As a child psychologist I agree with you that there seems to be a disregard of postnatal rights here. Kids in a family with more than 4 children are at risk for mental development as it is, underscoring how important it is to set priorities and devote time to a child. Working parents with smaller families find this issue a challenge -- but it is more so the larger the family. It is not sexist to examine her priorities, for she is running as a "hockey mom" and has made her parenting an issue.

I feel sorry for the children. They deserve more attention from their mother. Perhaps the lack of parental attention was a factor in Bristol's pregnancy?

I think she is manifestly unfit for the job to start with and to sacrifice these first few years which mean so much for children, is a double waste. Is this pro life?

This is ridiculous. If she were a man, the question would never come up. She has a husband, right? I'm sure he's perfectly capable of caring for the baby while she is campaigning.

Mc Cain choice was reckless and shows he prioritized "winning" over national security.
Sarah has an infant child with special needs. A mother needs to bond with her child, Sarah is an absentee parent. Sarah has demonstrated that she does not place value on motherhood because she can not possibly meet the needs of her children or grandchild soon to be born.
Sarah needs to grow up, not succumb to being a pawn for the Republican party at the expense of her family. She does not have my respect. She does not have the credentials to match the toe of Hillary Clinton or Mitt Romney. McCain has shown his values: fame above national security. Mother and Grandmother

So... maybe we should just enact a new law to force all mothers of larger families to stay at home. What a moronic article. It's not your (or my) place to second guess her parental choices. What about Obama being away from home all this time while his daughters are at home, starting school. I'm sure you could find some psychobabble for his situation as well, right? What happened to true journalists? They should be put on the endangered species list.

Yes, the child will suffer some, but frankly, the real problem is if she became president. A VP can have far more control over her time than a president. If she is really the best person to be VP, then the sacrifice would be worth it, because the job is actually important. In my opinion though, she is far, far, from the person we need in that position.

It is her own decision to have the baby, once she became pregnant. She should be supported in that. However, it was irresponsible for her to become pregnant at an age where Down's syndrome and other problems are many times more common. Getting pregnant at 17 while unmarried is also irresponsible. The pattern is pertty obvious.

Kayris wrote: "This is ridiculous. If she were a man, the question would never come up. She has a husband, right? I'm sure he's perfectly capable of caring for the baby while she is campaigning." The issue is not Sarah Palin's ability to campaign for about 60 days - any monkey can wave their hands. Instead, it is her ability to be a a heartbeat away from dealing with Putin and Ahmadinejad 7/24/365 for the next 4 years. Bristol's pregnancy is the result of lack of parental PRESENCE and setting priorities straight.

Why didn't Joe Biden not go into the Senate when his wife died and left him in charge of young children? No one questions that!

This is total sexism. Women need to wake up!!!

The issue for voters is not the very personal problems being faced by the Palin family. The real problem is that we don't know Palin at all, and apparently neither does McCain. His decision to go along with this candidate speaks worlds about McCain's poor judgment. Palin has not been thoroughly vetted and this is a serious error for McCain to have made. The Palin ploy is a hard shift to the extreme right of the Republican Party Is this the best they could do-- the lightweight, anti-choice, creationist, anti-environment, pro-oil candidate who won her limited fame on right-wing talk shows? In these uncertain times following 8 years of gross mismanagement by Bush/Cheney, Palin and McCain must be rejected if the United States of America is to retain its economic strength, and its self-respect in the world at large.

Even more troubling was her own account of the child's birth. According to Palin, she was at a conference in Dallas/Ft Worth when her water broke. Rather than go to a local hospital, she boarded a plane for Anchorage. A 14 hour flight. When she arrived in Alaska, she didn't rush to an Anchorage maternity ward, she went to the small regional hospital in her home town over an hour away.

Very irresponsible behavior, especially in at at risk pregnancy, toward the child and toward her fellow passengers.

Sarah may be able to take her baby to work with her and nurse during a meeting as Governor of Alaska - a state with a population of 626,000 people. It is a different story being the VP of the United States. No CEO in any corporation would do such a thing. I think a woman with children is certainly capable of being the VP or president of the US, but I do question the judgment and "family first" priority of a new mother with a newborn having special needs.

