Sarah Palin (For Molly)

Molly left a comment yesterday that she couldn't believe I hadn't blogged about Sarah Palin yet. I've been out of town and have spent the last 2 days listening to my 86 yr. old beloved mother-in-law rant (which she rarely does) about Sarah Palin. Mom's very definite opinion is that Palin shouldn't be a governor much less a VP pick because she has 5 kids, including a 4 month old baby w. DS. Keep in mind that Mom has had a front row seat in seeing what it takes to raise a special needs child: the work, the therapy, the dedication it takes to make sure the baby gets everything needed from the start to make the path easier in future years.

While I personally love the idea of a woman VP, over the last 3 days several things have bothered me. Here they are.

1. How is she going to give Trig what he needs during the important first years of his life? Parents & professionals know how vital Early Intervention is to babies with special needs. This is hard to do without mom & dad being very hands on. Sure, a nanny or sibling or therapist could do it but part of what makes it successful is the bond between parent & child. You just can't get that a couple of hours a day. I went back to work when Evan was 18 mths. old. I got up early in the morning to do his therapies. I worked with him from the moment I got home until he went to bed. (There is a lot to do, tactile stimulation, play games that are helpful for muscle, speech & brain development, etc.) That intense period of time laid the groundwork for his success in school and now his adult life.

2. She has 5 kids. As a VP how involved is she going to be able to be in their lives? Is her husband going to become Mister Mom? What's the plan? She wouldn't be around very much. It's not like being a VP of a small company, it's the U.S.of A. for crying out loud!

And this sad news just in:

3. Her 17 year old daughter is 5 months pregnant.

All of the above, in my opinion, means that Sarah Palin has unfortunately put her political aspirations above the good of her family. Honestly, she needs to be there for her family big time right now. Not gone for 8 weeks on the campaign trail. Not holding the position of V.P. for 4 years.

Yes, women should run for political office, but not at the cost of their families. If McCain had the same stuff going on in his family, I'd say the same thing. Pull back and regroup and make sure your family is healthy first.

Our children are our responsibility, our legacy, our priority. Sarah Palin needs to remember that.

P.S. McCain can kiss the Presidency good-bye. He knew that Palin's daughter was pregnant. He's been in politics since dinosaurs roamed the earth. He had to know what a fire storm this would cause. He and Palin have exposed that poor girl to nationwide ridicule and viciousness. McCain made this decision for purely political reasons in a desperate bid to look more "current" than Obama. McCain had a lot more experienced people (women included) to pick from. If his judgement is this poor when it counts the most, I am worried what his judgement would be like as President.

P.P.S. Do they still have write-in votes???

Comments

[Dave Pingel]

Lori,

I have a different take on this one. I think Palin's decision to accept the VP slot is between McCain, Palin, her family and God - and not ours to make for her, or ours to judge as right or wrong. God picked David to lead a nation - and we all know David's own family was a mess. And many things didn't improve in the family even after David was king. In fact, they got worse. Yes, there were long-lasting consequences for his sin - but he is still held up as the best king of Israel - and, in part, a model for us to follow. He is still called, however, a man after God's own heart.

If she thinks that this is God's will, then our job, I think, is to support her however we can - which includes praying that God will cover her family in such a way as for them not to miss a step in the Kingdom. I think God is capable of doing so - much more than we ourselves are. With all his kingly duties, David did something right with Solomon (though God did much more right than David).

If it's God's will for Palin to do this, then God has a plan to take care of her family. It is our job to give respect and honor to those having/seeking such high positions.

Are we to say it's NEVER right to have family second and nation first? Perhaps, in putting nation first in the short run, we are doing more good for our families over the long haul.

You said "McCain made his decision purely for political reasons." I agree; and apparently it made political sense to him to choose her. I've also heard a lot of people are supporting his pick for sound political reasons. I think it certainly caught everyone by surprise. And now the game is on to find everything possible that is negative. I don't want to jump on that bandwagon.

I don't see how we can determine, from the distant vantage point and limited information that we have, whether or not Palin is putting political aspirations above the good of her family. We don't KNOW her - or know her heart. Only God does. While I think family is extremly important, and certainly one of THE major ministries of a mother/father, I think Jesus wanted us to be obedient to his call first.

So, I guess the question becomes: Will Jesus ever ask us to do something for the good of the Kingdom that appears to be not for the good of the family? At first glance, one could say "yes." (I.e Jesus' response to "your mother and brothers are at the door." I.e. "His ways are far above man's ways." I.e. "All things work together for the good to those who love God.")

I enjoy reading your blog and it's one I look for regularly. Most of the time I agree with you. Just felt like throwing in my two cents worth on this one.

Dave

[Molly]

Thanks for blogging for me Lori! THough I confess this is not the blog I was expecting from you I totally see your point(s). I see Dave's also. I have to ask myself those questions when ANY woman who has a family works outside the home in any job, let alone the VP. And the answer I come to, like Dave, is only if it's God's will. And I know for sure I haven't heard God for her, haven't even asked. :-)

[Kathy Nickerson]

Wendell and I just finished listening to an audio version of the biography of John Adams. It was heart-wrenching to hear what his wife and children went through without him for months and even years at a time while he was helping found a nation. I'm really sorry for their troubles, but I'm really grateful for their sacrifice. We still walk in freedoms paid for by a family willing to pay a high price. I'm not saying our vice president will play such a historical role, and I do think people sometimes put ambition before family. So, all those things together remind me to pray more ferverently for "all those in authority."
I do apprecaite the sacrifices you have made on Evan's behalf, and I'm grateful God called you to that particular role. (I'd also vote for you as vice president if you ever decide to run) :)

[Simone]

I love reading your blog and hearing your opinions, even when I don't agree 100%.

Let me start off by stating I am a Republican. I love George W. Bush. I am glad Saddam paid for his crimes with his life. I think George W. got saddled with problems the Clintons created and he did the best he could with his lemons. That said, I don't believe the Republicans are winning this year. In my books, the Palins are only in this for a few months.

Do you know how many parents face unplanned teenaged pregnancies each year? Do you know how many Hilary voters are single mothers of unplanned pregnancies? What better way to go after their vote than with a sympathetic candidate whose teen daughter is pregnant! Palin can relate to the general public. She knows hard times. She's not all rich and political and on her white horse. She can help with the pain because she has experienced it. That could really help get the Republicans in office.

I'm thinking if the Palins have 5 kids, at least one parent is providing the loving, caring and nurturing the kids need. As second husband, Palin's husband would be better equipped to elicit services and therapies for their child with down syndrome. And, I'm thinking some really great down syndrome and special needs laws and initiatives and research would be forthcoming if the second family has a child with down syndrome.

I do think it is sad that Palin's 17-yr old daughter has to deal with the world's take on her unplanned pregnancy. My heart goes out to her. But you know, it's about time the religious right stopped punishing girls for getting pregnant and going to term instead of having an abortion. If the daughter had had an abortion, no one would know about. That would have made a lot of lives easier. Much better to sin and cover it up with more sin than to sin and make it right by not covering it up.

[Julana]

This is a confusing time.