This election has been unique, to say the least. We've seen the number of potential Presidents run down from upward of twenty candidates between both parties, to our two nominees--the Democrat: Hillary Clinton, and Republican: Donald Trump. However, if that was the only thing off about this election, we would have been lucky. Now we have threats of using nuclear weapons on our enemies, emails leaks and scandals, desperation to get youth voters, and an overall disenchantment with the democratic system.

Yet despite all that, what we keep going back to is the potential First Lady of the United States. Even during the primary season, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz's attacks on the other's wife (Melania and Heidi, respectfully) were vicious and uncalled for. Now that we are in full swing of the election season and the official party nominees have been named, the attacks are getting even worse for all involved--which unfortunately includes the spouses of the two official nominees--Melania Trump and Bill Clinton.

We can all remember the scandal that came about following Melania’s speech given at the Republican National Convention just a few weeks ago. Shortly after Melania gave her speech, it broke that part of the speech was plagiarized from current First Lady, Michelle Obama. The backlash was not solely aimed at the Trump campaign speech writer, but was mainly focused around Melania herself, with many asking why she didn’t proofread further, or why she did not recognize the plagiarized material--things no one else would be expected to do.

Then again, early last week, Melania gained the spotlight once more. This time, the New York Post published Melania's nude photos from her extensive modeling career. Melania's modeling is no secret, nor has the Trump campaign attempted to cover up her past. However, the Post's use of those photographs as a way to slut shame Melania and question her validity as a potential First Lady is shameful. To question a woman's worth based solely off of photographs, is to ignore the rest of the woman and her worth as a person. To then turn around and shame her husband for marrying her is even worse.

A few days later, news broke of Melania potentially breaching immigration law in her way to gain citizenship within the United States. While this is an important issue, it can--and should--only be used as a springboard to discuss her husband (the actual presidential nominee) and his immigration policies. It is not another reason to make fun of Melania's birthplace and immigrant status. To try and push the real political debates aside in favor of mocking the spouses of the nominees is not only degrading to both the nominees and their spouses themselves, but also makes a foolery of this election and its coverage as a whole.

With that being said, Melania is not the only one getting unnecessary attention. Bill Clinton has not been attacked as often or as viciously as Melania, but attention toward his mistakes are just as bad. Bill is not the one running for president. He has had his time in the White House, and this time, the focus should be on his wife, Hillary Clinton. Bringing up Bill's policies from his political career, or mentioning some of his extracurricular activities during his time is pointless. Bill is not Hillary, and Hillary is not Bill. Electing Hillary will not be the same as electing her husband, so trying to discuss his platforms and political beliefs is useless and ignorant of the fact that, despite being married, they can have separate views.

If you want to discuss Melania's possibly plagiarized speech, don't do so in a way that shames her--do so in a way we can discuss her husband keeping the speechwriter on staff and pushing the blame off to someone else. Joking about deporting a nominee's wife is not right, so instead talk about how hypocritical and nonsensical her husband's proposed immigration policies are. Bill's rape accusation is something we need to talk about--but not in the context where Hillary is defined by his actions. If however, we were to discuss how Hillary shamed a twelve-year-old rape victim during her time as a lawyer, or how Donald is now also facing child sexual assault charges, that is much more relevant and important (because they are the actual nominees.)

Trying to push off the spouses as simply one-half of a package deal is limiting each of their own worth. Bill and Melania are people of their own right, and deserve to be recognized as such. They are not the ones on stage here--Donald and Hillary are--and they also need to be recognized and respected as such.