You said it! REally good points! The pediatricians recommend nursing for at least one year. With no paid leave, and health care and other expenses rising for years, what is a mother supposed to do? Leaving a baby in the care of underpaid, often undertrained caretakers is a heartbreaking thing to do. It's hard leaving them in kindergarten, let alone at a daycare when they can't even talk.
What exactly is Sarah Palin's point? Most women cannot install cribs in their workplace. Does she understand this? Will she support better training and early childhood education? Will she support low cost health insurance availability including vision and dental?
Other civilized societies understand and support childcare as an investment in the future of their own economies. Will Palin/McCain support more leave, better childcare options and healthcare or continue to privatize and build more jails for and go to war with our children?

Nice mother...goes back to work after 3 DAYS of giving birth to a special needs child...no wonder her daughter's pregnant...it's all about HER. She's selfish and arrogant...no redeeming qualities as a human being as far as i'm concerned.

Bravo! Thank you for asking such important questions. If Sarah Palin is going to 'play the mom card AND the gender card' then she must actually address how she and McCain plan to help women, moms, and families.

In her acceptance speech, Palin said right at the beginning that she would fight for other families with special needs children. We have yet to hear anything, though, about her plans to help those families or thousands of others who struggle with the issues Jennifer addresses above.

**** I urge any of you who are concerned about family/mom/woman policies to visit momsrising.org. ****

Immediately after Palin's acceptance speech, this amazingly successful grassroots organization, which advocates for family-friendly policies across the nation, sent an email call-to-action to all momsrising.org members asking them to send a letter to Sarah Palin asking her to begin discussing her views on family-friendly policies.

So many people submitted letters over the momsrising.org website that the site actually crashed momentarily! The site was up and running again quickly, and within a short amount of time 20,000 moms and families had emailed Palin asking her to actually discuss her views on family friendly policies.

I urge any of you concerned about these issues to visit and join momsrising.org.

No offense, but maybe if you really can't afford to either raise the child yourself or pay for quality care, you should postpone having children until you can.

This is a woman who isn't smart enough to figure out that her family rather and more importantly her children are in crisis. The baby is just a voiceless pawn in her games but the oldest is saying very clearly, pay some attention to me. The oldest NEEDs her mother more than ever right now. The baby's future is dependent on the mothering and care he gets now and God knows what is happening to Piper and Willow. Who is getting them dressed for school, helping them with their homework and reading to them at night. Whether you are a man or a woman, your first and primary responsibility is to your family and your children. If they don't turn out well, nothing else you accomplish in your life has much meaning.

This Palin woman is disgusting... I hope I never hear a word out of her mouth about family values. Even the republican women I know, can't tolerate her... whether you are an avowed feminist working mom like me or a stay at home mom likes lots of conservative mothers, we all agree that our children come first and we will do everything in our power to ensure that they have happy childhoods that lead to productive lives.

Palin is sacrificing her children, their happiness, their future well-being to blind ambition... She is a monster.

DL I WAS BEGINNING TO THINK I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO FELT THAT WAY ABOUT HER. SHE WANTS TO HAVE A SAY IN MY LIFE AND SHE CAN'T EVEN RUN HER OWN HOUSEHOLD. I SAY BASED ON JUST THE PREGNANT 17 YR OLD, SHE NEEDS TO GO HOME AND RAISE HER KIDS. REAL WOMEN PUT THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN BEFORE ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY THEMSELVES.

Show me a VP that has laid out in detail all the minutiae of his/her vision/goals and plans, and I'll show you someone who is out of touch with analyzing, thinking through, consulting, listening, and only then developing and implementing.

If you expect that within an election campaign, think again. It ain't gonna happen.

You have to go with what she stands for, her personality and methodology, and her verve and gutsiness to get things done. If that is convincing to you, then vote for her ticket, else go for the other guys.

