Campaigning for her mother, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton answers lots of questions from potential voters at campaign events but never from reporters.
But in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Clinton brushed aside a question from an individual in the crowd who asked for her take on her mother’s handling of the Monica Lewinsky scandal, WISH-TV reported.
“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,” Clinton responded according to the station.
The crowd at the student union at Butler University applauded, WISH said. That was supposed to be the last question, but Clinton insisted on taking one more question, the report said.
When it was revealed in 1998 that President Bill Clinton had had an affair with Lewinsky, the news set off a protracted drama that led to his impeachment and a failed attempt to remove him from office.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
- Photo Credit: Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi (Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton applauds as her daughter Chelsea takes the stage at a rally in Austin, Texas on March 3)
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To the repugnant conspiracy theorists who are offering nothing but apologia for their politics of personal destruction, you’re neither honorable nor American. Your Rovian 15-minutes of fame has come and gone, and you’re left with nothing but this $3 Trillion dollar cluster-quagmire Iraq war. Now, your ilk can’t even afford to buy the T-shirt. Live Free or Die.
- Posted by backbeatDo you really think that no one was hurt by clinton’s sexual encounter with M. Lewinski ???????? I believe that Hillary did a great job of having large corporations black ball her when she applied for jobs. So I believe she was hurt more that Bill for sure. I mean he was the oldest “adult” and should have known better .
- Posted by eileenWRONG ANSWER CHELSEA. The question was whether he mother’s credibility had been damaged by the affair - a perfectly good and relevant question and an opportunity for a good answer. If the question had been “How has the affair personally affected your family”, then yes, none of your business.
Not good on her feet at all. I can see why the Clinton’s are trying to keep her out of interviews.
- Posted by TrotfoxyOU DONT THIS DO YOU?
- Posted by JeanWe are not supose to ask questions about the Clintons past, like her lies about her Arkansas dealings, and why was the former pastor picure whith the former Pre. Clinton at the white House.
- Posted by JeanI think it is a valid and useful question and that Chelsea’s answer was rude and pathetic. The fact of the matter is that Hillary was in denial for many years about Bill Clinton’s wandering ways. She denied Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, etc. A presidential candidate needs to be able to admit to the truth and not deny the facts.
- Posted by JamesThumbs Up to Chelsea Clinton who gave the absolute correct response when asked a ignorant question regarding a personal matter. She’s just like everyone else. What person would appreciate discussing their mom & dad private affairs? The person who asked that question was so unsensitive to Chelsea. Was it meant to embarrass Chelsea? Chelsea is not responsible for either of her parents actions; whether good or bad & should be respected as the former president’s daughter. Please keep the hecklers & idiots away from this young lady.
- Posted by Betty BosticI think it definitely is our business, considering that her mom works for us. Isn’t that what senators do?
- Posted by DoubleDI love how the press twists the truth.
The student at Butler University who asked the question is a self-proclaimed Hillary supporter who works on the school’s newspaper.
What he actually asked Chelsea was for her opinion “on the criticism of her mother [and] how … [her handling] of the Lewinsky scandal might be a sign of weakness” and how “she might not be a strong enough candidate to be president” as a result.
Recall that Hillary said allegations about her husband and the White House intern were manufactured by a “vast right-wing conspiracy” before the truth came out!
See how some of these so-called, main stream news agencies have spun the facts. Chelsea was obviously coached and ready to answer this question. Unfortunately, her response doesn’t match up with the question, which has been spun by the press to sound like an insult.
- Posted by Lowell HowardHer mother is running for President, so yes, it is our business. She accused the Republican’s of a “right wing conspiracy” instead of finding out the facts. This was an emotional snap to judgment and shows that she reacts first with venom and then thinks later. This is not the type of person I want in office. Her father was our Commander in Chief, his salary paid for by us, and had an affair with his young employee. Yes, this is our business because he was her boss and there are standards when it comes to having an affair with your employee. Most businesses have rules against such behavior and a superior can be fired for such behavior. It jeopardizes the company and makes them vulnerable to lawsuits. Bill Clinton put our Nation at risk when he chose to break the rules and sleep with his intern. This was not an affair than happened after hours with an outside party, this affair occured during office hours with an office employee. Yes, it is our business, and how Hillary Clinton handled it is our business as well. Especially now that she wants to subject our Nation to four more years of potential sexual harrassment charges due to her husband’s inability to control his urges.
