Posted on 02/09/2011 3:28:01 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Matt Lauer's got company today on the political-mother shaming front: Rick Santorum.
Santorum is one of the possible GOP hopefuls for the '12 presidential nomination, along with Sarah Palin, of course. She decided at the last minute not to attend the conservative conference CPAC (she hasn't actually showed up the last few years, in fact—it's become a bit of a tradition for her to cancel). Santorum seized upon the no-show as an opportunity to criticize Palin, who's a hit among the same far-right base he'd be trying to appeal to in a run.
First, in an interview with conservative S.E. Cupp, he hinted at her celebrity profiteering: "I have a feeling that she has some demands on her time, and a lot of them have financial benefit attached to them." This is not an unfair criticism—but his next one was. He pretended to offer a more understanding take on why Palin might be unable to come. "I don’t live in Alaska and I’m not the mother to all these kids and I don’t have other responsibilities that she has." (Itals mine.)
Santorum happens to be the father to seven children—one might assume no matter the parenting balance in the Santorum household, he does, in fact, have some responsibilities in addition to attending CPAC. But more interesting here is the criticism he's subtly rescuscitating. In '08, one of the few things many women on both sides of the aisle could agree on re: Palin was that she had steamrolled over the expectation that women could only go into politics in a big way once their kids were raised, and this was a good thing. Republican women and consultants told me this fall over and over again that seeing her up on the stage at the 2008 GOP convention with her young kids was a moment that everything suddenly looked different, more possible for them. It's how the whole Mama Grizzly movement began, this version of conservative feminism that we found vexing and powerful all at once. Maybe Santorum's comments were a one-off from a sui generis conservative, or maybe it's a sign that the good 'ol boys on the right (and perhaps the left, too) are no longer quite as entranced and stymied by the possibility of grizzly power.
LLS
LLS
Santorum is a party animal.
LLS
LLS
Santorum endorsed Specter enthusiastically.
Santorum couldn’t beat un-charismatic Casey in his last bid for re-election.
Santorum has more kids than Sarah.
Santorum should be politically astute enough to not attempt such a clumsy back-hand of Sarah. He is insinuating she can’t do it all because she’s saddled with children. Whether he meant to or not he stepped in it. Whoever is advising him should advise him to make a public apology to Sarah and to all women who choose to be a mother and have a career.
It’s not his business to judge Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachmann or any other woman. He should grow up. It was a petty, judgemental comment and came off as paternal. He’s not Sarah’s daddy. Santorum might as well have told her to put an apron on and make him some dinner.
Establishment Republicans are very annoyed that regular Joe & Joanna Americans are engaged in politics and policy.
He tried to backstep on Greta last night. Funny stuff
sad...but may be true.
I thought Palin came on too mean-spirited when mixing it up with potential rival Rick Santorum, suggesting the former Pennsylvania senator and presidential hopeful is a “knuckle-dragging Neanderthal.“
The eyebrow-raising slap came in response to Santorum’s recent comments that Palin was likely skipping an annual gathering of conservatives in Washington this weekend because of other “business opportunities“ and her mothering responsibilities.
Rick made a deal with the Devil, Arlen Specter, kept it, and he was crushed in ‘06 partly b/c of it. His own wife was furious over his endorsement of Arlen. Sorry, though, Rick is still a really good guy. We’re all human, and he paid the price for his transgression. Bob
Rick who???
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