“I recall in Australia some years ago that the PM (or similar highly placed person) told a childfree (I think) colleague she wasn’t fit to govern… because she had no children.”

You were referring to Bill Heffernan’s disgusting remark about (now deputy PM Julia Gillard). Apparently he felt she wasn’t fit to run the country because she was “deliberately barren”. I don’t recall him being pregnant, but hey, maybe he has had a sex change. Real class act jerk this one.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/05/02/1177788183427.html

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21658142-5001021,00.html

I think when Michelle Obama with such success states being a mother is her first job, then it sends also a positive message to other mothers.

It always seems to me that the First Lady’s biggest concern is ALWAYS demonstrating that she is a wife and mother, period. Everything else is secondary. I remember when Bill Clinton was running and Hillary was given a makeover to look “softer”. I believe she also changed her last name from “Hillary Rodham” to “Hillary Rodham Clinton” around that time because God forbid, America would never been able to accept a woman who kept her own name as First Lady.

I love the Obamas and they are a beautiful family – an example of what a good American family should be like. But I agree with you that it gets tiresome when First Ladies constantly feel the need to reinforce that they are mommies first. WE KNOW. We don’t care.

Also, not to get off topic but I was thrilled to see the election of Obama. Canadians do care about American politics a great deal — what happens down there affects us. Obama’s victory was on the front page of our newspapers for goodness sake.

I’ll take Michelle Obama’s views on parenthood over that certain other someone who really liked shopping and couldn’t name a newspaper she reads.

Explosive – Thank you. I can’t imagine NOT being informed about other countries…and what’s going on… for one thing other people and countries are interesting for another it’s about knowing about the world I live in. I grew up learning as much as could about other countries and their histories and I’ve never really stopped. And there is always more to learn. I even know there is an election in New Zealand this month

“I had the same hopes for the Bush administration, but the Bush family seems to have very old fashion attitudes about women; they should marry young, become school teachers, have a few babies, and live happily every after.”

I read that and laughed aloud

ChrisOH – welcome and thanks for your first comment. I think the Religious Right are downright scary… and I have encountered, shall we say ,er… “lighter flavours” of them. And they are still scary. Thanks for the link.

“I’ve noticed that my interests or those of my wife aren’t taken as seriously, and our plans not seen to be as important, as those who have children.”

I’ve noticed it too. And yes even in families (not immediate family I’m happy to say). It’s like our interests have no legitimacy unless they are somehow related to children (or trying to acquire them).

Lee – thanks for sharing these. Used to be that after the kids were grown up the parents could get the life they put on hold back. Now the kids are moving back home (or not moving out in the first place) it really is like a life sentence – which of course we’re exhorted to embrace as the highest calling for anyone…

I found this article on the BBC on Michelle Obama – and we might expect from the new First Lady. Enjoy. And thanks again for the insightful comments.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7723547.stm

My personal feelings about Michele Obama’s statement is that I hope she and her husband change some of the racist perceptions that still linger in the hearts of some people about African-Americans. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with her statement per se. If your husband is going to hold the most powerful office in the land, I would think someone has to make your children a priority and the best person is the other parent. A lot better than having kids and then leaving it for someone else to worry or care about. She actually sounds rather grounded to me, and I wouldn’t take her comments to necessarily reflect that her husband’s presidency is only going to care about families with children.

As for Michelle Obama’s comments about being “first Mom” I do think she is doing what she needs to do to appease the majority of the population. One of the things people jumped all over Hillary Clinton about was how far Chelsea seemed on her priority list. Hillary Clinton is also advising Michelle Obama about being a first lady and I’m sure part of that advice is to come off as a down to earth mother. I am hopeful that through her role as “first Mom” to two young girls will make her and Barack more cognizant of women’s needs in our society beyond mothering; educational opportunities, access to safe and affordable birth control, protection against violent attacks. I had the same hopes for the Bush administration, but the Bush family seems to have very old fashion attitudes about women; they should marry young, become school teachers, have a few babies, and live happily every after.

If you or anyone else finds this topic interesting there is a great book about America and the religous right called “The Myth of a Christian Nation, How the Quest for Political Power is Destroying the Church”. The author is Gregory A. Boyd.

I look at is this way about the whole kid thing. Once you’ve done something you cannot undo, I’m guessing that to admit it wasn’t such a great idea (if only to yourself) is incredibly soul sinking. Some are brave and will talk turkey, but for others it would just be too hard to get through the day–seeing as it’s a life sentence. I think that those who dismiss people without children are doing so only to make themselves feel better about their decisions. They have to make child rearing more important than anything that anyone else will EVER do because for many parents once they have children they often put their own personal dreams and aspirations aside out of necessity. So transparent really.

