Womenomics
ABC News' Claire Shipman and the BBC's Katty Kay on women, work and what it really means to "have it all."
Claire Shipman is Good Morning America's Senior National Correspondent. She covers everything from politics to international affairs to family issues.
Katty Kay covers American politics and society for the BBC. She can be seen in the US on BBC America.
Claire and Katty have a new book called Womenomics. For more information visit the web site www.womenomics.com
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Palin not kid-friendly
July 05, 2009 12:31 PM
I have no idea why she quit. Maybe the investigations were about to shake loose something really ugly. Maybe she does believe it will be easier to pursue higher office unencumbered by the job of governor. Maybe she really is just tired of the scrutiny and stress, and is worried about her family. I certainly find it plausible that she quit for personal and family reasons.
But if she did, she made a really bad choice. It’s exactly the wrong lesson to teach her children. They may, may, get to see more of her now. But what have they learned? That when things get tough, you quit? That when you don’t like the way something is going, you can just pull out? As a mother who struggles with kids who want to drop out of soccer camp after one day, or abandon mother-son piano camp because it’s boring (it was, and I was dying to quit too), it’s clear that kids learn enormously from our example. They watch our actions, more than listening to our words.
And this was not just an ordinary job. Or a tough volunteer pta gig that suddenly seems overwhelming. She’d made a commitment to the citizens of Alaska. It would seem that there had to have been a middle-ground solution. If her family really was her concern, couldn’t she have started to curtail her national travel, talk to them about the challenge of the rest of the term, and how they could best get through it as a family? It would have been an invaluable lesson about the importance of public service. I spent quite a bit of time and ink a few days ago suggesting that the media and political establishment were out of bounds in their treatment of Palin. (pre-resignation) I still believe she deserved and deserves better treatment than she’s been getting. But I have to admit I’ve now lost considerable respect for Palin. Walking away hardly ever makes sense, and again, if she really is concerned about her family, she’s done exactly the wrong thing. And if her reasons for stepping down are different, then she’s damaged her credibility.
Claire
July 5, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (9)
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I only have one comment to the statement that if Palin did quit for her children that she is sending the wrong message to them (the message that when things get tough you quit). If in fact Palin did quit for her children, her actions would make a statement that their welfare is important--more important that politics, party,and success. This is a strong family value that would speak volumes!
Posted by: Meg Scruggs | Jul 5, 2009 2:12:20 PM
oh claire, you media obama fans had no respect for palin to begin with, so you saying you've lost considerable respect for her is pretty shallow. that's what palin is really resigning from - the shallow media, so that she can focus on us: we who are sick and tired of our 'elite' leaders and media.
Posted by: joe | Jul 5, 2009 2:17:48 PM
Claire, this is one of the silliest things a woman could say. Stick it out to the bitter end and whatever happens to your family/kids is acceptable collateral?
Your bio says you have two children. Now or in the future if you knew as a mother your career prevented you from rearing your children in the way you wanted to, or if your child or spouse had a long-term health condition that needed required more of your time than your career allowed, you would say "screw the kids/spouse, I'm climbing the corporate ladder as high as I can"?
I hope you never have to make this type of decision because by what you have said in this piece, you seem to have holier-than-thou standards that don't mesh with the real world.
Posted by: Maple Fan | Jul 5, 2009 3:00:30 PM
Oh Clair, shame on you for this article.
Posted by: Julie | Jul 5, 2009 3:25:03 PM
Why am I not suprised by Claires view.. Palin is a GREAT conservative political leader who is much smarter than the main stream media giver her credit to be. I personally think she resigned her position for a couple of reasons...most importantly she is saving Alaska's tax dollars because of the cost of these frivolous law suits against her because she is an AK government official...
(see law about state of AK must investigate any claims brought against an Alaskan government offical)example it has already cost approx 2 million of taxpayers money to aquit her on these lawsuits... secondly her resignation free's her to speak openly about politics and what happened to her and her family clearing the air and the way for a 2012 candidate (I hope)
So, Claire... give Palin a break stop specualting about her. You could NEVER walk a mile in her shoes and come out looking as good!
Posted by: Kat Smith | Jul 5, 2009 3:28:14 PM
Why am I not suprised by Claires view.. Palin is a GREAT conservative political leader who is much smarter than the main stream media give her credit to be.
I personally think she resigned her position for a couple of reasons...most importantly she is saving Alaska's tax dollars because of the cost of these frivolous law suits against her because she is an AK government official...
(see law about state of AK must investigate ANY claims brought against an Alaskan government official)example it has already cost approx 2 million of taxpayers money to aquit her on these lawsuits... secondly her resignation free's her to speak open and honestly about politics and what happened to her and her family clearing the air and the way for a 2012 Presidential run(I hope)
So, Claire... give Palin a break and stop specualting about her. You could NEVER walk a mile in her shoes and come out looking as good!
Posted by: Kat Smith | Jul 5, 2009 3:33:26 PM
Why am I not suprised by Claires view.. Palin is a GREAT conservative political leader who is much smarter than the main stream media give her credit to be.
I personally think she resigned her position for a couple of reasons...most importantly she is saving Alaska's tax dollars because of the cost of these frivolous law suits against her because she is an AK government official...
(see law about state of AK must investigate ANY claims brought against an Alaskan government official)example it has already cost approx 2 million of taxpayers money to aquit her on these lawsuits... secondly her resignation free's her to speak open and honestly about politics and what happened to her and her family clearing the air and the way for a 2012 Presidential run(I hope)
So, Claire... give Palin a break and stop specualting about her. You could NEVER walk a mile in her shoes and come out looking as good!
Posted by: Kat Smith | Jul 5, 2009 3:34:32 PM
where does the by-line "palin not kid friendly" make sense?
Your bias is overt. Shame on you.
You admit in the first sentence that you don't know why she stepped down, then spend the next ten making up lies.
STOP. IT.
should be Catty and Catty...meow.
Posted by: mary | Jul 7, 2009 8:04:18 AM
As for the “starlets,” seemed to be alluding to actress Ashley Judd, who targeted the former governor on behalf of an environmental group for supporting aerial wolf hunting.
Warning of “anti-hunting, anti-Second Amendment circuses from Hollywood,” Palin said advocacy groups “use these delicate, tiny, very talented celebrity starlets.”
She offered such individuals this message: “By the way, Hollywood needs to know: We eat, therefore we hunt.”
Palin, You order the slaughter of wolf's and the gassing of pup's in Den's to EAT!?
Then you serve hotdogs at your speech.......
We are just now getting Eagles back in Michigan because of Wolfs....Eagles eat wolf remains which helps them to remain here....you wipe out the wolfs you will be eating weak and diseased animals. Wolf's have more family values and ethics than Palin ever could.
Posted by: ArielDarkStar | Jul 27, 2009 5:57:52 PM
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