To be fair...
I've seen this odd crap directed at well-known figures on both sides of the aisle, although it does seem to lean a bit toward ridiculing Republicans.
For example, a lot of "Bozo shots" of Kerry made the wires before the election. If someone fires off forty frames at you while you're doing ANYTHING, some of those shots are going to look goofy. You're at the mercy of the photographer and news editors.
On the other hand, when Kerry got into that bunny suit, that was his doing.