Dec. 02--The hypocrisy hunters are on high alert, calling out the media for claiming that politicians' kids are off-limits, even as we gleefully pillory the Palin children.
They're right, to a point. A Washington Examiner piece on Monday points out that CNN anchor Carol Costello recently had to issue an apology for her treatment of audio involving Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol, who was recounting an alleged assault to police in Alaska.
"I'm just going to come right out and say it," Costello said, smirking. "This is quite possibly the best minute and a half of audio we've ever come across -- well, come across in a long time, anyway."
Costello's remarks were ugly and insensitive, to be sure. So is most of the mud slung at the former Alaskan governor's children.
You can argue that Bristol, Palin's oldest daughter, transcended her role as politician's daughter when she signed on for "Dancing With The Stars" in 2010 and a Lifetime series, "Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp," in 2012. But that would imply that we left Bristol (and the other Palin children) alone prior to 2010, and we all know that's baloney.
But I'm compelled to set the record straight a tad. A tweeter called me "both racist and sexist" for writing Monday that President Barack Obama's children -- indeed, all presidents' children -- should be shielded from public rebuke, while the media believes "Palin's kids are fair game."
Several tweeters piled on from there, and my inbox contains a handful of similar sentiments.
I've never criticized the Palin children. They shouldn't be fair game. In September 2008, when Sarah Palin was preparing to accept the Republican party's nomination for vice president, I wrote the following piece for the Chicago Tribune, urging us to shift our focus away from Palin's parenting and her children:
We've all become helicopter parents this election season, hovering over the candidates like a bunch of well-intentioned, but ultimately stifling busybodies.
The introduction of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin into the political mix has put babies and child-rearing and parenting in the forefront of a campaign that, frankly, has a lot bigger fish to fry. It's not that parenting isn't a monumentally important job, it's just that we're focusing on the wrong parts of it.
With that in mind, here's what I'd like to hear Palin say tonight at the Republican National Convention -- though I'm not holding my breath:
"As you may have heard, I'm a mom. This doesn't limit me, but it does define me. And I'm proud of that. Every mother should be. Parenting is the most important, rewarding, jaw-droppingly difficult job a person can do. This past week hasn't made it any easier. Now, let's clear a few things up.
"First: I showed up for work three days after my youngest baby was born. That was my choice, and it doesn't mean I think that should be yours. In fact, if elected, I'll use my experience as a working mom to improve this country's abysmal parental leave laws. Childbirth is a major medical procedure, and the only one that results in a new human life. Why rush back to the office 60 hours after you leave the hospital?
"If it's because you're governor of an enormous state and you tend to do these kinds of things, fine. If it's because you can't afford to take unpaid leave and your employer refuses to pony up -- well, that should be illegal. Every employer in every state should offer a minimum of six weeks paid parental leave for new moms and dads. Minimum. That's the least (and I do mean least) we can do for the children we keep touting as 'our future.'
"Next: My daughter's pregnant. Those of you who never had premarital sex may leave the room. You're excused from this lecture. Those of you who are 100 percent certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that your children have never had premarital sex may also leave the room. The rest of you -- and would you look at that, there are a bunch of you left -- listen up:
"Abstinence-only education isn't enough. But neither is a slide show about contraceptives in a glorified physical education class. Our schools should urge kids to hold off on having sex, and also explain their options if they decide to forgo that advice -- how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases, how to prevent unwanted pregnancies. As vice president, I'll emphasize the importance of teaching both.
"But in the real world, sometimes your kids do stuff you've asked them not to. Just ask President Bush. Or his dad, for that matter. This has nothing to do with the fact that I work outside the house, and everything to do with the fact that my daughter is a teenager.
"Finally: This election really is about children -- and not just mine. Not what it means that my daughter is having one, and not whether I'm spending enough time raising mine.
"It's about every single child in America, and what kind of world we want them to grow up in. It's about protecting them not just from terrorists, but from the very real threats of failing schools, foreclosed homes, E. coli-laden produce and toxic air. It's about keeping college within their reach, and jobs within their country.
"It's about giving these kids a home they can be proud of and thrive in and pass along to their kids in even better shape.
"I want this for my five children, and I want this for my soon-to-be grandchild. And I want it for your kids and grandkids too. Let's put a lid on all the nonsense and the white noise and the distractions and get to work. We've got a whole lot of people counting on us."
hstevens@tribpub.com
Twitter @heidistevens13
