Apples and Oranges
In numerous places recently I have seen two quotes lumped together. The first is one by Obama:
Look, I got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.
And the second is one by Palin:
We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. . . .Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family.
The implication, and often the argument, is that this shows definitively the difference between Obama’s and Palin’s stance on life. Or going further, it illustrates that the Democrats do not value life, but the Republicans do.
Obama’s quote was taken from a campaign rally in April where he was talking about sex education and STDs. It is only a small piece of the entire quote. If you have heard the talk, you know that Obama was already fumbling a bit for words. He was speaking off the top of his head. Now, some argue it shows what he is really like. Have you ever put your foot in your mouth? Have you ever laid in bed, rehashing a conversation you had and wishing you had worded things differently, because you just didn’t get your point across well? Although I do not know, I would imagine this was one of those moments for Obama. It seems to me he was trying to say that if his children become sexually active as teens, he hopes they are protected from the many life-altering consequences that can come about as a result. Consequences that we as parents would not wish on any of our teenage children, even if we do view children as always being a blessing!
Palin’s comments were a thought-out press release. She had to disclose her teenage daughter’s pregnancy amid rumors that Trig is not her son, but in fact her daughter’s son. No mom wants to be forced to disclose private information about her child for the whole nation to hear (although Palin surely knew this would come out when she accepted McCain’s offer to be his running mate). And Palin’s public response to Bristol’s pregnancy is eloquently and beautifully crafted. She avoids any indication that she is not fully supportive of her daughter, as she should.
Folks, these just are not the same two situations! There is plenty that can be compared between the candidates, including their stance on the abortion issue. But using this quote to try to paint Obama as a child-hater comes across, frankly, as not well-informed. Or inflammatory. Or skirting the real issues.
I used to be in the ultra-conservative-right-wing-Rush-Limbaugh crowd. I listened to this kind of stuff all the time, and I was wowed by the way conservative spokespeople could make my head spin with it. I took it all as evidence of underlying attitudes, and I was certain I was right. And now, I just think it all sounds really silly and not uninformed. I am not saying that people in right-wing conservative camps are uneducated or uninformed–certainly not! VERY intelligent people come to all sorts of political conclusions, and I truly respect them. My point is not to say that smart people cannot be appalled at Obama’s stance on abortion. My point is that if you are going to articulate your position, do it intelligently, not by misusing pieces of quotes to your advantage.
I have more thoughts about the whole pro-life issue between the two parties, and some about Palin’s son Trig–both issues I have been asked about many times in the last week. Hopefully I will find the time and brain-power to tackle both of these soon, so stay tuned.
Both of you loyal readers.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
THANK YOU. It has been infuriating me to no end how the small bit of what Sen. Obama said has been twisted. You have expressed it so much more eloquently than I could manage.
-A
September 7th, 2008 at 9:58 am
I think it just all boils down to when you believe life begins. I used to be laissez-faire about abortion…thinking I hoped I’d never be in a position to make that choice. (And I never was).
But two things happened to me: I started a job at a CPA firm, which happened to be located next to an unmarked abortion clinic. The bomb threats and protesters we would experience from time to time forced me to really think about why these people were so passionate about the issue.
And the second thing was that I had a baby (with my husband). I think any woman who has had a human growing in her body, and still does not believe that baby’s life is worth fighting for is missing a very integral part of her humanity.
In my humble opinion.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
As I’m one of your friends who did juxtapose the two quotes, I’ve got to say that I really was surprised at what was inferred by you and several friends (both on my blog and off.)
Which, to a degree, illustrates your point of understanding the context of what was said. . . *grin*
“My point is not to say that smart people cannot be appalled at Obama’s stance on abortion. My point is that if you are going to articulate your position, do it intelligently, not by misusing pieces of quotes to your advantage.”
I find it interesting that the assumption was made that the quote was being used to discuss Obama’s position on abortion. That really wasn’t on my mind at all — either when I first heard and was disturbed by his comment in March, nor when I posted it recently.
