic is now fair game on the campaign trail -- by Palin's own actions.