Chelsea Clinton, stumping for Mom, gets the Monica question

Back in 1992 when candidate Bill Clinton had the opportunity to tell intrusive questioners where to go when they asked about his underpants, he chickened out. And answered.

Not so, Clinton's daughter, Chelsea.

The only child of the former president and Sen. Hillary Clinton has been out on her own impressing crowds across the country in recent weeks stumping for her mom.  Presumably, the question had to come at some point. And presumably Chelsea was ready.

Tuesday it came. The Monica Lewinsky question. (Please note, it was not the media that inquired.)

There she was in Indianapolis talking to a crowd of maybe 200 students at Butler University, seeking votes for the state's May 6 primary. It was near the end of the session when some guy asked Chelsea if her mother's credibility had been injured by the infamous sexual relationship her father had with the White House intern.

"Wow," said Chelsea, "you're the first person actually that's ever asked me that question in the, I don't know, maybe 70 college campuses I've now been to.''

Then, she fired: "And I do not think that is any of your business."

The reply drew loud applause. Then, she added, "And I also don't think that should be the last question."

She fielded one more, on global warming, and wrapped it up. Quite neatly.

--Andrew Malcolm and Mark Silva

--Mark Silva writes for the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune's Washington Bureau.

                                                                                                         Photo Credit: Reuters

Comments

[vote4thebest]

I wish the media and the Obama's supposedly 'ethical' campaign learn from Chelsea. This is old news and it only shows jealousy, pettiness, nosiness, and desperation when it gets dragged up again. How about the new news that the main stream media is studiously avoiding to cover the Rezko and the fact Obama is refusing to answer these questions:

1. why do you stay for 20 years?
2. why do you still appoint Wright your adviser even though you remove him from the big event of announcing your candidacy?
3. why do you still let your children go to the church to hear Wright's anti-white and anti-american preaching?
4. why do you not wear an American flag pin any more more?
5. why do you pick a new pastor who also believes in Wright teaching?
6. why do you do throw your grandma under the bus with a 'typical white person'
7. why do you incite the Blacks and throw them under the bus by making it sound like all Blacks believe in Wright teaching?
8. why do you contribute large sum of $ to Wright?

[gerrrg]

Chelsea rocks.

[Savo Heleta]

In January, Chelsea talked about her mother’s record on Darfur to Stanford University students, saying that she was “really proud that her mom was the first Democratic senator to call Darfur conflict genocide in May of 2004, and put a lot of pressure on the Bush administration to recognize it as genocide.”

As it turned out, the first senators who actually called Darfur genocide were Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin, Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, and Sam Brownback, R-Kansas.

Hillary Clinton’s first press statement referring to Darfur as “genocide” wasn’t until March 16, 2006.

Original story at: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/01/bill-and-chelse.html\

[Patrick]

It is too bad that BIll did not have her judgment. Then he would not have committed perjury. Which made it our business at the time.

But in a way, the messy Clinton relationship, including Gennifer, Paula, et al do matter even now. Hillary got on television and played her emotional card and said I did not know. What. "That woman" watches everything and after 25 years and scores of girls, I find it a little incredible.

So, if she knew, then she lied to the American people and does not deserve to be in the highest office. Especially in view of her pattern of continual lies, from Bosnia, Northern Ireland and China to missing records. If she did not know, then she is so out of touch with the world and people around her that she certainly does not need to be in the White House.

I personally would not want my daughter serving as a White House intern if the Clintons were in office.

[Jackie Salmons]

How can Chelsea say that it's none of our business about the affair her father had? My children are suppose to look up to the President - how do I explain that the man LIED to the American people and she stood by his side? That is NOT the family values I want being taught to my children. I would have respected Chelsea had she answered with a proper answer. I lost respect for her as well with this interview.

[Chuck]

While it was hardly an especially pertinent or insightful question, the "none of your business" reply seems ridiculous to me... the question was phrased in a respectful, non-personal way. Hillary knew at the time there was a 'vast right-wing conspiracy' responsible for outting Monica (and in the end she was essentially right about that); so where are those conspirators now, and why did she go silent about it? Chelsea is an adult, and actively campaigning. And this was no personal question.

