Monica Lewinsky Featured HBO Documentary (Upset people mis-understand her)

Yahoo News ^ | January 17 | By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

[Teacup]

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - Four years after the start of the scandal that almost toppled a president, Monica Lewinsky says she's still trying to figure out how to live a normal life.

Fighting back tears, and laughing a little, Lewinsky appeared at a news conference Wednesday to promote an HBO documentary scheduled to debut on March 3. Called ``Monica in Black and White,'' it largely consists of her answering questions from an audience of HBO staff and college students.

Lewinsky initiated the project and was paid for her participation, but she wouldn't say how much.

The former intern said she made the film partly because she was worried other TV movies being made about her case would perpetuate inaccuracies and misconceptions.

What is the biggest misconception people have about her?

``That I sought this celebrity by seducing the president and going to the White House with an agenda and turning on him so all of this could happen, so I could enjoy it and cause trouble for this country and make millions of dollars and perpetuate my celebrity,'' she said.

``And that I'm stupid,'' she added.

Lewinsky, who designs handbags and attends classes at Columbia University in New York, wore a black leather jacket and skirt. She appeared to fight back tears when a reporter asked about former President Clinton 's moral standards.

``I'm flustered right now,'' she said. ``I'm so sorry.''

She also tried not to answer a handful of questions, including how she felt about Monica Lewinsky jokes, indicating HBO wanted to save responses for the documentary. Eventually, she said gallows humor helped her, but she doesn't like how her name has become synonymous with the scandal.

``The ones that take my last name and equate that to something a lot of people in the world do is something really cruel,'' she said.

Lewinsky lamented that there's no handbook on how to act when anonymity is lost. Asked why she doesn't try to avoid public attention, she said, ``What I learned to do - and it seemed to work - is if I went to a certain number of events and gave photographers some pictures, they didn't stand outside my house.''

``I'm really trying to do the best I can to normalize my life,'' she said.

She curtly dismissed a question about how she felt about Clinton today: ``It's all in the past and I've really just moved on.''

Most people who recognize her - maybe not journalists - are very kind, she said.

``It started with that rule in kindergarten,'' she said. ``If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all.''

(Apologies if already posted.)

[Teacup]

Look at her arrogence.

``That I sought this celebrity by seducing the president and going to the White House with an agenda and turning on him so all of this could happen, so I could enjoy it and cause trouble for this country

"Hey Monica! You're not that important! get over yourself!"

[Teacup]

Post 13-I agree.

Post 15- I think she's to chubby to be waiting tables nekki, EWWW.

[tinacart]

Perfect media event: Monica meets Ratboy, they fall in love, she stands behind him until our screwed up justice system gives him back his freedom, gate money, and a new rag for his head - the great American love story!

[shaggy eel]

,,, I'm still caught on the first two lines of this article where it refers to a "normal" life. Can someone tell me what that is?

Actually, we all have trouble trying to forget "available sofa, willing intern; crouching intern, hidden cigar."

Hey Monica, don't complain with your mouth full.

[tinacart]

Oops, that should be "beside him." Or, better yet, she kneels in front of him... Oh never mind!

[Teacup]

What has she done with all the money she's made? Do you remember Donna Rice? She married, and has taken up the cause against child pornography. She has tried to make up for her mistakes. If you rememebr, she was the one caught with gary hart-pants.

[oyez]

Look at her arrogence

No wonder Clinton was attracted to her. Its a common thread amomg Clintons and the company they keep.

[mountaineer]

Lewinsky, who designs handbags and attends classes at Columbia University in New York

She already has a college degree. I'd love to know what classes she's taking at Columbia. Somehow, I don't see a Ph.D. in her future.

[Teacup]

She should have taken her money and gone back to college, do something with her life instead of appearing at every single celebrity event in New York. She was at the Hamptons a few weeks ago. Some normal life, she made all the gossip collums.

[Teacup]

I heard she's taking classes on "Underwater Basket weaving."

[curmudgeonII]

The problem isn't that people don't understand Monica.
The problem is that people do understand Monica.

[Teacup]

She says people have misconceptions about her. I agree with you. We all know what she was doing.

[Landru]

OK; just who do you think will be choosen to play, "Hillary?"

Which is a really tough question given the fact I think Phylis Diller's dead & the only other candidate was squashed under a house in Kansas.
I wouldn't be surprised if auditions for the Portly Pepperpot's character won't be held at Jenny Craigs from coast-to-coast, either.
Ain't a Casting Couch strong enough, truth be known.

...of course finding a reasonable Sink Emporer will be a tougher yet; what-with Buddy's recent passing.

[WALLACE212]

I've heard that the black/low lights are slimming. I am not convinced that would do enough in ML's case, however. hahaha

[Teacup]

Sean Hanniety will be talking about Monica being unhappy about referring to a BJ as a Lewinsky, on his radio program right now HA! HA! He said, it makes Monica unhappy. Too bad.

[WALLACE212]

There are few things so amusing as one of the self-appointed elite bemoaning(pun intended) having to bear the consequences of their stupid indiscretions just like the rest of us do everyday.

Monica, when you f%@! up, you pay for it. Welcome to the real world.

[HHFi]

Isn't Wilt Chamberlain dead? Oh well, even if he is, Monica could get a rise out of him.

[Toidylop]

``And that I'm stupid,'' she added.

She's NOT!!!!

how she felt about Monica Lewinsky jokes...

Whoa!!! Who brought the term "give a Lewinsky" to the young kids of America???

[Teacup]

I know! And then she acts all like:

"Oh, I'm so hurt, I'm so misunderstood."

Oh please!! Give me a break.

[Happygal]

``The ones that take my last name and equate that to something a lot of people in the world do is something really cruel,'' she said.

She shoulda thought of that before she opened her mouth!