Vanity question on mentioning candidates' children

I'm thinking back to the 2000 debates. Wasn't there a question about education when then-governor Bush mentioned that the twins had gone to public school and the Gore kids had been sent to private school?

If I remember correctly, Gore's response was a curt one-line like "I'll thank you for leaving my children out of this..."

I've googled with no luck, been to the debates.org website and searched the transcripts--no luck there either.

Does anyone else have any recollection of this who may know where to search for the quote?

Trying to establish that the Dems have asked previously to keep the candidates' kids out of the debates.

"Why does working on a campaign make anyone's sexual preference fair game for national discussion..."br

This is not a new democrat campaign trick. It's an attempt to influence voters who might discern a negative association between the opposing candidate and gays. While appearing to be sympathetic with gays, the dem appeals what he/she discerns to be the worst in his opponents base.

The party of the opponent doesn't matter either. An example was that democrat "paragon" who also by the way, originated the Willie Horton issue. Yes, I'm talking about Mario Cuomo. He used this against Ed Koch in a failed attempt to defeat Koch in the NYC mayors race. The insinuation was that since Koch made a campaign visit to a gay organization and is single...well, Mario fully expected the voters of NYC to connect the dots. It mattered not that Cuomo had visited the same group earlier the same day.

The point is that; they hope that, once it's out there and the idea is planted, some damage will be done. Very sleazy and hypocritical.

Cheney`s daughter works in his campaign office, but generally stays behind the scenes and off the stage out of the camera`s view. Kerry`s daughters as well as the Bush twins are openly campaigning for their fathers. By going on MTV and doing interviews they make themselves open for criticism.

Cheney's daughter works on the campaign. Thus like it or not she's fair game though the question was tasteless and tacky.

So does Bush's daughters, Kerry's daughters(some very lovely pictures and behavior the republicans don't mention), Mamma T's son's(interestingly weird), Edwards daughter for that matter so did Gore's children (there was scandal there not used by political opponents) lets not forget Dean's son(great fodder) Carters daughter(oh boy) last but not least Reagan's children(MSM and the dems tried but Americans turned their noses up and ignored the press).

This is the stuff of tabloids that everybody loves to read but is not to mentioned in polite society. Nor has it ever had any effect on elections. We elect these men not their children. Break that rule, it talks about your character not your opponents.

While your argument might work with democrat faithful it will not work with main stream Americans and will have no effect on the Christian right and the Republican party faithful. Besides if my grandmother is any example of old democrat party faithful it does not sit well with them.

Who wants a crass president? Or one who does not know where to draw the line? This will not play well. The fact that this little tid bit was ignored the first time Bush was elected will not make any difference this time for the Republicans but it will make a difference for the democrats.

How about if Kerry's daughter, who is a part of his campaign, had a problem with drugs? You think it wouldn't be mentioned?

In the tabloids maybe, but not by and Republican with any class. Nor would the republican voters accept that behavior from any republican candidate. He would loose.

"If Kerry had an obsessive gambler on his staff would bringing that up in ANY context be apprproiate? If not, why?"

No, because it is a personal problem of someone who is not the candidate.

"How about if Kerry's daughter, who is a part of his campaign, had a problem with drugs?"

No, it would be inappropriate, for the same reason.

Do you think it would be OK to bring up the fact that a particular campaign worker had an abortion just because the candidates were discussing Roe-v-Wade? If not, why?

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear for those who are a bit slower. IMHO Cheney's daughter is fair game because she's a part of his campign staff. She's not a neutral and should not expect such treatment. U take part in the campaign expect some potshots.

No, if you are trying to become an elected official you can expect to take many potshots, but for people with any semblance of manners opponents children are off limits...period.

Going after your opponents children puts you in the trash class. Even the MSM new, with their groans, when Kerry went after Cheney's daughter how it would play to main stream Americans.

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