The Democrats’ taboo
For the second time in two weeks, a college student asked Chelsea Clinton about the Monica Lewinsky scandal. The Clintons clearly won’t be talking about this subject, said Sheldon Alberts in Canada.com. These questions are certainly “lacking in taste,” sa
What happened
For the second time in two weeks, a college student asked Chelsea Clinton about the Monica Lewinsky scandal. The candidate’s daughter, who has campaigned for her mother, Hillary Clinton, at dozens of campuses, said, “It’s none of your business.” When pressed by the North Carolina State University student, she added, “I don’t think you should vote for or against my mother because of my father.” (CNN.com)
What the commentators said
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Clintons clearly won’t be talking about this subject, said Sheldon Alberts in Canada.com. A Barack Obama supporter who brought up Lewinsky’s infamous blue dress had to quickly apologize as the Clinton camp accused their rivals of stooping to dirty politics. Democrats were shocked, as “such attacks have long been the near-exclusive domain of conservative Republicans.” Within the Democratic family, Lewinsky remains taboo.
Hillary shouldn’t be afraid of the “now ancient Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal,” said Richard Sammon in a Kiplinger.com blog. “But the Clintons might do themselves a big favor by taking on the Monica questions directly. Handled well, Clinton could benefit.” By addressing the “legitimate” question of “whether lingering bitterness” over the way Republicans used the issue to try to destroy her husband, Clinton can “easily point to numerous bipartisan deals she has led in Congress with Republicans” as proof that she can set aside “old grudges” to get the job done.
These questions are certainly “lacking in taste,” said Jenice Armstrong in the Philadelphia Daily News. But “they aren’t completely meritless.” But Chelsea isn’t the one to ask about the scandal, or about Hillary’s decision to stand by her man. “Why don’t you hear people posing similar questions to the former president or Sen. Hillary Clinton? Chelsea was an innocent bystander in all this.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
India elections start amid violence, hate speech accusations
Talking Points Narendra Modi seeks a third term while critics worry about the future of the country's democracy
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Bird flu worries mount as virus found in milk, cows
Speed Read The FDA found traces of the virus in pasteurized grocery store milk
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published