After my February project assessing the 2016 presidential candidates’ records on child advocacy and victim/survivor advocacy, I was curious how much attention remaining presidential candidates are paying to children and children’s issues. So I turned to Twitter. I looked at all the tweets from the last month (since June 22) from four presidential candidates: Hillary Clinton (Democrat Party), Donald Trump (Republican Party), Gary Johnson (Libertarian Party), and Jill Stein (Green Party). I included only those individuals’ original tweets (including original tweets that featured memes, graphics, and videos). And I included any tweets that featured the following words: kid, child, children, infant, baby, girl, boy, young.
The following are the results. They are presented with no comment so you can draw your own conclusions.
Hillary Clinton
1973:
Donald Trump is sued for housing discrimination.
Hillary begins her career at the Children’s Defense Fund. https://t.co/mE1p5ac3yw— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 19, 2016
What kind of president do we want our kids looking up to? https://t.co/pdphHQmYCM
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 16, 2016
When our kids are scared by our politicians and policy debates, it’s a sign something has gone badly off the rails. https://t.co/pdphHQEzuk
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 14, 2016
Too many kids say bye to their parents every morning, not knowing if mom or dad will be there when they get home.
We have to fix this.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 14, 2016
Remember: When @realDonaldTrump opens his mouth, our kids are listening.https://t.co/pdphHQEzuk
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 14, 2016
“When kids are scared by political candidates and policy debates, it’s a sign something has gone badly wrong.” —Hillary
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 13, 2016
“I want…all of our children to grow up in a country where violence like the kind we saw last week doesn’t happen again” —Hillary
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 13, 2016
Happy birthday, Malala! Thank you for fighting for every girl’s right to an education. pic.twitter.com/GjC69J0rSr
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 12, 2016
We have a responsibility to fight for the next generation. All of us. #TBThttps://t.co/p4FcuCcVmW
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 8, 2016
Too many African American families are mourning. Too many young black men and women have been taken from us. pic.twitter.com/arkjOeLu7G
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 7, 2016
“The death of Alton Sterling is a tragedy, and my prayers are with his family.” —Hillary pic.twitter.com/Yky4ZxfbLN
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 7, 2016
Thanks to the Children’s Health Insurance Program, eight million kids like Kayla are covered. Watch the new ad:https://t.co/nxVpETmcxy
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 27, 2016
“The children’s health program wouldn’t be in existence today if we didn’t have Hillary pushing for it.” https://t.co/fCZfdKLRkK
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 27, 2016
LGBT kids are perfect the way they are. They deserve love and acceptance—not bullying and violence. pic.twitter.com/3ICu66ozzV
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 24, 2016
Good for you, Jensen. Every woman deserves equal pay, no matter what her age. Keep up the hard work—and courage! https://t.co/F83gK5oZ6W -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 24, 2016
“Progress is possible … I know Republicans and Democrats can work together, because I’ve done it.” —Hillary https://t.co/a21aYF7NUj
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 22, 2016
Families shouldn’t have to spend more than 10% of their income on child care. pic.twitter.com/EYR8iWoYfb
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 22, 2016
Every child should have a path to success:
Pre-K: https://t.co/LI6Zh7Db2N
School: https://t.co/KWTLAEJ3tz
College: https://t.co/A4pWb3fOf4— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 22, 2016
Donald Trump
I am soooo proud of my children, Don, Eric and Tiffany – their speeches, under enormous pressure, were incredible. Ivanka intros me tonight!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 21, 2016
Congratulations to my children, Don and Tiffany, on having done a fantastic job last night. I am very proud of you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2016
Horrible killing of a 13 year old American girl at her home in Israel by a Palestinian terrorist. We must get tough. https://t.co/zauQ6kb9Hj
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2016
Congratulations to my son, Eric, on the fantastic job he has done in rebuilding Turnberry, and its great Ailsa Course. Always support kids!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2016
“@AllegrettiVicki: You have great children, future presidents…and we all see were raised right and out there for their father.” Thank you.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2016
Gary Johnson
No relevant tweets.
Jill Stein
A society that preys on its young can never thrive. We must liberate an entire generation of students being crushed by predatory loans.
— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) July 21, 2016
There is only one candidate that supports abolishing student debt for the young people that will lead the way forward. It’s not Hillary.
— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) July 12, 2016
#SCOTUS decision today is terrible. We need to provide safe homes for undocumented workers with children and protect them from deportation.
— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) June 23, 2016