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"Trivialities"
TalkLeft — Kevin Drum discusses Andrew Sullivan' reaction to the Obama kids doing an Access Hollywood interview. Personally, I have a hard enough time being a father to my own girls without taking time off to critique how anyone else is raising their own. But I was struck how Sullivan rates this and others issues in terms of importance: A few things have unsettled me these past couple of weeks about the Obama campaign. It is not the small adjustments to previously-held positions - FISA, the Second Amendment, Iraq. It's a sense that Obama's ample ...

The Children Of Presidents
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan — ... The Children Of Presidents 10 Jul 2008 06:15 pm Drum thinks I am overreacting: Now, sure: of course young kids should be generally off limits from the campaign press. But does that mean they should literally never be seen on TV? What's the harm? Families are a staple of American politics, people are legitimately curious about what Obama's family is like, and a few minutes with Maria Menounos is the safest, least toxic interview imaginable. It's the 21st century equivalent of one of those carefully staged Life photo spreads from the 50s. Shouldn't we all calm down about this? ...

Obama’s Double Somersault With a Twist Flip-Flop
Pajamas Media — ... would be approached. If he didn’t get these issues clear prior to taping, he’s not much of a father — or a politician, for that matter. This is why candidates love shows like Access Hollywood . The “interview” is really an extended campaign commercial where the candidate is largely in control of the content. It is to honest journalism what Enron is to accurate accounting. To describe the questions asked as “puffball” does a disservice to the League of Innocuous Interlocutors. Kevin Drum wonders what’s the big deal? Now, sure: of course young kids should be generally off ...