Well, I guess Chelsea is fair game now too....

[ShaneGR]

It's sad to see Democrats go after Chelsea like this.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

(CNN) — It's a subject Chelsea Clinton would clearly like to avoid, but the former first daughter again fielded a question on the Monica Lewinsky scandal Monday.

Campaigning at North Carolina State, a student brought up the touchy-subject, saying the scandal was the public's business since the incident occurred when her father was President of the United States.

The younger Clinton sharply disagreed she should discuss the matter.

"It's none of your business," she said. "That is something that is personal to my family. I'm sure there are things that are personal to your family that you don't think are anyone else's business either."

[Danger Mouse]

1. I don't understand what Lewinsky has to do with Hillary's campaign...

and why somebody would ask Chelsea this.
It's just stupidity.

[americanstranger]

6. Agitators.

Chelsea is absolutely right to respond the way she has.

But if Clinton becomes the nominee, I wouldn't be surprised if Lewinski is revisited with relish - along with everything else that happened during Bill's presidency.

That's why I don't understand the declarations that Hillary has successfully fought these charges. Even if she had (and I'm skeptical), it doesn't mean that these subjects won't be brought up all over again.

- as

[IndyHatedByBothSides]

11. Ask Gore whether the Lewinsky scandal helped

For parents like myself, it set a poor example and raised questions that are better discussed in sex education class when a child is sufficiently mature to process the information. Like many working-class Democrats democrats at the time, I didn't appreciate having to explain oral sex to a seven-year-old.

[smartvoter]

22. You can thank Kennyboy for those details. nt

[IndyHatedByBothSides]

25. Kennyboy would have had nothing to investigate...

...had Clinton kept his fly up and treated the Oval Office with the dignity it is due. One can blame the Republicans for sensationalizing this incident, but it is Clinton who created the sensation "because I could." I'm sorry, but a man who will screw an intern half his age because he can get away with it, will also screw the party and the people he was elected to represent.

[dogday]

55. You really think he is the first President that has unzipped

his fly while President? The Republicans set their sights for Clinton... Watch The Hunting Of A President... It drove the Republicans nuts they could not pin Whitewater or anything else on Clinton.....

[susankh4]

85. That is correct.

And they will do the same with Mr. Obama. Whether he deserves it or not.

[dogday]

97. That I do fear... We need to be most aware of the Republican

Smear Machine, after seeing it in action in 2004.

[WinkyDink]

62. Well, first of all, since the Clinton Admin is over, one can see the stupidity of your conclusion.

Or do you think the WTC, Katrina, and Iraq deaths occurred prior to Bush? Or the curent debt? Or the current price of gas?
MORAN.

And your umbrage would have remained sheathed had KEN STARR not decided to make sure the public could read all the salacious details in his widely-published report.

Let's be clear here: Clinton was the adulterer; Starr was the pervert.

[Vickers]

36. Independent, huh?

:rofl:

Welcome to DU yadda yadda yadda...

[tabasco]

45. I bet you are equally outraged by republican senators trolling for sex in bathrooms.

Yeah, I bet you are, with your talking points.

I bet you are outraged over the way Bush has run the country into the ground with an unjustified war on Iraq.

We had peace when Clinton was President, now we have a bloody quagmire and economic collapse. We have 18-year olds coming home in boxes. But all you screech about is a fucking blowjob. Take your fiction writing and your faux outrage back to FR where it belongs. If republicans hadn't launched an inquisition, we never would know or care about it. You claim the Oval Office deserves respect. LMAO. The people of this country deserve respect not a fucking office! Bush has SHIT on all of us but all you screech about is Clinton having consensual sex. You are seriously fucked up in the head.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

60. "I had to explain to my children what anal sex was..."

But we never heard that, did we.

The "what'll we tell the children meme" is straight off the GOP fax machine.

[leftynyc]

69. Great rant

Wish I was as articulate. I just wanted to say fuck off to that "indie" asshole.

[MediaBabe]

73. Then why did you?

Why did you tell your seven year old about oral sex?

Were you incapable of saying "This is grownup stuff. You'll understand when you are older."

Most parents want to protect their children. Why didn't you? Couldn't force yourself to turn off the TV? Couldn't tell your friends "Let's talk about something else for now" when your child came into the room?

[Hieronymus]

80. Hillary better get used to questions about Monica.

[Chulanowa]

88. Congratulations, and welcome.

Welcome, for you are obviously new to DU.

