Statement by Sarah Steelman on 'The Life of Julia' by the Obama-Biden campaign
May 4, 2012
Campaign Release
I've been watching the Obama campaign's rollout of "Julia," a character whose entire life tracks seamlessly with a series of government programs, from childhood until retirement. The idea is to show how President Obama's policies benefit Julia at every stage of life, and also projects what sort of hardships she would endure if Mitt Romney won the election. I find it offensive that these projected "hardships" are the lack of entitlement programs, or that anyone would extrapolate a future "negative" consequence resulting from Congress making fiscally responsible decisions. Pursuing the path towards fiscal responsibility and prosperity benefits all Americans, while expanding the size and scope of government cripples our economy and shackles future generations with debt. The debt borne by our children and grandchildren is real, while the Julia character was created by a campaign focused on the politics of division.
I am concerned that President Obama's ideal paradigm is one where women are tethered to government and are dependent for everything from birth control to small business loans. I believe women can do better, and are perfectly capable of managing their life choices without an entitlement program every step of the way. Clearly, the Julia narrative is a facet of the "war on women' that Democrats want to claim Republicans are waging, but it is really a blow against the American Dream that all men and women fight to achieve. I am insulted by the implication that Americans can't achieve milestones like attaining an education, beginning a career or launching a business, and securing their retirement without the help of government. What I'm hearing from Missouri families is people would be far better off with less government in their lives, along with lower taxes, less debt and a stronger economy.
Looking at the Julia narrative, it is apparent that Democrats really want to define people by their dependency on government, not by their inherent ability to achieve the American Dream on their own. I expect that most Americans will overwhelmingly reject Julia and the limitations she represents.