When it comes down to it, where will her allegiance be? With the MILLIONS of people relying upon her to lead the country, or with her children, whether they be pregnant, sick or whatever the issue? Will she be in the Middle East brokering a peace deal and suddenly have to fly home to attend to the health care needs of her infant son? She would be a cruel, heartless mother if she did no less, but she will be an ineffective, laughable joke of a world leader if she places her family priorities ahead of her country.

I think of that little doll of a baby, who has not the slightest clue about his condition or his beginnings, and I wish I could just take him away from it all. Poor little guy is getting hauled around by his big sister while mom concentrates on her political career. Here is the bottom line: Sarah Palin is very young politically speaking, and as Governor of Alaska, would have a perfect opportunity to nurture the little cutie. That opportunity seems to be less attractive than that of a national campaign. I vote bad mommy. (You're welcome, Trig.)

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. We are not perfect, as parents and individuals. We make choices and have to live with the consequences-good or bad. At least Ms. Palin and her daughter did not get an abortion. If that was done, we would be debating their rights and reasons as women making choices. Amazing how paradox rules the world. Denial isn't just a river in Egypt!

I have seen Sarah Palin hugging and holding Cindy McCain, John McCain and some kind of military assault rifle, possibly an AK-47 but have not seen any pictures or video of her holding her special needs five month old child.

John McCain has really demostrated what type of man he is, and how little he cares about this country!

Did anyone notice how he fingered his wedding ring when he introduce Palin?

McCain is really one sick man!

This has nothing to do with Palin having young children or her daughter being pregnant and has everything to do with the Dems being scared of losing the election.
If Obama is going to win, why does it matter?

Are you people crazy? Or just "high" on the Obama kool-aid? Gov. Palin is eminently more qualified and experienced to be President than Barack Obama, let alone Vice President. I agree with the poster who brought up the point that if this were a man, there's no way that this would be an issue. I guess if you all are so worried about Gov. Palin's kids, you must be very worried about Sen. Obama's kids, seeing as that the job of President is, oh, maybe 100 times as demanding as the job of the Vice President. Is it only because he's got the "little woman" at home to take care of the kids that you are so unconcerned with his kids not being cared for by him? Take a look at your own attitudes, you sexist people.

McCain made a huge tactical blunder in picking Gov. Palin.

Popular with the hard right-wing of the GOP, the Governor is threatening and unappealing to moderates and swing voters due to her extreme, hard right idealogical positions on the issues.

The country needs a respite from the religious fanatacism and idealogical purity that the infamous moral clarity of the GOP imposes upon us.

Hypocrisy and moral shallowness are clearly the salient aspects of John McCain's character, but we knew that.

What swing voters, moderates of both parties and independents had been hoping for with McCain is that his shallowness meant that he would take a pragmatic, problem-solving, non-idealogical approach to the nation's problems.

His selection of Sarah Palin shows that McCain is more comfortable as the creature of the right than he as a leader with the guts to make hard decisions.

This is a brilliant choce for McCain and a great pick for the country. She is more experienced and more accomplished than who the Dems run for POTUS. What a sweet dish to dine on the hypocrisy of the left. The only problem with Palin is that she did it all without whining and wallowing as a victim. She achived the feminist adgenda without the movement.

The kids will be fine by having her as a model for what they can be. Todd will be there to be a great dad. The family has strong bonds.

She has it all....oh....except a penis!

I'm a conservative stay at home dad just feasting on the pie served up by the only one running that has actually served their country.

All you women bashing Palin are talking yourselves into a 100 year retreat from progress.

If McCain were timid he would have picked Romney or Pawlenty. This one took the nerve of a leader. He picked someone whould would govern like himself.

Well, she's not putting her kids before her own political ambitions, that's for sure. Poor Bristol, being subjected to this limelight because her mother chose to run for VP knowing her daughter was pregnant!

I'm not singling her out in a way that I wouldn't do for a man. In fact, I think that there are plenty of male politicians put their own ambitions above the needs of their children/families, so she will fit in just fine with the type of egocentric politician so common in D.C.!

