# How should Palin address her family situation Part Deux **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 2, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768 "2008-09-02T23:46:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/21 "2008-09-03T06:33:58Z")
Of the ten states who rank highest in teen pregnancy rate, [nine](http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2006/09/12/USTPstats.pdf) of them voted Republican in 2004, including all of the top six. This leads me to believe that people who vote Republican aren’t necessarily the type of people who would hold a teen pregnancy against someone. Edit: According to this site, once you factor out [abortion](http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/TeenPregStates.htm), all 10 of the states representing the highest rates of live births by teens went Republican in 2004. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/22 "2008-09-03T07:23:26Z")
> [@bubba\_jr](#): > > So then why did George Herbert Walker Bush run as VP back in 1980. He obviously had a severely mentally handicapped child that he should have been taking care of, unfortunately the severely mentally handicapped child became our 43rd president. This deserves a :rolleyes:, and then a “I’m serious”. > > . I found this quite humorous and didn’t see it coming. I think this was a big mistake by McCain. There are many women out there in politics who have much more experience than Palin who would’ve bene better. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/23 "2008-09-03T09:34:57Z")
Yeah, probably Bristol’s going to wind up taking care of both kids. It’s what she’s doing now anyhow. Ain’t that grand? ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/24 "2008-09-03T11:55:02Z")
Here’s what I would love to see happen. Palin would say something like, “I recognize that my daughter has resources that most teen mothers don’t have. My special needs son will have access to all of the health care and services that he needs–many other special needs children in our country aren’t so lucky. In order to support other young families and promote a culture of life, I will fight for affordable health and prenatal care, increased access to social services, and a better economy for all American families.” And then monkeys would fly out of my butt. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/25 "2008-09-03T15:41:27Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > As a matter of fact, a LOT of people asked very much the same question of John Edwards when he revealed that his wife had inoperable cancer. Many, MANY people felt he had no business traipsing around the country running for President, let alone _being_ the President, with such trying and time-consuming family issues to tend to. Yeah, and they were soundly shouted down by the many more posters here who said it was a personal matter and his/her decision to make. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/26 "2008-09-03T15:48:17Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > Ms. Palin has a husband who intends to be a stay at home dad. > If you feel that a father is incapable of caring for his own child just as well as the mother can, sorry, but you _are_ being sexist. Apparently, according to someone posting on the Mudflats website that was linked to over the weekend, he claimed he would do so when she became governor, but then balked when the actuality of the circumstances hit him. They thus had to “farm out” the care of the children to friends and family. I suppose that they could try this again, but the upshot seems to have been that their mono infected daughter nevertheless got pregnant. They may need to find another solution. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/27 "2008-09-03T18:28:30Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Do you really believe this? A 17 year old girl who (I assume) currently lives at home is going to marry her boyfriend and have a baby, and they will in no way need support of any kind, particularly the kind of support that involves actual time and presence, from her mother? There are 4 grandparents involved here, remember. But, sure, it’ll take some of her time. BFD. Are we to disqualify women from holding office because their children become parents? > [@](#): > > Being VPOTUS (or, god forbid, POTUS) is something that takes enormous amounts of time. So is having a young baby with Down’s syndrome. So is (in the vast majority of cases in this day and age) being the mother of a daughter living at home who has just gotten married and had a baby but is still in high school. > > Is that a legitimate campaign issue? Normally, candidates’ families are off limits for political discussion. Did Obama’s daughter get in a fight at school today and use a naughty word, or get a bad grade last semester? Shouldn’t be any of anyone’s business but the Obamas’. But at a certain point an issue would so strongly affect the candidate’s ability to do the job that I think it becomes something that should be openly acknowledged and discussed. Are Palin’s issues over that line? Honestly, I think so, but I also acknowledge I may not be objective about it. > > That said, if someone honestly asks such questions, a response of “How DARE you discuss her family! Would you be asking such questions if she were a MAN?” isn’t particularly helpful or productive, except perhaps in the most cynical political sense. > (And the question shouldn’t be “would you ask such a question if she were a man”, which, worst case, simply exposes someone as minorly hypocritical, but “SHOULD you ask such a question if she were a man”. And the answer is, yes. However, it’s much more likely, even in this day and age, that if a male candidate had a similar family situation, that candidate would also have a stay-at-home-wife who was taking the bulk of the responsibility for dealing with that situation.) I think we pay our VPs well enough that they can hire a nanny, as needed. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/28 "2008-09-03T19:10:52Z")
