It's a boy for Rep. Linda Sanchez

U.S. Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-Lakewood) has announced the birth of her son: Joaquin Sanchez Sullivan was born Wednesday, weighing 7 pounds, 14.6 ounces and was 20.6 inches long.

 “I couldn’t be happier,” the congresswoman said in a statement. Her husband, Jim Sullivan, added: “Linda and I have been blessed with a beautiful baby boy. Mother and baby are both healthy and happy. Joaquin’s arrival is a long-awaited welcome in our lives and we are richer because of it.”

Sanchez married Sullivan a few weeks ago.

The Times' Patt Morrison last year had some insights when Sanchez first announced her pregnancy:

Ordinarily, this would not make headlines, except to the Sanchez family and maybe in a newsletter to the 39th Congressional District in southeast L.A. County, which just elected her to her fourth term. It's no big deal nowadays when members of Congress give birth. The first was Mrs. Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, 35 years ago. What makes Sanchez's pregnancy news is that she is not married to the baby's father -- not yet, anyway. You're practically the first to know. Even her sister and fellow congresswoman, Loretta Sanchez, didn't know until a few days ago. The baby's father and Sanchez's "unofficially engaged" beau of a year and a half is Jim Sullivan, a government and PR consultant and the divorced father of three boys.

-- Shelby Grad

Comments

[Angelica]

This is wonderful news.

Sanchez has been an extraordinarily effective congressional leader, and I'm confident she'll be an excellent mother, too.

Best wishes.

[disappointed]

Linda should give this baby up for adoption or quit her job as a congresswomen. She has no time for this baby. And the father doesn't either since he has 3 sons of his own that he needs to spend time with.

Linda is a homewrecker and is abusing those poor boys by stealing time from their father for herself and her new baby.

She will probably hire an illegal alien nanny. What else is new!

Linda should offer the job to her sister Loretta who will soon be out of a job when Van Tran wins her congressional seat next year.

[Diane]

As a hispanic woman, I think Linda Sanchez should be ashamed of herself. Just yesterday CBS ran a headline that 40% of all babies born today are to unmarried women. Think about what that means for the future of our country and the world. For the first time in history nearly half of western civilization will be composed of people who grew up without the benefit or influence of a father. Get ready for the wild west and thank Linda Sanchez and Hollywood celebrities for making it look cool to their young constituents. Shame on you and everyone like you! You had a responsibility to be a role model, not a piece of trash.

[Lee Rivas]

Boy does this sound familiar. Knocked up by an older man? Make it okay and marry him right before the birth. Legitimize the child.

I'll ask the same thing I ask teenagers in similar circumstances--are you sure your doing the right thing?

Wish you the best...although I expected more from you.

[Ryker]

Gee, I wonder if "Diane" and "Disappointed" had the same feelings about Bristol Palin the abstinence spokesperson and unwed teenage mother. Ms. Sanchez on teh other hand is not unwed (Diane, I guess you missed this part "Sanchez married Sullivan a few weeks ago") and she is not a teen. Further, she has a job that pays well enough to hire a nanny.

[Happy for the Congresswoman]

She is my congressional representative and is one of the most committed legislators I know. I am so happy for her and know that her new perspective as a mom, will make her an even more compassionate and committed representative.

[Yolanda]

Why is this even a story? Sanchez is not Mother Teresa; I want to know who takes her place during the time she's been absent. Calls to her office are transferred in circular motion from one person to another, no discernible answers to anything! It is so typical of California legislators. They think they have a job for life with a pension and vacation and now, no doubt, 'bonding' time. While we constituents suffer the consequences of poor leadership and little representation. WHAT has Sanchez done for her constituents other than have a baby?

[Diane]

In response to Ryker...A pregnancy takes 9 months yet Linda and Jim decided to have a quickie marriage a few weeks before their child's birth. That speaks volumes about their commitment to each other. What were they doing for the other 81/2 months? I predict Jim will be out of there sooner rather than later (unless of course, she gets elected Senator or Governor or maybe gets appointed to the Supreme Court!) Now, regarding Bristol Palin...was she elected to serve a constituency in the United States? Did she decide to pursue a career as a leader in public life where she would stand as a role model to her constituents? Where is the comparison, Ryker? You did, however, make one brilliant point...Linda is not a teen, so why is she behaving like one? At 39 years of age, is she unaware that birth control is legal in the United States? If a 39 year old can't think ahead enough to use birth control with her old man...how can she expect a teenager to? Shame, shame...nothing but shame and embarassment, particularly for Hispanic women whom she has gravely disappointed. At least the Obama family is providing an excellent example for young African Americans everywhere.