I'm Falling in Love with Sarah Palin's Story
I think politicians' families are totally off limits. Children are meant to be seen and not heard about. The second they finish the People magazine photo spread, that's it. Mum's the word. Or grand mum. Or whatever Sarah Palin is.
The Palin Family is private. That's why Sarah Palin never, ever mentions her son in the army. Except for eleven lines into the first speech she ever gave as the nominee.
"Our oldest son, Track, though, he'll be following the presidential campaign from afar. On September 11th of last year, our son enlisted in the United States Army. Track now serves in an infantry brigade. And on September 11th, Track will deploy to Iraq in the service of his country. And Todd and I are so proud of him and of all the fine men and women serving the country in uniform."
Except for his name, rank, serial number, when he enlisted and where he's being deployed, not another word.
I also think big families like the Palins are great. Hitler was the fourth child in a run of eight, and Pat Buchanan says he grew up to be "an individual of great courage, a soldier's soldier in the Great War (and) a political organizer of the first rank." And Sarah Palin used to wear a Pat Buchanan For President button, so it's all cool. We're all on the same page there.
And the Palins might seem kind of embarrassing right now, with the domestic abuse and the snowmobiles and shotgun weddings, but they could turn out to be an American dynasty. You know, like the Snopes.
They're good country people. They might be just the breath of fresh air a state funeral needs.
But their family is their business. Except the one (9/11) in the army (9/11). It's all personal and private, and we have to back off, because treating Sarah Palin the same way we'd treat a male politician is sexist. Or something. We should judge her on her positions, if we knew what they were, and her achievements, if she had any.
Here's where I get off board with Sarah Palin's privacy: The baby blanket.
Sarah Palin could have left the kids at home when John McCain called her to Dayton to be his vice president. (It can't be cheap to buy fifteen plane tickets on three minutes notice.) But she couldn't leave them at home, of course. Her family was the whole point.
So what to do about the pregnant, ashamed teenager?
Not John McCain's problem. Get her on the stage.
How do we cover her up? I've got it! We'll make her carry the Down syndrome baby! And a blanket! (Put on this black dress, it's slimming. And we'll have it taken in for the funeral.) Look:
Look at her face. My heart breaks for this young woman, and I think I've made it pretty clear that I'm an asshole.
You'd have to be the worst parent on earth to do that to your daughter to get a job.
Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
So apparently the GOP is abandoning its "family values" plank? Or is the example one of saying that pregnancy out of wedlock is an acceptable outcome and that leaders of the GOP with that problem do not actually represent a role model to all the little GOP children out there.... Really sick of Republican hypocrisy...... try to run everyone's life and then when their own dirt comes to light its "I have sinned, nobody is perfect (and by the way I am still better than you)...... pretty pathetic...
And frankly, if it weren't for a constitutional attorney on the ballot with a strong foreign policy component I would not be voting for either party....
got to vote!.... judges and diplomacy alone make it crucial.
So are you suggesting that Palin had a down's syndrome baby in order to use him as a political prop?
No. But it appears that she's using him as a prop now. How fortunate that God gave her a special needs child. Thank you, Dear God. Sheesh!?
And she took the funding away for special needs children!!!!!
I really thought this is what the word 'choice' is about. You can chose to do what is right for you. Why is always about shoving what you believe down everyone elses throat? It's called 'pro choice', not 'I get to chose for you'.
That is precisely what choice is about. Now can you tell me what hypocrisy is about? WE are not the party of telling people what to do with their bodies. YOU are. So we expect you to walk the walk not just talk the talk. You don't get to have it both ways. We don't care who you sleep with (unless it is a child or small animal or an unwilling partner) but you can't say you are against something then do it. John Edwards' indiscretions are not the same as Newt Gingrich's or Rush Limbaugh's. It's the ones setting themselves up as the guardians of America's morals who are exposed as charlatans. THAT is the point, not what they do but how they judge others for the things they themselves do.
Get it yet? I didn't think so. *sigh*
What 'choice' does the baby have?
Well said.
Wonder when McCain will ALLOW her to be interviewed?