On a related note, one of my neighbors dedicated her life to raising her kids. Put her heart and soul into it. Despite her and her husband’s tremendous efforts, scrimping and saving, sending them to private schools and outdoor adventures, and language and music lessons not to mention providing truly loving care, both kids decided to drop out of college and move back home and are now both employed at minimum wage jobs. Mom alternatively went to work on the president elect’s campaign in another state for a period of three months. She found the experience so fulfilling she is now applying for work in DC away from husband and the back-to-the-nest pair. I guess she decided to save herself. What’s the old saying, the only person who can truly make you happy is yourself.

This is my first post to the blog — I have enjoyed reading it for quite some time though!

This topic interests me since in my home state of Ohio, Gov. Ted Strickland was opposed by a religious-right candidate during the election of 2006, and the right-winger was supported by two groups called “Patriot Pastors” and “The Ohio Restoration Project.” Reports surfaced that one of the officers of these groups initiated a “whisper campaign” of emails saying that because Strickland married his wife at 46, had no kids, and lived apart from his wife (I’ve not been able to substantiate this) that he and his wife must be homosexuals, and that they would be “soft” on child molesters while in office.

Here’s a link to an article about it:

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2006/07/patriot_pastor.html

Yes, it’s sad, but it seems in the eyes of many that having kids “legitimizes” you. I’m 38, married, no kids, and even within family circles, I’ve noticed that my interests or those of my wife aren’t taken as seriously, and our plans not seen to be as important, as those who have children.

Excellent job on the blog, Britgirl — it’s a valuable resource and I hope you’ll continue it for a long time to come!

I appreciate yours (and others) comments on this post – especially since I know English isn’t your first language. Keep ‘em coming

Sister Dino –

“What on EARTH does being a parent have to do with being president? ”

Frankly, it gets favour with the electorate (middle class) because the majority of people have kids and are suspicious of people who don’t.

That’s why they use it. Almost every elected leader and those running for election (Western World anyway) manages to bring their children into the picture somehow because they know it resonates with the majority of people. I think only Germany’s Angela Merkel did not (and I actually believe she doesn’t have kids). Our European readers can correct me on that one.

I recall in Australia some years ago that the PM (or similar highly placed person) told a childfree (I think) colleague she wasn’t fit to govern… because she had no children.

I’m glad SOMEONE said this. It needed to be said.

I’m always confused when candidates and/or their spouses talk about their kids during their campaigns. What on EARTH does being a parent have to do with being president? It makes no difference to me whether you’ve got 10 kids or none, and I don’t think it’s right to use them in your campaign to show how you are a ‘family (wo)man’ and ‘feel families’ pain’ or whatever. What a load of crap. They just use their families to further their careers. Anybody that actually deserves to be president will not be found actually running for the office. They’re off being successful somewhere and staying the heck away from Washington.

I’m SO fed up with the politics in this country…

“Str8six: Look forward to read you comments on future CF topics in this post!:)”..

Thanks Lurker, I’m not deterred at all by the responses to my posts. I’m the one who worked on all the various political sided differences when they were screaming for my help at Ground Zero. I’ve earned the right to state my opinion and I’ve left it at that.

Britgirl: C’mon with your next CF post!

For the past 8 years and prior, the Christian right has had a stranglehold on the political engine in this country and we all know that maintaining traditional “family values” whch includes children was/is priority no. 1 for them.

Non-traditional thinkers know that families come in all shapes, sizes and configurations. Which benefits are allowed to various types of households is also very much a state by state decison here. It will be very interesting indeed to see what federal mandates come down under the new regime.

Major policy change that reflects the interests of minority groups comes slowly but as others have said it never hurts to be optimistic and we’re off to a great start with a president who understands what it is like to be on the outside looking in.

Thank you britgirl for your time and space!

It seems from the discussion that everyone is putting a lot on a man who visited the Oval office for the first time (ever) yesterday, which might help everyone gain some insight as to what these past 8 years have been like. As Obama himself said, “We only have one president at a time, and I’m not it right now” (paraphrasing, I don’t remember the exact quote). And to misquote Dick Cheney “You don’t get to work with the president you want, you work with the president you have”. Yeah, I’m happy, but more than anything I’m just relieved. I really like people who use their brains.