It could be the campaign equivalent of a sucker punch. While stumping for her mom yesterday at Butler University, Chelsea Clinton was unexpectedly rocked by the big M-question: Monica. Specifically, did the 1998 event harm Hillary's reputation. Chelsea whipped back a crowd stirring response.
Wow, you’re the first person actually that’s ever asked me that question in the, I don’t know, 70 college campuses that I’ve now been to and I do not think that’s any of your business.
This story of this tough event contrasts wildly with the sunshine-and-light profile of Meghan McCain in today's Washington Post. For these two campaign daughters, the whistle-stops might be the same, but their roles in the spotlight couldn't be more different. To see how, with video of yesterday's gripping event, read more.
Chelsea has famously found her voice this campaign, wowing audiences as a savvy spokeswoman for her mom, deftly fielding questions at townhalls and college campus Q&As. She's prepped on all of the toughies, from foreign policy to free trade, answering in the compact, confident, and specific style of her mom, with all the charm of her dad. Growing up absorbing the political acumen of her parents, which burst forth in yesterday's answer, it's clear that's the role she's meant to play in this campaign.
Meghan's chosen a different role in her dad's campaign, but one that fits her as perfectly as the five pairs of shoes she totes with her on the campaign trail. In this fun Post piece, Meghan (proprietress of McCainBlogette.com — an online diary and scrapbook of her experience on the trail) talks about her mom's penchant for Cheetos, and Henry Kissinger's taste in loafers. Not shy about her socially liberal bent — she voted for John Kerry in 2004 — a mildly surprising tidbit she's never hidden. She's working the campaign, solidly behind her dad, with her tilted cap and aviator sunglasses firmly in place.
Do you like one daughter's campaign role more? Do you think they're doing a good job staying true to themselves under the spotlight?
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I heard about this this morning and I just cringed. Poor Chelsea, the gall of that person to ask something like that... despicable...
She handled it well though, kudos to her!
1I love Chelsea! That was a great response.
2While I think that's a valid question, I think it would be better suited to ask Hillary herself. It's cruel to ask Chelsea, who had nothing to do with the entire adultery situation. =(
3I like both daughters and think they are both handling the situations they're in very well. I feel like each one is staying true to who she is and each one has the role in the respective campaigns that she chose. I have never been particularly fond of the Clintons in relation to their political viewpoints, but I can definitely say that they raised their daughter well, as did the McCains. (On a side note, one of my favorite blog posts of Meghan McCain's is the "Real Beauty" post from March 10. She and Chelsea both seem like great role models for young girls.)
4Oh, and I think the person who asked Chelsea Clinton about Lewinsky and the people who have been criticizing Meghan McCain about her weight/shape are absolutely disgusting!
5what is wrong with meghan mccain's weight or shape??
6I don't think anything is, cabaker; I personally think she's gorgeous. But she had a post on her blog where she talked about people criticizing her shape and one person giving her a plastic surgeon's card and telling her to call if she wanted liposuction. Disgusting, if you ask me.
7Sometimes I really don't know what is wrong with people.
8Asking Chelsea did seem tacky but it was a valid question about Hillary's credibility. But if the guy was trying to make any kind of point, Chelsea clearly was ready to shoot it down. All he did was sharpen her skills.
9I think it was yesterday or Monday too, that Chelsea was asked about her mother's recollection of the 'dangerous' Bosnia trip and she said she stood by what her mother said. That hurts Chelsea's credibility, having to stand by her mother's mis-speaking. Did Chelsea remember it the same way or not? I hope I wouldn't put my child in that position.
I think it was awful to ask Chelsea anything about the affair her father had. It must have been deeply painful for her at the time - I can't imagine. What was the guy asking the question trying to get at, though? How can you attack the credibility of the spouse who was cheated on? Did Hilary say something about Bill's affair at the time that I'm not remembering? (I was a bit too young to be following politics closely at the time it happened).
10They both seem to be doing well at the roles they've chosen.
That was a ridiculous question to ask Chelsea.
11I don't see how that is even a valid question to begin with. It's like, what's your strategy for Iraq, how will you improve the economy, tell us about Monica. How do you even answer that question? No, it didn't? The whole point of a campaign is to get out there and share your views and convince people that you are credible so really the answer is in the eye of the beholder anyway.
12What in God's name does Bill's affair have to do with Hillary's credibility. PLEASE explain that to me.
13Sorry, I can't stand Chelsea. I'd rather read Meghan's blog than listen to Chelsea speak. I don't think she's charismatic like her dad...she's more like her mom, a bore.
14Good for Chelsea! I liking her more and more these days. I wish I could say the same about her mother and father. Both of them have been turning this election into a bloodsport and are really annoying me (I'm an Obama supporter).
