It was Mort who started it. It was a typical Mort comment. Mara isn't very clever, she'll echo whatever anybody else says. Kristol was the one who changed the subject, but Fred turned it into a general criticism on families in public life.
Anyone not watching CSPAN just missed one of best moments of the night -- WOW! Esther Jungreis -- I will have to remember that name.
You talk about changing directiion on the fly. This was a gem.
Meanwhile, the communications director has to be going nuts.