Anne Romney Hasn't Worked A Day in Her Life

[Coito ergo sum]

We've had a lot of hubbub about a statement made by Anne Rosen that Mitt Romney's wife has never worked a day in her life. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the ... _blog.html

The Republicans leaped to seize the opportunity to claim that "stay at home moms" do work hard. Of course, I think what Rosen meant was that Anne Romney didn't hold a paying job in the private sector. But, the way she said it are the very words that set a lot of women off. A firestorm erupted, and the Republicans were able to make some inroads against the war on women nonsense the Democrats have been selling lately. They responded with nonsense of their own, making sure to repeat the required mantras of "being a mom is the hardest job in the world," and "stay at home moms work harder than anyone," and "raising 5 boys is the hardest job..." blah blah blah blah.

I think I'm not on either side on this one, and I'm disgusted with both sides. It's pandering in both directions.

Sure, taking care of the house and raising kids is hard. But, it isn't "a job." In my view -- it's being gainfully employed. That's what Rosen meant when she said that Romney did work a day in her life. She doesn't understand the working world. But, by the same token, had a Republican said anything close to that, you can all bet that the Democrats would have seized on it like a Pit Bull on a toddler. And, we'd not hear the end of it. So, good. Fuck them. Fuck the Republicans too, but fuck the Democrats. They're getting a dose of what they wouldn't hesitate to do in return.

And, being "a mom," quite frankly - it's not "the hardest job in the world." Moms and dads do it all the time, and almost anyone can do it. It's a lot of labor, sure. Waking up nights, making food, caring for sick children, cleaning the house. All that are labor intensive things. But, it's as if we have to honor being a mother more than anything else in the world. Notice, they never include "being a dad" as the hardest job in the world. Nobody respects "stay at home dads." Stay at home dads are called deadbeats and layabouts.

Anyway - now we have Obama coming out with the "we didn't have the luxury for Michelle to stay home..." Fucking bullshit piled on bullshit. They had the means to have Michelle stay home. This is just Obama picking a path through this issue that panders to another view of it. Of course, the Republicans are starting to shoot back and say "when a mom stays home, it's not a luxury, it's a sacrifice..."

I mean - FFS -- it's painful. Painful.

Yes, being a good PARENT - not just a "mom" - is very important and very difficult. We can all agree on that. But, being a parent is your choice. Being a parent is your responsibility. I don't think we ought to have to run around genuflecting in front of every parent saying "oh, thank you for your sacrifice and for doing 'the hardest job in the world..."

[MrJonno]

Isn't it most politicans who has never had a real job in their lives before?, bit harsh going for the wife

[Thinking Aloud]

I don't think we ought to have to run around genuflecting in front of every parent saying "oh, thank you for your sacrifice and for doing 'the hardest job in the world..."

Reminds me of the lady who got on the bus as Tesco, one day, with five kids in tow, and was appalled by the cost of six tickets to wherever she was going. She bundled them all off again, with a retort to the driver, "It's not my fault I've got five kids!" Another woman on the bus rejoined, "Takes two to tango!" We all laughed.

[Coito ergo sum]

Isn't it most politicans who has never had a real job in their lives before?, bit harsh going for the wife

LOL - or or these fucking pundits like Anne Rosen. What kind of "work" does she do? Shoots her mouth off and comments on shit she doesn't know anything about. If that's working hard, then my time on internet forums is well spent.

[hadespussercats]

Yes, being a good PARENT - not just a "mom" - is very important and very difficult. We can all agree on that. But, being a parent is your choice. Being a parent is your responsibility. I don't think we ought to have to run around genuflecting in front of every parent saying "oh, thank you for your sacrifice and for doing 'the hardest job in the world..."

Shit yeah!

I'm SAHMing it ATM (with the occasional gig), and it's not exactly giving me insight into the economic ills of the nation.

And yeah, parenting is hard (for mothers AND fathers), but... it's not rocket science. What makes it hard is that it's relentless, and there's a young life at stake-- not that there are difficult theories to master, or high-stakes competition, or... you get my drift.

Plus, becoming a parent is not synonymous with enlightenment-- as most people will attest, based on their own childhoods (this seems to undergo a radical shift once people become oarents themselves. )

I really hate this "Oh, yes, the brave, brave women who work as mothers" bullshit.