15Hillary initially blamed the vast, right wing conspiracy for all the rumors. She never exactly defended Bill as much as attack everyone who brought up the matter. It's hard to describe without appearing to question Hillary's motives as a wife AND a potential candidate. But generally, her response was always that the right was out to get them. In a lot of ways it was possible; I believe Rush Limbaugh accused the Clintons of killing Vince Foster among other things and right-wing donors kept Paula Jones cleaned up and in the public eye.
16Because of that very messy past though, I hope I'd be more careful about asking my daughter to speak for me.
"What in God's name does Bill's affair have to do with Hillary's credibility. PLEASE explain that to me."
Basically, Hillary said that there was no affair, and that it was a vast, right-wing conspiracy, or something along those lines.
That means she was either 1) totally clueless, or 2) lying to protect her husband.
The question was whether those statements hurt her credibility, not whether the affair did.
While I think the question was inappropriately directed at Chelsea, I don't think it's an entirely invalid question in and of itself.
Interestingly enough, it seemed to me like Chelsea was a little too ready to take that question, and too ready with her answer. I'm sure she'd been expecting it.
The funny thing is, it didn't come off well because he wasn't asking about the affair specifically, he was asking about statement Hillary made.
A better response might have been: "That's not something I'm going to discuss." The "none of your business" would have been better suited to a question about her thoughts/feelings about the affair.
17And The McCain girl listens to some decent music. I hadn't stopped by her blog before but I was pleasantly surprised by her playlists.
It's well-written too. She's doing a good job over there.
18"While I think the question was inappropriately directed at Chelsea, I don't think it's an entirely invalid question in and of itself."
I agree.
I think her answer 'it's none of your business' was very haughty, shows the mother's influence. She should have said "I have no comment on that. Next question?"
19The question was ridiculous and unnecessary. If someone doesn't know by now how that experience has effected Chelsea, Hillary or Bill than you've been living under a freaking rock and the boat sailed with out you. Move On!
20I don't think the person asking the question meant it to be a bad thing. They should have realized it (duh!), but I don't think they were being intentionally hurtful. They were trying to give a leading question, suggesting that Hillary's struggles have made her stronger. The person who asked the question is a Clinton supporter.
21Geez, with supporters like that...
22How was the person who asked the question out of line? Hello, this is politics. I found it outrageous for her to respond like that. Every single moral fiber of each of the candidates is tested in a presidential race. How is it none of the publics business? I wish things were different and these kinds of things didn't make as much of a difference as they do, but it's just the way it is and you have to play by the rules.
Chelsea is traveling around to promote her mother, not everyone is going to shower Hillary with praise. Why wasn't she more prepared for that? Chelsea lost an opportunity to shed a positive light on the way her mother handled the Lewinsky situation. She could have taken the taboo out of it but instead she blew her cool.
23Good for her!
24"Chelsea lost an opportunity to shed a positive light on the way her mother handled the Lewinsky situation. She could have taken the taboo out of it but instead she blew her cool."
I VERY MUCH agree!
25I am indifferent about this. It is politics. If she is going to put herself out there, then she should know not everyone will play nice.
26I loved Chelsea's response. It is absolutely no on but the Clinton family's business. I personally never cared. It has nothing to do with any of the issues at hand.
27My sentiments exactly, Chellybean!
28With all due respect chellybean, as you say "I wish things were different and these kinds of things didn't make as much of a difference as they do, but it's just the way it is and you have to play by the rules."
Well you know the first step to making a dream come true is to pursue it, not wallow in indifference, complacency and say oh well this is the way it is.. nothings changing.
Chelsea has every right to rise above tabloid curiosity and that's precisely what it was and nothing less. This topic has been milled over for close to ten years now and like I say in my statement above any one who is that curious about it now has had to be living under a rock.
Hillary may or may not have a sense of entitlement when it comes to the Presidency but what is just as irritating to me is the public's sense of entitlement into every needled detail of peoples lives simply because their in the public eye. Have a certain standard about ones self. Have some dignity and mutual respect for people.
This was not innocent curiosity this was instigation and Chelsea told he instigator what they could do with their question.
29Point is, hypnotic, is that she could have worded her response better. Her answer was worse than the question presented. Very uncouth of her.
30I think that person should have been tasered.
31No one's asking about her father's behavior or the lurid details - but her mother accused a 'vast conspiracy of right wing interests' of being behind claims which eventually were proven true. She accused the Right of smearing Bill. So, since Hillary's running to be president of everyone in the U.S., it is fair to ask if accusing the Right of lying about something that her husband was in fact doing, harmed her credibility.
32It doesn't seem nice to have asked Chelsea.
