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Quayle also found himself enmeshed in controversy when it was alleged that his serving stateside in the [[National Guard]] during the [[Vietnam War]] was due to family connections in order to avoid the draft.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE6DD1231F932A1575BC0A96E948260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Organizations/R/Republican%20Party BUSH STRUGGLING TO SHED QUESTIONS ON QUAYLE SERVICE]</ref> There was more controversy over a Vice President serving in the National Guard than there was over the next President ([[Bill Clinton]]) avoiding the war altogether.

Quayle also found himself enmeshed in controversy when it was alleged that his serving stateside in the [[National Guard]] during the [[Vietnam War]] was due to family connections in order to avoid the draft.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE6DD1231F932A1575BC0A96E948260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Organizations/R/Republican%20Party BUSH STRUGGLING TO SHED QUESTIONS ON QUAYLE SERVICE]</ref> There was more controversy over a Vice President serving in the National Guard than there was over the next President ([[Bill Clinton]]) avoiding the war altogether.

Perhaps the lowest blow directed at Quayle occurred during his vice presidential debate with Democrat [[Lloyd Bentsen]], [[Michael Dukakis]]' running mate. Quayle had already been subjected to being asked the same question three times, an unprecedent move by the moderators who were supposed to be neutral.  When they went on to query him on his comparatively short record, he replied that he had as much Congressional experience as [[John F. Kennedy]]. Bentsen's operatives had overheard Quayle making the comment during practice, and Bentsen had already forged a reply in case the statement was made in the debate. Unwilling or unable to factually counter Quayle's assertion, Bentsen decided to take the fact that he had known Kennedy for a short while in the late 1940s and massively exaggerate it in order to make a deeply personal attack that sidestepped the issue completely, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." Obviously left hurt and shellshocked by the sudden attack, Quayle could only reply that Bentsen's remark was "really uncalled for."

Perhaps the lowest blow directed at Quayle occurred during his vice presidential debate with Democrat [[Lloyd Bentsen]], [[Michael Dukakis]]' running mate. Quayle had already been subjected to being asked the same question three times, an unprecedent move by the moderators who were supposed to be neutral.  When they went on to query him on his comparatively short record, he replied that he had as much Congressional experience as [[John F. Kennedy]]. Bentsen's operatives had overheard Quayle making the comment during practice, and Bentsen had already forged a reply in case the statement was made in the debate. Unwilling or unable to factually counter Quayle's assertion, Bentsen decided to take the fact that he had known Kennedy for a short while in the late 1940s and massively exaggerate it in order to make a deeply personal attack that sidestepped the issue completely, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." Obviously stung by a sudden personal attack that avoided the issues, Quayle only replied "that comment was uncalled for senator".

While entirely correct, Quayle's rebuttal lacked the immediate impact of Bentsen's attack, and so the liberal-dominated press quickly twisted it into a sign of weakness on Quayle's part. The Democrats seized on this opportunity and made it a rallying cry for their campaign, but this led to a tactical mistake on the part of the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket. They decided to make a concerted effort to attack Quayle's performance and worthiness instead of focusing on attacking the Presidential candidate George Bush. The Bush-Quayle ticket coasted to victory in November.  

Incredibly, the vicious personal attack was not condemned by the press as unprofessional and unbecoming and instead actually became a rallying cry for the Democratic party, but also led to a tactical mistake on the part of the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket. They decided to make a concerted effort to attack Quayle's performance and worthiness instead of focusing on attacking the Presidential candidate George Bush. The Bush-Quayle ticket coasted to victory in November.

As Vice President, he had a much publicized "feud" with "[[Murphy Brown]]", a then popular TV character played by [[Candice Bergen]]. Dan Quayle said that since she had given birth to a child out of wedlock, she was a poor role model for young women. His statements led to a media backlash.  Even though Quayle took great care in noting he was not criticizing women who were in that situation through no particular fault of their own, he was besieged with false allegations and smears.  

As Vice President, he had a much publicized "feud" with "[[Murphy Brown]]", a then popular TV character played by [[Candice Bergen]]. Dan Quayle said that since she had given birth to a child out of wedlock, she was a poor role model for young women. His statements led to a media backlash.  Even though Quayle took great care in noting he was not criticizing women who were in that situation through no particular fault of their own, he was besieged with false allegations and smears.  

[[Category: United States Senators]]

[[Category: United States Senators]]

[[Category: United States Representatives]]

[[Category: United States Representatives]]

[[Category:Republican Party]]

[[Category: Republican Party]]