I have long admitted that, as an academic dweeb, I have long been confused by events after the eighteenth century. However, this story has me entirely perplexed. The University of Missouri at Kansas City has opened a women’s Hall of Fame and was looking for a female leader to open the event. Their choice among the millions of women in this country from generals to jurists to CEOs to governors to journalists to writers? Chelsea Clinton. Not only that, but the university paid $65,000 for Chelsea Clinton to speak only ten minutes under highly abridged appearance restrictions set by her handlers (in addition to other restrictions from a brief period for photos and water specifications).
The money goes to the Clinton Foundation, though critics have charged that the Foundation has served as a surrogate campaign platform for the Clintons (with the hiring of controversial politicos like Sidney Blumenthal) and have funded luxury travel for the Clintons.
The university actually started with Chelsea as the primary goal, but initially was told that she would not do the speech. They then tried for Hillary Clinton but was told that she would cost $275,000. They then considered “other” women besides Chelsea. That list was impressive, including obvious choices like feminist icon Gloria Steinem ($30,000) and journalists Cokie Roberts ($40,000), Tina Brown ($50,000) and Lesley Stahl ($50,000). You know, women who have made huge contributions not just to their gender but to the country. And they were substantially cheaper. What did Missouri decided? Pay more to get Chelsea for a ten-minute speech to tell people about what it is to be a female leader.
For a university to engage in such low-grade celebrity shopping is a disgrace not just to this new hall and the University of Missouri but the academic as a whole. There are literally thousands of women who inspire both men and women with their lives and accomplishments. The University of Missouri reduced the history of female struggle to a cheap photo op with the daughter of a famous couple. They might as well have gone with a Kardashian and left it at that.
Mary Kay McPhee, UMKC Starr Education Committee chair, was thrilled by the choice and the opening ceremony even as many scratched their heads at the choice of Chelsea Clinton.
Of course UMKC is not alone. NBC was subject to withering criticism from journalists around the country for hiring Chelsea Clinton with a lucrative contract to do feel-good stories. The hire was criticized as something pushed by Clinton supporters inside the network; alienating real journalists, and producing dreadful television pieces.
Universities are supposed to be places of substance and intellectual honesty. While UMKC is not the first to take celebrity appeal over substance, this is not some Friday night concert or sports celebration. This is supposed to be a new university component honoring women who struggled and made real contributions to this world. UMKC reduced that moment to a ten-minute celebrity photo op.
Source: Washington Post
I would say it would be a safe bet that if Hillary Clinton assumed the presidency, we could expect more years of pointless drama and distraction due to the perennial damage control they must instigate due in large part to their antics and underhandedness. It will be one controversy after another and there are far too many important issues that cannot be brushed aside from her personal priorities taking precedent over national interests.
http://youtu.be/SrEmQk3u88U
LOL, look what I found on the hillaryis44 site.
With all the attention on her receiving $65k in speaking fees I wouldn’t be surprised to find the school received an ‘anonymous’ endowment that would cover that cost +.
“Most Republicans are just idiots who just go around repeating whatever pro-capitalist drivel they heard somewhere, and their thinking is severely limited.”
Yup.
“Which is why I jump on the Democrats, because they advocate things even worse than the GOP, things that tend to destroy society at its roots, and the kind of stuff that is hard to recover from.”
Yup.
You nailed them both — our two parties in a land of 300+ million.
A rising tide raises all boats! Not when the dinghies are already underwater. The trickle down effect is real, and it is exactly what you picture when you first hear the phrase — worse than leftovers.
Oh wow Squeeky, look what I found! The Confluence is up and running again.
https://riverdaughter.wordpress.com
Squeeky, it looks like some of those old PUMAs are getting active again!
http://www.hillaryis44.org/2015/06/29/horrible-week-for-hillary2016-due-to-horrible-month-for-barack-obama-and-where-in-hell-is-michelle/#comments
DBQ
Of course there is no answer to your question, as it appears she has no great accomplishments on her resume. There is, however, an even more relevant question. It’s not so much about answering what has she done as it is about why there would possibly be enough of a demand to have her speak and pay her $65,000. It reminds me of the persistent admiration for the spawn of the Kennedy clan. People fawn over them because of the last name–the name itself carries with it some panache.
Still no answer to my question….name some accomplishment that Chelsea Clinton has done to qualify her over many other women to speak at this event.
Something that she did ON HER OWN. Without playing on the Clinton name. Something significant, that wasn’t handed to her on a silver platter because of her parents. Something that advanced the status of women or shows how women can advance themselves.
Just being born a Clinton, is not an accomplishment.
The woman is a sad sad sack riding on her parent’s accomplishments and deserves nothing.
