In politics, families are strictly off limits

When people run for public office, and especially if they’re elected, their families become part of the political process.

They find themselves attending public events they normally wouldn’t attend, or spending weekends and evenings without their father, mother or spouse. When the politician of the family is criticized, they feel it.

That’s part of the game we call politics, and there’s no way to avoid it. If a family takes it too personally, then politics is not for that family. Many a politician has quit because of it.

But there is one thing that crosses the line: insults or threats aimed directly at family members, or threatening behaviour in their presence. As much as families become swept up in the rough and tumble of politics along with the politician, they have a right to be respected, to be left alone.

After Mayor Peter Milobar was finished at Tuesday night’s election forum at TRU, he and and his wife and daughter departed, but not before they were hassled outside the hall. Lianne Milobar tweeted that someone yelled, “I hope you get cancer and die.”

Now, c’mon. Exhibiting such stupidity to a candidate is bad enough, but with family present it’s way over the line.

In my time in politics, there were few occasions in which my family was dragged into political unpleasantness, but I can tell you when it happens, it hurts deeply. Politicians need to develop thick skins, and some are better at it than others. But no politician has a hide so thick that he or she will accept, nor deserves, that kind of behaviour directed at family.