Democrat National Convention

[gambit]

The only thing I'll say regarding her son is that maybe she thought if she won, she'd have better healthcare in D.C. rather than Juneau.

[gambit]

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/in...oses-a-running

"Sarah Palin may be the ideological opposite of Hillary Clinton, but she's her gynecological twin."

[dubman]

"she does have international experience because RUSSIA... is right next to ALASKA!"

I'm not campaigning so I don't have to be.

well it's still a dumb thing to hone in on. how many guys have neglected their home responsibilities to go and run for any kind of office? and it was okay that they did because public office is a larger responsibility. bringing it up in this instance is basically re-iterating that her responsibilities, her place, is better suited at home with the kids and not running for office.
they're married, you know.. there's a dad there. so while that means there's going to be fomula feeding instead of the real thing (which isnt the best for newborns but thats their thing), he can be a parent too.

[Deckard]

Our prime minister has a 2 year old son with cystic fibrosis.

Not only that, the man likely to be our next prime minister has a 6 year old son with cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy.

I've never heard anyone question whether either one of these MEN should be taking on the roles they have because of their disabled children.

[cacophony]

Originally Posted by cured

I'm not campaigning so I don't have to be.

During the August 29 edition of CNN Newsroom, CNN anchor John Roberts said to congressional correspondent Dana Bash: "There's also this issue that, on April 18, she [Palin] gave birth to a baby with Down syndrome. The baby is just slightly more than 4 months old now. Children with Down syndrome require an awful lot of attention. The role of vice president, it seems to me, would take up an awful lot of her time, and it raises the issue of how much time will she have to dedicate to her newborn child?" Bash replied: "That's a very good question, and, I guess -- my guess is that perhaps the line inside the McCain campaign would be, if it were a man being picked who also had a baby, but, you know, four months ago with Down syndrome, would you ask the same question?"

if anyone here actually has experience raising a child with down syndrome and can actually speak to the necessary demands, please speak up.

otherwise let's entertain a discussion about how little time obama will have to spare for his daughters, who are at an incredibly impressionable age where their father's consistent presence in their lives is most important.

nothing ever changes here.

[cacophony]

Originally Posted by dubman

so while that means there's going to be fomula feeding instead of the real thing (which isnt the best for newborns but thats their thing), he can be a parent too.

not necessarily. i will be working full time away from home and breastfeeding twins. it means i'll be spending quite a bit of time pumping but it is certainly a doable job. especially if she's only having to pump enough quantity to support one. breastmilk stores in the freezer for 5 months and up to 5 days in the refrigerator. even with a busy schedule she can certainly pump enough to support her child. additionally, her child is currently 4 months old, which means he will be 9-ish months by the time the inauguration will roll around. the current recommendation for breastfeeding is 1 year but 9 months is certainly sufficient and exceeds the national average for what most mothers do.

regardless, while there is quite a bit of evidence to support the arguments for breastfeeding, there is no evidence to suggest that formula feeding results in a sacrifice to health and welfare. don't forget that many moms try breastfeeding and through no fault of their own are unable to produce milk at all or in sufficient quantities and have no choice but to bottlefeed formula. still other mothers face issues where babies lack the muscular strength to suckle from a breast, which is significantly harder than suckling at a latex nipple. premature or underweight babies frequently are prohibited from breastfeeding because the effort burns more calories than the milk/colostrum contains and the exertion can result in weight loss. finally, even with hormonal stimulation adoptive mothers rarely produce significant quantities of milk and these babies formula feed as a necessity.

it's all a bit off topic, but if we're going to make the republican VP's breastfeeding options our business, we ought to be properly informed about all of the factors as well as the realistic ramifications of her options.

[dubman]

yeah it's no ones business really but i'm more just emphasizing there isnt much that only a woman can do paternally except breastfeed, and also the image of a guy doing that is hilarious.
my gf mom is a doctor in nutrition and lactation, so if we're getting into how bad/not bad formula is i'd just be asking her all day for specifics, but they seem to be convinced formula should be for emergencies only...

[chuck]

John Oliver - direct from Mile High - the heart of hopeness.

"Feed me hope"

"It just makes you want to do something spontaneous...."

baahahaha... superb.

[cacophony]

Originally Posted by dubman

yeah it's no ones business really but i'm more just emphasizing there isnt much that only a woman can do paternally except breastfeed, and also the image of a guy doing that is hilarious.
my gf mom is a doctor in nutrition and lactation, so if we're getting into how bad/not bad formula is i'd just be asking her all day for specifics, but they seem to be convinced formula should be for emergencies only...

there's a spectrum of thought on it, stretching from the la leche league breastmilk nazis to the "whatever works works" camp. most lactation consultants fall somewhere in the middle.

all i know is i'm having two hungry babies and i've only got two tits and two hands and i'm going to do my best. my best may include supplementing with formula. my best may mean i can't even make it 4 months exclusively breastfeeding. my husband is going to dispense as much milk as i do, he's just going to be using a bottle and nipple. we're both going to be nurturers and if he gets home before i do and he picks hungry babies up from daycare before i arrive then he's going to be the primary feeder for the evening. we may be hiring a doula to help, and guess what, hired help can heft a bottle as well as anyone. as you said, mommies aren't the only ones who can care for babies.

all i know is, i'll be damned if i'm going to accept the suggestion that this woman is an inappropriate choice for this job simply because she has a child, or that her job will somehow make her less of a mom. or that her vagina makes her obligated to be home, or that she's a failure of a mother if she chooses to serve the greater good and accept the assistance of her spouse and possibly hired help in raising her kids.

it's absolutely absurd that this even came up, that her womanliness came into it, that her motherhood came into it. and i might as well tack onto this rant that if you have to start your statement with, "i don't want to sound sexist but..." then just stop. because you're about to sound sexist.

she looks like someone promoted the CEO's assistant? she's sacrificing her child's welfare to "play" politics? it's just the most absurd bullshit i've ever read. it's sickening and it's completely baffling that this is coming from the "liberal" camp that loves to criticize the conservatives for their backwards-ass caveman-like views on the "traditional" family structure.

as i said with biden, criticize someone on their record and experience. if you have to fall back on what your gut is telling you (she should be at home raisin' her babies, or 35 years means he's entrenched in washington) then you're simply exposing yourself as a voter who would rather forgo the responsibility of intelligent thought than actually learn and evaluate someone on actual qualifications.

[cacophony]

Originally Posted by Deckard

Our prime minister has a 2 year old son with cystic fibrosis.

Not only that, the man likely to be our next prime minister has a 6 year old son with cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy.

I've never heard anyone question whether either one of these MEN should be taking on the roles they have because of their disabled children.

also, thank you for providing these examples.