TresSugar

Chelsea Clinton, "MYOB!" Meghan McCain, "Shoes!"

CitizenSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:00:15 -0700

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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Is This Really Why We Wanted Hillary's First Lady Papers?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:00:33 -0700

Hillary Clinton just released her much anticipated logs and schedules from her tenure as First Lady. While some, like Time are probably interested in how she spent her time in the White House in terms of her foreign policy resume (check out the story, it's a great straight-forward look at her roles in Ireland and Macedonia.) But there's always a little bonus slice of juice if you have the inclination to dig deeply enough (or "go there" as it were).

Hillary was in the White House while Bill and Monica were together. There. I said it. I'm a bad person for being interested in this detail.

In my defense, I'm not the only one. Many, many, many news outlets care too. Hillary was in the White House on "Blue Dress Day."

In my defense, I'm interested for a couple of reasons: the sheer speed in which people hopped on this detail and flung it around the world perhaps says something about the lingering perception of Hillary's time in the White House. Maybe a little something about how we consider details of a female candidate's record differently than a man's. And just perhaps that given the complicated times we live in now, it's nice to relive a piece of titillation from a simpler time. Gap dress, I hardly knew ye.

Be honest. Was your interest piqued?

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Quiz Nation! Monica's Day Job?

LibertySugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:07:37 -0800

Since we just "celebrated" the tenth anniversary of the revelation of the Monica Lewinsky scandal, we just thought we'd ask . . .

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Take the quiz

Bill and Hillary: Proving That Relationships Go Through Phases

TresSugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:00:00 -0700

It's hard enough being in a relationship, but imagine having every facet of it scrutinized by the media and the unwashed masses.

For as long as Bill and Hillary Clinton have been in the public eye, questions have centered on how stable (or authentic) their marriage is. Did Hillary sacrifice her political ambitions early on for Bill? Did they stay together after the Monica Lewinsky scandal because his presidential reputation was in tatters? Were they rarely seen together during her presidential campaign because of rifts in their marriage or because, as some suggested, Bill just didn't want to upstage her?

Whatever the case, now that Hillary is secretary of state, they've been recently sighted hand-in-hand, lovey-dovey, in New York City. No doubt some will speculate that this is more spin from the power couple.

Although few of us know what it's like to be in a relationship for 30 years, some of us have had long-term relationships that moved from the love-crazed loonies phase to something more mundane but comfortable. Have you been surprised - or alarmed - by phases in a relationship?

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Check This: The I Heart Philanderers Backlash

CitizenSugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:00:06 -0700

Scandal-aficionados recognize the pattern instantly: the story breaks, the news bashes out wall-to-wall coverage, there's an announcement usually with a side of wife, an agonizing period where the man waits to see if his indiscretion will climax or fade, and then the inevitable bail out. Nothing in our culture will nail you faster than sex. So to speak.

But not everyone is so horrified. I'm not. Sure, prostitution is illegal, so Spitzer-gate might be worth a second glance on that front, but as for being an outrage? Nah. A man having sex? And looking for it as many places as he can get it? Hardly a unicorn. I suppose it could even be argued that Spitzer was being responsible using a professional to fulfill his needs. (A well-paid one at that.) Far from being profligate, Spitzer's outlay of thousands might have been a good investment in her silence - if it wasn't for those pesky investigators, it would have been a wad worth shooting. I'm just getting warmed up, read more.

I don't know if it's America's Puritanical impulses, or the insatiable desire to grab a cheap thrill by endlessly deconstructing the naughtiness, in the end I might be most shocked by our appetite for coverage - which oft times produces some hilarious results. But as for the sex itself, regardless of a man's job, isn't he just following his biological impulses? Perpetuation of the species, and all?

I do take umbrage with one peccadillo in particular: Monica Lewinsky. I know, but it's not what - it's where. The Oval Office to me is a sacred place. If you're going to do it, please don't sully the altar of democracy. Meanwhile, poor Senator Craig gets drug through mud over an incident so mild and vague it requires elaborate charades and an advanced degree in human sexuality to begin to understand. At the end of the day, give me a leader who rocks out good laws, fair judgment, and stellar diplomacy, regardless of what or who they do on their time off. I'd rather not imagine most of them in bed anyway.

It might not be the most popular stance to take, but at least I can wrap myself in the security that I haven't echoed Dr. Laura who answered the question "do women make men cheat" by saying, “Yes, I hold women accountable for tossing out perfectly good men by not treating them with the love and kindness and respect and attention they need.” Women don't make men philander. Men do.

I'm sure there are a ton of you who beg to differ with itchy commenting fingers. I can't wait to hear from you.

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Should Public Officials Get Private Lives?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:00:37 -0800

Arlington, OR, Mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist was recalled by voters who disapproved of her less-than-professional pictures posted on her MySpace profile. The pictures were snapped before she took office and she stands by her right to strictly draw a line between public and private life. She says she doesn't regret posting the photos, saying that essentially that, it's my. space. That's why they call it MySpace. She also said,

"My reaction is that the democratic process took place, and that is a good process that we have in the United States, and it's fair."

The situation does call to mind the Monica Lewinsky snafu. What if she'd had a Facebook page in 1998? No "pokes" jokes I promise.

And finally, here's a sample of headline jokesters:

Oregon Mayor Stripped Of Office After Posing In Underwear
MySpace Mayor: Kontur-Gronquist Loses Job After Losing Clothes
Busty Mayor Stripped of Office
Lingerie MySpace Mayor Recalled...

But the serious question remains: do voters have the right to consider the whole picture of a candidate, public and private life, when choosing a leader?