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Obama Campaign National Finance Committee Member Criticizes Palin's Parenting

September 05, 2008 9:27 PM

On the Laura Ingraham Radio show, Friday, attorney Howard Gutman -- an original member of the national finance committee for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. -- very directly criticized the parenting of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Ingraham was taking issue with a column by Washington Post columnist Sally Quinn, asking whether Palin's 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy is raising "the question among the evangelical base about whether Sarah Palin has been enough of a hands-on mother."

Pondered Quinn: "Not only do we have a woman with five children, including an infant with special needs, but a woman whose 17-year-old child will need her even more in the coming months. Not to mention the grandchild. This would inevitably be an enormous distraction for a new vice president (or president) in a time of global turmoil."

To Ingraham, the insinuation was sexist, since no one would ask such questions of a man.

Gutman said the issue wasn't one of gender, but one of parenting -– regardless of the gender of the parent.

"This has nothing to do with gender, whether Todd Palin was the nominee or Sarah Palin was the nominee," Gutman said. "If my daughter had just come home at 17 years old and said, 'Mom, Dad, I'm pregnant, we have a family problem,' I wouldn't say, 'You know what we're going to do? We're going to take this private family problem...and you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to go on the international stage and broadcast this to the world.'"

Gutman continued, "this wasn't a working mother issue, this was a parent issue…The proper attack is not that a woman shouldn't run for vice president with five kids, it's that a parent, when they have a family in need, a Down's baby who needs them -- mother or father."

"So you are judging her parenting skills," Ingraham said. "You're saying you don't think she's a good parent for doing this job."

"I'm saying the proper criticism is not that it's a woman or man – it doesn't matter whether it's Todd or Sarah," Gutman said. "Think of how many politicians have said it's not the right time in my family's life for me to run."

Gutman cited approvingly Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., in 2004 and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner in 2008, both of whom said they weren't going to pursue the presidency because it wasn't the right time for their families.

"They put their family above their career," Gutman said. "Your responsibility is to put your family first."

"So you're saying she's not putting family first," Ingraham said.

"Absolutely not," Gutman said. "If you take a daughter who's got this emotional strife and subject her to the most intense scrutiny of the world at this time in her life, I think you've put your career above your family."

Obama spokesman Bill Burton, asked to respond to Gutman's remarks, said "Obviously these comments do not reflect our frequently stated views that families of the candidates should be off limits."

Several times during the interview, Ingraham expressed bewilderment that the Obama campaign would attack Palin's parenting. Gutman said, "I don't give you talking points, Laura, I give you Howard points."

Allahpundit at Hot Air has the audio.

- jpt

UPDATE: Gutman e-mails to say, "I am writing about certain comments I said on the Laura Ingraham Show.  The comments were largely taken out of context, although by the end, I plainly went too far, for which I apologize.

"The full transcript will reflect that Laura had attacked comments of others, such as Sally Quinn as reflecting gender bias.  My comments began and were intended to focus on the fact that the critiques of others were not necessarily related to gender.  That such comments could reflect that candidates -- male or female -- often decide that, because of circumstances involving their children, it was not the time to run for national office, which would necessarily cast much scrutiny on their families and make it harder for children and the family unit to deal privately with issues.

"I mentioned, as examples, Evan Bayh's decision 4 years ago not to run for national office and Mark Warner's decision not to do it this year.  I explained that the comments of others thus were not necessarily aimed at holding mothers or fathers to different standards, but just reflecting the commentator's disagreement with parental choice to attract national attention at a time of family difficulty.  That point -- that I was talking about the comments of others and dealing with the issue of the existence of gender bias -- is reflected in virtually the entire interview.

"Upon re-reading the very end, however, I do believe I went too far as I did not mean to make a value judgment about anyone's parenting. The Obama campaign firmly believes that the families of candidates should be off limits and I completely agree with that view.  I never intended to discuss the family of any candidate nor make judgments about the candidate's personal decisions, but simply to address the issue of whether the comments of others reflected gender bias.  But my last comment goes beyond that and I apologize for it."

Well, I clearly put his comments in the context he complains his comments were taken out of, and I'm not sure it was only at the very end that he made any sort of a judgment of Palin's parenting, but there you have it.

September 5, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (217)

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When people try to judge whether Sarah Palin would be capable of handling motherhood and a big job, I think they are putting themselves in her place. "It's too much. I could never manage all that," they conclude.

But we forget that those who strive for high political office are not like the rest of us. Their priorities are quite different from ours. Power is, as they say, an aphrodesiac.

In any case, while I'm not voting Republican, I do feel that running for VP does not make Sarah Palin a bad mother. Someone will raise those kids. Just not her (as much).

