Blue Collar Muse

Ramesh Ponnuru posted up a nice Washington Post discussion group on Wednesday concerning the flap over Chelsea Clinton’s response to a question from a Butler University student.

At a campaign event for her mother at Butler University, Chelsea Clinton was reportedly asked by student Evan Strange whether her mother’s credibility had suffered during the Lewinsky scandal. Her response: “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.”

The crowd applauded. Afterward, some journalists asked whether the younger Clinton should be “off limits.”

Ponnuru thinks the question was legitimate and I agree. But some of the comments in discussion begged to differ.

I think Ramesh’s analysis is fine as far as it goes. Chelsea is running around campaigning for her mom, so it’s fine to ask her legitimate questions, even about the Lewinsky matter (i.e., it’s not like they’re pounding on the door of some kid who’s trying to stay out of her mom’s public life). But I don’t see WHY anyone would ask her this question, except to make a stink. She may have special insight into certain matters about her mom’s campaign, but she’s no more qualified to judge the effect of the Lewinsky affair on Hillary’s credibility than any random Washington pundit.

and

… although the question was nominally about Hillary’s “credibility”, an honest answer would require Chelsea to comment on how her father’s infidelity impacted her mother and potentially whether he mother should have reacted differently to the infidelity. If the questioner merely expected an answer regarding opinion polls and how Hillary is viewed by soccer moms, Chelsea has no unique insight to offer. Thus, the question was intended to elicit a very personal answer.

OK, fine. Why then are we treating Hillary’s opinion of Obama as legitimate? Either we are consistent or we are not. Why is it OK to ask Hillary if Obama’s credibility has been impacted by the Jeremiah Wright scandal? Is a man’s relationship with his spiritual mentor not intensely personal? Can it not last for years and be deeply meaningful? Do things that threaten that relationship not prove upsetting to the people involved?

Why is it OK to ask Hillary about Obama’s credibility but not OK to ask Chelsea about Hillary’s? Asking Hillary about Barack and his relationship with his pastor is as legitimate a question as asking Chelsea about her dad’s relationship with his lover. Ask the questions or ban them, I’m OK either way. But stop the hypocrisy. Chelsea is a big girl. She stepped up on the stage and then didn’t like what she found in the spotlight. She was dispatched to represent her mom. She agreed to take the gig. If she’s not going to answer questions then she’s not much of a representative. Maybe she should just go home.

Come to think of it, maybe she could convince her mom to accompany her …

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