An Interesting Take on Palin
by tgirschSeptember 3rd, 2008
This from David Opderbeck, a socially-conservative libertarian type (but, within that group, one of the “good guys”):
I respect Palin’s right to make her own choices about her family and career. I’m thrilled, actually, that there is a woman vying for this high office. But — I know first-hand how difficult it is to raise a child with a significant disability. My wife and I both have had to accept some limitations in our own careers and lives to care for our children, and particularly for our youngest son, Garrett, who has a severe language disability. Everyone has to make their own choices about this sort of thing, and in our case the burden falls more on my wife right now than on me given our respective career stages. Yes, we both work hard and we aren’t always “ideal” parents to any of our kids, including Garrett, but I don’t think either of us would contemplate a job right now that would involve being on call 24-7 and constantly traveling around the globe. Presidential politics is on its own extreme level in terms of time demands and ambition. I’m not sure that anyone, male or female, who seeks that sort of office while raising young kids can be considered a champion of the family.
[Emphasis mine.]
I wonder if this attitude is an outlier among “family values” social conservatives, or if it’s more common than media attention would lead us to believe.
Categories: Politics |
An interesting question would be if her husband has decided to stay home full time while she runs for this position and, if McCain is elected, while she is in office.
As I’ve noted before, I don’t think that her family life is particularly relevant. What’s odd is that McCain’s camp are the only ones making an issue out of it in the MSM — sure there have been some far-left bloggers making noise here and there, but they simply never get any widespread public attention. So it intrigues me that this seems to be more of an issue with McCain’s supporters than it does with his detractors.
Attempting to make this point is to navigate a quite precarious minefield. High levels of success come with concomitant levels of responsibility. I’ve seen many individuals whose involvement in parenting could mostly succinctly be described as paying the individuals who actually raised the child (and then pulling strings, to varying degrees of success, and footing tuition bills come college time).
I think the general point made is fair - as a general point. But, I don’t think its really fair to single Palin out and, in effect, imply she should choose between being a mother and a successful career woman.
Most studies have shown that both children of working mothers and the mothers themselves less frequently experience depression than their single, domesticated counterparts. Though, I would think that when it comes to overall emotional, mental health, etc. there’s probably a tipping point at which too many competing demands on one’s time and energy begin to mitigate some of the emotional and mental health gains of a child of successful parents.
I went to high school w/ a lot of kids from highly successful parents. They pulled in buku bucks and lived in sweet Manhattan apartments. On the outside, their kids had all the indicators of success, but most of their time was actually spent throwing ecstasy parties while their parents were on business trips - no hyperbole.
I thought Palin made the ultimate Republican speech. She hit the bull right out of the park.
Michael S:
I agree — all attacks, no substance. That’s the ultimate Republican speech, all right!
“Hit the bull right out of the park” That’s funny. Intentional or not.
Digg, as much as I admire your street cred, your spelling of ‘beaucoup’ really makes my French-decended teeth itch.
Could be worse Dan - if they were English-decended teeth, it would make them fall out…
At the risk of sounding like a Republican, in this country, we speak English, and English spelling is far more important than French spelling. So in my mind, you lost any right to gripe when you screwed the pooch on “descended.”
And even though Ted repeated the error, his comment was funny as hell, and thus gets a pass.
P.S. Re: Digg’s “street cred,” you must be joking, right? Da statistizzies are in the hizzie? Dude, yo distribution is wack, ain’t no independent variabizzle?
He has about as much street cred as Herbert Kornfeld!
(But you know I love you, digg….)
Umm… actually I meant Boku, these were all the children of Richard Lewis.
Anyway, foreign phrases adopted into normal English usage are not my strength; I just recently read “leitmotif” in an article, and was like, holy shit, I’m a moron… Keep the corrections coming.
I also have a friend whose father looked exactly like Herbert Kornfield. It was uncanny!
digglahhh:
We know what you meant, and it’s still spelled beaucoup.