Column: Why liberal women loathe Sarah Palin
October 18th, 2008Writing in the Weekly Standard, Joseph Epstein says the rage that liberal women feel toward Sarah Palin has its basis in her position on abortion — and specifically, in her decision to bear a child with Down syndrome following a prenatal diagnosis.
An excerpt:
Abortion, to be sure, is the great third-rail subject in American politics. But when a male politician is against abortion, these [liberal] women can write that off as the ignorance of a standard politician, if not himself a Christian fundamentalist, then another Republican cynically going after the fundamentalist vote. A woman not in favor of abortion is something quite different.
And it is all the more strikingly different when the same woman not only holds this opinion on abortion but acts on it and knowingly bears a child with Down syndrome, a child that most liberal women would have thought reason required aborting. What else, after all, is abortion for?
A few months ago Vanity Fair ran an article about the discovery that the playwright Arthur Miller, with his third wife, the photographer Inge Morath, 40 or so years ago had a Down syndrome son. Miller promptly clapped the boy into an institution–according to the article, not a first class one either–and never saw the child again. Most people would have taken this for a heartless act, one should have thought, especially on the part of a man known for excoriating the putative cruelties of capitalism and the endless barbarities of his own country’s governments, whether Democratic or Republican.
Yet, so far as one can tell, Arthur Miller’s treatment of his own child has not put the least dent in his reputation, while Sarah Palin’s having, keeping, and loving her Down syndrome child is somehow, by the standard of the liberal woman of our day, not so secretly thought the act of an obviously backward and ignorant woman, an affront to womanhood. “Her greatest hypocrisy,” proclaimed Wendy Doniger, one of the leading feminist lights at the University of Chicago, “is her pretense that she is a woman.”
Joseph Epstein is a contributing editor to the Weekly Standard.
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October 24th, 2008 at 3:12 am
I’m a liberal, feminist, Christian woman. I’m also the mother of two charming little girls, one of whom has Down syndrome. She was diagnosed with Trisomy 21 and a AV Canal (heart) defect prenatally.
I have significant problems with Sarah Palin as a candidate, but they have nothing to do with her decision to balance career and motherhood (no more so than with any other candidate, male or female) and I respect her decision to continue her pregnancy and have Trig.
The above excerpt from Joseph Epstein’s Weekly Standard essay is baffling to me.
“a child that most liberal women would have thought reason required aborting.”
Actually, this is a situation in which most people consider
abortion, whether they call themselves pro-choice or pro-life. The statistics bear me out, but I have plenty of anecdotal evidence to support this as well. I’m regularly stunned by how many women openly say, “I’m pro-life, but . . . ” when it comes to nonfatal prenatal diagnoses like Down syndrome.
Next, with regard to the anecdote about Arthur Miller institutionalizing his son with Down syndrome: “Most people would have taken this for a heartless act”
Actually, sadly, 40 years ago that was a very common practice for children born with Down syndrome. It was erroneously thought that people with Down syndrome could never learn, could never potty train, dress themselves, or live independently. I thank God that my daughter was born in the 21st Century.
But all those wild suppositions about how liberal women feel about Palin and her choice do not represent me, or any of the liberal women I know. There are certainly jerks out there on both sides of this issue, though I do not count them among my friends.
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:06 am
You are going to find people — both liberal and conservative — who say nasty things about Down syndrome. That’s just a reality. It’s quite a different step to then generalize those comments to an entire group.
(Incidentally, for an example of the rude conservative view, here is a link: http://www.theconservativevoice.com/forum/read.html?id=14702#comments . This story was reported a couple of months ago on Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers forming the DS caucus – and the very first on-line comment was BLASTING how they were wasting their time and the taxpayer’s money on those “liberal causes” when money for those things was more appropriate coming from charities.)
So yes, this will happen. As parents and advocates we deal with it all the time and party affiliation has very little to do with whether people can be rude or not. What we need to focus on is not the random extremist on either side of the aisle but what the party leaders’ positions are on issues most important to us, including those related to disability.
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 pm
I don’t consider jezebel.com a feminist website, and the awful comments that you have repeated here should not be attributed to liberal women. The link at the plastic surgery story referred to the 90% abortion rate for the prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, so however bluntly stated, it was mostly an observation, as was the reference to the lifelong learning challenges our children may experience.
What people write at sensationalist websites does not reflect on liberal women any more than your quoting such ugly comments reflects on most advocates for children with Down syndrome.
