Why do so many of the statements politicians and entertainers are making about Trump’s latest debacle begin with “As a parent, I’m not okay with these comments”? If you didn’t have kids, would his disrespect for everyone but himself bother you at all? Since I don’t have kids, am I supposed to be okay with Trump treating all people as disposable garbage and treating women as useless except as pleasure devices for men? Why mention being a parent at all? What does that have to do with the issue at hand? Is the only reason you care about our country or the horrible things people say to each other that you don’t want your kid to be treated that way? Well, I don’t want ANYONE to be treated that way.

This isn’t a criticism of people who love their kids and put their kids’ interests first. Many people I love are parents or will probably become parents some day. It just seems like such a weird angle to take on this topic that has nothing to do with being a parent. I don’t start unrelated public statements with “As a cat-owner,” or “As a mathematician,” or “As a person with a doctorate degree.” Those are all important parts of my self-identity, but they’re rarely relevant to the conversation at hand.