"We’re sorry, honey, but we decided not to hire you for that executive position. We’ve found in the past that you girls get too distracted by your family situation and can’t give the kind of 110% commitment that a tough job like this requires. Besides, you might run off and get pregnant again, and then we would have to train someone else. We are hiring for a secretary/Girl Friday position - are you interested?" Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/29 "2008-09-03T20:24:15Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > "We’re sorry, honey, but we decided not to hire you for that executive position. > > We’ve found in the past that you girls get too distracted by your family situation and can’t give the kind of 110% commitment that a tough job like this requires. Besides, you might run off and get pregnant again, and then we would have to train someone else. > > We are hiring for a secretary/Girl Friday position - are you interested?" > > Regards, > Shodan Well, seriously, **Shodan** …do you really think a woman can handle a career AND being a wife and mother? She really should just go back home where she belongs. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/30 "2008-09-03T20:42:39Z")
You seem a little irritable. That time of the month? 😃 Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/31 "2008-09-03T21:08:28Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > You seem a little irritable. > > That time of the month? > > 😃 > > Regards, > Shodan Well, you know, we women are very emotional. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/32 "2008-09-03T21:17:15Z")
Go fucking start your own fucking thread if you want to fucking talk about fucking sexism. Holy fucking shit. How many god damn times does the OP have to say “don’t hijack my thread” so you fuckers won’t hijack it? ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/33 "2008-09-03T21:17:26Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yeah, and they were soundly shouted down by the many more posters here who said it was a personal matter and his/her decision to make. Kidding aside, **John Mace** is right. Anyone who defended Edwards’ decision to go ahead and run (or for that matter, defended the selection of him for VP despite his lack of experience), really don’t have a leg to stand on as far as criticizing her in these areas. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/34 "2008-09-03T21:18:37Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Go fucking start your own fucking thread if you want to fucking talk about fucking sexism. Holy fucking shit. How many god damn times does the OP have to say “don’t hijack my thread” so you fuckers won’t hijack it? It’s not a hijack if it’s relevant to the subject at hand. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/35 "2008-09-03T21:50:50Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > It’s not a hijack if it’s relevant to the subject at hand. It’s not relevant in the least bit. All it does is distract from the questions I asked in the OP. Allow me to quote myself: > [@treis](#): > > Does accepting the VP slot show poor judgement on her part, and should the McCain campaign say anything to address it? Unless your answers are “No”, and “accuse people of sexism for bringing it up”, then the sex of Gov. Palin is irrelevant to my questions. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/36 "2008-09-03T22:11:25Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Anyone who defended Edwards’ decision to go ahead and run (or for that matter, defended the selection of him for VP despite his lack of experience), really don’t have a leg to stand on as far as criticizing her in these areas. Whew! Glad I thought it was tacky, him running with a sick wife. Also glad I supported Al Gore’s 1991 decision to not run for president in '92 because his sone was recovering from a terrible accident. And I supported his run for Veep a year later because his kid was doing better. I think my position on the moral high ground is secure. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/37 "2008-09-03T22:24:14Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > There are 4 grandparents involved here, remember. But, sure, it’ll take some of her time. BFD. Are we to disqualify women from holding office because their children become parents? What a disingenuous response. Who said anything about “disqualifying”? Did anyone say “well, I’d vote for Sarah Palin except that her daughter is preggers?” or “Sarah Palin is clearly unqualified for the job because she has a pregnant daughter?”. And of course, most times when someone’s children become parents the children aren’t 17. The point I’m trying to make is that I don’t think her 5 month old baby and her pregnant daughter are, prima facie, irrelevant. They are certainly not major issues, but I don’t think they should just automatically be off the table and unworthy of discussion. (The baby being more important in my mind than the teenage daughter, although the teenage daughter is of course more salacious as far as media coverage is concerned.) ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/38 "2008-09-03T22:28:32Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Whew! Glad I thought it was tacky, him running with a sick wife. Also glad I supported Al Gore’s 1991 decision to not run for president in '92 because his sone was recovering from a terrible accident. And I supported his run for Veep a year later because his kid was doing better. I think my position on the moral high ground is secure. 😉 Well, you know, I’m not accusing anyone in particular! I’m just saying that there ought to be some consistency. And not just when the subject is a woman vs. a man, but also when it’s a Democrat vs a Republican. It shouldn’t be an issue only when it’s not your candidate. Personally, I think it’s not my business how she handles her family issues, and I felt the same way about Edwards…I had ni dount that he had his wife’s blessing, and that’s good enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/39 "2008-09-04T00:08:37Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Questions for debate: Does accepting the VP slot show poor judgement on her part, No. > [@treis](#): > > and should the McCain campaign say anything to address it? Yes, but they have to be very careful about what comments they call sexist. If they call every criticism of her sexist, then the American public will reject their defensiveness and believe that the McCain campaign is operating in CYA mode. They need to narrowly reject those criticisms that implicitly accept that women are some kind of mystical irreplaceable nurturing spirits. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768/40 "2008-09-04T02:31:31Z")
cindy mccain is holding the baby now. perhaps she will be the nanny. oooop! dad is finally holding the baby! and mum is getting ready to speak. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-palin-address-her-family-situation-part-deux/461768.md?page=3)