Sarah summarized my thoughts and my reasoning for posting the Obama quote, “I wish babies weren’t thought of as mistakes or consequences of bad decisions. Babies are wonderful and welcome, regardless of the situation surrounding their conception. I support responsible sexuality, but I really wish that people would stop condemning unwed pregnancy or look on teen pregnancy as the result of a mistake. Maybe the choice to engage in sex was a poor decision based on life situations or religious beliefs, but that baby is not a consequence or a mistake itself.”
I wish that attitude was more pervasive in this country. Maybe that is Obama’s attitude as well, and he was poor at communicating it.
We could go back and forth about what Obama meant or what I meant or what you meant. . . I think it highlights again how much communication is a complex process and what is meant and what is understood are often at odds and it takes good intentions and care for one another to really understand each other.
Grace and hope,
TG
September 8th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Hey TG,
I was actually hesitant to post this after I wrote it, because I didn’t want you to think it was directed solely at you. I have seen it several places.
The thing is, I do “get” Obama’s attitude. I have teenagers. I don’t want them to engage in pre-maritial sex. But if they do, for goodness sake, I don’t want them saddled with a baby! I mean, theoretically my 13-year-old could be in that position. Can you imagine? It would completely change his life. A baby would be a blessing, to be sure. But it would be a hardship, too. It would utterly and completely alter the course of his life. And yeah, the baby would be a consequence of the sexual behavior. (Consequences are not always equivalent to spankings and punishments. The definition of consequence is “the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier.”) I would not wish that on ANY teenager.
I’m sure Palin didn’t wish it on her teenager, and I would bet money that in the privacy of her home, the word “consequence” or “mistake” came out, even though she was more eloquent for the media.
September 8th, 2008 at 8:20 am
A, Thank you! I have a lot more thoughts about it all jumbled in my head, so I’m glad what I posted so far makes sense!
Cristan, You said, “I think any woman who has had a human growing in her body, and still does not believe that baby’s life is worth fighting for is missing a very integral part of her humanity.” I guess I would ask how you fight for a baby’s life? And if it is by voting pro-life, what exactly is the Republican party doing to fight for a baby’s life? I mean, sure, they pander to the pro-life crowd, but do they really DO anything?
I believe that a baby’s life is worth “fighting for.” But that does not mean that I think that the pro-life movement is worth fighting for.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:26 am
I think another difference between the two quotes is experience. The Obama’s oldest daughter is what, 9? So it’s all theoretical. If the Obamas found themselves in a similar situation as the Palins, they may very well be right there supporting their daughter in her decision to keep the baby. I hope they are never put to that particular test.
(your third reader. ^_^)
September 8th, 2008 at 10:34 am
I am so glad to see your thoughts on this issue. Since the announcement of Palin as McCain’s VP, my DH and I have said more than once, “I can’t wait to see what Chewymom has to say about all this.” I value your perspective, and I look forward to reading more!
September 10th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I, personally, HAVE fought for the life of my neice, when she was unborn. She’s now 7. At the time I counseled her 18 year old parents to consider adoption, but once they decided to ‘keep’ her, they decided to ‘keep’ her.
And I, along with every other member of my family (as well as church family) have provided them with help: financially, emotionally and spiritually.
That is the spirit of community that Republicans want to encourage.
September 10th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Connie, You are right on. You just can’t compare the two quotes. They are two different people, at two different places in their lives.
Lara, Thanks! Can’t believe someone wants to know MY opinion!
Cristan, That’s awesome. That is exactly what family/friends/community should do! I’m not sure that the Republican party really wants to do that, so much as they want people who do that kind of thing to vote for them….And I also can tell you definitively that the help you have given to your niece is not something exclusive to Republicans. I am sure many people who vote for Democrats have done the same thing in their own families, communities and churches. What you did was not a party move, and was not done because of who you vote for. You did that in spite of the fact that abortion is perfectly legal in this country and regardless of which political party is in office! And that’s the beauty of it, IMO!