She’s a mom, but where does she stand?
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GoogleDid you see that?! A mom on center stage at the Republican convention accepting the Vice Presidential nomination and holding a baby.
There are too few mothers in the boardrooms and high levels of political office, and we need more of them. In fact, women comprise only 16% of Congress (the U.S. ranks a world low of 71st in women's representation in national legislatures--below Pakistan, Italy, Bolivia, Rwanda, Argentina, France, China, Canada, and 63 other countries). And, women hold only 6.7% of top-paying positions in Fortune 500 countries. A measly 6.7%!
Obviously, more women need to be seated in the highest offices. That's something that most of us can agree on.
But while it was good to see a woman on center stage accepting the Vice Presidential nomination (for only the second time in the history of our nation), I didn't hear much in Gov. Palin's acceptance speech--or since--about what she, and her running mate Sen. McCain, will do about the issues which impact the 83 million mothers in our nation each and every day.
This mom wants to know: Where does Gov. Palin stand? Where does she stand on issues which are important to mothers like healthcare, fair pay, paid family and medical leave, afterschool programs, childcare/early learning, paid sick days, and flexible work options.
*Join me in signing on to a letter asking Gov. Palin where she stands here: http://www.momsrising.org/WhereDoesSheStand
Whether you are a mother, or have a mother, the moms of our nation expect every candidate to tackle the shared issues of our nation's families. We also know full well from decades of stalled family-friendly legislation that just because someone is a mom (or has a mom) doesn't mean they automatically support the policies which are central to the economic security of mothers and families.
As the candidate debates draw near, and with an election that's neck-and-neck in the polls, now's the time to ask candidates to share their positions on critical issues. Let's demand that the national political discussion is one of substance while this nomination is a hot topic in coffee shops, at water coolers, and around dinner tables across the nation.
Let's change the conversation. The conversation shouldn't be about how many kids Gov. Palin has, which is essentially unchecked gender bias, it should be about the issues--and where she stands on them. After all, we've had fathers in the White House for a couple hundred years and the mere fact of any of those male candidates having children has yet to be an election issue. Just to show how ridiculous this is: Why is it that everyone knows that Gov. Palin has five children, but few know how many children Sen. Biden has?
Right about now you might be wondering: Why don't we know where Gov. Palin stands, anyway? Isn't disclosing where you stand on issues so that voters can choose their candidate a big part of running for public office? Well, it's not a conspiracy that we don't know where Gov. Palin stands, but it's definitely a serious bout of opportunistic pessimism on the part of political campaign operatives.
Turns out that this lack of focus on issues right now isn't an accident. In fact, McCain campaign manager, Rick Davis, recently said, and I quote: "This election is not about issues. This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."
What!?
In fact, the McCain campaign made an active decision not to have Gov. Palin do interviews with the national media right now. It seems they essentially want to avoid the issues--and to leave us just with that image of a woman on the stage, "a composite view" as Davis said, of sorts, as if the American public only needs a Technicolor picture to make decisions about the future direction of our country. It's downright insulting to voters.
To that point, here's a Fox News transcriptof the Sept. 7, 2008, edition of "FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace" of a conversation between McCain campaign manager and Chris Wallace on the topic of keeping Gov. Palin out of interviews that went up today:
WALLACE: But let me move on to something else. Governor Palin has given some very good speeches this week, and I think everybody, Republican or Democrat, would say that she was very effective at the Republican convention.
She has not answered a single question from the national media. When is she going to agree to an interview?
DAVIS: She'll agree to an interview when we think it's time and when she feels comfortable doing it.
Voters know that this election really is about the issues--that it's not about some Technicolor "composite view" of candidates. These issues are as real to many of us as paying for rent, taking our children to the doctor, and putting food on the dinner table
Let's not let any candidate (or political campaign operative) forget that more than 50% of the electorate are women; and over 80% of women in our nation have children by the time they are forty-four. Suffice to say that moms pack a powerful political punch.
It's time to come together and use that power to make sure our issues get the attention they deserve--for our children, for ourselves, and for the future economic security of our nation.
We heard Obama/Biden speak in support of the central issues of MomsRising in his Presidential nomination acceptance speech, now it's time to hear where the McCain/Palin ticket stands.
