Moms are rising up thanks to Sarah Palin
Even if she doesn't have any foreign policy experience, John McCain probably thought that at the very least he could count on Sarah Palin to nurture the mothers-who-vote niche. But that's not going so well either. Her
campaign has managed to tick off a group of moms that once was thrilled with her.
MomsRising, which in two short years has amassed a membership of 140,000 citizens and counts 85 affiliated groups nationwide, yesterday tried to hand-deliver a letter signed by thousands of its members to Palin's office in Washington. In its letter, the group says it was dazzled to see a mom on stage at the Republican convention, accepting the nomination for vice president, but that it has some questions for her. MR wants to know where she stands on issues such as healthcare, afterschool programs, paid sick days and equal pay for working women.
The smart thing, of course, would have been for Palin's staff to take the letter and thank the 15 mothers (and one baby) for showing their devotion to their country and interest in the Alaska governor. Instead, Palin's people actually turned them away and told them to drop it in the mail.
Dismayed at the rebuff, MomsRising is rallying its troops. Wending its way across the national mothersphere today is an e-mail alerting its membership, and an Internet petition with the group's questions. Its ultimate destination is Gwen Ifill, the PBS moderator for the debate scheduled for Tuesday between Palin and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden. In her weekly live chat over at the Washington Post today, Ifill says she is open to including questions from the public.
Accepting the letter seems like a no-brainer, but who knows? Maybe the Palin camp didn't realize this group is accustomed to much better treatment: Here's Obama speaking at a MomsRising event, and here's Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Photo: Ron Edmonds/AP
Oh shut the hell up. You know women are not behind Sarah Palin, she's not behind us on the issues that matter most! What a waste of ink...
Posted by: Kim | September 25, 2008 at 03:14 PM
I just joined Mom's Rising, and I hope that a) John McCain shows up at the debate; and b) that the Mom's Rising questions are posed to the candidates. We desperately need family friendly social policies in this country, like paid parental leave, universal pre-kindergarten and equitable pay for women and men. And these kinds of policies that support family values should be on the agenda.
Posted by: Melinda | September 25, 2008 at 03:16 PM
Sorry, I love my mom and she's probably more qualified to be VP than Sarah, but I wouldn't want her as President or VP either! This whole working mom aspect is absurd. This isn't a popularity contest folks, the nations future is at stake and we need knowledgeable, intelligent, thoughtful candidates not your mom or your beer buddy, like we have now. Please wake up and pay attention to what's being said and done.
Posted by: carl c | September 25, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Palin is appallingly unqualified. The Mom's group should have sent the letter to McCain for a response since it appears that Palin has no thoughts of her own, and couldn't muster up a cohesive sentence even if she tried. Her nomination as VP is a mockery and a joke. Some rudimentary exam should be given prior to nominating a candidate.
Posted by: jj | September 25, 2008 at 03:18 PM
I am appalled by the adulation that Sarah Palin is receiving about being a woman and a mother.
Sarah Palin, and her husband are going on a campaign for the Republican party which will take until Nov. 4th. She has a 5 month old baby with special needs. Will she take the baby on the campaign, and her “husband” take care of it while she works, or will she leave it at home with a “nanny”? Do all working mom's have the financial means to take care of their children as Palin does? In either case, I think her judgment is very flawed, as one way or the other she has sacrificed that baby for her chance to be the vice president.
Posted by: Ruth Mayer | September 25, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Right on Kim! She is ridiculous woman, and a McCain gimmick for the stupid women out there.
Posted by: Jean | September 25, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Well, hopefully, everybody gets it: Sarah Palin and John McCain couldn't care less about women's issues, or what's best for education, health care and children. And of course, they oppose equal pay for equal work. Where's the surprise that they couldn't be bothered to accept a letter?
Posted by: margaret | September 25, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Palin'll do anything to avoid answering questions, and from her recent answers to anything unscripted, I can see why..
Kim, you might try reading the article (or at least skimming it) next time to avoid making yourself look so foolish.
Posted by: Tim | September 25, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Right on Kim! She is ridiculous woman, and a McCain gimmick for the stupid women out there.
Posted by: Jean | September 25, 2008 at 03:21 PM
THIS WOMAN IS AN ABSOLUTE SCAM! AND AN AIR HEAD. WATCH HER INTERVIEW WITH KATIE COURIC.
SHE IS IN SO FAR OVER HER HEAD IT ISN'T EVEN FUNNY. SHE IS CRAZY! I DON'T CARE IF I SOUND SEXIST IT HAS TO DO WITH BRAINS, EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, ETC AND SHE HAS NONE....NONE....NONE....WOW ! SHE IS NOT ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS BY THE WAY.
Posted by: Madison | September 25, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Oh, please! Why should women make as much as men? That's about as absurd as saying that all americans should be able to own a home... and look where that got us!
Posted by: Bill | September 25, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Oh Yee of Little Faith---If Sarah is in, this would be government by OUIJI BOARD and VOODOO DOLLS while SPEAKING IN TONGUES so everyone can be ready for END OF DAYS in Alaska---It''s Witch Doctor Time---NOOOOOOOO THANKKKKKKKK YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!! ....Check out Sarah's answer when she got back to Katie Couric on McCain's financial plans....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYgOlqinH7A&feature=related
RIGHT????!!...ANY MORE QUESTIONS!!!!