I am a working woman who has been so for 40 years. I have two children who I left to private daycare after they where two months old both times. I cannot go back and change things, regretably, and be a stay-at-home mom but do my best today to be a mom in all ways possible. My daughter is not in Iraq (following a tour in Afghanistan) and I do those things for her she cannot attend to such as paying bills, taking care of her person al items. I cannot imagine not being able to drop what I am doing to mail a "care" package of MY homemade goodies to her and other ANG soldiers. For my son, I take his calls and forgo my other things to help him as needed. How will Sarah support her special needs child from a foreign country as she travels for a couple of weeks at a time? Daddy can...of course just as other fathers fill needs. But why would she want to miss so many days of growth on end w/o holding her baby when he needs so much more time. I used to sleep w/my babies on my chest (I know they risked falling off and smothering but I am a very light sleeper who does not move about) and nursed during the night, early morning hours and after work. It's just not the same being away from them for weeks. I had a need for the money not the glory.

Thank you Jennifer you said it perfectly. This woman does nothing for me at all. She is arrogant and has no compassion for humans or animals. She supports the inhumane arial hunting of wolves and bears. She sues the US government to stop the listing of the polar bear as a threatened species and that is just the tip of the iceberg. Yet woman all across America walk around drooling over this pit bull with lipstick. WHY?

Not only is she selfish and arrogant, she lies like a wet rug. She's beyond selfish. She's a megalomaniac. Someone like her should never be one breath away from the presidency. The thought of her ascending to that post is the scariest thing I can think of. She's vindictive and it seems like she doesn't give more than a fleeting moment's thought to a decision. Not the qualities we need at our highest level of government.
I don't see how any woman could vote for that ticket if they have even the slightest belief in women's rights. McCain doesn't even believe in equal pay for equal work. I wonder if he'll try to reduce the VP salary if he's elected. Hmmm. . . .

I love how everyone is so quick to judge. She went back to work 3 days after giving birth - so what? It's not like she works at a McDonald's. She was the governor of Alaska! I doubt she was able to just forget all that for 3 months and focus completely on her child. From the interviews I've read, she doesn't just dump him in daycare, either. She keeps him with her most of the time while she's working. Babies at that age are easily transported. As far as daycare goes, it sounds like her husband and older children do most of the babysitting. The kids are definitely old enough, and the husband is home a lot as well. Stop making assumptions. And what's this about "no wonder her daughter's pregnant"? Because only bad mothers have daughters who wind up pregnant out of wedlock? Give me a break.

Wow, I have never seen such a group of jealous, catty women! Step into the new millenium, honey!

This has been a huge issue for me in my decision to support Sarah Palin and I'm so glad you have put this out there. From the moment I learned that she went back to work only 3 days after giving birth, rather than take a few weeks off to bond with her newborn, I have questioned her. It doesn't matter whether or not she works at McDonald's or is the governor of Alaska, she needed to spend some time with her newborn. This poor decision on her part made my decision very easy, I'm not supporting her at all. Shame on her.

How typical of the angry left feminists. 35 years ago I was scorned for being a "housewife" and not having my "own identity" When my babies were born 35 years ago, I was told by my feminists friends, go back to work! let your husband stay home with the kids, YOU should be supporting the family. You people are clearly envious of Palin, and lash out like angry fish wives. If she were a democrate you would be shreaking a different tune. Get back in the kitchen!

When all is said and done.. Roe vs Wade will be on the chopping block, women will be setback years and services in general will be hard to come by with the cuts the Republican regime will be forced through the McCain/Palin presidency.

She looks good, I admire her courage and ambition, she gives a spark to an otherwise lackluster team but the bottome line is that she represents an old school failure of the constitution and we'd look forward to more of the same with the only change more frightening than what is now occuring.

Maybe she was able to keep her child with her when she went back to work, but how many women do you know who have that luxury? I don't believe the question here is whether or not Sarah Palin is a good mother. The question is whether, if she is touting herself as your average American "hockey mom", she will be willing or able to appropriately and sufficiently advocate for women and families when her own resources appear to be much greater than those of the average working family.

Our baby daughter has Downs Syndrome. Rasing a child with Downs Syndrome and raising a regular child should not even be compared. We all know that DS babies encounter developmental delays. But not many of you can even imagine how much support is required to maximise a DS child's potential. We all know that breast milk is a better option. For Downs babies it is even more important. First of all, Downs babies' immune systems are usually weak and hence breastfeeding is essential, in particular early days when breast milk contains certain essentials that are not available in COW's milk or any alternatives. Besides, Downs babies are quite slow to start talking which is partly due to physiological problems with their tongues. Breastfedding does improve a DS child's ability to speak as they develop better tongue control compared to bottle fed babies. It is primarily due to the fact that it is easier to suck milk from a bottle, while babies have to work hard to suck their moms' breast and which is good for their development.

