Why We Must Stop Dragging Politicians’ Kids Into the Crossfire
Rabbi Noam Raucher, MA.Ed
It was a beautiful site to see Guz Walz proudly stand, with tears streaming down his face, and support his father, Tim Walz, during his speech at the DNC. The internet’s explosion with criticism towards Gus’s behavior and the left’s response was ugly.
In an era where every aspect of a politician’s life is scrutinized, the mockery directed at Gus Walz for crying during his father, Tim Walz’s, speech at the DNC is infuriating but, sadly, not surprising. While it’s natural to feel anger over the way this young boy was targeted, it’s essential to understand that this behavior reflects a broader, deeply troubling trend in American politics: the use of politicians’ children as collateral in the battle to define and discredit public figures.
We should denounce the mockery of Gus Walz without hesitation. It’s unacceptable to ridicule a child for displaying emotions — especially when those emotions are tied to a profound moment with a parent. Let’s not also forget about the old stereotype of men needing to be strong and stoic in order to be men that’s grossly perpetuated by this criticism. However, this incident is not isolated. The cruel treatment of politicians’ children has become almost routine, with both sides of the political spectrum participating in this disturbing practice.
Republicans have, for example, often pointed fingers at Democrats when the latter’s children are involved in political scandals or emotional moments. But Democrats are not without guilt. Instances like the harsh treatment of Barron Trump, who was criticized and mocked for his behavior and appearance during his father’s presidency, show that no party is immune to such callousness. This tit-for-tat behavior reduces children to political props, dehumanizing them and violating their right to privacy and protection.
It’s critical that we recognize the importance of understanding who our political leaders are and holding them accountable for their actions and track records. However, this does not give anyone the right to drag their children into the political arena. Politicians’ children should not be used as measuring sticks for their parents’ character or political viability. They are not public figures, and their lives should not be fodder for public consumption.
Focusing so much on whether or not a politician has kids, or how they raise their kids, is really of little importance and consequence to the office. It’s as if we’ve forgotten that the Oval office is big enough to take into the concerns we have for children as a country. And spending so much time on a candidate’s child seems to suggest that there’s one right way to parent, when we know that’s not true.
Children like Gus Walz deserve the chance to live out their childhoods without the added pressure of supporting their parents’ political careers or being subjected to the harsh glare of the political spotlight. Their privacy must be respected, and they must be protected from the kind of public scrutiny that can be so damaging during formative years.
As a society, we must demand that our focus remains on the candidates themselves — their policies, their records, and their ability to lead. If they have kids, great! If not, that’s also great! A politician’s children are not part of determining a candidate is fit for office. We must insist that children be kept out of the political fray, allowing them to enjoy the innocence of youth without the burden of their parents’ ambitions. The emotional health and well-being of these children should be a priority, and we should collectively reject any attempt to exploit them for political gain.