Maybe it’s just a matter of semantics — I would probably classify women who rant on about things they don’t know anything about, then twist or distort what might otherwise be used as facts, as radicals. The Epstein article referred to liberal women loathing Sarah Palin for choosing to bring Trig into the world, and based on everything I’ve known and experienced in the past 25 years with my son, that is just not true about liberal women. It might be true of radical women, but they are so unpleasant for other reasons, I choose not to associate with them or read their sad rants if I can help it. So, we’ll have to agree to disagree about that.
The liberal women I know have been compassionate, supportive, and always helpful in building a great quality of life and richness of experience for my son who was born with Down syndrome, they find Trig Palin darling, and they support women’s right to choose pregnancy, including Sarah Palin. I trust, admire and treasure the liberal women I’ve met in person or through their writing. It is my opinion that Joseph Epstein is barking up the wrong tree. He’s wrong.
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Well, Pamela, apparently you missed the author’s words on the post about plastic surgery for a child with Down syndrome: “It’s been pretty well-documented that no one wants a baby with Down’s Syndrome. But for most parents, it’s a question of raising a kid whose impaired mental aptitude will be a lifelong handicap.” (Not very pro-Down’s, wouldn’t you say?)
Or the fact that many people who commented on the homecoming queen story assumed that Kristen Pass was elected as a cruel joke.
Or this little nugget by someone in the Comments section in a post called “Sarah Palin: The Life-iest Pro-Life Candidate to Ever Scare the Crap out of Me” (which mentions her choosing to have Trig quite prominently) – “As prenatal testing for trisomy 21 becomes ubiquitous, Down’s children (and eventually those with other genetic disorders) will increasingly become symbols of faith — a freak show meant to communicate the “family values” of their parents. The children will become public sacrifices made by their parents for their faith. They will be a symbol of religious reverence in the same way as the scarred backs of Catholics who flagellate themselves, or Buddhist monks who set themselves on fire, or Sunni Muslims who mutilate their girl’s genitals or Shiites who bloody their children’s heads with swords … what can we say about a parent that chooses a life of suffering upon their child? If we are morally outraged by child rapists, how should we judge a parent who chooses a lifetime of suffering on their own child?”
So, yes, I know what I’m talking about when it comes to Jezebel and the ideas of many of their authors and commentators about Sarah Palin and Down syndrome.
But all that aside, the point of Joe Epstein’s column was that many liberal women hate Sarah Palin because she is pro-life and they see Trig as a physical manifestation of that belief. And I stand by my comments that the liberal women on jezebel L-o-a-t-h-e Palin with a Capital L and the reason they criticize her the most is because she is pro-life, so I can see Epstein’s point quite clearly.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:00 am
The jezebel.com site is entitled “Celebrity, Sex, Fashion for Women” — and is certainly not what I expected when Cathy W referred to it as a feminist website. I was blushing non-stop over language and other issues but did a search for ‘Sarah Palin’, ‘Down syndrome’ and also for ‘Trig.’ The stories about Sarah Palin were about the robocall recordings she made for the McCain campaign, her appearance on Saturday Night Live, and ‘Why Sarah Palin’s Looks Matter.’
I did a search for ‘Down syndrome’ and found a link to a nice story about Kristen Pass, the Texas gal with Down syndrome who was elected Homecoming Queen, and one to a story about a darling little girl with Down syndrome whose parents are considering plastic surgery. The comments on that story were sensitive and compassionate — ‘why would anyone want to change anything about such a cute face?’
When I searched for stories about Trig, I found one about Piper Palin slicking down his hair (so cute!) and another *defending* Sarah Palin against personal attacks (that had nothing to do with prenatal diagnosis or her pro-life stance). I did a search for ‘pain suffering ridicule’ and there was nothing about Down syndrome there either.
So, you might have seen a website where Sarah Palin is criticized specifically for her pro-life stance, but it isn’t jezebel.com.
Although I read many nice remarks about what a precious child Trig is at that site, it is not one I recommend; and looking for views on feminism at a site dedicated to celebrity, sex and fashion might also be misguided. There are criticisms of Sarah Palin at the site, but they seem to be big fans of little Trig.
Again, among liberal, pro-choice women I have met in the past 25 years, I have found only advocates and godmothers for my son, and their children remain in his circle of friends.
Of course, we have all had the benefit of women like Emily Perl Kingsley, who helped introduce children with disabilities to the world through Sesame Street; her son Jason’s appearances on popular television shows showed us all the potential of individuals with Down syndrome when my son was growing up.
When the movie “Kids Like These” was shown on television, bank tellers and others in our neighborhood commented that “Down syndrome just means it takes him a little longer to learn things — I saw that on TV.”
