One of the hardest parts of being a politician is trying to protect your kids. For example, despite what people may think of Donald Trump, most of us out there feel terrible whenever someone tries to drag his underage son, Barron, into a headline. Barron didn't ask for his father to be a person of interest, nor does he have much control over what's out there in the news.
Chelsea Clinton faced her own fair share of criticism. As someone who went through some of the stereotypically awkward teenage years in the spotlight, so many critics were unfairly harsh. Now Chelsea has more of a voice — and has been upfront about her treatment back in the '90s. "For me, maybe because I've had so much vitriol flung at me for as long as I can literally remember, people saying awful things to me even as a child, I've never found it productive, personally, to engage in that way," she once told The Guardian. "To retaliate with crass language or insult someone personally — I just don't think I'm built that way."
With a well-known parent, it can be especially hard if you don't agree with their perspective. For example, Kellyanne Conway's daughter Claudia has made the news several times due to her hot takes. It's apparent she doesn't have the same political views as her mother, who worked for Trump for years. It's a reminder that sometimes, politics can very well cause tension in the family.
Now Caroline Rose Giuliani has opened up to express her thoughts, right before the November election. Caroline is the daughter of Rudy Giuliani, and she is well aware of the power her last name brings. Sharing a personal story with Vanity Fair, she's urging people to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris this year. As her father thinks otherwise, her piece is both brave and important.
As Caroline explains in her essay, she often tells people she's a Giuliani during the second date. She knows there's a lot that comes with it, and that people are well aware of her father, the former mayor of New York City. "We are multiverses apart, politically and otherwise," she said. "I've spent a lifetime forging an identity in the arts separate from my last name."
The reason she's speaking up is because she knows this is one of the most important elections of all time. Even if she shares different political views from her father, she's still pretty well versed in politics — so her words mean a lot. "I've come to realize that none of us can afford to be silent right now," she said. "The stakes are too high."
She also explained her own relationship with her father and how she always tried to get him to change his mind. However, Rudy never budged. "It was disheartening to feel how little power I had to change his mind, no matter how logical and above-my-pay-grade my arguments were," she wrote. "He always found a way to justify his party line, whatever it was at the time."
It's unclear as to whether or not Rudy would be OK with these stories coming out, but they're her experiences, too — and they're interesting to view as an outsider. "Even though he was considered socially moderate for a Republican back in the day, we still often butted heads," she explained. "When I tried to explain my belief that you don't get to be considered benevolent on LGBTQ+ rights just because you have gay friends but don't support gay marriage, I distinctly remember him firing back with an intensity fit for an opposing politician rather than one's child."
Caroline admits that she's happy the conversations took place, although she wasn't all that thrilled regarding the outcome. Still, she didn't want to feel discouraged or silenced, which is likely one of the reasons why she wrote the piece. "It felt important to speak my mind, and I'm glad we at least managed to communicate at all," she said. "But the chasm was painful nonetheless, and has gotten exponentially more so in Trump’s era of chest-thumping partisan tribalism. I imagine many Americans can relate to the helpless feeling this confrontation cycle created in me, but we are not helpless. I may not be able to change my father's mind, but together, we can vote this toxic administration out of office."
One of the biggest issues she advocates for is fairness and love toward the LGBTQ community. "I am a filmmaker in the LGBTQ+ community who tells stories about mental health, sexuality, and other stigmatized issues, and my goal is to humanize people and foster empathy," she explained. "So I hope you'll believe me when I say that another Trump term (a term, itself, that makes me cringe) will irrevocably harm the LGBTQ+ community, among many others."
If you were unfamiliar with the details, Caroline made sure to outline the damage that could be done. "His administration asked the Supreme Court to let businesses fire people for being gay or trans, pushed a regulation to let health care providers refuse services to people who are LGTBQ+, and banned trans people from serving their country in the military," she said. "Women, immigrants, people with disabilities, and people of color are all also under attack by Trump's inhumane policies."
By coming out and speaking to the public, Caroline is proving that the Giuliani name can stand for different things. And even if her father may not agree with her, many Americans likely do. "If the unrelenting deluge of devastating news makes you think I'm crazy for having hope, please remember that making us feel powerless is a tactic politicians use to make us think our voices and votes don't matter," she said. "But they do. It's taken persistence and nerve to find my voice in politics."
But it's not just her distaste for the government today. Caroline fully believes that former Vice President Biden would be a great president for one big reason — he knows how to work with those who challenge him. "What inspires me most about Vice President Biden is that he is not afraid to surround himself with people who disagree with him," she said. "Choosing Senator Harris, who challenged him in the primary, speaks volumes about what an inclusive president he will be."
She also thinks that Biden would have no problem working alongside the past presidential candidates when it comes to making change in the world. He's aware they're all very passionate about our country and the people in it. "Biden is willing to incorporate the views of progressive-movement leaders like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on issues like universal health care, student debt relief, prison reform, and police reform," she wrote.
It's important for the president to be able to see everyone as people — regardless of color, sexuality, religion, or age. And it's important for the president to give people a voice. "In Joe Biden, we'll have a leader who prioritizes common ground and civility over alienation, bullying, and scorched-earth tactics," Caroline says.
She also mentioned climate change, which is an important issue that affects everyone. She believes that Biden has a good plan in place in order to make a big difference. "It is clear that our planet cannot survive four more years of this administration's environmental assault," she said. "This monumental challenge requires scientifically literate leadership and immediate action."
It's important for women like Caroline to speak out. It's also a big reminder not to judge a child by what their parents believe. Just because Caroline was raised by Rudy Giuliani doesn't mean that she has to think like him — and by writing this piece, she's doing everything she can to show the world that she's passionate about what's happening in the world.
Regardless of how you may vote, Caroline's piece is worth a full read. While her father may have shot down her political opinions, that only inspired her to speak them louder and to a wider audience. Having a political perspective is important, regardless of who you are. Caring about the planet and the well-being of others helps make the world a much kinder, safer place.
