Presidents being embarrassed by family members is nothing new. Jimmy Carter had to suffer through Billy's alcholism, "Billy Beer", and Billy being hired to be a lobbyist for Libya.

I'm sure there are other cases, that's just the one that immediately popped to mind. Ronald Reagan had to put up with his son dancing in his underwear on "Saturday Night Live", a parody of "Risky Business".

As for W's niece, I understand that she was caught trying to buy a presciption medicine with a forged (fraudulent) prescription. That's a serious offense but not the same as fraud. She's in trouble and needs some help, possibly including the same kind of jail time anyone else would receive for a similar offense. I don't see anyone trying to get her off because of her father and uncle, nor do I see anyone excusing her action.