In April 2012, Ann Romney was spotlighted when Democratic commentator Hilary Rosen declared Romney to be unfit to address women's economic issues because as a stay-at-home mother, she had "never worked a day in her life". In response, Ann Romney issued her first tweet, saying "I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work." The following day Rosen said, "I apologize to Ann Romney and anyone else who was offended.

Rey - a political analyst on CNN said Mitt Romney’s wife isn’t qualified to comment on economic issues because she never worked a day in her life.  She was a stay at home.  Everyone got up in arms about that comment but in my own opinion that political analyst is right. 

Pam - What was Mitt Romney’s wife saying?

Rey:  I really don’t know what she said specifically.  

Pam:  I just think it is interesting.  We all have this idea of what a stay at home wife’s life is like.  But, you know that there are skills that are being used at home that people don’t take into consideration when they disparage stay at home wives.

Rey - But what kind of economic experience will she have coming from her background.  She has no connection to the life of the every day person.  She has a big bank balance that she has access too.  All she is managing is the emotional part of things but that isn’t the work of any economist.  

Pam - I know what you are saying is that because she comes from an affluent background, she has no connection to everyday people....

Rey - Honestly, she doesn’t have to make any kind of every day decision that ordinary people deal with.  We tend to forget that in a family -a major part of it is economical.  

Pam - don’t you think that you are making an assumption?

Rey -  You don’t get what I am saying.  Everyone on the surface of the planet know that people need income.  She has a family.  So she knows what it is like to feed a family.  Can she honestly speak to the fact that women are being underpaid or that in this country that you only get 6 months of maternity leave and only 6 weeks paid out of it?

 
Pam - So you are saying that the only person that can speak on this issue are people that have gone through it.

Rey - you see people are jumping down the throat of the political analyst.  The political analyst is saying that she does not have first hand experience.

Pam - hmm, are you sure it isn’t a gender issue.  How many people in that position have that experience?  

Rey - you see that’s the reason I say that as human beings we have double standards.  but you know ppl can accept Mr. Romney and criticize him, then why can’t she be criticized?

Pam - I do understand your point.  I think we are basically saying the same thing.  I do agree that if you are trying to ascend to a position of power,  you have to grow  a thick skin and you have to be open to being criticized but we have to ask what manner of criticism, is it fair and where is it coming from?   What you are describing seems unfair.  Because you are using her gender, placement and race as a reason and that sounds like discrimination to me.  Because, we see men - who are basically like she is and they hold positions of power and no one seems to say anything. 

Rey - We both know that a rich person is out of touch with everyone’s suffering. 

Listen to the rest of the pod.

So what are your thoughts?

Please note - these are just opinions of Reynaldo and Pamela Stitch.