Huckabee's kid tortured & killed a dog - what is it with Republican parents?

[NewJeffCT]

The latest on Huckabee is that his son tortured & killed a dog, and that Gov. Huckabee tried to lean on the police to stop the investigation. When the investigation wasn't stopped, the police chief was fired. If Michael Vick gets 2 years in jail, what should Huck's kid get?

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/update-on-junior-huck-by-digby-there.html

But, what is it with Republican parents and their troubled children?

Presidential candidates – Republican - as parents
Ronald Reagan – had well publicized problems with his kids

George H.W. Bush – one son was a draft dodger, alcoholic and a drug addict; one was involved in a savings & loan scandal, while a 3rd frequently used hookers on business trips to Asia despite being married.

Rudy Giuliani – estranged from his kids, who seem to hate him

Mike Huckabee – one kid supposedly tortured & killed a dog, while another has a huge porn collection.

George W Bush – daughters have had well publicized drunken romps.

Meanwhile, as a comparison: Democratic candidates as parents:

Bill & Hillary Clinton – Chelsea has become an accomplished young woman

John Kerry – ditto on his daughters

Al Gore – ditto

John Edwards – ditto on Cate

[marmar]

1. In all fairness, Al Gore's son has had his share of drama.....

But generally, the Repugs do seem to have "Kids Gone Wild."

[atreides1]

2. Doesn't say a lot about the Repuke voters in Iowa

I guess in certain circles in Iowa its just fine to torture animals and to let them out of prison as well. As time goes by I get less and less impressed with Iowan Repukes.

Those of you from Iowa who actually can think for yourselves, you have my sympathies.

[woodsprite]

3. Have you seen the commercial that Barbara Bush is doing?

Something about how families that have dinner together, no matter how bad the cook is, produce kids that more often stay off drugs, drinking and carousing around. All the while she's talking, it's showing pics of GHWB and the kids piling all over him.

I was thinking "Look how great it worked for you. After all, you spawned Pres. Jim Beam Crackhead."

I turn the TV on first thing in the morning after the alarm clock rings. I saw that commercial yesterday on CN8 (out of New Jersey) and I thought I woke up in the twilight zone - not only for the message, but due to the incredible close up of Barbara. Thank GAWD I didn't have High Def!

[NewJeffCT]

4. her kids aren't exactly angels

from what I've seen.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. So, is she trying to tell us that the Bush family should have dined

together more often?

[woodsprite]

7. No, she seemed to be saying that they turned out so well BECAUSE

they dined together, even though she could have been a better cook.

I just thought the whole thing was wierd. I know I wasn't dreaming it because I flipped the channel back and forth and she was STILL THERE!

[gatorboy]

9. ZING!

[Javaman]

6. And Romney straps one to the roof of his car...

there is something seriously wrong with this people.

[SergeyDovlatov]

8. That kid is sycho... check out his mug shot

http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/12/17/details-of-huckabees-dog-torture-episode-coming-out/

[momster]

10. "Got Mine...." Parenting

The principles of conservatism are inimical to the raising of healthy children. "Got mine...the hell with you", "God made us rich", and "Not Our Kind, Dear" does not lead to compassion, fellow-feeling or pleasure in simplicity.

Speaking broadly, every Republican parent I know has spoiled children who think of nothing but themselves...they don't have a great deal of mom/dad's attention even if mom/dad is home though they have every 'thing' in the world. The Republican parents I know have used tv (or an illegal alien) as a babysitter since the kid was born. They don't say 'no' to the kid and when they go out in public, they expect other people to bend over backwards for their kid. When the kid throws a tantrum, the parents are either ineffectual or harsh...the kid never knows which response it will be this time.

The worst example I know is a Republican woman who was happy when her daughter couldn't sit next to her on an airplane...'I get to nap', she told me 'and the person who sits with my daughter can watch her.' The child was 6 at the time. I do not accuse her of setting up her tickets this way...but I suspect. This woman, however, would go off on rants about 'welfare moms' and 'nanny state liberals' who want the state to care for the kids. Thank God they never ran into a child molester...that I know of. (The daughter's all grown up now...the mom not so much.)

[NewJeffCT]

11. I know some Republics that are decent parents, but I know one guy

that was a bit like that woman on the airplane.

There was one of those big lottery jackpots at the time, and I think the lump sum payout would have been like $40 million after taxes and everything else was taken out.

So, when people start saying what they'd do with the money, he said he'd keep $15 million for himself and give $25 million to his wife & kids so they would go away.

Great family values there - he probably thought he was being generous by giving them more than 50%.