You knew the media bias would start off fast and furious in their attempt to knock Sarah Palin. This from the always great Newsbusters
CNN’s John Roberts, after briefly alluding to the issue of Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s experience he called into question earlier on Friday’s “Newsroom” program, asked correspondent Dana Bash about how the Alaska governor’s newborn son with Down’s syndrome might be affected if she were elected: “There’s also this issue that on April 18th, she gave birth to a baby with Down’s Syndrome…. Children with Down’s syndrome require an awful lot of attention. The role of Vice President, it seems to me, would take up an awful lot of her time, and it raises the issue of how much time will she have to dedicate to her newborn child?”
Bash deftly answered this question, which has the implication that Palin could neglect her infant son, and made a possible counter-argument the McCain camp would use, that a question like Roberts’ would be sexist: “That’s a very good question, and I guess — my guess is that, perhaps, the line inside the McCain campaign would be, if it were a man being picked who also had a baby, but — you know, four months ago with Down’s Syndrome, would you ask the same question?”
I’ve got to think that will be the last time that Roberts raises that question.
August 29, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I’m sure a lot of people have the same concern but will be afraid to say it out loud. I’m sure they’ll provide the best care for their child, but this could backfire if a lot of people, women in particular, question her pursuing her career at the highest level with a special needs baby at home.
It is ironic that the liberal feminists should have to defend her on this point.
August 29, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Well, I do think it’s a honest question–one I commented on earlier. I don’t think it’s really sexist at all–when my babies were infants I provided most of their care with nursing and comforting. I don’t think it’s an accusation—just a question. That’s all I’m gonna say for now….
August 29, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Apparently she brings the nursing baby to work with her….
August 29, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I have to agree with Marie — it’s a very fair question. Yes, lots of moms work outside the home and are very successful at what they do. But none of them is VP of the United States of America, with all its many stresses and demands. If I were her friend, I’d advise her against taking the VP nomination … and I say that for the baby’s sake.
August 29, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Maybe she’ll have better access to early intervention personnel in D.C. than in Alaska, who knows?
Was she questioned for keeping her office of governor after her son was born? Now there’s the rub….
August 29, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Before I comment, I must thank Matthew Archibald for putting up my piece from NewsBusters!
I can’t read into how Palin came to this decision, but one thing that should be pointed out is the fact that during those times she can’t take care of her baby, her eldest children can help out. That’s what has always happened traditionally when the mother had to take on responsibilites that demanded she spend time away from her children. The daughter was holding on to her infant brother, and she looked like she was already taking on the role.
August 29, 2008 at 11:14 pm
She has been bringing Trig to work with her and breastfeeding him, just as she did with her daughter Piper.
I agree that VP is a big job, but I’m not clear that it is any bigger than Governor of a state. Unless, of course, the President dies in office.
Still, I would be happier if Trig were older.
It’s kind of funny to see all the griping about her lack of experience from the Dems.
August 29, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Roberts is perhaps unclear on the concept of the extended family. That baby is going to be LOVED, people!
— Mack
August 30, 2008 at 12:32 am
I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt that she had time to discuss with her husband of 20yrs how best to raise the family with the added pressure of being a VP.
Let’s not lose sight of the fact that McCain did what we hoped he would do–he nominated a pro-life candidate! And how!
In a day and age where you can’t even have three children without calling down criticism from all quarters, seeing a prominent woman who is a wife and mother of five is very very refreshing.
August 30, 2008 at 2:24 am
Plus the dad has been playing Mr. Mom.
But I hope that her child will help to lay aside some of the stupidity out there about children with down syndrome. They don’t need the type of care they think is required other than the love all parent should supply. With many not aborting children because they have this syndrome hopefully some hearts can be opened up.
August 30, 2008 at 3:52 am
First off, I want to say that I am sure all of her children will get the attention and love they deserve.
Next, there is no way that democrats can possibly think that they are on equal ethical footing to bring this up. Can the Obama-Biden ticket try to claim that they are concerned for her child when they couldn’t care less about unborn children?
August 30, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Consider this: We like to think that the Vice President has a big and important job once elected, but historically that has not been the case. The Vice President has two constitutional functions: (1) vote in the case of a tie in the U.S. Senate because he serves as the president of the Senate, and (2) regularly check on the health of the president. Of course there are other duties that have arisen over time, such as: attending state funerals for public and foreign officials no one has ever heard of; cutting ribbons at the opening of a new federal building; taking a few foreign “good will” trips; and so on. Remember John Adams said of the vice presidency that, “My country has, in its wisdom, contrived for me the most insignificant office ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived.” All together, this phenomenon of an active vice president is only about eight years old (does anyone honestly think Dan Quayle or Al Gore really had that much say in governmental affairs?). I think the future Vice President Palin will have more than enough time to care for her children.