Kinda political, but mostly just snarky.

[mrkelley23]

Two women:

One has multiple children in the public eye. One of her children has apparently major mental health issues, and another is a teen mother at 17. Mom proclaims herself to be a strong proponent of family values, even going so far as to announce (and then withdraw) the release of a book about her parenting philosophy. She is laughed out of town, at least figuratively speaking.

The second also has multiple children in the public eye. One of her children has major physical challenges, and another will be a teen mother at 17. Mom proclaims herself to be a strong proponent of family values, even going so far as to identify that as a major plank of her political platform. She is lauded as a heroine to mothers and strong women everywhere.

The first is Lynne Spears. The second is Sarah Palin. The major difference is that the Spears children are in the public eye of their own accord, while the Palin children are there because their mother has put them there.

I'm not upset with Sarah Palin. If she believes she can be the fantastic Mom she apparently has been for many years while still running for (and being) vice-president of the United States, more power to her. I still say that a women who has run a home with multiple children in it has more executive experience than any politician.

What I don't get is why Lynne Spears is so vilified by comparison.

[sunflower]

Two women:

One has multiple children in the public eye. One of her children has apparently major mental health issues, and another is a teen mother at 17. Mom proclaims herself to be a strong proponent of family values, even going so far as to announce (and then withdraw) the release of a book about her parenting philosophy. She is laughed out of town, at least figuratively speaking.

The second also has multiple children in the public eye. One of her children has major physical challenges, and another will be a teen mother at 17. Mom proclaims herself to be a strong proponent of family values, even going so far as to identify that as a major plank of her political platform. She is lauded as a heroine to mothers and strong women everywhere.

The first is Lynne Spears. The second is Sarah Palin. The major difference is that the Spears children are in the public eye of their own accord, while the Palin children are there because their mother has put them there.

I'm not upset with Sarah Palin. If she believes she can be the fantastic Mom she apparently has been for many years while still running for (and being) vice-president of the United States, more power to her. I still say that a women who has run a home with multiple children in it has more executive experience than any politician.

What I don't get is why Lynne Spears is so vilified by comparison.

Okay, I have stayed away from most of the political stuff but this one I have to comment on.

There is a HUGE difference. You say that the Spears kids are in the spotlight of their own accord. That might be true TODAY. But when Britney was 6 or whatever when she started in show business, her mother put her there. And pushed her and pushed her some more. Jaime Lynn was also started at a young age. Maybe those kids wanted to be there but I'm sure they also want to eat cake for every meal and never sleep...at that age you can't make such life decisions, your parents guide (or in this case push) you.

I think Lynne Spears is a horrible mother. I won't say all the other nasty things I want to say because it's really not relevant and just makes me look snarky. Let's just say I'd use trailer as an adjective. I think she pushed her kids in the spotlight so that she could live a certain lifestyle from their earnings. I think she saw her kids in trouble - or should have, it's worse if she didn't see it - and ignored it until it was too late.

Kudos to Papa Spears who saved the day and finally acted like a parent to those kids.

There is no comparison between a mother who is a successful politician and who tries to be a good parent, who seemingly makes decisions for the good of her family...with a mother who appears to be greedy and shallow and who ignores the well being of her children for her own personal gain.

Even kids who are raised well make bad choices. You can believe in family values and do the right thing every day, but in the end there are no guarantees. I really hope that you do not blame every "bad" thing children do on their parents. I don't blame Lynne Spears for what her kids did - I blame her though for setting a bad example and not trying to help her kids once they were in trouble. Sarah Palin, on the other hand, appears to have set a good example and is doing the right thing for her child in trouble - supporting her, loving her and showing her that mistakes can be forgiven. Everyone should show so much grace in a situation that contradicts their values so significantly.

That all being said, I am a Democrat. I am just a fair Democrat who would like this election to be about issues and not children, spouses, hair styles or any other nonsense. That is all.

[Sir_Galahad]

Two women:

One has multiple children in the public eye. One of her children has apparently major mental health issues, and another is a teen mother at 17. Mom proclaims herself to be a strong proponent of family values, even going so far as to announce (and then withdraw) the release of a book about her parenting philosophy. She is laughed out of town, at least figuratively speaking.

The second also has multiple children in the public eye. One of her children has major physical challenges, and another will be a teen mother at 17. Mom proclaims herself to be a strong proponent of family values, even going so far as to identify that as a major plank of her political platform. She is lauded as a heroine to mothers and strong women everywhere.

