Palin Turning Off Moms?

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:52 pm

I seriously want to know when the McCain camp found out about the book. They approved of the moderator and I want to know if they knew about the book then. If not they seem to have some issues with researching if that is the case, especially since the book is being released in January. Those things don't write themselves overnight.

I'm just not a fan of excuses, guess that is the mom in me. And I don't like whining either. And Stephen I am not talking about you or anyone else on the deck.

Ivor Karabatkovic · Post by **Ivor Karabatkovic** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:53 pm

Danielle Masters wrote:I seriously want to know when the McCain camp found out about the book. They approved of the moderator and I want to know if they knew about the book then. If not they seem to have some issues with researching if that is the case, especially since the book is being released in January. Those things don't write themselves overnight.

I'm just not a fan of excuses, guess that is the mom in me. And I don't like whining either. And Stephen I am not talking about you or anyone else on the deck.

Danielle,

She hasn't even written a chapter on Obama yet.

Read the article here:
Yahoo News

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:58 pm

Thank you Ivor for that little bit of information. So now I am really confused as to what the big deal is. I mean unless of course the McCain camp can read Ms. Ifill's mind and know word for word what she is going to write and how it will make her favor Joe Biden.

Justine Cooper · Post by **Justine Cooper** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 8:47 am

You know what Danielle, one thing I agree with Colleen on is you are a mom with five children, two with disabilities, and still find time to fight battles you believe in. You show up for school board meetings, meetings on the school boards decision to move the "maturation" unit up a grade level without talking with the parents, meetings on causes you believe in and you articulate your opinion very well. While I can't tell you if I would vote for you for VP yet, you would get it above Palin since you know more about foreign affairs, school affairs, affairs with children with disabilities, etc.! Sometimes we are dealt a hand of cards in life that can be very difficult. I can't imagine having two children with disabilites and managing like you do, but sometimes God gives harder circumstances to the stronger because He knows they will champion for all in that area, and you do. And you are raising your children.

It is one thing to "like" Palin but another to accept her as a possible president, head of this country. And I think people are more concerned that can happen given McCain's age and the wear and tear his body took in this lifetime. As moms we are freaking out for leaving her children, one pregnant and one a baby with disabilities and the ones in the middle. As citizens we are freaking out for all the other reasons. She is being held up in a room being briefed by top officials so she can get through a debate. That is scary. But there were more people calling to find out what type of glasses she wore when she first came out. That superficial attraction in this country is real and enough to swing voters who "like" her for reasons that have nothing to do with running this country. The "Hollywood red carpet beauty" fascination our country has reduced itself too.

Valerie M. reflected on another thread about Palin and questioned why people would attack her for not taking care of her children over a career but also admitted she gave up a lucrative career for her own child. Of course there will be days she will wonder if she did the right thing because all moms know that it is often a seemingly thankless job devoting everything to children who are by nature self-centered. But the day will come when she and others who have made the same decision will look into their child's eyes and know there was no other decision.

Well we will let the debates speak for the issues.

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:07 am

Funny thing Justine that you mentioned Hollywood. Most of the time when I hear people complaining about Hollywood it's on conservative radio (yes I really try and get both sides). But this attraction to Sarah Palin seems to be on that same level. She is a pretty package and she is a women with lots of kids and she shoots moose so she is great. Who cares that she can't say what newspapers or magazines she has read, who cares that she is having to be taught about foreign affairs, who cares that can't answer questions that my 12 year old probably could. It just seems odd that before McCain picked her his campaign was running commercials about Obama being a big celebrity but once Palin was picked and became a bigger celebrity those commercials went away. Hypocrisy at it's best.

And Justine thanks for all the kind words. I try and be a good mom, I try and be a good wife, I try and be a good person and I try and be a good citizen. Sometimes I feel like I fail because there is always so much to do, but that is the thing about being a mother there are always choices we have to make and really we can't doubt ourselves or each other we just have to do our best and hope in the end we make a difference.

sharon kinsella · Post by **sharon kinsella** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:53 am

By the way Danielle, you've really impressed me with your political savvy and writing abilities.

I raised three kids on my own. Two of them are tremendously smart. We moved to Lakewood because of the school system. I needed them in a setting and community that would see them thrive and they have.

With five kids I would have lost my mind.

Good job.

Danielle Masters · Post by **Danielle Masters** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:58 am

Well Sharon technically I have lost my mind a few times, but that is another story. And that is why I am so adamant that our health care system SUCKS and needs to be fixed. But I am off on a tangent. Thanks for the kind words. Honestly once you have three kids it's super easy to have more. Plus I had all of mine within 5-1/2 years so really it was easy. Plus I have a wonderful husband that makes my life easy. I can't imagine raising kids on my own. I have a few friends who are single moms and I see all the work they do. I was raised by a single mom and I know it wasn't easy for her but she worked her butt of and did it.

Justine Cooper · Post by **Justine Cooper** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:56 am

The one thing that all posters seem to agree with is the value of their mom being there. That is why it is so confusing when they think it is OK for Palin's kids not to have her mom there. Where would we be without our mommy!!!!!!

