Bill Maher Wants Palin and Bachmann To “Split MILF Vote” in 2012
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is a mother of five and a grandmother of one.
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-06) has 5 children of her own and has cared for 23 foster children over the years.
So what does any of that have to do with either woman’s ambition to run for President?
During an interview on CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight,” political comedian Bill Maher was asked which candidate he would choose – Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann – for President of the United States. As an answer, Maher said: “I’d hope Sarah Palin gets in [the Presidential race] so that they split the MILF vote.”
Both Sarah Palin and Congresswoman Bachmann have served as leaders in public office. Their qualifications for elected office should be judged by their merit as public servants.
And yet, Maher feels it necessary to attack them based on their gender and status as high-profile working moms. Funnily enough, Maher failed to comment on former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s five children, or former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Rick Santorum’s brood of seven.
To suggest the sexuality of any candidate should affect voting choice is entirely inappropriate, but to suggest that the sexuality of two strong, confident women should have any bearing on their political success or failure is degrading, demeaning, and just plain sexist. Furthermore, attacking two working mothers in this fashion not only serves as a slight on women, but further solidifies yet another barrier that women confront when running for public office.