[Logical]

Of course it is our business. She was not asked, "Did you mother scream at your father and make him sleep on the couch after finding out about Monica?" That is personal. But to ask her if her mother's CREDIBILITY was injured because of her father's actions is totally the voters' business in that credibility refers to what others think, not what the Clintons think.

[Joseph]

3. why do you still let your children go to the church to hear Wright's anti-white and anti-american preaching?

Why do you assume you can speak for Wright's history of sermons when all you know is part of a sound bite shown on YouTube and on the news? Can you back it up with concrete evidence? People in the know claim that Wright's vast body of sermons wasn't incendiary like this. Unless someone shows me concrete evidence to the contrary, I'll accept that.

4. why do you not wear an American flag pin any more more?

I'm a patriot. I served this country in the armed forces during wartime and have the medals to show for it. I don't wear an American flag pin on my clothing. Why should Obama? Are you that superficial and simpleminded that you need to see visual proof of lemming-like proclamations of patriotism?

[watchful]

Hillary Clinton, in her remarks on Obama's relationship with Rev. Wright said, in effect, you can't choose your family/relatives, but you can choose your pastor. It seems legitimate to ask if the topic of Hillary's choosing to stay with Bill Clinton is off limits. She could have disowned him and didn't. Some might find a degree of loyalty to people who badly disappoint you admirable. Discussion welcome.

[VoteGOP4Pres]

Hillary's rep is damaged! She lied about "dangerous arrival in Bosnia in 1996 under sniper fire." If that was Sen. Obama - it would be front page, top of the news every hour. McCaine don't have that propblem, Sen. Obama don't have that problem. Hillary Clinton was a Barry Goldwater-Girl what that means? Look it up. Hillary knew Bill was a womanizer before they left Arkansas.

[Adam Schifter]

Dear "vote4thebest"

I believe Obama has answered every one of your questions. In short Obama is a Christian who has shown his love for America through his actions and not just his words or a pin.

I'm sorry if you think "the blacks" should not support Obama because he acknowledged the anger and hurt of a certain generation of African-Americans while saying that it also fails to acknowledge the progress that has been made. Perhaps you need to read a little harder. Although for most of us these answers are very clear. Now please tell me when Hillary plans to explain the indiscretions of her past, her delusional memories, and her fear of releasing documents to the public.

[Myra Jackso]

Thus far, every possible issue has been raised in this campaign. So anyone who is campaigning must be aware that in this campaign, the level of scrutiny is extreme. The issues, while mostly petty, reflect that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. To say "that is none of your business" is an evasive answer that she chose and she had the right to choose that evasive answer. To ask the question is reasonable as well as the answer that she gave.

[Walter Moran]

Re: vote4thebest:
I've read a few stories about Rezko. At this point in the (seemingly endless) campaign, with the stakes being what they are, if there was more to report, it would be reported. I am sure every news organization is using whatever resources it has to mine for information and see if there is anything worth digging, but those things tend to take time. It probably hasn't been more of an issue because the Clinton campaign hasn't made it one of their talking points. After all, if they make a big stink about their opponents' ties to a developer, then they risk reminding everyone of the shady campaign contributions Bill received: the Lincoln bedroom thing, contributions from Chinese nationals, Whitewater (even though there was no wrongdoing in the latter according to the Starr Report), etc.

[Tricie World]

How is it "none of our business"??? If that is the case then Eliot Spitzer should still be governor!

