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.
How do you “shield Chelsea from the harsh glare and rough edges of presidential politics” and parade her around at the same time.
I’m curious what Chelsey has to say?
I sure if Hillary Rodham Clinton could put a gag on Bill she would as well.
The less said the less chance for mistakes.
So much for the first amendment and (Dysfunctional) family values.
If Chelsea Clinton can campaign all over the place and speak, then she should answer the press. Of course, she may have views on race, ans sex, that cause trouble, and who knows what she thinks of her father’s philandering. It is still not right, using her without making her open to questions.
Family Values???? Charles Manson has better family values than she does.
Family values??? Charles Manson has better family values than she does.
QUESTION: What happened to “Socks” the cat? You remember, that darling little kitten Hilllary got to distract the publics attention from The First Mistress scandal. Where is he now? Search online and you will learn quite a bit about your girl Hillary.
I really like FOX news and see that your people are right on the money . However , I do see the AP as a liberal machine . No matter what criminal activity the Clinton’s were involved in- The AP writes about them like they were mother and father Teresa .
“I like her position on family values and health care. And I think it’s time we have a female president,”
What is this woman talking about? Hillary doesn’t even know how to spell family values, and since when did being a woman qualify you to be president? Give me a break!
Who wrote the AP Article and said Chelsea is “Tall and attractive”? Tall, yes; attractive??????
Its getting to be apparent to most americans,that unfortunately for us we love to hear news that is not actually worth printing.How often have the children of those running for office,”respectfully”stayed out of the lime light. They are not representative of their parents. Even those of us not running for political office that our own children’s views,often are in stark contrast to our own. Whether this is true of young Chelsea we don’t and shouldn’t know. Let us just rejoice that this young person is doing her part in supporting her mother.Without drawing unnecessary attention to herself.
Chelsea Tall -Attractive NOT I call them the Howdy Doodie Family Hilary and Bill smiling with their mouth wide open– put Chelsea in the middle with strings on her arms and her mouth shut. You have The Howdie Doodie Family