Congratulations, because you've managed to condense the majority of RW Clenis talking-points into a single post.

You explained oral sex to your seven year-old? How silly are you? You realize you can just change the channel to a cartoon and the question will fly out of their mind, right? Sheesh.

[Bunny]

90. I'm surprised you actually explained oral sex to a seven-year old.

My daughter was also seven at the time, and I told her that Bill Clinton was in trouble because he dated someone who wasn't his wife. And oral sex was just something that grownups did. She was perfectly fine with that simple explanation, and never questioned it again. If you actually explained what oral sex is to your seven year old, you definitely overreacted.

[NanceGreggs]

91. "HAVING to explain?"

How did that happen? Did someone come to your house and put a gun to your head?

Of all the RW talking points I've heard over the years, the "I had to explain oral sex to my child" line is the most laughable.

You CHOSE to do what you did. You didn't HAVE to do anything of the kind.

[Psephos]

15. It's crass and classless, but...

politics is crass and classless. You don't become a campaign spokesperson without understanding that profoundly. In the real world, tens of millions of voters still think about Lewinsky et al. every time the name Clinton is mentioned. It ain't going away.

HRC was deeply involved in the P.R. offensive and behind-the-scenes damage management and maneuvering in the Lewinsky aftermath. It's legitimate to raise the question why HRC chose to be an enabler and denier for WJC's lack of impulse control when it had such harmful effects on his job. Taking risks like that literally inside the Oval Office showed disregard for or naivete about the blackmail/security aspects of such reckless choices.

[still_one]

48. because under oath Clinton lied about the relationship. Otherwise it wouldn't matter

However, the reality is, that Bill Clinton's multiple affairs WILL be an issue for some people, and why a person would stay with a husband who constantly cheated on her.

Race is going to be an issue for some people also.

The question is will either issue be a showstopper

To me a much more troubling aspect was Hillary lying about Bosnia, on FOUR seperate occasions. That puts a large question mark in my mind about her mental stability. Who fabricates such a thing?

[leftofcool]

2. She will continue to get this

She is doing the right thing by saying "nunya business."

[CoffeeCat]

3. The scandal was the public's business....

...because this happened when Bill was President.

So...ask Bill about it. Ask Hillary about it.

Why on Earth would anyone ask Chelsea Clinton to comment on this or to discuss her father's
infidelity in a political context?

She was a teenager when this happened. She was a child. She probably spent many sleepless
nights, crying herself to sleep while this was happening.

Chelsea Clinton was a VICTIM in this situation. To ask her about this subject, is very
insensitive and mean spirited.

[IndyHatedByBothSides]

14. Yes and no

1) Chelsea was a victim of Bill's philandering.

2) I would also argue that Hillary was a victim, and Monica as well. (Yes, Monica consented, but she wasn't much older than Chelsea and there was a clear imbalance of power between Monica and Bill).

3) However, Chelsea is no longer just the teenage daughter of Bill and Hillary. She's an official spokeswoman for the Clinton campaign. Therefore, I feel she is now fair game for this question.

[CoffeeCat]

19. I think it's mean spirited though...

How could she possibly speak objectively about this and offer
anything meaningful?

She can't talk about this in political terms. This was a tragedy
in her life. She experienced the situation, as a teenage girl, so
her perspective and experience about this is private--and really, no
one's business.

This is a deep personal hurt. She shouldn't be forced to share hurt
about her father screwing an intern behind her mother's back.

It's just wrong.

[DURHAM D]

68. You are in the wrong forum. eom

[arikara]

89. No way... I totally agree with your 1 & 2 but

its just plain mean-spirited and nasty to ask any daughter no matter what age about her father's affair even if it was very public and political. Some things are never fair game.

[Bigleaf]

4. How do we know the questioner was a Democrat?

[yewberry]

7. The first questioner claimed that he was a Clinton supporter.

Thus a Democrat.

I'm not sure that's exactly what the OP was going for, but there it is.

[Bigleaf]

13. Okay. The linked article did not state that he was a supporter. I'm still skeptical though.

Who the fuck would ask a question like that?

[Kool Kitty]

5. It is none of their business.

What kind of ignorant assholes ask these questions? Sometimes I just hate people.

[cliffordu]

8. I don't like Hil or Bill, but they should leave Chelsea alone.....

[SoonerPride]

58. You mean a Clinton supporter?

That's who asked the question you know.

