urbanMamas on mothering while politicking: Discuss
Our own Sarah Gilbert was interviewed by KATU Channel 2 and KOIN Channel 6 today thanks to the great conversation of our community on whether it makes sense to run for this nation's highest offices while a mama of a baby -- it's been getting so much media exposure! Her position: it's ok to judge the mothering decisions of a vice presidential candidate as it opens a window to her decision-making process (and after all, we're supposed to judge her as she's a politician and we get to vote). If you're coming thanks to those pieces, or watching Sarah Palin tonight at the RNC, here's an open thread to weigh in. Would you run for a major office while your children were young?
it is hard to have it all- in fact, you cannot - I wrote about this in my recent Mom Column, published in The Oregonian newspaper and linked above. I wrote about it while working on my book, and I just did not have time with my kids...It was hard. Not impossible and not to be denied but reality...my husband and kids took over during my incredibly busy schedule...
thanks, Cornelia Seigneur
www.corneliaseigneur.com
www.writermom.net
Posted by: Cornelia Becker Seigneur | September 03, 2008 at 06:16 PM
I would run while my children were young, but might think twice about it if one of my kids was going through something (like an unplanned, teenage pregnancy) that would cause them to be scrutinized by media and the general populace under a microscope...that's a lot of pressure (social, political, religious) to put on a teenager. But then again, I have no insight into their dinner table conversations. Her children might have supported this 100%, knowing full well that they'd be media fodder. Her family might be so tight knit that they work like a well-oiled machine and are all well-adjusted, etc., etc... who knows?
Posted by: Laura S. | September 03, 2008 at 06:54 PM
I'm watching the RNC (Giuliani is speaking) as the cameras pan onto the family of Sarah Palin in the audience. Daughter Bristol was holding baby Trig as usual. Now he is being held by Cindy McCain, and I have two questions:
1. Why is the dad (sitting next to Cindy) not holding or even looking at his son?
2. Why must an infant be there amid all the commotion anyway?
It would mean so much more to me to see dad and baby in a quiet side room watching the events on tv.
For Trig, I feel sick watching this.
Posted by: Gina | September 03, 2008 at 07:28 PM
I am very surprised by a mother's decision to run for office while her daughter is going through this premature pregnancy! No matter how well adjusted the girl is, no matter how tight-knit the family is, the media scrutiny is going to be a terrible pressure that this girl doesn't need.
I understand and admire ambitious women. But I don't admire ambition that damages the family and that's what I'm seeing here.
Where are Bristol, the boyfriend and baby going to live? Alaska? Washington DC? Just curious about that...
Posted by: Ex Pat Mama | September 03, 2008 at 08:37 PM
I raised 4 kids, my husband left me at 24. i had no choice but to go to college and get a job. I never been so proud of Sarah Palin, a women running for this office,finally. Just think in my life time we have the right to vote. In 85, i was one of 5 women that took the fire science test here in Portland, they would not hire women. I have worked with the good old boys working in a company, I was so treated like crap, told i should stay at home on welfare and raise my children. Can you give a women a break. stay at home on welfare or get a job. Sarah Palin has a family and there supportive, get a life and give the lady a break. if you can barely handle your one child then you better pray your husband doesn't leave you.
Posted by: Virginia | September 03, 2008 at 08:50 PM
I am a mother of seven including a child with Down Syndrome. Until tonight I had serious concerns. Watching Sarah tonight though I was only filled with admiration. If the "glass ceiling" is going to be broken let it be done by a mother. We have Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a mother of seven to thank for the opportunities we have today. Hopefully , my girls will have Sarah Palin, another mother, to thank for the opportunities they will have tomorrow
Posted by: Colleen | September 03, 2008 at 09:08 PM
I think it's interesting that as women we can't support one another... I am a working Mom who was offended by the comments made on Channel 6. So as a working mom who CHOOSES to work outside the home (if it were a choice for someone to stay home, my husband would quit his job with the city and stay home with our children) I am shocked that the tone of the news cast is that a woman should be home with her children.
