Appearing on Friday's "American Morning," Washington Post faith columnist Sally Quinn again attacked the choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as Senator John McCain's vice presidential pick. During her interview with co-host Kiran Chetry, Quinn suggested Palin would not be able to balance her five children along with the duties of the vice presidency and potentially the presidency.
Chetry first asked Quinn if the questions she has raised about Palin, including her ability to be both a mother and a leader, would be questions that she would ask of a man. After firmly answering "yes," Quinn claimed that the "burden of raising children falls on the mother" and said that her questions about Palin are not sexist, they are about whether or not Palin can "do the job."
After bringing up the "country first" theme of the Republican National Convention, Quinn took a jab at McCain's age as well as Palin's ability to put country first as commander in chief: "And I think if you're talking about the commander in chief, and that is what she is likely to be given his age and his health, will she put her country first, or will she put her family first?"
Chetry then asked why Quinn was not raising the same questions about Senator Barack Obama who has two young daughters. In response, the Washington Post writer claimed, "Men go to war, women to go to war, and I think that when they do, when they go away they make a decision to put their country first." After again questioning whether or not Palin would put her country first if she were to become commander in chief, Quinn stated, "I suspect that whoever is commander in chief, if it's Barack Obama, would put his country first over his family." However, Obama never went to war. He never even served in the military. So if Quinn suspects that Obama can put his country first with two small children while never having been to war, why is she apprehensive about Palin who has demonstrated her ability to handle her family while being the chief executive of Alaska?
At the end of the interview, Quinn again questioned Palin's ability to serve because of her special needs child, claiming it's always the women who take time off to care for the child:
I know a lot of women who have special needs children and often times they will take time off. It's almost always the mother who takes the time off. How many times did we hear in this convention, single dads? Did you ever hear anyone talk about single dads? No, they talk about single moms. And the reason is because it's always the moms who are always the ones that take responsibilities in most cases.
To her credit, Chetry mentioned Palin's husband, Todd, and said his support shouldn't be counted out: "Yeah, I mean she does have a big family and she does seem to have the support of her husband as well, which, you know, you can't count that out. You can't count out how hard dads are also working and taking care of their kids."
Previously, Quinn appeared on CBS's "Early Show" and slammed her parenting saying the vice presidential nominee should "rethink her priorities."
A transcript of the September 5 segment follows:
7:50 a.m.
KIRAN CHETRY: Well, there's been so much talk around GOP vice presidential nominee and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and in fact a lot of the buzz surrounds questions on how she can balance caring for her five kids including her 4-month-old son with Down syndrome and potentially balance it with the highest office in the land. So, are these questions sexist? Are they a double standard? Joining us now is Sally Quinn. She's a faith columnist at the Washington Post. Thanks for being with us, Sally.
SALLY QUINN: Thank you.
CHETRY: You've written two articles now on Palin arguing that she was not the best pick and she's not ready to be commander in chief if that were to happen. And you also questioned her ability to be a mom and a leader. Are those the same questions that you would ask of a man?
QUINN: Yes, absolutely. However, I do think that mothers and fathers are different and I think there's not a woman out there who is a mother, a working mother who wouldn't tell you exactly the same thing. That, every woman I know, I'm a working mother, I've been for 26 years. Everyone woman I know practically is a working mother. We have conflicts and guilts that men simply don't have. And, basically the burden of raising children falls on the mother, no matter what kind of a job she has. So, I think that to, you know, we're so far beyond the feminist argument here. This is not about feminism, it's not about sexism, it's simply about can you do the job? One of the things I noticed over this last convention is John McCain, they must have said it 1,000 times, I put my country first. He put his country first. And I think if you're talking about the commander in chief and that is what she is likely to be given his age and his health. Will she put her country first, or will she put her family first?
CHETRY: But let me ask you this. Why is that same question, why are you not writing column about whether or not Barack Obama, who has two small children, can put his country first, as well?