Join with me and MomsRising.org in sending an open letter to Gov. Palin asking where she stands now, and then moms in Alaska will deliver the letter with your signatures. Help put the pressure on for candidates to share their positions on the issues which impact our nation's families each and every day.
McCain- Palin tricksters already!!!
I am concerned that John Mccain has made a blatent play on americans. It seems to me that he chose Sarah Palin as a ploy to get the female vote, not on what she can bring to the table. I think that we really have to watch out for this one. I am not 100% sold on either party, but this definatly makes me turn the other way. When this country faces rough roads ahead how will he try to fleece us then. Using some other ploy to pretty things up? He just figured that this apple pie all american mom would pull in the female voters after Hillary Clinton. Shame on him. I am not saying that Sarah Palin is not possibly a good candidate for the future maybe 8 years after playng part in BIG government gaining knowledge. I don't want to be left with her if something were to happen to John Mccain. (I hope not) but people don't always think about that she may not have someone like him to fall back on. Come on think from A-z not A-L. Right now we need people who together can be a good team. She at this point is a Freshman trying to play pro. Get a little more under your belt get your personal things together and then come out swinging and don't let anyone make you into someone trying to fleece votes based on your hohumness. Don't ya know - PlEASE...
Sara Palin
Why do people become parents and have someone else raise their children!
Why would a Mother put their 17 yr old daughter in lime light - selfish is why - if she was really doing what was best for her family and our great county she would step down. I am a Mother of 3 and I know how much work it takes to raise children. They need consistency and structure.
Sara Palin go home and raise YOUR kids.
While I can appreciate Sarah
While I can appreciate Sarah Palin's being a woman and what that means, I think FAR too much time is being spend on "narratives" these days instead of substance. When we all obsess over people color, children, hobbies, etc., we end up running a high school popularity contest instead of a serious presidential election. There has been a lot of obsession about Palin's personal life, and to some degree an obsession about Barack Obama's as well, complete with exposes on his history, time in law school, etc. But like I said, are we really well served by all this? I think we should be paying more attention to the issues.
Sarah Palin
To understand the astroloigcal background on Sarah Palin and her bloodline connection to Lady Di, go to http://www.robertphoenix.com
Who comes first in Sarah Palin's life?
Obviously not he children. She also must be a complete idiot. Statistics do not lie; the chance of having a baby with Down's Syndrome inreases every year after 35. Why when she already had 4 children did she recklessly opt to have another? The when she gave birth to this cild with special needs, instead of slowing down her political commiottments to spend more important quality time with her baby-she accepts the nomination to run for VP. This child needs tons of bonding and attention from the very beginning. Head Start programs begin at 6 months of age. Is riding around on a campaign bus and spending most of his time with either his dad or a caregiver the best thing for this child. In my opinion Sarah Palin has no regard for the welfare of her child. Also she is the closest thing to a moron we have had run for office in years. This is not Alaska!
Sarah Palin - be a mom for now
I so agree with your blog. I have been trying to find a place with someone who agrees with my logic. For the first time in about 15 years my husband and I are voting on opposite sides. At first I thought she was okay then the more I thought about it ... Well I AM a proud mother with a child with DOWN SYNDROME. However I don't think alot of people realize how difficult and time consuming raising a chil with disablities is. My son started therapy physical and developmental threrapy at 3 months old and continued weekly until the age of 3. Little did I know that this was a full time job in itself. Don't miunderstand I would not trade my son for anything, however it became my job now and yes MY HUSBANDS too but mainly my mission to get this child off to a great start. That is so important. These children are often easily teachable but the simple things that most parents take forgranted become, at times extremely hard. For instance my son now will be 5 in December can barly climb stairs with out assistance. He still is not fully potty trained and cannot dress himself at all. His speech is improving. You have to be creative in teaching them. He also has certain things that he will do for his father and not for me and vice versa. We also have a three y/o who does not have Down Syndrome and with the two of them it's a challenge as I also work full time outside the home. If Sarah were truly a devoted mom the forst years are the time when you can teach your child the most. The earlier you start the better chance your child has of succeeding. I also have a problem woth any mother who says that they are excited about their teenage daughter being preegnant. I am not passing judgement on the daughter at all, but it seem to me that Mrs. Palin at this point needs to concentrate on her own family. She has younger children at this point that could use her closer to home. The being proud of a teenage daughter (although I would help my own and love them just the same ) I don't think we need this type of parenting example.