And the comment made on the news tonight that Sarah Palin cannot "control" her children... I hope that the world has not come to the place where parents are held accountable for a choice that their children make that is supported by nearly all television shows, movies and music in their influence. It is my opinion that unless we removed tv's, movies, cds that are not "approved" and through out our internet, our children are constantly bombarded with SEX, SEX and more SEX. It is very likely that when Bristol chose to have sex with her boyfriend, she didn't want to disappoint her Mom so she chose not to discuss her options or how about considering that in the heat of the moment teenage passion lead the teens a little further than either of them were preparing to go. I hope that as women, we step back and listen to what Sarah Palin has to say without criticizing her as a mother or wife. Let's hope that these concerns weighed very heavy on her heart prior to making this decision. I'm sure her very supportive husband will manage to step into her shoes during the time of campaigning and possible Vice Presidency. Wives of Vice Presidents manage to raise their children and manage their homes while their husbands are busy with politics. If it were my husband stepping into my shoes, I am confident that he would just as good of a job as I can- one of the things I LOVE about him. Let's give Sarah a chance to show the U.S. what she's about. If the Republican Candidate for VP was a man, with the same family obligations, would we be having this conversation?
Posted by: Working Mom | September 03, 2008 at 09:11 PM
OK. I was Women’s Studies major. I consider myself a feminist. I myself went to law school ... I am an ambitious woman. BUT, I do have serious reservations about the kind of woman who would choose to run for president while A) her teenage daughter is pregnant and will be subject to unimaginable media attention, and B) she has a four month old infant! If Palin was 44 and had teenage children, that would be one thing - but an infant and a child in elementary school. She is going to have to abandon them to perform her duties as the VP of the USA! I sure don't want to know that the VP leaves work at 3 to pick up her kids from school and can't take long trips abroad because of her kids... This job requires that it be a top priority and her family is going to suffer. Now, that's fine -- it is a decision she has made. But, is there not some hypocrisy here -- she comes from a party that touts traditional family and traditional values. Is it 'traditional' to have someone else raising your kids? This is the reason I left my law firm; I didn’t want my kids to spend more time with a nanny than with me. Running this country has to be much, much more grueling. Again, I support a woman VP or Pres for that matter. But, it is just so ironic that the Republicans are doing this; it so contradicts their ‘traditional values’ image and no one is calling them on it. Figures.
Posted by: WAHM | September 03, 2008 at 09:13 PM
I would not because it is not an area I am interested in, but I would never criticize a woman, with or without children, form doing so if she wished. I have seen families where they "looked" normal - dad worked, mom was home with the kids, etc., etc. and the kids turned out to be either criminals, drug addicts or slacking non acheivers. I have also seen single moms who do not have the opportunity to stay at home with their kids, raise children that make a difference and truly change the world - Michael Phelp's mom, Bill Clinton's mom.....me (I raised my son since he was 5 1/2 months old on my own. He is now 20 years old and a straight A student at DePaul University in Chicago on his way to a great career as a film editor.) SO whether you are a politicking married mom with a great support system, which seems to be what Mrs. Palin has, or a woman who chose to be a poor single mom rather than a married, abused wife, it is about the quality of time not the quanitity of time you spend with your kids that I believe makes the difference. Living your life by example is one of the best gifts you can give your children.
Posted by: Lisa/Oregon | September 03, 2008 at 09:26 PM
I am a mother of a teenager and worked very hard with other parents a few years ago to have an abstinence-only sexuality education program removed from my daughter's high school. The program was teaching kids about condoms only in terms of their failure rates, and while as parents, we hoped that our children would delay sexual activity, we felt that they needed to know how to protect themselves from STDs and HIV/AIDS, and prevent pregnancies (if they did choose to have sex). We were successful in getting this program removed - with support from the school superintendent's office. Our objective was to have "comprehensive sexuality education" taught in the schools, and we're still in the process of replacing the abstinence program because the federal government only funds "ab-only" programs. Sarah Palin has been a member of "Feminists for Life" since 2006, supporting abstinence-only education (with the obvious negative repercussions in her own family) and opposing abortion. Having watched Palin's speech at the RNC tonight, I was taken by her ability to rouse the audience (who agree with her on the above and other issues) and hope that those who oppose her views will be even more vocal in their opposition.