Of Course, its Sarah Palin's choice to resume work after 3 days. I just cannot fathom how it goes with her conservative political beliefs based on family values. I just hope Trig, her DS son have a fulfilling life in future (money cannot buy everything).

Yes, obviously she holds an office of utmost importance. But you can always delegate power to somebody else (even if there is no official second person) in case of emergency.

I think working Moms have an extraordinarily difficult time balancing home responsibilities and workplace pressures. When I was raising my children many years ago, there was no support structure in place at all; it seems to me things have changed very little over the intervening years. There are actually precious few years in which a healthy woman can deliver healthy children; the incidence of Downs syndrome, for example, rises very significantly after the age of 40. So, with young women marrying, on average, later in life, family planning does take center stage rather quickly.
I am dismayed by Palin; I don't hear her talking about helping young families, as others have noted. Frankly, I hope she doesn't become Vice President. She is the least experienced of the many women who are in state and national government - and business, as well - within the Republican Party. Off hand, I can name six - including Carly Fiorina - who would be far better suited for the job. No, Palin was chosen for other reasons - and a more polarizing choice could not have been made. McCain failed, in my view, a critical test of political mettle by capitulating to ultra conservative pressures within the Party by choosing Palin. Given her first - and last? - newscast interview in which her lack of knowledge was so in evidence, it will be interesting to see how effective she is against Biden, a former single Dad commuting between Baltimore and DC to raise his sons, with over 30 years of experience in the Senate sitting and/or chairing two of its most powerful committees. Palin being Governor for two years of a state with less than a million residents doesn't cut it.

YEAH OKAY! SHE`S GOING TO RUN THE COUNTRY WHEN SHE CAN`T EVEN SPEND TIME WITH HER KID`S. IT`S NOT JUST MAKING THEM YOU HAVE TO SHOW MOTHER`S LOVE SOMETHING I THINK HER PREGNANT DAUGHTER WAS MISSING. ALASKA IS A BORING STATE WITH A POPULATION OF 50 PEOPLE.

Yes, she keeps her baby with her at work most of the time. How many other ambitous, intelligent, motivated moms do you know who get to do that!? That's the question I want answered - is she willing to support policies that help families care for their children and still work, whether they are working out of necessity or choice? I would have LOVED to bring a cradle into my cube at the office and nurse my infant son in between emails and meetings. But the reality is, apparently, that unless you are in a position of power where you make your own rules, you don't get to have that privilege. I don't get the sense from Sarah Palin that she would have an ounce of sympathy for a mom who had to be separated from her infant because of the need to bring home a paycheck.

Thank You! I am so tired of everyone singing Palin's praises for being the Mom that "does it all".
In truth she doesn't. She has the same choice that every woman has, what is my priority, my career or my children? Yes, someone is taking care of her children, but it isn't her. I doubt being the right hand to the most powerful man in the world is going to allow her much time to play mommy. She can afford to pay someone else to do that.
What about the rest of us that have anxiety about whether or not we can actually afford to make the decision that our children are the priority? What does she plan to do for us?

Hmmm...an arrogant, selfish, egomaniacal woman? So THAT'S why she didn't choose the easy route and abort her so-called "imperfect" boy with Down's Syndrome. That's why she takes her breastpump to work, as well as during travel, ensuring he gets nature's best. How many of you, with foreknowledge of the situation, would have given birth to a special needs child?

If a man was in the same situation, he would be LAUDED!

All this discussion is doing is setting women back to the early-20th Century. Maybe we should relinquish our right to vote, too? Give me a break.

It's bizarre but Palin seems to be against rape victims like no other politician. Against abortion for rape victims. Charging rape victims for evidence tests. Firing the Police Chief for seeking anti-sexual violence funds and attacking Obama for teaching kids to avoid pedophiles. This woman has severe problems and the press aren't even allowed to talk to her.

Well she's against abortion in the case of rape and incest which I think is awful. She has all the privileges most others don't have as written in comments before this one. There is very little support for families in this country and it's hideous. What is happening with the economy here is unreal. The whole world is negatively impacted not just the US.

