This rule certainly wasn't applied to Hillary when her husband was running for Prez... I couldn't believe the things my "conservative" colleagues would say. Guess I was brought up better. Most of what they said were what I considered fighting words. If they said that about my wife someone would have had to pry me off of their bludgeoned corpse.
I am not responsible for the jokes your co-workers told about Hillary. In their defense, it was clear from the start that Hillary was seeking a political career, and attempted to play a role in the governmental process (socialized medicine, ect.). Barbara Bush has never made herself out to be a voice of authority or policy in politics.