Posted on 08/29/2008 1:34:27 PM PDT by Zakeet
CNN’s John Roberts, after briefly alluding to the issue of Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s experience he called into question earlier on Friday’s "Newsroom" program, asked correspondent Dana Bash about how the Alaska governor’s newborn son with Down’s syndrome might be affected if she were elected: "There's also this issue that on April 18th, she gave birth to a baby with Down's Syndrome.... Children with Down's 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 deftly answered this question, which has the implication that Palin could neglect her infant son, and made a possible counter-argument the McCain camp would use, that a question like Roberts’ would be sexist: "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's Syndrome, would you ask the same question?"
The CNN correspondent continued by briefly describing the Palin’s family situation and the thinking that may have gone into the situation for both McCain and Palin herself. She concluded by reporting on the Alaska governor’s appeal to social conservatives because she is "very staunchly anti-abortion," in Bash’s words.
The full transcript of the exchange between John Roberts and Dana Bash, which began 7 minutes into the 11 am Eastern hour of CNN’s "Newsroom" [audio available here]:
JOHN ROBERTS: You know, there's one other issue -- we've talked about her experience and what depth of experience she has; the fact that maybe she tries to peel off a few women voters on the Democratic side, who really wanted to see a woman in the White House in some way, shape, or form. There's also this issue that on April 18th, she gave birth to a baby with Down's Syndrome.DANA BASH: Yes.
ROBERTS: The baby is just slightly more than four months old now. Children with Down's 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: 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's Syndrome, would you ask the same question? And that might be another way to kind of, you know, kind of close the gender gap in trying to make the point that, yes, she not only has, unfortunately, a baby with Down's Syndrome, but she has five children, the oldest of whom is apparently going -- is in the Army and going to head off to Iraq in the fall. So, you know, it absolutely is going to be a question that she is going to have to answer, and there's no question that she had to do soul-searching and figure out if she could take this on when John McCain made clear that he wanted her to be her [sic] running mate, and it is going to be one of the interesting things that we are going to be able to hear from her when she finally does speaks, whether she does address these things here or in subsequent interviews.
That's going to be a fascinating thing, but it also does -- it also does appeal to social conservatives in another way, and that is that, you know, part of her story, if you read her discussions about that baby, is that, you know, she knew before she gave birth to that baby, that it had Down's Syndrome, and she chose to keep the baby. And that is -- that is because she is somebody who is anti-abortion. She is somebody who is very staunchly anti-abortion. That kind of story, also, can help appeal to the social conservatives that John McCain is still trying to win over in his own party.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.
The left is truly disgusting. They are the people who would have aborted this baby, and now they are faking concern about the baby’s well-being.
The left is truly disgusting.
I cannot believe the question was asked and worse - it was broadcast without censorship.
CNN is in the ditch. Terminate their agony FCC please!
How do we file a complaint with the FCC???
I am also absolutely thrilled and pray that her and her family are strong these ludacris attacks. This goes far beyond the attacks on Michelle.
I think he has to buy Rush a spare tire for his Bentley .
That would never be said were she a man. Just more Liberal hypocrisy.
What a pig to even suggest that this fine upstanding American lady would allow hr child to be hurt in any way. Only the mind of a desperate pig would go to that point.
Can you imagine how proud Sarah Palin’s children are of their mother! Heck I’m proud of her......and Hillary never did anything for me as a female candidate. It is her conservatism and solid foundation in the “right” worldview!
Let’s ask her son as an actual soldier if he thinks his mother is ready to be Commander in Chief! Take that experience pundits!
Allright, I’m just going to say it! She is a gift from God!
THANK YOU!
I do not believe that they are even on the radar.
I don’t often condemn people for saying what they want to say but, in this case I feel compelled to speak.
Mrs. Palin knew up front the child had a problem before she had the child.
She is not the type from what I saw today to neglect a child.
This Roberts fellow is desperate to have something negative to say about the next VP. He is living in the gutter and he is a rat for sure.
Lets see, when her baby was at his most vulnerable (except in an Obama world where even after being born a baby has something to fear from the government)Sarah protected and defended her child's right to live.
The last two callers to Michael Medved show, both claiming to be lifelong Republicans, were “appalled” that McCain would pick a mother with a disabled baby. They said she should be home caring for her child and not running for VP.
Clearly the seminar callers have received their marching orders and the Dems are well along on one of the most despicable attacks on a candidate in history.
I like Palin she is very impressive, but it is an issue. I just had a baby in March. I just started working 1 day a week. I personally don’t think it is right to work full time when you have a baby. I don’t know, maybe Palin is different. It’s really not a good idea that Babies are being raised in Day Care. It sucks that our society has moved in that direction. Dr. Laura certainly does’t condone it. As far as your remarks about the Democrats, with their beliefs about abortion, you are right, they would have had the child aborted and not even given it a second thought.
A new low, indeed, and it won’t play well. Over at the DUmp, this approach was tested within an hour of the announcement. The feminists pounced. It was a crabs in the basket moment like you rarely get to observe. Seems a lot of them are very sensitive to charges that work and motherhood don’t mix.
There will be all sorts of attacks from the media, but this one has already backfired. Not to mention there are working moms in the media also.
Dear ‘John’
LOL LOL LOL!
Now, how about that letter of resignation.....?
Memo to John Roberts.
Definition of wisdom: Do not step in a pile of steaming dog crap before you put your foot in your mouth.
Thus endeth the lesson.
I don't think Biden is going to want to get near questioning her about that seeing that after the tragic death of his first wife, he was caring for his surviving children.
They know instinctively they have been completely snookered - stuck with two losers instead of Hillary, and they are desperate! This is delicious!
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