Chelsea Surprised By Sexist Comments

Campaigning For Mom In N. Carolina, Clinton Says She Was Sheltered From Chauvinism

(AP)  Chelsea Clinton said Saturday that she didn't realize how much sexism remained in the United States until she noticed the issue at recent campaign stops for her mother.

"I didn't really get how much sexism there still was in our country until I was at a rally with my mom in New Hampshire, and someone came up to me and said, 'I just can't see a woman being commander in chief,"' Clinton said during a stop in Research Triangle Park.

She also noted another New Hampshire rally that was disrupted by men who stood up and told Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton to "Iron my shirt." And she quietly questioned why some people find humor in a nutcracker doll that looks like her mother.

The younger Clinton said that she didn't understand that sexism still existed because she has always been supported by both the men and women in her family.

"I didn't realize that that wasn't expected yet in the rest of our country," Clinton said. "I have been so profoundly more grateful than I have ever been over the past few months for my parents because of that."

Clinton spoke at the Young Democrats of North Carolina convention in Research Triangle Park - an event that normally draws only appearances for statewide races. On Saturday, campaign officials for both Obama and Clinton sent surrogates to speak, seeking support ahead of the state's May 6 primary. Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker appeared on behalf of Obama.

On several occasions during her speech, Clinton referred to the North American Free Trade Agreement - a pact often blamed for the acceleration of textile and manufacturing job losses across the state - and explained why her former president father and aspiring president mother differed on the issue.

An audience member who said his mother lost her job when it was shipped to Mexico asked Clinton how he could reconcile the passage of NAFTA under the Bill Clinton administration with Hillary Rodham Clinton's opposition of the free trade agreement.

"We don't agree on everything as a family," Chelsea Clinton said. "I agree with my mother on most things - not everything. I agree with my father on most things - not everything. My mother and father agree on most things - not everything."

Clinton, along with rival Barack Obama, repeatedly criticized NAFTA during her successful Ohio primary campaign. She has said she would renegotiate trade agreements and end tax breaks for corporations that send jobs out of the country.

The 1994 landmark NAFTA pact opened trade with Canada and Mexico.

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards also made an appearance at Saturday's event, revisiting his stump speech talking points and taking the stage for the first time since dropping his White House bid two months ago.

The former North Carolina senator praised both of his former rivals, but declined to endorse either candidate.

"I have a very high opinion of both of them," Edwards said. "We would be blessed as a nation to have either one of them as president."

Both Obama and Clinton have repeatedly lobbied Edwards for his endorsement, flying into Chapel Hill to meet with him privately and touting his accomplishments on the campaign trail. Before leaving the race, Edwards won a promise from both Clinton and Obama to make ending poverty central to their ongoing campaigns for the White House.

On Saturday, Edwards pointed out the historical nature of both of their campaigns and said both were better suited in carrying forward his campaign platform than Republican John McCain.

"We are blessed, first, to have an extraordinarily talented African American who could be the next president of the United States," Edwards said. "There's no way to contest the fact that he's inspired this country."

"And Sen. Clinton, who has served America for so long and so well, and has shown so much strength and leadership, has really forged an extraordinarily historic campaign as a woman for the nomination and for the presidency."

Pressed by reporters to detail any endorsement plans, Edwards declined to even say if he would endorse a candidate before the state's primary.

"When I have something to say, I'll let you know," he said.

[o0sullivan]

Chelsea Clinton works for a New York Hedge Fund called the Avenue Capital Group. This is a company which invests in the distressed debt market and which also happens to be run by folks who have been big financial supporters of her parents. (So much for getting her job on the merits.)

Investors in distressed securities typically make an assessment not only of the issuer%u2019s ability to improve its operations but also whether the restructuring process increases the investors'' wealth. This typically means things like stripping out pension assets and moving high wage jobs overseas.

Avenue Capital Group and firms like it profit from downturns in the economy and foreclosures and bankruptcies. There are more than a few voters in Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina and beyond who have a right to hear how Chelsea Clinton rationalizes her chosen professional career with her pro-working man rhetoric.

[kansas1946]

"I didn''t really get how much sexism there still was in our country until I was at a rally with my mom in New Hampshire, and someone came up to me and said, ''I just can''t see a woman being commander in chief,"'' Clinton said during a stop in Research Triangle Park.
**************************************

There is still sexism and there is still racism, but thankfully it is a small percentage of small minded Americans, and you are always going to have those. Some of that is coming from a few churches that insist on trying to put women in a secondary role. Just like there will always be *** roaches, there will always be bigots.

[sgtrds]

Man, there must be some pretty homely women where you live if you think Chelsea is a hottie. She''''s no two-bagger, but still...

Posted by rational_1 at 11:47 AM : Mar 31, 2008

I live in L.A. where there are many many many beautiful women. I think she''s a real cutie. She has that girl next door look and to me that''s better then the phony playboy type anytime.

[sgtrds]

Yeh, that Taresa Hines Kerry is a real knock out, eh? I think your thorazine drip is on too high!

