As a mother who shares something in common with Palin -- a special needs child -

[jillan]

That child needs her more than America does.

Having a child with special needs is a fulltime job.

The biggest impact on that child is their education, and it starts early.
As does therapy.

A special parent has to become an advocate for their child or else that child will never reach their god given potential.
There are numerous meetings with school and state officials.
There are health issues. More than your usual Doctor appointments.
There is never a dull moment.
Guess she doesn't care.

My heart goes out to her child. Who is going to look out for the best interests of her child while mommy is traveling all over the country? Or attending to the duties of VP?

Another example of Republican family values. But this time there is a special child involved.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Toughest job in the world, little relevant experience, and a brand new baby

with developmental problems--McCain just did America a HUUUGE disservice if God forbid he wins.

[Eurobabe]

2. I think she will only be attending funerals and

whatever Veeps used to do. :shrug:

[avaistheone1]

9. But, if anything happened to McCain she would be president.

and given McCain's age that could be a distinct possibility.


I don't think she could do it especially having such a young and needy baby.

I think she also has 4 other children.

[NJmaverick]

3. Well said and I agree, sadly it's a position

that will cause knee jerk calls of sexism. The said thing was Joe Biden didn't abandon his family. He spent 3 hours every day on a train, to be with them at night.

[bushisanidiot]

4. You make an Excellent point! Guess she thinks it's ok to just pay someone

to play mom for her while she runs the state of Alaska.

where are her priorities?

[goldcanyonaz]

5. What about fathers? Do they have no responsibility? Can they not nurture children?

[NJmaverick]

7. Dad, isn't a stay at home dad

he works for the oil company and he is heavily involved in volunteer work.

[goldcanyonaz]

10. Mom, isn't a stay at home mom either. If Palin was a man this would NEVER be brought up.

[PA Democrat]

22. Breastfeeding is strongly advocated for children with Down Syndrome,

much more so than for "typical" children. Kind of tough to do on the campaign trail.

This story touches me personally. I had a very high powered career, took some time off to have kids and planned to return. For me, the choice between career and being a stay-at-home mom to my daughter with autism was a no brainer. My husband and I made the decision together, but we BOTH feel that it was the correct one for our family.

I sure hope that child has someone to nurture and fight and advocate for him, because it's a full-time job. In my experience, you can't BUY that type of dedication.

[progressivebydesign]

34. Sorry, but women are biologically programmed to be the infant caregiver.

Like it or not, it's biology. Some dads do stay at home if the wife wants to return to work, but a baby is wired to bond first with their mother. And her hubby is not staying home... he works in the oil fields, and races snowmobiles.

I honestly don't understand why people have babies if they pay people to raise them when they're just weeks old. What's the point?

[LittleClarkie]

37. Esp. when they're touting the choice to have the child as proof of their pro-life morality

There are those who don't have the resources she has, and shouldn't be made to feel inferior for the choices they've had to make.

[LittleClarkie]

36. She is a woman who made a choice, and has used that choice politically

to tout how very pro-life she is. She sent out notes to friends and family speaking as if she was God, talking about how God wanted her to have this child. She's talked about the challenges and the gift such a child brings.

For who? The nanny?

And what about parents who don't have the same ways and means to have such a child that she does? Should they be made to feel inferior for not having made the same choice she did?

If she's going to be held up as some sort of pro-life goddess, then this issue is damn well fair game.

And daddio is NOT the one running for president. She is. And the father isn't the one using this birth politically. SHE is.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

13. Then can of course but Palin's husband is a busy oil exec.

The likelihood of him stepping up to fill that role is nil. I've known more than a few hardnosed male execs in my life and, with few exceptions, giving up that kind of power is not in their makeup. The child will be passed off to nannies.

[jillan]

14. Then I will wait for a statement for her or him saying that he will move in to the role of caregiver

Many dads of special needs kids have done that.

[goldcanyonaz]

15. If Palin were a man this would NEVER be brought up.

[jillan]

23. Oh yes it would, if the mother worked fulltime.

There is a special needs child involved.
You can't just drop that child off at the local daycare. You need specialized care givers.
Esp with Downs.