Tantrens proud mama
As a pit bull owner I took
As a pit bull owner I took total offense to her comment about hockey moms & pit bulls. Is she saying that hockey moms are ruthless & vicious since that is the unfortunate reputaion pit bulls have because of them being bred to fight? If so then should hockey moms be made extinct since that is what most people want to happen to the pit bull breed? I don't really think that is an option or even the right thing to do for the dogs. So leave my loveable dog alone & compare yourself to something else!!
I also have a real concern with her being VP. To me she is just one heartbeat away from President & then we would are really be in trouble. Not once has she or McCain stated their beliefs or how they will handle the issues at hand. She doen't even have a clue about real world politics nor can she answer direct questions when interviewed. She has a lot to learn & I think that if the republicans thought by picking her would win over the Hillary voters - WRONG! I was a Hillary girl but there is no way I will vote for Palin just because she is a women.
dog
You're comparing her comment to your own dog...how lame! She never used the words ruthless and vicious. You took offense way too easily over your pit bull and hockey. Not everyone wants pit bulls to be put to rest. They're great dogs! Get over it. And she wasn't chosen to replace Hillary, lucky for us she is nothing like Hillary.
Problems with Sarah Palin as Vice Presidential Choice
I am a Forty year old working mother (independent) with a three year old daughter and my husband had an injury that left him unable to work for six months. I have a huge problem with Sarah Palin selection as a Vice Presidential Candidate because of the fact:
Palin runs a state whose population equals roughly half the population of the county that my parents live in (2006 census- Alaska population 670,053 vs. Palm Beach County Florida- pop. 1,274,013.) Alaska’s trans-Alaska pipeline has pumped billions of dollars into the states economy and funds 85% of the state’s budget every year. How hard is it to run a state with that kind of revenue and a huge surplus (33 billion dollars in the Alaska Permanent Fund)? The citizens of her state each receive thousands of dollars a year from the pipeline dividend and pay no state income tax; How can she really have a feel for what the rest of the country is suffering?
She has not really traveled outside the United States and seems irresponsible in her views concerning the war; she is small town in her thinking in a time when we need to think and act globally.
Palin chose her political ambitions over her family. It would be one thing if her children were older but two young children and one with special needs under the age of one? Not to mention and an expectant seventeen year old daughter.
Palin is connected to Oil, like Bush was connected to oil and her views on Global Warming scare me. In her recent interview when asked about regulation on semi-automatic weapons she said she was against regulation. Now why would you need a semi-automatic weapon to hunt deer? What is the sport in that? She does not appear to be pro-choice in her outlook and neither does Mc Cain, although I am prolife I still think a woman has the right to choose.
As a woman who works in what essential can seem like a man’s world, I commend Sarah Palin for her accomplishments as a mayor and the Governor of Alaska. She could have a small child and run a state with a population that is less than the population of most counties in the more heavily populated states but not the Vice President of the United States with the possibility of becoming the Executive in Chief. I absolutely do not trust her and think her words contradict her true actions. The Republican Party have been completely irresponsible in choosing this candidate.
Making the right decision for your family,not just you
Sarah Palin is a joke,not becouse of eho she is but becouse she is allowing her rebublican party to treat her like she is bait.As a women I feel that she has a lot on her plate right.Her daughter is pregant,this is somthing that happens to often.What shocks me is that she put her 17yr old daughter out there.To me that was a wrong and selfish move.She has a 5mounth baby how can you find time to run a world.Not to say mothers should not work,becouse i am a working mother.But the timing was wrong for her.On top of that she is doing this for a campaigne that her advisors will not want her to say much.WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT WHO THEY PICKED FOR VICE PRESIDENT.The media is not to hard on her,she decided to run for Vice President so we need to know this answers.I have no problem with who she is as a person,just not Vice Presdent.People seem to praise her for doing what most soccer moms do,that what a mother does.There should be no praise for doing what you are suppose to do.I think the reblican party is playing with the fact that she's a women.MOST AMERICANS ARE NOT THAT STUPID,JUST WILL NOT LET A BLACK MAN IN OFFICE. THAT IS WHAT THIS BOILS DOWN TO.
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