What's He Going to Call Her in Public?

My responses to the Palin announcement in chronological order:

Who's that?

Is this a joke?

Who's that again?

She has a four month old baby and she's hitting the campaign trail?

Is she breastfeeding?

Does she know he has a history of abusing his wife in public?

Has she ever been called a "c***?"

Do they really think American women are that stupid?

A beauty queen?

Is she related to Katharine Harris?

Did the people who run his campaign know about this ahead of time?

What scandals is she embroiled in?

What was the last large animal she killed?

Does she pay her nanny's social security?

If the red phone rings in the middle of the night and she's breastfeeding, will she answer it?

Comments

[DCdemocrat]

Ms. Smiley, while I understand your concern regarding Ms. Palin as John McCain running mate, seeing as she is one of the most conservative female Republicans on the right side of the aisle, I, as a feminist, would ask that you not to bring her having a child into the discussion of her being a reliable candidate for Vice President. There are working mothers all across the country going back to work after having their children in as little as six weeks. Does having a child exclude Ms. Palin from being able to perform the duties of VP, whatever they may be? She is an example of a strong working mother, whatever her ideological beliefs or positions on policy may be. Instead we should look at her stance on abortion, foreign policy, the economy and the environment. But I feel that under no circumstance should Ms. Palin be excluded or discriminated against as a choice for VP because she is a working mother, representing 70 million other women in this country. Also, this is an another example of women, who are running for office, being discriminated against merely because they are women. What would have happened if the media had not discussed Hillary Clinton's clothing or cleavage? Having children is a natural thing women do. Not to mention Joe Biden became a single father after he was elected Senator in 1973. Should we have excluded him then as Senator because he stayed up with his young children at night?

[mosh]

Perfectly said. Stick it to her on the issues not on her gender.

[Ryter]

you ask: Does having a child exclude Ms. Palin from being able to perform the duties of VP, whatever they may be?

I ask: Does being VP interfere with a person's responsibility as a parent? And those responsibilities are at least triple with a child who has special needs.

You ask: "whatever they may be?"

I ask: You mean like homeland security, economy, and health care for all - that kind of silly stuff?

[flamingokicker]

DCdemocrat, the issue is not so much that she is a working mother. It lies, rather, in the fact that Palin is a pentecostalist Christian, and as such would normally be expected to advocate for mothers NOT WORKING, but rather, staying home and taking care of their children.

Incidentally, breast feeding is both a political and a health issue, and has been since before my own child was born in the early 80's. Many of us working mothers (I returned to work when my child was 2 weeks old) made a lot of sacrifices to be sure our children had the health benefits of mother's milk for their entire first year. Does Palin think as much of her special needs infant? If not, she loses a lot of her "good mother" credit in my opinion.

[klmebane]

i think the issue with ms palin having kids isn't simply that she has them. she *just* had a baby 4 months ago and the baby has down syndrome. being vice president is not the same has having any old job. it will require her to spend large amounts of time away form a newborn that needs her, more so than a regular 9-5 job. she can't get that time back with her kid, and it makes me wonder...

[gwpriester]

She's under an investigation in Alaska
http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/478090.html

And, she does not even know what the Vice President does.

Well, no problemo. Bush never seemed to know what the president does except give back rubs to German Chancellors.

[DCdemocrat]

Ms. Smiley, while I understand your concern regarding Ms. Palin as John McCain running mate, seeing as she is one of the most conservative female Republicans on the right side of the aisle, I, as a feminist, would ask that you not to bring her being a mother into the discussion of being a reliable candidate for VP. There are working mothers all across the country going back to work after having their children in as little as six weeks. Does having a child exclude Ms. Palin from being able to perform the duties of Vice President, whatever they may be? She is an example of a strong working mother, whatever her ideological beliefs or positions on policy may be. Instead we should look at her stance on abortion, foreign policy, the economy and the environment. But I feel that under no circumstance should Ms. Palin be excluded or discriminated against as a choice for VP because she is a working mother, representing 70 million other women in this country. Also, this is an another example of women, who are running for office, being discriminated against merely because they are women. What would have happened if the media had not discussed Hillary Clinton's clothing choices or cleavage? Having children is a natural thing women do. Not to mention Joe Biden became a single father after he was elected Senator in 1973. Should we have excluded him then as Senator because he stayed up with his young children at night?

[BabsfromKansas]

Wow - great post!

Nannies don't play well with the demo she is trying to woo.

[Tropiholic]

love your books, love this column!

[Boikin]

This is some pretty sexist stuff.

[BillyT]

Really, Boikin?

Sexist, as in "calling your own wife a C@&T in public" sexist??

I supposed McCain is used to that, so why are you so worried about sexist comments?

[johnnydajogger]

This is just an another insult to the intelligence of all Americans.

[LewisWalsh]

This is the Republican's best choice? This selection seems to me to be an act of desperation. This is a Hail Mary; sometimes it works in football, but most of the time it doesn't.

[Old time Dem]

I was waiting for Romney.

Now I'm sure I'll be voting for Bob Barr.

http://www.bobbarr2008.com

[anon004]

I keep thinking of Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro. That was definitely a Hail Mary. The woman in me winces when I think this ticket might lose that badly and keep any major party from selecting a woman for a ticket for another 24 years. On the other hand, if it helps Obama win, it won't be all bad.

