Watching the explosion over MSNBC personality David Shuster's comments about Chelsea Clinton today (Shuster has been suspended now), you remember the flak John McCain got back in 1998 over a joke he made at a fundraiser. And you wonder if it might come up somehow this year:
"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because (Attorney General) Janet Reno is her father."
Of course, he apologized.
Clip from the Hotline after the jump.
Hotline: 6/15/98:
Arizona Republic's Murphy reports, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
"formally apologized" to Pres. Clinton on 6/12 "for a crass joke
he made earlier in the week at the expense of" Hillary Rodham
Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and AG Janet Reno. McCain spokesperson
Nancy Ives "said a letter of apology had been hand-delivered to
the" WH. Ives "would not repeat the joke that landed McCain in
hot water": "I don't feel comfortable telling you. He feels
awful, and he regrets that he said it ... I just can't repeat
it." Political "sources told the Republic the joke went
something like this: Do you know why Chelsea Clinton is so ugly?
Because Janet Reno is her father." WH Press Sec. Mike McCurry
said 6/12 that Clinton considered McCain's apology letter to be
heartfelt: "The president certainly understands how you get
caught saying things you ordinarily wouldn't have said." McCurry
"said Clinton may have even called McCain to assure him there
were no hard feelings" (6/13).
A "PREORDAINED PRINCE"
Arizona Republic's Montini writes, "Those rib-tickling
yukmeisters of the Washington press corps are about to apply
several coats of monkeyshine on the tarnished shell of their
preordained prince of presidential candidates. ... Don't expect
the national press to criticize" McCain for the joke. "McCain
has been crowned. He can do no wrong" (6/14).
Comments (2)
I THINK cHELSEA CERTAINLY LOOKS BETTER THAN mCcAIN AT THIS JUNCTURE NO MATTER WHO HER FATHER MAY BE.
Hillary Soprano and her Mafia princes perfect together.
Yes, I Chelsea will take over the crew when "MOM" becomes President.
Just one more reason Bill does not want HILLARY SOPRANO to win. He wants the "RING" back.
You see Chelsea is part of that new generation of "CASHMERE MAFIA WOMEN."
In fact just this past Thursday the "LIPSTICK JUNGLE GIRLS"
Made their appearance on TV.
NOW IT IS "CASHMERE MAFIA WOMEN" vs "LIPSTICK JUNGLE GIRLS"
Which one are YOU ?
VJ Machiavelli
www.r8ny.com/blog/vj_machiavelli