[LeftishBrit]

28. Both Gordon Brown and David Cameron have young children with special needs...

and nobody attacks them for choosing to pursue their political careers.

Palin is a RW anti-choice anti-environmentalist fundie with no qualifications, and apparently Pat Buchanan likes her! So send her to hell! But I do feel uncomfortable about going after female politicians about their family decisions, when usually male politicians don't get that.

[Solon]

31. Exactly, its a double standard that is evident for all that aren't blind to see...

frankly its none of our business unless actual abuse or neglect can be proven, only then does it become the people's business.

[progressivebydesign]

35. Oh.their children don't have mothers??? Are they single dads to 4 month olds?? n/t

[LeftishBrit]

41. Is Sarah Palin a single mum?

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[progressivebydesign]

33. he works away from home in the oil fields. n/t

[Pirate Smile]

6. John Roberts on CNN asked Dana Bash about this - he said that she has a Downs baby

who is only 4 months old. Downs babies need a lot of extra care and support. Will that be an issue? Bash responded that the McCain camp would respond by asking if this would be an issue is it was a man.

[progressivebydesign]

38. Only an issue if a man has sole custody of a 4 month old DS baby..

The reason it's not brought up for men is that she is the MOTHER of the child. If a man suddenly finds himself with a 4 month old baby with special needs, and no mother in the picture.. DAMN STRAIGHT I'd bring up the same point. The baby has to have someone to bond with... not a nanny. regardless of the parent's gender. The point is that there is nothing preventing her from parenting her special needs infant.. 4 months old.. that's 16 weeks! That's the point. It's not gender, it's being a parent.

[marlakay]

8. Knowing the right they will use her to bring even

more sympathy added to the POW stuff...its one big lets feel sorry for us so vote us in vote...

[central scrutinizer]

11. Now they each have a Teflon cover

McCain's answer to every question will begin with, "As a former POW,....

Palin's will begin with, "As the mother of a special needs child, .......

end of debate, next question?

[goldcanyonaz]

12. If Palin were a man this would NEVER be brought up.

[busymom]

20. I agree.

I thought we all supported equal rights for women here...is that just reproductive rights, or do women with children get to be doctors, lawyers and even president? (Not that I support the republican ticket)

[mrreowwr_kittty]

21. Of course it wouldn't.

But Palin is a anti-choice fundie who wants to impose her regressive views on other women (who don't have a fraction of the resources she does) so fuck her. Reminds me of Phyllis Schlafly, who had nannies raising her own children while going around the country admonishing women to stay home and raise their children. I understand that feminists should try to be as consistent as possible in supporting women's choices, but someone like Palin is part of the REASON that women don't have choices. If she gets attacked for this she is merely lying in a bed that she helped to make.

[NJmaverick]

25. Didn't Biden spend 3 hours a day on trains

to come home to his sons?

[AuntPatsy]

26. considering his or her personal politics I have to disagree

[Bluerthanblue]

16. it is a foolish

decision on her part IMO.

This baby didn't have a choice- and will have to live with the consequences of her decision.

This isn't about 'feminism' or 'sexism'- this is about times in our lives, when our prior commitments and promises take precedent over 'golden opportunities'- and making difficult, self-less decisions. Gov. Palen has used very poor judgment, IMO.

[NJmaverick]

17. Well said, you are 1000% correct

[busymom]

18. Whoa..that's a pretty anti-woman statement!

Are you implying that women with children with and without special needs shouldn't work? Or...shouldn't work in positions of power?

I have to take issue with that as a mom of a child with special needs and as a friend to other moms of children with special needs. We make pretty good advocates as stay-at-home moms, working moms etc.

I won't support the republican ticket, but I also won't support tearing down women/mom and the difficult choices that they make.

[jillan]

24. Oh give me a break!

I am much of a feminist as anyone.

There needs to be an advocate for that child.
Is it going to be the dad? Then fine.

I too have a circle of friends who have special needs - and they all have had to make adjustments in their lives to care for that child. Since you also have a child with special needs, you should understand that.

[mopinko]

19. and just who are you? the mommy police?

let's just not fucking go down this bullshit road. it is none of your fucking business or mine.