The first is Lynne Spears. The second is Sarah Palin. The major difference is that the Spears children are in the public eye of their own accord, while the Palin children are there because their mother has put them there.

I'm not upset with Sarah Palin. If she believes she can be the fantastic Mom she apparently has been for many years while still running for (and being) vice-president of the United States, more power to her. I still say that a women who has run a home with multiple children in it has more executive experience than any politician.

What I don't get is why Lynne Spears is so vilified by comparison.

Oooh, good question MrK. Allow me to offer my warped 2c. And, I might add, I am looking at the situations from a completely unbiased prospective.

In the case of Lynne Spears, her mentally challenged daughter is that way, IMO, as a direct result of her own actions. Since I don't know about the history of the mother's relationship with that daughter in her early years (pushed to stardom too early) I can't speak to that. If however, her illness is a direct result of the mother's push then I can see from whence the vilification cometh. If this is the case, the younger daughter's problems only piles onto this issue.

In the case of Sarah Palin, the mentally challenged youngster is, by no means, that way by anyone's choice. The only choice here was her decision to proceed with the birth; something that being commended and questioned (mostly by the liberal media types in the latter). As far as her pregnant 17-year is concerned this is, IMO, something that can happen to anybody that chooses to pursue those relationships. Parents can preach as much as they want to their kids about pre-marital sex. Sometimes it takes, sometimes (or I should say, most times) it does not. I do not feel that is any reflection on the mom. Kids are stupid (not all mind you, lest I be flamed for that statement). Having raised a few of them, I can certainly attest to this.

[Beebs52]

Two women:

One has multiple children in the public eye. One of her children has apparently major mental health issues, and another is a teen mother at 17. Mom proclaims herself to be a strong proponent of family values, even going so far as to announce (and then withdraw) the release of a book about her parenting philosophy. She is laughed out of town, at least figuratively speaking.

The second also has multiple children in the public eye. One of her children has major physical challenges, and another will be a teen mother at 17. Mom proclaims herself to be a strong proponent of family values, even going so far as to identify that as a major plank of her political platform. She is lauded as a heroine to mothers and strong women everywhere.

The first is Lynne Spears. The second is Sarah Palin. The major difference is that the Spears children are in the public eye of their own accord, while the Palin children are there because their mother has put them there.

I'm not upset with Sarah Palin. If she believes she can be the fantastic Mom she apparently has been for many years while still running for (and being) vice-president of the United States, more power to her. I still say that a women who has run a home with multiple children in it has more executive experience than any politician.

What I don't get is why Lynne Spears is so vilified by comparison.

Once again, this is a supreme example of TRULY snarky passive aggressiveness.

I know I'm repeating following posts, but, um, whoring your kids out to make a living in Hollywood to satisfy some sort of unfullfilled fantasy that you are unable to complete isn't QUITE the same as running for political office with a family that happens to have some challenging issues.

If you think there's a comparison between the Spears' family and Palin's family I'm just flabbergasted.

Lynne Spears would make lotsa money on a "Mom" book. I might as well write a "Mom" book. I wouldn't have the gall or hubris or disgusting belief that I'm qualified to do so, but I think, at least, I've had the intelligence to not sell my kids to Disney or whomever when they were wee for big bucks.

This is just a stupid post. Stupid.

I also don't recall Sarah Palin calling herself a "super mom".

[Beebs52]

And, Mr. K, you know I hold you in high esteem. I think you're quite brilliant, so I am not calling you stupid.

But, I've made many stupid posts during my tenure on the bored, and I know stupid.

Okay, I'll rephrase it. Irresponsible.

Just so you know this is not an attack on you as a person.

[mrkelley23]

I guess the nice thing about being passive/aggressive is that you never realize when you're being passive/aggressive. And I'm not a psych-anything, so I don't even recognize it when I see it. I obviously have the wrong idea of it in my head, because I don't see it in my post above at all.

It may be a stupid post. But I would like to point out a few things about the responses.

Sunflower: I don't know Lynne Spears. She may be the most brutal stage mom ever, who pushed her kids to the brink of collapse because of her own unfulfilled dreams. But I can't say either way, because I don't know her, haven't seen any stories about her, don't have any personal experience at all with her. And I'm pretty sure, unless there's a whole lot I don't know about the person who vilified Ms. Spears, that she doesn't either. There are several assumptions made in those couple of paragraphs that may or may not be justified. So why are the other assumptions unjustified?