[Swamp Rat]

9. Chelsea is cute.

But I can't understand what she says because she mumbles too much. :D

[anonymous171]

10. ****WAS ASKED BY A CLINTON SUPPORTER.

[Lisa0825]

12. I don't think they should ask her about Lewinski, but

other than that topic, Chelsea is fair game because she is ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL for ther mother. So other than questions that are just plain over the line, yes, Chelsea is a big girl and if she chooses to put herself out there, she should expect tough questions.

[bigtree]

16. that's never an excuse for rude people with no manners and no class

who insist on boring us with their tabloid nonsense.

[Lisa0825]

17. True, but some people think Chelsea should have a pass froom the press too.

I think Chelsea was right to say "It is none of your business" regarding the Lewinski question. But she also repeatedly shuns the press. Well, if you don't want to be in the spotlight, don't go on the campaign trail!

[tishaLA]

18. Remember though, this is the campaign that

bemoans the fact that MI and FL's voters "won't be counted" while simultaneously cheering for the superdelegates to overturn the will of the people. The Clinton campaign has it both ways all the time, but unlike Emerson they have never thought of saying something about a foolish consistency.

[Ichingcarpenter]

20. What year can she run for President?

I know she can run for a US house seat now.

She is being groomed as a politician

[Huge Ego Sorry]

21. I'm of two minds about this...

On the one hand, I don't believe Chelsea should be jumped about her father's indiscretions any more than anyone should have to explain his or her parents' actions. At the same time, damn near every time I try to have a healthy political debate with someone from the other side of the aisle, I end up having to distance myself from the Lewinsky situation.

[intaglio]

23. Ahh yes and the guy who asked it supported Clinton

Funny that, but of course the question was not planted and the answer not prepared.

This was argued about last week

[Ichingcarpenter]

24. Was it a planted question like Hillary had done before?

That was well documented.

[Ravy]

28. This one happened today. nt

[TheDonkey]

26. Grow up, the questioner was not attacking Chelsea but asking a question. Are those forbidden at her

Q&As now???

[McCamy Taylor]

31. The questioner wanted his 15 minutes of fame for being a dumb ass.

People will do anything to get on the news.

[anonymous171]

38. Like holding a press conferece and shouting "SHAME ON YOU!"

I couldn't resist! :rofl: :hide:

BTW I do appreciate your posts. They are always well thought out.

[MediaBabe]

74. Yeah! He shoulda asked her to explain the cigar trick.

If she put herself out there she should have to expect them to ask HARD questions. Get it? HARD questions. A***ole.

[Catherina]

27. She's an adult. If she can't take the heat, she needs to get out of the kitchen

"If a politician doesn't wanna get beat up, he shouldn't run for office" Bill Clinton, March 2008

The same goes for their surrogates.

[McCamy Taylor]

30. Then someone should ask the Obama's what sex aids they use?

And if they lock the door to make sure their kids never accidentally get an eyeful?

[TheDonkey]

35. did this questioner ask those questions to Chelsea? No, thanks for trying.

a better example would be if Michelle was impeached from a high office for having sex with a younger male intern and lying about it under oath and whether that affects Obama. It doesn't.

Rather than this "none of your business, leave me aloooone." bullshit from her she needs to just come out and say flatly, it does not affect her mom's case for president. End.

[Catherina]

40. Exactly

The way Hillary handled that scandal was one of her best moments in the national spotlight. Chelsea blew a great opportunity there.

[Arkansas Granny]

46. I think that if Chelsea answered even one question concerning the Lewinsky

affair, regardless how it was framed, that it would leave her open to having to answer even more questions on the topic. She is flatly refusing to do that and I see nothing wrong with her answer.

[Catherina]

39. Sure. Why don't you ask them?

People like being reminded about how the former President Clinton, Monica Lewinsky and a cigar cavorted naked in the Oval office.

Your concern for children after they watched a President wag his finger and lie on national TV while insulting his paramour as "that woman" may be just the reminder some people need. I think you should ask that question in PA so the jokes can begin again. People love a good joke these days.

President Clinton has vehemently denied that he told former intern Monica Lewinsky to lie. "What I actually said," claims the President, "was to lie down."

[Mags]

65. I hope someone ask BO about his coke use. Especially with his children present.

Maybe that would put an end to this gutter stuff.

[Forkboy]

75. That's dumb, even by your low standards.

[MediaBabe]

81. No shame. No decency.

But that's alright with the right wing.

