Hold on a moment while Political Nanny cringes.
There. Political Nanny just read a few pages of a children’s book “Why Mommy is a Democrat” and she feels as if she's been unintentionally bludgeoned by a well-meaning but terribly clutzy political propagandist.
No doubt the author’s intentions are good – a kid-friendly way for parents to discuss their values with the offspring. (A daddy version is due out this month.) But the tone is so smug, the illustrations so over-the-top, and the claims so absolute, it reads more like a spoof on liberal hippies.
The “story” involves a mommy squirrel over-generalizing about the absolute values of a Democrat, the party’s generosity and its members' sense of fair play. We have Democratic squirrels sharing (a real lefty curmudgeon might point out that, indeed, the kiddie Democrat squirrels are sharing WITH EACH OTHER and not with the homeless guy in the background) …
We are reminded the party isn’t soft on safety (though the danger in the picture is a charging elephant. Subtle, huh?).
And we see the author’s wishful thinking when Squirrel Mama explains a Democrat’s belief in accessible and affordable education for all. (What? Is Mama Squirrel homeschooling?)
Political Nanny is a big fan of parents talking to their children about values and politics. Tidy moral stories are fine too. But pounding their delicate little heads with this weapons-grade sledgehammer is manipulative, messy and a no-no.
