INVOLVING THE CHILDREN

A discussion online has led to some serious thinking on my part about the Obama children and any exposure they may face during the upcoming election campaign (which promises to be a fairly nasty one).

Anyone with a pulse remembers the savaging doled out to the Bush twins as part of the generalized Bush Derangement Syndrome prevalent during almost the entire 8 years of George W. Bush's Administration. It was irresponsible, unwarranted and altogether offensive to most sensible, fair-minded Americans.

The girls were not part of either of their father's presidential campaigns other than a brief appearance at the conventions. But unlike the protection afforded Chelsea Clinton and before her Amy Carter, it seems the national media had declared "open season" on the Bush twins. Yes, they were older but equally yes - they were not involved in their father's campaign in any really active sense, other than being their father's daughters and supporting him and loving him in private.

Now the conversation has turned to the two Obama girls and the sense that some (not all) press members feel that the Obama girls are fair game since they will be accompanying their parents on campaign trips. My response to that is: Hell No!

Those two girls are and should continue to be protected from any kind of press intrusions into their lives. The fact that they happen to live (very temporarily one hopes) in the White House is incidental to their parents' campaign for a second (undeserved) term in office.

Now, here's my caveat! You knew there had to be one, didn't you? Their parents, like it or not, ARE fair game and should be caused to answer questions about why on earth a 10-year-old child has to be taken to Spain for her birthday, with an enormous entourage of hangers on and Secret Service protectors. And the Obamas should be held to account for the multitudinous vacations they have taken, the date nights that cost beleagured taxpayers a fortune (and who really believes in this enormous love affair they are supposed to be having?) The endless games of hoops, the golf outings the egredious lack of awareness that the extreme self-indulgence being demonstrated is highly inappropriate when people in this country are losing their life savings and homes because the economy has been so screwed up by this President. Those things need to be discussed, whether or not Zippy is willing or able to discuss them!