Campaign trail gets bumpy for Chelsea Clinton

[cboy4]

For the first time, the poised and intelligent former first daughter is facing the kind of scrutiny that has bedeviled the candidates and their surrogates.


Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press
IN THE POLITICAL MIX: Chelsea Clinton, who is
on leave from her job at a New York hedge fund,
is considered one of her mother’s most effective
surrogates in the campaign.



By Robin Abcarian, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 18, 2008

EUGENE, ORE. -- The softballs come gently, lobbed by voters who support her mother and are thrilled to see that the awkward duckling of the Clinton administration has become a glamorous swan.

What is your mother's position on healthcare? What will your mother do for special education? What is your mother's plan to end the war in Iraq?

Chelsea Clinton, a 28-year-old self-proclaimed "numbers dork" who is on leave from her job at a New York hedge fund, answers in whole sentences and long paragraphs filled with wonky phrases and filial pride. She never talks to icky reporters (not even 9-year-olds, you may recall).

Nonetheless, this strategy has lately failed to protect her from icky questions.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-chelsea18apr18,0,7934751.story

[cali]

1. she does just fine with icky and uncomfortable questions

and I'm sure she expects them. She's an able advocate for her mother.

[undeterred]

2. Not a flattering picture of her.

[cboy4]

4. Yea, I didn't think so either.

But it's the one the LA Times chose for some reason. :eyes:

[woolldog]

37. have a little bit of sympathy for reporters....

it's not easy to find a flattering picture of her.

[dionysus]

41. naw that's low, she looks good usually...

she was awkward\dorky looking as a kid but has grown up looking quite well.

[BeyondGeography]

7. Looking a bit crazed, in the mom way

[cboy4]

8. Nice.

:thumbsdown:

[BeyondGeography]

12. We know she already shares some other characteristics with mom

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4618145

[cboy4]

16. I love her smart-ass sarcasm.....she reminds me so much

of myself. :loveya:

"...Perhaps you had clairvoyance then, and that’s extraordinary.” :spray:

[cornermouse]

17. Why are there people on DU who feel compelled to attack Chelsea.

:thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: on your post.

[Darth_Kitten]

22. Because it's really easy for both young and old misogynists to attack women.

Who is really going to call them on it? But if somebody attacks THEM, it's pity party time.

[Joe the Revelator]

38. Why is Chelsea off limits? She's a 28 year old woman, not a 14 year old

The fact that she chose to campaign puts her under scrutiny. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, as her father says.

[Darth_Kitten]

20. Whose mother?

n/t

Really, I think a lot of people have some kind of "Mommy" issues.

[Jamastiene]

26. That was uncalled for.

:thumbsdown:

[MethuenProgressive]

3. "Her black flared jeans are tight, and her gray blazer nips at her small waist."

Yeah, this rates a thread at DU...

"Her hair is long and highlighted blond. Her black flared jeans are tight, and her gray blazer nips at her small waist."

[undeterred]

5. And the article doesn't really say HOW the campaign trail

gets bumpy. I guess they try to keep her in controlled situations as much as possible, and it doesn't always work.

[Tellurian]

9. Chelsea answers questions never fielded by Obama supporters..

Supporters visit Obama to be entertained by a politican running for the democratic nomination turned "shock jock" at Comedy Central rallys. How far have we fallen at what we consider acceptable as presidential timber?

[undeterred]

11. Your posts are always so pathetic.

I'm sorry your candidate is losing, but lashing out at Obama isn't going to change that.

[Tellurian]

31. Yup, you consider the Truth...lashing..

that is the part that is truly "pathetic"!

[glowing]

6. "If she is a testament to her parents, then Hillary should be President"

In this case A does not Equal B. Of course Chelsea should be a well-rounded, educated person.. she has had private schooling, grade A collegiate studies (she named her cat after a philosopher, how many of our NCLB children can say the same?), and has a job that pays more than the average 28 yr old struggling to pay off past debts and start a family/ future of their own... By the way, I think my parents did a superb job, I love numbers, and have degrees in majors and minors (science).. Does that mean my mom should be President? That's the stupidest argument I've ever heard.. and believe me if it wasn't for her parents, she would actually know how hard America really is.

[Bensthename]

10. I heard someone asked her about Monica's stained dress..

She refused to even acknowledge the question and moved on.. Haha, I don't blame her..

[40ozDonkey]

14. Some of the worst questions to HRC come from her own supporters.

The Hillary kid who asked Chelsea if Bill's infidelity made her stronger, the woman at Wake Forest with Hillary and Maya Angelou who started off by saying, “I felt so sorry for you when Bill had his affair. I know nobody wants to talk about it. I felt so sorry. I think now the best way to overcome it is to become president" and then stays on topic by asking who her running mate would be.

