Chelsea in 2016? Just a Minute! What About Hillary?

In these down days for his family, Bill Clinton is not only busy promoting his wife for the second spot on Obama's ticket, but he's also promoting the political chops of his daughter Chelsea. The 28-year-old numbers cruncher/investment strategist is on leave from the $12 billion hedge fund Avenue Capital to campaign full-time for her mother. Avenue, which specializes in "distressed investing," is run (and founded) by Clinton financial backer Marc Lasry.

Bill Clinton is not alone in his vision for Chelsea, who reportedly outdrew her father at some campaign stops. Newspapers have reported that buttons sporting the message, "Chelsea in 2016," under a picture of the former first daughter, have been increasingly seen around Clinton rallies.

While waiting to embark on studies for a master's degree at University College, Oxford, Chelsea, spoke, really for the first time in public -- by agreement between her parents and the press, Chelsea had been largely left alone -- in an essay she wrote for Tina Brown's now defunct magazine, Talk. She described her feelings when the planes hit the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. She was in New York that day, staying in a friend's apartment, and felt crushing fear for her parents and for her country. "For most young Americans I know, `serving' in the broadest sense now seems like the only thing to do," Chelsea explained. "Is banking what's important right now?"

Well, yes, apparently, given her decision, once she took her degree in international relations, first to work at McKinsey & Co., a management consulting firm, and then to leave McKinsey to work at the hedge fund. (McKinsey has a reputation for imparting training in economics and business to people who plan to pursue careers in the nonprofit world.)

The New York Times estimated, based on interviews with headhunters, that Chelsea is making, with bonuses, well into the six figures annually. (Chelsea must have blushed while she watched her mother campaign in Ohio last February and question whether hedge funders do any real work and whether they shouldn't pay much more in taxes.) Should Chelsea give up the big bucks and move into the nonprofit field, a future in politics might explain why.

In fact, 2016 will certainly not be Chelsea's year. First, she would barely be of legal age to run and presumably would have had to prove herself by winning a less lofty office first. (Perhaps she won't have to start, as Obama did, in the state legislature, but a run for a congressional seat seems necessary.) Besides, in 2016, she might be stepping on the pumps of her mother. If Obama (or McCain) manages a reasonably successful first term and runs for reelection in 2012, Hillary might be stuck with 2016 as her last chance

Given the energy and determination that Hillary showed in 2008, she might just have it in her, at age 68, to try again. One can imagine her in the interim eating a diet heavy on hot peppers, her secret to energy and good health, she claimed, as she stumped for votes. That claim was most evident when she was courting Hispanics, so for it to come up again, assuming she's in for the Puerto Rico primary on June 1.

While Hillary was still inevitable, and before Chelsea joined the campaign, some traditionalists suggested that it was ludicrous (and scary) to think that Bill Clinton could discharge the duties of First Lady. They argued that Chelsea should be called upon to do so -- an outlandishly antiquated notion of a woman's role. To Chelsea's credit, as she explained to voters the fine points of her mother's policies on universal health care, etc., that 19th century notion has evaporated.

So Chelsea, who is said to be genuinely close to her mother (and to her father), will have to wait until her mother has given up on the dream of sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office and resigned herself to being a power in the Senate or, perhaps, if Bill Clinton has his way, the second woman to run for the vice presidency and the first woman to win.

One final observation: were Hillary to become vice president, the Clintons would presumably live together in the official vice presidential residence at the Naval Observatory. They would no longer be able to live separately -- Bill in Chappaqua when he is not traveling on the private jets of his friends, and Hillary in her house on Embassy Row in Washington, officially named Whitehaven , but more commonly known as "Hillary's house."

Comments

[S1m0n]

Oxford University doesn't really grant Master's degrees. Or rather, they do, but they're automatic--get a BA, wait a year and pay a small fee, and they'll upgrade it to a masters. This being the case, and the UK being the UK*, it's considered déclassée to claim an Oxford Masters that you did no extra work for.

In the UK, when you see someone who claims to have one, you know you're looking at a braggart.

[wizened]

If Chelsea is smart, she will pursue her own career and her own life and not think in terms of political dynasty. It is a ludicrious notion in a democracy that carrying the Clinton jeans should make a difference.

[BlueAsh]

I can just see the headlines then:

West Virginia: Welcome Chelsea, a hard-working bluish collar white American (*with a six figure income), perfectly positioned to understand those in distress.

[kgb999]

Holy crap ... Clinton supporters are INSANE!!!!

A 28 year-old president's daughter who's biggest contribution so far is making rich people richer and refusing to answer ANY questions on the campaign trail (even dissing out a 9 year old "reporter") - now they are discussing her being president in less than 10 years?!?!?

I guess the only thing it really points out is just how little experience Clinton supporters actually believe their candidates need. Apparently, all it takes is having Bill Clinton as your sugar daddy and you are QUALIFIED.

The new face of feminism: spoiled brats who are given everything by their daddies/hubbies. Lovely.

[Triciann]

Now I know the Clintons are suffering some sort of mental illness. This is not a monachy, or a dictatorship. This is proof that this is all about "The Clintons". No more dynasties, please!!

Why on earth should Chelsea Clinton be considered for the position of President? Now whatever she does we will know it's simply part of the plan to get to the Oval Office!

I regret supporting Bill Clinton when his games with Monica were subject to congressional scrutiny but I fear that getting away with it all has affected his ability to be rational. Bill thinks he can do exactly what he wants. He has a serious personality problem. Trouble is the DNC seems so afraid of him. Please put this guy in his place and get him the psychiatric help he needs. The rest of the world looks on and comes to the conclusion that American politics is riddled with corruption.


Th

[Lorifromky]

Amy Carter, Jenna & Barbara Bush... they are just as qualified for POTUS as Chelsea Clinton.
It might be fun however, for C. Clinton to run. Can you see her answering "None of your business" each time she was an uncomfortable question?

[Kynn]

Would we be able to ask her questions related to herself if she ran?

Or will she still be a no go like she is now?

[newshawk14]

I can only assume this is a joke, one of the reasons I do not want to see Hillary elected, is I've come
to have very negative opinions about dynasties, with about the only exception being the Kennedys,
and even there, I would like a thorough discussion of the pros and cons.

[KillTheMessenger]

Chelsea Clinton? In politics? Sure. Why not. And pigs can fly.

[noneIn2008]

It is amazing how those who follow pioneers, neither know about nor respect the pioneers. We have seen this in business, where women faced tough barriers to break the glass ceiling. They had to be tough and persevere to overcome the obstacles they faced. Then the tenderfoots that followed have no clue of what the pioneers through the glass ceiling faced. They show no respect nor any empathy.

Hillary now faces an all too common path of pioneers. Break your neck clearing ground for others, crushing obstacles. Only, to have the tenderfoots that follow critique your approach. Then also suggest others then lead the colony forward. It makes you wonder, if she knew the lack of respect and acknowledgment in the end, would she consider it worth the costs? She would have been much wealthier to have simply continued in law.

[timm0]

She could have made more than the $109 million they made over the last 8 years if she had stayed in law. Really?????? Wow....

[Toonadude]

My niece is a high school junior and a Gold Star Girl Scout.
She never heard of Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

[Toonadude]

I figure we have to log another 40 years before we can quit obsessing about a Chelsea presidential bid.

[devadasi]

So basically the Clintons have an arrangement. They both live in different cities and in different houses. Interesting.

[MichaelTempler]

Don't the have to take the diapers off her first

she doesn't do interviews or Answers questions

but of course she has 8 years of experience being first daughter for being there

like Hillary and that would make her more experienced than anyone who perhaps say served

in the state legislature.