Jane, I echo the other commenters here. We are still having problems here in the very blue state of NY with women getting thrown out of museums and clothing stores for breast-feeding in public, even though it's actually enshined in law that they can. So, please don't bring up the breastfeeding. There's enough discrimination against women for doing that already.

[fcmike]

I think that she is an abysmal choice for VP, as well as a cynical choice to try to skim off disaffected HRC "supporters". However, I believe that some of your comments are out of line. Particularly, the ones regarding her 4 month old and the 3:00 AM breastfeeding.
The McCain camp is counting on typical, knee-jerk, superficial attacks to bolster the effect of this cynical choice. By losing focus on the real and numerous deficiencies of Palin, and taking cheap swipes on her role as a mother, you are ceding the high ground.
You can't use a sexist brush to paint the man as a misogynist. (Given time, he'll do that himself...)
We are better than that, and our candidate is better than that.

Obama-Biden 08 !!

[bwilder]

I was a working mom and yet I have to disagree with you. She has FIVE children and this
is not a 9 to 5 job. Who takes care of them and how in the world will they even know
her for four years should this catastrophe actually happen? She's making a choice here
and I just don't think she has a clue what she's getting in to. As of a month ago in a television
interview she didn't even know what the Vice President does! As the Governor or a state
with half a million people and the major industry is Oil accounting for 80% of Alaska's income, she has time for her family. That is not going to be the case as a VP of the USA

I want women to be able to do exactly whatever they want and are capable of doing and to receive equal compensation when they're doing it.
BUT, as I said I think that Sarah Palin hasn't got a clue as to what she has just gotten herself
and her family into.

[kate1234567]

so i signed up just to comment on how out of line this is:

"If the red phone rings in the middle of the night and she's breastfeeding, will she answer it?"

are you serious? there are all sorts of -actual- weaknesses in this ridiculous choice for VP- her nonexistent record, her anti-gay, anti-women policies, the fact that she named her child TRACK for heaven's sake, but you had to go with-

she's a woman. with breasts. that dispense milk, you conjecture, anyway. what an absurd and lowering comment. breastfeeding = incompetence to lead.

mccain shows incredible contempt for american women in this pick- "oh you like ladies?! look! i found you one! she has ladyparts too!" please don't jump on his sexist bandwagon.

[gage]

She asked the infamous "Nanny" question, too. Only female candidates are ever asked that question.

[mosh]

Yeah, the male candidates are asked about lawn care services. Gotta love those gender stereotypes or else shoot yourself.

[YellerDawg]

Well, folks, we've found the black hole of humor. Lighten up. It's a good question, however. Most mothers wouldn't want to take on an assignment like this while caring for an infant. Her child deserves the full attention of both parents at this formative time in life. The physiological functions of mammary glands aside, politics should take a back seat to caring for an infant. It says something troubling about her, I think. Of course, rich people can afford to hire nannies, right?
We're not talking about PTA president; we're talking about the POTUS.

[Paul]

I agree. A woman breast feeding isn't suddenly less capable.

I'm gonna wait and see. Palin is so much like a person you might know that she may connect with the public in a big way.

Republicans have screwed up the country, but Obama is saying experience isn't what counts - it's judgement.

OK, let's see if Sarah Palin has judgement. She sure doesn't have experience.

[Ryter]

A woman breast feeding is suddenly less available.

[Jane Smiley - Huffpost Blogger]

As someone with three kids (all of whom breastfed for a very long time), and as a citizen, I think it's perfectly valid to question whether campaigning and then adjusting to a new job as important as VP is compatible with having a four month old (younger than a year old if she gets to the White House). He's 72, she has a baby. Come on! Is that what we need in a dangerous world? It's one thing to run Alaska and another to run the US. If the child were two or three, I would keep my mouth shut, but having been there and done that, I question her choice.

[mosh]

As a mother of two kids who also breastfed for a very long time I still say you're emphasis on this issue is misguided. Yes, a woman could be president and mother of an infant if it came to that, but that is not the problem with Palin as president. If that were the only problem, if otherwise Ms. Palin were well qualified to be president and commander in chief, republican or democrat, then she would be a good pick for vp regardless of the age or number of her children. She isn't qualified, that is the point, and the only point a feminist or any woman for that matter she be thinking about.

Your post was misguided although I understand the passionate response. Love your books, btw. Every last one of them (read Moo and Horse Heaven twice, when's the next one coming out?! Soon I hope.

[WarrenPeace]

Exactly when was the next best hope of the Republican party sworn is as governor of Alaska?

If it was August of 2006, then she has two years of state government experience. If not . . . well, since her time in office is so miniscule, the least the celebrity media can do is be more precise with the time frame.

Just asking.

[SeenItBefore]

Hell, I forgot...

What was the largest animal she's killed?

Hopefully, the Republican Party!

[dana94591]

LOL! I guess she could call him "Sugar Daddy"!!! This is a crock!!!

[jplass]

ha!

[BlueInARedState]

LOL. This is almost so unkind it's Republican.