Stephanie S. Cordle/Associated Press
Posted on 07/25/2004 6:18:45 AM PDT by Pharmboy
Stephanie S. Cordle/Associated Press
Jenna Bush, campaigning for her father last week, makes an unintended
splash.
WASHINGTON — Well, that was a fine how-do-you do. This was supposed to be the new Jenna Bush. Fresh out of college, ready to shed the "Jenna and Tonic'' image she earned as a partying undergraduate, she posed for Vogue in a couture gown and declared an interest in working with charter schools. It was all a prelude to becoming a public figure at 22 and heading out on the campaign trail for Dear Old Dad.
Then last week she stuck out her tongue at reporters and photographers. The pictures whizzed around the globe.
The first and perhaps only rule for children campaigning for their parents may be this: Do no harm. It is a rule that is almost impossible to violate, because merely by being on stage, most children transform their parent-candidates into softer human beings.
And in fact, Ms. Bush's poke of her tongue at the media may not have done her father any harm. She probably inspired cries of "You go, girl!'' from supporters who think the president should stick his tongue out at the media once in awhile anyway.
But her off-message gesture may also have reminded voters of her father's reputation as a frat-boy prankster, which may not be the image that his campaign wants to rekindle in a time of the war on terror.
Conan O'Brien on NBC's "Late Night" put it this way: "President Bush was so furious at Jenna's childish behavior that he called her a doodie head.''
But consider this. Perhaps the point of sending Ms. Bush out on the trail was not so much to suggest that their spirited days were over but to counter the all-out display of child power on the other side.
Senator John Kerry's two grown daughters have been campaigning with him for months and will address the Democratic National Convention in Boston on Thursday when he accepts the presidential nomination. Vanessa, 27, is a third-year medical student at Harvard. Alexandra, 30, is a filmmaker (who set tongues wagging at Cannes in May when she wore an off-the-shoulder black dress that, under the camera flashes, appeared to be see-through). They are often joined on the trail by two of the adult sons of his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry.
When the Kerry and Heinz pictures include the young children of Senator John Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, they round out what Doug Wead, a former aide to both Presidents Bush and author of "All The President's Children,'' calls "the Brady Bunch factor.''
He said that the merged family and the addition of young children created an appealing tableau to which a lot of Americans could relate.
"With this Brady Bunch arrangement, you have so much to identify with,'' he said. "You've got serious, you've got reclusive, the brunette, the blonde. There's a character in this vast narrative for each voter to identify with, and hopefully that draws you into the message.''
Children can also serve as primary sources, telling stories that make the candidates real to ordinary people. The Bush twins, Jenna and Barbara, held an online chat on Friday and assured their questioners that their father was a man of his word.
"If he says he is going to do something, he will do it,'' the twins wrote. "When we were kids, if dad said he was going to come to one of our soccer games, he would be there!"
Sometimes, children do become a lightning rod for criticism. Vice President Dick Cheney's two daughters both hold formal positions in his campaign. Liz, 37, just had her fourth child and is expected to become a presence on the trail. But Mary, 35, is a lesbian who works behind the scenes and has become a target of gay activists, who have tried to pressure her into opposing President Bush's proposed ban on same-sex marriage.
Yet another presidential child will be on the stage this year. In a coup for Democrats, Ronald Reagan Jr. is to speak at the Democratic convention on the topic of stem-cell research.
By speaking at the convention, Mr. Wead said, Mr. Reagan may overcome that albatross of all presidential children and establish his own identity, separate from that of his parents.
Of course, in the politicking, political children only solidify their identities with their parents because their association is the reason that voters take an interest in them in the first place.
In any event, Mr. Wead said it was unlikely that children could sway an election. But they can enhance or hinder a candidate's image.
"And in a close election,'' he said, ''everything counts.''
i am about to leave for churh,so i won't comment in a manner which is un-christian.
the times and liberal rags are not suited to wrap trash in.henceforth i don't buy any of them.
after the election,i vote that fr becomes a place that this trash cannot even be posted.
Know thy enemies...and what did Don Corleone say? "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."
You wrote:"And that identity would be what? A mediocre ballet dancer, a failed radio DJ, an ignored presidential offspring? Go ahead Ronnie, give it your best shot because this is the very last time anyone is going to see you on TV.
Did you forget he is a regular commentator for the AKC Dog Shows??? Very impressive resume.......(NOT)
There is no way a pretty, fresh face can hurt Mr. Bush. Clinton as dragging around an ugly fresh face during his race, and he won. "For a five year old..." Are you upset just because your kids aren't pretty?
Gee, those weren't Alexandra's ta-tas after all? Go figure.
I have a 13 year old who is, IMHO, the most beautiful girl in the world. But she knows better that to stick out her tongue at anyone.
Then last week she stuck out her tongue at reporters and photographers. The pictures whizzed around the globe.
Oh my, no bias here, is there? Jenna Bush sticking her tongue out is nasty and not something the President's daughter should do, but Ron Reagan trashing his Dad's legacy at the opposing party's national convention is 'coming into his own identity'. what a load of horse hockey!
The writer's suggestion is ridiculous. Nvertheless, Jenna is old enough to know better.
I think her behaviour is cute.. I'm kind of partial to this kind of thing though, seeing it all the time in my 2 daughters. This girl seems quite normal to me. She ain't no politician, that's for sure. Not yet.
Excellent point about Ron Jr.
Oh, TELL me this is a parody.
Blaspheme Jesus Christ, no big deal.
Tear downt he Commander in Chief in wartime, wonderful expression of free speech.
But STICK OUT your TONGUE... at the PRESS?!! Armageddon!
I'd love to spring for a hot, steaming cup of Get-the-he11-over-yourselves for the entire media, if I could.
Dan
I agree - I don't think it's too much to ask that the twins conduct themselves appropriately if they want to campaign with their father - or even when not with their father.
If you feel like it:
Corrections: nytnews@nytimes.com
Public Editor DanielOkrent: public@nytimes.com
Gee I guess I wont vote for Bush now because Jenna stuck out her tongue at a bunch of A hole reporters....not! (does this writer think that people will actually vote for Kerry over this??)
"Could it be that Webster is Chelsea's daddy?"
I always thought it was Janet Reno.
A whole article inspired by this one picture? Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. This writer needs a sedative. Roll over Mrs. Kravitz!
Yes, since I and everyone else who looked at that picture saw the woman's near nude body through the dress, I'd say it "appeared" to be see through.
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