Posted on: Tuesday, June 05, 2001

Lee Cataluna
First family should know better

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

There is a man on Maui who for years has been courted to run for political office. He is a respected and popular community leader who has been active in behind-the-scenes politics for decades, but he won't run for office. Not even county council.

And whenever he's asked, his answer is that he doesn't want to put his kids through it.

Not that they're bad kids. Not at all. All three are scholars, athletes and leaders.

It is understood that when you enter the political arena, everyone in your family is watched, criticized, held to a higher standard. It is part of the price you pay for getting to sit at the koa desk, weigh in on public policy and golf with Clint Eastwood when he's in town.

I bring this up because of Jenna and Barbara Bush.

The 19-year old twin daughters of the president were cited for underage drinking last week in a restaurant in Austin, Texas. According to police, Barbara and a friend were served alcohol, and Jenna was trying to use someone else's I.D. to order a margarita.

As they say on Kaua'i, ay ke shame.

To make matters worse, just a few weeks ago, Jenna pleaded no contest to charges of underage drinking. It was almost the same thing. She was cited by undercover police for drinking a beer in an Austin bar. She was ordered to undergo alcohol counseling and perform community service.

It's important to note, though, the latest incident has not proceeded through adjudication. It's just the police officer's word, the restaurant patrons' word and the word of the Chuy's restaurant manager, who called 911 to report the girls.

Spokespeople for the president and first lady have refused comment, saying that Jenna and Barbara Bush are private citizens.

Sure. Private citizens with Secret Service agents standing guard 24-7.

They weren't so private during the campaign when they were trotted out to compete with the Gore girls.

Maybe having an umbrella drink with the girls doesn't seem like the worst thing that 19-year-old college freshmen could do, but underage drinking is a crime for a reason. It's dangerous. People get killed. Ask Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The thing is, when you run for political office, you know you're putting your family in the spotlight. If that's true for the Maui County Council, how much more true is it for the presidency? You'd think long ago, mom and dad (and grandpa and grandma) would sit down with the girls and say, listen, we have an example to set and everyone is watching so don't act stupid.

It wasn't too long ago dad was saying he didn't divulge his 1976 drunk driving arrest because he didn't want to set a bad example for his daughters. Perhaps the example he ended up setting was one of carelessness and disregard for the seriousness of alcohol-related crimes.