A: 

Use the direct descendant css selector >. This will target only that element's direct children.

jQuery
$('.parent > ul > a')

css
.parent > ul > a {}

html
<ul class="parent">
    <li>
        <a>Cufon Here</a>
        <ul>
            <li><a>No Cufon Here</a></li>
        </ul>
    </li>
</ul>

More info about child selectors at http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/selector.html#child-selectors

washwithcare
great thanks, stumbled on the same answer. Much appreciated
Kevin
A: 

Found this solution and it seems to be working:

ul.parent > li > a

via http://groups.google.com/group/cufon/browse_thread/thread/06d09135431f6703

Kevin