QUINN: Because I think that Barack Obama's a man and I think that men, John McCain went to war for six years. Men go to war, women to go to war, and I think that when they do, when they go away they make a decision to put their country first. My question is simply this, it's not whether she should or should not, it is, will she? Because I think if you're choosing, as a citizen, I want to know what the priorities are for my commander in chief. I suspect that whoever is commander in chief, if it's Barack Obama, would put his country first over his family.
CHETRY: I do know and you know this has certainly been the topic of conversation among many women. In full disclosure, I have a son who was born a day before Sarah Palin's son. I'm a nursing mother and I don't have all the answers either. But doesn't everybody, men and women, have issues that they have to deal with, you know, beside their job, that affect their ability to lead. I'm just wondering why this has become such a topic, specifically dealing with Sarah Palin.
QUINN: Well I also think, you know, there's a tipping point. She's got five children, a Down syndrome. I have son who is very learning disabled who was sick most of his life. There's a wonderful piece, op-ed piece in the Washington Post this morning by a woman with a special needs child. I know the kind of time and effort it takes to raise a child who has special needs and I couldn't have worked full time and done what I did to take care of Quinn. I just couldn't have, unless I just handed him over to a nanny or baby-sitter to take him to the hospital and be there with him when he was in surgery and all of that kind of thing. I know a lot of women who have special needs children and often times they will take time off. It's almost always the mother who takes the time off. How many times did we hear in this convention, single dads? Did you ever hear anyone talk about single dads? No, they talk about single moms. And the reason is because it's always the moms who are always the ones that take responsibilities in most cases.
CHETRY: Yeah, I mean she does have a big family and she does seem to have the support of her husband as well, which, you know, you can't count that out. You can't count out how hard dads are also working and taking care of their kids. But it's very interesting and like we said this is something that has been talked about a lot which is why we wanted to bring you on. You have written two different articles about it that I encourage people to read from the Washington Post. Sally Quinn, thanks for being with us.
QUINN: Thank you.



















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Follow Up Question
September 5, 2008 - 09:55 ET by TyromacAs someone else has already pointed out I believe, I would have loved the follow up question: "Sally, since you have such strong feelings that the burden of raising children falls on the mother, I assume you are against adoption for homosexual couples?". Something tells me if she wins, Todd won't be off working on the North Slope any more. My wife is a professional who has chosen to be a stay at home mom. Heaven forbid anything happens to my job, but if it came down to it, I would stay home with the kids and she would go to work to support our family.
Excellent point in regards
September 5, 2008 - 10:39 ET by Free ThinkerExcellent point in regards to homosexuals adopting children. The left is spinning so much they are tying themselves in knots. Gov. Palin is dangerous to their very ideology. This is about more than how qualified she is. They are scared beyond words and I for one am enjoying every minute of it.
Braying Donkeys
September 5, 2008 - 10:03 ET by CarlosSTo Kiran Chetry, Sally Quinn and all the MSM (ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, & CSPAN) news anchors and journalists:
I repeat, your relentless braying of the DNC's talking points IS NOT journalism.
Signed
Francis, the talking Mule
Francis, the talking Mule
September 5, 2008 - 10:42 ET by Prester JohnNow there is a blast from the past.
Past
September 5, 2008 - 11:05 ET by CarlosSYeah..., they all sound like braying donkeys to me now.
And, they are trying to move women, with 5 children who happen to be conservative and running for VP, back into the home to change diapers and bake cookies, just like when Francis the Talking Mule was popular.
Concern
September 5, 2008 - 10:05 ET by cvgbuckeyeI also have a concern about age. That concern being the age of this wrinkled up old bag of a Sally Quinn and her old bag of a left wing and sexist bias.
Those are the only she should have.
Haven't heard her ask it of Obama
September 5, 2008 - 10:07 ET by c5thenObama has two young children. Will he be an 'effective' father if he wins the presidency? Haven't herd that question yet from Quinn. She must be waiting until later in the campaign to 'spring it on him'.
There it is folks...the new feminism of the left. Women can apparently do anything they want to as long as they don't have any children. Once they have children, they MUST revert back to the old style house-wife role while the husband financially supports the family. How progressive!
