Should Chelsea Clinton get a break from the media frenzy?
Chelsea Clinton is getting married soon to Marc Mezvinsky. They want to keep the details of their wedding as secret as possible, but - nonetheless - the event has become the object of intense speculation. Everything from the likely venue, to the possible dress designers are being discussed.
Proud parents Bill and Hillary Clinton have said they're under strict orders not to let anything slip, although the Secretary of State did admit (whilst travelling in Poland) that the wedding was her top priority : "It truly is the most important thing in my life right now".
As the presumed date approaches - July 31st - journalists, bloggers and tabloids justify their near-blanket coverage by suggesting that the Clintons are essentially America's royal family.
The Washington Post has come to Chelsea's defence, calling for her and the groom to be granted the privacy they so desperately seek.
"The prying reportage is beginning to smell of dumpster diving. Have we no shame? No, apparently, we do not," The Post charged. "If there is anything particularly noteworthy about Clinton -- and this is a sad reflection on our pop-culture universe -- it's that as the child of two public and controversial parents, she seems well-adjusted, intelligent and pleasant," the newspaper says. "This is how our culture rewards decorum."
The weddings of other former US presidents have passed with far less fanfare. John Kennedy Jr. married Carolyn Bessette in a modest Georgia church, with no paparazzi in sight. As for Jenna Bush, she diffused any chance of a tabloid feeding frenzy by previewing details of her wedding in Vogue.
But it may be that the case of Chelsea Clinton is unique. She has been an object of fascination since her teenage years in the White House, when she was obliged to publicly endure her parents' marital difficulties. It appears many Americans feel they've watched the junior Clinton grow up, and therefore deserve to be part of her happy moment.
In a world where women announce their pregnancies on Facebook, it may be that we can't quite grasp the concept that someone in Chelsea's position simply doesn't want the publicity, or any further intrusion.
Or, is it unrealistic for the high-profile daughter of two of the planet's most famous people, to expect effective anonymity on what's likely to be the biggest day of her life?
Tell us what you think and listen to World Update this Friday as we will be discussing Chelsea and Marc's wedding.
Comment number 1.
At 15:09 27th Jul 2010, Robyn Lexington KY wrote:Chelsea Clinton seems to be a person who wants to stay out of the limelight. She should have her privacy. I am one who thinks the media goes way over the line when it comes to peoples lives. I have no desire to become famous in any way shape or form. The price is too high when it comes to the media.
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Comment number 2.
At 15:32 27th Jul 2010, PilotDan wrote:The media ripped apart the lives of the Bush twins why is Chelsea not fair game as well?
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Comment number 3.
At 15:41 27th Jul 2010, Inglenda2 wrote:Sorry, but if it was not for this blog, I would not have known who she is. The Media is to blame, it would seem, for this publicity. From my point of view, the details may be kept secret.Good luck to them both!
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Comment number 4.
At 16:36 27th Jul 2010, Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote:Only mindless gossip people care. You know, the kinds that care about how some celebrity is dressed at an awards ceremony.
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Comment number 5.
At 18:24 27th Jul 2010, Alan in AZ wrote:Who! Oh! Clinton's off-spring! Leave her alone. She's not important. Stop bothering her until she does something good or stupid!
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Comment number 6.
At 21:53 27th Jul 2010, Tom D Ford wrote:It looks to me like the Clintons are newly rich and are not yet wised up about how to keep out of the publicity spotlights. The very wealthy of "old wealth" avoid publicity like the plague.
And PilotDan, the Bush twins ripped themselves apart in the media with their wild and apparently drunken carousing and collisions with the police, they did it to themselves and so cannot be compared to Chelsea Clinton.
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Comment number 7.
At 00:00 28th Jul 2010, D Johnson wrote:WHO?
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Comment number 8.
At 10:51 28th Jul 2010, piscator wrote:"Should Chelsea Clinton get a break from the media frenzy?"
"Tell us what you think and listen to World Update this Friday as we will be discussing Chelsea and Marc's wedding."
Don't you find this blog and the discussion a little ironic then, BBC?
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Comment number 9.
At 13:08 28th Jul 2010, patti in cape coral wrote:The Bush twins should have been left alone, and Chelsea should also be left alone. About the only thing I can say about her was that I heard her speak publicly one time, and she came across as much more personable and likable than her mother, and I wondered whether she was considering going into politics.
Contrary to opinion, though, Chelsea was not left alone while the Bush twins suffered. Wasn't she made fun of on national TV by some comedians when she was still a child? There is no partisan difference here, the family of famous people all get a pretty raw deal.
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Comment number 10.
At 15:36 28th Jul 2010, MagicKirin wrote:Yes let her have her day without the press ruining.
Only when she is on the campaign trail is Chelsea a fair target.
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Comment number 11.
At 07:59 29th Jul 2010, JamesIan wrote:Really who gives a care about Chelsea Clinton??
Why are we even talking about this???!!!!!!
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Comment number 12.
At 16:30 29th Jul 2010, Cabe UK wrote:Obviously Americans are! - Don't know anything about her but she seems OK - like someone else said, well adjusted - I think if you are in the spotlight once, unless you are The Batman (who utilised the spotlight for his Batman emblem !!! - sorry I digress! ) then the lights will always keep trying to 'spot' you. Good luck to her - give them a run for their money and I hope she manages to dodge them!
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Comment number 13.
At 17:38 29th Jul 2010, Jeanne_in_Eugene wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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