Then palin jr is qualified to be governor?

and she can (not) dance too.

YAY! for women's right to publicly display their range and/or lack of intellects.

So, I suppose that we will have to vote (in the future) for the 'better mother'??!

To the author: Is it "during" or "in" a cycle?

To Pat of Boston: Michelle Obama's daughters are crazy about her and that makes her a good mother????? I know many women whose daughters (or sons) are crazy about them and they are terrible mothers. Get real. As for Fallin, she's a wonderful candidate (the best one in my opinion) but she dropped the ball on this one. While it's true that experience in dealing with children -and childishness - will certainly help prepare you for life in politics, it's not really something to put on your resume.

So, I suppose that we will have to vote (in the future) for the 'better mother'??!

To the author: Is it "during" or "in" a cycle?

I find it funny that Palin would banter about "man up"... she was the one all bent out of shape with "Lipstick on a Pig"

Having kids hardly assures us that you are better qualified to run a state. I suppose if we wanted to take her claim seriously and examine her kids to judge just what kind of job she did, that would be indignantly declared out of bounds. Should we hear about why she is not still on her first marriage (is that really family success?) and judge that, too?

Don't vote for a candidate who can't use brain before opening mouth.

It's become were we're all pretty much voting for the lesser of 2 evils. Haven't seen many that I think are downright independent thinkers, most repeat the party line cause of the purse strings attached. As a wise thinker once said, follow the money.

We are voting for Jari because of her strenths and accomplishments...

not because of Mary's (possible) shortcomings and weaknesses.

Because, after Nov 2 we will need to work together.

Be careful wishing for an educated population if you have a conservative bent.

In the 2008 presidential election, all ten of the bottom ten states for lowest percentage of the population with a bachelors degree or higher voted republican. Nine of the top ten voted democrat.

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/education/educational_attainment.html

ccc

So depressing that the dialogue about America's role in the 21st Century has to include the far right's gaggle of half-insane, uneducated, but very loud women, who've pretty much failed at everything they've tried. While I don't have unqualified love and admiration for most public figures, everything in life is better with decent manners and rational, comprehensible use of the English language.

The ability to breed isn't a mark of character. Being a mother doesn't make anyone special. There are many terrible mothers, and let's not forget that lady rats can have incredibly large litters. If you're an ignorant, obnoxious, drama-prone human being, you're going to bring all that magic to parenthood, whether you're male or female.

Eight years with a spoiled, dopey rich boy and his sponsors all but ruined this country. I don't welcome even eight seconds under the influence of an overwrought woman who would have been terrorizing her neighbors in simpler times.

Popping out a baby doesn't mean you can run a state government.

Be careful wishing for an educated population if you have a conservative bent.

In the 2008 presidential election, all ten of the bottom ten states for lowest percentage of the population with a bachelors degree or higher voted republican. Nine of the top ten voted democrat.

So.

If ya really look, Obama and many of those Democrates were moderates....

You never said how "conservative" or if you want to play ball with the FARRRRR Right Neo-Cons.

Motherhood as a qualification for office? Where's a barf bag when you really need one!!!

There is nothing more insulting to single women and those who do not have children (either through choice or biology) than someone saying that they are better qualified for ANYTHING based on the ability to carry a fetus and produce offspring. Bully for you. There are many people who are mothers and are absolute monsters. Some are murderers and mass murders. Some are crack heads. Some rob banks. Some cash bad checks. Some drive drunk. They might love their kids and they might even raise a decent child, but they might be sociopaths. And then let's talk about those mothers who kill their offspring or beat and otherwise abuse them. Let's talk about the people who bring children into the world and raise them badly. Sure - some people are mothers and they are alright. Some are great people. It's impossible to judge in many cases because we really don't know what has happened behind the closed doors of someone claiming to be a great mom - maybe she is responsible for raising great kids - or maybe they succeeded in spite of her. There are also plenty of people who do not have children and are great at almost anything that they do. Any animal can bear offspring. What separates us from them is that we are able to do all sorts of things with our lives - with or without children.

I hate it when this stuff appears in business or politics.

"Oh, but he's a good family man". What does that have to do with their qualifications for the job. I don't care if his junk works.

I think any candidate who utters "man up" should be instantly disqualified.

I find it strange that candidates consider it a good quality that if elected they will have to juggle their responsibilities as a mother and as a representative of their constituents. To me, the ideal congressman or woman IS single, so that they can be fully involved in their work. This doesn't mean that a person in a relationship or a person with kids does poorer work than someone without those ties, because that would be silly, but for a candidate to say that she is better qualified because she is the mother of six kids is ludicrous.

First let me say I live in Oklahoma. I agree that both candidates are qualified, however I believe one is more in touch with the average Oklahoman. I believe one candidate has been more involved in the day to day business of the state. That would be Jari Askins. Yes she is a single woman, but what does that have to do with the price of eggs in China let alone her ability to govern. Motherhood is not the issue here. Both of these women face some serious challenges no matter who takes office. The last two year the budgets of state agencies have been cut anywhere from 18% to 21% and the budget cutting isn't over with yet. Oklahoma will see another year of revenue shortfall. By state law the new Governor will have to balance the budget. I see anywhere from 8% to 11% budget cuts coming in the future and that will mean the start of layoffs instead of monthly furloughs. This is because there's no more TARP money coming and the Legislature has pretty much exhausted the state's "rainy day" fund. What I want to know from these ladies is this; how are you going to attract new businesses? How are you going to lower unemployment? How are you going to improve common education? How are you going to increase revenue streams for the state. It really doesn't matter to me if either one is married or has children. It boils down to who do you think has the better qualifications and who is really in touch with problems this state is experiencing.

Having six children qualifies you as nuts. Being a mother is about as much qualification for governor as being a great organizer did for president. Look where that got us.

This has been the worst election cycle in my life. Win at all costs, lie, unfounded personal attacks, more lies lies lies, All talk no policy.

How far we have fallen. Sick! We deserve what we get.

Well----OK politics are not Okay with me--but it's theirs. You guys can play college ball but you're crap in your politics. You guys think not kicking the family dog when you pass em is a Liberal trait.

This article is a waste of internet space. MSNBC needs to focus on reporting real news for a change, and not a biased load of crap. Some people are better off not being parents, at least for the child's sake.

I am just glad we have the Internet between us, lol. Talk about anger and fear, we have become almost if not the most divided nation in the world, I think we are screwed and we did it to ourselves.

I can't believe nobody else thinks this is a cheap sleazy Republican Tea Party way of calling your opponent gay without calling her gay(and yes, be proud, that's exactly who and what your party is today)????? Seems obvious to me...