This seems appropriate:

[Warren Dew]

And yeah, parenting is hard (for mothers AND fathers), but... it's not rocket science. What makes it hard is that it's relentless, and there's a young life at stake-- not that there are difficult theories to master, or high-stakes competition, or... you get my drift.

That depends on how you approach it. I've spent more time on researching raising of kids than I ever did studying for my nuclear engineering degree. Some child care issues are so difficult that there isn't even any established scientific theory on them yet. By comparison, rocket science is pretty cut and dried.

Granted some parents take the von Braun approach. "'Ze rockets go up, who cares where zey come down? That's not my department,' says Wernher von Braun."

[maiforpeace]

I give any mom credit for being mom. The problem with a woman not working a day in her life at any other pursuit other than child rearing and running a household is very problematic to me because it's a totally limited world view. For the first lady? Of the United States? Yikes.

[Tero]

And homeschooling 6 or 7 kids, there is a job for you. Except you get to drop biology and shit, and history starts with Rome and the pope.

those chicks only sell downloads
http://www.amazon.com/Music-Songs/dp/B0 ... 8&sr=301-4

I might get it

[Coito ergo sum]

I give any mom credit for being mom. The problem with a woman not working a day in her life at any other pursuit other than child rearing and running a household is very problematic to me because it's a totally limited world view. For the first lady? Of the United States? Yikes.

The first lady or first man has zero responsibilities and zero authority. No qualifications are necessary, and the first lady or first husband is irrelevant to the issue. Are we really going to start judging Presidential candidates on their spouses and whether they had one spouse stay in the home for whatever reason?

Begin rant:

I think the real problem with this whole discussion, though, is the massive sexism involved in it. Still, in 2012, the discussion is about "stay at home moms." Not "stay at home parents." And, STILL in 2012, we talk about "being a mom" as the "hardest job in the world." I mean - I heard at least 3 pundits spout that fucking patronizing bullshit. Hardest job in the world? Really? "Being a mom" is harder than being President? Harder than running a multinational corporation? Harder than being an astronaut? Harder than being Supreme Allied Commander in WW2? Give me a fucking break.

And, then there is the fact that dads are just ignored in this. Being a mom is the hardest job in the world. Much harder than being a dad, apparently. Fuck off. It's patronizing bullshit spouted by pundits and commentators who want to make sure they say the right thing.

Everybody in this dispute is pissing me off - including Anne Romney -- fuck off Anne Romney!

“What was your personal gut reaction when you heard her say those words,” asked MacCallum.

“She should have come to my house when those five boys were causing so much trouble,” Romney joked

Oh, yeah? You and your husband decided to have 5 kids and you want to pretend that means you have it tough? Fuck you! Then don't have kids.

Fucks sake.

And, then it goes on:

MacCallum showed a Tweet from Josh Romney, Ann and Mitt’s son, who said that his mother could have made a number of career choice but made the perhaps most difficult one which was to stay at home. MacCallum asked Romney, “why did you make the decision that you did at that point in your life?”

“My career choice was to be a mother,” Romney responded. “Other women make other choices, to have a career and raise a family – which I think Hilary Rosen has actually done herself.”

Look at that shit - now the "career choice" to stay at home is "perhaps the most difficult." Oh, for fucks sake. That is NOT the "most difficult" choice. What a crock of fucking shit. There is nothing wrong with staying home, certainly. Do it if you can, but "the most difficult choice?" Be careful not to step in the bullshit.

And her "career choice was to be a mother?" Yeah, well, my career choice is to be son. My career choice is to be a father.

Does any of this shit get taken seriously if said by a man? Why not? My dad's "career choice" was to have a fucking job AND be a father. What, if he chose not to have a job, that would be "the most difficult choice" he could make, and it wouldn't be choosing to not have a job, it would be making a "career choice to be a father?" What a bunch of gobbledygook!

And, what about mothers who work full time jobs? They're choosing NOT to be mothers?

“We have to respect women in all those choices that they make,” said Romney. She proceeded to praise both women and men who stay at home and raise children. She said that her husband, Mitt Romney, would often come home and say to her that “your job is more important than mine. My job is temporary – I know these things come and go – but your job is a forever job that’s going to bring forever happiness.”

