Are the Roberts bad parents?

[rinsd]

Some Duers seem to think so based on the Roberts' 4 year old doing a little dance.

We want to talk about hypocrisy and such. Well let's take a look in the mirror.

We were aghast when freepers made a big deal about Gore's son getting busted with pot. Same thing when Dean's son got busted stealing beer. I think in the mold of the liberal, we applauded both Dean and Gore for being upfront and taking care of this and really believed that children not participating in a campaign(beyond the obligatory family photo-op) should be left alone.

And let's add Chelsea in this. When the Brit tabloids decided Chelsea photos were the rage and wingers decided to open another Clinton hunting season, most of us hated it because it was just so petty and vindictive.

Now quite a few DUers are ripping a guy because his son did a little dance during a big press conference.

[Goldmund]

1. I actually think that's a sign of a good parent, not a bad one,

that the kid is allowed to be a fucking kid.

[Midlodemocrat]

5. I agree with you.

Let's not forget this little guy is four years old, and it was 9PM, and he had a very willing audience full of cameras as well as people probably giggling away.

[rinsd]

7. Did you see the Daily Show bit on this....

...it was hilarious. They had the little guy dancing at every Bush speech to explain Bush's frequent "distracted" look at such events.

[hexola]

14. mmm...nearly a Limbaugh moment for Stew...

Yeah - it was almost funny - no where near as cruel as Limbaugh on Chelsea...

But still - I thought - "c'mon John you can do better than that..."

[rinsd]

23. Limbaugh was such a dick about that EVEN he knew he was a dick...

..I think he apologized to Hillary about it a few years ago.

[politicaholic]

8. I agree. His father is a man of power and the kid's not afraid...

I often dance during Bush speeches to keep from vomiting.

[rinsd]

9. Grossed out and laughing my ass off...

...a rare combination to elict ;-)

[K-W]

13. I agree 200%

I also think the world would be better if more people did little dances at press conferences.

:)

[tx_dem41]

18. If I could nominate a single post. This would be the one.

Great one, K-W.

[rinsd]

20. LOL....this is a great idea...

..interpretative dancers in the same manner they have sign language for the hearing impaired.

[gkhouston]

21. you're absolutely right

why should Scotty be the only one dancing at press conferences?

[Mass]

2. delete

[leftofthedial]

3. of course

they are fascists

can't be a good parent setting an example like that.

[Mass]

4. He is 4 - My only question is why you would get a 4 year old

into such a media thing. I do not care he made his dance. I question the parents to use him as a prop.

[LeftyMom]

16. Agreed

My four year old probably would've done something similar, but stripped naked first, done his little dance, talked over everyone, then had a good cry.

Which is why he woudn't be there.

[Inland]

29. Right. The kid didn't ask to be there. It wasn't fun for him

except for the dance.

He was there as a prop, because people expect the great man to have his family behind him literally as well as figuratively.

Not a big deal, but it's a fact.

[Logiola]

6. kids are kids

he could of been eating boogers for all i cared.. would of been better if it was an 8 year old who laughed every time someone said bush

[Bluerthanblue]

10. judging

their parenting based on the little guys energy level, and his way of coping with a very 'out there' experience for someone so young, is not fair-

But the sad, lost face on the little girl worries me, as does the strained, stone face on the mom. The healthiest person there struck me as the little boy-

even with the saddle shoes- i'd rather see him 'do his thing' than be dragged off and repremanded for being a kid- which may have happened in the end anyway- i hope not.

it's hard enough to be a kid- never mind a public kid. Wasn't their choice to be adopted by this family.

[friesianrider]

11. I don't think anyone said they were bad parents.

Just having a little fun because the boy was apparently misbehaving so badly at a very important moment in his father's life. Just having some fun, lighten up :)

[rinsd]

15. It got pretty ugly on a couple of threads....

...we're not talking having a bit of fun with the Easter outfits either.

I would lighten up but shit like that drives me nuts and "we" are supposed to be better than that.

[friesianrider]

22. Pffh.

"...shit like that drives me nuts and "we" are supposed to be better than that."

Yeah, believe me it drives me nuts too, but "we" are not better than that. Many vegetarians have been repeatedly attacked, called names, and rudely poked fun of on this board because the majority of DUers are NOT veg* and feel it is their duty to make vegs feel like shit. No one seems to care about when that happens - it's just another example of the Dems on here being hypocrites and being exactly like the Repukes. "We" are not better than the Repukes in many ways, I'm sorry to say. Many of us are the same sanctimonious, closed-minded hypocrites. Sucks, but that's the way it is.