- Posted by LisaWow! The perfect answer to a stupid question.
- Posted by Nancy SabetMonica was “abused”??? Give me a freakin’ break. I’m a 20-yr-old college student & I have the sense not to get involved with a married man, no matter what his wealth & power … I speak from experience because I had the chance & I was attracted to the guy as well. But I listened to my brain & conscience which Monica did not. Besides, she even admitted that she threw herself at him, not the other way around. Why aren’t you mad at Dubya for getting so many of our brave young men & women killed during his infamous presidency???
- Posted by Pamthis a great opportunity for turning around America for the better.
- Posted by joe ombimawe have to recover and reform from the worst regime ever. we may choose
forget that and dwell on irrelevant issues at the expense of real issues that
affect present and future…thats what Obama has been saying all through
She is a Clinton, and as a Clinton campaigning for another Clinton, Chelsea should not be at all surprised to have to confront questions that have historical foundation to have subjected her Papa Clinton to become so notoriously known world wide.
Her mother seems to enjoy questioning Senator Obama’s moral judgement by his attendance in Rev. wright’s Church. Perhaps, it’s about time her parents examine the type of Church they attend, a Church that seems not to have taught them to hold extramarital and sexual abuses on young interns as being morally and ethically wrong.
- Posted by Bilbo983Atta a girl Chelsea. Great answer to a stupid and rude question. I am proud of you and your mom for standing by your dad, the bset President since FDR.
- Posted by RichTeri: get a life already. President Clinton Didn’t do anmything wrong. Monica was old enough to know bett6er, besides she instigated it anyway. Besides nothing wrong with fooling around on the side. Even if he did it as President it was between consenting adults. Big deal, sex is not a crime when when it is between two consenting indivduals.At least Clinton didn’t get 4′001 soldiers killed for oil and over a million Iraqi’s killed for no reason. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Bush is guilty of war crimes. Clinton only had sex. Sex is fun, war is murder. See the difference? Sex no one gets hurt, war kills and maims. war is a sin, sex isn’t, duh!
Furthermore, in answer Maria, the problem with “a president “blanking” and intern” is that the President was AT WORK on taxpayer dollars when official state dignitaries were kept waiting outside for him to show up; and he shamed the nation on an international scale; and he set a terrible example to the youth of this nation when he lied, under the oath,that oral sex was not sex; and he broke the laws that he swore to uphold when he was sworn in as President. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. It was not just a random person in power having sex. It was the person who held the highest office in this land. Incredible sleeze!
- Posted by TerriChelsea was very rude when asked the question on her mother’s handling of the Monica L scandal. Hey, if they put you out there, you have to expect the hard questions and be prepared to answer them diplomatically. That was bad, bad bad for old Hillary. The truth is her handling of the scandal was awful and made her look like Donna Reed. Rumor has it that it was a deal that she was promised big rewards for if she kept quiet, acted like the forgiving wife and held hands with that creep Billy. In other words, she compromised her moral principles when she should have stood up for what was right.
- Posted by TerriWow! The perfect answer to a stupid question. Too bad that answer was not given when the affair was first hyped up by the media. It was as if no person in power ever had an affair before - uh, yeah right. I’d rather have a president “blanking” an intern, than blanking the whole nation like our current administration.
- Posted by Marlayes, next question
- Posted by Obama08I think the Clinton campaign held this preemptive strike on themselves so that Hillary could say “I think my daughter answered that question very well thank you” when, not if, it is brought up again.
- Posted by Obama08The Clintons have no morals.
Chelsea showed her pain.
Hillary has lost but is in denial.
Bill was impeached for lying about sex with Monica in the White House.
Bill stated “I did not have sex with that woman and it is none of your business.”
Hmmmm. Similar answer there?