I write this as an ancient feminist. I am aware that times and medical science has changed since I was a kid and the family next-door had a Downs baby (then called a "mongoloid") and the Mom almost disappeared inside her house under the burden of care. I'm sure that there are those here who know better than I the definition of "Special Needs" but my observation is that there is a lot of energy and mental focus involved.

I have worked in offices with women who brought their babies with them. The first couple weeks were just too cute but within a very short period of time, even the most strident feminists became downright hostile about the Mom's inability to focus and meet deadlines.

Quite a few people that I have loved have not lived to be 71 years old. Ms. Palin needs to be closely considered for President-fitness. Her husband is currently on LOA, but will he take a FOUR YEAR leave? Sorry, folks, but Political Wives are expected to make that the primary job. The rules for Political Husbands seem more vague.

Lastly, having raised teenagers, I would advise all of you to be very careful in passing judgement. I found the transformation into teenagers to be almost a Jekyll & Hyde happening. Those of you with younger children who are pronouncing judgement might want to pay very close attention to your own words. If you're lucky, you'll be able to laugh at how far off base they are. Not so lucky, they might be like a knife in your own heart....

Isn't is obvious that mother is so much more important for an infant that
daddy is? It's not sexism, it's biology.
Silly to argue with it and pretend there is no diffirence.

What US. female, will ever be elected without first being raked over someone else`s hot coals? Think, what could be being said, these days about Ms.Clinton had she gotten her parties nomination. Different story of course, but still just the same old, same old. It`s really all about advertisement money! Most all US. media (Corporations,= in business to earn a profit) feed on these types of stories. At least for a week or so, sometimes longer,think "Nancy Grace", just for an example of the many, who call themselves Reporters. It`s all about, what the shows Producer, he, or, she tells, the reporter, (Host) their show tapings today,are going to be subject, so and so. It`s the network ratings, stupid. The higher the ratings, the more money the media corporations charge, to keep their business customers advertisement`s, up and running, because more people are watching. It`s all about numbers. In America, we don`t really get "The News", anymore from TV. It has all turned into typical tabloid trash. The kind one use to see, on the papers, while waiting in the check out lines at the grocery store. Seems like we`re being played with, instead of hearing real news. About big stories that really impact our lives as Americans. I have no interest what so ever, when it comes to who`s having sex with who, as long as it`s safe sex, who cares? Pay attention to your own family, which is what your suppose too be doing anyway. How many young girls and women,in America have been there,and done that, but don`t have the T-shirt. So blame the Mom for everything,besides every man needs a woman to put blame on anyway, Right?? So like I said,: Same old, same old, different day, different story, but same News crap,as ever. Like I`m suppose to be so upset by this piece of "News", that it will make me vote for the other parties candidate. Yes, as the air head American that I`am, (sic) I`m going to rag and run off at the mouth, about this womens 17 year old daughter. With the number of Teen pregnancies every year in this country, again this is not real news, just old womens gossip over the backyard fence.

What a double standard!
Not a one of you out there does not know a successful woman with children, who puts in 60+ hours a week at her job and still finds time with her family. Sarah is a loving mother and has a loving husband who is willing to take leave of his job to support his wife in her career objectives and be with the kids.

How about credentials? At least she has had executive responsibilities. How much has Obama had? Answer:NONE.

As for Sarah's daughter: Out of bounds! The children of candidates have always been left out of the political arena. From Gore's son, Clinton's daughter, Bush's kids, etc.
Besides, at 17 years of age, the same age as Sarah's daughter, Obama was nothing but a doper, according to his own accounts. And what about Obama being born illigitimately. Does anyone ever mention that? At least Sarah's daughter plans on marrying the father of her child.

Mrs. Palin is a hard hitting candidate willing to take on "the establishment" for the betterment of the taxpayer. She is principled and determined.
Will she be able to stand up to threats on a world scale? I'd trust her over Obama, who has to "restate" his position 5 times before he gets it right.
Obama lacks the intestinal fortitude to make tough decisions. He has never had to, and, hopefully, never will.

Another thing, Obama says he is the candidate of "Change". With Biden as his running mate, the only change will be "more of the same" liberal politics. Go ahead and tax our businesses out of business. See what that will do o the economy!

Well, Kate, this questions sure brought out a lot of new commentators. Can't wait to see them weigh in on other parenting issues in our community. Or perhaps they are not Baltimore-area parents, and are only interested in hijacking this blog to make their political points....?

