It's been a rough weekend for the Clintons.
First, the missus loses several weekend primary contests to Barack Obama. Then, the would-be first laddie got smoked by Obama, who beat out the former prez as he picked up a spoken-word Grammy at the Sunday afternoon awards ceremony for the recording of his book, "The Audacity of Hope."
I'll bet they thought it would be easier to beat him, no?
In other Clinton moments: we probably should let it drop, but we can't. Perhaps "pimped" was a poor choice of words, but we're fairly certain that broadcast boy was just being colloquial, not nasty, when he suggested what he did.
Not that we will rehash whether this is true. We'll let you y'all draw your own conclusions. What smacks us up is this: Chelsea Clinton is 27 years old. Last time we checked, most 27-year-olds don't need their moms sticking up for them.
Hillary created more negative energy around herself by slamming MSNBC by speaking out in fury than if she'd just shut up, and maybe, just maybe, let Chelsea SPEAK FOR HERSELF. C'mon. She's capable of graduating with a master's degree from Oxford, but she needs mom to rush to her defense? We think not.
Actually, behind all of this is our utter disbelief that it was fine with Mrs. Clinton to have her adult daughter standing on stage like a prop whilst she gave her stump speeches. How weird did that look?
And how dumb was it when Chelsea had to tell a 9-year-old reporter that she couldn't talk to her because she didn't talk to the media? That was just plain ridiculous. Chelsea, as an adult child of a former president and possible future one, is fair game, if you ask us. Not that we think she deserves a public intrusion into her life. But she's well known. People have followed her life path. They want to know what she's like, what she thinks. We're pretty sure, too, that she's terrific, well-spoken and bright. And totally capable of expressing herself on a national stage. We don't think she's been "pimped out," but we sure think keeping her mum and on the down-low has been a dumb strategy.
Now, trotting her out when mom is losing support and needing some delegates -- letting her speak, for gosh sakes -- seems like a gimmick.
-- Andrea Billups, The Washington Times
Comments (24)
What a tempest in a teapot. Who cares what Chelsea does or does not do? She's wet behind the ears, and she is not running for office, nor will she have any professional or business capacity as the first daughter, should Hillary take office.
Leave Chelsea alone!
Posted by Anonymous | February 11, 2008 11:14 AM
No surprise because the Grammys are basically an all Black event.
Posted by Jim in Vermont | February 11, 2008 11:27 AM
One of the stupidest articles i read in the recent past. Standup for herself, fair game - what kind of nonsense is this. Won't you respond if some idiot abuses somebody closer to you. This article totally lacks critical thinking and can pass as idle chitchat for idle brains with nothing better to do with their time.
Posted by Anonymous | February 11, 2008 11:28 AM
Good point. I think Hillary is playing the victim, trying to "energize her base" by making them think the press is giving Obama a free ride and being hard on her. I personally don't think she won the NH primary because she misted up, but because in the earlier debate Edwards chimed in after Obama criticized her and it really did feel as if they were ganging up on her. Edwards went on, after her NH win to join in when she criticized Obama, in effect ganging up with her against him. After that Obama won SC by a bigger margin than expected. Her campaign must have noticed that if I did.
In the end I would rather be (or try to become) the kind of person Obama wants to be than the kind of person Clinton wants to be.
Posted by Lydia | February 11, 2008 11:40 AM
It's pretty clear that most of the media is very lazy, choosing to stick with the historical targets for attacks, rather than actually doing 'journalism' work and actually presenting unbiased news. Journalism used to have ethical standards & integretity, as apposed to the childish sniping 'vomit' spewed out in this article by someone needing to meet a deadline. Grow-up, look over your old college notes on how to do actual jounalism, and mabye we'll consider taking you serious one day.
Posted by CujoBuddy | February 11, 2008 11:42 AM
"C'mon. She's capable of graduating with a master's degree from Oxford, but she needs mom to rush to her defense?"
Having studied for a ph.d. at an elite U.K. university, I can assure you that U.K. masters degrees are a lucrative "cash cow" business designed to attract well-financed foreign students and that ANY international student with sufficient cash can buy a masters degree at ANY U.K. university with minimal intellectual effort.
