What Moms Need to Know About Sarah Palin

That last one was supposed to be for the Teen Post below. My bad.

My concerns about Sarah Palin are actually not at all related to the family/work balance issue. Just because your child makes a mistake, doesn’t mean the family teachings and values are worthless. People make mistakes. Just because she has 5 children doesn’t mean she can’t find work/life balance. There is a father present – it’s not like she’s doing this on her own.

The reasons to fear Sarah Palin are her many lies with regard to her accomplishments. She “led” her state’s national guard. When the state national guard is not being deployed (and therefore no activities to manage) they report to her. If they were to be deployed, their command moves out of the state, to the Federal level. I might as well claim I manage California’s national guard since I live here.

She said she opposed the infamous “bridge to nowhere.” No, she supported it, received the funds to build it, and only when national outcry emerged about the bridge did she oppose it. Oh, and she didn’t return the funds.

If you work for her and disagree with her, you get fired. Many people in the state of Alaska are very frightened of appearing to disagree with her because it’s such a small, insular government. I’m sorry I don’t have quotes to cite to back this claim.

She claims her proximity to Russia gives her international experience. Hmm, I crossed into Canada once and Mexico several times. I guess I have even more international experience by that metric.

I’ll bet Sarah Palin is the life of the party and a cool chick to know. A marathon runner, sports fanatic, gun-toting moose hunter, snowmobiler, mom to 5 including one with Down’s – I’d bet she’s far more interesting than most women I meet. But I don’t trust her farther than I can throw her and I don’t want her anywhere near the White House except on the same public tour I can take.

If a liberal woman with a Downs kid was on the Democratic ticket, people would not be questioning about her sacrificing her kids, if she is selfish, or if she can manage. They’d be hailing her as a hero.

Feminism isn’t about support women in general. Feminists like Gloria Steimen only support women who agree with their liberal idealogy. If feminism is only about raising the standard of women in society, they should be supporting strong and intelligent women like Palin and Condi Rice. Feminism promotes an agenda, not women.

Sorry, Vanessa, I disagree with your analysis and your approach here.

I am not sure why you said what “moms” need to know. It seems this info is directed towards US Citizens that vote. All the things you listed only make me want to vote for her more. It seems your goal has been to get parents and kids talking to each other about things in their lives that have traditionally haven’t been discussed (premarital sex, etc.). Don’t you think this is bringing these issues out in the open and giving parents an opportunity to talk around the dinner table? I agree with Marian when she said “Just because your child makes a mistake, doesn’t mean the family teachings and values are worthless. ” If they did make them worthless then we would have no values or family teachings…..

Vanessa, I would be shocked if you weren’t “scared” by Palin. You are a young idealist. You know the old saying, “If you are under 30 and not a liberal, you have no heart. If you are over 30 and aren’t a conservative, you have no brain.” Is so true.

The issue that struck me the most that you don’t seem to grasp is gun control. Do you think it is any mistake that our forefathers made The Right to Bare Arms the SECOND ammendment. Second ONLY to the right to religion, speech and press? No. They knew, just as anyone who has really looked at the facts knows, that an armed society is a safe society. I guess I have a hard time ignoring statistics that come back the same every time.

Washington D.C. enacted a virtual ban on handguns in 1976. Between 1976 and 1991, Washington D.C.’s homicide rate rose 200%, while the U.S. rate rose 12% . Why is that? I know you are a thinking person and this is one of those issues that until I stopped and researched it I agreed with you. Guns are bad right? Just take them away and no one will be hurt by them,right? Well, the “bad guys” already have them. They will always have them. So, why on earth should it be illegal for me, a “good guy” to have one to protect myself? It shouldn’t. Period. The only way for gun control to ever have worked would be if this was a brand new society and guns had NEVER been introduced into society. But, in reality we know that’s not the case.

Why do those random crazy shootings always seem to happen in “gun free” zones like colleges and malls? Same reason they DON’T happen at shooting ranges.

When only the criminals have guns we as a society are sitting ducks. Criminals don’t like having to worry about being shot at any more than the next guy.

I have other points I would like to make but this one is the most glaring to me as one I wholeheartedly disagree with you on Vanessa. Love your blog though!

Katy,

Glad to hear your opinion, I think that if she was on the democratic ticket or running independent I would still not think what she is doing heroic. New–maybe, daring–yes, but if I were her pregnant daughter, all I would want and need is my mother’s support and help. I would not want to have my unborn baby and mistake thrust into the public eye.

