Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

I have to say, that I am quite upset (I don't know if that's the right word, but we'll go with it for now) at the number of people on here and the number of media who are eluding to the fact that she should be home caring for her family and not running for VP. Isn't this where we want our country to be heading? Where a woman can run alongside a man? I mean, I guess when people said they would love a woman to be in office (as Pres, VP, whatever), they were expecting her to have raised her family already or have none? I don't know. I just find the reactions to be interesting. I will NOT be voting for McCain, however, I do feel some sort of desire to defend a woman's place in our political system, regardless of the age of her children or the situation her children are in.
And this is in no way trying to call anyone out, I am just shocked at the reactions on here, IRL and in the media.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

I personally I have no issue with her being the VP

b/c I don't think she is going to get the chance

however- I do have a HUGE issue with people that have OUTDATED ideas

I don't think she is in touch with 2008

Teens have sex, sex ed belongs in schools - you are kidding yourself if you think otherwise

her own daughter basically just proved that- and hopefully she gets the hint

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Hey, I know it's me!

Trust me, I will be the first to say that women need to play more of a role in politics and that we NEED women running and voting and taking charge. But...please be honest...could anyone here with a 4 month old and FOUR other children take on this responsibility and still be an active mom?

Maybe I KNOW that I couldn't do it and if a majority of the women here think and feel that they COULD, then they are better women than me.

I just think this is a PRETTY BIG JOB and so is taking care of a family and I don't think that it can realistically be done.

HOWEVER...I'm also under the assumption that she is, as the mom, taking care of the family. And maybe I'm wrong. Maybe her husband is the primary caregiver and the one doing a majority of the childcare. IF that's the case, then be all means, NOTHING should stop her. But we live in a society where MOST of the child care is done by the mother. And I for one happen to think that it is MOST LIKELY a very stressful and difficult job. And so is being the VP of the US.




I will also say this:
I'm sorry, but I think that a 4 month old baby with Downs needs his mom as well as his dad. This baby has a LOT ahead of him. I also think that a 17 year old pregnant teen needs her mom, too. If it's ignorant to think that, so be it. If it's sexist to say that, so be it. Personally, i think it's more about priorities than sexism.

But I also find it ironic that on this board and all over, women will say with great pride that if they were not around, they would be afraid to see how their house would look or what their baby would be dressed in because women all over take GREAT pride in their roles as wife and mother. Is it NOT sexist to say that men just can't do the housework and childcare like women? Because you can search these boards and find vents from many of us on here saying those exact things. However, nobody is saying that she can't do the job because she is a woman. NOBODY!!! And if someone DID say that, then holy crap, THAT is the epitome of sexism. And nobody is saying she can't do her job because she has a family. But a 4 month old baby with special needs and now a 17 year old PG teen...they take a hell of a lot more precedence than an election. And if THAT is sexism or ignorance, I will stand behind it.


I do apologize if I have in any way, shape or form, offended women here and if you think that my comments have taken women back years and years, I do apologize. These are just my views and my opinions. This is just another reason why I have stayed away from debates in the past.

Message edited 9/1/2008 7:11:48 PM.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

As a Mother I feel that comes first. Before political ambition and jobs WHEN and if it is needed.

IMO , I feel if she was a normal mom with a few kids , I would see no issue with it.

As a mom, If I were in her shoes, I feel my son (beacsause hes handicapped and the VP job is not a "normal job" ) and teenage daughter will suffer and thats the issue.

If the children are going to suffer, theres a problem and thats the issue I have with it.

I dont feel its a typical situation.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Thank you.

I said the same thing so many times already, yet i'm still shocked.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Well, I think she doesn't have enough experience politically to be VP, but aside from that, I think there is a way to shield your children as best as possible from the spotlight, and she is not being successful. Perhaps she should have told this BEFORE the nomination was announced, so that it would have been more of a P.S., her teen daughter is PG, instead of having the entire focus on her daughter since she was announced just days ago.

Can you be a successful politician AND mother? Sure...Is SHE being a successful politician and mother RIGHT NOW? Maybe not.

And it's funny--women on here were offended by Palin being called a soccer mom, but I heard McCain's wife on TV today saying "Palin started her career as a member of the PTA and soccer mom, then went on to town elected positions, then county, then state..." They are PLAYING UP this facet of her life, so while some are offended by the comment, they must feel that it helps other mothers relate to her like "oh, she's just like me!" yeeaaahhhhh when I won Miss Congeniality in the NYS Beauty Pageant...

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

While I am all for women in the workplace and 100% for a woman in the Oval office, having a child with a disability who is only 4 months old is a whole different ball game. That is my biggest concern. Most of the Presidents and VP's wives do not have jobs and their children have usually been substantially older than 4 months old. Her husband does have a job. So who will be carrying over the therapists suggestions? As an EI provider, (and I am sure her youngest son should or will be getting it) parental involvement is critical to ensuring progress. If she is traveling constantly when is anyone going to have time to carryover their suggestions. While your job should be important, family should ALWAYS come first!
On the other hand, the fact that she has a young family is not the only reason I do not think she should be in office. She has little to no experience and I do not agree with her views.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

I think its very hypocritical to say we are ready for a woman vice-president or president but only if they are childless or have 1 or 2 perfectly healed children.
If Palin were a man would that mean that he would not be as needed to deal with the family issues?
Since when do we think a man is exempt from parenting or that a woman can & should do it better?

