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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAnn Romney hasn't "worked a day in her life” at job for a paycheck. So what's the problem?
Last edited Thu Apr 12, 2012, 06:53 PM - Edit history (2)
What real outside jobs has she ever worked?
Where has she ever collected a payroll check?
Oh .... she's just a normal "stay at home mom" taking care of the kids and housekeeping?
So the Romney's don't have servants other hired help at their mansion???!!!
Sure .... I bet Ann Romney cleans the car elevator every week .... what stay at home working mom doesn't?
Until someone proves otherwise let me repeat it again.
Ann Romney has never worked a day in her life at a real job outside of the mansion. In fact, I doubt if she has even done any typical "housework" at the mansion! The Romney's hire people to do actual physical work. Such labor is beneath them.
So why are Democratic politicians running for the hills in response to Republican and corporate media attacks on the totally accurate comment.
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elleng
(141,926 posts)to the millions of women (and men) who know damn well that being a homemaker/parent is a REAL job. Unfortunately society has decided to not credit such.
Better Believe It
(18,630 posts)She's not a working class woman.
elleng
(141,926 posts)whatever particulars she did, imo. She had responsibilities for the home and family, and carried them out in some ways.
Better Believe It
(18,630 posts)The idle rich hire people for that purpose .... frequently low wage undocumented women.
And millions of actual "homemakers" have to work at an outside job in addition to working at home!
I don't think Mrs. Romney has any experience along those lines.
Mimosa
(9,131 posts)Speculation gets people in trouble.
elleng
(141,926 posts)Better Believe It
(18,630 posts)Thanks for the correcting my wild speculation!
Here's their modest little home in Lake Winnepesaukee, New Hampshire.
And this is the nice little beach front home in La Jolla, California. The Romney's will tear this now and replace it with a two-story mansion. I bet these two homes have keep Mrs. Romney busy with housekeeping chores! I hear they can't afford to hire help.
?59dea9
The new home Romney plans to build will be a two-story mansion covering around 11,000 square feet. Since he’s pretty busy at the moment, his renovation plans have been put on hold. Until then, let me share the lovely mansion he bought in 2008 for $12 million that will eventually get demolished. This Spanish style home has 3 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms covering one hardwood floor with vaulted ceilings. Found in a quite cul-de-sac, the highlights center around the beachfront backyard. A large deck gives a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean, with several patio areas for outdoor dining, lounging and entertaining. The backyard features varied flowers, plant-life and manicured lawns. Note the backyard runs along the premium white sand beach front, giving instant and private access. The total property area is 18,920 square feet, so the new home will extend along the beachfront. The unique hidden pool and spa will be the only original feature that will be kept after the new home is built.
FarLeftFist
(6,161 posts)it's not a career. I wonder if she would be FOR a woman with 5 kids making the same choice but collecting Govt assistance to do so. Also, I'm GLAD that woman can make such choices just don't expect to relate to the average middle-class working family.
elleng
(141,926 posts)I know, I've done both, worked 'outside the home,' as an attorney, AND had 2 children, for whom we both provided financial resources and direct parenting. We would not have made the decision had we not been able to provide both.
FarLeftFist
(6,161 posts)Atheism is a lack of religion. Not working is a lack of working. I'm a parent of 2 myself. No one pays me to "babysit" my kids.
elleng
(141,926 posts)They keep introducing 'organizing' into their belief, much to my surprise (and displeasure.) Fortunately we agnostics have not done the same.
'Pay' is not necessary to the definition of career, imo; its what you do with your life, day to day; its your career. (And to be technical, you are probably 'paid' by your partner, directly or not.) You do 'work' at home, do you not, cook, clean, shop, educate children, drive to and from events for your family?
Silly to quibble about words here, imo. Bottom line: I do NOT condemn Ann Romney for the choices she has made for her life, and am sorry for the way Hilary Rosen said what she said.
FarLeftFist
(6,161 posts)Both me & my wife work. When we're with the kids we're not considering ourselves at a different career. Good chat though 
elleng
(141,926 posts)
SATIRical
(261 posts)at the insistence of some Atheists.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)The comment was that Romney, being a woman of privilege who has NEVER worked for pay, would not be one to know what concerns the avg middle class American woman has. Duh. That's just an obvious statement of fact.
As you admit, YOU used to work for pay. You would be more aware of juggling work and home duties and all the things that the average woman faces today.