Posted by: Working Girl | Sep 8, 2008 9:16:51 PM

As someone said lets try to stick to issues.
However misinformation mongers ...

1 ) Gov. Palin is not for teaching creationism. What she SAID was that discussion of the idea was a valid topic in legislature.
Now let me understand? You do not like the topic so you do not even let it be discussed?
Isn't that called censorship?
Or is that ... oh yeah ... I seem to remember Pelosi saying no discussion on oil cause she was elected to save the planet not represent her contituents.

2 ) She DOES believe in Global Warming. Just does not necessarily believe it is man made.
But considering ... Mercury, Mars, jupiter, Saturn, Pluto, and the moon Titan are all experiencing global warming WORSE than Earth.
Maybe VP Palin can subpeona those little green men hop skipping around the solar system raising carbon footprints?

3) Drilling is not her only solution. Listen to her.
Drilling is a solution NOW to buy us time to research the others.

4 ) Her daughter had sex ed. Where she differs is she believes that abstinence should be taught AS well as condoms.
i.e. You CAN'T get pregnant if you do not have sex, but if you do ... then ...

5 ) That investigation for corruption?
She walked into the legislature and DEMANDED they hire a special investigator because she had nothing to hide.
They didn't WANNA investigate ...
A trooper who was caught driving drunk TWICE in his squad car on duty.
Hitting his 10-year old stepson with a POLICE issued tazer. ( child abuse !!! with government property! ).
And got a 3-day suspension?

And the threats against Palin, her sister, and her father?
He threatened to KILL them if they hired a divorce attorney.

SORRY, I am a COP. I get the divorce attorney, you are not allowed one!

Who cares if the whacko was her brother in law ... WTF is a drunk on duty, child TAZERING cop doing on duty other than a murder short of lawsuit?

Sheesh. She should let him stay on duty and have her sister sue for $80M for a POLICE OFFICER tazering his step son during a fight with his wife.

In other words, SOME people just pick the talking points off HuffPo and do not research for themselves.

Posted by: Chrome | Sep 8, 2008 6:41:46 PM

Where does this idiotic notion come from that a pregnant woman needs support from her mother? I suspect from those who either never had kids or were entirely absent when their wife/girlfriend had kids.

Posted by: Joe | Sep 8, 2008 5:51:06 PM

"We don't go after people's families; we don't get them involved in the politics. It's not appropriate, and it's not relevant. Our people were not involved in any way in this, and they will not be. And if I ever thought that there was somebody in my campaign that was involved in something like that, they'd be fired." B.H. Obama

Still waiting...

Posted by: Bildo | Sep 8, 2008 10:38:13 AM

Face facts. The Democratic party has turned sexist against women and now invokes their version of God-given family values. I guess, along with throwing Hillary under the bus, they have thrown the entire dream of using the government village to raise a child, they now have, in the most anti-progressive manner, decided that the family is a good thing after all.
To be fair, they are not hypocrites, for they never have believed for a moment in fixed truth or immutable truth to begin with - any means to an end - and I mean "ANY."

Posted by: Don L | Sep 8, 2008 6:35:32 AM

And my question is: When will obama be asked if he goign to disown and return any money he received from this sexist man? He said he would "fire" people engaged in that type of behavior. Will anyone ask Obama?? I imagine not; he is the darling of the media.

Posted by: Lolawell | Sep 8, 2008 12:00:54 AM

Who is Mr. Hannity?? Relatives in Chicago say BOH was/is the most useless State rep. and US Senator in the history of Illinois.
His only objective was to keep his skirts clean by voting "present" and never introducing legislation on tough subjects which required him to make a decision.
All the characteristics of a 'wimp' not a leader.

Posted by: Patrick49 | Sep 7, 2008 5:39:41 PM

Hurricane McCain Slams into Obama:

McCain 49% Obama 43%: Zogby
McCain 48% Obama 48%: Rasmussen

The Dems will begin turning on themselves soon, as they watch Obama gets his fussy little butt kicked by adults.

Posted by: Hurricane_John_Slams_Obama | Sep 7, 2008 10:10:29 AM

The Palin family's decision to enter the race for VP is none of our business, but because so many people seem to think it's our business, here are my two cents:

1. Everyone who is saying that Sarah Palin should stay home and bake cookies for her family is selectively overlooking all of the positives of becoming a white house family. I cannot even imagine all of the advantages that her children will get if McCain/Palin win.

2. To all the people that say/think, "OMG she has FIVE children!! They need her full attention!" Here's a newsflash: if you have four siblings, you don't get mom's full attention. BUT, you get the love and support of your siblings in exchange. This is how a large family survives.

3. This is totally sexist. If she was a man, we wouldn't be discussing this. I haven't heard anyone question whether Obama or McCain are terrible fathers and then try to link it to their ability to lead the country.

