Friday, November 21, 2008
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Unwed Motherhood Reaches the Halls of Congress
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Posted by:
Carol Platt Liebau at
12:03 PM
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California congresswoman Linda Sanchez has announced that she will become Congress' first unwed mother.
First, kudos to Sanchez, for -- of course -- not aborting the baby (it's a sad commentary that such congratulations are even necessary). From the linked story, however, it seems that she deliberately became pregnant out of wedlock; this wasn't an "accident" in any way, shape or form.
That, to me, is a sign of complete and utter irresponsibility. Since the dawn of time, single women have become pregnant accidentally. It's only in modern times that society has decided that it's A-OK for them to try to do so, even without any formal commitment (to them or their babies) from their children's fathers. While in some cases that may work just fine for the women themselves, it's not so great for the children who are deprived of a father who's been willing to make a commitment to them and their mother.
What's more, Sanchez is a highly visible Latina, who may well serve as a role model for many young girls, especially in her community. Interestingly, she insists that this is a "teachable moment" for them, presumably to learn when it's ok to become a single mother (!) and when it's not. Here's what she had to say:
I'm established in my life. I have a career. I'm financially stable. I have a loving, committed partner.
If the "partner" is so "loving" and "committed" -- why isn't he willing to put a ring on her finger and promise to love and cherish her 'til death they do part? And if he's not, is that really the kind of father she wants for her baby?
Apparently, Sanchez's "partner" told the press:
We have the rest of our lives to get engaged and married -- we don't have the rest of our lives' for Sanchez to become pregnant.
Given the ease and speed with which one can arrange to be married by a priest and/or at City Hall, it really doesn't take that much effort to tie the knot . . . at least for those who actually want to do it.
The moral obtuseness of the entire undertaking is unfortunate -- and unworthy of the example that a woman who'd like to portray herself as a groundbreaking congresswoman should be setting.
In some circumstances, single motherhood is the only option for a woman and her baby, and those women (and, of course, their children) are entitled to our compassion and concern. But to see it treated as simply another "lifestyle alternative" when it would be not only possible -- but easy -- to give the child a stable family with a married mother and father is profoundly regrettable.
Update And, by the way, this has nothing to do with the media "trashing" of Bristol Palin. In contrast to Sanchez, who seems to believe that what she's chosen to do is just great, everyone from the right to the left agreed that Bristol's situation -- a young girl who became pregnant out of wedlock -- was suboptimal, including her parents. What's more, Bristol Palin and her baby's father have implicitly acknowledged the importance of a family headed by married parents by announcing definite plans to wed, unlike Congresswoman Sanchez and her "partner." (In fact, Miss Palin sets a standard in that regard that the congresswoman should heed.)
It's easy for some among us piously to insist that no one should "judge" Bristol Palin or Congresswoman Sanchez. But there was no need to clarify standards of behavior in Bristol's case, as she and her parents already themselves recognized that, despite the fact that every baby is a blessing, Bristol's situation (and the behavior that led up to it) was unfortunate. In contrast, Congresswoman Sanchez just doesn't seem to get it.
Finally, it's easy to pretend that one has the high ground by insisting that no one has any right to express an opinion about others' sexual behavior. The problem with that "hands off" approach is that it ultimately results in the eradication of any standards, with the field being ceded to the most licentious among us. And in the end, who suffers? "The children," that group supposedly so beloved by the left.
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This discussion is simply redolent with right-wing hypocrisy.
Aren't you conservative supposed to revere freedom?
So why shouldn't this woman exercise her right to have a child? Why do you dolts accuse her of immorality because she didn't feel it necessary to legalize her relationship with a piece of paper?
Perhaps, like millions of other people, Sanchez disregards the pious hypocrisy of the sex-hating but pedophile-ridden Catholic Church. If so, good for her. You self-appointed arbiters of other people's morality should have such courage.
>sex outside of marriage is a sin in the >Christian faith.
Where does it say that? And why should anyone give a rat's arse what was scribbled 1,500 years ago by religious zealots so ignorant of reality they didn't even know how human reproduction occurs?
>Linda Sanchez . . . rejects Christian and
>Roman Catholic morality, so I doubt that
>she is doing any repenting. She's proud.
If she has truly rejected religious delusion and hypocrisy, she has reason to be proud. More power to her.
-Stephen
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There IS a difference: one of them is supposed to be an adult and set the example for others...
oh. looks like she DID. |
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You took the word right out of my mouth. |
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in California.......
Uncle Arnie has a plan that covers everyone....
even as that policy is bankrupting the Golden State........... |
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If Bristol gets divorced, then she'll be like Linda Sanchez (divorced). |
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With her looks and age, Linda Sanchez must have been desperate; maybe even holding a gun HIS head?
