Palin faces a cultural crucible

and the Democrats are in trouble.

"Never mind that many male politicians have large families and are rarely challenged about their ability to balance work and family. Or that many American families have dealt with the pregnancies of teenage daughters."

And

""There's such a role reversal," Felsenthal says. "You have this conservative, pro-life Republican woman—but it's the liberal Democrats who are saying, 'But who's going to take care of the children?' "

And

"What if Palin proves to be a great vice president—but a lousy mother? It sounds like a reasonable question — until you realize that it would rarely, if ever, be asked about a man."