Ann Romney: I CHOOSE MY CHOICE

[kpete]

.........................

It was a three-fer, demonstrating that Ann Romney is a master at the language of meaningless bullshit: Invoking the questionable assumption that fertility equals goodness, I CHOOSE MY CHOICE, and of course, posturing about how stay-at-home mothers work so hard and YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.

The last one may be one of my least favorite of meaningless platitudes in circulation in the U.S., the whole "stay-at-home moms are the hardest working, bestest people that ever worked!" one. It's a common feature on STFU Parents, with housewives braying about how, unlike everyone else, they work 24/7 and don't get vacations and blah blah.

There's a very serious and insulting problem with this platitude: It carries with it the assumption that working mothers (a term that is commonly understood to mean women who have paid employment while raising children at home) don't raise their children.

Think about it: Romney is saying she made the "choice" to raise her five boys by staying home, as if her boys would have gone unraised if she'd had a job outside of the home. To which I say, screw you. My mom worked. In this country, most moms work. Their kids don't run around like wild animals, naked and barefoot and killing pigeons to survive. Hell, in some families, believe it or not, dads some times pitch in and raise their kids. (That last bit was mega-sarcasm, for the utterly literal.)

.............

more:
http://pandagon.net/index.php/site/comments/the-general-election-has-started-and-the-stupid-levels-are-already-off-the




************************

The Romney/Ryan Budgets Cuts In Anti-Poverty Spending Would Disproportionately Impact Women
By Matthew Yglesias | Posted Thursday, April 12, 2012, at 11:02 AM ET


http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2012/04/12/the_romney_ryan_budgets_cuts_in_anti_poverty_spending_would_disproportionately_impact_women.html

[GoCubsGo]

1. She's lucky she could make that choice.

Many women can't afford to stay home with their kids like she did. My mom worked and raised four children. My dad and grandmother helped, too. We all turned out just fine. Better than her demon spawn, I dare say. This idiot wouldn't know "hard work" if it came up and punched her in the face.

[SomethingFishy]

2. "I fry my fries. I work my work. I campaign my campaign"

"I have lost my goddamn mind."

This is fucking hilarious. Today must have been decided as "Get back the womans vote day" as Ann Romney shows the country she's just a regular stay at home mom, while Mittens is out there screaming about Obama's "War On Women". Yes you heard that right, the candidate from the party that has decided this is the year to put women back in the kitchen barefoot and preggers, says Obama is waging a War On Women.

[closeupready]

12. lol

I don't know why, but I'm giggling a lot today. Guess it's the onset of spring??

[aquart]

23. Ann Romney, poster girl for well-shod and pregnant.

See? A girl CAN have it all.

[aquart]

3. Is she saying no nannies, maids, housekeepers?

Her choice was the choice enabled by a ton of money.

[randome]

7. Oh, some good investigative material there, I think.

[kpete]

14. like this?

http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/iowa/ajax.html?t=11235592#page:showThread,11235592

[KansDem]

15. And if there were, see if they were "illegals"

She may be trying to pull a "Meg Whitman"...

[Mz Pip]

9. Beat me to it.

I seriously doubt she did this all by herself. I don't doubt that she was busy; even with help 5 boys can be trying. But the idea that she did this all by herself; cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, organizing play dates, volunteering in the classroom. I'm sure these boys had the best help for their mom that money can buy.

[laundry_queen]

11. This whole thing is INFURIATING for me.

I also chose to stay at home with my kids. I did it for 12 years. Then, I DIDN'T choose to have my husband leave me, so now I am in school full time trying to get an education so I can go work and support my kids. Guess what?

Being a stay at home mom (with decent financial means) was WAY easier than what I'm doing right now. You don't have to worry about childcare when your kid is sick and the daycare won't accept them and you have a final exam (or project at work). You don't have to worry if your kid decides they want to do an afterschool activity if you are going to make it home in time to pick them up, or if you're going to have to tell them to walk home and then phone home 10 times to see if they've made it yet. You don't have to worry about scheduling in grocery shopping between dance lessons.

Ann Romney has NO fucking clue what it is like to be on the brink of financial disaster AND try to go to school (or work) AND try to raise 4 kids ON YOUR OWN. Hilary Rosen is totally right, but the media will definitely make this out to be some stay-at-home mom vs working mom "choice".

Too bad MOST women don't have the choice, especially if they are the ONLY adult in the family who can earn wages.

Talk about out of touch!

[Arkansas Granny]

24. I hear you! After my divorce I went from stay at home mom to working mom

raising 4 kids. SAH mom is hard work, for sure, but it's a piece of cake compared to being a working single mom.

[HangOnKids]

13. Don't Forget The Chef!

She is really stupid. A life of luxury does funny things to the brain.

[aquart]

18. I did. I forgot the chef.

How could I forget the chef?

[HangOnKids]

20. Hey Having Fine Meals Prepared Every Day

Is such an easy thing to overlook.

[SomethingFishy]

26. There were 5 women listed as "domestic help" on the Romney's tax returns..

But hey, it's hard work having only one helper for each kid

[FSogol]

4. Another rich idiot who thinks she's better than the rest of the great unwashed.

[Dachor]

5. my mother raised me while...

making as much money a year as my dad, and atleast I think my brother and I turned out alright.

[HangOnKids]

6. Staying At Home Raising Kids Is Hard Work BUT How Much Hired Help Did She Have?

While riding her dressage horses and all. I'm sure the Rmoneys had lots of help to take care of their boys. Not the same as managing a household by yourself, or working outside the home and raising children. She is as clueless as Mittens.

[hifiguy]

8. She's just as clueless and tone-deaf as

Mittens, and that boggles the mind.

[HangOnKids]

16. Rich Folks Just Don't Get It

I have a very wealthy sister who can't understand why people think the economy is shit. Really.

[Politicalboi]

10. What a brave woman

To stay at home and raise your kids. Must be really hard to do with all that money sitting around.

[MineralMan]

17. Trouble is, she wants to make YOUR choice, too.

That's the trouble.

[gratuitous]

19. It's nice to be able to devote yourself to it, as well

None of those niggling doubts about whether your husband might lose his job (since his job is making other people lose their jobs), or if the money might not stretch to the end of the month (when your money will stretch to the end of your life, your children's lives and their children's lives, no sweat), or any of those other little picayune concerns of the hoi polloi.

So, dear Ann, why doesn't your husband think other people deserve to live a life of some of the comforts you take so much for granted? Why are the policies of your political party designed to make life as hard as possible for people who have to work for a living, while your income is taxed at a rate substantially lower? Why aren't you good enough to pay taxes to support the system that has made you so wealthy, and it's left to others to prop you up?

[HangOnKids]

21. Members Of The Lucky Sperm Club Can't Bother Their Beautiful Minds With Such Nonsense n/t

[Dawson Leery]

22. She has a privelege that few others have.

Last edited Thu Apr 12, 2012, 01:31 PM - Edit history (1)

[Marrah_G]

25. Is she sure SHE raised them and not the hired help?