Chelsea Clinton calls out Rush Limbaugh’s ‘vicious’ comments when she was a child
Chelsea Clinton has spoken out about the immense criticism she received after her father became president when she was just 12 years old – recalling Rush Limbaugh’s “cruel” comments about her being the “dog of the White House” .
The author, now 43, talked about the downsides of growing up in the public eye during a recent appearance on Dear Media’s The skinny confidential his and hers podcast with Lauryn Evarts Bosstick and her partner, Michael.
She explained that when her father, Bill, was elected the 42nd president of the United States, people around the world had “opinions” about her and her family.
Notably, famed political commentator Limbaugh called her a dog during a 1993 television appearance.
Chelsea Clinton (seen in 1992) has spoken out about the immense criticism she received after her father became president when she was just 12 years old
Chelsea (left in 2022), now 43, opened up about the downsides of growing up in the public eye during a recent appearance on Lauryn and Michael Bosstick’s podcast (right)
The author explained that her father, Bill, was elected the 42nd president of the United States when she was just 12, which led to people all over the world having “opinions” about her.
Notably, famed political commentator Rush Limbaugh (seen in 2019) referred to her as the “White House Dog” during a 1993 television appearance
Socks is the cat of the White House. But did you know there’s also a White House dog?’ Limbaugh said at the time, holding up a photo of then-12-year-old Chelsea.
“I don’t think adults should really have an opinion about children,” she said during her recent appearance on the podcast, reflecting on Limbaugh’s “creepy and inappropriate” statement.
âRush was pretty mean to me. He said terrible things about my appearance and repeatedly called me the ‘White House dog,'” Chelsea continued.
“I was 12 or 13. I remember thinking, ‘This is just so strange and wrong. Why is this old man obsessed with me? This is so weird and creepy and inappropriate.'”
Chelsea explained that her parents were “furious” at what he said, adding that they were doing their best to “protect her.”
But it got worse as she got older. She said people would show up on her college campus and yell mean things at her, like, “Don’t you wish your mom had aborted you?”
Chelsea, now a mother of three, also recalled a more recent time when someone said to her, “I hope your children die so that the evil of your family does not continue.”
âWhat do you say when people say such things? Like, I’m so sorry you have so much pain and anger in you, but I’m not going to go into that,” she said.
“I don’t think adults should have opinions about kids,” said Chelsea (seen in 2000) during her appearance on the podcast, reflecting on Limbaugh’s “creepy” comments
Chelsea (seen at Stanford in 1999) said people would show up on her college campus and yell nasty things at her
The mother of three (seen in 1996) recalled one time someone said to her, “Don’t you wish your mother had aborted you?”
Chelsea explained that because her father was the governor of Arkansas before he became president, she was in the public eye long before he would lead the country.
And because she was subjected to scrutiny from a young age, she developed a thick skin.
“In some ways I was really privileged to grow up as the daughter of the governor of Arkansas, because I grew up realizing on a deep cellular level that people are always watching me,” she said.
“I have memories when I was a kid and people were commenting on what I was wearing or how I looked, and I remember thinking, ‘That’s so weird. Why are you commenting on what a six- or seven-year-old is doing? “
“I think that really prepared me for the massive onslaught of attention and scrutiny when I lived in the White House.”
While reflecting on her unusual upbringing, Chelsea said she “gives so much credit to her parents” for “trying to make sure” her childhood was “as normal as possible.”
She said that while they made her “aware” of how “privileged” she was to live in the White House and were very open about the “responsibility” that came with it, they also encouraged her to participate in activities that each another child would. would.
Chelsea (seen with her mother as a baby) explained that because her father was the governor of Arkansas before he became president, she was in the public eye long before he led the nation
While reflecting on her upbringing, Chelsea said she “gives her parents so much credit” for “trying to make sure” her childhood was “as normal as possible.” The family is seen in 1997
She said that while they made her “aware” of how “privileged” she was to live in the White House, they also encouraged her to participate in activities that any other child would.
She recalled that they taught her, “You have to be respectful, because we live in the White House.” But it’s also your home.’
“That really made me feel like I could bring my friends,” she added.
âI mean, we wouldn’t be wild and crazy, we’d be respectful, but it was also my home.
âMy friends can stay over and watch movies, or we can do our homework or study for exams. And so it was very ordinary and also extraordinary.’
She added that while it was “weird” to always have the Secret Service around her, they also tried their best to give her a normal childhood.
âWhen I was at a friend’s house, the Secret Service wasn’t at my house, or when I was in the White House, they weren’t on the same floor as me and my friends while we were studying or talking about boys or whatever we were doing,â she revealed.
And a lot of the cops that I was really privileged to grow up with were parents themselves and were deeply, not only sympathetic, but empathetic to the dynamic. And I’ve always understood they had work to do and I’ve never run away from them.’