Politicians Have a New PR Problem…Their Kids' Online Profiles
Posted by anastasia on 08-22-2006I think it would be really hard to be a kid of a politician — the pressure to live up to those smiling family portraits at all times, the knowledge that if you make a mistake, it doesn't just affect you, and the reality that when your life choices are in conflict with the party line, well, you might just be disowned. I went to high school with Lamar Alexander's son (and more than a few parties at their house when mom and dad were gone). I don't think he ever got busted, or at least not publicly. Anyhow, the Washington Post, reg. required, has a story about how public figures are grappling with their kids' MySpace or Facebook profiles. I found these anecdotes pretty amusing. It reads like an US Magazine spread: Politicians' Kids - They're just like us! From the article:
"There was Tennessee Republican Senate candidate Bob Corker's daughter's Facebook page, for example, which showed her locking lips with another woman and dancing in what appeared to be her underwear.
California Republican Rep. Brian Bilbray's younger-than-21 daughter Briana posted a series of pictures of herself on MySpace, including one where she poses with a cooler full of Miller High Life.
Last fall, NBC star Tim Russert's son, Luke, posted a photo of on Facebook of himself clutching a cup and posing with four bikini-clad women in a hot tub.
Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call discovered Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's son, Jonathan, declaring membership in the 'Jonathan Frist appreciation for 'Waking up White People' Group" on his Facebook page. The Vanderbilt University student also claimed membership in a group where there were 'No Jews Allowed. Just Kidding. No seriously.'"
According to the article, "all were replaced or taken down after gaining Internet notoriety." The article only featured kids of Republicans, I'm sure there are kids of Democrats raising hell online, too.
P.S. For some reason, I don't think this PSA campaign will really do much about the current level of online exhibitionism.
August 22nd, 2006 at 10:14 am
Regarding Alberto Gonzales' campaign:
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=71002
"…this series of ads will target teen girls with a message of protecting themselves by not posting images or information that might put them at risk for online victimization."
Which images posted by teenage girls put them at risk of "victimization"?
Is the theory that if a girl posts a photo of herself in a short skirt, she'll be attacked, but she posts a photo of herself in a long skirt, she won't be attacked?
Or is the theory that no females under the age of 18 should post any photos of themselves?