Democrats used to be nice people who cared about things like civility and feelings and manners. No more. No low is too far if it inflicts pain on Hillary or her family.

[McCamy Taylor]

29. Disgusting. If this was asked of Michelle--like "How long is Obama's penis?"

you guys would be furious, even though the questioner could say he was an Obama fan and just wanted to know because he really liked him. Who asks a girl about her dad's ex-girlfriend? This isn't France, If you want to talk about stuff like that move to Paris.

These are trolls trying to get their names into the press

[NJSecularist]

33. Obama's penis didn't cause a national crisis - Bill's did.

[Two Americas]

82. really?

I thought that a well-funded and corrupt and well-organized gang of extreme right wing zealots abused their authority, misled the public, manipulated the media and caused a national crisis.

That is what I saw.

[DemVet]

84. That's what I saw also.

[susankh4]

87. You have a very strong case of

clear vision there, my friend.

[McCamy Taylor]

32. My suggestion, next time someone does this, the crowd pelts him with rotten eggs,

That ought to step these idiots.

[krawhitham]

34. If you are going to wimp out for a week, don't bring up everything that happened while you were gone

[JI7]

37. i think it's sad that people decided to attack Obama supporters

on this when they had nothing to do with it.

[BlueIdaho]

41. Chelsea Clinton is 28 years old

She's not some 12 year old for crying out loud. Either she chose to be on the campaign trail or her parents put her there. Either way, if you're going to stand in front of a group of people and ask for their votes you need to answer their questions. Personally I hate the question - but there is an honest and simple way to answer it and move on.

Politics is a rough and tumble business and when a campaign season goes on for ever this stuff has time to happen.

[julialnyc]

43. ITA

Chelsea is a grown up serving a very official role in the campaign. If she wants to say "it's none of your business" than fine, but it would be naive of her to think it would never gets asked.

[pkz]

44. THEY put her out there

she is fair game now. She cannot be a spokesman for her Mom's campaign and refuse to answer any question.
wait....maybe she can.
That is their tactic isn't it?
put it out there, but not all of it.
Like the tax returns, and Hillary refusing to go on LKL or the College Tour on MSNBC, pick and choose...selective campaigning.

[Lucky 13]

42. Let me start by saying, I adore Chelsea Clinton.

For as much as I don't care for her mother, I've always been a BIG Chelsea fan. She's so intelligent and genuinely a good person. And she clearly loves her parents very much - and particularly adores her father. I've always found that pretty touching.

No daughter should have to answer for her father's adultery... that's just fucked up - even for Republicans.

That being said, the way the questions were phrased, something to the effect of, "How does your fathers behavior in office and impeachment effect your Mother's credibility?" (TOTALLY paraphrasing) - the answer "none of your business" is not an appropriate response nor does it make sense. The question, while containing offensive content to her and most of us, is really about her mother's credibility. Her mother's credibility is obviously EVERYONE's business.

If I were her, I would have just said, "I'm not going to discuss anything related to that matter for obvious reasons and am insulted it has been brought up in this forum. But I will say that I believe that my mother has established strong credibility as first lady and as a U.S. Senator and..."

It's the same result - she doesn't have to talk about Monica and that whole fiasco - but it's a bit more of a sensible response than "It's none of your business."

[baldguy]

47. Chelsea puts herself out to campaign for her mom, then she's fair game.

Any question that might expose Hillary's ability to deal with a crisis - either personal or professional - is appropriate.

That being said, Chelsea's response was entirely appropriate also. That question should be directed to Bill or Hillary herself.

[cascadiance]

92. Exactly right. She's been calling super delegates like they have...

... and working on her campaign. James Zogby a week or so ago noted he was being called by her. She's no longer any "innocent child" that should have a chance to grow up without being bothered.

She's fair game. As for the topic of the question, that's more questionable.

[hedgehog]

49. Either Hillary knew nothing of the affair, which raises the question of her

"experience" if she was that far out of the loop, or she knew about it and lied to the American people. As such, I think there are legitimate questions about her credibility.

[SoCalDem]

50. SHE stepped into the campaign.. She's a TWENTY-SEVEN year old WOMAN

not a shy 12 yr old.

EVERYTHING that was in the newspapers or on TV about her parents' time in the White House is "FAIR GAME"..

ALL OF IT..

If she does not want to "discuss" it, she needs to go back to being a "private citizen"..

