(CNN) — Chelsea Clinton has fielded a lot of questions as she campaigns for her mother’s presidential bid, but on Tuesday the former first daughter faced a particularly awkward query for the first time.
Campaigning at Butler University in Indianapolis, an audience member asked the 28 year-old whether the Monica Lewinsky scandal had damaged her mother’s reputation.
“Wow, 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, and I do not think that is any of your business,” Clinton responded, appearing a bit surprised by the question. The crowd immediately cheered loudly at the response.
It was supposed to be the last question of the event, but Chelsea Clinton decided to take one more, saying, “I don’t think that should be the last question.”
Though she has faced the glare of public life since she was a girl, Chelsea Clinton has contended with renewed press coverage after taking on a more prominent role in her mother’s campaign earlier this year.
The Monica Lewinsky scandal made a brief return to the news last week, when newly-released White House schedules indicated Hillary Clinton was likely in the White House during at least 6 reported instances of encounters between her husband and the former White House intern.
– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
Filed under: Chelsea Clinton • Hillary Clinton\
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—I watched the video on CNN and I am a little confused about the reaction and the headline. She did not seem upset at all to me–in fact, Clinton Jr. seemed calm and unfazed by the question and the answer was odd. “…None of your business.” Why is it none of our business if Hilary’s reputation (or credibility depending on the report you watch) is hurt by an affair? Was she saying her opinion is none of our business or none of our business that her dad is a cheater? Or none of our business whether her mom’s reputation (credibility) was damaged?
Why would the question be out of line? She is twenty eight years old and campaigning for a presidential candidate. Was she implying that a college-aged audience is too left wing (or cool or supportive) to ask a sensitive question?
In my opinion, the applause was not against the guy who asked it, but in solidarity with a young woman in an uncomfortable situation. They would have clapped, in my opinion, if she had farted. Its just the right thing to do.
Ultimately, the headline is incorrect. She was not upset. She answered a question. Calmly and without missing a beat. She’s a Clinton.
cordieb said,
March 27, 2008 at 10:50 pm
I wish the media would find something reportable, informative, or at least news-worthy to talk about. Who really cares about an affair that happened eons ago. We were bombarded with it too much when it first was released. How could a wife’s husband having an affair really make any wife less credible? It was, in my opinion, a stupid question. People deal with hurts of this nature in may different ways; These are matters of the heart. It really is not our business how she dealt with this matter; I’m sure she felt hurt and cried as most females do when they ar faced with this type of situation. Or perhaps she was cold as ice. I really don’t care and can see no bearing on her frame of mind during this period as it relates to her reputation. What’s important is that she came out of it stronger. And, I’m not even a Hillary fan.
Sorry for the rambling on . . . I visited this blog to see if you were a real person or an imaginary character.
bespeakme said,
March 29, 2008 at 10:06 pm
The reason it matters is because the way she reacts to the 3a.m phone call- when she notices her husband with a 20 year old hanging off the end of his manhood – may change the course of history for the entire world.
cordieb said,
March 30, 2008 at 8:47 am
Well I could not look at the video until now. I’ll check it out! Glad to know you are in fact real (ha ha)
bespeakme said,
April 16, 2008 at 9:58 am
thats debatable