When comedians or pundits joke about the spouses and children of U.S. presidents, there is hell to pay. “Leave the kids out of it,” cry the president’s toadies. “The (spouse) didn’t ask for this.”

In the case of the Obama family, the doubly damning cry of racism is heaped upon the commentator.

When it comes to presidential or vice presidential candidates, the gloves are completely off. “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane delivered an episode mocking Sarah Palin’s son Trig who has Down Syndrome.

Here are a few of these violations of protocol. Public life is not for the timid.