The other day Hillary Clinton made a statement about Barack Obama's preacher stating that had she been a member of the church, she would have left after hearing the reverend's words. She claimed that you can choose your preacher but not your family, referring to the fact that Obama said the revered was like an uncle to him.
33Well, you can also choose your husband, and if Hillary can judge Barack Obama for his preacher being angry about racial injustices, surely we can judge her for her husband being an adulterer. I think it was a perfectly valid question, and if Hillary somehow gets the nomination you know the Republicans will just trash her for it. I have to agree though that it isn't a question to ask of the daughter, but even then, it wasn't as if the person asked how it affected the marriage or how Chelsea felt about it...just how it could hurt Hillary's bid for the nomination. Chelsea should have seen a question like this coming a long time ago and should have had a great answer waiting to spin everything in a positive light. Instead she gets angry and refuses to respond to someone who was probably a Hillary supporter. I just don't see how that was a great answer. When you're running for president, whether you like it or not, everything is public business.
Hypnotic, I love you! It's like you were reading my mind with that last comment!
34There are many more pressing issues that currently face our country than that issue, I think.
35love that avatar reesiecup!
36There was nothing valid about that question. Give me a break. Why the hell ask her daughter something like??? That isn't a question for the child of the woman the cheating happened to. Not at all. Totally wrong. I think Chelsea is a wonderful woman. What a great role model for young woman and little girls. I mean I couldn't be prouder of that family. Chelsea is a such a great young woman. I was proud of her response. What an jerk that guy was. Nothing valid about that question. Nothing. I think its great to see two woman not out boozing it up. However Chelsea has to be my favorite daughter of a candidate. She is really shining and she is soooo smart. Keep it up Chelsea you're such an asset to your mother.
37Yes, Indielove if you want to argue a point of flawed diplomacy on Chelseas part I will gladly yield. But I do not fault her for her gut emotional response because it was genuine unlike the source of the question.
38Great post, yumprolli.
I see where you're coming from, hypnotic. After the heat her mother has faced in the past few days, she didn't need to add to the negative image though, that's just my opinion.
Many would think that I just hate the Clintons but that's not true. Actually, I like Bill...always have. He messed up in some areas but that doesn't take away from his intellect or like my friend Jude likes to say(I'm stealing your words, Jude! OH my gosh...plagiarism!)...'charismatic warmth'.
39Poor Chelsea. Ask Hillary, don't ask her daughter.
40I think the validity of the question is, as a couple of posters have stated, how Hillary's reaction to it back then may reflect on her integrity. Personally, I don't really care one way or the other about Bill's infidelities. But it is a valid question to some.
41You know what's funny? How Hillary, just yesterday, brought up the Rev. Wright debacle when she'd shied(as far as I can recall) from that topic altogether but since her Bosnia flap, she brings this situation up again to take the heat off of herself. She's despicable.
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/03/25/clinton-rev-wright-would-not-hav...
42Thanks, Jude.
43God bless humanities flaws, keeps these rooms ALIVE!
Yeah, there is certainly plenty and then some legitimate useful things to go after the Clinton's on. I just think this was silly.
44You know, I think this was a missed opportunity even if the question was in somewhat bad taste. Monica is the elephant in the room (no pun intended), and I don't know why Hillary doesn't put it to rest by explaining why she chose to stand by her husband. I think many voters care about whether or not she's either callous and so ambitious that she'd rather stay married and get elected or so forgiving and weak that she'd just stay in a bad marriage. Bill Clinton's affair severely damaged this country's integrity, and made D.C. into a laughing stock across the world. What's worse is that he lied under oath about it and probably tried to use his power and office to strong arm Monica into lying, too. That affair probably cost Al Gore the presidency in 2000, and it might cost Hillary the White House, too, if she doesn't address it.
45I, for one, strongly believe that she stayed in the marriage for political gain. I see no real affection between those two. They're a unit, that's for sure and they're set on achieving their goals together.
46I don't think she can really address the Monica thing because it'll just prove who calculating she really is. Smug and manipulative.
47I see your point Mali01, but then the topic at the top of the page will read (Was Hillary being sincere when she talked about the scandal or is she just ambitious and will do and say anything)c'mon there has to be a point were someone walks up the isle sits in the drivers seat and puts the breaks on this out of control bus.
If they just keep feeding the questions what's going to come is more questions certainly not satisfaction.
48Those doubts a lot of us have about Hillary's marital motives scare me - I keep thinking that the Republicans want her to be the nominee because they know they've got the ammunition to take her down quickly.
49I know, stephley. I mean how much crap can they dig up on Obama? Most of the 'scandal' he's dealt with wasn't anything he did himself, it's been about the people he worked and have been associated with. With the exception of Rezko, where Obama is only guilty by association, the other debacles were either misinterpreted, slips of the tongues or their own personal beliefs and opinions. Big whoop.
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