Chelsea Clinton

Republicans loved Chelsea Clinton. She instantly became their constant punch line. For example here is John McCain:

Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno."

-- Sen. John McCain, speaking to a Republican dinner, June 1998.

And let’s not forget Rush Limbaugh:

it was Limbaugh who ridiculed Chelsea Clinton, then 13, as the "White House dog."

Now those aren’t jokes as sick as making one about raping a child, but that kind of joke wasn’t even made, but Letterman never made a joke about anyone being raped. Instead he simply said that the Palin’s daughter got knocked up by A-Rod. He didn’t even specify which daughter. It was the Palins who decided to make it about their 14 year old daughter.

But Republicans seem to forget that they loved the jokes when they were going against Chelsea Clinton. Even Palin’s own running mate was out there trying to get the chuckles. But today we have Republicans trying to say that never happened. Here’s Republican talking head John Feehery trying to say it never happened. Luckily Contessa Brewer brought her A-game and quickly shot him down:

So since there is all this outrage from the right over “leave the kids out of it”, will they start boycotting Rush Limbaugh, who never could do that? Hell no.

Of course it was to woo him to support Hillary. Send the cute daughter out to have lunch with a 21 year old college student in hopes of getting his support for mom. Can anyone think of a term to describe that?

"Everyone knows the Clintons have a cat. Socks is the White House cat. But did you know there is a White House dog?" He then held up a picture of 12-year-old Chelsea.

--Rush Limbaugh on his Fox TV show, 1993

(h/t Cesca)

Yup - the wingnuts have always gone after Chelsea. Remember how this was all fine and dandy, yet no one could talk about Mary Cheney? It isn't the Clintons that created this environment, it's the right wingers. The Clintons are now just using it to their advantage.

The Politico has a rather long article about the David Shuster uproar from yesterday, which takes a much deeper look into what happened. After reading it, I find myself more backing Shuster. He may have chosen his words poorly, but it does appear more like the Clintons are "pimpin" out their daughter. It also reminded me of 2004 when Mary Cheney was allowed to go out there and campaign, yet no one was allowed to talk about her sexual preference.

On top of all that, you also realize quickly that Shuster is paying the price for Matthews comments, which were actually much worse in my view.

That "joke" was told by John McCain in 1998. Perhaps Shuster should have been a little nastier, then he could be a front runner to be President. Or maybe this is a look into what we would have with a McCain Presidency - making lesbian jokes and picking on children.

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