Sarah Palin cradles son Trig on her shoulder after VP debate: Can't you just put the poor kid to bed already?
If you the reader thinks that the title of this piece is offensive, take a little time to think about how offensive it has been for Vice-Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin to drag her children-all of them, over the national stage as cheap political props.
I tried overlooking the whole Bristol Palin/Levi Johnston deal because I felt as though the media was giving this heartwarming tale of the result of abstinence-based education a life of its own. I even tried overlooking McCain’s photo-op with the two on the airport tarmac during the Republican National Convention. I did find it strange that Bristol and Levi were being paraded through the media at the airport while McCain’s campaign was begging the press to lay off of Sarah’s daughter, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt.
My suspicions began to grow just after the first Vice-Presidential debate. While it is true that Joe Biden’s entire family was there, I couldn’t help but object to her newborn Trig being carried around by seven year old Piper, then by Sarah herself. I work a morning job and I was beginning to feel a bit sleepy after the debate was over. Imagine how a newborn baby must feel. Yes Ms. Palin, you have lovely children despite their strange names. Seriously though, did you absolutely have to drag your poor baby to this event? Did the babysitter cancel? Did the nanny quit, or was this pretty much what I suspect as a cheap political gimmick? Sarah, oh Sarah.
What confirmed my suspicions of Palin using her kids as unwitting pawns in her campaign, was when she dropped the hockey puck at a Philadelphia Flyers opener. Apparently, Ms. Palin must have known that Flyers fans are a tough crowd. Palin came out on the ice with her daughters Willow and Piper, the younger girl dressed in a Flyers jersey. A Fox News producer, Shushannah Walshe, says that Palin intentionally dressed Piper that way to discourage boos:
“The GOP Vice-Presidential nominee said at an earlier fundraiser that she would stop some of the booing from the rowdy Philadelphia fans by putting her seven year old daughter, Piper in a Flyers jersey. She said, “How dare they boo Piper!”
Um, Ms. Palin? They were booing you.
Again, the Alaskan native doesn’t seem to know how we conduct national politics down here in the lower 48. Presidents like Carter, Clinton, and yes, even George W. Bush took great pains to keep their kids out of the public eye as much as possible so that their children could be well, children. Good job Sarah. You knew that you were going to be booed at this event, so you dressed your seven year old daughter in a Flyers jersey as some sort of human shield to try to deflect some of the rancor. As a result, your kids got to share in your humiliation. Your parenting skills boggle the mind.
I met former President Jimmy Carter. He is a fine man and a very decent human being. To you Sarah, I suggest that you meet with this elder statesman to learn how to properly handle your young children during what has come to be a very intense political season.