How patronizing..."your job is more important than mine" -- right -- I'm just running a multi-million dollar corporation, and bringing home the money that pays for everything and allows you to hold this "more important job." LOL....right.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/ann-romney-r ... -struggle/

End rant.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Isn't it most politicans who has never had a real job in their lives before?, bit harsh going for the wife

LOL - or or these fucking pundits like Anne Rosen. What kind of "work" does she do? Shoots her mouth off and comments on shit she doesn't know anything about. If that's working hard, then my time on internet forums is well spent.

I know, right? If I got a nickel a word, I could retire on my shitposting.

As for the topic, it's pertinent to critique Anne Romney's position as Mitt's "advisor on women's affairs" because her circumstances don't obtain for a huge number of women, and that means she's not representative.

Is it dirty pool to go for the wife? It depends. In this case, with Mitt waving his family around and using them in such a blatant political manner, decrying a critique of their utility is disingenuous, it seems to me. If you don't want people talking about your family, don't talk about your family. That's the way I see it.

[Coito ergo sum]

I think that would be holding Anne to a higher standard than other first ladies. She's not an official advisor. He's just pandering to the public by saying he talks to his wife about stuff. As much as this will piss off women around here as a generalization, they're going on the assumption that women want to hear that a candidate takes advice from his wife and respects his wife.

I don't think that Mitt, in all fairness, has waved his family around. Every candidate poses with their family, and every candidate says similar shit about consulting their wives.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Well, when he puts her forth as his "advisor", he necessarily opens a discussion on her qualifications. Whether or not she's official isn't terribly relevant, it seems to me. Presidents have ceded enormous advisory powers to unofficial persons before, and if that is used as a campaign point, examining it is fair game, to me. I'm sure not going to turn of my critical thinking just because a candidate cries about me critiquing the wife which he himself introduced into the conversation.

Also, I don't think it's holding her to a higher standard. Since Betty Ford, First Ladies have been both bruited and critiqued. Nancy Reagan caught shit for her astrology, Hilary for her vocal input into her husband's Administration, and I think if Mitt is saying he's gonna listen to Anne on women's issues, then people have a right to spout off on her qualifications.

What does she know about balancing a career and a job, while worrying about a glass ceiling? Not a goddamned thing, outside of the abstract. My son is just as qualified as she is to spout off about that stuff. When does he get Mitt's ear?

[hadespussercats]

Well, when he puts her forth as his "advisor", he necessarily opens a discussion on her qualifications. Whether or not she's official isn't terribly relevant, it seems to me. Presidents have ceded enormous advisory powers to unofficial persons before, and if that is used as a campaign point, examining it is fair game, to me. I'm sure not going to turn of my critical thinking just because a candidate cries about me critiquing the wife which he himself introduced into the conversation.

Also, I don't think it's holding her to a higher standard. Since Betty Ford, First Ladies have been both bruited and critiqued. Nancy Reagan caught shit for her astrology, Hilary for her vocal input into her husband's Administration, and I think if Mitt is saying he's gonna listen to Anne on women's issues, then people have a right to spout off on her qualifications.

What does she know about balancing a career and a job, while worrying about a glass ceiling? Not a goddamned thing, outside of the abstract. My son is just as qualified as she is to spout off about that stuff. When does he get Mitt's ear?

[hadespussercats]

And yeah, parenting is hard (for mothers AND fathers), but... it's not rocket science. What makes it hard is that it's relentless, and there's a young life at stake-- not that there are difficult theories to master, or high-stakes competition, or... you get my drift.

That depends on how you approach it. I've spent more time on researching raising of kids than I ever did studying for my nuclear engineering degree. Some child care issues are so difficult that there isn't even any established scientific theory on them yet. By comparison, rocket science is pretty cut and dried.

Granted some parents take the von Braun approach. "'Ze rockets go up, who cares where zey come down? That's not my department,' says Wernher von Braun."

You raise a good point-- I have done more reading up on childcare in the past few years than... well, I've read a lot. I study up because I'd like to do the best job I can, and studying is one of the skills I can bring to the table. And if you're talking about the science of child development, yes, it's very complex and challenging.

But, as you indicated, it's entirely possible to raise healthy, productive people without hitting the books. In the same way that it's possible to eat a steak without a knife and fork-- but they help.

[Thumpalumpacus]

And, I should've written "What does she know about balancing a career family and a job ...."