On the September 21 edition of MSNBC's Tucker, host Tucker Carlson blasted a new children's book by Jeremy Zilber titled Why Mommy is a Democrat, which, according to the book's website, “depicts Democratic principles of fairness, tolerance, peace and concern for the well-being of others.” Carlson declared that the book is “propaganda, and it's always and everywhere wrong and creepy and should be obviously a bad thing to do to impose your politics on children,” adding that "[i]t doesn't matter what your politics happen to be. Kids ought to be immune from politics." He then demanded: “Be quiet, don't push it [politics] on them.” But Carlson had a very different reaction to a conservative children's book while interviewing its author in November 2005.
On the November 28, 2005, edition of Carlson's previous MSNBC show, The Situation with Tucker Carlson, he interviewed Katherine DeBrecht, author of the children's book Help! Mom! There are Liberals Under My Bed! (World Ahead Publishing, September 2005). During the segment, Carlson described a character in the book as looking like “a pretty mannish [Sen.] Hillary Clinton [D-NY],” while DeBrecht added that “you also have Mayor Leech, who resembles a portly senator from Taxachusetts.” But even though Carlson said, “I can't stand politics in children's books,” he also claimed: “I thought I wasn't going to like it, but actually it's a clever book,” adding: “I hope it sells.”
From the September 21 edition of MSNBC's Tucker:
CARLSON: If there was ever any doubt we've closed the book on Dick and Jane, here's the definitive proof. It's a new children's book. It's entitled Why Mommy is a Democrat.
The publishers describe it as a nonjudgmental explanation of the Democratic Party's policies -- peace and tolerance, as they put it. Still, if parents read between the lines, they might see the book's not-too-subtle swipes at President Bush and his fellow Republicans. Fans say it's perfect bedtime reading for Democrats of all ages.
It is, of course, propaganda, and it's always and everywhere wrong and creepy and should be obviously a bad thing to do to impose your politics on children. Doesn't matter what your politics happen to be. Kids ought to be immune from politics.
Be quiet, don't push it on them. Childhood should not be a political time of life. There'll be enough time for that later. Knock it off. As if people needed to be told.
From the November 28, 2005, edition of MSNBC's The Situation with Tucker Carlson:
CARLSON: No offense, but your book has absolutely no chance of making it alongside Rainbow Fish. I'm sorry to say. Now, I'm looking at the illustrations, here. And -- what are the -- who are these figures? One looks like a pretty mannish Hillary Clinton, I would have to say, and who else is represented in the book? What political figures we might recognize?
DeBRECHT: Well, you have -- well, you do have Representative Clunkton, as she's called in the book, which is the pantsuit-clad senator from New York. You also have Mayor Leech, who resembles a portly senator from Taxachusetts.
CARLSON: OK.
DeBRECHT: The other characters are basically generic characters that are going to be throughout the series.
[...]
DeBRECHT: The message in my book is really about self-reliance. You don't expect the government to give everything to you. And it's really about pursuing and really despite all the obstacles, to really try and strive and pursue the American dream.
CARLSON: Katherine DeBrecht, I can't stand politics in children's books. And I thought I wasn't going to like it, but actually it's a clever book, I have to say. Thanks a lot for coming on. I hope it sells.
