The reality is, when one chooses to go into big-time politics ... and I consider being governor of Florida big-time politics ... then one's immediate family comes along for the ride as well.
Meaning, they are in the spotlight whether they choose to be or not, and they become public figures whether they choose to be or not, and they lose the right to privacy that Joe Schmoe in Secaucus, N.J., might have. Meaning, if they screw up, more likely than not it's going in the papers with screaming headlines and there's going to be a big fuss like this.
That means, basically, and I think I said this specifically when the stuff about the Bush twins broke last year, because of what her daddy chose to do with his life, they have to be above suspicion like Caesar's wife, and they forfeit the right either to do a lot of things that other people get to do, and the right to screw up without it being made a big issue of. And if they don't like it or don't think it's fair, then they need to take it up with their daddy, because his choice for his life has impacted the choices they can make for their lives.
This has nothing to do with Dem vs. GOP, liberal vs. conservative, the bad ol' media (which I'm a member of, BTW, although I'm one of the rare conservatives in the biz) picking on people, etc. It has to do with the realities of the way the game is played ... for everyone ... in 2002.
And it drives me CRAZY when conservatives circle the wagons and start whining and wanting to shoot the messenger when stuff like this happens.
Why in the wide world of sports do we continue to stick our faces out and say "hit me" to the enemies, and then pitch conniption fits when the enemies oblige?
The Clintons told the press to back off on their daughter. Gores kid was well protected as well.
That's why it's "fair" to shoot the messenger. The messenger only reports on the Republican kids. Or have you not noticed that?
Death to the messanger.
Is anyone under the impression that Chelsea never had a story important enough to print in the newspapers? She was given a total pass. You know what, I think that's appropriate. I may think her folks are the devil's spawn, but that doesn't give us license to screw with their child.
The Bush kids should be given the same treatment. You know it. I know it. And we both know that the media is and will continue to play games along these lines.
Everything positive about Chelsea will be shouted to the mountain tops. Everything negative will be deemed unworthy of publication. Every worthy about the Bush siblings will be deemed unworthy of publication, and their negatives broadcast to the four corners of the earth.