Posted by Arly Sutroa | February 11, 2008 12:14 PM
Could it be that Chelsea does not have anything positive to say about her mother's campaign so she has been censored? What does this say about Hillary as (potentially) a person in power? If she cannot give her own daughter the freedom to speak how will it bode for the rest of us?
Posted by Jennifer | February 11, 2008 1:00 PM
If you are a mom, you're not a very good one. When you a good Mom who loves her child and someone makes derogatory remarks about your child, you speak up to defend your child. It doesn't matter if the child is 7 or 27 of 47. You don't ask permission to speak out. This is pure sexism and there should be a large out cry against it. If someone said Obama or McCain was pimping out his wife and he complained about it, would you say she'e an adult and should speak for herself? Or would you say he's such a great husband to defend his wife? The complaints about Hillary acting like a good and caring Mom are "just plain ridiculous". She cares about all people and will defend all people, including her daughter.
Posted by Trudy | February 11, 2008 1:15 PM
I agree,
chelsea is an adult woman and should speak for herself. The Clintons are treating her like she is 12 years old in that respect. Yet, they have NO QUALMS about using her to pander for superdelegates. The Clintons ARE USERS and DO NOT HESITATE to manipulate and use their own daughter to serve their purpose. It's like talking through both sides of their mouths. Why isn't someone in her campaign team calling the superdelegates? Why are they USING Chelsea to do this?
Which leads me to the "rearrangement of the campaign manager, Solis, a Hispanic, was replaced by Williams, an African American, just prior to the Primaries in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. It is very obvious to me that Clinton used Mrs. Solis for the main purpose of gaining Latino voters. Now that all the high-Latino population States (except for Texas) have voted, she does NOT NEED her anymore. However, the Potomac States have a high concentration of African Americans, therefore Williams factors in trying to make an impression on this population. Bill Clinton has been pandering for their votes and still USING THE RACE CARD!! He is telling the African American communities that he understands they want ONE OF THEIR OWN as President but should vote for Clinton, the experienced one. The Clintons are manipulators and users! I hope the African American Community doesn't buy his speil!
Posted by NinaK | February 11, 2008 1:17 PM
Clinton is a controlling personality. She allows no free expression either by her family, staff, or supporters, and wouldn't allow it by the opposition if she were elected. She would shut down radio talk that she hasn't endorsed.
Posted by RD | February 11, 2008 1:23 PM
seems to me that the american people are waking up and seeing billary for what she really stands for, this woman will do any thing to get your vote. I myself would put in the same arena with carter, worst president we ever had. and she would be worse.
As for her daughter ever running for the white house, slick willie was bad, hillary is following in his foot steps,lord help us if another clinton gets into power.
Posted by morrisg0 | February 11, 2008 2:05 PM
:)
Posted by Anonymous | February 11, 2008 3:04 PM
Hillary and Bill Clinton both have been through the fire and tested. The Republican Character Assassinating Squad went after them with vengeance for eight years and could not defeat them. That is certainly a true testimony of pure strength beyond the call of duty. After the Squad failed for eight years, it extremely hard for me to believe that they would attempt to defeat them again. Now, the Squad will certainly go after Barack Obama with vengeance. I believe everyone of us have sin and have erred many of time. In fact, I suggest doing what I do. Ask God for mercy on a daily basis. So believe me, Obama will not be spared. Even if he became President, he would still have a fierce battle with the conservative extremist to pass his agenda. No, Obama will not be spared. Yes I feel Obama and Edwards would make excellent Presidents. But I believe Hillary would make a much better President. She has the strength, she has excellent policies, she is extremely intelligent and caring. She is also charismatic which enables her to communicate extremely well with world leaders. It appears to me, that world leaders have a lot of respect for her. I certainly do not see any charismatic qualities in either Bush or John McCain. There is an added bonus, Bill Clinton is also charismatic and well respected around the world. He could be extremely successful in healing our world relationships, and by increasing our allies, which is desperately needed to win the war on terrorism. Now, talking about change and taking this country in a new direction. Well, change has already started. Hillary and many other democrats and some republicans have been working across party lines to find common ground. They have presented bipartisan bills and have pass many of them. There is one thing that I do not like about Obama. He constantly talks about Hilary vote on the Iraq war. At that time the information about Iraq was wrong and incomplete. And I think he is totally wrong to continuously bring it up. Besides that, that is in the past. What does that have to do with now, the future, change, and taking this country in a new direction. I just think that we the American People better take this election very seriously. Think hard and long, then vote. The world including US national security is at stake.
