Posted on 12/31/2007 9:29:51 AM PST by Cagey
VINTON, Iowa -- It's one thing for Hillary 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 Rieckoff, 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?" Rieckoff 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 Rieckoff said.
“Tall and attractive, Chelsea...”
It’s beneath me to comment.
Yep...almost requires a BARF alert.
The young witch is just like the old one.
Fortunately, Hillbillary had only one child. Imagine two, three, four, or more of them? Bleech!
AMERICA TO HILLARY: DROP DEAD!
BFD
Nothing sums up the stupidity of the typical Democrat voter than this statement. Family values? RFLOL.
Not that I'm a sexist or anything.
Seriously...compared to whom? Amy Carter?
“”I like her position on family values and health care. And I think it’s time we have a female president,” Robyn Rieckoff said.”
And here I thought we wanted to elect the person most qualified regardless of their race, gender, or religion.
IMO Democrats are the most discriminatory bunch there is.
Someone needs to tell that kid Web is dead.
Sydney's mom doesn't get out much, does she.
And I think it’s time we have a female president,” Robyn Rieckoff said
muuust haaaave boooooobies
To be such an ugly kid, she turned out pretty well.
He said the same thing about Donna Shalala.
There is nothing wrong with refusing to talk to reporters. It didn’t sound rude at all to me.
Its beneath me to comment.
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