Posted by: Melinda | September 03, 2008 at 09:39 PM
Earlier today I went around thinking about how insane I thought it was that a mother of five, including at least two children with high needs, would believe she had time for running a country. I do believe her family will suffer in her absence, as the office is no doubt incredibly time consuming and stressful. However, I also agree that men with similar family situations wouldn't be questioned in the same way. So why did I react so heatedly to all this? After seeing her speak, I have much more confidence in her abilities as a potential US President (Which is always how I view the VP), however she will not receive my vote due to huge political differences. I have decided that, as many have already said, she must have an incredible support system (and staff) to help her with her family. She, unlike myself, will probably not be the one feeding and rocking her infant at all hours of the day and night. Her husband certainly must be a winner to have supported her career to this point and he certainly must play a huge role in caregiving for the family. I feel terribly for her pregnant daughter, who must feel tremendous pressure to show the USA and world that she will follow through with her relationship to her baby's father - surely we viewers of the Palin acceptance speech tonight all noticed the daddy's presence with the family unit, yet complete non-introduction. It's hard enough being a teen these days, let alone being one who might cause enough stir to influence a presidential election. The cynic in me wants to point out that with very involved parents, teen pregnancy rates are probably much lower, and point out that Sarah Palin has no doubt been absent from her family more as governor the past few years than she was as a PTA member and Mayor. Yet, I have no doubt she is a strong woman and supportive mom. I do believe that she strives to do her best each day, just as we all do. In the end, it is her choice and her family's choice that they all be catapulted to the national political scene. At the end of the day, this is what it comes down to for me. I'm planning on getting over my shock at her family complexities and from this point on will focus on what she believes in and represents politically, which is what I do with all other politicians. I hope the media and voters do the same.
Posted by: Courtney | September 03, 2008 at 10:18 PM
I questioned John Edwards decision to campaign after his wife was diagnosed with cancer. I question Sarah Palin's decision to seek this office with such family issues. Could she not have sought a pass; perhaps accepted a speaking engagement @ the RNC and then opened up a wider role for herself (a la Obama 2004)? I have had to balance career, family, and full-time school. You can't do everything well all the time. You just can't. Even with a supportive spouse.
That being said: her speech tonight was extremely divisive. Definitely written by Bush's speechwriters, Matthew Scully.
Posted by: mrsderusha | September 03, 2008 at 10:25 PM
As I read the comments, once again I see women not supporting women. Would these types of comments ever be aired regarding a male candidate? Ladies, wake up...we need to support each other; if we doubt each other's abilities solely on the basis of gender; why should we be surprised when males follow suit?
I resent the fact that Sara's family responsibilites are compromising an objective review of her capabilites. If one comes to the conclusion she is not a qualified candidate based on experience; so be it. Ladies, please don't write her off based on being female!! We have earned this right and we need to support one another.
Posted by: Business Owner | September 03, 2008 at 10:53 PM
We've been writing about this, and other election issues over on Activistas. Check it out!
http://www.activistas.us/activistas/elections_voting/
Posted by: Andrea | September 03, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Business Owner - I don't see anyone not supporting her just because she is a woman. That would be as foolish as supporting her simply because she is a woman. Since when does supporting another woman require absolute unquestioning acceptance of their choices? As fellow women we are the only ones that can truly understand the choices that she is making. I am proud to live in a country where she is free to make that choice. I still don't agree with it.
And speaking of choice..... This woman is a nightmare for women!! Nothing she said she believes in tonight, nothing in her short and unremarkable record indicates that she will do anything to help my daughters reach their full potential.
