Chelsea on Lewinsky: Butt out
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - March 26, 2008 Evan Strange, a Butler University student who works on the
school's newspaper, The Butler Collegian, said he had asked Chelsea
Clinton her opinion "on the criticism of her mother that how she
handled the Lewinsky scandal might be a sign of weakness and she
might not be a strong enough candidate to be president."
It wasn't clear what aspect of the former first lady's actions
he was referring to. Before she was fully aware of President Bill
Clinton's relationship with Lewinsky, Hillary Rodham Clinton said
allegations about her husband and the White House intern were
manufactured by a "vast right-wing conspiracy."
Strange's question at Chelsea Clinton's appearance Tuesday at
the school brought a stinging rebuke from Clinton's daughter.
"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," Chelsea
Clinton said during the campaign visit for her mother.
"I'm a supporter of Hillary. I love Hillary," Strange said
Wednesday on CBS' "The Early Show." He said he asked the question
because his friends "always bring up that scandal. It's not
something I asked to cause trouble but to show those people what
makes Hillary so strong."
He said that by brushing him off, Chelsea Clinton missed an
opportunity to show her mother's strength.
"I was very surprised" at the rebuke, Strange said. "I can
see where she'd get a little defensive because of the question and
hearing Lewinsky over and over again, but I would like to hear her
say something about Hillary rather than dismissing the question."