Quinn is also apparently unsure of Barrack's gender. Note to Obama campaign - you may want to put out some ads that emphasize his masculin qualities. There is apparently some ambiguity on that issue.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
In an interview with
September 5, 2008 - 10:33 ET by FishFace222In an interview with Soledad O'Brien, Quinn apparently disqualified parents of 1,2 or 3 children (read Obama) from this line of reasoning but 4 or 5--the mother should stay home. Yes she has a special needs child but when you consider that her son is in the military and her 17 year old daughter is getting married, she is then down to the "3 is OK" level of at home children.
It was covered by Limbaugh:
QUINN: It's one thing to have one or two or three children, especially if they're healthy children, and everyone knows that women and men are different and that moms and dads are different and that women -- the burden of child care almost always falls on the woman. But I think when you have five children -- one a four-month-old Down syndrome baby, and a daughter who's 17 who's also a child and who is going to need her mother very much in the next few months and years with her own baby coming -- that I don't see how you can not make your family your first priority.
Sally Or Phyllis - Which Is it?
September 5, 2008 - 10:14 ET by NoMoreClintonsWow! I think I've seen it all, now. Sally Quinn channeling Phyllis Sclafly. Whodathunkit? BTW, the "burden" of raising kids in our family is split 50-50. Will these liberals stop at nothing in their incessant attempts to discredit Sarah Palin? Now they are posing as "right wingers". Clearly they wouldn't be asking these questions if she were a dem and Bambi picked her.
When was the last time CNN
September 5, 2008 - 10:16 ET by Seabeach4348When was the last time CNN or any of the other scum and perverts from the lamestream media put the "the country" first? Or children for that matter.
I hope that everyone of these fonts of bias and misinformation go bankrupt! I absolutely hate them.
These "reporters" have
September 5, 2008 - 10:18 ET by ConservativeRexThese "reporters" have some kind of nerve...the next time Quinn put's our country first will be the first time! Women like her are some kind of jealous now. A smart. attractive Conservative woman is taking the lead in politics!
I am not sure how this works out, but I believe Sarah Palin ought to pick and choose as to who she let's interview her. I'd damn sure keep away from CNN and anything to do with NBC.
Where were these nut jobs
September 5, 2008 - 10:44 ET by marpelWhere were these nut jobs when Hillary, as First Lady, was running around the country meddling into the business of the American Citizens and working on her hideous health care initiative? Chelsea was merely a CHILD!! I didn't hear Sally (looking-like-she-just-smelled-a-fart) Quinn declare Hillary was a terrible mother...I didn't hear the media saying she needed to stay home and raise her child. Double Standards abound!!!!
marpel
September 5, 2008 - 12:06 ET by larry on LIa 5 star post!
Remember back during the
September 5, 2008 - 10:20 ET by Hunter12Remember back during the '68 Democratic primaries when Chet Huntley asked Bobby Kennedy, "Gee Bobby, are you going to be able to climb off of Ethel long enough to run the country if elected? I mean you've got ten kids, give it a rest."?
How can a woman ask these types of questions? We aren't living in the past, when the father came home and climbed into the easy chair, grabbed the paper, and waited for his slippers, pipe, and martini. We fathers take an active role in our childrens' lives. Try to shut me out. The bath time was always one of the more fun activities and I claimed it as mine. AM feedings and diaper changing were part and parcel of a happy marriage and bonding with your children. Are there still men out there that think that is still women's work? If so, here's a free tip. Grab your share of the child-chores. Unless your Sally Quinn's husband, and the kids take after mom, you're going to find out you created some assets that will greatly enhance your life.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Quinn and Chetry
September 5, 2008 - 10:21 ET by T-Bone MassIf it soooo important now for Mothers to stay home and raise the children, why are they on the air at all?
It would have been cool . . .
September 5, 2008 - 10:22 ET by Caringwhiteguy. . . . if Chetry, who has two children younger than 3, would have cut the interview short, telling Quinn she had to go home to blow little Maya Rose's nose and change little Christopher's poopy diaper.
