Should Chelsea Clinton Answer Questions About Her Father's Indiscretions?

Chelsea Clinton has been appearing on behalf of her mother on the campaign trail. For the most part she has been getting good reviews from the press for her poise and articulation. However, one topic that has been touched on a couple of times has become a very hot topic and debate on talk shows and in newspapers. That's right, you guessed it, the Lewinsky affair! More precisely, whether or not she should be asked about it and when she is, has she responded well? No and yes.

Look, Chelsea is 28 years old now, but at the time of the so called Blue Dress debacle she was still quite young. This must have been a very embarassing and emotionally difficult time for her as it would be for any young lady. Forget for a moment that she was the president's daughter and that her mother is a U.S. Senator who is now running for the presidency and put yourself in her shoes. Considering that, I emphatically say her response that it was not the questioners business to ask that question, was entirely appropriate. Also consider how the reminder must make her feel.

Ok you say, but her parents are public figures. Her dad was the president and he had an indiscreet affair with an intern. Wowee. I would venture to say that most daughters don't have to continue to talk about that sort of thing in public 8 years or more after the fact. However, I'm going to go along with the premise that being a president's daughter and being a spokesperson for her candidate mother makes her a public figure in her own right. Again, wowee.

I sense you may not get my point so I'm going to be blunt. Chelsea didn't have an affair with an intern in the White House that we know of. Neither did her mother who is running to be president of the United States. Just as it is unfair to blame the wife for her husband's affair, it's unfair to drag the daughter through it yet again. Unfair. Simple put, repulsive to most civilized people.

The television and internet pundents that continue to criticize Chelsea for her response are beating a dead horse over the head with a hammer. As a woman, as a mother, I saw a very poised and well mannered young woman respond in the only polite way I would expect her to. It isn't anyone's business what her thoughts are on the subject. None whatsoever. When and if this episode makes the history books, educated and thoughtful people will agree, I'm sure of that.

Whether you approve or disapprove of any of the Clintons, that doesn't factor in to this question.