If somebody in an O shirt had said any of that, Hill supporters would lose it and rightfully so. Why the fuck would ANY Clinton supporter think Monica is a worthwhile topic to bring up to their candidate, ever?

[cornermouse]

24. Why are you assuming that they are really Hillary supporters?

I'm not.

[40ozDonkey]

28. What proof do you have that validates your conspiracy theory?

I don't need to deal in assumptions, why do you?

[cornermouse]

30. What proof do you have that validates your theory that they

were supporters? The fact that they were there? ...Yeah. I thought so.

[40ozDonkey]

32. So I can't trust their words that they're her supporters, but I can trust YOU?

I've seen your track record, I'd rather trust strangers.

[mamalone]

13. She seems like a wonderful young woman...

But I admit I am a bit irked at how she seems to feel so entitled to avoid the press so totally. I was in complete agreement with this type of protection when she was a child...the Clintons' insistence on it showed innovative good judgment. But for heaven's sake- she 28yo now! My feeling is that if she is out there campaigning, she is pretty much fair game. What is the reasoning for her need for "protection" at this point? I just don't get it...

[cornermouse]

18. Maybe it's because she doesn't want a life in politics.

I believe her mother stated that at the debate. The only reason she's doing any campaigning is because she loves her mother and contrary to what some apparently think, she shouldn't have to pay a price that the Bush twins would NEVER be expected to pay.

[marshall]

15. Chelsea's a grown woman, she can take it

She wouldn't be on the campaign trail if she expected to be treated like a girl.

[cooolandrew]

19. If Chelsea had run she without question would be the 1st female president. Plausible remember Arnie.

[cooolandrew]

25. In fact I do hope she runs at some point. Chelsea VP I could hsndle with no reservation.With her

parents as vice presidential advisors it would be very endearing.

[JBoy]

34. She'll need another 34 years experience to meet Hillary's Commander-in-Chief standard

[Bluenorthwest]

21. I was there in Eugene

I attended Chelsea's town hall syle event in Eugene. The night before I heard a speech by Rep Neil Abercrombie of HI speaking for Obama.
The two speakers had very different styles. Abercrombie was wonderful, but heavy on the energy and short on the facts. Few details about his relationship with Barack SR or anything else, but it was a very uplifting and Democratic speech. Abercrombie's message was so very different from what the DU posters in his corner deliver.
Chelsea was extremely laid back and at ease. She was very much present in the room and speaking to the people present. She took open questions at random for the entire time. Her answers were almost disconcertingly detailed, I mean that as a compliment. She has a huge memory for figures and facts, and an impressive ability to communicate complex material clearly. She was vocally relaxed and easy to listen to.
Chelsea was excellent, and no matter what one thinks of her Mom's campaign, Chelsea is a terrific young woman and an impressive mind. Both Chelsea and Rep Abercrombie were impressive surrogates for the candidates, both were Democrats first and surrogates second, and neither one of them said or implied a single negative about the other candidate. Abercrombie in fact noted correctly during his speech that Chelsea would be impressive to us the next day, he spoke highly of her without reservation.
Abercrombie and Clinton both did bang up jobs for their candidates. Chelsea has mad skills and a steel trap mind. Abercrombie can really get a crowd going and his sense of humor and positive outlook are valuable assests. They were both remarkable Democrats in my book.

[cornermouse]

23. Well said.

[Bluenorthwest]

27. Thanks

I was more impressed with Abercrombie and Chelsea than I've been with any speech by the candidates they spoke for. They did very well for the candidates and for the Party and the process, both of them.

[Diamonique]

29. Chelsea is doing just fine.

I particularly like her answers to the Lewinsky questions. I think it's disgusting to ask these types of questions of a couple's son or daughter.

[Evergreen Emerald]

33. this type of posts is one of the reasons I no longer consider myself part of DU

This is an unnecessary right-wing type post that deserves wrath.

[JBoy]

35. Huh? It's a post of a story in the LA Times.

[Evergreen Emerald]

36. there are lots of stories out there in the world. That does not mean

that we bring them to DU. I imagine if there was an unflattering purposeful post about Michelle Obama, you would be peeingyourpants in outrage.

Get a grip. YOu have so dehumanized Clinton that it is ok with you to treat her family like crap.

[Joe the Revelator]

39. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

[Evergreen Emerald]

42. It isn't the heat I can't stand

It is stupid posts that just don't get it.

And, I cannot leave without pointing out your hypocrisy. Cause, of course Obama could not stand the heat of the debate. YOu did not suggest that he get out of the race. You whined with him.

[Joe the Revelator]

43. It would appear my comment flew right over your head.

[Zhade]

40. If she's a "numbers dork", she must be hurting for her mother about now!

NT!