They Call Me Bobby

Thank you for pointing out your opinion on this, I will look into this research and think it is a very valid point about the second amendment . I worry most about guns getting into the wrong hands, yet if those people want guns bad enough, they will get their hands on some no matter what….

Thanks for reading

Michelle,

How do you know that those “jokes” were not initiated by the McCain campaign for the sole reason of eliciting the very same reaction that you’ve expressed?

Personally, I find it very interesting that McCain would pick an unknown for VP, that nobody really knows, then, when the inevitable happens, people start asking questions, (digging into her past decisions, positions she’s held etc.) this is deemed sexist.

Sure, you don’t see that happening with the other three, and is not because they are male, it’s only that they’ve been around so long that all of their triumphs and foibles are public knowledge.

For God’s sake please don’t make an important decision like this by perceived insult, or that you think a candidate is being treated unfairly. The country is at stake.

Michelle–a normal family has a pregnant teen daughter? Thank God for abnormality, then!

And when did we become a nation that celebrates mediocrity? Why are the Republicans so scornful about Obama’s Ivy League education? When I was growing up, that was something to be admired. I guess Bush’s Yale degree kinda took the luster off that.

I’m still dumbfounded that anyone could think Sarah Palin could get Hilary Clinton supporters’ votes. Are there people out there stupid enough to think one woman in a pantsuit is just like another?

And right on, Anna! My 16 year old is walking our precinct this weekend. Guess we both have abnormal kids;)

Good post, Vanessa!

Palin’s stance on many issues worries me. It may be that many will feel better about voting for McCain because he has a woman on his team and will appear progressive to those who dig no deeper. However, Palin’s views do not reflect those of women outside the bible belt.
That being said, I would object to anyone disqualifying her on the basis of being a mother. It is for a family to decide what works for them. Many women (though, oddly enough, not the ones Palin represents) are better parents when they work. Not everyone is cut out to be a stay-home mom and work provides a balance to our lives and mental health that benefits the whole family. As for having a pregnant daughter… We do our best as parents to provide our children with values and a strong moral compass, and gradually have to let go and trust them to make their own choices- and take responsibility for the results. Should Palin discard her own life goals to jump in as a rescuer for her daughter? She is supporting her, and that is enough. Although I disagree with her views, I still believe she is setting a strong example for her children by standing up for those views, putting them into action, and working to achieve something.

“If she couldn’t support her family before running for Vice President, how will she have time and energy to now?” I will not be voting for the McCain/Palin ticket, but I don’t think this comment is any of our business. It is not for us to judge if politicians are good parents. We don’t hire them to be good parents. That is their personal life that they have to manage on their own way. We pay them to carry out administrative duties. It is job performance that our tax dollars pay for. You ask, “Do you think it is fair to her baby with down syndrome…to her pregnant daughter…to the country?” No employer ever asks these questions of an employee. It is invasive and irrelevant. You make hiring decisions based on resume. All the rest is just emotional stuff and we should never never vote based on emotion.

I would hope that when people in this country go to the voting booths and mark their choice for President and Vice President that they look at the issues and where the candidates stand – not at whether or not someone is making the appropriate live/work balance choice.

Although I certainly wouldn’t make the same decision as Sarah if I were in her shoes, I also won’t choose who I’m voting for based on my opinion of the choice she made to run for Vice President.

As a previous comment mentioned, it’s not like she’s doing this alone – there’s a full-time dad in the picture.

When choosing a candidate to vote for, I stick with the issues and the candidates stance on the issues – I try to leave all of the pregnant daughter / down syndrome distractions completely out of the picture.

Wonderful post. I wholeheartedly agree. We cannot allow this woman anywhere near the oval office.

That said though, I fully suspect this was a deliberate move by McCain and his advisors to take the focus off of him…making Palin his human shield to take the bullets.

Meanwhile we don’t focus on how bad McCain will be for this country. He keeps saying he will change things, shake them up, and be a Maverick…but the thing is…his actions don’t back that up at all. He voted with Bush 95% of the time. He is a GWB clone and doesn’t want people talking about that. He knows people are fed up with GWB and he has to appear different. He can’t do that…so he threw a barracuda in the ring to distract us. Its working.