>

Robert:

Actually someone did mention that- Barack very clearly discussed his mother's situation when reaffirming that Sarah's family was off limits.

It's 3:00 am and the telephone rings. Time for breastfeeding!!!!oh no, my daughter is having her baby.

You women supporting Palin in this, please listen to me very carefully: If, as unfamiliar as she is with the larger and more intense political world, she really was in the White House, making a crucial, potentially life-or-death decision about your child's future...with all the sleep-deprived confusion of a newborn's first eighteen months swimming around her mind and entire family... would you really feel safe? Yes? You lie, or you haven't had children.

To say "the husband can handle it," is to say she as a mother has somehow surpassed all maternal instincts like some kind of Vulcan Warrior. You don't believe it, and neither do I. She is either torn inside, or she is not like most mothers, so how does she represent the decisive and compassionate ones we all know?

A man who puts his country ahead of his own children is easier to see as virtuous than a woman who puts anything AT ALL ahead of her own children. Argue that this is sexism all you want, but I don't feel I know or trust a woman who wouldn't act like all the decent women I've ever known.

Remember how amazing the Democratic Convention was. Joe Biden's family has strength and courage and true family values. They have integrity and determination and closeness. The Obama family is genuine and loving. They are respectful and confident. What a stark contrast to the GOP's version of family values. By the way, if some male candidate's wife had just given birth to a fifth child (with the complication of being diagnosed with Downs Syndrome), and if his unmarried 17 year old daughter simultaneously got impregnated by a teenage boyfriend, I would definitely be calling for him to get his priorities straight and focus on his family. When you know you need privacy, don't step into the spotlight. There is nothing Christian about the selfish, manipulative and irresponsible decisions of Sarah Palin and John McCain. Their self-righteousness knows no bounds. You can't question McCain's infidelity or his lies about Iraq or his opposition to our troops health because he was a POW. You can't question Sarah Palin about anything because when Christians make really bad (and avoidable) mistakes or commit grave sins, it is somehow seen as a strength.
I am a Catholic Democrat and I have a good sense of right and wrong. I am pro-life and proud of any woman who, in the face of challenging circumstances, chooses to accept an unexpected pregnancy. I do not blame parents who find their teenage sons or daughters in that situation, however I do believe they ought to be questioned about it in order to help them to see where they can be more attentive or supportive. But if the parents ambitions or desires outweighs the children's needs, then I think the parent should be called out, questioned, criticized and made to amend their behavior.

Does this mean that all other new moms can now take their babies to work and nurse them discreetly in their office, since the potential-VP has the choice to do it? Shall all our male partners have the luxury to quit their jobs, and try to better manage the new baby and neglected children running around getting pregnant, and not following mum's orders of abstinence?
and who, pray, is going to get us the money we need to be able to quit jobs everytime a child is born, or just lug it around at work, assuring your manager that you will get all work done despite changing diapers and feeding them every other hour?

Forget the personal issues. Eight presidents (of 43) have died in office. None were as old as McCain or had had several bouts of cancer.

If McCain wins, there's a strong chance that we'll soon have President Palin.

She's lied about the Bridge to Nowhere, is under investigation for ethics violations and abuses of power, she raised taxes as mayor, and her town of 7000 fell into $20 million in debt while she was mayor. She has no experience in national or international affairs.

Oh what else? Separatist. That's right. She belonged to the Alaska Independence Party, which advocates seceding from the US. Only fifteen years ago, AIP's founder, Joe Vogler, was buried in Canada as requested because he despised America so much. If Obama's judgement and patriotism were questioned, I gotta question hers.

Wow, what a sterling public servant.

My granddaughter was born with Down's Syndrome. From the moment she left the hospital, she was visited by therapists of all kinds. Mommy and Daddy were taught numerous intervention activities, including hours of tedious repetitious patterning etc. I can't imagine where Sarah Palin will find time to accomodate the therapists and lessons to be learned while running for high office. I hope she and her husband make the decision to hire a full time "special needs" trained nanny to travel with them. This baby deserves to develop to his full potential.