Romney is a woman of privilege. She is mega-wealthy. She doesn't know what it means to have your feet held to the fire for missing a deadline, getting to work on time, failing to get that bonus, having to do grocery shopping on your way to pick up the kids, and all the things that confront the American woman. That doesn't make her BAD. That just makes her DIFFERENT and unlike most American women.
Wanna know what concerns the average American billionaire woman has? Ask Romney. But don't ask your local grocery store clerk; she really wouldn't know.
elleng
(141,926 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)When he said he asked HER about what concerns American women most.
You may not be up to speed on what brought the Rosen comment up in the first place. Mitt said that he asked his wife what concerns American women most, or something like that, and she told him it's....(whatever she said). Rosen merely commented, when asked on a talk show about that, that Mrs. Romney was not someone to ask about that....she had never even worked one day in her life. A bad choice of words maybe, but it's just a statement of fact. WHO would ask Anne Romney what concerns the avg Am. woman? She is anything but the avg American woman. It's an appropriate response to a ludicrous statement by Mitt.
Did he ask his wife this while they were in their car going up in their car elevator?
Avalux
(35,015 posts)She had a choice, millions of dollars and a lot of help.
Most of us don't.
BOHICA12
(471 posts)Rosen is tone deaf and handed the Repubs a gift!!!! Too stupid.
and the administration quickly backed away, and I think she has apologized.
Hopefully it blows over.
Liber-AL
(71 posts)Democrats just don't have what it takes to back her up. Anne Romney is a privileged person. She probably never had to change diapers when she didn't want to; she never had to clean up after her kids or even cook for or feed them. There were no worries about clothing, food or any of the things that average people have nightmares about. Her life is NO comparison to that of the majority of women in this country. The work that the average american SAH mom encounters every day in raising her family begs to be contrasted from that associated with the Anne Romney's of the world.
Personally, I have little sympathy for people, male or female who are trying to take everything I have worked for while they live lives of unparalleled luxury. Excuse me if I get a little angry when a male or female politician or his wife exemplify the ogre that wants to take my MEDICARE, Social security, contraception and basic rights away just because I am one of the 99%.
I will NOT coddle to the likes of Mitt or ANN Romney because I STAND MY GROUND>
Better Believe It
(18,630 posts)wanting to offend the rich beat a hasty retreat!
They always seem to do that!
That's why they rarely use the term working class .... they almost always describe us as the "middle class".
Everyone is in the fricken middle class .... except most people!
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)American women, most of whom work now or have worked outside the home. She, as a billionaire woman who has never worked even one day at a paid job, would not be in tune with what concerns middle class American women have.
Vice versa....I wouldn't ask a WalMart cashier what concerns American billionaire women have. She really wouldn't have her hand on the pulse of those concerns.
Don't turn this into a woman vs. woman fight. All women know that working inside the home is a job, but most middle class women do work or have worked at paid jobs, so their concerns would be different than a "woman of substance."
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)She has not answered to a boss with a paycheck on the line; she has not sweated to get on time to a place she would far rather not be because it had to be done to pay the rent and feed the kids; she has never sweated out the time till a break lets you sit down or use the toilet: She has never worked a day in her life, she knows NOTHING!!!!
DonCoquixote
(13,940 posts)But and her hubby know the media will only play the most offensive syllables, which means they willplay "DEMOCRATS HATE HOUSEWIVES" which of course is meant to appeal to the right wing women who think of working moms as evil housewife haters. Obama knows that his ace in the hole is the Woman vote, which is why the GOP will desperate;ly try to ruin that. Why else do you think they are letting Palin get on television.
laundry_queen
(8,646 posts)DonCoquixote
(13,940 posts)They are afraid it will be a slam on housewives, who do work a lot, without a real salary. If they were smart, they would focus on the servants she has, that few stay at home moms could even imagine having.
Bobbie Jo
(14,344 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)Dems are always flopping over backwards after making factual statements about slimeball Repukes. It is this feeling of false guilt (why I have no idea) that washes over them or for some fear and panic that the M$M will flay them in the public eye. So they backtrack and apologize, because the M$M makes them. If you want face time in America, you have to appease the M$M and that means working against a system built for the BFEE.
It has pretty much always been that way and how I wish it was not so.
Because Democrats know they have an enemy in the media that will play the worst part of every sentence. The only way to win is to ensure the GOP keeps giving the msm more juicy tidbits they cannot resist eating, such as the birth control comments. If anything, we need to think fo propaganda the same way the enemy does, as a 24-7 war, details be damned!
