My mom was SHOCKED than a parent with a very young special needs child would do this right now...

[Bicoastal]

...and said she would be just as shocked if was a man.

Of course politicians with young children should and do run, she said, especially women--but children with Down Syndrome need a lot of help and care from both parents, and the fact that she would spend the next 2 months completely caught up in a whirlwind of campaigning, let alone 4 years in the VP chair, made her wonder if Sarah even WANTED the job. Maybe she was all but forced into it by the GOP leadership, she said...

Just in case you thought this was a chauvinist pig attitude. Frankly, I agree with her.

[ingac70]

1. If I was a Repuke gov...

no way the GOP could force me to do shit, especially if it meant practically abandoning a baby.

[vaberella]

2. Don't sweat this. It's her kid and her life let her do what she wants.

We should focus on McCain and the issues.

[Bicoastal]

3. Well, if politics is all about relating to people...

...my Mom can't relate to Sarah Palin at all--and I suspect others may not as well.

[27inCali]

4. something tells me that the Fundies

wont be so stoked on her when they realize she's short-changing her special-needs baby to do this.

We Progressives believe in people having the freedom to make their own choices, even when those choices seem a little dumb.

But those Fundies will be turned off. So I say Why not bring it up?

[Mimosa]

18. I hate the term 'fundie'

I hate stereotyping any group of people because I am a true liberal.

The idea of a woman abandoning the care of a special needs child as well as her other kids in order to campaign with McSame is likely to turn off many people of many political persuasions. Our choices in life are particularly important when children are affected.

Yes, Hillary raised her daughter well and was an effective career woman as well as a mother.

[emilyg]

15. Exactly.

[Tumbulu]

5. I agree with you and your mom

I have known two families who had a baby with Down's Syndrome and they are completely involved in medical issues that do not leave much room for other things at all. Let alone something as serious as the possible presidency.

McCain has proven himself to be insane with this choice.

[dkf]

8. Do Down's syndrome babies have special needs from the day they are born

or do they show up as the baby gets older? I would have thought that in the beginning, a baby's needs are so great that it is almost the same thing.

[knitter4democracy]

11. It depends on the severity of the condition.

It all depends on how much of the chromosome is switched to the wrong place. Some babies are born with severe heart problems and other major organ issues that need surgery, often several surgeries in the first few years. Feeding is an issue, too, as some have issues with absorbtion and need a different balance of nutrients to help with that.

They are amazing people, and I've been honored to know some people with Down's. Still, it's a whole lot of work to keep them alive and healthy for as long as possible.

[dkf]

14. I had no idea it could get that bad.

I guess when I see people with down's they look pretty healthy. I thought it was more of a learning problem.

[knitter4democracy]

19. It affects the entire body.

One student I knew told me he'd had seven major surgeries already, and he was just a freshman in high school. His teacher confirmed that it was true.

This is why I'm so shocked and horrified that a "family values" candidate would leave such a fragile little one to go campaign for VP. Granted, he'll have his dad, but even his dad will have to travel around for speeches and TV interviews and such. The entire family tends to have to campaign, and what are they going to do about this little guy who really needs them and might need massive medical intervention more than once?

[KingFlorez]

6. That's the party of family values for you

You know, the GOP is always preaching about how important family is, but a lot of times they go against their own philosophy.

[la la]

9. other family members.....

such as the 16 year old ....ahem....daughter will take care of the baby. Isn't that what happens in a majority of fundy families? the older kids completely care for the younger ones.

no disrespect to fundy families, of course! heh

[la la]

10. the other family members.....

such as the 16 year old ....ahem....daughter will take care of the baby. Isn't that what happens in a majority of fundy families? the older kids completely care for the younger ones.

no disrespect to fundy families, of course! heh

[ben_meyers]

7. And really, shouldn't she have resigned as Governor

and her husband quit his jobs and that silly sno-machine racing as soon as they knew they had a special needs child.

This is like a spouse running for elective office when they know that their partner has a serious, life threatening illness.

What kind of people are they?

[la la]

12. the other family members.....

such as the 16 year old ....ahem....daughter will take care of the baby. Isn't that what happens in a majority of fundy families? the older kids completely care for the younger ones.

no disrespect to fundy families, of course! heh

[grantcart]

13. and every fundamentalist would agree with her. I wonder what this expert would say?

[demigoddess]

16. I'm the parent of a special needs child who is really a middle aged woman now

I know that parental attention in the first years is so important, especially with a Down's syndrome child, that running for vice president is practically child neglect. Not to mention the other four kids. It is one thing for someone like Hillary to run, her child is grown and had a lot of attention from both her parents while young. Raising a special child is totally different. I often say that I did not sleep through the night for the first 28 years; is that what we want for our leadership??? And usually, a down's child is very active and needs a lot of attention.

And I would love to see a woman in the white house before it die, but not this one.

[demigoddess]

17. I'm the parent of a special needs child who is really a middle aged woman now

I know that parental attention in the first years is so important, especially with a Down's syndrome child, that running for vice president is practically child neglect. Not to mention the other four kids. It is one thing for someone like Hillary to run, her child is grown and had a lot of attention from both her parents while young. Raising a special child is totally different. I often say that I did not sleep through the night for the first 28 years; is that what we want for our leadership??? And usually, a down's child is very active and needs a lot of attention.

And I would love to see a woman in the white house before i die, but not this one.

[knitter4democracy]

20. I entirely agree.

Even if the baby were healthy, now is not the time for her to campaign. The entire family campaigns--look at the Obamas. As much as Michelle and Barack have tried to keep their kids out of it, they've still had to take the girls along, and the girls were up all night at the convention. How in the heck would a special needs five month old handle that?

[Thrill]

21. I think you need to realize how the Republican Party works. I think she was forced to take this

as much as McCain was forced to pick her.

I think the plan is clear. They expect her to win Hillary voters. And if they win, McCain will be forced out in two months and they'll have Rove's hand picked Puppet running things.

[Evergreen Emerald]

22. It is a chauvinist pig attitude.

Perhaps her husband is taking care of the children. Perhaps she takes the child with her, or has a live-in Nanny, or sends the child to a special school. We have no idea.

Obama's kids are young, and he is away from them. Yet not one person has suggested that he should not run.

Indeed not once has this issue ever been discussed unless it is about a woman.

Working women are not neglecting their children.