Stephen Eisel · Post by **Stephen Eisel** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:04 pm

Justine Cooper wrote:The one thing that all posters seem to agree with is the value of their mom being there. That is why it is so confusing when they think it is OK for Palin's kids not to have her mom there. Where would we be without our mommy!!!!!!

prison

Phil Florian · Post by **Phil Florian** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 4:10 pm

Stephen Eisel wrote:
I was just watching MSNBC and they were discussing a possible conflict of interest because Gwen Ifill has a book coming out in January about politics and Obama. People are saying that she can't be a neutral moderator. It was brought up that perhaps this information is being released now so when Palin falls flat on her face there will be another excuse. That makes sense to me. I am getting tired of all the excuses
double standards ?????

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/05/31 ... 0925.shtml

Either this is a) bad oversight and research by the Republicans who approved her months ago or b) brilliant planning by the Republicans who approved her months ago knowing that they would have a nice time-bomb to get them out of debate if they wanted. If it is B, they are good to go. If Palin hits it out of the park, they win big. If she does like she has in pre-taped interviews recently, they can say that Ifill was biased and too hard on her and one of the media elite and blah blah blah. Win again (for those that get into that kind of thing).

I would think the answer would be B but I would fear that it is A. Which could it possibly be??

Either way, it will be a fun show tonight with more fodder for Youtube viewing. That is not just Palin bashing, either. I hope he keeps said foot out of his mouth but Biden is just as likely to say something goofy as Palin is to say some rambling run-on sentence that doesn't make sense.

Stephen Eisel · Post by **Stephen Eisel** » Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:58 pm

Phil Florian wrote:
Stephen Eisel wrote:
I was just watching MSNBC and they were discussing a possible conflict of interest because Gwen Ifill has a book coming out in January about politics and Obama. People are saying that she can't be a neutral moderator. It was brought up that perhaps this information is being released now so when Palin falls flat on her face there will be another excuse. That makes sense to me. I am getting tired of all the excuses
double standards ?????

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/05/31 ... 0925.shtml

Either this is a) bad oversight and research by the Republicans who approved her months ago or b) brilliant planning by the Republicans who approved her months ago knowing that they would have a nice time-bomb to get them out of debate if they wanted. If it is B, they are good to go. If Palin hits it out of the park, they win big. If she does like she has in pre-taped interviews recently, they can say that Ifill was biased and too hard on her and one of the media elite and blah blah blah. Win again (for those that get into that kind of thing).

I would think the answer would be B but I would fear that it is A. Which could it possibly be??

Either way, it will be a fun show tonight with more fodder for Youtube viewing. That is not just Palin bashing, either. I hope he keeps said foot out of his mouth but Biden is just as likely to say something goofy as Palin is to say some rambling run-on sentence that doesn't make sense.

Good points Phil!!!!

Justine Cooper · Post by **Justine Cooper** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:52 am

I know this horse is dead, but I have been thinking about this thread and moms in general and then watched a taped show of Oprah that highlited moms and mistakes moms make trying to do too much, and I just wanted to add last thoughts on the issue of Palin and mom:

I think at first glance moms everywhere took notice of Palin because she has five kids, looks great, and runs a state. Whether we are working moms or stay at home moms, every mom in this country has days we feel inadequate. We are all trying to do it all, and do it all perfect, which isn't possible when children are individuals and humans and we are humans. We are looking for someone who is doing it perfectly and lead the way. After first glance, moms everywhere saw the flaws and it freaked out many that disagree with Palin's choice of working eighty hours plus with five kids and one baby with disabilities. The pregnant teen, quite frankly, could happen to any of us, and does not indicate a "bad" parent. The apparent conflict though, between an "abstinence only" program and a pregnant teen is the issue (without going into the forced marriage and spotlight part).

Where the thread got taken off topic was when Colleen turned it an issue of her parenting and seemed to attack the gals (plural) on the deck for criticizing an event in her life, and then mentioning karma and accusing someone of calling her a "mindless moron" if she liked Palin. I know when I feel attacked I attack back, but for the record Colleen, I was attacking your views, not you as a mom. I do think it is an insult to the gay community for straight people to dictate their marriage, but that isn't even the issue.

The issue for moms is that regardless of our choices we feel the need to defend ourselves in areas we don't. We just never see men having to do that in regards to parenting, or a lot of issues including weight. I never read the blog on that Cleveland site and don't know the specifics you were referring to, but every mom makes mistakes and that is how we learn. I may not agree with some of your views, but do not take away the fact that you are here doing the best you can with your kids like the rest of us. As for whatever Sharon's posts were, unfortunately, she was the puppet for someone on the mayor's team who didn't want to do the "dirty" work of bringing it up. She too is a good person and it shouldn't be a competition between the women, or a fight between the women on issues as delicate and as difficult and heart-wrenching as child rearing. I believe there are two true emotions in life-love and fear. Hate is just by-product of fear and not the other side. That means any negativity we experience comes directly from fear and everything positive from love. My point is that Palin may be a lot of things, but she has a lot of moms thinking and reflecting and talking. And hopefully that is a good thing. I hope you watched that Oprah Colleen, because it really gets to the heart of moms everywhere and how we need to slow down for ourselves and our children. Honestly, I apologize for taking the low road and attacking you back and would never want you or any mother to feel worse than how we can make ourselves feel any day. Regardless of political beliefs, Danielle is 100% that moms and women have to support each other. If any good comes from the negativity of the deck, I am making sure I focus on that statement Danielle, and not judge others because of my own fear of what I don't do good enough.