"Anything embarassing about me isn't running for president." (Larry Downing/Reuters)
Michele Bachmann today:
BACHMANN: I’m running for the presidency of the United States. My husband is not running for the presidency, neither are my children, neither is our business, neither is our foster children and I’m more than happy to stand for questions on running for the presidency of the United States.
Ah yes. Families are off limits! Too bad Michele Bachmann disagrees with that.
Michele Bachmann, 10/18/2008:
MR. MATTHEWS: I mean, if you're liberal, are you anti-American?
REP. BACHMANN: Well, the liberals that are Jeremiah Wright and that are Bill Ayers, they're over-the-top anti-American. And that's the question that Americans have. Remember, it was Michelle Obama who said she's only recently proud of her country. And so these are very anti-American views.
You know what else wasn't running for president in 2008? Obama's church. Or Bill Ayers. They weren't even using federal funds for whatever it is that they do. Like Bachmann's husband's clinic to pray away the gay.
But let's be serious. Spouses are fair game. They always have been. They always will be. There's a reason why politicians love commercials featuring their entire families. Families are a reflection of who you are as a person. They accentuate the positives, expose the negatives. Spouses have tremendous bearing on who politicians are as human beings, not to mention have incredible influence on their politics. In Bachmann's case:
[U]nlike several other candidates’ spouses, he’s enthusiastically embraced his wife’s run, sketching out a new kind of role for himself: Equal parts confidant, body man, image consultant and political strategist [...]
That goes for everyone from Michelle Obama to Cindy McCain to Calista Gingrich to Bill and Hillary Clinton (switch them back and forth depending on the election year) to anyone else (like Sarah Palin's tabloid family).
Now as a candidate, you may not like it. But if you don't, then don't feature your spouse as a campaign prop while having him run your show.
(Jeff Haynes/Reuters)