She does not get to take "Kings-X", only discuss what SHE wants to discuss, and then refuse to be interviewed or questioned about "icky stuff"

[DefenseLawyer]

51. Is it possible that these questions are planted or at least welcomed?

I don't know that to be the case or even think it is, just throwing it out there. Is it possible that these questions have been planted to give to Chelsea as a way to paint the issue as "out of bounds" and to garner sympathy in regard to the issue when it is framed against Chelsea, to whom the question truly is tasteless. Clearly the response of almost everyone to the questions has been to denounce the questioner and to treat Chelsea's "none of your business" answer positively. It seems strange that these questions have only been put to Chelsea and not Sen. Clinton. Of course it may just be that she answers questions in more open forums etc. I know that the Clinton campaign has been caught planting questions in the past so one can't say it isn't at least possible.

[Catherine Vincent]

52. That guy was an ASS!

:mad:

[SoonerPride]

57. And a Clinton plant.

Designed to make you mad.

you're being played like a fiddle.

[Catherine Vincent]

64. Actually, I'm not really mad

I just wanted to use the smiley.

[Guava Jelly]

53. I wish they would leave her alone

Jeezus.

[SoonerPride]

59. Clinton supporter asked the question.

Really.

[Guava Jelly]

61. Well supporters can be idiots

we have seen proof of that in this forum alone.(both camps)

[Mass]

54. As a kid, her father put her through that by his personal behaviour. Though I doubt the question was

useful and feel sorry for her to have to go through that again, it had to be expected as she was campaigning for her mother. It should not be a big surprise.

[dchill]

56. Somebody needs to ask BILL Clinton...

about Monica Lewisky vis a vis Honesty.

[Catherine Vincent]

63. Nobody needs to ask nobody about ML.

I think we got enough info on that bs.

[dchill]

77. Right. I forgot. Honesty is not relevant.

~

[snooper2]

66. Does anybody click on links anymore?

The link takes me to a guy who supports Clinton but thinks Obama will win..

link please

[snooper2]

67. Never mind...found right link myself

:) not that it was hard or anything ...


http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/01/chelsea-clinton-confronts-another-lewinsky-question/

[DURHAM D]

70. He stated he needed to get to class.

However, he then found time to give interviews to reporters. They showed it on the local news. He did not claim to be a Hillary supporter, or an Obama supporter or a Democrat.

Wonder why his actual question was not run by the media? They showed it locally.


This guy is just another wanker and low talent performance artist who needs attention.

[jillan]

71. What is so wrong about this is that when the ML scandal happened

It must have broken Chelsea's heart.... Think about how she must have felt at the time.
It would have been hard enough if it happened in an average family, but this happened for the whole world to see.

And people that bring it up - to her - are just pouring salt on her wounds.

This wasn't about her, it was her dad that messed up....badly.

Leave Chelsea alone about this! You can't pick your parents.

[NYDem Observer]

72. The only part of Chelsea's answer I had a problem with

Chelsea also said she doesn’t think people should “vote for or against my mother because of my father.”

Well then you need to speak to mommy who is trying to have it both ways.

[Forkboy]

76. Pretty classless question to ask, no matter whcih side they claim to support.

[Vinca]

78. I feel bad for Chelsea being asked the question, but if Hillary

is the nominee, you all better get used to reliving the past . . . again and again and again and again and again. Paula Jones will have her own Fox News show. Monica will be trailed by the press for comments. Gennifer will clean up at Sotheby's with her audio tapes. It'll be horrible.

[MethuenProgressive]

79. DU's HillHaters have been attacking her for months,

It's nothing new around here.

[madrchsod]

96. prove it

[susankh4]

83. It is an indictment of our party that this is happening....

But, have no fear. Young Ms. Clinton can handle herself just fine. It comes with the territory of growing up Clinton.

[mkultra]

86. She can sit down or stand up

Either one is her choice and each has its pros and cons.

[high density]

93. It's an issue that is going to come up.

Chelsea's out there to talk about her mom and this is part of her history. They've got to come up with a better answer for her than "none of your business." Lots of stuff gets dragged out in political campaigns that is none of our business, but that doesn't mean it should just go unanswered or dismissed.

[C_U_L8R]

94. It's a dumb insensitive question to ask Chelsea

but it's very relevant to Hillary and Bill.

I suspect the question was planted
or was asked by a total dipshit.

[dogday]

95. You would think people would have some class

but alas they drop the cl and are just left being an ass....