I fully agree with everyone that we should ignore Governor Palin’s family life and “Hockey Mom” status when considering her qualification for Vice-President. So now that we’ve all agreed that we must ignore her being married and being a mother, what else does she have on her resume? Well then… it seems we have almost nothing to talk about, other than some highly questionable actions as Mayor and short-term Governor.

As soon as a John Edwards ad says “Devoted Family Man,” I have every right to bring his infidelity into the discussion about his qualification for public office. Bill Clinton talked a lot about character when running, so he has nobody but himself to blame when his actions in the Oval Office demonstrate his character to be less-than-honorable.

The same maxim holds true when Governor Palin puts the label “Hockey Mom” or “Pitbull with Lipstick” on herself. She has regularly admitted to being an outsider and having very little political experience. Instead, she held up her experience as a wife and mother.

How then do I analyze a candidate when the stated qualifications (that they themselves present) for the job are eliminated from consideration? – Tim

Wow. First, I’m not a Palin supporter. I’m a little uneasy with her for many reasons but after reading your comments, I had to respond.

I’ll take them (I didn’t have time for them all) one by one and I took your sources out to save room.

*Palin opposes stem cell research
Non issue, stem cells are found in amniotic fluid, we don’t need an aborted fetus

*Palin supports the ‘Safe Haven’ Bill Into Law which allows parents to surrender newborns without prosecution

You’d prefer they be dropped in a dumpster? According to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, 32 to 34 infants were found abandoned each year from 1997-1999. Of these, approximately 20 infants are abandoned in the first 24 hours of their life.
According to a CNN review of FBI statistics, nearly five infants under the age of one are killed in the U.S. each week.
The federal government and most states do not keep statistics specific to abandoned newborns. There is presently no way to determine what portion of infant deaths are due to abandonment.

*Palin approves “abstinence-only” programs

So? Abstinence still is the only way to be 100% sure you don’t get pregnant or a disease. Why not promote it? It is my recommendation to my daughters; do I leave it there? No follow with safe sex. But why not teach both? Let the individual decide.

*Palin believes the Iraq War is a “task from god”
I’ve watched this piece and, shudder, I dislike strongly for anyone to tell me their task is from ‘god’. However, is this really any worse than what Obama’s pastor preached? Obama’s mentors are a man who doesn’t have very, shall we say, high views of Americans and Louis Farrakhan. If you don’t know who he is, look him up. Scary.

*Palin is Pro-Life even if her own daughter were raped.

I do not share Palin’s opinion on this subject butat least she’s not a hypocrite. Your statement is misleading and an example of propaganda. Propaganda is a concerted set of messages aimed at influencing the opinions or behaviors of large numbers of people. As opposed to impartially providing information, propaganda in its most basic sense presents information in order to influence its audience. Propaganda often presents facts selectively to encourage a particular synthesis, or gives loaded messages in order to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. The desired result is a change of the cognitive narrative of the subject in the target audience to further a political agenda.

Sarah Palin doesn’t believe abortion is the right choice and I suppose many children born from rape victims might be thankful their mothers’ agreed with her.

*Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools

And in October of 2006, the Anchorage Daily News reported that Palin said the following about creationism at a debate:
“Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of information….Healthy debate is so important and it’s so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both. And you know, I say this too as the daughter of a science teacher. Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject — creationism and evolution. It’s been a healthy foundation for me. But don’t be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides.”

*Palin disbelieves global warming.

Get your facts straight. She disbelieves global warming is a product of man. Recently, there have been several articles on treasures found in melting ice caps. Evidence of civilizations. Think: The ice caps were once melted or smaller than they are today if men walked on them: They’ve melted before when man had nothing could have nothing to do with it. Take care of our earth, it’s the only one we have but there is evidence that men are not completely to blame for warming but that is part of a much large global cycle.

*Palin has said that Alaska’s economic future depends on aggressively extracting its vast natural resources, from oil to natural gas and minerals.

