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Chelsea Clinton Keeps Cool Amid Hecklers

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February 22, 2008 3:34 PM

ABC News' Sarah Amos Reports: While campaigning for her mother today in Texas, Chelsea Clinton kept her cool while speaking to a crowd at the San Antonio Community College despite being heckled by numerous Obama supporters and a fervent anti-abortion activist.

"Some of you have questions, I see on signs," Chelsea said, adding "I would like to have a conversation, and if we get interrupted we will keep having a conversation."

Chelsea calmly ignored the chants of "Obama, Obama" that carried on sporadically through the first 20 minutes or so of the event.

It was harder to ignore the man holding the "Democrats Let's End Abortion" sign. As the man continued to shout at Chelsea, a woman in the audience tried to come to the former first daughter's defense by yelling at the man and telling him to just ask his question and stop interrupting.

One of Senator Hillary Clinton's number one surrogates, Chelsea Clinton has been on the road nearly everyday, doing her best to secure votes for her mother.

Chelsea does her best to stick to the issues her mother cares about. Her answers are thoughtful and detailed. But today Chelsea couldn't resist taking a swipe at Sen. Barack Obama during a question about her mother's voting record on Iran.

"Well I'm proud that she showed up to vote on that. Which is a difference, it is a difference," Chelsea told a young man in the crowd, who had asked how her mother had voted to consider the Iranian Revolutionary Army a terrorist organization. 

Senator Barack Obama chose to skip that vote, something Chelsea was happy to remind the crowd of. 

"I'm proud that she stands up and takes a stand on tough issues. And on this, this is something that doesn't lend itself to soundbites," continued Chelsea.

The former first daughter started the event by asking the crowd to join her in a moment of silence for the Dallas police officer killed while riding a motorcycle in her mother's motorcade today.

"And I just want to extend my condolences to the officer's family and to the members of the Dallas police department," Chelsea said, "So please just join me in a moment of silence as we honor his sacrifice and our men and women in uniform across the country and across the world."

The crowd, many of whom were waiting for an hour before Chelsea arrived, were all eager to get in their questions. Many with raised hands grumbled if Chelsea passed them over, prompting her to pacify the crowd by saying, "I'm just doing an unscientific rotation."

When she was done with the event Chelsea shook the hands of those who stuck around through the full hour of Q&A.  Chelsea finished off her San Antonio visit with a lunch stop at a local Mexican restaurant, shaking hands and signing posters with all the lunch patrons. 

February 22, 2008 in Bush, George W., Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (94)

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Every day we hear about rude, obnoxious and belligerent Obama supporters acting in a bizarre cultish manner. Why does the candidate for hope and peace and love, bring out so many haters?

Posted by: Jay | Feb 22, 2008 3:40:11 PM

This leftist behavior is going to drive this moderate the other way if they can't settle down. I'm tired of it.

Posted by: dave | Feb 22, 2008 3:53:03 PM

Why would anybody care what Chelsea has to say. Just go to Hilliary's website if you need to hear her talking points.

Posted by: cba | Feb 22, 2008 4:01:35 PM

I agree with Jay.

The older Obama voters have respect for all of the Clintons, but not the young ones.

It's very sad to see young Obama supporters not respecting Hillary for just trying to make history and putting herself out there.

Can't you Obama fanatics just give Chelsea a break?

You are an embarassment to Democrats and to young people.

Posted by: Jee Wilson | Feb 22, 2008 4:02:05 PM

Honestly, I doubt seriously that it is a reflection on any one's supposed support of Obama as opposed to a simple sign (or product) of the general divisiveness that has been associated with the Clinton name for the past 15 years. People are either for Team Clinton or against them (no matter who the opposing candidate may be)

Posted by: heacedone | Feb 22, 2008 4:04:50 PM

I witnessed the same type of rude and obnoxious behavior from the Obama supporters during our caucus in Omaha. They were drowning the Hillary speaker's voice with their "Yes we can" chant. It seems to be their signature.
What "true believers!"

Posted by: myrna | Feb 22, 2008 4:07:46 PM

It's even more bizarre when other Obama followers make excuses for their disruptive and inappropriate behavior

Posted by: Jay | Feb 22, 2008 4:07:57 PM

The young American's are showing themselves more and more every day that they are a bunch of mean, beligerant, unsatified, angry, disrespectful and dishonorable persons. Why can't this behavior stop! Oh, I forgot....most of our younger youth was raised by the disrespectful selfindulgent winers of the Vietnam Era (antiwar activists)in the first place. It is just a downword spiral till our society as a whole hits rock bottom....if we have not already.
As a lot of people say, age is just a number....so it seems by past history, things will not get better...the behavior will continue to smell more rancid every day!