It’s good that our national organizations and neighborhood advocates, as well as individuals with Down syndrome in our communities are working to remedy the misinformation today as Emily Kingsley did when my son was a baby. And I’m glad to find women of all political persuasions who relate so compassionately to Sarah Palin’s son. But someone else is going to have to check out the next ‘jezebel.com’ site. I’m still blushing.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I take exception to your condemnation of Christians who criticize Sarah Palin because she has a family and works; many Christian families in this economy have made real sacrifices in their family life because the economy has driven both parents into the job market and for some, even that is not enough to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, or medical coverage for their families.
Also, there are many people who contribute significantly to their communities and are raising wonderful children who might describe themselves as ‘rednecks’ or ‘hillbillies’ — they know how to live on the land and do manage their affairs quite satisfactorily. It’s obvious that you are not aware of what they have accomplished besides knowing how to hunt, and you don’t have any idea that there is a great diversity among those individuals, too.
Sure, people are getting stirred up over Sarah Palin for reasons other than choosing to bring Trig into the world. When our soldiers from every community in the country are in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan, no one should be saying one part of the country is more patriotic than another. But that’s not what our community is about and it’s not a position most of us share in common with Governor Palin. We are working together because we have children who have something in common.
People in the DS community are diverse Americans who have a whole raft of reasons they support certain candidates. On the Down Syndrome Legislative Caucus there is the Republican mom of a one year old son with Down syndrome and a Democratic mom of a 37 year old daughter. Surely if they can work together in Washington D.C. on behalf of our children, we can get along as internet neighbors.
Everybody in the USA has a difference of opinion over one topic or another, but as Barack Obama and Joe Biden keep saying, we are all citizens of the United States, one nation under God, indivisible — and our great strength is that when we are faced with great obstacles and get knocked down, we do stand back up again, together.
Sure you can find fault with conservative Christians and feminist liberals who critize Sarah Palin for one reason or another — and everyone who falls in between — but remember, we are all in this mess together and we will unite and get through each crisis no matter what our differences of opinion or lifestyle may be.
We are fortunate to live in the U.S.A. Working together our country will move in the right direction for our sons and daughters with Down syndrome and other special needs. We don’t need to be getting hurt feelings on behalf of politicians and fighting among ourselves right now.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:38 am
So go around to the “man/woman on the street” and ask them their opinion of Arthur Miller. You will get either, “the guy who married Marilyn Monroe?” or “who?”. To say that Arthur Miller’s reputation hasn’t been tarnished by his treatment of his child is silly. For those who know about Arthur Miller, their opinion of him is based on his writing, and almost exclusively on The Crucible. I doubt that most people could name more than one fact about Miller, the person.
I think most people who don’t like Palin don’t like her because she demonstrates no capabilities that make her the right choice to be president. Also, she is an evil person who spreads lies about other people in order to get elected.
As far as abortion goes, my wife and I are both liberals and neither of us thought for a second about aborting our son.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:11 am
I agree with Kathy R., completely. I visit a feminist website, Jezebel.com, and the loathing they have for Palin is absolute, and the number one reason is that’s she’s pro-life. There are women who’ve commented there who claim that people who have children with DS after receiving the diagnosis are evil because they are “dooming” their children to a lifetime of pain, suffering and ridicule! Not all liberals feel that way, of course, but I have seen plenty of vitriol thrown Palin’s way, and a lot of it is from people who view Trig as a symbol of her pro-life stance — instead of as the precious child that he is.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:26 am
To Kathy R,
Because it isn’t JUST about DS awareness! She is not an advocate for children with special needs nor DS …..her son is a few months old and lives in the Governor’s mansion. What kind of advocating has she done? I don’t even think that much DS awareness has come out of this whole mess…..October is DS awareness month, why isn’t she spending some time talking to the press about what DS is? Oh, because she doesn’t “do” press. There is more to making people “aware” than to just having a child with DS.
I read the bible daily and trust me, if Palin is a Christian it isn’t for me to judge, but the bible I read doesn’t teach me or others to incite “hate” for anyone, not based on the color of their skin, or any other factor. I’ve listened to the rallies, written to the campaign, my 11 year old is not allowed to listen because of the scare tactics used by the campaign and their unwillingness to stop those in the crowds.
For me? It is no longer about the issues……Why? Because it never was for McCain/Palin……..
October 19th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Interesting. I’m a liberal. I’m a woman. I think “loathe” would be a good description of my opinion of Sarah Palin as a VP candidate.
I also have a child with Down syndrome. I didn’t even have tests run because I knew I wouldn’t abort him.
To say that liberal women dislike Sarah Palin for that one reason suggests liberal women are as single-minded as the conservative women who only vote the abortion issues.
Sarah Palin fails as a candidate in many areas – war in Iraq, basic education qualifications, intelligent discussion of issues, environment, education, and the simple fact that she agrees with John McCain.