I NEVER CEASE TO BE AMAZED at the the angles at which the liberal left attacks.. Where are the statements asking what Biden is going to do for mothers. Maybe MR. Palin is going to stay at home and be the care giver for the family. Maybe not, but the world is full of working parents and no one has us under a microscope to see if we still have time to be parents.. CONCENTRATE ON THE ISSUES, STOP SLINGING THE MUD..

I've decided I'm not going to vote for McCain/Palin for HER children's sake. I feel very bad for them. Maybe then she'll take a step back & realize they need her more than this country does.

To Stayathomemom -offense taken on your comment. People do what they have to do to make ends meet and alot of families depend on two incomes these days...not everyone is as fortunate as you must be. You should try looking outside your own circumstances..pretty enlightening.

Sarah Palin offends me on so many levels..............and the fact that she is allowing the republic party to use her in such a way, at the cost of her family and reputation is just one.

I hope her children can forgive her someday for this.

I just don't understand why woman are so critical of the decisions that this mother has made. I am a mom in the work force with a special needs child and I would hate to think that other mothers are judging me harshly because I was unable (or made a decision not to) be a stay at home mom. Isn't this the time for woman and mothers to come together and support one another. Doesn't anybody feel that a father can be a wonderful loving caregiver to a child?

You: So unless Sarah Palin is going to start talking about tax rebates for
childcare

Me: Having children is expensive. That is your choice whether or not to have them. Most people wanting the rebates are not controlling their own reproductive habits.

You: when her own resources appear to be much greater than those of the average working family.

Me: Some people are just going to make more money than others. That is life. And the VP generally makes a handsome sum, so of course she will have resources many of us do not. Do you want our VP, male or female, at poverty level??

and #25, EXACTLY!

I am pleased to see that people of different perspectives read and comment. To #29: I think the judgment is not about going to work when you have a special needs child. I think it is more about choosing a fast-track career and then escalating that exponentially when there are so many other demands in her life. Of course dad's can be the primary care-giver. But, let's face it, women play against a double standard in life. Moms will always have to give more to their children and work twice as hard. And #22, it's not this discussion that's setting us back; it's the fairy tale view that women should be able to do it all, "like Sarah" when she obviously has privilege that most of us don't. And in deciding to keep an "imperfect" child, God Bless America that the choice was hers to make!

Sarah Palin is a megalomaniac.

Very dangerous for our country. Bye-bye to the right of choice. If elected, she is truly a heart beat away from being POTUS. She fails in interviews, but does pretty well with scripted speeches. She'd be a good actress - but leader of the free world? No.

My children are now 24 and 21. The 21 year old was born with Fragile X Syndrome, the most common inherited cause of mental retardation and the only known genetic cause of autism. 1 in 259 women are carriers and have a 50/50 chance of passing this devastating disorder on to their children. I had no idea I was a carrier, and it took 8 years to get the correct diagnosis (a blood test invented 4 years after he was born), I worked in the corporate world, and my husband and I both negotiated with our employers to work 40 hours in 4 days so that our children would be in day care only 3 days. Then my company'd 4 years after s management changed, and I was told I'd have to give up the 4-day week.At the same time, my husband changed jobs and lost his 4-day week. It was apparent that my younger son needed the advocacy and support that I could not deliver from a desk 40 miles away. I left the job and started a home business so that I'd have the flexibility to show up at school, at the doctor's, wherever I was needed. I might lose a client by cancelling a meeting , but I'd found most people were very understanding unlike the corporate world I'd left. My older son (without FX) was growing out of afterschool care and wanted to come home after school. The time between 3 and 6 pm is the most dangerous for "latchkey" children as they are guaranteed that no parent will pop in until a known time. Experimenting with alcohol, drugs and sex peaks during these hours with young adolescents. I was able to schedule my out of house meetings during school hours, and be there when the busses pulled up. Did we take a financial hit? Yup, we did, and it took a long time to recover, butthis was what I needed to do. A child with significan special needs can't be put on hold. Advocating for such a child is at least a part time job. Caring for one will take up the rest of your time. If Ms. Palin became Vice President and her child needed her but she was scheduled to fly somewhere in the world to represent the U.S. at a funeral or some other ceremonial service, what would she do? I am not talking from both sides of my mouth. I am very much a feminist and insist that every woman be able to make her own choices in every aspect of her life. What I am confused about is Ms. Palin's choice to make a huge commitment to a new job possibility that will take her physically further from her family for much longer periods of time. With a 17-year-old pregnant daughter and an infant with significant special needs, any of us can see that this is not the time to be less available to them. Sure, Dad is there, but, having raised two children, one with extreme special needs, I knew that my responsibility to be there for my family Đ including their dad Đ was unquestionably greater than to enhance my career. Neither Sarah Palin nor I chose to have children with such extraordinary needs, but when you have such a child, you've got to accept that your own career must take second place to this child, your other children whose lives will be enormously impacted by the greater needs of this child and whose emotional needs require your attention. And, no, saying "Dad can pick up the slack." doesn't work.. There's no slack to start with in such a family, and two parents are stretched to the furthest reaches imaginable just trying to keep their family afloat, no matter what their resources. You need to have the judgment to know when to say no, even if it's the only chance you'll ever have to be Vice President.