And WHY would the Repub. Women BOYCOTT Oprah because she WON'T interview Palin....don't they KNOW that McCain doesn't WANT her interviewed??? They are ALL SO FULL OF HYPOCRICY !!!
Double standards and hypocrisy on a level never seen before in this country.
Real classy woman...that Palin....NOT!
I think the way Palin treats her daughter is highly relevant. She claims to love her daughter, but is perfectly willing to mess up her entire life if it means getting to be Vice President. She also claims to love America. You do the math.
Any "feeling" compassionate parent (regardless of gender) would have left these children of tender years and tender conditions out of the blood bath of politics. I think back on the dignity of the Truman's ; the Eisenhowers; the Kennedy's; the Nixon's and the protection and respect they demanded for their children. While the children were expected to fulfill thier public roles; however, their parents never drug their children into the fray...Palin might as well have appeared on the Jeryy Springer show; she has exploited her children with no thought for THEIR future, publicly or psychologically. Shame.
sarah pa-lin's take is - look at my kids, no dont look at my kids, look at my family we are small town people, no dont look at my family because we are small town people. i am hiding my kid's belly with a blanket while i parade her around. now i am announcing that she is pregnant. now she is not hiding her belly any more. hey why are you looking at my kids and judging me? hey look at my kids. I am a wholesome fertile mother who knows sex is for procreation and i can procreate like the best of them.
makes me wonder if part of dragging her poor daughter into the spotlight isn't some sick form of punishment. the scarlet letter treatment. 'yer getting married, yup, yup, and by the way you get on the horn to that boy. the both of you are coming to st. paul and you're going to get up on that stage, by god, or i'll gut the two of you like a moose."
Chris Kelly,talk about cheap shots. Why don't you concentrate on the issues? Anyone can write cheap shot articles. I think the kids ought to be off limits.
you are missing the whole point; i agree and so does Kelly (if you can read). Palin drug her children intoi this mess. Her daughter should nopt be shut away in a nunnery , but nor should she stand for hours at every speech as if she is being punished and rparaded: like a "perp walk". Ifthose children were quietly at home (in school) then people would not be so aghast at the exploitation.
If Sarah actually cared about her baby she would have never boarded a plane when her water was broken. Babies that have down syndrome and premature can have severe cardiac issues and may need a ventilator! Her actions are clearly irresponsible! She placed her teen daughter and attempted to hide her pregnancy with the baby and blanket! Sarah is the one that preaches abstinence based education and wants to teach it to my daughters. What about teaching the importance of abstinence but also teaching birth control and STD's! She placed her son's face on TV and then announced he was being deployed to IRAQ!! I am sorry I need to question her judgement, she has the potential to be our president!
She had to get back to Alaska, didn't want her child born on foreign soil.
I totally agree with this article. What sane PARENT would do that to they 17 year daughter. Talk about Blind Ambition.
FORNICATORS UNITE!!!!! You are now officially recognized by the Republican Party as a potential voting bloc! Don't waste a minute! Go quick to the McCain website to get your official campaign items, including baby blankets and binky's which proudly display the McCain-Palin logo. Oh...an don't forget to order the new 100% cotton T-shirt which displays the campaign logo on the front and on the back...."I'm a F*****G REDNECK! (Just like Bristols baby daddy say on his MYSPACE PAGE) What better way to support the ticket than to proudly display your new duds at a really huge McCain Rally...where you will all be given VIP treatment, and surrounded by family values....just don't forget to hold those blankets in front of those baby bumps!!
HAHA......IT ALL JUST SMELLS LIKE A BIG POT OF HYPOCRISY SOUP!!!!
The heck with her and her kids problems. I'm more upset that the McCains are pushing her having foreign policy experience because Russia is next to Alaska. That "experience" factor will have a lot more effect on my life than whatever is going on in her family!
"You'd have to be the worst parent on earth to do that to your daughter to get a job." (Chris Kelly)
This statement highlights all we need to know about Sarah Palin's character (or lack of it).
Worse, the decision was made and executed without any consultation with Bristol. She flew to Dayton thinking she was going to a family affair.
Why doesn't the American public seem to get this? ...and to react in disgust?
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
