It caught me off guard, but in a good way.  With a lot of talk about Palin as a parent it really brought to light Biden's struggles and triumphs as a parent.  He said he has passion, and in that moment I saw true passion.

I hate judging what opinion would be if Palin cried. But I think in all honesty it would probably fall along party lines.  Hilliary fell not only along party lines, but the seperation in her own party.

~Susan                                                                                                                   

http://lilmomthatcould.com/

It touched my heart when Joe got teary about his family too and for so many reasons but I do second a lot of your references. I think Palin wouldn't have gotten away with tears so easily but that's because of the stereotype of females being teary and not being able to step up to the plate like men without having their emotions involved. As much as I hate to bring race up, Barack or any black VP would not get away with speaking the way Palin did with the slangs and that, he/she would be referred to as not properly educated or whatever, but that's because of the stereotype associated with it.

I think it's the same judgement principle here.

Temi

In fact, I would have liked to have seen just a bit of emotion when she talked about her kids.   She was rough around the edges but I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that she held her own with a fair amount of aplomb.

Yes I was moved by Joe's tears.  But, I was equally put off by his stand on gay marriage. 

Overall?  I was pretty much bored by the whole thing.

 Always in trouble...

I think real emotion is real emotion and Biden seemed real.  He was speaking from an authentic place.  He raised his two sons and came close to losing one of them.  Sarah Palin was able to use and draw upon her experience as a mother during the debate; Joe Biden was doing the same.  

JC

http://www.storyrhyme.com/jcsblog

I loved it. Loved it, loved it, loved it. I watch my husband, who is as much of (if not more of) a nurturer than I am, struggle every day because men are not supposed to be as emotionally tied to their children as women are. And for what purpose? I was glad to see that emotion - we don't need a plastic robot in the White House, we need a human that is emotionally AND intellectually connected with the world around them.

As for the "what would happen if Palin had teared up" question - truthfully, it wouldn't have been tolerated in the mainstream. Eventually I hope that emotion will be seen as equally admirable and strong in men and women, but I don't see that happening in my lifetime?

See more of my thoughts on Palin as a politician and a woman. I'd love to hear what you have to say:

http://jess-sanders.blogspot.com/2008/10/why-you-want-sarah-palin-to-lose-this.html

In any way, apparently. She was judged regardless of what she did or said, didn't do or say, and in the interest of keeping the focus on the present I won't go into that. But by the time she cried, she was done in.

Biden has not received that critical mass of criticism. Plus, it's kinda hard to be tough on a guy for crying when remembering his dead wife and child. It was a different - arguably much deeper - topic than what drove Hillary to tears, and as many have said, seemed utterly genuine, which I think contributes to the reaction here. 

The reaction to Clinton and Palin SOLELY related to their gender has
been quite different, so I can't say what people would say if Palin
cried. Given the congratulations she receives just for not screwing up royally, I'd say it would be much kinder than Clinton's backlash. 

Regardless of gender, I'd personally rather have a genuine emotional response (she brought up families - he just took the response where it made sense for him to go) than lame cliches like "say it ain't so, Joe," and awkward shout-outs to school kids. If that's "big girl panties" (oh how I hate that phrase, as if there were any other kind) I'm clearly wearing the wrong ones. 

Laurie

Can't believe Hillary was slapped for being human. I liked her way more in that video than in all those power talk moments. But I guess if she was not appreciated for stuff like this, then she needed to go powertalk on us. I guess the US is not ready for strong powerful women. 

 ------

Webdesigner, SEO specialist for small Dutch businesses. I'm interested in spirituality, religion, spiritual growth, buddhism etc.

Websites:

http://www.katinkahesselink.net/ and http://www.allconsidering.com/

Once again I think my history determined my reaction.  I remember when the accident happened (I'm w/in a few years of Biden in age) and how desperately sad it was.  I remember too seeing the senator often on Amtrack as he made his daily journey back and forth.  I also remember, when covering the Atlanta convention, waiting with the senator for a camera crew that was (very very) late.  He had his kids with him.  It was late.  They hadn't had dinner.  Yet the boys waited patiently, joking around with their dad and acting like kids, but good kids.  I always remembered that because it's the kind of thing you can't fake; kids aren't going to behave so effortlessly unless there's genuine decent child rearing behind it.

SO when I saw Biden "tear up" I wasn't surprised.  He was a primary parent for a long time and experienced all the tugs and pulls that role entails.  I think that rather than comparing this moment to Hillary, we might want to consider that his reaction was one of an engaged parent who had faced great tragedy - and the emotions that emerged were those that any very connected parent of either gender would reveal.

Cynthia Samuels, PartnerCobblestone Associates, LLPBlog and Media Strategies and Content Development Online and on Television   

Don’tGel Too Soon

When he teared up, I teared up.  Especially as he spoke of decisions we have to make sitting around the kitchen table...MRI vs. another semester vs. nothing.  This (I believe) was after the initial tearing and you know that he had to make some tough decisions around his family's misfortune.  I teared up because it directly mirrored our situation.