What a ticket....a hot head and an air head!

Sarah has no regard for women or their issues! She is a self indulgent govenor of a wasteland.
Her running mate's opinion of women and their issues is no better either, about women he said, " we need more education and training" just to receive the same pay as men. Why would Sarah even lower herself to run with this guy? Self ambition! Not even her family will get will get in her way. Of the VP position McCain said, "The vice president has two duties. One is to inquire daily as to the health of the president, and the other is to attend the funerals of Third World dictators". Neither of them qualified to represent the majority of voters in this country......WOMEN!

I dont't believe this article was meant to make Palin look bad. Focus on the importantly strong ideas, this topic shows that Palin is a good role model. She is a strong woman who can support her family, no matter how difficult, and she is a mother, and she is an "EXAMPLE" a woman who "can become a V.P." I mean, just because Palin is a woman, is she responsible for all of the families, mothers, and children of America? Would Obama be responsible for all of the African Americans? No, because the truth is, there are so many different people in America, there is no way to just worry soley on the poor or rich, the weak or the brave, or even this race and that race. The way I see it is, the daughter's pregnancy is not Sarah's fault. Just because her daughter is pregnant out of wedlock, does that mean we are any better? These things happen. Sarah can deal with that family matter. She is a strong woman who has dealt with that problem instead of submitting it to its doom. Instead of removing her daughter from the family, and pointing towards other families who have mental or physical or other personal issues. she decides to use this as an advantage to show that a teenage pregnancy is not the end of the world. Most of us believe that this article is about making Everyone wonders about what she is going to do about families and childcare, but look, most of that, will conclude because of you, not Palin, but because of the leaders of your own family.w

This article doesn't have make Sarah look bad....she does that all by herself!!!

Reading all of the comments here I am struck by a few things:
1.) All of you who support a woman's "right to choose" are really hypocrites. Obviously that phrase has been used to show support for a woman's right to have an abortion but If a woman has a right to choose at all it needs to extend to all areas of choice. If a woman wants to go back to work after having children or to stay home, that should be HER choice.
2.) If we are all going to start being judged 100% for our children's failures than we are all going to come up short. We all try to raise our children to go the way we hope they will and to do what we feel is best for them but ultimately we all have free will. A child can be told over and over not to do something and they won't be able to see the wisdom of that advise until they are older. It is human nature.
3.) Basically 2/3 of the people who have posted here have said they will not vote for her because she has had more childcare opportunities or has more money than they have and they don't think it is fair. Life is not fair-get over it and do something about it! Are you out campaigning for more affordable and more quality child care? Do you call your legislators and congressmen to ask for support? We are only powerless if we allow ourselves to be! There are enough families in the same position that there should be an uprising. We should demand more quality childcare and, if enough of us do, we can make change. Sitting and complaining about it or expecting the government to hand things to us does not work!
4.) If any of you have worked for a female boss, have you found that they are more supportive or less supportive of women and family issues? Some woman are very understanding when it comes to women and family issues and some go the opposite way and condemn the choices that employees sometimes have to make. I have been on both sides of the coin. Palin or another female candidate could bring an understanding of women and family issues to the forefront.

In conclusion, we all have the power to make change - we have the right to vote and the right to live our lives as we see fit. Judging other women's choices does not move us forward, it only makes us feel powerless.