4. I agree with the single dad that mom is not the only one who can raise the kids successfully. Another newsflash: even grandparents and non-relatives have raised kids successfully. Does anyone really think that the Palins going to be on their own in the white house?

5. Life is a series of choices and trade-offs and every family is different. Just because you may not have chosen this path for your family doesn't mean it's the wrong choice.

Maybe Sarah Palin is a terrible mother or maybe she's a fantastic mother. I don't know who can determine that other than her children. But either way, it's none of our business!

Posted by: MM | Sep 7, 2008 9:44:00 AM

anon

Most thinking voters who are Christian know that in church we often prey that we are doing God's work, that we are doing what God wants us to do.

Listen to tapes or read just about any speeches made by FDR not in church, but broadcast to the whole country.

Read any number of speeches by our founding fathers and you will find the same.

Thinking people may learn something and not be afraid

Posted by: Dave in lv | Sep 7, 2008 8:46:46 AM

" Lord,

Protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins and help me guard against pride and despair.

Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just.

And make me an instrument of your will."

Barrack Obama

And now Barrack is an instrument of God

Posted by: Dave in lv | Sep 7, 2008 8:39:43 AM

Howard Gutman made the most terrible insult towards men.
Why can't fathers raise their children?
Is Howard Gutman saying that men are incapable of raising their children?
If so, how did Senator Biden raise his children by himself?
And most importantly, how did I raise my son by myself for the past ten years if men are so incapable of doing so.
I'm sure Mr. Palin is not going to stay in Alaska while his wife is living in Washington D. C.
I'm confident, Mr. Palin is going to do like REAL MEN do and support his spouse in her endeavors as REAL WOMEN do when their spouse's wishes to endeavor in like activities.
I'm also confident that Mr. Palin is not only going to continue his role as a father in raising his children, but gladly assume total responsibility for raising his children as Senator Biden and I, myself have successfully done.

Proud Father

Posted by: Proud Father | Sep 7, 2008 4:29:25 AM

Waiting for statement that Gutman has resigned or has been fired.

Posted by: Jen | Sep 7, 2008 12:57:05 AM

Jo said:
"How convenient that they had a choice. A choice which the Gov. would deny to all other women."


I don't get the logic when left wingers say this. Nobody is making anybody get an abortion. She doesn't need pro-abortion laws so they have no benefit for her either way.

Left wingers seem to forget that choice implies 2 or more. Otherwise lets just call it what is really is: pro-abortion. You either think all human life has value or you don't.

Posted by: Em | Sep 6, 2008 8:18:46 PM

It seems like Obama distances himself from alot of people. Has anyone read Obamanation? This man is dangerous, be afraid. As far as Gutman goes, he should be very careful about what he says about other peoples' families. He is a spineless man who has yet to really discover parenting.

Posted by: Paula | Sep 6, 2008 7:35:59 PM

Time for Obama to publically fire his staffer Howard Gutmann for his comments regarding Sarah Palin and her family.

C'mon Barack, are you a man of your word? Prove it!

Posted by: Laura | Sep 6, 2008 7:25:33 PM

Laura,

Why in heaven's name would you invite someone like Howard Gutman on your show?

Have you ever seen him in person? He is one of the homeliest individuals in the world. Even the Palestinians would give him safe passage though their territory before the children gasp in fear. Next time, at least show his "mug" on the tube so they can see the face of atrue sub-human.

Posted by: Ray Bedikian | Sep 6, 2008 7:25:25 PM

THE POINT

BHO said that anyone related to his camp who spoke about the family would be FIRED!

BHO is a coward and couldn't stand up to Hillary, which is why he didn't pick her. How in Gods name would he be able to stand up to Putin or any other crazy person. ANSWER: HE WON'T COWARD!

Fire this man and keep your promise Barry

Posted by: LisaS | Sep 6, 2008 7:25:16 PM

Obama Loses 4 the Dems, this column was about taking comments out of context. So why does your response do exactly the same thing?

Posted by: Tom J | Sep 6, 2008 7:19:46 PM

Obama's Election Strategy:
Step 1 - Mock small town people for "clinging" to their constitutional rights to own guns and express their religion;
Step 2 - Uh-Oh - I need to win Ohio to get elected;
Step 3 – Hire dufus Joe Biden to beg Ohio for a 'do-over' on step 1;
Step 4 - Mock Governor Palin for being Mayor of a small town and not aborting her children and grandchildren.
Step 5 - Ohio elects McCain next President of the US.
Step 6 & Final - Repeat Step 1.

The "progressives" commit political suicide, just like every election.

Posted by: Obama Loses 4 the Dems | Sep 6, 2008 6:14:17 PM

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