Apparently a mom, the once dispensable facet of the nuclear family according to many a card carrying liberal, is now so indispensable that she should actually feel guilty for seeking the job as Vice President of the United States. And you should be guilty too for recommending her for the post. This is the new theme as demonstrated by Liz Hunt of the Daily Telegraph and repeated by others that seem to have a new found problem with successful conservative mothers.
Hunt actually appears more desperate than most when attacking Sarah Palin by implying that Palin's daughter Bristol is getting married instead of getting an abortion for reasons of her mother's "political expediency".
Love and support are all very well. But what about choice. I just hope poor Bristol had a say in it too and that she isn't becoming a wife and parent at such a young age for reasons of political expediency and her mother's soaring ambition.
I suppose that Hunt could be implying that Bristol put the child up for adoption. But when left to poinder the phrasing, "what about choice", the left usually means "what about choice (for abortion)?"
No surprises here. This the the correct line that must be taken by the new watchers at the gates of choice that are also predisposed to oppose conservatism. Forget all that feel good rhetoric about breaking the glass ceiling, forget all the ambitions for achieving what had previously been reserved for men. Everything is different now. If the left towed that line today then it might be accomplished by A REPUBLICAN! Abort.
So Barack Obama's supporters in the media have a new task in the face of a new dilemma. But they must be crafty about it. Especially the ones that also had a dual role in once characterizing women as victims living in a man's world. How in the world are they going to campaign for their preferred candidate while keeping at least one toe in the koolaid so as not to offend women? Naturally Liz Hunt and others like her must infer that Bristol Palin is being forced to become a mother. Just as it is natural for them to attack Sarah Palin using the narrative that she is neglecting her family. It is the old "defend one insult another" tactic.
Again, Hunt doesn't disappoint.
It is only since Palin's selection last week that their dollars have started to tumble into McCain's campaign coffers. But whose family values is she enthusiastic about?
How can she reconcile such a high-profile job as "veep" - a "heartbeat" away from leadership of the free world and all that - with bringing up five children, the oldest of whom is about to serve in Iraq and the youngest of whom is just five months old and has Down's Syndrome?
Her husband, known as "The First Dude", has been described as a stay-at-home Dad, but he gave up his job with BP only briefly and returned to work earlier this year for financial reasons.
Now that we know Palin's 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is pregnant, the question is even more pertinent. This is a teenager whose unplanned pregnancy has been announced to the world.
Everything about her is under scrutiny, and she will need her mother as never before. I am not much reassured by the statement issued on Monday by the family: "Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realise very quickly the difficulties of raising a child which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family."
Everything old is new again. Women should no longer seek a family and dare to dream about becoming President, or Vice President for that matter. It is time to rediscover your place. Suddenly that place is back in the kitchen. Welcome to the new progressive media narrative.
Terry Trippany is the publisher of Webloggin and holds the post as The Watcher at Watcher of Weasels. All emphasis in the article is mine.
