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The Hypocrisy Over Presidential Kids
Townhall.com ^ | December 3, 2014 | Brent Bozell

Posted on 12/03/2014 4:46:57 AM PST by Kaslin

It's an obvious rule: Never pick on a president's family.

Elizabeth Lauten, the formerly unknown "communications director" for two-term GOP congressman Stephen Fincher resigned after a national-media feeding frenzy over some stupid words about the president's daughters on her personal Facebook page.

No one came to her defense for this idiocy, and correctly so. Republican Party spokesman Sean Spicer decried her remarks, and then attacked the media for its hypocrisy, for launching into an obscure Republican staffer's social-media statements, something it has never done for Democrats. Again, he was absolutely correct.

Political decorum demands that presidential children should be left out of political commentary. The same courtesy should be shown toward presidential spouses -- unless the subject is their policy initiatives. You can evaluate or criticize Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign or Michelle Obama's school-lunch program. It is never, ever fair to attack their children, and anyone doing so deserves the Lauten treatment and fate.

Liberals would agree -- making them hypocrites. Wouldn't it be nice if the liberal media observed this notion for all presidents and presidential contenders and their families? But they have failed repeatedly to be consistent on this principle. They have refused, time and again, to denounce liberal partisans who have verbally assaulted children of Republicans. Usually they don't even cover it!

Take, for example, the radioactive crud that "comedians" have dropped on Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol. This is what Bill Maher had to say in 2011:

"In Bristol's new memoir 'Not Afraid of Life' -- working title, 'Whoops, There's a Dick in Me' -- Bristol claims that the night she lost her virginity she had accidentally gotten drunk on wine coolers that she didn't know contained alcohol and then blacked out and didn't remember a thing," Maher declared. "Oh, the Palins. I tell you, the s--t doesn't fall far from the bat."

Or consider the Washington Post-owned website Slate in 2012 holding a caption contest for a picture of presidential candidate Rick Santorum's daughters Elizabeth (age 21) and Sarah (age 14). Sadly, liberal commenters predictably started mocking how these conservative Catholic daughters -- yes, including the middle schooler -- were on contraceptives, or wearing chastity belts or touching themselves sexually.

Denouncement? Coverage? Please find them for us.

The media mocked the Bush twins in the middle of 2001 when they were cited for underage drinking in Austin at age 19. The New York tabloids loved it. It was headlined ''Double Trouble'' by the New York Daily News and ''Jenna and Tonic'' by the New York Post. The networks jumped all over it, insisting all along that this was the public's business because the twins had entered the police blotter, and because their father was a recovered alcoholic.

That might be defended as newsworthy (while the tone can be denounced as offensive) because they were young adults in public breaking the law.

But after the 2000 Democratic convention, 17-year-old Al Gore III was cited for driving 97 mph in a 55 mph zone and reckless driving. Network coverage? Zero.

What's the difference?

The national media love to argue that politics in Washington is "broken," that politicians don't cross the aisle to socialize and recognize each other's humanity and good intentions. But their willingness to stay silent when the children of Republicans are verbally eviscerated demonstrates they are every bit a part of the problem they describe.


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: barack0bama; chidren
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To: Kaslin

People need to understand and point out that the left is never ashamed of their hypocrisy.


21 posted on 12/03/2014 6:08:54 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Kaslin

Honestly, I do not know what the Obama daughters have to be sullen about. They live (at taxpayer expense) in the most coveted House in the nation. They go to the most exclusive school in DC. They are offered decent lunches at their school, unlike 99.99% of American children, who are subjected to Moochelle’s ‘food agenda’. They go on fabulous vacations, also at taxpayer expense, at least the part for their expensive protection. These girls are typical Leftists who despise the American way of life, all while having the best that money can buy. Anti-Capitalists, just like their parents, while enjoying the fruits of this dying Capitalist system. If Obama does indeed succeed in destroying our Capitalist system, these girls will never suffer for it. They will always live in the lap of luxury, just like all the other limousine Libs. ‘Good for thee, but NOT for me’. All Libs are hypocrites.


