Silent Chelsea Clinton Brushes Off 9-Year-Old Reporter on Campaign Trail
Dec. 30: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., right and daughter Chelsea greet an audience in Vinton, Iowa. (AP Photo)
VINTON, Iowa — It’s one thing for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign to turn down interview requests for the candidate’s daughter, Chelsea. But can’t a 9-year-old reporter catch a break?
Sydney Rieckhoff, a Cedar Rapids fourth grader and “kid reporter” for Scholastic News, has posed questions to seven Republican and Democratic presidential hopefuls as they’ve campaigned across Iowa this year. But when she approached the 27-year-old Chelsea after a campaign event Sunday, she got a different response.
“Do you think your dad would be a good ‘first man’ in the White House?” Sydney asked, but Chelsea brushed her question aside.
“I’m sorry, I don’t talk to the press and that applies to you, unfortunately. Even though I think you’re cute,” Chelsea told the pint-sized journalist.
Such is the paradox of Chelsea as she campaigns across Iowa in the closing days before the state’s caucuses Jan. 3.
Tall and attractive, Chelsea cuts an impressive figure on the campaign trail; she plunges enthusiastically into the crowd after her mother’s speeches, shaking hands and posing for pictures while asking, “Are you going to caucus for my mom?”
But onstage, Chelsea never speaks; she stands next to her mother and applauds but utters not a single sentence and doesn’t even say hello. And reporters covering the campaign have been put on notice that Chelsea is not available to speak to them. An aide follows the former first daughter as she works the crowd, shushing reporters who approach her and try to ask any questions.
Famously protective of their daughter’s privacy, Bill and Hillary Clinton have taken pains to shield Chelsea from the harsh glare and rough edges of presidential politics. She stayed largely absent from her mother’s campaign until December, when she made her first visit to Iowa.
For her part, Sydney looked a bit crestfallen after Chelsea turned her away. But luckily for Hillary Clinton, Sydney’s mother has made up her mind to caucus for the former first lady.
“I like her position on family values and health care. And I think it’s time we have a female president,” Robyn Rieckhoff said.
Hillary and family values? What values? Socialized medicine and killing babies-in-the womb on demand? Hillary + “family values” = the oxymoron of the century!
To look at it from a different perspective, the Clinton campaign missed a great PR opportunity. To flex Chelsea’s “rule” and to make the exception for the child would have been good press. It might have done a bit to soften the meaness that Hillary is known for. I would have advised a nice, long interview with the young lady and given the mainstream press some great pics with the little reporter.
one guy said why do we need a women president but why do we need a black president
Is it true that after the Madison loan scandel when the clintons were in office, that 70million of the peoples money was missing, and the Clintons opened up a saving account in the camen Islands ,an account in the name of Chelsea , approx. 70 million was deposited in that account, and now Hilary is tapping in for her preidential bid?
Attractive, ick. That face is 1/2 Bill and 1/2 Hill. Gag.
But back to business. What a typical response from the Clintons. So ironic. Their family is off limits–would it hurt Chelsea to say a few words to the little girl like, Yes, he would make a good first man?; whether he would or not.
That’s the power trip from Hill/Bill. They protect themselves, their own. So self absorbed and power hungry. Double standard always for them.
I think Chelsea is woman enough to speak for herself but probably under a “gag” order from mom/dad. Pity. Poor little rich girl. Personally, I would be embarassed by my father’s behavior to even be in public if it were her dad, Bill. Don’t know how she can stand there supporting either one of them.
Is that what we want for President? She’ll cut off YOUR nose to spite her face. Remember that at tax time and her universal health plan. I’m sure they won’t be under that plan. Another double standard. Good luck America.
If Chelsea is going to be on the campaign trail, she needs to be able to take the heat. After all, didn’t we read about her in the British newspaper some years ago. She along with her shack-up boyfriend were forced to get out of a building quickly (I don’t recall why…fire possibily) in the middle of the night in their skimmpy sleepwear or shall I say…no wear. Needless to say, that was more newsworthy than the fire. It seems to me, if Ms. Chelsea is adult enough to entertain a ’shack-up’ boyfriend, she should be able to handle the heat of politics. Oh My!! but another double standard from the democrats.
Hillary has used every possible thing she could to hurt Obama, but Obama will be okay.. it sad to be two people at the same time. Laugh in his face and send all kind of dirty ads. Bill Clinton can’t talk about nobody, he needs to clean his own closet out.
i’m sorry did you said ..attractive….. LOL
27-year-old Chelsea should be fair game for reporters - tell her to get out of the spot light if she doesn’t want to answer questions.
Also, Hilliary is going down….I am Republican but would rather see Obama in the White House verses Bill and Hilliary ANYDAY..
Phil
WHAT FAMILY VALUES? I HAVE’NT SEEN ANY FAMILY VALUES IN THE WHOLE CLINTON FAMILY.
THERE ALWAYS OUT FOR THERE SELVES AND NO ONE ELSE. SORRY LADY YOU ARE BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE. AS FAR AS HEALTH CARE. WHO WANTS THE GOMNERMENTS NOSE STUCK
MORE IN OUR THE PEOPLES BUSINESS AND HEALTH CARE. WE NEED A STRONG LEADER. NOT SOME ONE WHO JUST WANTS TO BE THE BIG WHEEL. WE DONT NEED MORE TAXAS. WHY CAN’T OUR GOVERNMENT WORK TOGETHER? INSTEAD OF HELPING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
THEY ALWAYS SEND ALL OF OUR MONEY OVER SEAS.