Alas, one could only hope . . . .
Quinn's argument
September 5, 2008 - 10:36 ET by KC MulvilleQuinn's argument is that (come on!?) the family is the woman's responsibility. And therefore, strictly her prerogative. What she's saying is that men don't matter. She wouldn't admit to the conclusion, but her premises make the conclusion inevitable.
Sally Quinn, by the way, is the ultimate example of what Palin was talking about by "the Washington elite." She's the wife of Ben Bradlee. She's the queen of Washington insiders. She's trying to undermine Palin because Palin hasn't been properly approved by her and her husband.
KC, supposedly,
September 5, 2008 - 10:42 ET by marpelKC, supposedly, "I-Look-Like-I-Just-Smelled-A-Fart" Quinn is the Hostest with the Mostest of the Washington Elite. If you don't get invited to their cocktail and dinner parties, you may just as well lick the sidewalk in front of their townhouse; because, you're scum.
There's nothing so vile as these DC reptiles.
Sally on Wiki
September 5, 2008 - 10:47 ET by CaringwhiteguyIf you read Sally's own Wikipedia bio you'll find that she got her big break in "news" when Ben Bradlee hired her to report for WaPo, even though she had zero clips or experience. She was a skirt he liked. That she later married Bradlee and became queen bee of Washington society is due mainly to BRADLEE. No self-made woman is Sally.
The Wiki bio also mentions a special needs child of her own, born to her at a later age in life. Nothing like a little transferance of guilt from Sally to Sarah.
Given what has happened since January 2001...
September 5, 2008 - 10:41 ET by Prester John...and the behavior of such people has Harry Reid, Howard Dean, Dickie Durbin, Nancy Pelosi et al, I think it's more appropriate to be asking if the Democrats will ever be capable of "putting country first".
New Liberal Rule
September 5, 2008 - 10:44 ET by Red JeepNew Liberal Rule: No women with children under 18 may work. Happy now Sally and Co?
Sally Quinn?
September 5, 2008 - 11:38 ET by Kirk TurnerWhere did Sally Quinn come from? I haven't heard from her since the Reagan Adiministration. Didn't she used to wear glasses and be a hottie??
Yes, Kirk
September 5, 2008 - 11:43 ET by Cool ArrowBut I guess her retirement plan fell into bad investment (gigolo with an MBA no doubt) and she's selling past glory to the highest bidder.
Rocky & Bullwinkle '08
better pick?
September 5, 2008 - 11:39 ET by right of wayeveryone is condeming mccain's pick for vp. but the biggest blounder was obama's pick of biden for vp. if obama wanted a better chance to win, he should have picked hillary, (thank God he didn't). instead of questioning mccain's character for his pick, the liberal press should question obama's pick more so. then you would not have the disunity question at the democrate convention as an issue.
Sally Quinn
September 5, 2008 - 11:59 ET by nandrelliFirst, Quinn says Palin won't be able to take care of her kids properly as VP, making her a bad mother.
A couple of days later, Quinn says Palin won't be able to handle her VP job because she'll be taking care of her kids, making her a bad VP choice.
Am I missing something here?
What a cheesewhore
September 5, 2008 - 13:10 ET by SickofLibsLet's be clear here: When Quinn speaks about 'country', she's referring to decorator motifs at her various manor estates.
Working mother my ass.
Please understand
September 5, 2008 - 18:50 ET by KrisThe only reason that MSM hacks like Chetry, Quinn and countless others are attacking Palin is because of one reason, and one reason only........Palin is pro-life. They don't like that.
And they know that only
September 5, 2008 - 18:55 ET by Clear thinkerAnd they know that only REAL woman are pro-life. This has got to really piss them off. Cool huh?
Sarah Palin A Nazi?
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
Proving partisanship
September 5, 2008 - 19:26 ET by AtTheWaterCoolerI've linked to this article from http://www.jeremiahf... where I have been collecting proof of partisanship