[saint peter ii]

the underwear question is the wrong question to ask and the daughter is the wrong person to ask. the right question to ask would have been do you believe bill told jennifer flowers, when she questioned his being married at the start of their relationship, hillary has had more women than me and thereby made it okay. still Chelsey is the wrong person to ask, the right one would be hillary as she is cast in a promiscuous light. i guess it's not necessary to ask who is more believable, bill or jennifer, but hillary should be given the chance to refute bill or fess up and go on from there, certainly not to the presidency but possibly to a long and non harmful career in the senate

[watchful]

Hillary Clinton recently commented that she would not keep a pastor like Rev. Wright as her pastor and that you can't choose your family/relatives, but you can choose your pastor. Therefore, it seems legitimate to me for people to raise the issue of Hillary's continued relationship with Bill (a family member, is he not?) in light of his badly disappointing and destructive behavior. Perhaps her loyalty is not that far off from Senator Obama's in condemning the words and actions of his minister without "disowning" him. This is not to say that embarrassing Chelsea Clinton in a student setting with a comment about her father's behavior is not in questionable taste, but it might not be off limits in light of Senator Clinton's own recent remarks. Surely Bill Clinton's earlier behavior has played a role in Hillary Clinton's subsequent behavior. [Sorry if this is a repeat comment, I may have had trouble with the "robo" posting test.]

[Sam Bailey]

I can completely understand why Chelsea refused to answer the question and I do not blame her. It is however "our business". The conduct of a sitting President and his wife when she runs for the office is the business of the American people, like it or not. Chelsea was not the person to be asked that question, however it is a valid question and one that should be directed at Hillary and her campaign. If I am going to elect someone to the office of President I want to know what their morals, and ethics are.

[Joe]

I was very impressed by the way Miss Clinto handled herself.

[Trent Derringer]

In all honesty and fairness, Chelsea Clinton's comment to that specific question demonstrates insecurity and a lack of morality. The voting public has every right to expect credibility and responsibility from their potential President of the United States of America. It is plainly obvious that when your own father literally gets caught with his pants down that it is indicative of the poor judgment and lack of maintaining public responsibility within the highest office of the land.

[Rick]

I totally disagree with Andrew Malcolm and Marc Silva. As has often been said. 7% is what you say and 93% is how you say it. It is clear by Chelsae's non verbal expressions that she was belittling the student. It was a question that I'm sure others have thought of and for her to say-it's none of your business-excuse me??!! the whole world and the media made it their business almost to the point of impeachment. Her response was not only arrogant but did not address the question- as they say, the apple does not fall far from the tree-Chelsae avoided the question but was crudely and obviously rude in doing so...she could have as easily said: "Thanks for asking the question, but I don't think so, she did not have anything to do with it..."thereby appropriately answering and addressing the issue and likely drawing a chuckle. It is the type of response Obama might have given- as has been seen with his most appropriate responses to delicate questions.

[JR]

Oh please. Chelsea is fully engaged on the campaign trail stumping for Mom but the press is given a "strictly hands off" mandate just like she was when she was a twelve year old kid in the White House. It was OK back then but how old is she now? She also only answers warm and fuzzy questions from college students and will not respond to hard ball questions from the media. So finally a college kid asks her a tough question and she says "it's none of your business". Sorry Chelsea, it's time to grow up. You're an adult now so if you want to campaign for Mom you get the same scrutiny as every other ADULT on the campaign trail so you get to answer real adult questions. "None of your business" is a wimp answer. If you can't face the heat go get a real job and leave the heat to real adults..

[Interested Conservative]

Vote4thebest:

Your questions 2-8 make sense, but you might want to avoid #1 when discussing the Clintons. It sorta reiterates exactly what Chelsea and mom don't want to discuss.

Though it is an interesting approach to the issue of voter consideration of candidate credibility.

[John]

Way to go. Hillary is a fighter. Bill too. And now Chelsea. I want my candidate to fight for me.

[dave]

chelsea is chelsea. hillary is hillary.

[Gizella]

Chelsea's father's actions in the White House would not constitute 3-rd party sexual harassment. However, my questions would be:

1. Does your Stanford University honors thesis regarding the Irish peace process support your mother's contention that she brought peace to Ireland?

2. Did you try to correct your mother's memory regarding the trip to Bosnia you accompanied her on?