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Suleman finally agreed to a face-to-face interview with NBC's Today Show anchor, Ann Curry. NBC was the first to land an interview with the "Octomom," boosting their ratings for their exclusive interview.
Former President George Bush initiated the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships while in office, and our current President, Barack Obama, is expanding on it.
Obama wants to continue giving to faith-based charities; however, the President expressed his feelings for America as a whole, as he said there would be no favor given to one religious group over another, or even favor between religious groups and secular groups.
Four priorities of the White House regarding this issue are listed on the L.A. Times website.
Obama also spoke on his own faith while addressing the members of a prayer breakfast. He said his own parents' beliefs contradict his Christian faith. His dad was a Muslim who became an atheist and his mother was skeptical of any organized religious practices. "When I moved to the South Side of Chicago after college, ...God's Spirit beckoned me," Obama mentioned at the breakfast.
To see footage from the Presidential Prayer Breakfast, view the L.A. Times Video Clip
America's most sought-after mom finds herself weighing up the offers given to her regarding the birth of her octuplets on January 26th. The single-mom, Nadya Suleman, wants to tell her story, and has already been approached by hundreds of people wanting interviews. Others have even offered Suleman a spot as the host of a new television series on parenting.
The L.A. Times reports the mother of 14 asking for $2 million for her story; however, as NBC’s Today Show reports, financial gain "was not her intention" and there is no question that she has "always wanted to be a mom."
This has many up in arms about the situation, considering that she still lives in her parents’ three-bedroom house in Whittier, CA. Is she an unfit mother trying to make a living off of her own children?
What remains more frustrating for some is that media giants such as Oprah and Dr. Phil tend to chase after stories like these, and if Suleman’s intentions are to take advantage of the free publicity, she will have thousands of angry people dishing out their opposition.
My concern is that a large network such as TLC will sign the 33-year-old mother and broadcast another one of their “unusual but normal” family reality shows. Jon & Kate Plus 8 remains at the top of the network’s most watched shows, but it does seem plausible that a family of 14 could easily over take their popularity.
Certain ethical issues are put to question with this case as well. Although Suleman’s fertility doctor’s name was not released, his judgment for the situation is still uncertain, as it is uncommon to plant so many embryos in a women, especially at her age of 33. Other factors contributing to the situation are her six other children, as well as her choice to not reduce the number of embryos implanted, as it may have posed a serious health risk to her and her children.
Finally, what makes America so interested in this story? Does this woman’s obsession with children allow us to become obsessed with her? And does it seem that her story is simply for her own self-gain, or is there a genuine love and desire for each of her 14 children? Leave you comments!