Posted by: BENIGHSE | September 25, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Tell me how Barack is more qualified to be president than Sarah Palin?
Posted by: John | September 25, 2008 at 03:27 PM
"Sarah Palin is not qualified"? She is MUCH more quailified than Obama. Obama has never run anything but his mouth.
Posted by: jeremiah | September 25, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Hello All Mom's Rising. I agree with all the issues you have put before Ms. Palin. I don't believe I read one that is equally, if not more important. What about mothers, especially single mothers, who have no option but to stay at home with disabled and medically fragile children. Do you know when these children turn 18 the Mom, who up until then, was eligibile for Medicaid is abruptly dropped. Doesn't matter this that "adult child" will always be a dependent, and we will love them, care for them, and cherish them always, but where does that leave us? Many of us are well-educated, trying to work from home and balance worlds most people never have the privilege of visiting. Ms. Palin, your child is young, and I wish all the best, but please....as a Mom, sit down, if you haven't already and ask his doctors if you can be in two places at one time if and when the calls come in the middle of the night to be at the hospital or a White House Crisis. Tell the good ole boys who have muzzled you these past few weeks to take a hike and let us hear from you. If not, we will gladly hear from Hillary again in 2012.
Posted by: Hannah from Florida | September 25, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Ladies-- is that what is really the most important in our country/world today-- what does she think about days off, after school programs, healthcare and equal pay? I want her to know more than that for sure. I'm a mother and grandmother and a lot of those "concerns" can be handled on the local level--school, town, state, employer. You all sound very self-centered.
Posted by: J. Holder | September 25, 2008 at 03:29 PM
Palin's a disaster in the making. Women, please do not be fooled by this extremist!
Posted by: abby0802 | September 25, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Yeah and you women were probally behind Obama from the start anyways.The one who said he is a Christian to the public but when ineterviewed mentioned his muslim faith to George Stephanopolis.
Posted by: TJ | September 25, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Things Obama has said: "This is the worst financial crisis in generations: "Call me if you need me"
Things Biden has said: When wall street crashed in 1929 Roosevelt went on TV and to spoke to the people.
Can you distinguish between the two idiots???
Posted by: Jasb | September 25, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Is she even relevant anymore? It's like watching some sad pathetic Drama Queen who is past her prime, and has yet to realize it (It's painfully embarrassing to watch, but you just can't look away).
Posted by: mom3 | September 25, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Kim is right; Palin's views are very different than those of mainstream women in America. She is vehemently against a woman's right to choose, she is anti-environmental protection, and she likes to kill animals with her guns. God only knows where she stands on healthcare and other issues of a nurturing nature.
The rebuff of the mothers group was pure stupid. That sort of elitest behavior is exactly how a mole-hill gets turned into a mountain.
I am all for having Palin answer the questions that these mothers want answered. In fact, I want to hear Palin answer a LOT of questions, in depth. So far all I have heard from her are ham-handed attempts to regurgitate the BS that McCain's team has been spoon feeding her ever since she was selected. Oh yeah, and the big lie she has been repeating ever since nomination night, that she was against the bridge to nowhere. It is a well documented fact that she was FOR the bridge until congress killed it, then she suddenly came out against it. Yet Alaska STILL got the money and just spent it on other projects, which she didn't have any problem with. The exact same amount of taxpayer dollars went to Alaska, which gets more than its fair share. She had no problem with that.
She is the worst joke of a VP pick I have seen in my 43 years on this planet. She makes Dan Quayle (remember him?) look like a genius.
Posted by: Lynwood | September 25, 2008 at 03:32 PM
Ahmm... You people just dont like her because its' a fact that your'e liberals. You're not gonna convince anyone, live with it. if you dont like her, dotn vote for her. SHe represents ideals that many people in America see, including me. I"m sorry with teh not enough experience. I think as a VP she has plenty more of Experience than compared to your Messiah NOBOMA. We're comparing number 2 with number 1.. hahah how funny is that. McCain demonstrated how he is a leader already in this turmoil. He puts down everything and went back to Washington, while barack criticizes and eventually joined up with them. THat's their job that's where their leadership skills are needed, to solve this crisis where they're elected for that purpose. Barack is always confused and is always a follower and flip flops all teh time. While he criticizes and in the end he follow mcCain's lead. I wonder why that is. ....
Posted by: someone of interest | September 25, 2008 at 03:34 PM
I agree with Bill, setting wage standards is a joke. Women aren't nearly as smart as men, way to emotional, and most of the time too annoying to justify paying them as much as men!
Posted by: JL_snoopy | September 25, 2008 at 03:34 PM
Obama's words can best be described as an army of platitudes searching for an idea
Posted by: Jasb | September 25, 2008 at 03:35 PM
@Jean.
"...for the stupid women out there."
You are one of them. Never thought there are always smarter people out there, to them you are dumb.
To say such a thing shows that you are stupid in the first place.
Posted by: Cathy | September 25, 2008 at 03:35 PM