Columnist calls for 'Palin-free February'

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Dana Milbank, a columnist for The Washington Post, is calling on fellow journalists to join him for a "Palin-free February."

Milbank wrote in his Friday column he plans to balance the 42 times he has mentioned Sarah Palin in his column since the Alaska governor was picked to be John McCain's Republican presidential running mate in 2008 by not mentioning her in columns, TV appearances or online writings for the entire month of February.

"Furthermore, I call on others in the news media to join me in this pledge of a Palin-free February," Milbank wrote. "With enough support, I believe we may even be able to extend the moratorium beyond one month, but we are up against a powerful compulsion and we must take this struggle day by day."