We Should Follow Obama’s Lead, Leave Children Of Candidates Alone – Although….
Senator John McCain, the presidential nominee for the Republican party, is either a genius or insane. Not only did he pass over a list of tremendously qualified candidates for his vice presidential nominee, but he picked a woman, a woman with less than two years of executive experience, who also happens to have a unwed teen daughter who is pregnant. WOW! McCain really is a maverick.
Initially, when news broke about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin being slated to be McCain’s running mate, I thought McCain must know something the media, his constituents and his fellow party members didn’t know about Palin, because people were really scratching their heads. Once the shock wore off, the wagons began to circle and the spin started. Republican and conservatives alike began to point to her strengths, and while the list is short, it is impressive.
Governor Palin isn’t just an outspoken anti-abortionist, but she walks the walk. Case in point, at age 44, knowing that her risk of giving birth to a child who may have special needs, she proceeded with her pregnancy. Then, armed with the knowledge she was CARRYING a child with Down’s Syndrome, she and here family eagerly welcomed their fifth child, baby boy Trig into their family.
While I may be a proud pro-choice person, I deeply value and respect anyone who holds firm to their belief system in the face of adversity. That is a sign of strength and character. I was starting to like this woman. PLUS, she’s not a pork barrel spender and has proven herself willing to stand up to corruption and put a stop to government waste. Governor Palin may be short on experience, but she’s tough.
Then news broke about her teen daughter, 17-year old high school student, Bristol, being five months pregnant. There were other ridiculous rumors about this pregnancy issue, which are too stupid to address, but what remains clear is Gov. Palin’s daughter will keep her baby and is said to be marrying the father. The Palins stick to their guns on abortion. Good for them.
Democratic nominee Barack Obama made a statement when asked about the Palin pregnancy issue that he and his team are adamantly opposed to using the family, especially children, of candidates as punching bags in political bids, and encouraged his supporters to follow suit. Barack’s quote:
“You know my mother had me when she was 18,” he told reporters. “And how a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn’t be the topic of our politics and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that is off-limits.”
I agree with this, and in that vein, I will not pass judgment on Sarah Palin or her daughter’s choice.
But…..I do think it needs to be said that we know that if the roles were reversed, and Barack Obama had a pregnant teen daughter or his running mate had a pregnant teen daughter, the GLOVES WOULD BE OFF for the conservatives and the teen in question would be subjected to the cruelest and most vicious scrutiny.
So, while I will respect Gov. Palin and her daughter’s privacy, I sure as hell wish the evangelicals and conservatives who are calling for the world not to point out the obvious would do the same when other people make private decisions about very difficult personal choices.
Pipe dreams….I have them.
[Writer's note: The opinions expressed in this piece reflect ONLY that of the writer, not the site, or any other contributors to Glosslip]
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Barak is a classy guy. It’s intertesting how the Republican party seems to want to restrict the rights of people who do not fall into their strict moral code… I thought this country was about equal rights for all. Someone should get the GOP a copy of the Bill of Rights STAT!
Comment by Mary Jane Jones — September 2, 2008 @ 11:54 am
I totally agree with you. Imagine what Rush, Hannity, James Dobson, and Bill O’Reilly would have said if Chelsea Clinton would have gotten herself knocked-up. There is a clear double-standard going on here. If she had been a young girl of color, or the teenage, unwed daughter of a democrat, we’d all be hearing a very different reaction.
At the same time, I have to question Ms. Palin’s judgement. Knowing that the media and the bloggers are more than willing to dig very, very deeply into a public person’s private life, she must have known that her daughter would be dragged through the mud after word got out. Maybe Bristol Palin has really thick skin, or maybe her mom thought it wouldn’t be that big of a deal.
It’s not my place to second-guess, but I’ll do it anyway — perhaps Ms. Palin should have said to Mr. McCain’s people “you know what, I’m extremely honored that you consider me to have the qualifications you’re looking for, but my family is in the middle of a crisis, and the last thing I want is for my child’s good name to be media fodder for bloggers who would think nothing of calling her a slut and a whore. I don’t want my daughter or my family to be subjected to that on a world-wide level.”
Sure the family is being praised for staying committed to their pro-life stance, but knowing what the internet is like these days, why would anyone in their right mind subject a 17 year-old (who can’t be feeling too great right about now as it is) to that?
Comment by crayzmom — September 2, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
Palin praised her daughters decision. She would deny decision to all women.
Hypocrisy.