Funny what people will do to be famous. First unmarried Congress woman to give birh while in office no less? You youngsters paying attention? Wonder what sister Loretta thinks about all this? |
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I think it's a bad idea to get married just because you get pregnant. $50 those 2 (Bristol & Levi)are divorced within 5 years. |
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Umm...I think there's a pretty big difference between a 17 year old high school student not being ready to raise a child, and a successful, financially stable woman choosing to have children and not get married. |
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but knowing Sanchez is sexually active outside of marriage diminishes her standing in my view. It speaks loudly of low standards, putting selfishness above the needs of children soon-to-be-born. Its wrong on so many levels and either she has no self-respect or she has no morals. I hope she gives the child up for adoption to a married mom and dad who have higher standards of behavior. |
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Shannon, it's obvious from the statements of Linda Sanchez and her lover that Linda was trying to get pregnant now. So it is a perfect situation in their eyes. Nothing stopped them from going to Vegas and getting married.
Also, Patrick identified himself as a follower of Christ, and sex outside of marriage is a sin in the Christian faith. Hence the believer's need to repent. Linda Sanchez, on the other hand, rejects Christian and Roman Catholic morality, so I doubt that she is doing any repenting. She's proud. |
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Sorry for the typos. This is a touchy subject for my family and the headline pissed me off.
I believe that had Linda Sanchez not announced it, it would have been taken that she was hiding her pregnancy and ashamed of it. She made the right move by announcing it before it was leaked out. This is obviously not the "perfect" situation to bring a child into, but life is seldom a "perfect" situation.
Patrick, ALL CAPS DUDE. If a child is a gift from God, and I think it is, then why does she have to beg for forgivness? |
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I thought that Bristol Palin is the one who is pregnant. Not Willow ... |
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LIFE IS THE FOUNDATION TO LIVING. I PRAY THAT GOD BLESS YOU AND THE LIFE THAT IS IN YOUR WOMB. NOW THIS IS FROM A CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN ABSTAINER FOR CHRIST, I AM 43 YEARS OLD. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR WHAT YOU CALL AN UNINTENTIONAL PREGNANCY, YOU HAD TO FORNICATE TO GET PREGNANT. I PRAY YOU REPENT TO GOD AND FORGIVE YOURSELF, YOU HAVE NOT OR YOU WOULD NOT CALL IT UNINTENTIONAL. EVERYTIME A MAN AND WOMAN FORNICATE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PREGNANCY. GOG BLESS YOU AGAIN AND PLEASE DO THE WILL OF GOD. |
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How is it "dusgusting" for Americans to discuss Democrat Linda Sanchez's pregnancy? She proudly announced it and believes that she is a role model. (Honestly, there was no reason to announce it now--she's so chubby that no one would have guessed yet.) |
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I found it dusgusting when the media trashed Willow Palin and I find it disgusting discussing Linda Sanchez. Stick to political issues and get your nosey noses out of peoples lives. It's articles like this that turn regular folks away from the conservative side. Perhaps you think you have some moral high ground on this issue? There is no such thing, honey.
That line about him not putting a ring on her finger, that's where you lost me. Perhaps you haven't figured it out yet, but a ring is not all us women strive for in life anymore. |
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Sanchez's Wikipedia bio states that she is a Roman Catholic. Has Catholic teaching on fornication changed? |
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Sarah Palin was berated for not teaching her daughter not to get pregnant out of weblock. Apparently, with the different standards of the leftist illuminati make this case one to celebrate. Regardless of if it was planned, this woman looks very irresponsible. |
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Sigh. There would be no Linda Sanchez in Congress if not for Loretta Sanchez, and I think that there were some questionable ballots the first time that Loretta got elected.
I believe that Linda, who is divorced, represents Lakewood, California, home of the infamous Spur Posse. Linda and Loretta are all about being Latinas, but they don't seem to date Latinos. Odd. Or not.
Their brother and his girlfriend died recently in a nighttime boating accident between Long Beach and Catalina Island.
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i'm taking up smoking too because it is glamorous as well.
(i'm being sarcastic, honey) |
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Willow Palin got; nowhere near it.
And Scarlet Pimpernickle...glamorous?! Yeah you would think that! Liberal scum is ruining the whole dammmed world!!!!! |
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hopefully, girls everywhere will look up to her. She sets a great example and it is good for a stable society. |
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...Indeed, not aborting her baby is admirable.
But, nobody gets pregnant "accidentally". It may occur UNINTENTIONALLY for a couple, but the behavior for getting pregnant intentionally or otherwise is identical.
Secondly, claiming to be a "single mother" while also claiming to have a "committed partner" makes the "single mother" claim false. She may be unmarried, but she's not a single mom if the father is involved the way she claims.
The reality of all this, who cares? For democrats it's resume' enhancement. For republicans it's political suicide. For conservatives it's a sidetrack - it should not be among our priorities at present. |
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Sarah Palin was berated for assuming that she would be able to handle the rigors of the office of Vice President while simultaneously attempting to raise a special needs child.
Apparently Congress people don't "do too much"... |
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