Are Babies Off Limits in Politics?

on June 28, 2009 at 7:00 AM

Not long after Sarah Palin publicly defended her 14-year old daughter against a distasteful joke made by David Letterman, she is now standing up against a perceived attack on Baby Trig.

Alaska blogger Linda Kellen Biegel recently edited a picture of Sarah Palin and her baby son, Trig, replacing Trig's face with the face of Eddie Burke, a conservative Alaska talk show host. Biegel, argued that her aim was to make fun of Eddie Burke, as a staunch supporter of Palin, not of Trig.

On the situation, Palin's spokesman Meghan Stapleton wrote: "Babies and children are off limits. It is past time to restore decency in politics and real tolerance for all Americans."

What do you think? Should babies and children of elected officials be off limits? Or do you think Palin overreacted? Or both?

About the author Sheri Reed

is a writer and the Entertainment, News & Sports editor for The Stir. She loves a good film, watches lots of good TV and follows Ryan Gosling's every move because she has to -- for work.

Filed Under: in the news, sarah palin

Comments (10)

aurorabunny

on Jun 28, 2009 at 11:16 AM

Technically they kind of SHOULD be off limits. However when you drag your infant to every political event possible, and talk about him in the media as much as possible, basically when you use your baby to try and further your political career (*cough* Palin) THEN it's fair game.

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RanaAurora

on Jun 28, 2009 at 1:07 PM

*eyeroll* That's a JOKE on Sarah Palin and Eddie Burke. It has NOTHING to do with Trig.

And like Aurorabunny said, when you wave your children in peoples' faces and make them INTO political statements... *shrug* You make them fair game.

madamekatekate

on Jun 28, 2009 at 4:13 PM

Babies *are* off limits. The joke wasn't about Baby Trig.

I guess maybe at first glance as a mother you may take the defensive---It's instinct. But I mean if you took an extra 2 seconds to think about it, you'd realize quickly that it wasn't about your child at all and calm down.

StephanieMcC

on Jun 28, 2009 at 11:08 PM

Children are off limits. PERIOD. Obama used his daughters in his campaign, yet noone is making jokes at their expense or using their likenesses. If they were, there would be media outrage. But because it's Sarah Palin, it's 'fair game'? HUH?

heatherama

on Jun 28, 2009 at 11:32 PM

A politician's life is NOT off limites--that includes there children. Furthermore, this was a joke aimed at Palin and another adult, not the child.

on Jun 28, 2009 at 11:33 PM

This woman will take offense at anything if it means national air time.

on Jun 29, 2009 at 10:25 AM

Stephanie--Obama didn't "use" his daughters in his campaign. He mentioned them once in a while but other than that he left them at home and at school, where they belong, unlike some other candidates.

Cafe MicheleZ

on Jun 29, 2009 at 11:25 AM

I see both sides, but if it was me and my child, I would be angry, too.

PestPatti

on Jun 30, 2009 at 7:45 PM

Maybe the blogger should have used the " Gerber Baby". Instead of the Governor's baby. Then she could have said she was taking shots at the Conservative. The "so called bloggers" on The Daily KOS made it look like GWB's daughter got married in the Middle of Iraq. Super-Imposing dead bodies as guest at the wedding. Apparently they didnt feel she should get married during the war. And GWB shouldnt have been a proud father at that moment.

People are pushing the limits of common decency, and they are getting help from those who say' She/he brought it on themselves.