Comment by marcab — September 2, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
I disagree with you on the experience issue. While Palin’s been governer for two years, she’s spent that time working her ass off. Obama’s spent most of that time campaigning.
Comment by Joanie — September 2, 2008 @ 5:11 pm
@4 as if traveling the world and giving inspiring speeches is not working an ass off… Barak Obama has done a lot for this country with his campaigning- he has given the people HOPE FOR REAL CHANGE and that is nothing to sneeze at.
Comment by Mary Jane Jones — September 2, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
But, hope based on what? A slogan? That’s not enough for me. And change for the sake of change doesn’t much work either.
Comment by Joanie — September 2, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
I think you spoke too soon on the wasteful spending topic. See article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26504638/
Let’s see what skeletons fly out of her closet this week!
Comment by Hella Weird — September 2, 2008 @ 10:20 pm
Speaking of pregnant, unmarried, Vice-President’s daughters…
Howcome when Mary Cheney got knocked-up nobody made HER get married??
Oh wait, nevermind.
Comment by crazymom — September 3, 2008 @ 7:03 am
I can understand not digging into private issues.
But the fact that she traveled over 22 hours with her water broken surely says something about her judgement in crisis situations
Comment by EastAnon — September 3, 2008 @ 8:26 am
Joanie-
It’s not hope based on a slogan. A slogan couldn’t give hope. It is the force behind the words. It is the sincerity in which he speaks. He says a lot more than “change we can believe in”. Its change for the sake of our country, not for the sake of change. Sorry for saying so, but you are a BLOCKHEAD.
Comment by Mary Jane Jones — September 3, 2008 @ 9:55 am
See, I don’t think a teen pregnancy is a crisis. I don’t think going into labor is a crisis. Obviously Sarah Pallin can handle it. Why get down on her daughter like that? Sexual exploration is natural. n Why does the republican party want to restrict freedoms? Why does the republican party talk about God all the time? Ever hear of separation of church and state?? Guess what?? I am not a member of any religion. Guess what??? there are a lot of people in this country who have enough education to realize that RELIGIONS ARE BASED ON CULTURE, CULTURE IS BASED ON AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND GEOGRAPHY. Read a book.
Comment by Mary Jane Jones — September 3, 2008 @ 10:00 am
I think that we need to wait to see what she says tonight and in the days to come, before making such harsh judgements. “Can’t we all just get along?”
Comment by Anon — September 3, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
Thank you for pointing out that I am a blockhead who would like some actual experience or proof of leadership skills instead of words. I know people over at Toastmasters who could make you break down and cry with their moving words. Words aren’t enough. All I see with Obama is someone who has done little with his time in office except campaign for a bigger and better job than the one he has. He hasn’t proven he can do the job he was elected to do — a job he promised (in a series of beautiful speeches) to do, so to base electing him to a job with even more responsibility based on his speaking ability just seems ridiculous to me. I see a man who can talk the talk but we have no evidence he can walk the walk. And I sure as hell don’t think it’s worth risking an entire nation’s security and/or reputation on seeing if he can or can’t.
So, yeah. That’s blockhead thinking. Right. That’s called common sense.
Comment by Joanie — September 4, 2008 @ 5:56 am
Joanie,
You’re right. It is much better to put the nations future in hands of proven liars and narrowminded people then in the hands of someone who can see beyond his own frontyard.
If what you are saying is common sense, i lack it. And i’m glad i do.
Comment by EastAnon — September 4, 2008 @ 6:44 am
Joanie-
=Have you ever heard of Abraham Lincon???
Comment by Mary Jane Jones — September 4, 2008 @ 9:36 am
First, it’s Abraham LINCOLN, and second, yes, I have. Lincoln at least had a record of trying. I do not see that happening anywhere with Obama.
EastAnon, sorry, your vagueness eludes me.
While it’s obvious that we do not agree on politics (and that’s okay with me since it takes all kinds to make the world an interesting place), I will point out that I’ve never resorted to name calling just because we don’t agree. But you have.
I’ll not bother with this any longer because it’s apparent you don’t want actual discussion, just “ever hear of” or “liars, liars, liars” without much substantiation. And actually, I really wasn’t looking to discuss this with anyone other than D. I know her and I was hoping to talk to her about it. Not people who resort to name-calling the minute they’re challenged by an observation.
Comment by Joanie — September 4, 2008 @ 11:54 am
I have been reading the discussion, and I agree with Joanie, name calling has no place. I have TRIED really hard to remain fairly neutral during this political period because the last election in 2004 drove a wedge between me and many close friends.