[Bosso 63]

30. It is my business.

If she could become the President of the United States, it damn well is my business, because my children's future is at stake. I'm not saying she made a good or bad choice in this matter, but for this job, nothing is off the table. If you don't like it, then don't run for the office. Every choice has a price. As the father of a disabled child, I am thankful that we could afford (barely) to have a parent stay at home. I think we made the best choice for OUR family, but one part of the price has been paying back the student loans for the graduate degree I don't use. She made a choice, and she could be in a position to make choices that will me and mine, so you will have to excuse me when I say IT IS MY FUCKING BUSINESS.

[1corona4u]

42. She made it every womans business by

supporting her pro-life-anti-abortion stance, even in cases of rape and incest. NOTHING is off the table where she is concerned on this topic. NOTHING.

[Number23]

45. Once more, please. LOUDER this time

it is none of your fucking business or mine.

Mopinko, could you just post this reply in every single one of these inane threads questioning this woman's mothering instead of her policies?? It might sink in faster that way, though I'm really not counting on it.

Here, I'll help...

it is none of your fucking business or mine.

[AZBlue]

27. Thank you for sharing your insight.

You see this more clearly than most of us. Hugs to you and your child (children?)!

[dsc]

29. She would have the resources of the entire federal government

at her disposal. No teacher in his or her right mind would neglect that child in any way, shape, or form. Fuck with that kid and you get auditted tomorrow.

[progressivebydesign]

32. THANK YOU for that.

You are able to articulate what many of us are feeling about this issue. Those that have spoken similarly today here, have been told we are attacking her and being sexist. But you have walked in her shoes, and understand the extraordinary life of a special needs baby. I have a close friend with a DS child, and it's not something you can farm out to others... the most successful families with DS kids spend hours researching, networking with other DS parents, and becoming best friends with the child's doctor.

The knee-jerk reaction is to label all of our concern over this, and our disagreement with her choices, as not politically correct or off limits.

I contend that if she were a soldier, and the Army was forcing her back to Iraq though she had a 4 month old special needs baby, the DU board would be lit up with profanity laced posts about the outrage of it all... and proclaiming that a baby of 4 months needs to be with its mother -- especially a special needs baby.

[1corona4u]

39. She will use that child to also, for just what, I'm not sure yet, but the

fucking republicans will take the bait, hook, line, and sinker. Remember, these are the terminally STUPID FUCKS, who continue to support Bush, even though he is an abject failure.

[eridani]

40. If you are well off financially, you have a lot of help n/t

[PatSeg]

43. Evidently this is a very touchy subject

and I've tried to stay out of it, but it is an issue to many people.

As a mother, the whole thing makes me uncomfortable. When we choose to have children, we choose to adjust our lives and goals to accommodate those children. I just don't understand her and her "family values". That is not necessarily a criticism, I really can't grasp it personally.

[Number23]

46. I'm a mother too...

When we choose to have children, we choose to adjust our lives and goals to accommodate those children.

I completely agree. I'm the mother of a little girl born extremely prematurely. She has not had any developmental problems yet and I pray every day that it stays that way.

But the idea that ANYONE would dare to tell me or my husband that somehow we are not allowed to pursue careers of our choosing because of our daughter leaves me beyond incredulous. The thing that seems so stupid about all of this to me is that people have issues with Sarah Palin's POLICIES and are dragging her Down Syndrome child into this.

Their problem with Palin is that she's Pro-life, even in the case of rape or incest. Okay. THAT is a legitimate complaint against Sarah Palin. Why drag her children into this?? What in the world does her decision to give birth to her Down Syndrome child, or to have a child at 44, or her decision to run for VP as the mother of a Down Syndrome child have to do with anything?? Why in the hell is that anybody's business but Sarah Palin, her husband and the child itself??? Since when is being a mom and having a bigtime career a sign of immorality or a lack of moral compass?

Stuff like this is exactly why I'm an independent. This is why I've said time and again that ideologues of BOTH sides of the political spectrum are one of the many reasons the vast majority of Americans have no time for the crap that is modern-day politics.