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 answer, John, is NOT A FREAKIN CHANCE
At the assumption that the mother must be the primary care giver for the child, and that a woman can't have children and a career. The line of questioning is very retro for feminists.
The DUmmies are on a RAMPAGE! They're actually excited thinking McCain is TOAST for this pick!
They're out they saying Palin is under an ethics investigation right now, and her 16 year-old unmarried daughter is pregnant!
Someone said they heard it on some show by some guy named Thomm Hartman (whoever the hell that is?). Now they're goin' NUTS over there! Even if by some chance, it's true, I don't know why they think that would they think that would be the death knell!
My GOD, DELUSION is THEIR god!
Thank you for finding that.Here’s what Palin said about the arrangements she has ALREADY made for Baby Trigg as Governor of Alaska...
Anchorage Daily News
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/382560.html“The governor said she won’t take a maternity leave but will bring Trig with her to work. Her spokesperson later clarified, at Palin’s request, that the governor will take time off for medical appointments, physical therapy and whatever Trig needs.”
Sarah’s bringing a Baby to the White House!
I really didn't think that they would go this low, so fast. As someone who had a very good marriage to a ( now long-dead ) handicapped wife, this sort of smear-mongering just burns me up.
How dare they?
She also supported creationism being taught in schools. The libs will have a field day with that.
There is no reason to believe that the Obama girls are brats or that they are not loved.
This is really going to go over well with the working mothers of their party.
If it were up to Obama and John Roberts the child would not even exist! Plenty of wonderful mothers work. Sexist comments like that from people who are the first to look for and scream about racism and sexist comments from others. Wow typical sincerity from a liberal.
Now that would be a great question to ask a liberal—what did Joe Biden do with his sons? This plays as poorly on Joe as experience does on Obama.
Well at least she loves her children enough not to KILL them Roberts you Jergoff !
She asked the Principal to call her father because her mother was "busy". LOL.
Democrats congradulated Senator Biden for not resigning from his Senate position, when his wife and the mother of their children died. Instead, he did his job and raised their children as a single parent. I will add my congradulations to those of the Democrats.
In the case of Govenor Sarah Palin, she has a supportive husband who has shared responsibility for the children, freeing her to pursue her calling as a politician. Now, could the Democrats explain why a Democrat dad can both pursue the job of a Senator and be a single parent, while a Republican dad cannot share responsibility for raising children, freeing the woman he loves to both be a public servant as well as a mother?
No, they can’t, because the only explanation is that they are small-minded, hateful people.
BTW The First Hunk of Alaska will help his beautiful wife to win the woman’s vote.
Attention John Roberts!!! Sarah is a prolife Republican & her CHOICE was to have this little one. With her family & God's help - he will not suffer any neglect.
Where is your compassion for the aborted little ones who are tossed aside in trash bins? Do they have dedicated care from their mothers?
Shame on you for even making this an issue!!!
I guess Snerdly isn’t going to win Rush’s laptop, or whatever it was they bet on!
“...apparently if you are a woman and have a baby well then you really shouldn’t be going out there in the work force.”
Yes. For dems, it’s much preferable to KILL your baby before going to work.
CNN’s John Roberts; Just added to my ES&D list.
No Rush didn’t say the dems, he said the driveby’s would bring the topic up.
Hmm... Driveby’s... Dems... Driveby’s... Dems....
Well maybe you’re right. I can’t see the difference!
And these creatures think they're "liberal."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.