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I think the president's (and vice president's) wives are important parts of the administration, and often take a fairly active role. But the examples of Hilary Clinton and Eleanor Roosevelt are not very good -- they were highly educated women with activities and interests in the public sphere they would have pursued anyhow. I certainly would expect a politician and spouse to discuss issues privately, and for the spouse to offer guidance and counsel.
That, however, does not translate into "conduct state business via private emails to avoid subpoena's". That's scary stuff. I also wonder why we have read and seen so little of Todd, given that's he's an attractive man with a potentially interesting backstory (half Native-American, commercial fisherman, stay-at-home dad, etc.). Most vice-presidential candidates have had wives who spoke pubicly, conducted interviews, etc. -- yes, even Marilyn Quayle, LOL. Why is Todd just a silent figure, standing stiffly while his pregnant 17 year old daughter carries around "her mom's" Down's Syndrome baby?
Firstly: is he or is he not a full time Mr. Mom? I'm all in favor of Breadwinner Moms with full-time Daddy husbands -- but I think that this is NOT the case with the Palin's. It seems that Todd was working full time as an oil worker (which means he was literally GONE for two weeks out of every four), and then spent a lengthy summer vacation (two months? sweet!) doing commercial fishing in Bristol Bay. Frankly, the First Dude of Alaska wasn't home enough to be anybody's "full time house husband".
The Palin's not only have an infant with special needs, but their youngest daughter is 7. That means when her mom was elected governor two years ago, she was FIVE. I assume a five year old was not running around the house entirely unsupervised, for two weeks out of every four while her daddy was up in the wilds maintaining oil pipelines?
How can we wonder "how did teenage Bristol get pregnant?" when it seems like both of her parent's were either absent or working super-demanding jobs? I haven't heard any mention of a live-in nanny, or child care, or even babysitters.
Did Todd Palin really quit both his jobs to care for little handicapped Trig? Seriously? Did anybody call his employer and check this out? When did he quit -- when Trig was born, or when his wife was tapped for the GOP ticket? If it was just two weeks ago, then who the heck was caring for a tiny, special needs infant? Was Sarah Palin really breastfeeding and pumping milk? That's not such a difficult thing to ascertain. Is she going to continue pumping while on the campaign trail? Really? Because that's quite remarkable, if true.
Why hasn't Todd Palin come forward to say something about how he's combined his responsiblities of being First Spouse of Alaska (in most states, the Governor lives in the Capital, and there is a lot of public entertaining, important guests, etc.) AND working the oil pipeline AND commercial fishery AND Iron Dog snowmobile racing -- gee, I am getting tired just thinking about it -- oh AND being a full-time Mr. Mom. Because if any ONE HUMAN BEING, male or female, can do all of that, I'm impressed -- and I want to hear about it.
What does he have to say about how, as a stay-at-home dad, he has raised THREE GIRLS? What did he tell them about Purity Balls and Love Waits, and saving yourself for marriage? What standards has he held up for them? Was his daughter Bristol too worried or intimidated or ashamed to tell him she was sexually active and required contraception? What are his views on contraception? Did he tell his daughters that "condoms don't work", and that BC was a kind of abortion?
How happy is Todd to see his daughter getting married at seventeen? (The Palin's themselves married in their mid-twenties, and at least Sarah had a college degree.) What does he think about Levi? If they are getting married, why wait until your daughter is as big as a COW, so everyone can see she's knocked up -- instead of a discreet civil ceremony as soon as the test stick turned blue? What exactly are the blessed couple waiting for? The Inaugural Ball?
BTW: Todd Palin did not earn less than Sarah Palin, he made close to $100K a year as an oil worker, plus whatever he brought in from fishing or snowmobile races. The Governor of Alaska only earns about $100k -- it's a small state. From what I have read, he was the primary breadwinner up until she was elected in 2007, and even then they were co-equal earners. In most families like that that I know personally, two big-time professionals use a LOT of child-care, cleaning services, babysitters, etc. Their kids are not being raised "magically".
I'd also like to hear Mr. Palin tell us about his membership in an organization that advocates the secession of Alaska from the United States, what his wife said when she spoke at this organization and if he still belongs, or still feels that Alaska is a separate country -- or if he even feels he is really a fellow citizen of the United States. I think those are fair, relevant questions for someone who could possibly be the spouse of a future President....for the very reason that YES, First Ladies and/or First Dudes DO consult/talk/advise their husbands/wives and that is perfectly normal and reasonable.
We are talking about a possible future leader, whose life partner, co-parent and adviser hates the United States so much that he wants to seceed from it, and form his own nation. Last I read in history class, some years back we fought a BIG WAR over this...so yes, I think that is a problem!
