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.
“”...she plunges enthusiastically into the crowd after her mother’s speeches, shaking hands and posing for pictures...”
“But onstage, Chelsea never speaks;”
“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.””
So they are willing to use their daughter to help their political career. Under the guise that she has some kinda qualifications. But they are not willing to let her talk. Are they afraid her use will be diminished if people know her? They are putting her under the harsh glare of politics, under a polarized lens which allows them to tell her what to do and what to say.
How does she know? Herself has the same policy as Spawn-of-Herself: "I don't talk to reporters."
LOL you are mean, funny but mean. :)
perpetually offended people need a shrink...
She got her "degree" on the fly. She got her "job" for the connections. She's playing footsies with the public on her vile mother's campaign trail.
WHERE do you see that she "turned out pretty well"?
GACK!
Since when?
You’re in a class by yourself...
just wow...this is the kind of supporter that woman has.
If your kid disses MY kid, no way would I vote for you..but that's just me.
Shucks, Null! So are you.
(Should we wonder if everyone else just got up and left?)
(I think they left, while making gaging noises behind our backs)...
Good!
ALONE, AT LAST!!!
Come here you!
o!
She’s got all her mother’s charm, I see.
Someone needs glasses, or maybe he had the girls confused with each other.
Courtesy Comment:
From your rather provocative comment (bed in the middle of the day)I would say your in your own special fun category.
LOL
Happy New Years to your and yours.
And she does not sweat much!
translated:
My mom has ordered me to keep the muzzle on so I can’t tell the press what I really think of her.
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