Fox attacks Chelsea Clinton for 'dissing' kid reporter

David Edwards and Muriel Kane Published: Monday December 31, 2007  del.icio.us |
Print This  Email This

Chelsea Clinton has been out stumping for her mother in Iowa and has been generally glad to answer questions from the crowd. But when nine-year-old Sydney Reickhoff, who reports for Scholastic Magazine, asked her, "Do you think your dad would be a good 'first man' in the White House?" she refused to answer.

"I'm sorry, I don't talk to the press and that applies to you, unfortunately," Chelsea told the child. "Even though I think you're cute."

Anti-Clinton blogs were quick to jump on the Associated Press story covering the incident, and the hosts of Fox & Friends also commented on it.

"What a brush-off," exclaimed Steve Doocy. But he added, more generously, "If she's going to say no interviews with the press, even though the kid's only nine ... you draw the line in the sand."

Brian Kilmeade, however, attempted to spin it into something larger. "This kid will never forget being blown off by someone like Chelsea Clinton. ... Usually schools have psychologists and psychiatrists on the staff. That somehow won't cost you. But financially, this is something she's going to be dealing with..."

"Hopefully with years of therapy, she'll recover," added Alisyn Camerota.

Chelsea Clinton, now age 27, has been enthusiastic about working crowds after her mother's speeches, but her parents remain extremely protective of her privacy. She never speaks onstage and is followed offstage by an aide to prevent reporters from approaching to ask her questions.

This video is from Fox's Fox & Friends, broadcast on December 31, 2007.