If I had the chance, here is my question for Palin

[susu369]

Congratulations, Governor Palin on the recent birth of your son. How will you avoid a future pregnancy, should you be elected vice president - one step away from the presidency? Will you and Todd put your country first and abstain for the next four or possibly eight years?

Okay, okay, I am being snarky. :evilgrin:


But it is a fair question, if you think about it.

[ben_meyers]

1. It's completely fair to ask

Years ago, before some of those pesky laws were passed, employers routinely denied women employment or promotions because they "might get pregnant", and I think you would be right to bring this up.

[noel711]

2. My question?

What the hell is the matter with you?

What the hell were you thinking?? (smack, smack)

Oh wait... that was my question for McCain!

My question to the Queen:

So, girl, tell me about your advanced education,
and how your committment to the constitution
has driven your pursuit of truth and justice???

(lonnnng pause)

[nancyharris]

3. I am not sure I get your point.

Are you saying that a pregnant woman cannot be vice-president?

[susu369]

4. I believe a responsible woman

would NOT WANT to be pregnant in this particular job. I am a woman who worked during her pregnancy and did it damn well. The vice president or president of the country is totally different.

At least, that is what I believe.

[Retrograde]

6. she might want to, but

she will be taking an oath to preserve and protect the Constitution and the country (and I hope this is only a hypothetical situation!).

While pregnancy is unique to women, anyone can be sick, injured, or incapacitated while in office (or resign because of scandal, a la Spiro Agnew), and there is a process for replacing them. Constitutionally, the vice-president has few duties, although the office has grabbed a lot of power under Cheney. I think that under the circumstances, asking about the possibility of future pregnancy is legitimate, especially given McCain's age and health problems. (To forestall objections: Federal fair employment practices do not apply to the office she's seeking. Questions about pregnancy, children and other issues that would normally be illegal in a job interview are allowable)

We know she's sexually active and believes in abstinence-only birth control, and as long as she doesn't impose her beliefs on the country that's her business. I'd accept an answer along the lines of "If I'm VP, I will carry out my responsibilities as normal, as I did with my other children. If I have to be absent for any reason will instruct my staff to carry out routine duties as usual, and respectfully ask the senate to work to avoid any deadlocks until I can address the issue. With modern medical care and today's communications, blah blah blah. If I had to step into office as president due to an unfortunate circumstance, the 25th amendment provides for any presidential disabilities."

BTW, I think it's also a good question to ask Obama: if you and Michelle should decide to have a 3rd child while president, will you be able to help Michelle and give that child the support it needs in its formative years?

(Don't worry - I'm an Obama contributor!)

[susu369]

8. Thank you

both of your responses are thoughtful and interesting.

BTW, (you probably already know this) Michelle did address the third child issue on the Ellen DeGeneres Show

"I think I'm done," Michelle revealed. "I think our third child is this campaign."

[nancyharris]

7. Why

is the vice-president of the country any different? Many women are perfectly capable of working while pregnant.

[susu369]

9. Well, the vice president is a heartbeat away from being the president

you know: "the leader of the free world" "the toughest job on earth."

Please don't try to make it appear I oppose pregnant women working. Like I first wrote, I was being snarky about Palin's pro-life abstinence-only stance and throwing it back at her. I would love to see her defend herself.

Peace.

[nancyharris]

10. Do you have some link to Palin

saying she was in favor of abstinence only as a means of birth control? I have not seen that.

[Retrograde]

11. quick googling

turns up this:

" In an Eagle Forum Alaska questionnaire <2006: Palin gave these answers while running for governor>, Palin gave this response to the following question:

Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?

Palin: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support."

from http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/01/1320417.aspx

[Retrograde]

5. so many questions

Beyond "Are you out of your mind?"

In no particular order:

"You inherited a state with a large budget surplus which is getting larger due to the increasing price of oil. You may inherit a country with a large and growing debt. What in your wide executive experience has prepared you to handle this type of financial situation? How are you going to fund the needed repairs in the federal infrastructure - roads, bridges, levees - while maintaining the levels of commitment Bush and Cheney have made on our behalf in Iraq, Afghanistan and now Georgia?"

"Alaska receives over $1.80 in federal payments for every dollar it pays in taxes. Alaska receives the largest amount of federal spending per capita. Yet there are other states, such as New York and California, that receive less than a dollar back for every one they send Washington. How do you plan to address this disparity?"

"Aside from the Middle East, what do you consider the top three potential world trouble spots in the next decade, and why? What are the U.S. interests in these regions, and what should be done to protect them?"

"While the Midwest was hit by major floods this summer, other areas of the country are facing drought. What environmental crises have you faced in your previous experience? How will you propose the McCain administration deal with climate change?"

"The US is rapidly losing its edge in high tech. The number of Americans receiving advanced degrees in science and technology is decreasing. But you advocate letting parents decide what science will be taught to their children. How will the McCain administration regain America's scientific and technological edge?"

"After the Civil War this country faced the challenge of mending great rifts and putting itself back together. Which 19th century leader do you think had the best solution, and why? Was that approach successful? Why or why not?"

"If the worst happens and you do become president, what qualities will you seek in a vice-president? Give an example of how you've chosen appointees in your previous positions."

"Boxers or briefs?" (Hey, if it's good enough for Clinton...)

And, as Stephan Colbert would ask, "George Bush: Great president, or greatest president?", because that's what I expect to hear.