Sarah Palin is an honorable and noble family woman. She is devoted to families, including your own. I am an Alaskan who has no doubts that she is the woman for the job. She can be vice-president and a mom because she is that good. I read almost all lies on this page from those opposed to her. The truth will be evident and she will be the next VP.

You only have one chance to raise your children, many opportunities for "the job or career of a life time" At this stage of the game, Mrs. Palin has chosen mtherhood and all its' rewards. For now this is her highest calling, that is if she beleieves in what she is selling; MOTHERHOOD, APPLE PIE AND COUNTRY.

I’m disgusted after reading some of these comments. The word family means family not sexism. If a husband puts aside his ego and raises children so the strongest economic / intellectual “partner” can serve, god bless him and god bless America. It’s about time we Americans had a Sarah Palin with a true American hero, John McCain. Signed a HRC supporter!

One thing is abundantly clear, and that is that Ms. Palin knows as much about what's involved in raising a special needs child as she does about "what the VP does all day, anyway." Those first five years are oh, so crucial to Trig - he'll need full time support from BOTH parents, as well as his siblings and grandparents. IMO, its not very honorable to "choose life" and then choose to run away from it. Any parent (male or female) of a five month old infant - especially one with extra challenges - who would put themselves in that position should have their head, not to mention their priorities, examined.
If I wasn't sure who to vote for before, this nomination sure clinched it for me!

Gee, Kate, aren't you glad you asked?

Put me down in considering Sarah Palin in the "Bad Mommy" camp. I never would have willingly left my infants for an extended period in another's person's care, even though they were not special needs children.

I am a 17 year old girl so i feel that i can relate to Palin's daughter. It is her choice to have sex and honestly, sorry parents, but in most cases your feelings about it are disregarded. Therefore i don't feel that Palin can be held responsible for this and i also think that it is her choice how she deals with her own child. I would also like to mention that Barack Obama has been kind about her situation. Now i do feel that Sarah Palin is a laughable VP choice for other obvious reasons. People are concerned with Obama's experience but Palin has never been in any form of federal government. She has no experience with foriegn affairs which is kind of critical during such a controversial war. I also feel that McCain chose her to win the election not because she would make a VP. Everyone knows women voters are Obama's weak spot and how better to lure them to McCain than a woman. I think that Sarah Palin is extremely underqualified and is a terrible choice for Vice President. I will be voting for Barack Obama and Joe Biden in November.

Mq--hope you turn 18 in time to vote!

Republica insiders are saying that the choice of Palin was made as a result of a Karl Rowe intervention in the McCain's veep selection process. McCain had apparently asked Joe Lieberman to be his runnig mate, but Karl Rowe allegedly called Joe Lieberman to back off. Rowe was very firm that Lieberman should not be the nominee. This happened only a few days before the announcement of Palin as the runningmate. McCain had no choice but to put a pro-life person as the veep. Rowe wanted Palin as the running mate more than McCain did. McCain finally gave in to Rowe knowing that McCain cannot win without the operatives of Karl Rowe.

I'd like to see her chairing a meeting while discreetly nursing. Or does she chair discreetly? Why not leave the baby home and let her husband do it? If she were only in favor of gay marriage her spouse might be a wet nurse.

Sorry, I forgot to put my name on my irreverent comment.

Obama served for eight years in the state senate and was elected to the US Senate in 2004. Palin was a small town mayor of 7,000 citizens and has been Governor of Alaska for only a year and a half. I don't think that she's a bad leader and I'm sure that she might even be able to do a semi-decent job as VP. But do I think that she can take on the office of President if McCain died in office (which, let's face it, is a pretty good possibility)? No. She's inexperienced. Whether you're a democrat or republican, you have to admit that Obama at least has more experience in the federal government and definitely more experience in government overall. And while I don't think we can pass judgement on Palin for being a full time worker who is also a mother of five with an infant son who has special needs, I feel most sorry for the children. Especially Bristol. I can imagine that being 17 and pregnant is hard enough without being put into the national spotlight. And Palin had to know that would happen when she accepted. The only child who may escape unscathed from this whole experience is the oldest son. But he's on his way to Iraq- so I guess you can't say he'll be completely unharmed- just in another way.