Posted by Infidel_Us at 01:27 PM : Mar 31, 2008

At least she''s a real woman and not a transsexual like Ann Coulter. Ugh!

[infidel_us]

Democrats have always had the hotter women.
Posted by SgtRDS at 12:15 AM : Mar 31, 2008

Yeh, that Taresa Hines Kerry is a real knock out, eh? I think your thorazine drip is on too high!

[infidel_us]

''I just can''t see a woman being commander in chief,"'' Clinton said during a stop in Research Triangle Park.

What he meant was, ''we just can''t see YOUR MOTHER as CIC.''

[SuzieH212006]

I HAD a lot of respect for the Clintons before this campaign started, now I wouldn''t let them dog sit for me let alone run this country. The more I hear from them, the more they sound like the same piles of *** that have been running politics for years. It is time for change in the truely pitiful mess we call a government, and all the lies, underhanded fear mongering and misleading comments is what makes politics horrible and embarrasing to this country. Its time for all of us to stop watching f---in american idol for a few minutes and turn on a debate and make an educate decision - if not for you then do it for the future generations because this will truely b the election that shapes the future!!!

[rational_1]

I''''m just surprised she turned out to be a ****y as she has. Well, not too surprised. Democrats have always had the hotter women.
Posted by SgtRDS at 12:15 AM : Mar 31, 2008

Man, there must be some pretty homely women where you live if you think Chelsea is a hottie. She''s no two-bagger, but still...

[gurusavant]

i guess when your world is a little bubble-pocket, where humans who created laws are inherently also actually governed by the sentiments that have established them, then yes, full-blown flat out tolerated and engrained sexism seems like a foreign concept thought up by aliens...sexism is also difficult to recognize for those who it effects (women/females in general), because it encompasses all aspects of society, making it''s detection almost impossible. the foundation of ''modern'' society rests upon a structure in which women are property and demanded to submit to males. this basic structure has not really changed. and no one likes a feminist...

[hook1950]

How has Sen. Clinton served American long and well, Mr. Edwardss? Travelgate? The vast right-wing conspiracy comment? Lie after lie after lie?

Am I missing something?

[ddgabes]

All 3 candidates just plain STINK!!! Check out what these kids are doing to assist their parents during these difficult economic times as well as to show their displeasure with this election''s candidates:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=360038024753&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=023

[hoopakai]

Who cares about Chelsea? Seriously. I bet the Clintons are preparing her for a future presidential campaign.

[gypsy0126]

Who is writing these uneducated, hateful comments? Democrats or Republicans? If you are democrats, you are making me ashamed of being a Democrat. You sound JUST LIKE Republicans, who constantly drip hate from their lips, pens, and computer key strokes. All you Chelsea haters, you should all be doing as well as she is.

[sgtrds]

The body of a bro of all vets, Sgt. Keith Matthew Maupin, was identified in the Iraq war. He is a hero. I just checked his story and saw only one RIP. Come on bro''''s, he deserves better and so does his family. We stand together. It''s not possible to do too much to honor our fallen comrades.

[sgtrds]

New CBS poll:

Who do think is uglier?

1) Laura Bush

2) Ann Colter

[sgtrds]

"Chelsea Surprised By Sexist Comments"

I''m just surprised she turned out to be a ****y as she has. Well, not too surprised. Democrats have always had the hotter women.

[agnim]

Of course this little girl in a 28 year-old woman''s body is going to be surprised about a lot of things in life. lol

Instead of teaching her about the world and what it means to be a real woman, the self-absorbed parents practically hide her away like she is a ***.

Now now this lost female, like her mom, doesn''t recognize that males have been making pass at females since the beginning of time, and THAT IS NATURAL.
That is how Mother Nature relentlessly propagate the species.

If females want to be treated as males, then they need to grow a pair of stones!

[l00ker]

Seems Chelsea is straight out of the Clinton their way or the highway mold. Oh well, then she should be able to take the arrows, like everyone else, since she is unequivocally standing in as foil for her mother, "bullet proof" vested for her sake. Because, Barack''s kevlar has been fiercely tested here these passed two weeks, while he is busy sending this Clinton machine on its clunking and clanking way into the junk pile, scrap heap and then into the smelter...for good. Alas.

[rufisgufis]

Lies by Hillary: Dodging sniper fire in Bosnia; bringing peace to Northern Ireland; against NAFTA from the beginning responsible; for Eschip; "lost files in ''filegate''; making $100,000.00 in cattle futures by just being "lucky." no inside information; Travel Gate, etc. These are just the most prominent. Hillary says making personal attacks on others is "fun."

Lies by Bill: "I did not have sexual relations with that women - Ms Lewinsky;" lying to a federal grand jury, obstruction of justice; this EX-CON was disbarred for lying. and there are so many other lies I can''t count them all.

Chelsea: Initially confirmed her mother''s lies about Bosnia. "That''s what happened; I should know because I was there.

The DNA FOR LYING IS IN THEIR BLOOD, THEY CAN''T HELP IT. THEY ARE JUST "NATURAL BORN LIARS."

[estabwary]

She never realized that some women
are voting for mom to change that?

Does she know we still have racism too?