Rex
(65,616 posts)For example, the draconian state laws against women. Lots of stuff they do that would scare the hell out of ordinary citizens if they had an M$M that just told the truth.
banned from Kos
(4,017 posts)Ann Romney had full time "help" and never had to struggle.
That said -- Do NOT ATTACK ANN ROMNEY! She will only invite sympathy!
toddwv
(2,831 posts)There is no reason to attack Ann Romney.
Check her facts when she's campaigning, but going after the wife is just poor taste and very counter-productive.
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)toddwv
(2,831 posts)I'm just saying that it's better to point out the lies, inconsistencies and false equivalencies than to actually attack her.
It can be done without creating soundbites that the right-biased media will plaster across the media as the "Left's War on Terror".
Remember, the media is controlled by corporations. Corporations prefer right-wing politics because it makes them more money.
In addition, the media wants a close race. A blowout simply doesn't stir up ratings.
So giving the right-wing free ammunition just doesn't serve the purpose.
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)Bill Clinton put Hillary in play and she paid a high price for it. But you're right, the bias is so completely one-sided that handling this kind of thing is touchy at best. OTOH, after seeing this administration's imitation of the Keystone Kops played out over and over, fully expect that they will end up loading the shotguns for the republicans yet again.
How about walking back the statement without over-reacting? Is that possible?
(However IIRC this particular individual is no great loss, so...)
DonCoquixote
(13,940 posts)This is one of the few times where the chess analogy does fit. Mitt is hiding behind his wife, the same wife who said she would do the debates for him. She wants to be the forst Female president well before Hillary, and the GOP will glaldy help her if we let her.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)have gone to work and left her kids with strangers but chose not to.
Agree with her that raising children is one of the most important job a mother can do. Remind her of polls that showed that a majority of younger mothers would like to be able to make the choice she made.
Then ask her how she would make such a decision possible for those who cannot afford nannies and housekeepers etc.
Ask her what plans her husband has to ensure that every mother is in a position to make the choice she was able to make.
If she felt strongly enough that a mother choosing to stay home with her children to raise the next generation, then she must want that for every mother and every child.
No need to attack her at all. Use what she said to show what hypocrites they are, that, far from making it possible for all mothers to have the choices she had, they will take away the means for other mothers to do what she says to her, was so important.
demgrrrll
(3,593 posts)Whisp
(24,096 posts)to the 99% of mothers who don't have the resources that a Romney does.
you tell them that raising kids isn't work.
Better Believe It
(18,630 posts)Bobbie Jo
(14,344 posts)-----? 
that figures.
Here's the thing....
Ann Romney had the LUXURY of being able to choose staying home with her kids. Most of us were never afforded this "choice." It just wasn't an option.
LOL quick edit I see. Did ya forget where you were? 
Broderick
(4,578 posts)But, it wasn't a wise comment in my opinion.
The administration did the right thing by backing away and I believe she apologized.
Hopefully everyone moves along.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)sometimes much harder work than a "real"job.
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)They do the job of driving kids to school, buying groceries, taking care of the dry-cleaning and coordinating what ever services are required from vairous professionals including plumbers, electricians, cleaning people, taking care of the kids and pets. I know people that don't have as much $$ as Rmoney and they certainly have house managers and don;t so much as clean their own toilets. If Ann Rmoney has ever performed any sort of physical labor, it was because she wanted to, not because she had to.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)the problem is Hillary didnt make that distinction. Her comments sounded like a insult to "stay at home" moms.
Lizzie Poppet
(10,164 posts)Of course, she was so very effective at PR in her former position as RIAA head honcho. Everyone loves them.
Oh, wait...
BOHICA12
(471 posts)Mimosa
(9,131 posts)I didn't know until today that Ann Romney suffers from M.S.
So do I. Unfortunately I can't afford health insurance which would give me access to treatment.
Happyhippychick
(8,422 posts)I was a SAHM. I am now a working mom. I have done both, they were both equally difficult but had very different challenges. The Hilary Rosen comment was not offensive, nor was it inaccurate if Ann Romney has not worked at an outside job. And frankly if she hasn't worked an outside job Ann Romney should STFU and stop talking about something she knows nothing about!
opihimoimoi
(52,426 posts)
Uncle Joe
(64,184 posts)the motivation is solely based on political calculation.
The Republicans have shot themselves repeatedly in the feet over substantive women's issues and with the vast majority of the corporate media being sympathetic to either Republicans or as ProSense posted on another thread promoting the distortion of "false equivalency," the Democrats during an election year don't want to give the drowning Republicans so much as a straw.