Shame on all of you so quick to judge her decisions. It's that kind of hypocrisy that arodes women's rights. Aren't women's rights really the rights of each woman to choose what's best in her situation with her values. So, she has a job that affords her the opportunity to take her child with her - you're really crucifying her for her successes? I know many women who have jobs that offer flexibility to work from home or to take their children with them. Should they also be ashamed? I have a big loving family, as Sarah does, to watch after my children because my job, like hers, doesn't really lend itself to taking months off. And, I did manage to breast feed both children for 14 months. How do you know she isn't pumping...or is that taboo too? What are Joe Biden's policies? What is his family life like? Why are these points only important when it's a woman on the ticket? Women's rights issues are about equality, then why is she held to a double-standard?

Stop the nonsense about Roe v. Wade. Thirty years of conservative administrations have done nothing, despite many efforts. I do not agree with either candidate's position on that topic, however. Though I'm pro-choice, I do think that it's inhumane to abort a baby capable of surviving on her own. I personally am grateful I've never had to make that difficult decision. At the very least, the way she lives her life is walking the walk on her convictions...something I'd like to see a little more of from Sen. Obama. His refusing to admit that any new services will have to be cut or curbed in a time of economic fallout either shows he has little grasp on reality or he'll say anything to get elected.

Being critical of Gov. Palin, suggesting that she's putting her career ahead of her family sounds like the same kind of divisive working v. stay at home mom that's gone on for decades, except it's women not men who are most critical. You can be a loving mother and have a successful career. Most days, it's tough and you feel guilty for what you did or didn't do. I'm sure she feels the same and has to carry it around with her while many fel it's their right to cast stones at her for trying.

Have posters alarmed about her abortion stance never heard of the morning after pill? What is your issue really? What policies has she pursued on behalf of her personal beliefs on the matter?

Is it also fair to assume that the Democratic party is using Sen. Obama because of his race? Does that also disgust you? Or, does it disgust you that perhaps he overlooked Sen. Clinton because she's a woman? All are fair questions if you actually subscribe to the belief that somehow Gov. Palin should be ashamed because she accepted her parties nomination for the Vice Presidency, which I do not.

Palin is against the morning after pill. She is a member of Feminists for Life who fight access to them. She put in a policy forcing victims to pay for rape examinations to push her beliefs on rape victims that government shouldn't pay for the morning after pill.

The Democratic Party had a nomination process to decide their nominee. They didn't anoint Obama for his demographics. He earned his way in.

Well Said!... I am a Mom of 5! My first 4 I had to return to work after the typical 6 or 10 week Maternity Leave... With my youngest son, I decided to be a Stay at Home Mom. I have experienced both sides of the coin...but, I am giving Palin BIG KUDOS for having the guts to stand up for what is right! I am sick and tired of liberal talking left wing idiots dictating politics as usual....I think we need to stir up Washington...and I am glad that she has the GUTS to face it head on! She is blessed to have a wonderful husband who is more than happy to switch the roles...I think it is great that men get to ENJOY their children too! So well said to this poster! GET BACK IN THE KITCHEN LIBERALS!.

this poster...

How typical of the angry left feminists. 35 years ago I was scorned for being a "housewife" and not having my "own identity" When my babies were born 35 years ago, I was told by my feminists friends, go back to work! let your husband stay home with the kids, YOU should be supporting the family. You people are clearly envious of Palin, and lash out like angry fish wives. If she were a democrate you would be shreaking a different tune. Get back in the kitchen!

What frightens me the most is how close she could be to the presidency. Just think if anything happened to the president she would be next in line. Putting aside all of her family issues I can't imagine that being mayor of a small town and governor of a state with a small population prepares an individual for the role of president.

I find it interesting to read these comments, many posted by women who apparently work outside the home just as Sarah Palin does. It clearly indicates a deeper issue when those who have also made the choice to leave their children in someone else's care for the sake of their careers (careers with much less influence than being VP, nonetheless!) are criticizing Palin for making the same choice. Why shouldn't she have the same rights as anyone else in choosing a career or stay at home motherhood? If her character is in question because she chooses to leave her children in someone else's care while she works, then the character of 70% of our country (see stats in original post) is also in question, right? I personally believe strongly in the value of the SAHM's role in her family's life, but I think it highly hypocritical to judge Sarah Palin by a standard so few are willing to live up to themselves.

