Actually, Pudentilla is quite fortunate in that she knows nothing of the Bush family's domestic life. She believes, however, that Mr. Bush (DODO*)'s throw away joke line that he would like to put a leash on his daughters was one of the most disturbing moments of the debate.
No father in his right mind would say such a thing to his daughter in private, even in jest. No father in his right mind would say such a thing about his daughter at the family dinner table, even in jest. No father in his right mind would say such a thing about his daughter at a large family reunion, even in jest. No father in his right mind would say such a thing about his daughter in a public venue (while she was watching), even in jest. No father in his right mind would say such a thing about his daughter on national television with 60 million people watching.
God, how self-involved and screwed up do you have to be to forget not to humilate your own child while the whole world is watching.
It was a sick, sick thing to say (even in jest), and reveals a cruel and selfish aspect of Mr. Bush (DODO*)'s character that is appalling. We will not even begin to consider the Abu Gharib implications of the remark. We are content to say that any man who would say such a thing about his own children, even in jest, cannot possibly give a rat's ass about ordinary citizens, whom he has never met. Henceforth, we declare the twins sacrosanct. We apologize for calling them chicklets**. They can smoke and drink and party as much as they want to. They have already paid dues we can't even begin to imagine.
We suspect that the media will not touch this with a ten foot pole. Perhaps out of sympathy for the twins. Perhaps because if they suggested that Mr. Bush (DODO*)'s remark revealed something unpleasant about his character, the Rove machine would scream that the family was off limits and that it was a joke and that we need to focus on substance. The backlash would unmoor the pundits. But if Gore exaggerated, and Kerry flip-flops, surely it is fair to notice that Bush enjoys sadistic humor at the expense of his loved ones. They won't say it, however, and at least the twins will be spared.
*DODO: Doesn't Obey Direct Orders
**Chicklet: Children of Chickenhawks
