What do Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush all have in common besides being GOP 2016 presidential contenders? They’re all parents. Bush has three, Cruz has two, Christie has four, Paul has three, and Rubio has four.
If they want their children excluded from public scrutiny while they run and potentially become president they better take note of Elizabeth Lauten’s mistake.
Politicians accept the public scrutiny inherent in the job, but they also rightly expect their children to be left alone. Elizabeth Lauten went way out of bounds with her recent comments about President Obama’s kids on Facebook. The disgraced communications director for Rep. Stephen Fincher, a Republican from Tennessee, was forced to resign Monday after the following remarks:
"Dear Sasha and Malia, I get you're both in those awful teen years but you're a part of the First Family. Try showing a little class,” she wrote on Facebook. “At least respect the part you play. Then again, your mother and father don't respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter, so I'm guessing you're coming up a little short in the 'good role model' department."
The President and First Lady are fair game for criticism by the media or political hacks like Lauten, but a line should be drawn in the sand when it comes to kids.
You want to talk about classy? Most political minions know their roles and don’t go after teenage kids. That’s classless! I thought those southern bells like Lauten learned manners before their debutante ball?
I am sure Sasha and Malia were not consulted on whether or not dad could run for President. While there are plenty of perks being the first daughters, they should not be held to unrealistic standard. Eye rolling at your parents is something every teenager is guilty of.
The media has a bad history of not playing nice with these young ladies. Rush Limbaugh called a 13 year old Chelsea Clinton a dog on national TV. News outlet chronicled Bush’s daughters all throughout college-trying to catch them drinking underage.
Children who have politically famous parents should not be a part of public discourse. This should be one area in which politicians can be bi-partisan.
Lauten did apologize for her comments saying "I quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager." But the damage has been done. Lauten is now deservingly unemployed.
Jaclyn Cashman co-hosts “Morning Meeting” from 9am to noon on Boston Herald Radio. Follow her on Twitter at @JaclynCashman.
Copyright © 2024 Jaclyn Cashman.