22 posted on 12/03/2014 6:52:36 AM PST by originalbuckeye (Moderation in temper is always a virtue; moderation in principle is always a vice. Paine)
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To: GoldenPup
his family is stuck with him (her) and should not be criticized for being his family.

They are not being cricidized for that!

Those girls have the luxury of living in the finest house in this country, they go to the best schools, have unlimited free vacations, and have scores of servants attending to their every need.

Yet they're not happy. Look at their faces. The older one never smiles. She makes a lot of faces though. She always looks like she has total distain for those around her. She apparently sees no need to dress appropriately for a White House occasion.

23 posted on 12/03/2014 7:01:00 AM PST by ladyjane
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To: Kaslin

It was still a stupid comment about two underage girls, who are coming into their age if independence and yes, they looked like they didn’t want to be there.

They’re kids, that’s their dad, what elese do they know about their circumstances that we knew when we were their age?

They didn’t look enthusiastic? Whatever. Sometimes you don’t want to do what parents ask, particularly in tbis instance.

Maybe the girls want nothing to do with public events?

Maybe they’re just kids and have a difficult time with all the restrictions surrounding their lives. That is, maybe they deal well with their SS but, wish they couod just be “Normal” like their friends and invite friends over “Anytime”.

I say lay off the girls.


24 posted on 12/03/2014 7:33:40 AM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: Servant of the Cross

BINGO two faces liberals always on the march.


25 posted on 12/03/2014 8:46:02 AM PST by Vaduz
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To: Kaslin

Barack and Michelle consented to an interview of the children on TV when he was campaigning (vacay) in Montana. They wanted to show they were regular folks. The girls were cute but I had to laugh when the youngest (she was 6 or so) said that Daddy likes to chew ‘mint gum’. She of course had no idea that Daddy chewed mint gum because he chain smoked.

Interview (video) is at link.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/children-seen-and-heard/?_r=0
or youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLWkPGJmZtA


26 posted on 12/03/2014 9:17:44 AM PST by machogirl
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To: grania

“The photos speak for themselves.”

Excellent point!


27 posted on 12/03/2014 9:23:50 AM PST by greatvikingone
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To: NorthMountain

I feel sorry for them too. They have the whole world at their fingertips but they seem so sad. Their father spends most of his time out on golf courses with random men rather then being engaged with their activities.


28 posted on 12/03/2014 9:35:14 AM PST by happyhomemaker (Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Rom 12:12)
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To: ladyjane
She apparently sees no need to dress appropriately for a White House occasion.

One usually learns these things from one's parents. Given Michelle's lack of fashion sense, it's not surprising that the daughters wouldn't have any, either.

29 posted on 12/03/2014 9:52:45 AM PST by ELS
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To: ladyjane
Yet they're not happy.

Maybe they are just not happy that their father is such an azzhole. You think?

30 posted on 12/03/2014 10:24:51 AM PST by GoldenPup
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To: napscoordinator

Did you read the article? Was Rick Santorum ever President? Haters gonna hate!


31 posted on 12/04/2014 5:09:20 AM PST by defconw (If not now, WHEN?)
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To: defconw

Big whoop. I want Scott Walker. He would be great. Hopefully conservatives won’t be stupid again and pick Romney.


32 posted on 12/04/2014 8:30:23 AM PST by napscoordinator (President Walker is our future President! Ted Cruz is the Senate Majority Leader in the future!)
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To: napscoordinator
You took me to task for bringing up Trig Palin. I pointed that the article pointed out the bounty on pictures of Rick Santorum’s kids. You wanted to know when Sarah had been President. So I am certain now that you did not understand what the article was talking about.
33 posted on 12/04/2014 8:36:41 AM PST by defconw (If not now, WHEN?)
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To: defconw

Oh.....I forgot. That was a few days ago that I typed that.....Too much news has happened since.


34 posted on 12/04/2014 8:37:44 AM PST by napscoordinator (President Walker is our future President! Ted Cruz is the Senate Majority Leader in the future!)
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To: napscoordinator

No worries.


35 posted on 12/04/2014 8:57:15 AM PST by defconw (If not now, WHEN?)
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