Former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin has a few things in common with Governor Sarah Palin. Marin was mayor of a small town. She was named miss congeniality at a beauty pageant. And she has a child with Down Syndrome.
What do you think about John McCain’s vice presidential pick Sarah Palin?
I love her. If I could do cartwheels, I would. I just think she’s awesome. I’m very excited. My child is 23-years-old and her baby is six-months-old. So I just think that she herself her person her persona is able to communicate and relate to so many working mothers, career professionals, political professionals in trying to balance life. And I think that we have no better example of the working woman the working professional woman who somewhere somehow by the grace of God is able to manage all of that. And I think that many women across the United States like me say ‘Wow, if she can do it so can we.’
Can you tell me what it’s like to raise a child with Down Syndrome?
There’s a difference between her and me. I did not know that my child was going to have Down. It was my first child, hers is her last child and she knew that her child was going to have Down Syndrome. The pain is no less the same still because regardless you are expecting a different child not this one. Yet you love this one, this is yours your flesh and blood, you love him and you don’t see the Down Syndrome. The difference is she knew and yet you know she made the right choice, she chose to keep this baby, just when it would be so easy not to when it would be very understanding by many people. The fact that she chose to keep this child I think speaks volumes. Not better, not worse, just volumes about a woman.
I think that you have to live your faith. Here’s a woman who has lived her faith in a very crystallized way. I mean it’s very clear this is a woman of faith and she chooses to live her faith and all her decisions are founded in her faith. I remember when I thought I was going to lose it because he had many different medical problems. That I talked to God, yelled and scream at him because I said, ‘Please don’t take him.’
After my first child I got pregnant and had a miscarriage. And that was very difficult, very, very difficult. I got pregnant a third time, and fortunately the baby was born and she’s now at Columbia University and she wants to be a civil engineer. But I also know how many other women have chosen a different decision for them. And because I have a special relationship with God, I believe that that decision, whatever it is, it’s a decision between that woman and her God, I cannot impose upon somebody my own beliefs, my own philosophy. But I do tell people pray a lot and the right decision will come. And what is right for you is what is right for you.
What do you think about the McCain-Palin ticket?
Fabulous. Absolutely brilliant. You know I just think that there is so much more to offer and I think there are so many women who would see themselves reflected on her. I think it will change the debate.
Were you as excited about the ticket before Palin was chosen?
I trust McCain’s judgment. The best thing about us is we have excellent choices. I mean Mitt Romney was wonderful, Governor Pawlenty was awesome and certainly Sarah Palin is just fabulous.
