Do Republicans Vote For Moms, If They’re Not Named Sarah?
EmailYou know motherhood and apple pie? Well it turns out they may not be so all America after all. At least not if you’re a Republican voter thinking of electing a female candidate with young children.
A new poll by the non-partisan Pew Research Group, taken before Sarah Palin was nominated as John McCain’s Vice Presidential pick, shows that Republicans aren’t keen on voting for moms with young kid. Only 21% of Republicans said they were very likely to elect a hypothetical candidate who was the omther of school age children. Presented with exactly the same candidate’s profile but with the gender switched, 31% of Republicans said they’d voe for the dad of young kids.
Among Democrats, on the other hand, motherhood in office seems to be an asset. According to Pew’s poll, Democrats are more likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who is the mother of small children than support an identical candidate who is the father of small children (the mom got 33% – the dad only 24%).
Now this poll was taken in the summer. So, here’s the question – has Governor Palin changed those numbers? Has she made motherhood more or less attractive in a candidate among Republican voters?
What do you think?
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I think that looking at the number of kids a candidate has or doesn’t have qualifies or disqualifies them to be president or vice president…i think their tenacity, endurance, diligence, integrity, and proven track record in government, like Sarah Palin clearly has, qualifies them to run for president or vice president…..Its unbelievable liberals down play Barack Obamas inexperience and and cry out about Sarah Palins “inexperience” and how she has too much on her plate already….Barack has two small girls, and no one is crying about how he won’t be there for his daughters…the double standard is RIDICULOUS….
Posted by: ann bracer | October 9, 2008, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
I don’t mean to dis this study. However, the fact is that most Republicans would vote for a dancing poodle if it had an “R” behind its name.
Posted by: B. Bear | October 9, 2008, 6:50 pm 6:50 pm
B. Bear I am not a republican but I will be voting for them this year
Posted by: tigger | October 9, 2008, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
Given the fact that it has been lawyers and money changers that have gotten us into this mess I would vote for anyone who is neither. This of course means Joe and Barry. Q:(You do know how to tell when a lawyer is lying don’t you).
A:( they open their mouths).
Posted by: david | October 9, 2008, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
I am absolutely astounded that in today’s society that children have anything at all to do with politics. I am REALLY concerned about the economy, gas, taxes and I’m not sure that either candidate has the answers. What happens when congress gets into the mix and a stalemate or standoff between the congressional leaders and the president?? Blame game – the democrats say it is the republicans then the republicans say it was the democrats. Let’s find a way to do what is BEST for this county. I haven’t decided who I am voting for yet. Neither side has overly impressed me yet.
Posted by: Heather | October 10, 2008, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
To answer the question you have asked, and without polling random people in my community, I believe that true republicans vote republican irrespective of anything, intellegence, credentials, history, children,….! On the same note, true democrats, again, vote democrat irrespective of the same above qualities. I feel that it is this very behavior, ascribing to a certain political group, that has polarized the country and our officials. As I polled people during our last two elections, the results astounded me. The 2000 campaign respondents said they felt President Bush was very intelligent and was a good speaker despite the blatant mistakes. Respondents who voted for him during his second term only did so because of the war he created. The sentiment was that one could not change leadership during times of war. I was not able, during either of these elections to get anyone to describe any real issues that the nation was facing, other than the war.
I am terrified of how this current campaign has evolved. As I watch McCain/Palin support rallies, I see and hear extreme anger and racial hatred towards Obama. It seems not unlike fundamentalist/ terrorist mentality that we are fighting in Iraq. In my thought process, the kind of hatred and anger that I have heard, only leads to more polarization and violence. I cannot condone this type of behavior. I believed in McCain prior to witnessing these behaviors. NO LONGER!
I pray for adult thought and behaviors to prevail, no matter who wins.
Posted by: Debra | October 10, 2008, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm
When I poll the office, the term I hear most often used by women to describe Palin is “normal” and they are impressed by that. Also, when I talk to people who have met Barack Obama, they use exactly the same word.
Perhaps the question is, will Democrats or Republicans vote for normal candidates?
Women have a much higher hurdle to get over than motherhood: each other. As long as the highest value for women is personal territory, they will have a hard time breaking that glass ceiling because there will always be a group of women pushing their ladder sideways.
Posted by: len | October 14, 2008, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
Get the facts – Go to: http://www.atr.org/ and enter your 401K value to immediately see how the candidates plan effect your retirement.
Posted by: Economic Facts | October 18, 2008, 1:28 am 1:28 am