That being said, I would also take issue with the idea that only those who are rich and can afford it are "fortunate" enough to stay home as has been suggested here. Choosing to live on only one income so a parent can stay at home often requires much sacrifice on the part of the families who choose it. Many SAHMs must make difficult choices to live more simply without financial, emotional, or other external compensation for the work that they do. They are not just "able" to stay home because they can make ends meet on one income; they make choices to create a life in which they CAN stay home because they believe it's important.

In response to those who have said they will not vote for Palin for her childrens' sake.... In any other career situation, it would be considered discrimination to choose not to hire a woman based on that fact. Again, why the hypocrisy? What does Sarah Palin as VP make you afraid of?

Again, I personally am highly convicted that having a stay at home parent is an important aspect of a healthy family; however, I believe, in a country that accepts and encourages 2-income families and equality for working women, the same standards of belief should be extended to Sarah Palin as any other working woman.

I can't say I am impressed with her decisions as a parent, but just because she has made choices I never would have doesn't make her wrong.

However the fact of the matter is she isn't qualified to be President, and that’s what the Vice President is, the understudy.

I am no longer voting for McCain for two reasons,-
1) Because that means Sarah may one day be President.
2) Because of his total lack in judgment for picking her.

Palin has made two significant comments which are cause for questioning what she, specifically, will bring to the table for working mothers:
1. In her acceptance speach, she said she would be an advocate for mothers of children with disabilities. She has used her personal circumstances as part of her platform, and therefore, she should be questioned on what exactly she means by that. As previously discussed, the average mother of a disabled child does not have the luxury of bringing the child to work with her.
2. She claimed that she "did not blink" when agreeing to the vice presidential nomination. I would hope that any parent, male or female, would give some serious thought as to the implications and risks associated with thrusting their family into the international spotlight, especially if one child is an unmarried pregnant teenager and one child is an infant with Down's Syndrome. Most parents I know would blink just at the thought of taking a job that would require their children to change schools mid-year...

Palin said no to the bridge to no where sure, but the STATE KEPT THE MONEY!
Is that really saying No to Pork? Trying to get her former br in law fired? is that ethical? Praising her daughter for keeping the baby? Did she have a CHOICE? When we have children don't our husbands take the first week off from work? family values? I am one of those anti abortion people and not until we support affordable childcare, end dometic violence, rape and incest, increase a typical woman's sense of self and place, secure affordable healthcare for all AND agree on what is a living wage can we begin to address abortion. Palin and MC cannot fix these problems. Obama and Biden can
ababortion as birth control,

#46 you’ve hit the nail on the head. It was SHE who put her life out there for scrutiny. So to examine the example she has set forth is fair and pertinent. In her acceptance speech she also said that they were “just a regular family” with the same ups and downs as any other. They are NOT a regular family. Most people do not have the resources that she does. And for those of us who don’t, it has nothing to do with jealousy. It has to do with the realization that she is completely out of touch with mainstream America, and those of us who know what it takes from a family just to make it through the day. And by “not blinking” this shows rash decision making. Her judgment is poor and her understanding of what this job will entail is naďve. Those are not qualities I want for a leader of my country.

McCain made a mistake with Palin. McCain basically talks Maverickish and Palin only nods in accent. She does not talk hardcore issues.

This gender-white house issue should end. It solves nothing. How has a female president helped Liberia?

Republican would lose the election by their own doing.

My concern is the issues and her ability to do the job. Personally, she does not resonate with me and I do not trust her. As an owner of a pr firm, I can tell geniune knowledge from memorization and pr prepping. Palin does not have the experience, the intelligence, the vision, or the sincere passion for ALL American people (not just her small "in crowd"). God help us if she ever had to run the country.

Have we forgotten that God is in control? Our responsibility is to Pray for our nation and our candidates.If God and prayer would be allowed back in our schools and country,we wouldnt have such hatred and backbiting! Lets put God back in His place and see what an awesome country we were called to be! God bless America but lets do our part and, AMERICA BLESS GOD!

you pit of vipers! what about females serving in our armed forces? Let's hear you tear them apart too, you hypocrites. Most of these women are enlisted because they are patriots and wanted to serve their country. Sarah is another patriot. Do ya'll ever step out of those glass houses so many of you seem to live in?

