@MrsDanaD When I was in local politics in SoCal, I saw this petty crap all the time. I publicly renounced and quit my Democratic mentor after he leaked to the media a phone call of a Republican politician who was crying and upset because her teen daughter was arrested for a minor drug violation. In fact, there was some speculation he might have arranged the arrest.
The voters want government service, not petty cruel games. I went to work for the Republican, even though I was a Democrat.