[rinsd]

26. " Many of us are the same sanctimonious, closed-minded hypocrites."

True...but we should always aspire to be better.

[friesianrider]

27. This is very true...

Point taken. :)

[tx_dem41]

19. Respectfully, you need to get out more. n/t

[friesianrider]

24. Um, why?

Because I wasn't sitting on a computer and saw all the vicious anti-periwinkle suit threads?

[tx_dem41]

25. D'oh!

You've exposed me. :)

[ComerPerro]

12. Yes, and Dr. James Dobson needs to beat the fear of Jesus into them

[quiet.american]

17. Don't know if it's good or bad, but it's the norm now

Okay, I have no kids of my own, granted, but when I was growing up, it was not considered child abuse to teach your kids that there are times when standing or sitting quietly is appropriate, and that not every environment is a playground.

However, with the generation of kids from the 80's onwards, there seem to be very few boundaries imposed by parents, everywhere's a playground, and to ask your kids to sit or stand quietly in any situation is considered oppressive.

So, with that in mind, the Roberts' are perfectly good parents.

[FreedomAngel82]

28. I don't think

you can judge in general by one event by the boy if the mother and father are good parents or not. Remember the mother did try to get the boy to behave but he bit her. Now if that was my little cousin he would've got his butt whooped by my aunt and she's deaf so if she and her husband (who's also deaf) can handle their wild child (he's the same age as this boy) then surely they can handle him. I doubt my parents would've let me and my brother get away with that. They should've told the boy to behave and even bribe him with something (like icecream or something like that) or let them go outside and run around. Can you imagine what the media would be saying if that was a democratic presidential event?

[quiet.american]

30. Know what you mean, if it were a Democrat....

There would already be a whispering/shouting campaign to question the fitness of the candidate and their spouse to parent, and within 24hrs, every rock would have been turned over to find someone, anyone, to go on cable news to relate a very vague, but emotionally charged story of how they didn't think the candidate was a fit parent, etc.

[LeahD]

31. A child that age is clueless about the significance of the occasion.

And with that in mind, why would he be there at 9:00 PM? I agree they were there for the photo op.

Anyone remember the antics of Guliani's son?

[MountainLaurel]

32. If they're like many DC parents

Of that status level, the real parent is probably an older woman from Guatemala or a 20-year-old European au pair.

[formernaderite]

37. That's so true....and can be seen on both sides of the aisle.

I've worked for quite a few well-heeled dems in the DC area doing small construction. Thai women seem to be the popular hire these days...and sadly, they're not very interested in taking care of the kids. I've seen groups of them get together for playdates...and virtually ignore the kids, beating on each other while they sip tea. I have no idea what they pay these ladies, but darn...am I glad we were able to make other childcare choices when ours were young.

[bluedonkey]

33. That little boy made me giggle

he reminded me of my son at my nieces wedding.He was 5 yo and the ring bearer.At one point during the ceremony he sat down on the altar steps,tapping his foot.No one was offended,it was funny and I have it on tape!

[rinsd]

38. Oh boy...

...nothing like a recipe for comedy like a young child involved in a wedding.

"it was funny and I have it on tape!"

Well at least it wasn't dancing! My brother has for years attempted to destroy the only known copy we have of him from a dance recital when he was 4. He's a little mortified by the red with black spots unitard and mathcing headband.

[DisassemblingHisLies]

34. I agree, rinsd!

I think the little boy had sensed his parents' excitement over the occasion & wasn't able to rein in his emotions like the adults are able to do.

To expect this 4 year old to act with the same grace as an adult is unreasonable.

Years ago, I had a friendship with a neighbor one block away from me who over-reacted on something or other on a daily basis. Much of it had to do with someone else's child (hers was unpopular). She expected perfection from everyone else, though hers seemed to have the most flaws (& due to her & her husband's parenting skills, I might add).

Kids - particularly, 4 year old's - don't have the social skills of adults, although some would expect them to. They should lighten up.

[Ilsa]

35. Gee, I'm glad I didn't see that.

I might actually start to like the guy if his kid is cool.

[Cocoa]

36. John Roberts loves his family

:-)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4157908&mesg_id=4157908

[rinsd]

39. LOL...

That was a great bit. Can you imagine...

And Bush has introduced his nominee who has 10 children by 5 different mothers. Judge Satan would typically stay with a woman until the 2nd child at which point he simply moved onto another woman. He hates his family but he will make a great judge...no icky personal attachments!