I felt more in touch with him for it.  Sometimes men tearing up show that they are more human and 'touchable' and I think it needed to happen and I also believe that he didn't do any damage with it; and it was completely sincere.

After, I found myself asking the same question...what if she did that?  The reality is that she would have looked weak...unfortunately.  Women should be able to show the same emotion in the same situation, but everyone is looking for that, ready to say a woman can't do the job because of emotionality.  That's a shame. 

~Mia.

My blog is General Hysteria~

Given that she's running on her relatability to the average person, I think that she would get "a pass" (as if anyone needs permission to have human emotions) if she teared up. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think her supporters like her for being "a real woman" that they see themselves in or what they wish they could be. Plus, the media is on her case for her lack of knowledge on the issues, and they acknowledge that she's running as your next door neighbor. Your next door neighbor likely isn't qualified to be VPOTUS whether he or she cries or not.

As for me, I think she'd soften me up a little by showing some real emotions as opposed to glib winks, folksy comments, and little jokes. She's George W. Bush right down to how she mispronounces "nuclear."

Suzanne Reisman, Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants

to be critical of palin for how she pronounces nuclear or this or that is a little much.

if
you listen to obama without his trusty teleprompter, he stutters at
times. if you listened to biden last night, he had trouble a couple of
times spitting out words.

all candidates make gaffes, miscues,
etc. and sometimes just because they don't sound like you or me,
doesn't mean they are wrong. 

Is Palin ever going to get a break?  Give her credit for doing a great job.  What I hear is "She did better, BUT...." and sadly, women are judging her the hardest. They both did a great job reaching out to the people, but it seems Biden is the only one getting the great reviews.  Look, I hear how people are fed up with the politicians in Washington and how we want change, but we have a here a candidate that IS DIFFERENT.  She spoke to me as an American not a politician, but yet, what I'm hearing is "She's doesn't know enough about politics to be Vice President".What I still don't understand is how is voting for one side over the other going to effect my family?  If Obama is elected, how is his increase tax going to affect my family's budget? We're probably doing better than the average American, but we're not rich. We're not suffering, but we don't live in luxury either.  We work hard, we SAVE and we don't live beyond our means. I'm afraid that with Obama's tax increase, my family will no longer have enough extra to save for our rainy day.Now, I don't want America to be ruled another 4 years like the way the Bush administration has and the democrats are saying that McCain IS Bush and they blame him for the corruption in Washington,  but is it fair to blame McCain for Bush's incompetency just because McCain is a republican?  Now I consider myself more republican, but I still voted democrat in the last 2 terms. 

Women are critical of Sarah Palin because so much is at stake.

And possibly because she was sold to us as a replacement for Hillary, which she clearly is not. In doing so, McCain played women for stupid, and we do not want her up there proving his point.

NCMommy - from everything I've read Obama's tax proposals will not affect you unless your family makes over $250,000 a year.

 -Lisse

@ Home in the World

But what exactly does Palin say??? She has got to be one of the greatest 'talking heads' ever produced. Lots and lots of patriotic rhetoric, but don't ask her to spell out any answers to the actually questions...sorry I can't help it, I agree with Nordette..."Glib" is the absolute defining term  for Sarah Palin, and sorry again... I just don't like her, because; As a woman, as a mom (with major kid challenges of my own!) as a  worker outside my home, as someone who has 'sat around the kitchen table' to discuss finacial matters, as a career person, and as someone who has made many personal sacrifices of myself and my time, I feel no way to relate to Sarah Palin at all. To me, everything she says seems rehearsed and artificial. Had she cried, she probably would have gotten the 'girls can't cry' drill, but let's face it folks, it's SOOOO not her style now, is it?

The bar was set pretty low, so she exceeded the expectations of most.  I thought she did okay, but she stuck to her script.  And to NCMommy, I don't mean any disrespect, but I think she's gotten many breaks from her supporters.  

I think Joe Biden did a much better job of laying out the case for his ticket.  I thought he was especially effective when speaking about the costly war in Iraq and explaining where our military efforts really need to be (not there). He also showed a firm grasp of the role of the VP and underscored the fact that his years of experience in the Senate will serve him well (as well as his ability to work with those on the other side of the aisle).

The down home act didn't cut it with me and my (and others) aversion to the way she says (nu-ku-lar) is probably due to the fact that that's the way GW has been saying it for eight years.

I'm a mom, but I'm not a hockey mom, so that doesn't play with me.  I don't relate.  And I don't want to be lumped in with Joe Six Pack nor do I want him (or her) running my country.  

http://www.storyrhyme.com/jcsblog

I felt for Joe Biden when he choked up, perhaps because I remember reading about him and his family right after he was elected, then reading about the horrific accident that killed his wife and daughter just a few weeks later. In my mind, I can still see the big smiling family picture. If I remember correctly, he was only 29. So I have no trouble believing that his feelings were genuine last night. And if Gov. Palin had gone through a similar tragedy of suddenly losing a spouse and one child, and almost losing the remaining children, then having to parent them alone for years while you shouldered the most demanding job you've had up to that point, I would not hold it against her if the memory brought her to the brink of tears. It would strike me as completely reasonable.

