Presidential candidates need to stop whining about criticism of family members when they have already clearly chosen to push these people into the spotlight to assist with their campaigns.

Ad hominem attacks are not necessarily constitutionally protected - some Americans really have trouble understanding this concept.

To make racist or sexist remarks about people or say that they are ugly or stupid constitutes a personal attack, which gets into the territory of defamation.

But it is perfectly valid to criticize the views that spouses and family members have expressed in front of a microphone.

The stakes are high with the people we are going to put into the White House, so spouses who get up on the podium must be scrutinized by the public and by the press.

Candidates who do not like family members' comments to be scrutinized should keep those people out of the limelight; the whiners cannot have it both ways.

Lisa Backus

Auburn