For all we know both mothers have been good parents, tried to make decisions for the good of the family, and had good values. "Appearances" can be somewhat deceiving, especially once the publicity machine gets cranking. And I truly don't want this to be about Sarah Palin. But anyone who can lambaste Lynne Spears for pushing her kids into the spotlight, but lionize Sarah Palin for doing the exact same thing, EVEN if the motivations are entirely different, is not seeing my point.

Sirge: I for one, even with my limited knowledge and experience with psychology and psychiatry, would be willing to go out on a limb and say that mental illness cannot be "caused" by another person's actions. Now it may be that Britney is really not mentally ill, and just has maturity issues. I truly don't know. But if she IS bipolar, that simply cannot be her mother's fault. And since I don't want this series of posts to be seen as critical of Gov. Palin, I won't even comment on that part of it.

Beebs: I knew this would be a flameworthy post, and I don't take things personally. I agree it may be a stupid comparison. But I don't see it that way. Once again I ask, do you know of a personal certainty that Lynne Spears whored her children out in any way, literally or figuratively? If Lynne Spears' motivation is money and her own unfulfilled dreams, why didn't she go ahead and release the book on parenting? You know someone would have published, and you as much as admit she would have made a pile of money off of it. The "stage mother" aspect of her parenting came with getting her child cast on the Mickey Mouse Club, fercryinoutloud. From there it became a snowball effect, but I have a strong suspicion (now I'm the one making possibly unfounded assumptions) that it was driven by the Disney publicity machine. Look at what they're doing now to Vanessa Hudgens and Miley Cyrus.

Bottom line: To me, if a kid is pushed, they're pushed. It doesn't matter to me if the Mom is a bottle-blond with a low IQ, or a smart woman in tailored suits. It doesn't matter to me if the pushing is to put the kid in front, to trade on their talents, or to drag them along on your own publicity ride. And once more, please see this as more of a defense of Lynne Spears, and not so much an attack on Sarah Palin. You always have the choice to say, "No, thanks. I don't think that would be good for my family."

[silvercamaro]

Mr. Kelley, I seriously doubt this was your intent, but I see a reverberation in your post of what I sincerely believe was somebody's nefarious plan, whether authorized by the opponent's campaign or otherwise: "Let's make the lives of Sarah Palin's kids miserable. Maybe she'll start crying and quit the race -- and, if she doesn't, we can blast her for being a bad mother to put her children through all this."

[mrkelley23]

Maybe so -- but I have to tell you that my wife, and many of the women in her social circle, are MUCH more upset than I am about the Palin candidacy.

I don't think it's a nefarious plot. I think it's an honest reaction by a lot of people, trying to put themselves in her place. And yes, I'm 100% positive that my reaction is colored by my wife's. I was near shocked to hear her comments. And, not that it's necessarily relevant, she was a strong Hillary supporter.

[Beebs52]

Maybe so -- but I have to tell you that my wife, and many of the women in her social circle, are MUCH more upset than I am about the Palin candidacy.

I don't think it's a nefarious plot. I think it's an honest reaction by a lot of people, trying to put themselves in her place. And yes, I'm 100% positive that my reaction is colored by my wife's. I was near shocked to hear her comments. And, not that it's necessarily relevant, she was a strong Hillary supporter.

I assume you saw my "not stupid" post.

There is no possible correlation between your principals, Britney/Lynne/Sarah/Bristol, that could ever, ever pass anyone's litmus test/ph test/discussion test.

It's , sorry, stupid. As in you have to be on drugs/drink/meds/basic flipping out about someone you don't like test.

Not to pass judgment on anyone making the judgment, but, I'm sorry, I think you and yours are really wrong.

And, I wonder why y'all think this.

[marrymeflyfree]

Kudos to Papa Spears who saved the day and finally acted like a parent to those kids.

I saw a recent quote of Britney's. She said something like, "My dad gave up his job and his life to save me at a time when I wasn't sure I wanted saving..."

That she said that speaks volumes to me about how far she has come in such a short time. Kudos to her, too.

[dimmzy]

Maybe so -- but I have to tell you that my wife, and many of the women in her social circle, are MUCH more upset than I am about the Palin candidacy.

I don't think it's a nefarious plot. I think it's an honest reaction by a lot of people, trying to put themselves in her place. And yes, I'm 100% positive that my reaction is colored by my wife's. I was near shocked to hear her comments. And, not that it's necessarily relevant, she was a strong Hillary supporter.

Absolutely. My stay-at-home mom friend said sadly to me, "I can't justify staying home any more. My husband said that if Sarah Palin could have a special needs INFANT and be VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES I should get off my lazy ass and get back to work. She even fired the cook."