I like Sarah Palin. Spunky, articulate, intelligent, industrious. Gutsy, humorous, creative, and
good-natured.
We share many of the same values. God. Country. Family. I have no doubt she is good for our democracy and that she can and will, if elected as our VP, accomplish much.
The problem I have is that she is a mom with young children. (Here is where I stick my neck out, expecting to draw shark-toothed feminists. I am a recovering feminist myself, and--like I always tell my Inklings--prepare for your readers' arguments.)
Granted, Sarah Palin has an amazing track record of achieving things in Alaska that have tremendous staying power. I admire her courage, her stamina, and her loyalty. Not since Ronald Reagan have I so enjoyed listening to a politician. Truth and passion without snooze-button rhetoric.
But she has a baby. And she has a very young daughter. She has older children. She is not an empty nester. Who will look after her nest while she's gallavanting around Washington? Is her husband going to become the head cheerleader at hockey games while Mom applies lipstick for press conferences? Who is going to take that special needs child to all his doctor visits and play groups? Who is going to teach the daughters the special things God designs mothers to do? I wouldn't want to be the pregnant daughter of a woman who barely had time for me. And trust me, if it's hard to have a part-time job and still make time for genuine bonding, how would a Vice President of the United States do it?
What if John McCain dies in office? Sarah Palin will become Commander-in-Chief. My main fear about that role is how a woman would be accepted in round-table meetings in certain cultures. She wouldn't. Islamic heads of state would not simply disrespect her; they might kill her. A pretty, Christian woman in second place of leadership over a democracy in the richest country on earth: how much more of a target for terrorists could she be?
I am not saying I'm swaying toward the alternative. No way. Obama scares me. But never have I sensed eminent danger for a VP. Normally they're just a figurehead . I mean, what was the last noteworthy thing a VP did? Oh, yeh. He invented the internet. If Sarah Palin were a man, I'd want her to be the President and McCain the VP. But that's not an option. So I put all of my trust in God's hands, where it squarely belongs no matter what the options are. I pray we get McCain and I pray God blesses him with long life and sound mind. And I pray that Sarah Palin's husband remains faithful to her (and vice versa) and that her children feel more important than anyone or any career in the world.
That's how to like a candidate but not want to vote for her.
7 comments:
I happen to like Sara Palin. I think she would be a wonderful leader over many things.
We have a great need in this country of a leader in the higher ups for morality ,and that would include for the young people.
I certainly can't say that for Sen. Biden who can't talk without adding untruth to his (facts.) All with a straight face.
She has raised her children this far with all her activities, she certainly can continue with success.
Betty G
She's probably a better mother than most, so I wouldn't take that into consideration when voting.
Zo,
You and I are on the same page as far as much of this goes.
I keep coming back to the thought that surely life as Alaska's governor wasn't a 9-5er, and while it will be more responsibility and time, I doubt it will be a flip-your-world-upside-down drastic change for her family.
I can't say I agree with her decision as a mom with kids still at home--but it's her decision. She'll be accountable to it.
I feel I have an obligation to vote and it's a privilege...this isn't the first time I haven't been real happy about my choices. I plan to vote for the candidates I MOSTLY agree with, and let God do the rest.
Krista: Trust me, I'm going to vote and I'm staunchly, unapologetically Republican. (They don't call use the "right" for nothing:)) I just take issue with Palin choosing this career at this time in her life. I believe her family needs her more than the country does.
Betty, something is amiss in a family when the daughter becomes pregnant out of wedlock. I don't say that to stand in judgment, but out of close-up observation of hundreds of girls. I worked in a crisis pregnancy center for many years, and NEVER did one come in who said she had a close bond with her parents. They wanted someone to love them. I have nothing but compassion for families like them.
Beth, I would say the kind of mother or father someone is can't really be known by the public, but if we could know, it'd make as much difference to me in my vote as what kind of spouse they were.
A person's private life should match the public one. It's what integrity's all about.
I heard, although can't document it with a solid source, that Todd Palin is filling the role of "Mr. Mom."
One thing I like about this country is are freedom to make choices. Sara Palin made a choice to have a baby with downs syndrome but for some that my be the wrong choice. Palins daughter is pregnant and that was her choice. Whice also proves that abstinence doesn't work. We should be looking at the fact we have a right of choice. When we start dictating what we can do and can't do aren't we closer to socialism?
"A person's private life should match the public one. It's what integrity's all about."
While I agree with this, I think it can be taken too far. Would I vote for someone who homeschools and not with someone who sends their kids to public school, because I happen to agree with homeschooling as a form of education over public school? No. So just because I wouldn't make the same choice as Palin is making to be in public office right now doesn't mean I wouldn't stand behind her if I agree with her public policy issues.
Besides, how far do I take this view? Do I apply it to only politics or the arts and other issues as well? Do I stop listening to Sara Groves because she's a mother with young children who's working and touring or boycott books written by women with small children at home? I think not. It's really not for me to judge or assume I know how they juggle their time. Only the husband and wife can make that decision for their family.
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