"In her acceptance speech, she said she would be an advocate for mothers of children with disabilities."
Palin, like McCain, is a total hypocrite-saying one thing and doing the opposite -As governor she CUT funding for special education and for homes for unwed mothers, as well as charging rape victims for rape kits - McCain says he supports the troops but opposed the new GI bill and funding for protective gear - In fact, veterans' organizations only rate him at 20% support - Both will say or do anything to get elected - but they never follow through - never a 'mavrick on any thing that matters

I was with Sarah Palin on Thursday night after the debate. Your question was mine as well. However, after I spent the hour or so with her at the pep rally my concerns were answered. Sarah's baby was with her the entire night. At her side. Approximately 10 feet away to be exact. As well as her two daughters. Her middle daughter I spoke with. Wow. She held the baby. Gramma and grampa was there to help too. Not to mention her husband. I did not see any nannies or babysitters. I saw family. I liked that. However, that is what I believe. It takes a mom and dad and family to raise a baby. Not a village.

Wow, is this really a pit of vipers? Cool. Although I must admit to being confused by Viper 43, who, after sharing with us that she's tired of liberal talking left wing idiots, added "I think we need to stir up Washington." The Sarah uses this line as well, but since I can't ask her about it I'd love it if V. 42 would enlighten me. Since Washington has had a Republican administration for the last 8 years, and had solid majorities in both the House and Senate for longer than that, if you include the Clinton admin, and the Dems don't yet have a big enough majority to override a filibuster or Presidential veto, or pass major legislation without Republican support, how is voting for another Republican stirring up Washington?

People, this isn’t a “career” decision—this is an opportunity to change millions of people’s lives. This conversation has no relevance as to whether you want that new manager’s position—this is whether you will change the course of history.

JFK took pills for pain that were damaging his body but he knew he had a short time as president to make this world a better place. Sometimes, under all circumstances, you need to seize the day.

If my mother could have made millions of people’s lives better and in exchange somebody else had to change my diapers, I’d make that sacrifice. Palin isn’t “selfish” or any of the other adjectives these hens reserve only for working- women.

She just so happens to be unqualified and very scary. On a separate, social level is how sad this henpecking is. Ladies, grow up. Judge her on her qualifications, not on whether she wears a double pad to work.

I am with #56. A woman's decision to go back to work or not is just that - her decision. Each family weighs this decision in its own, personal way. However, Sarah Palin is not qualified to be Vice President, and potentially President, of the United States. She lacks both domestic and international political understanding. The ticket lacks an overall understanding of the economy. And, frankly, the selfishness, the nastiness has just got to stop.

Still, I agree with the crux of the original article as well as with those posters who have taken up the points. Though, I will add, Sarah Palin is the one who put her family situation on the table. She, in fact offered her family experience as part of her credentials for the job of VP. That is, SHE is, perhaps, what causes us to focus on it... and why we are arguing.

Please let's be aware of that and not let the politicians divide us any more - it only serves to further their own ends.

However, the question isn't whether or not she should have gone back to work or whether she can raise her own family. The issue is whether she is really interested in helping working families -- or if her words are simply nothing more than yet another political ploy.

My questions, though not part of the original article, are: Can she really lead our nation? And, if not called to serve as president, could she be a positive role model in the position of VP?

My answer is clearly and resoundingly NO.

Sarah Palin is under-qualified. She places too little importance on education and lacks interest in the acquisition of knowledge. She lacks (or at least downplays) intellectual curiosity. These are issues that affect working families too. If our nation continues to aspire to mediocrity, it will take forever to dig ourselves out from the pit the current administration has mired us in.

Poster 45. You said...
I can't say I am impressed with her decisions as a parent, but just because she has made choices I never would have doesn't make her wrong.

However the fact of the matter is she isn't qualified to be President, and that’s what the Vice President is, the understudy.

I am no longer voting for McCain for two reasons,-
1) Because that means Sarah may one day be President.
2) Because of his total lack in judgment for picking her.

Question: Is Obama not the understudy on the Democratic ticket? And he's the one whose running for the job of President.