The New Republic

Wow, the second time you've used Chelsea Clinton in a wholly distasteful and inappropriate way in a month (have at me Obama genuflectors, I'm not bothering to respond on this thread).  What in the world did she do to deserve this -- it's not like she's the producer of homophobic rock videos or anything.

- Lymon1

February 6, 2008 at 3:18pm

No, I am with you here, lymon.  I don't truly understand this post and I always react with shudders when Clinton enemies bring up Chelsea.  It always turns ugly.  Especially because Marty said he would "leave Chelsea out of this" then goes on to talk about her.   Marty?  That backspace key?  If you contradict yourself in the same post you can use it.  It's ok.

- boneill

February 6, 2008 at 3:40pm

I read this post three times. And then I re-read lymon: "...used Chelsea Clinton in a wholly distasteful and inapproprate way...". The post only mentions her name! And by the way, she's not a child, she's an adult, she's not in the shadows, she actively campaigns, and she's not an intern at Avenue Capital, she's a full-time, six-figure employee of a hedge fund that specializes in bankruptcy and debt, high-level balance sheet gymnastics.

I think the manner in which the Clinton family make money, as masterful practitioners of Crony Capitalism, is particularly relevant now that Begala & Co. have staked out their key difference vis-a-vis Obama - Hillary's for the night shift, the poor people who are too tired to caucus, and Obama is for the kind of people who...well...work at hedge funds?

Gimme a break.

- fougasseu

February 6, 2008 at 5:13pm

"...one of the rights of a child, that her parents not embarrass her in public."

Are you childless, Mr. Peretz, or have you merely forgotten? It is the solemn OBLIGATION of parents to embarrass their children, both in private and public, as often as possible. And--just ask any child--it is one obligation that parents never fail to fulfill.

- Biblio44

February 6, 2008 at 5:15pm

fougasseu, I am with you on this, Chelsea is 27 years old, is pulling down over 6 figures all the while campaigning for her family. If people can make fun of the Mitt kits, then it should certainly be pointed out if she is going to campaign she has to expect some people are going to question her. Nobody is talking about her private life (and nobody cares) but I have to wonder what kind of recompense this hedge fund expects by having a Clinton on the payroll. Or is she such a master of finance she can do it all on the road?

Now Rudy's kids had the grace and sensibility to stay out of it, and everyone respected their desire to be left out of it.

- blackton

February 6, 2008 at 8:36pm

Mr. Peretz, I can not imagine who would want the Endrosement of Marian Edelmen, let alone her husband Peter.

Mrs. Edelman represents the worst ideological excess of the American Left.  Someone who preaches constantly about how bad America is and how hard she is working to make it better if only someone would listen.  She is so full of hot air and mindless ideas I don't think I could spend 5 minutes in the same room with her.  

I am not dissappointed that I missed her five Martin Luther King Day speeches this year.  What an ego she must have to prattle on and on.

her husband Peter is the fool who resigned when Bill Clinton signed a modest Welfare Reform Act from a Republican Congress shortly before his re-election in 1996.  As the New Republic put it 10 years later, 'A broad consensus now holds that welfare reform was certainly not a disaster--and that it may, in fact, have worked much as its designers had hoped'.

These people are such dedicated servants, they have worked for 40 years to eliminate racism, gender iniequality and poverty.  And they have made great progress but there is still so much left to do.

And this type of behavior does have an effect on voters.  The Democrats still insist that Racism is rampant in America, rather than take credit for the elimination of racism.  Democrats still are fighting the war in poverty when social security has made substantial improvements for hundreds of thousands of familes.  Discrimination and Financial fairness should be listed as significant Democratic accomplishments.  People like the Edelmans proliferate the belief these problems require the sophistry of their ministry.

The Edleman's know it all and their cocktail parties must be spectacular.  I am sure in Washington circles their wispered non-partisan endorsements are coveted.  

- CRS9TNR

February 6, 2008 at 9:17pm

Rudy's son hates him, Rudy's daughter is for Obama (well, she's only 16).

No one made more hypocritical gov't national security dollar handouts meets former GOP politician than Guiliani.

The Kerik thing was absolutely breathtaking. Everyone emphasized that story wrong. Guiliani, in Jan. of 2002, set up a firm to take advantage of new national security contracts; ugly and kinda hypocritical, but legal and fine.

He THEN tried to get his personal driver, Bernie Kerik, the lead DHS, Earth's largest PURVEYOR of such contracts.

He tried to get his crony to be his PERSONAL BAGMAN for Guiliani Partners at DHS.

- mmathog

February 6, 2008 at 10:09pm

hog, hey I hate Rudy, and I know Rudy's kids are rightly pissed at how their father screwed over their mother, but my point is that they could have made a huge splash if they came out for or even against their father. They didn't and because they didn't they were left alone. Chelsea is actively campaigning, and getting paid handsomely while doing it. She is fair game.

- blackton

February 7, 2008 at 11:01am

CRS9TNR:  Hmm.  I have a friend who used to teach at a school in South Central.  Let's leave aside what their home lives were like--which the new improved welfare made so much better! Yeah!  Their lives are so much better!  We'll stick to their classroom experience.  No pencils.  No paper.  Broken windows.  You fill in the rest.  

Now come to my neighborhood.  Educated parents who work tirelessly to raise money because the California tax code ensures that school funding remains at a minimum.  Classrooms all have computers.  School orchestra meets twice a week.  Weekly music and art classes.  High scores on standardized tests.  So, in my most humble opinion, there's plenty of inequality left for the Marion Edelmans of this country.

- MOLLYSIMON

February 7, 2008 at 6:20pm

MollySimon:  Thanks for noticing.  You are correct there is still a lot of inequality in this country.  Detroit Public Schools is a poster child for this abuse.

But my point is that the State of Michigan changed school funding to provide the same funds for the City of Detroit that the suburbs have.  Guess what, there are still problems with Pencils, books and buildings.  Why that school district fails is debatable, but it's a pretty convoluted path to get to white racism.

In my inner-ring suburban school district we have 'School of Choice' students from other failing school districts.  Again I am funding the education of children who other districts have failed.  Yes my children benefit from this exposure to children from other neightborhoods.  But it is work to manage this.

So from the top down, funding has come from the state to the poorest residents.  From the bottom up, they are allowed a choice of another school if this education is important to them.

Now these are two admirable attempts to solve the problems of Urban America schools.  The Edelmans of this country do not see these as successes.  They see this as more of the same old problems.  

Do yourself a favor and engage the discussion with these folks.  Read their work, and challenge it.  New Republic used to have good articles that challenged the convential wisdom, and they may again some day.  When they get off this stupid minute by minute election covereage.  When the Archives come back, I'll let you know a few good articles to look at.

Enjoy.

- CRS9TNR

February 7, 2008 at 9:21pm