Karen, It’s love and fear, not always in that order. What made the Clintons loved initially is getting Dems the WH when they thought it impossible after Reagan and Bush 41. The only Dem prez between 1968-92 was Jimmy Carter, and he was a disgrace. They were, and always will be, ashamed of Carter. What Bubba gave Dems was the WH, some sordid self esteem, but maybe more than anything else, he made the Dem party shameless. Dems, particularly Dem women, had to eat a lotta feces from and for Bubba. He gave the Dem party his Machiavellian, sociopathic persona they use daily now. Say anything, do anything, to get elected. What pissed Hillary off so much was how much better Obama was in being shameless than she was in 2008.
“I don’t understand their allure.”
Karen,
IMO it’s the (D) after the name. No different than what many Republican supporters do. If they deny it then it becomes a matter of character and policy and she clearly is founding wanting in the former and cannot be trusted in the latter, so go figure.
I wonder if Hillary would agree to a tough interview if they paid her enough.
It’s the Clinton royalty status. They stand for everything that is wrong in politics as usual. I don’t understand their allure. The Clintons are above the law.
@I.Annie
Me, worship the rich??? Heck, I throw up in my mouth a little every time I hear that silly-a$$ “job creators” crap! Most Republicans are just idiots who just go around repeating whatever pro-capitalist drivel they heard somewhere, and their thinking is severely limited. But, while Oligarchies suck, the human race can survive oligarchies, and even flourish if the kings/rulers are the benevolent sort.
Which is why I jump on the Democrats, because they advocate things even worse than the GOP, things that tend to destroy society at its roots, and the kind of stuff that is hard to recover from. My goodness, within 10 years the Germans were mostly rebuilt after WWII, and the freed Jews started a country and won a war or two. But what are poor Blacks in the hood going to do? They have been stuck there for 50 years, and there is nothing much improving. There is little they have to offer any modern society, and they are too lazy to work. Which is the Mexicans swam the Rio Grande.
It wasn’t the Oligarchs who destroyed black culture for so many, but the Democrats who gave them free money to misbehave, so that they could get their votes. The Oligarchs don’t care what color the cheap labor is, as long as it is cheap labor. Now, assuming the Democrats went away, it would take longer to fix the hood than it took to fix Germany, or Japan, or get over a Great Depression, or to come out of a concentration camp and get back on track.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
To Squeeze Fromm Girl Reporter
“Well hush my mouth and bless my soul….”
This suggestion truly demonstrates the originality of Colonial thinking 😆
It really does demonstrate the ethos of success in American terms !
But a title isn’t really about success. It is a recognition of “what you have done for your country and what your country does for you to show it’s appreciation”.
I think that a lot of Americans would support this although it might be something they admit to – in secret.
After all you call the President “Mr President” and the Spouse the “First Lady”. When you get your first Female President, I suppose it will be Madam President and Consort to the President, or the First (Gentle)Man, (doesn’t have a ring to it really). Or something else.
A title will have to be invented which confers respect. And I would suggest that “Dork” is a term to be rejected.
In France the Revolutionaries used the term “Citizen” and in Russia they used the term “Comrade” and “Hero of the Revolution” to convey respect.
I don’t think America recognises contribution by citizens by any other way other than by medals.
But it is actually possible to buy titles in case you didn’t know….
http://www.royaltitles.net/
That’s true Jim!
Annie, One good thing if she is a lesbian would be, we could take off the list first women and first lesbian in one shot when she becomes president.
Soooo Squeeky, I take it you are not among the group that worships rich folks? I bet The Donald would love to be made King of America. You do surprise me sometimes. Hey what do you think about the Chelsea bashing being done on this thread by the usual suspects? Do you think Chelsea is unaccomplished? Do you think Hillary is a “fat lesbian”? I think she is merely chubby as grandmothers often are and I don’t think she’s a lesbian.
Speaking of Hillary; her State Department e-mail dumps reveal a close relationship with Sidney Blumenthal; he of alleged disrepute.
Obama fired Blumenthal – Hillary hired Blumenthal.
Hillary was at the State Department while Bill roamed the world in pursuit of, what, exactly? We do know one demonstrable fact: Bill and Hillary’s fortunes have improved dramatically since they were “dead broke” after leaving office.
Does something stink about “Clinton Inc.?”
@Ninian
FWIW, I have advocated bringing Royalty back to America! I wrote this 4 years ago, when I was still a blog tyro, sooo it is pretty unpolished compared to the stuff I do now. Anyway:
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
“You do just what vapid trolls wish when you respond to their ignorant, diversionary comments.”
Nick,
I recommend you pee downwind. How’s that for unsolicited advise?