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.
It was in the article, and if the author hadn't lied, he wouldn't have had to be corrected.
Yeah, I can't really fault her for it, either. It sounds like she tried to soften the blow.
I sympathize with Chelsea’s hair issues! Since I can’t afford a Hollywood hairdresser, I just keep mine 2” long :-).
Chelsea isn’t pretty, but with the right hairstyle and makeup (and a pleasant expression) she looks okay. Well-chosen clothes and good posture go a long way, too.
LOL!!
LOL! They could always just post them on their profile pages. Except the people who are too scared to make a profile.;-)
Be happy to, but I don't know how. I have a picture of myself at the age of 19. Tell me how to post it and I will do so -- just for you.
Chelsea ... shaking hands and posing for pictures while asking, "Are you going to caucus for my mom?"
Proper response: "I'm sorry, I don't talk to politicians and that applies to you. Even though I think you're ...."
Nah, that's okay. Most 19 year olds have pimples and you know how that goes.
I’ll be happy to show you how to post it. And how old are you now?
I don't care which candidate is the most Christian, has the best black or southern accent, has a lesbian relationship with her assistant, how many times they've been married, how many boy-friends or girl-friends they have had, is fat, skinny, or just right, has contributors who are, what they said in third grade, has an ugly or attractive spouse, what their position on sodomy or gay marriage is.
I do care if they sold pardons for votes, cheated on investments and land dealings, stole FBI files, delayed the investigation of the Savings and Loan scandal, takes money from foreign governments, what their position on social security, war on terrorism, energy independence, abortion is; what their experience is, if they flip-flop to pander for votes, who their cabinet members will be.
Please let's stop the campaign madness and get down to business.
She has had plastic surgery also
I don’t talk to the press and that applies to you, ...” Chelsea
the paradox of Chelsea as she campaigns across Iowa
She’s not a kid. What’s the use of campaigning if she don’t talk to the press? Who can we fool today, like father, like daughter. Do you understand anyone who supports Clinton is wrong, misguided and trying to sell Americans a bad product?
“Tall and attractive, Chelsea cuts an impressive figure on the campaign trail”
Someone started early this New Years Eve. It’d take more than beer goggles to turn the former first pooch into anything other than a two-bagger.
I don’t see the problem with Chelsea’s response. Obviously her mom taught her that if she can’t say something nice about somebody, don’t say anything at all.
Then why are you following your mother around as if joined at the hip? Does she need you to prove she can 'drop' a kid?
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