I think a woman with children is certainly capable of being the VP or president of the US. However, her husband, Todd, is employed by BP as an oil field operator and works in Alaska's Northslope oil fields nearly 1300 miles away from the Governor's mansion in Juneau, AK. I hardly think he is the one to stay at home with the kids when they are sick or take the the day off for medical appointments. -------------
Mr. Palin goes back to Prudhoe http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=6965360
by Mike Ross
Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A decision by Alaska's first family is raising concerns about a possible conflict of interest involving Gov. Sarah Palin and the oil industry. The governor's husband, Todd Palin, is back on BP's payroll.

Gov. Palin says his return will not influence her decisions involving the oil industry, but one former lawmaker who wrote an ethics guideline for the administration believes it's a bad move at the wrong time. "You know, we've never hidden the fact that Todd had a job and he's created to work," said the governor. "He wants to keep working..."
----------------

I disagree with the criticism of Palin's mothering choices being off limits. She uses her "Hockey Mom" persona for political gain, no? I disagree that the criticism of her decision to run for this office because of what her children will sacrifice is somehow sexist. Forget gender, is she not the "parent" of a newborn baby who can't exactly "do without" his mom for long periods of time? Is she not the parent of four other children with reasonable needs? The question becomes, in terms of what the children need of both parents, can any father--or mother--step in as full-time solo caregiver and meet all of those needs? Is a single parent (for all intents and purposes, he will be doing this solo most of the time) in a position to provide all of the care for the special needs child and three others, one of whom is a pregnant teenager?

Let's face it. Given the enormous amount of time and travel (lest our memories have dimmed on the traditionally inherent vice-presidential obligation of making overseas trips to conduct foreign relations business). This is utter and sheer craziness, loss of perspective, and in my mind a matter of flawed mathematical logic (5 kids' needs x 24 hours in a day x 2 parents, one of whom is vice president of the US). What kind of parent (man or woman) who professes to believe in family first, can deal with the inner turmoil that accepting such an inherently demanding and time-consuming profession of "utmost" priority to 300 million other people will do to their sense of doing right by their family? I'll tell you what kind of parent: one who can ignore their conscience. That precious, beautiful little son of hers, and the four other beautiful children of theirs, what choice do they have in any of this? What kind of options does that leave for them for the next four years? "Sorry, sweetie, I know you're really sick and you want your mom, but she's going to be gone, pretty much most of the time for the next four-plus years. But then you'll be older and those needs will hopefully just go away.?" Male or female, this size of family at these tender ages, requires two parents!!

Losing a parent is something we all understand as a tragedy--but this one is avoidable.

I do not believe the sexism in the statements I am reading. Irresponsible to be pregnant at 44? And are we all such wonderful parents that we can judge anyone on their parenting skills? The fact is Sarah Palin has done wonderfull things for the state of Alaska, and the "good ole boys" are scared. If you want to make a list of "wrongs" by children of the political arena, you would have a list so long it would be neverending. People in this country need to stop and think back about what they did and thought at at the age of 17. How many women can think back and remember how many times they thought how lucky they were that they didnt get pregnant. We need to stop picking at Sarah's family, and how bad it would be for her children if she were elected. Did anyone think that of any of our Presidents? Proof now that many of the First Ladies had mental problems, drug and alcohol dependencies....that was good for their children? The only problem I see is that the good ole boys dont want a strong woman in power, and unfortunatly, a lot of women still listen to men....geesh.

To those who question Senator Biden's decision to stay in the Senate after the deaths of his wife and daughter, you should know he had to be talked into this decision. He was sworn into the Senate in his sons' hospital room (they were injured in the accident) and he has taken the train home to Delaware almost every night he has been in the Senate to be with his family. Now that's putting family first.

Like BonnieB, our family has a Downs child (not our own, but a cousin). Her parents and grandparents have done everything possible to give her the fullest possible life, which has meant many, many hours of therapy (and going to and from therapy). Only one member of this quartet is employed, and it has taken all of their energy to make this little girl the wonderful child she is today. I just haven't seen anything that explains how the Palin family plans to enrich Trig's existence.

Our son was born with esophageal atresia and down syndrome so i know what it is like i dont see how she could possibly have time to deal witht he world and our country with the kids and things she has going on I think she should be putting family first.