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

I agree, if this is what she wants to do then good for her. Who are we to say what is right for her family and what is not??

And didn't John Edwards make a run for president even though his wife had breast cancer? How is this ANY worse then that?

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

I agree that some of the posts on the other thread are sexist. As I said on the other thread, I was struck by Palin's statement and her political stance on reproductive rights. Palin states: "We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby..." Isn't it wonderful that we live in a country in which Bristol (and perhaps Levi, too) had the right to make this decision, rather than have the rest of us, through our government, make that decision for them?

ETA: And I would say that if it happened to a male VP.

Message edited 9/1/2008 6:32:24 PM.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

And hey, is this any worse than McCain cheating on his first wife because she got into an accident and didn't "look like the woman he married", then cheated with his current wife and married Cindy 5 weeks after his divorce from his first wife.

If you are going to judge character, judge the politican and not the children.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Message edited 9/1/2008 6:40:52 PM.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

its hard for me to say...

honestly, I truely have no idea how many hours a week the VP puts in...

As a sahm who has never been a working mother, I don't want to judge any mother who chooses to work...it can be a slippery slope of what jobs working mothers should hold...

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Honestly, If it were me, I wouldn't want DH or myself to run for any office while my teenage daughter is pregnant. Palin's scandal is her daughter's situation. The daughter is not a poltician or a celebrity, but now, that she had sex and her pregnancy are out in the open for the world to scrutinize because of her parent's choice to run for VP. I can't imagine how a 17 year old deals with that.

It has nothing to do with being a woman. I think that any parent should want to protect their child from that kind of scrutiny- dad or mom.

That being said- as to the 4 month old with Downs Syndrome, if i am not mistaken, the baby has TWO parents. Can't the dad be the primary caretaker while his wife is the VP? What's the big deal about that??

Message edited 9/1/2008 6:43:03 PM.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Ok, so we all agree that she has a stressful, challenging, time-consuming job ahead of her. What about having a nanny? I'm sure she has one now as the govenor of Alaska. I'm sure Obama's wife will have a nanny if her hubby's elected. What about her husband quitting his job to stay home with the kids? Maybe my stance on this is different because I have a husband who stays home with my daughter, but even if he didn't, I still don't see the difference between a father being the VP of the US or a mother being VP of the US. Again, that's my experience. Maybe everyone who has a problem with Palin running due to her family at home is basing it on an antiquated familial model, I don't really know.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Message edited 9/1/2008 7:03:26 PM.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

I'm going to give me opinion when for the most part I keep it to myself on here.

I believe that one of the biggest problems effecting society nowadays is the breakdown of the family. Unfortunately, and it is very prevelant on Long Island, most families need two incomes to manage. That being said, who is raising our children?

I really want a puppy...really really bad. Dh feels that it wont be right to get a puppy because we both work and who will be home to take care of it. And yet, we are TTC. What does that say about us? I'm going to flame myself and say that its friggin hypocritical. That I have no problem leaving my child in the hands of others to watch all day but I would never conceive of doing that to an animal?

I believe that the further we get away from people actually RAISING their children, the more the family structure is going to suffer. I see attorneys in my building working 12-14 hours a day....with their husbands doing the same. Where are their children? With a nanny...in daycare...etc. Why have children then? Is it a status? Who's suffering here? Its the children.

Perhaps if more parents stayed home and took care of their children, and KNEW their children, there wouldnt be all the crime, gangs, school bombings, and dare I say it....teen pregnancy?!?

I'm not saying Palin shouldnt be where she is but IMO she has her priorities messed up. Its one thing if her husband is going to stay home with the kids, but I do not hear that is the case. So who is educating, watching, teaching, them when she is jet setting all over? Its one thing to have a political office, and its another to accept the Vice Presidential nomination. Great you "chose" to keep all of your children but who is raising them? Clearly her daughter is going to need a lot of support right now but is her mother going to be there? It is a matter of priorities. yes, woman can be mothers and maintain a career, but at some point, sacrifices need to be made and typically it is at the expense of the children.

There ya have it....my opinion...sorry...you asked...

I'm not proofing my post...hope it came out intellegible!

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Prncss -

I was thinking the same exact thing. If it was a man who had a similar family situation, I am doubting many people would say he should be at home with his family.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

John Mccain has SEVEN children, a blended family with adopted children.
And Cindy mother of FOUR heads a multi-billion dollar company.

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

Re: Palin..just some of my own personal thoughts...add yours if you'd like...

I respect any and all opinions, including those that differ from my own.
As far as the breakdown of the family structure, some of us might not see it that way. Some of us might see it as a change in the family structure, which isn't always a bad thing. I have to work. My husband has to work. That doesn't automatically mean our family is breaking down. Like I said previously, it means that my husband is home all day with our daughter and works at night. Does that CHANGE our family structure? Absolutely, but it doesn't break it down at all. I think that people who have children and both parents work 14-16 hours a day is the extreme in most cases. As far as this relates to Palin, it's not as if both her and her husband are holding office, or trying to. Isn't it possible that they might have a different family structure that works for them? Different doesn't always mean wrong.
Kind of like opinions