I think Joseph Epstein is getting the liberal women who don’t like Palin confused with the conservative women who do.
October 19th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I admit to being completely baffled by this stance, at its core. Life certainly has its challenges and disappointments. And, honestly, raising a son with Down syndrome isn’t carefree or void of struggle. However, among the sources of real strife, my son’s disability is not one of the greatest liabilities.
October 19th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I agree completely with this. I have to admit, though, that I have been the most disappointed with those in the Ds community who have been so harsh and hateful in their comments about Sarah Palin.
We have been moaning and groaning for years about the lack of positive Ds awareness..yet, when we finally get someone in the spotlight, instead of being glad that awareness is jumping off the charts, people are making snarky remarks about Palin.
“How can she handle the job and still take care of her ‘special needs’ baby”(why not be glad that she is showing that Ds does not have to mean that you have to give up your career?) What happened to all of the ‘it takes a village’ rhetoric in this case? she has a large, supportive family, her husband seems to be truly supportive of her, Trig goes where she goes, and is, by no stretch of the imagination, neglected…yet it is not enough. “he should be home in bed, instead of being used as a political prop” (why no mention of Piper? she is a little kid, too, who was presumably up past her bedtime…why no comments about her being used as a prop?)
All of the hateful comments about Palin just serve to show the hypocrisy of those making the remarks … Ds awareness, for example, is a much-desired thing…unless, of course, if the person triggering the awareness (pun intended with ‘triggering
) is a member of the ‘other’ political party.
Feminists love a ‘strong’ woman who can juggle her family and career and make it work … ooops … unless, of course, the woman is pro-life. Then she is ‘not truly a woman.” (because, of course, to be truly a woman, you have to exercise your ‘right’ to ‘reproductive freedom’.
People who probably have not read a Bible in years (or ever) are now positive that Palin is not a Christian because she has a family and works.
People who have not accomplished a fraction in their own lives of what Palin has done call her a ‘redneck’ and a ‘hillbilly’ because she knows how to hunt.
People who make a huge stink about wanting their children w/Ds treated with respect have left no stone unturned in their efforts to mock Palin’s intelligence. How is this just? How is this reasonable?
I can understand that people do not support her stand on issues … but this goes way beyond that.
October 19th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I don’t understand why there is this assumption that liberal women would automatically abort given a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. I know liberal women who have chosen to continue their pregnancy despite a prenatal diagnosis.
October 18th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
A misinformed man is writing that liberal women supposedly loathe Sarah Palin. But I have found that liberal women have great compassion for her as the mother of a baby with special needs, as the mother of a pregnant teenager, and as the mother of a son headed for Iraq. Liberal, pro-choice women have also made the choice to raise their wonderful sons and daughters with Down syndrome, just like Sarah Palin.
With the lack of accurate information on the potential and opportunities our sons and daughters enjoy in the USA, it’s no wonder that so many otherwise ‘pro-life’ women are making the tragic decision to terminate pregnancies with a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.
The 90% abortion rate associated with prenatal diagnosis makes it clear that both liberal and conservative women are making that tragic choice. Barack Obama said that “no one is pro-abortion,” and that abortion is always a “tragic situation” – Senator Obama has a good understanding of both conservative and liberal women’s true feelings on this topic.
Families of children with Down syndrome did have strong feelings and heated discussions about Arthur Miller’s decision and lack of acknowledgement of his son with Down syndrome. Both liberal and conservative parents took issue but also showed compassion for him as a parent.
Apparently Joseph Epstein was not concerned with disability issues or Down syndrome, and did not care to find out about those discussions, even with his new interest in Down syndrome because Sarah Palin has a son with the condition. Two Republicans in Congress are raising children with Down syndrome and are members of the bipartisan Down Syndrome Legislative Caucus.
Sarah Palin made a very personal decision to bring her wonderful son with Down syndrome into the world, and he has already made a positive difference for families and individuals with Down syndrome, as all our sons and daughters do in our neighborhoods and communities. Republican men who cynically go after the fundamentalist vote using Trig Palin may be as ignorant about how women feel about abotion as Joseph Epstein seems to be.
October 18th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Well this says a whole lot more about Mr. Epstein than it does about “liberal women.” I for one can’t stand her because she’s dumb as a post, she has no demonstrable grasp whatsoever of the critical issues related to the job of vice president, her campaign stops have demonstrated an effort to hate-monger in such a way as to incite mob action, her Troopergate scandal shows that she’s a liar and has abused the powers placed in her as a matter of public trust. Oh yeah, and she’s a major hypocrite. Other than that, she’s durn near perfect.