Character assassination?

[tahnan]

I'm totally enjoying liveblogging of the RNC by a Guardian reporter. (After Huckabee's speech: "I'm sorry, I'm almost incoherent with confusion and must pause for a few moments. Luckily it's the governor of Hawai'i now, so it's a good opportunity for that.")

But I also learned, from an earlier column, the following. From Sean Hannity:

I mean, I don't remember Chelsea Clinton being attacked. I don't remember Al Gore's children being attacked. I thought there was a general rule that children of candidates ought to be left alone.

But as Burkeman points out, "An excellent argument, were it not for the fact that attacks on Chelsea Clinton were a standard part of the drumbeat against Bill Clinton's presidency, without even the pretence of a legitimate motive." And then he alludes to, though does not repeat, the following joke:

"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno."

Not said, admittedly, during a presidential election. Said instead in June '98, at a Republican fundraiser. By John McCain.