Ann Romney drafted into new 'mommy wars' skirmish
Do we really have to refight the mommy wars? Ann Romney was a stay-at-home-mom with five boys, how does that not fit into the concept of 'work'?
Mitt Romney and Ann Romney at a campaign rally in Illinois March 20, 2012. She's been drafted into the 'mommy wars' for being a stay-at-home mom and not "working."
Steven Senne/AP
So, a day after we post about the end of the “mommy wars,” Ann Romney – wife of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney – and Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen prove us wrong.
During an interview on CNN yesterday, Ms. Rosen suggested to host Anderson Cooper that Ms. Romney should stay out of a growing campaign debate about the struggles of working women.
“Guess what, his wife has actually never worked in a day in her life,” Rosen said.
Sigh.
Really, Hilary? Do we have to play that way?
Politics aside, I think a number of the sleep-deprived, oatmeal-covered moms taking care of their kids might disagree about that whole “work” concept. (Oh wait, that’s me this morning.)
“I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys,” Romney responded quickly on Twitter – her debut on the social media site. “Believe me, it was hard work."
Five kids at home. I shudder.
Rosen has clarified her point. All she was saying, Rosen explained, was that Mitt Romney probably shouldn’t be using his wife as his guide to women’s economic problems.
“I’ve nothing against @AnnRomney,” she wrote on Twitter. “I just don’t want Mitt using her as an expert on women struggling $ to support their family. She isn’t.” And this: “When I said @AC360Ann Romney never worked I meant she never had to care for her kids AND earn a paycheck like MOST American women! #Truth”
Well, the political point might be a valid one to debate. (Not going there on this site.) But it would be kinda nice if we could stop throwing dirt and value judgments around on other moms – even in a presidential campaign.