For the record, I wasn't among those who thought Hillary was faking her tears, either, although it wouldn't have mattered to me whether she was or not. 

As to the question of whether there is a double standard for women in politics, of course there is.

Kim
BlogHer Contributing Editor

Do you people even realize the pack of lies you have been handed by the democrats? Obama is proposing one trillion dollars in increases in govt. spending. We are bailing out Wall Street by the tune of 700million which we do not have!!! We are borrowing this money from banks to give to other banks who may or may not pay us back. WTF are we going to come up with one trillion dollars for extra spending when we don't even have 700 million. Wake up do you guys have a pulse. Obama fully intends to tax not only those who make 250,000 or more but those who earn way less than this. This is not fair. Many of us are paying out of pocket tuition for children with special needs to the tune of 200,000 and we have depleted our 401k's. Forget about taking a nose dive-we have no 401k to nosedive with. Ladies, you really all have to start analyzing the facts. The fact is we are all going to pay unmercifully for Obama and Biden's increases. Say Hello To Poverty, Say Hello MY Baby!!

I don't care who tears up. I don't think it is worth it to sit around wondering what wouldhave happened if Palin teared up. I think watching the debate for content,and seeing who answered the questions well enough to be our next VP, a stones throw away from the presidency ,is what is important.

..but I believe if Palin had spoken about some aspect of parenting her children or some family tragedy and she teared up it would have been okay just like it was okay and touched our hearts when Biden did it. Tears in public are fine, even for women. I have to disagree with alot of you others though. The public was hard on Hillary and for the most part rejected her humaness if you will, because of why and when she shed those tears. Hillary spoke of campaign difficulties and weariness when she cried. America doesn't want to see someone who steps up and goes to battle crying about how hard it is. Do that in private please. (And that is not my personal opinion, I was okay with the tears). Hillary has projected herself as tough and a "anything a man can do I can do better" type of woman for years. And we all 'know' those women do not cry or sweat or slip or stumble or do anything real people do. They are too tough and so strong ! She set herself up for that slap unfortunately. If Hillary had shed those very same tears for love of life or family or concern for her child or children in general she would have touched our hearts too and been given a pass.

Even though that it touched me that he did choke up - he is human - he is a parent - the same as me - the media would have destroyed Palin like they did Clinton when she teared up - its so sad that the media has determined everything for us now - they attack Palin for padding her bra in a beauty contest many years ago - they attack her for her child cheating on a test in school - they do not go after Biden on the incident about the shots like they did Clinton - its a biased and paid for group of old boys that have the intention of not only telling us there are weapons of mass destruction, but who our next President should be and we will like it. NOT.

Do women realize that women are the ones that are not allowing women to succeed - the petty little comments does not help any womans cause regardless if she is running for President, VP, Senate, House of Rep --

If you look at all the States where BO is winning - he is way ahead of McCain with WOMEN - McCain is ahead with Men - and the women have the voting advantage -

Who cares about she pronounces nuclear - let me hear some of you pronounce Louisville for me - do you say Louieville, do you say, Louis ville - you pronounce from the section of this country where you are raised - whats the deal - is this all that anyone can find wrong with a person??

Look at the issues before you attack - and I personally do not care for either Obama or McCain - like Biden and Palin better - just saying that we women have better start shaping up and quit blaming the men for our problems - when we are our own worse enemies.

Wouldn't people have soundly criticized him if he had called Her "Sarah" and been coy and flippant? I was not impressed with her cutesy delivery and lack of seriousness about the actual questions that were being asked.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

 What I saw was a women who was clearly inept at answering substantively the hard questions, but whom the male media pundits did not criticize post debate for that total ineptitude.

Had Hilary put on such a performance she would have been cremated by the media, and though Hilary was never my candidate I wondered at this fact post debate.

After reading Lowry's paragrah in the National Review I kind of got it, though it disgusted me in a way.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NDYzMGFiNjQ0MWRjNmI0ZTlkYjgwZTE...

So, I wonder at the question like the one asked in the original post, and I wonder why so very few are discussing the sexism which actually allowed her to get a pass on such an abysmal performance.

cooper

Well, I remember when the media AND women tore Hillary up when she had a bad moment - that was NOT pretty what everyone said.

As for Biden, he may never totally be over what happened to him and his son and wife.  I feel sorry for him there.

Over all though, I think Palin did well standing up against a man with alot of experience at debates.  Palin is only the 2nd woman in history to be on a Presidential ticket.  What does that say about our government?  Biased in my opinion.  Women are so harsh against other women!

Hey, I bet money before the debate the Joe would cry.  He's so predictable.  I'm just not sure if he was tearing up about his family or because it had been a few hours since his last shot of booze and he had withdrawals.  Ah well, another thing we'll never know about Bo n` Joe.

Well, no one can take it away from Palin that she will be in the history books!!  I think women in general should be proud that there were 2 women this year that made stepping stones for all of us - not just a party - but for women.  Be kind and try to be more objective.  I watched the debate 3 times - I didn't have to go to a newspaper to know the results.  I've been around for a long time - facts are facts!!