Santorum Exploiting His Son?

I was surprised to receive an email from John Santorum, the Senator's 13 year old son, asking people to contribute to his father's U.S. Senate campaign. This made me uncomfortable. Who exploits their kids like this? The same people who bring their stillborn fetus home so their children can bond with it? The same people who exploit that tragedy by writing a book about it? Yuck. I find this creepy.

Do I remember the Santorum campaign criticizing Bob Casey for raising campaign cash during the Katrina disaster? Yup. They said it was insensitive and it probably was. Seeing this email putting his young son out there in public seems improper. President Bush was harshly critical of mentioning Mary Cheney, the VP's daughter, during the 2004 campaign. Of course Mary was a gay staffer for a virulently anti-gay Administration but that wasn't relevant. They implied it was improper to drag offspring into the political arena.

Of course Mary Cheney is a full grown adult. John Santorum is a 13 year old. His picture splashed all over a campaign email asking people for money. I suppose they thought people would be more likely to give their cash to a kid than his ultra right wing father. In today's world why put your kids out there in the intense public spotlight that a campaign like this is going to be. I think it's bad judgement.