This is a subject I’ve just started to analyze. Do you realize that we, America, you, America’s people are dependent upon the middle east for our oil? Of course you do, but do you realize what this means?This affects not only foreign policy but adds to the national debt. If we drilled for our own oil, we could reduce our dependence enough that when they say jump, we don’t have to say, how high? Let’s work on an alternative to fossil fuels and use our own supply and once again become a sovereign country. The environment? I want my children to grow up in a safe environment, in a strong America.
Your ‘worries’ offend me on so many levels, I don’t know where to start. For the most part, they are completely sexist. You say you would say the same of a man running for VP. Do you know how many children Biden has? I have five children, I run a business, does that mean I’m making someone go without or am I’m teaching my children to be independent and follow their dreams? I’m looking at a calendar and it still says 2008, not 1958.
Regarding the pregnant teen: I was a pregnant teen. Let me tell you something, it wasn’t my mother’s fault; it’s called sex and my mother wasn’t involved.
As teenagers, do you always do what your parents want you to? At some point, and it’s about… 15-16; you start to feel you can make your own decisions. By 17, you consider yourself an adult and in truth, you’re only one year away from the legality. It’s a natural part of the process to challenge your parents’ convictions and decide what your own convictions are. I don’t see how this qualifies or disqualifies anyone from a high public office. Her pregnant daughter is now an adult; I don’t think being a grandmother is another reason to disqualify someone either.
When Sarah Palin sais she wouldn’t answer the question (are you going to accept the nomination for VP) with ‘what does a VP do’, she was joking, she followed it with, ‘because I’m used to working’, or something like that.Look it up.
And finally, did you actually say a father couldn’t be as good a primary caretaker as a woman? I know a lot that would disagree with you.

As an American, you can believe what you like and even say what you like and Thank God for it
Please, think, don’t react to emotionally driven half-truths.

Shawna your version of what consititutes half truths is what scares me.

First: Palin approves “abstinence-only” programs – You follow this up by saying it should be taught along with safe sex. What does your opinion have to do with her statements on abstinence-only. She does not want safe sex taught…she wants abstinence-only…there is no other side or half truth there.

Then Palin believes the Iraq War is a “task from god” – You respond by pointing out what Obama’s pastor belives. Uhm…how is that relevant to Palin’s beliefs. They don’t cancel each other out. Palin said the war was a task from God AND God’s plan. So where is the halftruth?

Then Palin is Pro-Life even if her own daughter were raped – You respond by syaing it is propoganda. What??? She doesn’t JUST think it is the wrong choice….if she could she would legislate her choice on everyone….so again…where is the half truth?

Next Palin has said that Alaska’s economic future depends on aggressively extracting its vast natural resources, from oil to natural gas and minerals – You respond basically by agreeing with her. But I see a half truth in YOUR response. We are currently reliant on oil from the middle east but drilling here was banned because of a horrific oil spill on our coastlines…remember that? Second…oil…regardless of origin is a global commodity. How do you know it won’t be given to the highest bidder and we won’t see a only a few drops? You don’t know…so don’t sell us this line that we will benefit from local oil drilling when it is a tenuous MAYBE at best.

Vanessa, I’m really surprised at your comments about whether or not she can handle the job because she has 5 kids. Like others have said, that’s not our business. She has a husband who could choose to be an at-home caretaker, or she could hired a nanny and housekeeper like many working women do. And to say that a 17 year old would want her mother, not her father…just because that’s what you would want doesn’t mean it speaks for all other pregnant 17 year olds. My parents are divorced and if I were 17 and pregnant I’d have chosen to live with my father over my mother, hands down, no question about it. I DO think it’s sexist of you to imply that a mother would be better in that situation…it’s a case by case situation.

On another topic, three people mentioned that Vanessa was wrong and that Gloria Steinem would not have supported someone like Palin. I’m really surprised that so many people misread what Vanessa was saying. She’s saying that even Steinem, who you would THINK would be in support of a woman for VP, is against Palin:
If there is one woman who would be in support of having a woman in the Vice Presidency, I would think it would be leading feminist Gloria Steinem. Gloria Steinem wrote an article called “Palin: Wrong Woman, Wrong Message” and says:

Hello!

Please see below for information about a new site, we would love for you (and anyone you know), to be a part of! Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!
-Cafe McMullen

Dear Moms,

Did you know 9 out of 43 American presidents have had died or resigned, leaving their vice president to take command? That’s more than 1 in 5.

Did you know that Senator McCain, if elected, would be the oldest president to take office?

Who We Are

We are moms who, for a variety of reasons, are very concerned that Governor Sarah Palin could be one heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin was added to the ticket to get our vote and we want to let America know that just because we are women and mothers we will not blindly support her candidacy. In this historic election, we have to think first of our country, our kids and our grandkids. The idea of a woman in the White House is exciting, but Sarah Palin is not the woman for the job.