Posted by: Working woman | September 03, 2008 at 11:11 PM
I'm actually more torn than I was before after watching her speech. on one hand, just seeing that little baby makes me love her -- and (for the record) I supported Hillary to such an extent that I donated money to her campaign even though I was broke at the time! I'll support a woman (given I believe in her positions) even over a more charismatic man. I don't agree with her, I hated how divisive and polemic her speech was, but she really does know how to rouse a crowd to support her.
she gave a great speech and I understand totally why conservatives love her, and I know John McCain picked her for her fire and interesting story. if you agree with her stance on the environment (drill for oil no matter what the cost), abortion (not even in cases of rape and incest) and civil rights (silly you don't need 'em we'll keep you safe!), I understand why you'd vote for her. I still don't understand her, or her choices, and I wouldn't vote for her based on her positions. the fact that she has an infant with Down's Syndrome just makes it that much harder for me to understand her.
Posted by: sarah gilbert | September 03, 2008 at 11:12 PM
I would not accept the VP position if I had an infant and a pregnant teenage daughter, but I don't have a problem with Palin doing it. Each woman is different. If she can handle her life, then go for it. We need more women in leadership positions and I'm thankful there are some that are willing to take the hit and do it. That said, there is no way I would vote for her. My problem with Palin is not her gender or her family responsibilities, it is her politics -- her pro-life, no sex ed and abstinence only stances (just to begin with) are all I need to know to say she's not my candidate.
Posted by: e | September 03, 2008 at 11:46 PM
rich/republicans/upper middle class women have always been able to attain more success/accolades because they have the resources to hire someone else to look after their children. why is this surprising to some?
i don't see how one could be a mother and NOT become a promoter of change/reform in her community, local, state, or national. why else do we strive to make the world a better place, but for our children?
Posted by: rebecca | September 04, 2008 at 06:54 AM
As I heard Palin's speech, I was struck by the meanness of her tone. What began as spunk turned into "snarky attacks," to quote the Blogher woman on CNN. My husband was particularly turned off by her attack mode with jabs we felt were below the belt punches.
Did you notice how Palin's pregnant daughter held onto her boyfriend's hand in every photo shot? That reminded me of holding onto another while speeding on a roller coaster.
Does anyone really think that Palin's husband is going to move to Washington, D.C. full time? He's a champion snowmobiler, racing since the early 1990s. He needs snow and lots of it. Will he keep his jobs, too, as he has while she's governor of Alaska, because "they need the money"?
Also, to the above commentator, parents are frequently held responsible for their teen children actions. For example, many laws send parents to jail, or fine them, for having under-age drinking at their house, even if the parents are away. Parents of pregnant teens can strongly urge their children to marry, whereas it's harder to do that for those over 18. Parents are often legally held accountable.
Posted by: Jade | September 04, 2008 at 07:00 AM
sarah, I hear you on getting that emotional reaction to her and that baby. I feel more strongly today than yesterday that we need to stick to real issues because you and I are not the only women out there to have this response to someone we know will hurt us in the long run. If McCain can keep throwing that baby at us, he may win a few of us over. However, here's a reframe that may help. How on earth could she think that baby needed to be exposed to that level of noise, crowd, and chaos last night? There's no way she can justify to me that that was good for him. She's just doing more of the same, saying and doing the things that will get her what she wants regardless of who she hurts to do it.
Posted by: kim | September 04, 2008 at 08:50 AM
this is ridculous. the same women who use to look down on stay at home moms are now telling palin she needs to be at home with her children. not one of us knows them personally. how are we to know what she and her family can handle? she has been gov. of alaska for 2 years...with all those kids...and while being pregnant. no one has EVER said this about a male candidate! i truly think that if she were a liberal women everyone would be praising her!
Posted by: nichole | September 04, 2008 at 09:09 AM
I'm a mom of three, ages 16,14, and 8. I am also a fulltime college student taking on an average of 21 credits a semester toward a combined BA/MA in Education. I am also a wife, a room mother, active in the PTA and in other activities, as well as a full time paraprofessional in an inclusion classroom.
Exhausted yet? I am.
I respect that Ms. Palin is trying to manage it all, but there is a huge difference between her and I; I stayed home when my kids were born and did not return to work until they went to school. I was the PTA President and I even stepped down from that position because it took too much time away from my family at a time when they needed me.
