13 Apr Ann Romney Has Never Worked – For a Paycheck
Ann Romney (Photo credit: Gage Skidmore)
Hilary Rosen should be apologizing for what she didn’t say – not for what she did.
I once met Mitt Romney at a fundraiser I was invited to by a friend of mine who has always been involved in his campaigns. I had attended many political events but this one was unlike any I had been to before. The difference? I was one of four women in a room full of more than 200 people. It was startling. When more than 50% of voters are women, why was his campaign ignoring them?
And now here we are, years later, in a debate about Mitt’s wife, Ann Romney, and Democrats are tripping over themselves to apologize and make amends for a misworded statement made by one of their strategists, Hilary Rosen. The foot-in-mouth Democrat has apologized for saying, “Ann Romney has never worked a day in her life.” She should be apologizing for the words she omitted at the end of the sentence: “Ann Romney has never worked a day in her life FOR A PAYCHECK.”
I have worked with thousands of working moms and I am deeply concerned about what is unfolding. Would we be in this debate if Hilary Rosen had added “for a paycheck” to the end of this sentence? I hope not. Because Rosen’s point was about whether Ann Romney can be Mitt’s eyes and ears for working families when she has never experienced the challenges of working in a job and momming at the same time.
More than 70% of moms work – for a paycheck. Most moms have to work – they have no “choice.” Choice is for a privileged few. Working families are struggling right now – with debt, with childcare, with education. The list is endless. Is a woman who raised five kids and never held a job outside of her home really a stong voice for working families?
How could she be? I have no doubt that Ann Romney is and was a terrific mom and that she worked hard to be one. I have no doubt that Ann Romney is and was a devoted wife. I have no doubt that Ann Romney is committed to helping her husband win his race. But I doubt – and you should too – that Ann Romney will have a real understanding of working families’ issues.
If you don’t agree, I ask you: Would it be acceptable to have an economic advisor who had never worked in economics? How about a chef who had never cooked? This is Ann Romney. She understands the families part but not the working for a paycheck part. There I said it. You should too.
Samantha Ettus is a bestselling author, media personality and speaker, passionate about helping working moms to design a successful and happy lifestyle. Connect with her at samantha@samanthaettus.com or @samanthaettus.
To read this article on Forbes, please click here.
Samantha Ettus is a bestselling author & corporate speaker. The Pie Life: A Guilt-Free Recipe for Success and Satisfaction will be released in September.
