Democratic Primaries

demmiblue

(36,864 posts) Thu Mar 14, 2019, 02:23 PM Mar 2019

Beto O'Rourke has what many female candidates don't: a partner who takes the lead on child care

The newly minted presidential candidate says he “sometimes” helps with his kids.

Beto O’Rourke, the former Texas senatorial candidate who announced his run for president on Thursday, has three children. Sometimes, he even takes care of them.

The issue of his family came to the fore on Thursday when O’Rourke told a crowd that his wife, Amy Sanders O’Rourke, was raising their kids “sometimes with my help.”

Beto tells a coffee shop crowd that he just talked with his wife, Amy. “She is raising, sometimes with my help,” their three kids. Then says he’s running for president for his kids, and theirs.
— Matt Viser (@mviser) March 14, 2019

The comment, some said, was meant as self-deprecation and an acknowledgment of the hard work Amy O’Rourke did for their family. But despite his intentions, Beto O’Rourke revealed a fundamental inequality of American life: While men throughout history have been able to rely on their wives to provide child care while they fulfill their political ambitions, women have rarely been able to count on partners to do the same. And as New York Magazine writer Rebecca Traister pointed out, a woman who joked about being a part-time parent while on the campaign trail would be harshly criticized — and might find her political career over before it began.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/3/14/18265471/beto-orourke-president-vanity-fair-amy-sanders

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

18 replies

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Highlight:

Beto O'Rourke has what many female candidates don't: a partner who takes the lead on child care (Original Post) demmiblue Mar 2019 OP

Gillibrand has small kids RandySF Mar 2019 #1

So, society judges women differently than men. Society sucks, but that has nothing to do with Beto.. Shell_Seas Mar 2019 #2

I've seen many dads take over the child care RandySF Mar 2019 #3

You really allow others to influence you in that way? Tipperary Mar 2019 #4

My first pick on DU on March 14, 2019. Shell_Seas Mar 2019 #7

What a strange way to choose a candidate. demmiblue Mar 2019 #5

My first pick today, on DU. Shell_Seas Mar 2019 #6

. WeekiWater Mar 2019 #14

K and r. Tipperary Mar 2019 #8

So customerserviceguy Mar 2019 #9

Mommy again. Tipperary Mar 2019 #10

What specifically leads you to allege that? LanternWaste Mar 2019 #11

Huh? Tipperary Mar 2019 #12

Who are "my little friends" dear? Tipperary Mar 2019 #15

So true customerserviceguy Mar 2019 #18

His wife does very well for herself. WeekiWater Mar 2019 #13

Let's be honest a woman who said anything remotely like this would be roasted over the coals dsc Mar 2019 #16

I'd like him to do better. It's not hard. But I find someone who jokes about their privilege without WhiskeyGrinder Mar 2019 #17

RandySF

(58,897 posts)

1. Gillibrand has small kids

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 02:30 PM

Mar 2019

And nobody is writing about her parenting

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Shell_Seas

(3,334 posts)

2. So, society judges women differently than men. Society sucks, but that has nothing to do with Beto..

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 02:36 PM

Mar 2019

or the choices that his family made. There are a lot of problems with society, perceptions, and inequality, none of which were caused by Beto's joke this morning.

As the other of 4 and a die-hard feminist, I think the message of this article is a little off-base.

(P.S. I only changed my first choice this morning after seeing a sudden whip-lash of hate directed a Beto.)

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

RandySF

(58,897 posts)

3. I've seen many dads take over the child care

Reply to Shell_Seas (Reply #2)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 02:40 PM

Mar 2019

while their wives/significant others ran for office

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Tipperary

(6,930 posts)

4. You really allow others to influence you in that way?

Reply to Shell_Seas (Reply #2)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 02:42 PM

Mar 2019

I have seen others say similar things here. Cannot imagine letting others’ opinions influence me in that way.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

Shell_Seas

(3,334 posts)

7. My first pick on DU on March 14, 2019.

Reply to Tipperary (Reply #4)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 02:51 PM

Mar 2019

I always root for the underdog.

Yeesh, so serious. Debates haven't even happened yet.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

demmiblue

(36,864 posts)

5. What a strange way to choose a candidate.

Reply to Shell_Seas (Reply #2)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 02:42 PM

Mar 2019

As a feminist myself, I can appreciate the larger message of the article, and disregard the rest (eg. the whole Jack Kerouac crap was rather stupid).

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

Shell_Seas

(3,334 posts)

6. My first pick today, on DU.

Reply to demmiblue (Reply #5)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 02:49 PM

Mar 2019

We haven't even had debates yet.

Because then I will be able to make my first pick based on the best dressed. (I joke. )

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

WeekiWater

(3,259 posts)

14. .

Reply to Shell_Seas (Reply #2)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 03:45 PM

Mar 2019

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128722522

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Tipperary

(6,930 posts)

8. K and r.

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 02:52 PM

Mar 2019

Good article.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)

9. So

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 02:54 PM

Mar 2019

who was watching the kids when Beto went on his Southwest walkabout to get out of his funk?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Tipperary

(6,930 posts)

10. Mommy again.

Reply to customerserviceguy (Reply #9)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 03:19 PM

Mar 2019

My mother pulled that weight in my family too. Beto seems to take it for granted - that irks me.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)

11. What specifically leads you to allege that?

Reply to Tipperary (Reply #10)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 03:26 PM

Mar 2019

"Beto seems to take it for granted"
What specifically leads you to allege that?

(I'm guessing the responses you throw at the wall will be creative, but lacking an actual answer. It's consistent. We still miss your little friends, though!!!!)

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Tipperary

(6,930 posts)

12. Huh?

Reply to LanternWaste (Reply #11)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 03:37 PM

Mar 2019

WTH are you on about?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

Tipperary

(6,930 posts)

15. Who are "my little friends" dear?

Reply to LanternWaste (Reply #11)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 04:29 PM

Mar 2019

I am not part of any group here. So I assume you are implicating something. Speak up. Tell me what it is. I will wait here.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)

18. So true

Reply to Tipperary (Reply #10)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 09:58 PM

Mar 2019

Beto gets to wander the Southwest in search of a way to dispel his funk from losing to the nastiest asshole in the Senate, whose own party members would not miss him one little bit had he lost, and Beto gets by with a few "Yeah, I changed a few diapers" comments, and is well received by folks who actually share in child-raising responsibilitiies.

In my opinion, Beto is all sizzle, no steak.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

WeekiWater

(3,259 posts)

13. His wife does very well for herself.

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 03:44 PM

Mar 2019

Apparently, in picking husbands as well.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

dsc

(52,162 posts)

16. Let's be honest a woman who said anything remotely like this would be roasted over the coals

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 04:49 PM

Mar 2019

that said, it is slowly getting better. Nancy Pelosi had to wait for her daughter to be grown before she could run for Congress, at least women can run with small children.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,356 posts)

17. I'd like him to do better. It's not hard. But I find someone who jokes about their privilege without

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Thu Mar 14, 2019, 04:56 PM

Mar 2019

doing anything to dismantle it intensely discouraging.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

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