Posted by Bob Vargas | February 11, 2008 3:43 PM
Gosh, damn right.
I have yet to figure out whey they are 'protecting' a 27 year old.
I understood when she was a girl, I'd expect Obama to protect his girls too.
But Chelsea will be 30 years old in less than 3 years. She doesn't need her Mom's protection anymore.
Futhermore, what's she out there campaigning for if she doesn't want to be part of the process?
Really, it looks pretty sad to me. I don't mean to hate on Chelsea, but she's 27 years old and ought to have enough spine to stand up for herself if she's going to campaign for her parents.
And her parents ought to stop controlling an adult and let them defend themselves. I mean, maybe Mum still packs her lunch and picks out her socks, but looks to me like Chelsea should be taking care of herself.
Im a parent too, but I think Clinton just went off the handle. She doesn't even seem to understand what 'pimped out' means to people under 50. And if she's going to run this country she really should understand what pimping means now-a-days.
Posted by David | February 11, 2008 5:06 PM
Not pimping, but...she went to breakfast with the teenaged superdelegate from Wisconsin this morning. :)
Posted by Rebecca | February 11, 2008 8:41 PM
You hit the character issue on the head. America should be troubled by Hillary's unashamed slipperyness. (It's really okay to lie to the public. Is this what they teach in higher learning? Is this a replay of Animal Farm?) This along with her third set of tears (google). Come on now, is America that stupid, Clinton?
By extrapolation, Hillary herself should be mortified by the untold loss of American lives and destroyed livelihoods her 'aye' vote on the Iraq war has cost. Where are her tears for that? Well?
Posted by craig | February 12, 2008 5:17 AM
You are absolutely right ! I and voice your thoughts completely.
Posted by Dr.Tanu | February 12, 2008 7:14 AM
Do not blame the Daughter. Mom play the game every day. Depending the weather vane, and the direction of the wind is the day action. There was no positive news, so Mom made lemonade with the pimped lemon.
Posted by Humberto | February 12, 2008 8:58 AM
Bill and Hill are past masters at character assassination. The Bush girls have been fair game for almost ten years now. If they can hand it out they should be ready to take it.
Posted by Old Forester | February 12, 2008 10:33 AM
Well, at any rate, it sure makes for interesting reading.
Posted by Paula Angelique Hafner | February 12, 2008 10:38 AM
The Chelsea comment was NOT about Chelsea, but about Hilary. Spin, Spin Spin... Did Hilary reach out to Monica Lewinsky(?)'s mother as a concerned mother when Bill was doin her daughter? Yeah, she's fit to keep America informed, and our best interests at heart. NOT
Posted by Darryl | February 12, 2008 11:02 AM
Maybe we'll get lucky one day. When Teddy gets all the Clintons in his car and takes them on a tour of Chappaquidick.
Posted by NRA lifer | February 12, 2008 3:56 PM
If Chelsea Clinton felt she had been defamed, her remedy was to sue. Elected officials cannot, in America, control the media.
Posted by CC | February 12, 2008 4:05 PM
Chelsea is a grown woman and should be able to speak articulately for herself. With that being said, whether my child is 27, 2 or 7 nobody can insult my kid and not expect me to respond. That's what parents do for their children at any age. Stop focusing on crap and get back to the real issue which is to beat the Republicans in November and try to help this country regain its standing in the world and its focus at home. November elections not only determine the direction for the next 4 years but the focus of the Supreme Court for the next 40 years. These are the issues people, not all this side show crap.
Posted by DemNUpset | February 14, 2008 10:55 AM