Student Defends Lewinsky Query To Chelsea

(CBS/AP)  The college student who got a stinging brushback from Chelsea Clinton when he asked about the Monica Lewinsky scandal said Wednesday on CBS News' The Early Show that he's a Clinton supporter who was trying to get her to show "what makes Hillary so strong."

Evan Strange, a Butler University student, 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 told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith. 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."

Sally Quinn of The Washington Post said on The Early Show that Chelsea Clinton must have been prepared for a question on the Lewinsky scandal.

"I think what happened yesterday is Bill Clinton's legacy, and it's really is heartbreaking that his daughter - at this age almost 30 - is going to be confronted with this question for the rest of her life," she said.

[b-easy63]

HILLARY CAUGHT "EMBELLISHING AGAIN"

"I think for anyone to try to question the Clintons'''''''' huge support (for Ireland) and start trying to nitpick and saying, ''''''''But she wasn''''''''t sitting down at the negotiation table'''''''' _ sure, we know she wasn''''''''t sitting down at the negotiation table," Ahern said.

After suffering criticism from rival Obama''''''''s campaign and Protestant politicians in Northern Ireland, Clinton this month backed off language that suggested she was ever involved in the 22 months of negotiations that preceded the Good Friday pact.

But Clinton still suggests that she wielded a hidden hand over the diplomatic triumph.

"I wasn''''''''t sitting at the negotiating table, but the role I played was instrumental," she said in a March 13 interview with National Public Radio."

We''''re sure it was Hillary, just as sure as we are that you ducked snipers and ran for cover with no greeting ceremony in Bosnia.



catch the full article here:



http://www.cbsnews.com/stor
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[truthfinder1]

May be to some, this politics are all games. It bears no feeling, no consequences and no pains. Once the show ends then the life is back in normal.
What Chelsea did was amazing and remarkable. Proud to see her being so intelligent and firm.
Young man, grow up. Do not judge people so quickly. You don''t re-open the healed wound and tell how you can cure it better. Stupid!

[txgrouch2004]

If Chelsea wants to play in the political sandbox, she should expect to get some sand in her shoe.

Her answer was not only immature and defensive, it was snotty and arrogant the way she gave it. What a shame, another young mind gone to waste.

She''s just a chip off the Clinton block - with a superior attitude, she falls back on the Clinton family tradition of evasion and concealment of the truth - that is, when they aren''t busy telling outright lies.

[choiceshaveconsequences]

The first part of her answer reminded me of her mother; the last part, of her father. Well prepared and obviously coached, she was too kind to someone who had every intention of scoring a coup at her expense. I would have preferred something from Jeremiah Wright''s "Introduction to Authentic Afro-American Put Downs and Blessings," perhaps "NOYDB."

[enaudnella]

Chelsea............U are the new generation of Clinton disclosure....Great way to talk to your supporters.

[beebopareebo]

The young man got a much more polite answer from Ms. Clinton than he would have from 9 out of 10 women I know.

Since when do we visit the father''s sins on the daughters? And where is the outrage from Maureen ("Howdy") Dowdy and true feminists?

In a Bush campaign stop, he wouldn''t have gotten in to ask his question.

[enaudnella]

Did u ever hear Obama cry over the Wright controversy that has lastest for 3 weeks.......Hillary hasnt had any story linger for that long and yet she cries and blames the media again for her LIE about sniper fire upon her landing to meet children on the tarmac??? By the way Chelsea........good way to talk to a Clinton supporter.............dont u need all you can get?

[phillysage]

The misogynist, sexist media (yes, and amazingly many of them are women!), far more sexist than it ever is racist (they are still supplying the Obama campaign with pillows and foot massages!), will stop at nothing to keep Hillary down and get her out! First they called Chelsea, in effect, a prostitute, by calling her parents "pimps" by having her involved in the campaign. Chelsea is an adult, and makes her own decisions just like anyone! Whatever the intention, the question was inappropriate.

[unlocking-2009]

As her own father Bill said, "saddle up". If she can''t deal then get off the campaign trail

[antoniof123]

This was a setup question from the begining you can see it.