But clearly, we can’t remain impartial forever, at some point we have to vote. While I was a pretty big fan of McCain and certainly NOT decided, I admit, I was absolutely swayed by the visionary nature of Obama. Change for changes sake is not necessarily a good thing, but going backwards isn’t acceptable either.
I can not and will not vote for a candidate who does not support some very inherent beliefs I feel strongly about. Palin was a terrible choice and I feel her choice as VP was politically motivated and not about the substance of her character or her ability to lead this country. McCain is a maverick, but a maverick who can’t make quality decisions in matters of importance isn’t any wiser than a man touting change for changes sake.
So there’s my two cents.
Comment by D — September 4, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
[...] is a staunch believer in teaching abstinence-only in schools – but apparently not at home) I did promise not to be a part of the finger-pointing brigade, but I can’t keep my concerns [...]
Pingback by GlossLip » Jamie Lynn Spears Reaches Out To Palin Family. Good Grief!!! — September 4, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
Joanie,
Calling you a blockhead is simply an observation. I see that your intial argument is pretty square and limiting, much like a, well, like a block. You say that Obama is running on a slogan. Well, I have watched much of the RNC this week and I have heard many many times those exact same words from many speakers so you know what that makes those words? a slogan. Change for the sake of change, what the F are you talking about??? Is that really why we are going to change? just because it’s time for some? We need to change because what we are doing isn’t working.
So I mispelled Lincoln. Glad you are here with your red pen to correct me- that is the best way to learn to spell. Sound it out doesn’t work, get it? I am ok with making spelling errors and then learning the correct way. So thanks.
Here’s one for you…Ever hear of Charles Darwin? The basic tenent of his work is the observation that a species has to adapt in order to survive. Now I know the majority of the Republican party is faith based so you may not *believe* in Darwin’s work and it’s that very refusal to adapt and observe what is going on outside of the egocentre that will lead to the eventual thinning out of the Republican Party.
Joanie, my apologies for being so bull headed and sarcastic. I mean nothing of a personal attack on you, I guess I “see red” when well, when I see Red as in the Color of the Republican Party. I think we both have the same kind of ideals at the heart of it. Im sure we both want to live in a safe, prosperous and clean nation with excellent education and health care where we can feel confident that our government is looking out for all of our interests and that they are serving the people as they are intended to do.
With Love for this Earth and this Country,
Mary Jane Jones
Comment by Mary Jane Jones — September 4, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
Okay folks, please don’t attack me, but I’d like to share an idea. Maybe the reason McCain chose Palin was because she seems like a normal person. She is going through some personal struggles just like the rest of us. I think we can all relate to her on a human level. This is just my personal opinion.
Comment by D-Bomb — September 4, 2008 @ 10:49 pm
I guess now Sarah realizes that Abstinence-only education doesn’t work. They need to encourage contraceptives in schools. I think its great that she doesn’t believe abortion is a “right”. There are other alternatives such as the PlanB pill or adoption if you are pregnant with a child you are not responsible enough or able to care for. Abortion is one of the few things I agree with them on. If they overturn Roe Vs. Wade, then it will be up to the states to decide where abortion will be legal. I’m sure states like California will continue to allow abortion. It will never be completely outlawed, but it will reduce the high number of deaths among unborn babies. There at least needs to be more restrictions on abortion, because some women are using it as birth control, which its not. Many people who are okay with abortion are against the death penalty. I believe the death of the innocent is a lot worse than the death of convicted criminals. That’s just my thoughts. I am having a hard time deciding who to vote for, both sides have many pros and cons…
Comment by Christie — September 10, 2008 @ 4:45 am
Excellent comment Christie and I agree, abortion should be the last option and it should be only exercised before any signs of sentience begins, which the supreme court ruled was around 20 weeks. I’d prefer it to be restricted even before that, unless there are some extenuating circumstances beyond the usual “uh, I didn’t know I was pregnant” or just plain laziness, which I think is more rare than we think.
While many would seek paint all women seeking abortion with the same brush, in my lifetime, the women I’ve known who had them didn’t do so a form of birth control.
My issue with Palin are her extremist religious views. They do not relate to mainstream America. The whole Pentecostal thing is just bizarre also.
There were other far more and appealing candidates for VP, McCain’s choice of Palin is a real insult to intelligent voters. Talk about a lack of experience. I don’t know about all people, but Gov. Palin’s background is no where near being something I am familiar with as an average American, nor do I find her even the slightest bit qualified.
Comment by D — September 10, 2008 @ 8:29 am