Posted by: Fed up with our Youth! | Feb 22, 2008 4:08:50 PM

I think America is being lulled into the syndrome 'messiah complex.' I think they're losing their objective and pinning their hopes on words, that I hope, will not be empty later on. I hope they do not think of Obama as the Mahdi and be led to false hopes. With the problems our country is facing, it is best to be cautious, exercise right judgment, choose, and the pray for the right President and not be swayed by rhetorics and emotions.

Posted by: Ed | Feb 22, 2008 4:14:47 PM

how sad that they act this way but look at the media they are no better and it has been going on for years

Posted by: Bishop | Feb 22, 2008 4:17:53 PM

Wow, I can't believe people were rude to Chelsea as she spoke during an event. It's weird that people my age could be so judgemental and hosile on people they don't really know just because they support Obama. I am embarrassed. I like the Clinton family the more I hear them speak for themselves. When the news talks about any of them, they make them sound like they're evil or something. What is wrong with everybody? Y'all need to deal with the issues that make you so uptight. To the senior demos, the spanish peeps and the ladies, we're not all like that. My aunt taught me some manners. I thought I would go for O, while my aunt supported Hillary. I realize I actually like Hillary, but then I am the kind of guy that likes WOMEN, the smarter the sexier.

Posted by: Danny | Feb 22, 2008 4:28:49 PM

I know how "winning at all costs" is the signature Hillary message, and I have seen the "poor me" strategy work very well for her. But I choose not to believe that her campaign would "stage" such an event to rally her storm troops into believing--and spreading--malicious lies about Senator Obama and/or his supporters.

Posted by: Justinteim | Feb 22, 2008 4:30:18 PM

I will vote for Hillary in the general, even if I ahve to write her in. I don't relate to the Obama following.

Posted by: irma | Feb 22, 2008 4:31:27 PM

Only an idiot would consider Hillary spineless. And actually, it takes more to keep a marriage together than it does to break it apart. Obama is an egomaniac. And all he does is talk, talk, talk and never says anything. The Obama voters will be sorry by the time his stay in office is over..and so will everyone else.

Posted by: Nic | Feb 22, 2008 4:52:44 PM

Aqua velva as if that is your problem whether she dumps him. This is just another dumb excuse to hate the Clinton's.

Posted by: TOBY | Feb 22, 2008 4:59:35 PM

Actually, I think it's wonderful for everyone to hear and read for themselves exactly who and what the Obama supporters say for themselves. This stuff should be shown by every media outlet in Texas and Ohio and then the voters can see and hear for themselves what the Obama people stand for. I want this stuff out there. This is incredible material everyone should see and hear for themselves,and then ask do I want to become a part of this movement?

Posted by: Wil | Feb 22, 2008 5:05:38 PM

I attended Chelsea's rally today in San Antonio and I witnessed a confident, smart, polite, poised and gracious woman, in spite of the Obama hecklers, who showed their ignorance and disrespect. She arrived and immediately told us the news of the Dallas police officers death and the haters kept yelling.

Posted by: MM | Feb 22, 2008 5:07:25 PM

And I agree with a lot of the statements on this thread. The majority of the youth of today exhibit no respect, decency, or goodwill . How we have let our youth, the leaders of tomorrow get to this state is sad. If the obama supporters don't like Hillary Clinton, then don't go to her rallies just to disrupt and keep someone that you don't know from talking. Stay away. You are exhibiting bad manners and your are influencing a much younger group to think its ok to behave in this manner. I don't think your parents would approve of this behavior. At least in all perspectives, Chelsea Clinton is a courteous, mature individual out to help her mother get elected to the presidency. You absolutely have no right to act like uneducated fools, paid to attend and act in this manner by the obama supporters. Please grow up.

Posted by: Lou | Feb 22, 2008 5:09:00 PM

I suggest we all copy pages like this and give to anyone on the fence, anyone considering Obama and not yet made up mind, anyone doing the rounds down in Texas and Ohio and then ask them would they vote for this?

Posted by: Wil | Feb 22, 2008 5:10:59 PM

Oh, those whining Hillary sock puppets strike again. Perhaps, the Obama supporters have just had enough of the Clinton's crap, their insults after insults after insults. Not the most productive way to express their discontent, I have to admit - the best way is to vote heavy against her - but the frustration level with Hillary's campaign themes and strategy is palpable. Plus, there have been just as many 0 showing their true selves who support Hillary than 0 supporting Obama. And stop with the cult crap. That's part of what turns us off to Hillary, somehow implying that we are not smart enough to know the difference between the status quo (Clinton) and a fresh, young voice (Obama) who has the talent and yes, experience to get things done. Throwing around the term cult, etc. just smacks of jealousy... that we have a movement and Hillary has a feeble, faltering campaign.

Posted by: Chuckles | Feb 22, 2008 5:13:36 PM

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