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John McCain Adopted One Of His Children From BangladeshI just read yesterday that The McCains adopted one of their children (a daughter) from Bangladesh and that was the first I had heard of it. Of course as a parent through adoption I found it interesting (not that it would sway my vote-just cool as a fellow adoptive parent). I think this interview may be a few months old but here’s part of it. He talks about what led up to them adopting her and also transracial adoption. There’s a picture that follows, which may be a few years…I believe she’s a teenager now. McCain: Well it was primarily my wife’s Cindy’s idea. She was in Bangladesh and she and some of the medical personnel visited Mother Theresa’s orphanage to try and help the children there. There were two little baby girls there. One had a heart problem the other a severe cleft palate. Cindy was very concerned about their ability to survive and their need for medical treatment, so she decided to bring them here for medical treatment. She fell in love with both of them. We decided to adopt Bridget. Two close friends of ours, adopted Mickey, the other child. Dadmag: During your campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination Bridget became something of an issue in South Carolina didn’t she? McCain: Yeah. There were some pretty vile and hurtful things said during the South Carolina primary. It’s a really nasty side of politics. We tried to ignore it and I think we shielded her from it. It’s just unfortunate that that sort of thing still exists As you know she’s Bengali, and very dark skinned. A lot of phone calls were made by people who said we should be very ashamed about her, about the color of her skin. Thousands and thousands of calls from people to voters saying “You know the McCains have a black baby” I believe that there is a special place in hell for people like those. Dadmag: That must have made you pretty angry? McCain: Yes, except that you have to consider the kind of people who do it. Getting angry doesn’t serve any useful purpose. But the calls increased my zeal for winning. (laughs) Dadmag: There are an awful lot of African American children who could be adopted, but there are those who object, including African American organizations which have a policy against interracial adoption. McCain: I see that barrier more and more breaking down. I think we are making great progress. We just need to make a lot more progress. Dadmag: You had to go through an extraordinary process to adopt Bridget. A very intrusive process by the bureaucrats. They came to your home and rifled through your drawers. According to what I’ve read, adoption agency officials even asked about your sex life. McCain: They were very intrusive. Unfortunately it is a disincentive to some parents because it’s so much easier to go overseas. And that leaves us, in this country, with thousands of children who want parents and thousands of parents who want children. One of the goals I’ve had for a long time is to try to encourage a much less convoluted process in order for parents to adopt a child. Dadmag: Is this necessary or is it just the bureaucracy gone a little mad? McCain: A little of both. They want to make sure that those who want to adopt are fit to do so. I think sometimes bureaucrats stretch it out for fear of getting in trouble or getting something wrong. And I also think that there are state laws, probably the result of some bad things having taken place, that are legislative overreactions. I just wish that every state would review their laws concerning the process of adoption, to expedite it but at the same time protect the child.
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Statements like this:
“there are those who object, including African American organizations which have a policy against interracial adoption.”
drive me nuts. Except for the 1972 NABSW document, which was later changed, I don’t know of any “organizations” which have a “policy” against transracial adoption. In fact, the MEPA of 1992 made such “policies” illegal.
This kind of lazy tossing around of hearsay is bad journalism and it hurts adoption–especially transracial adoption. It’s miseducating the public. It’s also not a little bit racist. It is always tossed out by white people as a way of implying that it is Black people’s fault that white people don’t adopt Black children–a claim to “reverse racism.”
Which is all just hooey. White people don’t adopt Black children because they don’t want Black children. That’s where the racism lies. If they wanted to, MEPA would make it more than possible for white parents to adopt every available kid out of foster limbo tomorrow.
Shannons last blog post..Library Thing it Is
I didn’t know this about him.
AllisonKs last blog post..Enthusiatic pioneer
I have two different sets of friends who are African American and tried to adopt from China. One set was denied by China after homestudies etc. said they were on track, and the other was told by an agency that it was unlikely for them to adopt from China even though they make over 100,000 a year, own a home, run a successful business etc. BTW we are white, and have two adopted African American children, and we do run in to people who think we shouldn’t have adopted them and have no problem letting us know it.
this is a side of McCain I was totally ignorant of. I begin to see him in a more humane shape. McCain president!!!!
There’s a difference between individuals disapproving and organizations having policies.
Shannons last blog post..Dies Irae
Thank God for a man who is willing to speak out about adoption! I hope he can make things easier for people trying to adopt both domestically and internationally.
I won’t be voting for McCain, but I absolutely applaud him for adopting and speaking out in favor of adoption. I didn’t know that about him - very cool.
I’m horrified, though, to hear he got THOUSANDS of calls telling him he should be ashamed of his daughter because she is dark-skinned. How awful!
I believe that there is a special place in hell for people like those.
No doubt. What makes me laugh is those very same people must be horrified right now - their only choices for president are a black man or a man with a black daughter.
Snafu Suzs last blog post..Diaper Debacle
Thank you SO much for sharing this!
I had no idea that the McCain’s had adopted a child. It’s refreshing to see someone in the political spotlight that’s btdt, and that actually agrees with other adoptive parents that the adoption process needs to change.
This article sure is something that won’t be mentioned on most news shows or daily papers.