Left, Right Agree Criticizing Politicians’ Spouses Only Off Limits To Other Side

Families retain their status as private citizens and must not be held to the same level of scrutiny and accountability unless attached to a politician from the political opposition, in which case there are no holds barred.

Jerusalem, May 24 – Rare consensus emerged today in political circles when leaders across the ideological spectrum expressed support for the notion that spouses and family members of elected public officials remain immune from public criticism, unless we’re the ones doing it.

In a series of essays, conferences, and panel discussions this morning and afternoon, political figures on the left and right voiced agreement that the families of officials must remain beyond public shaming, since those spouses and families retain their status as private citizens even under such circumstances, and must not be held to the same level of scrutiny and accountability that bona fide officials are expected to face in a healthy democracy in keeping with their responsibilities, unless those spouses and families are attached to a politician from the political opposition, in which case there are no holds barred.

Thus, explained Opposition figure MK Tzipi Livni of the Zionist Union alliance and HaTnua Party, concerns over Sara Netanyahu’s ice cream or alcohol consumption merit concern and guilt by association for her husband the prime minister, but only because Livni and Netanyahu occupy opposite parts of the political spectrum.

Similarly, noted Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman, it lies within the bounds of propriety to call attention to the polygamy practiced by a Bedouin legislator in violation of the law and to rail against the government’s lack of enforcement in that regard, as long as the person issuing the accusation or criticism sits on the other side of the left-right divide. Scrutiny of Yisrael Beiteinu politicians’ spouses, on the other hand, lies beyond the pale.

“A person’s family is sacred and out of bounds in political rhetoric, and we all agree on that point” insisted MK Yair Lapid, head of Yesh Atid. “We also agree that the bounds in question cease to exist when the family in question is that of a rival.” Thus, he indicated, the outsize attention given to the antics and indelicacy of the prime minister’s son Yair, who holds no political office.

Commentators note that the phenomenon can be observed beyond Israel’s borders as well, most prominently in American politics. “Melania Trump and Chelsea Clinton serve as good illustrations,” indicated political analyst Beamin Yoreye. “As first lady, Melania attracts loads of unwarranted focus, attention the president’s critics would never give her if not as a way to undermine him. Chelsea endured some brutal rhetorical treatment from right-wingers when her father was in the White House and she was just a kid. All that is fine and dandy, though, because the people meting out that brutality are on the other side of the aisle. That makes it OK.”

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