What We Are Doing

We are putting together a video to post on our website, http://www.votermoms.com (up soon!), and on Youtube, that features American moms (military moms, soccer moms, nervous-in-front-of-a-camera moms, ballet grandmoms, etc.) explaining their own reasons why they do not want Governor Palin one heartbeat away.

We are currently interviewing moms in the LA-area AND asking moms across the country to send in video statements (guidelines and directions below).

We are hoping to cover as many states, issues, and perspectives as possible. The more moms the mightier!

What You Can Do

Be heard! If you are a mom who does not want Governor Palin a heartbeat away, make a video or contact us to be recorded. America needs your voice and the election is in only eight weeks!

Finally, and most importantly, you can vote. Only 23% of eligible women vote; this is not enough. The power to shape America’s future is in our hands. Let’s exercise it.
Thank you for your time and consideration – we know how precious every minute is for a mom.

Sincerely,

Delphine Hirsh
Mom
http://www.votermoms.com
email: [email protected]

P.S. Votermoms.com aims to be a friendly, non-partisan environment. Please keep this in mind when submitting your statement. Thanks again.

Guidelines for Video Statements

When making your video, please identify yourself by your first name, where you are from, and a self-identifying mom description (ex. “Hi. I’m Delphine and I’m from New York, New York. I’m a little-league, working mom.”) The way you identify yourself is entirely up to you.

Somewhere in your message you should say “I don’t want Governor Palin one heartbeat away” or something about “one heartbeat away” since that is our theme.

The statements should each be 20-45 seconds long.

Examples from two moms :

1) Hi. I’m Gwen and I’m an On-The-Go mom from New Hampshire. I was really surprised to hear that Governor Palin does not think that we are responsible for global warming. If she can’t accept responsibility then she won’t do anything to control it. As a mom, I’m trying to teach my girls about taking responsibility. That’s a big part of my job as a mom and it should be a big part of being a leader. Global warming is an issue that will so clearly impact my children and future grandchildren’s survival on this planet and someone who doesn’t want to deal with it should definitely not be a heartbeat way from the presidency.

2) My name is Lisa. I’m from Elizabeth, NJ. I’m a small business owner mom. I think Governor Palin shouldn’t be one heartbeat away from the presidency because she believes that it should be illegal to have an abortion even in the case of rape. I have two daughters and if, god forbid, something like that happened to them, I don’t think they should be forced by the government to carry their rapist’s child. That’s not what I believe in so I can’t vote for a ticket with Governor Palin on it.

Directions for Submitting a Video Statement

1. Record your statement – between 20-45 seconds – on a video camera or internal or external computer camera.

NOTE: Please wait 2 or 3 seconds after you have begun recording before beginning to speak. After you have finished speaking, do not look away from the camera and please allow 2 or 3 seconds more to elapse before you stop recording. This will help in cutting statements together. Quicktime files are preferable, if possible. Also, please try to include your last name in the filename so we can easily distinguish submissions.

2. Go to http://public.me.com/catburkley

3. When prompted enter username “public” and password “password.”

4. You should now be connected to the catburkley public iDisk page.

5. Click once on the “upload” symbol in the upper right corner.

6. When prompted, select your statement file, then press upload.

7. This should begin the uploading process.

8. The upload may take as long as 30 to 40 minutes. Do not be worried. It’s okay. When the upload is finished, close out of the window. You have been heard!

TROUBLESHOOTING NOTE:

Sometimes, the “loading” symbol will hang and not disappear when the upload is actually finished. If this occurs, do not stop the upload. Instead, call us or email us (see below) and we can confirm for you that we have received your submission.
Or, if you cannot reach us, open another window in your browser and follow steps 2-4. You should then be able to see if your file has uploaded onto the catburkley public idisk page. If it has, feel free to close this window and your original window. It worked.
If it’s more convenient, a skype or ichat exchange can probably be arranged, though we’re still unsure of size restraints for those systems.

Questions or Problems?

Please contact:

Chris Farber
(310) 344-0606
[email protected]

Café McMullen
(917) 319-4643
[email protected]

I agree with Sarah Palin’s stances 100%. She is not a great communicator. She wasn’t well-educated before the campaign, but I do agree with her position on the issues. And I second every other commenter who claims if she were a lib/dem, she would not have taken half of this heat. Perhaps next time Obama’s speech writer’s can run point for her?