Sep 04 2008
Cindy McCain Left Holding the Baby
There were images last night that stuck out in my mind from the Republican Convention – the first was of Cindy McCain holding Gov Sarah Palin’s baby during Rudy Giuliani’s speech, and the second was of the baby’s father handing off the baby to his youngest daughter Piper who sat with the baby across her little lap.
Politics aside, I wonder if this will be the shape of things to come for this baby, constantly being handed off to someone else. I have to wonder how Cindy McCain feels about this – after all she’s entitled to be child free at her age and to enjoy the time the limelight as being a “First Lady” in waiting as it were. She shouldn’t be having someone else’s baby to take care of. The baby’s been carried by Sarah Palin’s eldest daughter during most of the public appearances but now that the daughter herself is publically known to be pregnant, it seems as if her job is now to act out the demure engaged soon-to-be-married parent sitting with the father of her child. Fair enough, but back to the baby. Why did the baby even have to be there?
I understand that it was a big night for mommy. I get that that’s why Sarah Palin’s youngest daughter (born 2001) was there because it’s perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to see a parent with that much positive attention, not to mention a good lesson in what women can now achieve. Perhaps if she’s as good as they are portraying she is however, then one day she’ll stand there for Republican Presidential nomination and not only giving a prospective VP speech. What I don’t get is that the baby was still in the room. And if he was in the room, why wasn’t he with his grandparents? There have been already been enough family photo opportunities to get that this is a family with 5 children including a baby. Wasn’t there someone who could have sat with him off stage in a quiet corner? Is this to be his life if Sarah Palin goes into the White House? Passed around to whoever has free arms, even if it’s a 7-8 year old child, and living in the limelight – is that really a healthy start in life?
As an extra thought on this, I did think that the images of Cindy McCain holding baby Trig when the camera panned the area and she wasn’t really aware of it were lovely and showed a softer more approachable side to her than what I’ve seen so far.
17 Responses to “Cindy McCain Left Holding the Baby”
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I really doubt that the baby will be “handed off” any more than any other working mom has to “hand them off” during the day. Palin may have other issues I disagree with, but a baby making the rounds with everyone in the room should not be one of them. I can’t tell you the number of times a mom has to share when their baby is in the room because everyone wants to hold the little one. And while I agree that it will be tough to be raising a child and still be there for the son or daughter, I would bet everyone in the family will pitch in.
And, yes, I’m a registered Democrat.
I’ve got a child a year older than Piper Palin and I wouldn’t let him hold a baby of that age. Piper’s adorable, but holding the baby when her father had 3 older siblings nearby to hand him over too wasn’t really appropriate. Handing a baby around is one thing if you agree with that kind of thing but make sure it’s to the right people.
I’m sure they will all rally round, but how much input is mom likely to have? I just don’t see it. If she’s as family orientated as she makes out, she’s going to be eaten alive with guilt! Like many women I’ve been there, done it, and with nowhere near the hours of work that she’s going to be required to do. The VPs working day will be a lot longer than most people put in and I expect more often than not it runs into the evening/weekend hours. I believe women can be mothers and work. I believe a woman can run a major country. I’m not sure a mother of a baby can service both to the extent that they require. If she gets to be VP she will have a chance to show the world that a woman can, but if she gets it wrong it’s going to reflect negatively on women in future American elections. That worries me.
You f—– up people ever think Mrs. McCain may have WANTED to hold the baby!! I have nieces and nephews and I know they all thought they were footballs, they got handed off plenty, until they were about 2 years old.
I’m not sure where you saw the words that Mrs McCain DIDN’T want to hold the baby. No-one who looked as serene and at home with the baby could have been thought to be anything other than happy with the idea. The blog didn’t say that she didn’t want the baby, just that this is a time for her to shine in her own right. It also said that it was that best I’d seen her look. I thought she looked really approachable and friendly and for the most part, I haven’t seen her in that light.
