Pubdate: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 Source: Bradenton Herald (FL) Copyright: 2002 Bradenton Herald Contact: http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradentonherald/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58 Author: Raymond Androne, East Manatee LEAVE NOELLE ALONE On Sept. 28, the Herald published a letter from Steve Abbott that questions Jeb Bush's integrity in dealing with his daughter's problem. Mr. Abbott said, "Noelle seems to be one of those people who likes to get high." He then says: "I feel for Noelle." It is utterly disingenuous to claim concern for the problems of a child of a politician while using those problems to score political points against her father. The children of politicians do not have a choice as to whether or not to live in the fishbowl that their parents occupy and so they should not become pawns in political attacks. This applies to both political parties. Recently the son of a prominent Democratic politician was arrested for driving under the influence. He, like Noelle Bush, is entitled to a chance to get his life straightened out without becoming fodder for campaign attacks. While apparently news editors have decided that the personal troubles of politicians' children are newsworthy, to use these troubles against a candidate or officeholder coarsens the civility of our political discourse in a most unfortunate way. Raymond Androne, East Manatee - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom