Group Discussions

This group should be changed to the anti-Palin campaign.

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  I guess the title is decieving or there are just not any other republican mothers on Work It Mom. I am honestly very disappointed to see so many hard working mothers bashing Sarah Palin. Maybe you don't agree with her positions on the economy, healthcare, taxes, the war, etc. let's get into that! But why do the majority of the 4 or 5 threads focus on her as a mother. Last time I checked most of the men running for office have children and no one would ever question their ability to balance.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Evansmom on 11th September 2008
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  I'm a fiscal conservative who supports McCain/Palin for several reasons including some of her stances on issues near and dear to me.
  
  I think it's a shame we are criticizing her for the choices she's made with her family, and doing what works for them. I understand she has smaller children and a special needs child, but she's obviously got a support system in place or the whole governor thing would not have worked.
  
  I just keep my thoughts to myself, particularly on forums like these that seem to be anti-Palin, because it normally just degenerates into name-calling and propaganda spills from either side and that doesn't do anyone good in the long run.
  
  I would just have hoped that in a forum for working mothers of all types, we could refrain from tearing down another working mother because her choices are different than what we might have for our own families.
  
  So no, you're not alone. I'm just trying to continue to focus my research and efforts on the areas of influence I have, and not worry too much about the "political party" debate, as I don't register with either party and plan to not have permanent affiliations.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kelly O on 11th September 2008
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  I agree! I think that we should stop focusing on Palin as a woman and mother, and start focusing on her stance on the issues!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by mommy2kiera on 11th September 2008
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  Her stance on the issues effects every woman out here. The reason the teenage pregnancy is discussed at length is because she wants abstinence taught in the school AND she cut funding for a residential program for unwed teenage mothers AND she is opposed to abortion even in the case of rape and incest.
  
  As for her support system for her special needs child. The child is an infant. At his age his special needs are not particularly obvious because what we do not have many developmental expectations for infants. As he grows up he will face much more significant developmental issues.
  
  Finally, the reason that the baby is discussed is because most women who learn that they are having a child with Down Syndrome abort. Is that right? Not for me to say, but it is a fact. Down syndrome's prevalence is 1 in 600-700 pregnancies and at this time approximately 1 in 6,000 children is born with it.
  
  So we can't really stop focusing on her her as a woman and mother when it effects her policies.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kate on 11th September 2008
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  Just started a pro-Palin discussion thread, but wanted to get this link out there, too:
  
  http://www.ontheissues.org
  
  I would love to read a few discussions about both candidates on actual issues! Working motherhood is a big one for us because it's the one we most easily relate to, but there's a lot more that goes into the making of a candidate of any political affiliation. Let's discuss those things, too...

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lylah M. Alphonse on 11th September 2008
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  I ti s very humorous that no one called Barack on his experience and what his objetives are. All we needed was someone with some ideas to take this country in to right direction. Hence, the 10 point lead in the pollsfor the McCain Palin ticket. there is a God after all!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lolie on 11th September 2008
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  Part of the reason we have so many social issues like "unwanted pregnancies" is because our laws don't just protect an individual's rights, they promote the behaviors. The messages we are sending are "Go ahead and have all the unprotected sex you want because there's a way out if something happens. And if you choose to keep the child, then we'll get you into a program that won't cost you a dime!" There are no consequences to actions anymore, just benefits. Even our prison system is hardly a place of punishment. Sarah Palin stands for protecting America's values, not just an individual's rights. And that's why people don't like her-because she doesn't bow to popular opinion. She is adament against abortion because she believes in the right to life. This means that if you choose to accept that life begins at conception, then that life has rights too. And if you abort it without its consent, haven't you taken away it's right to live? Barack Obama stands behind a woman's right to abortion even in the event that a doctor botches it and the baby is born. He states that it is the law's obligation to protect the woman who wanted the abortion and that the baby must still be killed. He is someone who believes life begins at conception yet supports killing a baby who was born after a botched abortion. Where is that child's rights? How can anyone lay their head down at night and think that this is acceptable? At what point do we draw the line? I know...when the woman who just had a newborn 3 days ago and couldn't handle the stress so she fried it in a microwave. Then we're outraged. But what about protecting that woman's right to change her mind about raising a baby? We don't make sense anymore and that's why I'm voting for someone who wants to raise our standards again and hold us accountable for our actions instead of ensuring a way out all the time.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mashed Taters on 11th September 2008
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  Wow Taters. That's some post.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by charliesaurus on 13th September 2008
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  I'm not sure I understand Kate's post in why her choices as a mother are fair game to public scrutiny.
  
  While it is true that being a mother is who she is, and affects her decisions, I don't think we are in a position to judge her as a mother. I have made mistakes as a mother, that I still call "rookie move", and I'm sure many of us have.
  
  That said, as a woman, I made plenty of my share of mistakes as a teenager too. Despite what my parents believed, I did what I was going to do. When I made my mistake, my parents stood by me when I didn't think they could. This is what Palin is doing with her daughter. She is standing by her daughter, and her convictions, at the same time.
  
  I agree, if you're going to choose to not like her do it based on her position on the issues, rather than her issues as a mother.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Grandy on 13th September 2008