What is Work?

A couple weeks ago there was a big to-do about women and what constitutes work. Mitt Romney's  team got all riled up when someone associated with Obama suggested that staying at home and taking care of children is not work, in reference to Ann Romney. I think the outrage was mostly fake and ginned-up, but that's how campaigns work. But fine, we all agree that women (and men) staying home to take care of children is work.

Except Mitt Romney doesn't actually agree with that himself if you look at past statements. When talking about low income women, Mitt Romney actually thinks staying at home is not work, and that these same women should be forced to "work" in order to get welfare and to teach good "work" habits to their children.

Mitt Romney is a bad candidate. His positions are not at all consistent, even when not considering all the positions he has changed. But this actually points out a Republican inconsistency. Republicans want the woman's role in the home recognized and appreciated. Just not when it comes to low income women.

It is a shame that the press is more interested in fake controversies than in actually getting at fundamental issues like whether being at home is work and how that affects major policies like welfare reform. If pressed, Republicans cannot maintain this position and be consistent. If taking care of kids is work, than single low income mothers should be paid to stay home if they want to (welfare). If not, Republicans have to say that staying home is not work.

But our press corps won't push this. Instead, they'll cover every silly fake controversy and miss all the important issues. And Republicans (and sometimes Democrats) will continue to be allowed to be inconsistent. And policy and our debate will suffer.