Do they still need me? You betcha. But now at least I have the luxury of walking away from my textbooks and papers and taking a break from them with it affecting things like, say Foreigh Affairs and our country's Global wellbeing. My choices will not cause me to make very careless mistakes while trying to implement diplomatic policy. The worst my choices might do is forget to pack a snack in someone's lunchbox or miss a doctor's appointment. I can live with those mistakes. Can our country manage with an assistant leader that wears so many hats they clash with her outfits?
Posted by: Karen | September 04, 2008 at 09:34 AM
I won't judge her on this basis. This is like asking if someone would prefer to be a stay at home mom while their children are under x age -- it's personal, there's a lot of factors involved, but the bottom line is that it's not an appropriate factor in job selection. To use it as a factor in the race presents us all with a slippery slope scenario - at the end of which, all moms should stay home and not work. Biden continued to work as a Senator while his children were young after his first wife died (they were toddlers and injured in the same accident that resulted in her death); I haven't heard this choice criticized.
All that being said, there is no way I'd ever vote for the current Republican ticket because I disagree with their policies. End of story.
Posted by: Sara | September 04, 2008 at 10:24 AM
i don't think it's an issue of women not supporting each other. i see it more as a frustration that as a working mom, she doesn't support (share) our same values and beliefs. she certainly doesn't represent me at all. i may be a hockey mom, but i'm not a close minded, condesending one.
i very badly want a women in the white house, just not this one.
Posted by: mk | September 04, 2008 at 11:23 AM
If Sarah Palin were a Democrat, the "family values" wing of the Republican party would destroy her for not making her 4 month old infant and pregnant teenager her top priorities. It is this right-wing hypocrisy that really bothers me. Oh, yeah, and her anti-woman, anti-environment positions.
Posted by: KB | September 04, 2008 at 12:42 PM
I certainly think Sarah Palin should have the right, like all women, to decide what balance between work and home-life works best for her family. Among my friends and social circle, all of us professional women have had to make our individual choices about what balance is best for our families. Her choices about that balance do not play into my voting decision.
However, given her lack of political experience, she was obviously chosen for her personal appeal and with the hope that she would resonate among women voters (as well as some of the more conservative Republican base). Policies aside, I find it hard to identify with a candidate, male or female, who would willingly expose his or her pregnant teenage child and newborn with special needs to such intense media exposure.
I would love to see more women, especially mothers, in politics and in both parties, bringing to light the challenges facing working moms today. Specifically I'd like to see women fighting for paid family leave, improved access to health benefits, lower cost childcare, etc. Sadly, I haven't seen any indication that Sarah Palin will be fighting for these issues that would help give working mothers more choices about what is best for their families. C'mon America...when will we ditch all this "family values" talk and start really valuing families?
Posted by: AnneB | September 04, 2008 at 02:26 PM
I think the part of this whole discussion that makes it hard for me to access are the pieces about class and economics. I choose not to discuss the race piece because there are much more articulate folks in the blogosphere talking about that piece of the Palin debate. I didn't have a choice about staying home with a child. We don't have paid parental leave. And if we did it would than likely be offered to parents at the top of the economic food chain, not-so-much your call center workers, admins, retail workers who reside at the bottom and most of whom have yet to realize the flex schedules, nursing rooms and on-site child care that a select number of parents (too few) enjoy now.
As someone of who often had to choose between paying child care so I could work or the rent on time, it feels like the way that most parents live is lost amongst the voices of the mamas with more resources that may end up on either side of this debate.
I guess the larger question is what are we doing to make sure that EVERY mama gets to choose whether to stay home with a child, disabled or not, pregnant or not?
Posted by: ProtestMama | September 04, 2008 at 02:33 PM
It's another whole can of worms, but Gov. Palin's "mothering" of the baby looks very fishy to me anyway. Apparently she announced her 5th pregnancy when she was 7 months along, and no one thought she looked pregnant. Apparently, Bristol was pulled out of her Catholic high school with mono for the several months leading up to the baby's birth. Apparently, Governor Palin went into premature labor in Texas, then gave a speech (leaking amniotic fluid), continued her labor on a plane back to Alaska without any doctor's note for the airline, bypassed a couple of hospitals with premie wards, and birthed the high risk baby in a rural hospital 22 hours later (5th child?!). Apparently, she was back at work 3 days later. All well and good for a next door neighbor, but for someone who wants to advocate on the national level for women's health issues and abstinence education... well... even if it is only true that she went back to work 3 days after a premature baby with Down's Syndrome was born into her household, I just have to question her priorities and judgement. As we question anyone running for office.
