Single Mother of 14 Faces Foreclosure

Okay...

This morning, I am on a radio interview for a Richmond, VA morning talk show. Now, I have been on the show before, and the host and I always have really good banter about foreclosure issues. He asked me on this morning to talk about President Obama's new foreclosure prevention plan, and I go in thinking I'm going to be giving details about the benefits of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan and an outline of the requirements.

But, no.

He starts by asking me if people like Angela Suleman are going to benefit from the plan - "irresponsible" people who do not deserve a bailout from the government.

Now, to be honest, as much as I follow foreclosure updates, I don't follow much else in regards to news. Too negative for me. I had heard some talk in the ether about this woman who just gave birth to octuplets when she already had 6 kids at home and no income to support all of these people, but I didn't pay much attention to it.

Now, I'm paying attention.

Apparently, the home in which she planned to raise this tribe of folks is in foreclosure - about $23,000 and 10 months behind on mortgage payments. The home is owned by her mother, and Angela has been residing there before and after the pregnancy. I have no idea what their financial situation is, or what arrangement she has with her mother to assist with the mortgage payments, but...

Is she kidding? Is she TRULY serious?

When I step up to defend the American homeowner, I sometimes get this kind of behavior thrown in my face by folks who see the homeowner as the base of the problem. Now, I'm not going to step DOWN from defending and supporting people who truly were misled and got in over their heads, but this is ridiculous. I'm too baffled to even be angry... and it truly isn't my job to judge. But I am trying to understand what, to me, looks like the textbook definition of irresponsibility - you have six children. Six YOUNG children. Instead of paying the mortgage on the place you are staying, you spend who knows how much money on fertility treatments, have EIGHT MORE CHILDREN, and now have to find a way to house an support all of these people that you brought into the world.

IS SHE SERIOUS? I mean... come on.