Thanks for the thread, Better Believe It.
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)It is very unfortunate that the statement was worded as it was. With that said, what the Dems should be doing is not running from the statement but rephrasing it. If I was a pol and a reporter asked my thoughts on the statement I'd say "If by "never worked a day in her life" you mean that she has never had to hold a job and stretch a paycheck to cover food and rent, then yes, that is correct." Boom, change the direction.
One could even sort of laughingly dismiss the unfortunate part of the statement (this only works for women, of course) by saying "Hey, I've had children, seriously, labor is involved...." and then put the direction on women who are not getting by financially and how Ann Romney would find their world completely alien.
It's being run on the defense and it shouldn't be.
Julie
MichiganVote
(21,086 posts)Better Believe It
(18,630 posts)Bobbie Jo
(14,344 posts)What are you saying here?
Mimosa
(9,131 posts)It's actually very responsible to stay home to be available when a person has children. Especially 5 kids.Most of us respect that type of choice. When people bring children into the world they should take responsibility for 'being there' for there children.
One of the 99
(2,280 posts)It was Ann Romney who spun Rosen's comments into that context.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)
Bruce Wayne
(692 posts)Sadly, I lost her to a heinous street crime when I was but a child. Grrrr, don't get me started on the malevolent street element who plague our once great city. But for those eight brief years, she found full time employment making sure I was a happy, well adjusted child, fully capable of handling this confusing world and all the evils and challenges that beset it. And frankly, I'm a better man today for that gift.
I don't begrudge any woman, nor any man, the opportunity to ejoy the benefit of devoting significant time to the care and rearing of their children. It's a beautiful thing. My beef with Mrs Romney is that economically illiterate jack-a-napes she married. But moms are special people. Be grateful for every moment you ever have with yours.
Bruce Wayne
(692 posts)He helped keep the ol' manse lookin' spiffy, too. Of course Alfy's wasn't literally a "full time job" cause otherwise they'd've had to pay for his health insurance. Still, he got a lot don't in his 39½ hours per week. I felt bad putting him out last year, but the ingrate was about to file a friggin' OSHA claim on me. And here we were practically family.
Such insolence! Still, I do miss him...
spanone
(140,986 posts)KharmaTrain
(31,706 posts)It was set for someone and Rosen stepped in it. Raising children IS hard work. Rosen should have focused on HOW Mrs. Rmoney raised those children and how out of touch she is with those who don't have her wealth. The rushpublicans were waiting for someone to bite on this...dare to attack the Mrs. who is far more popular than the little man hiding under her skirt.
quinnox
(20,600 posts)From observation just from life experience, being a mother seems to me it would be hard work indeed.
randome
(34,845 posts)Although I'm not going to hang around much because I need to watch Community and 30 Rock with my daughters. Family time, you know?
But I'm going to throw this out and check back in later.
I would SUGGEST that being a stay-at-home Mom is not the same as being employed in the same manner than being home-schooled is not the same as going to public school.
Now...DISCUSS!
Raine
(31,091 posts)about the economy. Mitt is clueless.
I hate liars
(165 posts)And when Hilary Rosen points out that Ann wouldn't recognize the real economy if it rear-ended her Cadillac, the GOP attack dogs complain that Rosen was saying that Ann Romney didn't work.
I don't think Rosen said that. I think I heard that a woman who raised 5 boys at home and never had to worry about a paycheck or pink slip in her life is no expert about how the Bush economy affects working women.
Why can't just one cable pundit make that point?
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)worked a day in her life, so she is not the one to ask about what concerns does the avg American middle class woman have. She would not be the one to know, unless someone told her.
A fair statement. Nothing wrong with not working outside the home, but since most middle class women do or have, she is not representative.
If I want to know what concerns billionaire women have these days, I won't ask a female WalMart cashier. There's nothing wrong with being a cashier, but she is not representative of billionaire American women.
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)I stayed at home when the children were young but we would be able to afford health insurance if I didn't work.
Better Believe It
(18,630 posts)Rosen was responding to Mitt Romney’s constant trotting out of Ann when he gets a question on women’s issues:
What you have is Mitt Romney running around the country saying, well, you know, my wife tells me that what women really care about are economic issues. And when I listen to my wife, that’s what I’m hearing.
Guess what, his wife has actually never worked a day in her life. She’s never really dealt with the kinds of economic issues that a majority of the women in this country are facing in terms of how do we feed our kids, how do we send them to school and how do we—why do we worry about their future?