Posted by: Just wondering | September 04, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Ok. Sarah Palin aside - does anyone else wonder if maybe there aren't actually some significant differences between women and men? And maybe because there are differences there are different questions to consider when looking at women for certain positions?
Don't get me wrong, being a woman should never in and of itself qualify or disqualify someone from any position. But does being equal to men require us to be the same as men?
Posted by: Katherine | September 04, 2008 at 05:14 PM
I, myself, am a mother of 2 grown children. When they were younger I was in the Army. It was durning the first Iraq war, and I hated being away from my children. I have a very unique perspective for looking at this womans run for office. I personally see nothing wrong with a mom running for president, or vice president. My problem with her is that she doesn't seem to weigh the consiquences of her actions. She supports only telling children to abstain from sex. This is like waving a red flag in the face of a bull. She thinks it's great to go and drill for oil and continue to create greenhouse gases. What is she going to do when the only land left on the earth is the Rocky Mountains. She thinks it's great to shoot wolves from an airplane. What is going to happen when the animals that these wolves feed on have a population explosion and overrun her hometown?
I would love to see a woman in power in the White House, but please make it one with common sense as well as a brain.
Posted by: Jennifer | September 04, 2008 at 06:48 PM
After Sarah herself had to get married upon getting pregnant (Aug 29 elopement, April 20 baby, do the math), then had a very inconvenient surprise baby as a governor, you'd think she'd give her teenage daughter (dating "sex on skates") a pack of condoms or a birth control prescription. Her personal life is a great illustration of the failure of "abstinence only". Does this reflect on her judgment? You betcha.
Posted by: Cynthia | September 05, 2008 at 08:16 AM
Ex Pat Mama said it all for me. As a Mom of teenagers I'm sure of one thing -- there is not an unwed pregnant teen on the planet that wants to be sound bite of the week on CNN. Any Mom who can throw her daughter under the bus in this way is too vicious, too blind, to trust in higher office.
Posted by: janet | September 05, 2008 at 04:39 PM
OK, one more burning issue for me...anyone who thinks that the war we're fighting in Iraq is "God's War" and that "victory is in sight" is delusional. Scary, scary. Am visualizing peace, hope and change for all of us. Best wishes.
Posted by: janet | September 05, 2008 at 04:44 PM
A woman should always have the right to choose, and should not be denied a position because of her sex or her motherhood. That being said, I believe that most conservatives would tell you (up to now anyway) that if a woman makes the choice to be a mother, she should do everything in her power to be there for them when they need her. She accepted the VP offer and by doing so knowingly threw her 17 year old high school age daughter who will desperately need her in the months to come into the national spotlight, hardly the caring mother. She completely disregarded the potential dangers to her baby in order to deliver a speech (while leaking amniotic fluid) far from her state and travels all the way back home rather than get to a closer hospital while in labor, only to go back to the office 3 days after delivering him. What a wonder woman. Wonder what it takes for her to set aside her busy schedule to spend time with those children she chose to have? It's pretty obvious from her attitude, including lying about the bridge to nowhere money in her acceptance speech(first she was for it, then she was against it, and no, she didn't give the money back),her delight in attacking the Presidential opponent with her disgustingly snide and condescending attitude about "community organizer" as if it is meaningless(**** you, all you people out their trying to help others) who Sarah Palin is is working for --- Sarah Palin. It is very sad to me that women seem so taken with Gov. Palin, just because she's a working mother. She is using the label for her own advancement. She was chosen by the Republican party because of her sex, because she's a mother, because she has a son going to Iraq, and because of her special needs child. They are gambling that women in the same situations will identify her and elect John McCain. She is quite adept at delivering a rousing speech written by someone else, but it's interesting she is not being allowed by her party to be interviewed one on one by the hated media. IF she's such a pitbull and so smart, what are they worried about? They're worried someone will figure out she's not qualified to be VP, let alone, God forbid, the presidency! She will be on the campaign stages looking good and reading the lines, drawing in those women they need so badly. Any free time will, I am sure, be spent studying and being coached on foreign policy for the Biden debate. And if McCain's elected? She will be relegated to an office in the EOB, be sent out to deliver canned speeches, shake hands and spout whatever the day's party line, and will have absolutely no influence on the McCain administration policies. She's being used as a token, and what's worse, she's letting them do it, to advance her own career. Meanwhile, her family, wherever they will be, can watch her on CNN. Family values indeed. Please, please, women everywhere, aren't we smart enough to see this for what it is?
