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Fair Question Gov Palin?
Gov Palin is clearly dedicated to having children.
Even becoming Governor didn't stop her from fulfilling God's promise one more time.
Does she intended to take measures to prevent a pregnancy during the time she may become President? And if she does become pregnant again, and she does becomes President does she think that she could handle the stress of the Presidency and childbirth at the same time?
Our we within our bounds to ask her this question
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Comments (9)
Did you ever ask such a question of a male candidate? No? Then no you are not within your bounds.
Why do you assume that Gov. Palin is only responsible for child care?
This kind of question, I think, is one of the primary reason that Gov. Palin was selected. Haven't you heard all of the republicans on TV decrying sexism aimed at Palin? And your point is one they have specifically brought up.
September 7, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Then no you are not within your bounds."
Hilarious argument. Ask any Mother whether they think a new born infant can be raised equally well by the Father - and that the Mother can travel all over the country, ignoring the child, to no effect on that new born.
Never mind that in this case the new born is a special needs child. Any Mother will tell you that with a new born a DECENT Mother will be CHILD FIRST, NOT COUNTRY FIRST.
Never mind STATE FIRST.
September 7, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Then no you are not within your bounds."
Hilarious argument. Ask any Mother whether they think a new born infant can be raised equally well by the Father - and that the Mother can travel all over the country, ignoring the child, to no effect on that new born.
Never mind that in this case the new born is a special needs child. Any Mother will tell you that with a new born a DECENT Mother will be CHILD FIRST, NOT COUNTRY FIRST.
Never mind STATE FIRST.
September 7, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Have you ever been pregnant, Chris? Trust me, it's relevant. I've been trying to find her stand on birth control. Does anyone know?
AND - since apparently it needs to be said -- I (and others) assume that Gov. Palin is the primary one responsible for child care because that's what SHE says! Or at least that she doesn't say anything to the contrary and facts suggest that she is.
-- Michelle Obama speaks openly about her mother taking retirement (or a leave or something) to be the primary caretaker while both she and Barack are on the road during the campaign.
-- Joe Biden talks openly about how he was able to fulfill his duties as a Senator after the accident because his sister moved in with him and filled the typical mother role for his sons until he married Jill.
Palin on the other hand refers to herself as a "typical (hockey) mom" - talks about joining the PTA to make her kids' school better - and brags that she's able to "do it all." And as a factual matter, her husband is simply not there for much of the time because, of his job for BP and the snowmobiling races he's in (1000s of miles, apparently) I think I heard that he has now taken a leave to be able to be with the children while she's campaigning until November -- which says to me that when she was functioning at Governor and all the rest of the time she was gathering this extensive experience, SHE was the primary caretaker for 4, now 5, children. -- And maybe it's something she can do as VP ... but not as President.
"Who is taking care of your children" is a valid question for ANYONE running for a very high, high-pressure political job who has young chilren at home. When the answer is obvious (Betty Ford, Rosalyn Carter, Michelle Obama) it doesn't get asked, but I'm sure there were questions of Joe Biden after his wife was killed. It would have been legitimate then - it's legitimate now.
September 7, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not I have never been pregnant. I have, however, worked with many women who became pregnant while working and continued to work.
There are many families with stay-at-home fathers while the mother pursues a career. There are also many children raised by two fathers or two mothers who have grown into well adjusted, productive citizens.
The arguments presented above seem to me to presuppose that the traditional nuclear family, with the mother as the primary caregiver is the only type of family able to raise children.
September 7, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I was thinking more specifically the stress of pregnancy and child-birth.
Clearly she can get other people to nurse her 3 day old child. But a smooth transfer of power during labor could be difficult.
I'm not sure why that question ever popped into my head actually.
Far more relevant questions would be aimed at John McCain and whether how he would rid this government of incompetence and corruption.
What staff changes would he make from the Bush Administration?
McCain has said the Bush administration is corrupt and incompetent, so why is he bringing the neo-cons who corrupted his party into his campaign?
At the core of my objection to McCain is that even if he actually wanted to implement reforms, he's just not strong enough or smart enough to root out the corrupt and incompetent elements of the party.
September 7, 2008 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a matter of fact, she does not believe in birth control at all, so unless she's being celibate, the possibility of her being a pregnant VP or Prez is very real. And if you don't think being pregnant affects your ability to work, then you aren't a dick, you have a dick.
September 7, 2008 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
From a Newsweek article
September 7, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fine -- that is something I hadn't seen and it does address the issue. But without that information it's an open - and relevant - question and asking her about how she would intend to handle that area is legit.
My reference to nuclear families was only because those are the families that have been in the White House with young children. But in any family -- of any number of mothers or fathers -- it's a relevant question. Young children have needs that are a parent's responsibility -- there are many ways to carry out that responsibility but asking what someone has planned, or if they've thought about it, isn't intrusive or irrelevant.
If she doesn't believe in birth control then that is another, also relevant, issue. It could be dealt with (as it's dealt with when a President has to have surgery or something) but it's a factual issue, just like childcare.
September 8, 2008 12:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
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