Being a mom myself I understand the ways of baby handling. In a crowded room at a family function my children were always passed around the entire time. I do not think it shows anything except love for the child. It of course will be hard to be in her shoes but the question should be is she qualified to do so. Why did the husband not hold the child the entire time? It is his child to after all. It was simply a big party if you ask me.
Cindy looked content to hold the child. Very at ease. There was a time in America where it was apporpriate and expected to take your children with you to eventsa nd outings. Congratulations to Sarah for showing us how it is done all over again! The young sister Piper also looked happy and confident with her little brother. She was made to feel important and needed at a huge event where her family was in the spotlight. Being the new middle child and not the baby of the family any longer, I send kudos to her father and siblings to allow her the role of older sister at that event. Familes do pass babies around when they are gathered together. it is a loving ritual passed down through time.
Cindy McCain looked radiant and very much at home in her role as unofficial grandparent. In the months of campaigning perhaps its the nearest she’s felt to something grounded and real. I didn’t like the tone of the speech, but I loved the pictures of Cindy holding the baby. If you didn’t know differently you could be forgiven for thinking she was the grandmother. I think what really got me was the time of night that this was happening, especially as I’d seen footage of the baby on display earlier in the day.
Day care is bad. Selfish people who won’t make the lifestyle cuts required to raise a child properly. Foolish people who didn’t save up before getting knocked up.
Todays’ parents suck.
Hi Sean, thank you for your comment. I don’t in any way agree with it (although I’m sure that as with everything the quality of some day care centers will leave a lot to be desired), but I respect your right to have it. Opinions is what this site is all about.
“Cindy McCain looked radiant”
Considering her outfit costs $300,000, I HOPE she looked radiant! Say “no” to the elitists: http://www.newsone.com/elections/article/whos-the-real-elitist-now-cindy-mccains-outfit-cost-300000-dollars
I really have to wonder if Sarah Palin is experienced enough to be our potential VP. I am also concerned she will either be too busy for her job or too busy for her kids. All of those kids probably won’t be getting the attention they need if she becomes the United State’s VP. There will be late night, weekend duties, parties, and so forth. I doubt that the children will be spending a lot of time with her, and I wonder if this is healthy for *any* of her kids?
Sierra
http://anxiety.today.com
http://purrfectpets.today.com
Cambios, perhaps it’s time to get back to real family values in the US. Here in Sweden fathers are 50% responsible for their kids from the day they’re born. The Government supports this by issuing mandatory paternity leave for the first week of the baby’s life, and then so many weeks of year long “maternity” leave must be taken by the father. If a child is sick, either parent can claim money from the state to make up for loss of pay. This is also the case when couples are separated. We get things wrong here in Sweden with other things, but the way that parental responsiblity is even supported between both parents isn’t one of them.
Sierra: I’m with you 100% on that. What interests me is the role that her hubby will play. I don’t much about the VC role, and how the VC spouse usually gets involved with things. I’m guessing he’ll have some role to play in the PR side of the White House at the very least.
Wow, katieanne, looks like you stirred up some trouble!
It seems one side cannot voice an opinion without zealots from the other side attacking. Silly if you ask me.
I am wondering if the baby was passed around like so many just do in an event so long in nature (arms get tired afterall) or if it was a photo op….
I am pretty sure the baby would be well taken care IF McCain is elected, but I do wonder how much time he (and Piper) will get with mom. It’s not a normal 9-5 job, so comparing it to other working moms seems to be an underestimate of the time she would be away from him. No one questions it of Obama because his kids are not infants and not special needs children.
I will not touch some of the comments posted here because a) I don’t want to open a can of worms and b) I will just get myself all upset. I think you responded to them well, though.
~Kelly
http://www.30somethingandsearching.today.com/
Thanks Kelly. I appreciate that.
Thanks for the research Cambios. The Democrats should be using this to fire into the Republicans!