Posted by: Pearl | September 06, 2008 at 08:03 PM
I thought this article really cast some light and made her actions more comprehensible:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/us/politics/08baby.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp
Posted by: catmom | September 07, 2008 at 10:55 PM
I think this is one of those things that's impossible to have a black or white opinion on... it's all about choice. It's like arguing about anything with childcare... what works for one family doesn't work for another. I know personally I couldn't handle a high stress job with a young child, but it doesn't mean another woman can't. I'm not a fan of Sarah Palin's politics, but I appreciate her being part of the election now....hopefully we'll get some great dialogue from the candidates now on parenting and women's rights issues!
Posted by: Jillian | September 08, 2008 at 03:26 PM
I find it very sad that women are willing to vote for Palin just because she is a woman - voting without even thinking about the issues or what affect her policies may have on the lives of their children. Are we really that desperate to sacrifice the gains of the feminists movement. What are we really teaching our daughters when we choose someone with no foreign experience in the midst of two wars just because she 'looks' like us? When does it begin to matter to you that she is being USED by men to really advance their agenda and not our own? Why aren't you upset that she isn't even trusted to 'read' alone what they have written or the fact that men do not trust her to campaign alone? Aren't you upset about McCain 'sharing' the stage with her? Something he wouldn't have done with a man. Are we really advancing our abilities to govern it alone or diminishing them?
I am really ashame of the women who have no clue as to the policies of this woman. Those of you who are only voting for her because she is a woman. How truly sad you are and how uncaring - given that many of us 'women' have children in the military fighting your wars and you show your respect by electing someone who has no clue as to their sacrifice. I'm ashame!
Ashame that no one thinks it is wrong that her teenage daughter is pregnant and her mentally challenged child is being squeezed in between meetings and her career ambitions; left to fend for themselves. There is NOTHING right about this selection - NOTHING!
It's ok to aspire for greatness - I applaud women who succeed but not at the expense of a child who did not have a say as to whom he would be born. When is she going to bond with her child and address 'his' challenges in life?
There is a reason and a season for everything under the sun and it is not cute, nor is it right, or ok to vote for someone because of their race or sex in these economic times - will voting for her and McCain help the mother w/o childcare or a job? If so, HOW?
I would think that women would be wiser and take their votes seriously given that we were not always afforded this opportunity. I would pray that we teach or daughters the importance advancing not only themselves but their families and community.
I would pray that my daughters vote not because she is a woman but because she will represent what is the best in all women.
I pray for you emotional voters and I pray for our military personnel and the children who will be punished with the economical backlash of your emotional vote!
Posted by: FACINGREALITY | September 09, 2008 at 09:20 PM
Today I heard that Sarah Palin's church has a theme this week. "Pray Away the Gay."
Now that's the level headed intelligence that I want in the white house. Nice. Ugh.
Posted by: rollerskate skinny | September 09, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Someone once said, "It takes a village to raise a child," and some of us are meant to act local, some global. Whether it is right for another mother to work or not work, or what her family circumstance is, I am sure working moms, especially politician moms find it difficult to decide. Good for Pallin, because she is trying to make a difference in this world as a mother. And regarding the choices our children make in life, we all know that nature/nurture has its pull, but I know many moms and dads that teach correct principles in their home, that still have children that make their own decisions, be it good or bad.
Posted by: Sofia Hoiland | September 11, 2008 at 12:45 PM