Chelsea Clinton to Report for NBC

[Historic NY]

Source: NY Times

BC is to announce on Monday morning that it has hired Chelsea Clinton to become a full-time special correspondent for NBC News.
Ramin Talaie/Bloomberg News

Chelsea Clinton will be a special correspondent for NBC News.
The appointment is immediate. Ms. Clinton will show up at the news division offices oon Monday morning, said Steve Capus, president of NBC News, and will begin work on stories that NBC expects to use as part of its “Making a Difference” series, which runs on “NBC Nightly News.”

Mr. Capus said an intermediary contacted him in July with word that “she was kicking around what she wanted to do next.”

Mr. Capus said he had met with Ms. Clinton and had a long conversation that began with a simple question. “I asked her: ‘What are you interested in doing?’ ”

Ms. Clinton told him, he said, that during her mother’s campaign for president in 2008, she had been moved by stories of people making personal contributions.



The person also said that Ms. Clinton had said she intended to donate all the money she earned from NBC to the Clinton Foundation and the George Washington University Hospital in the name of her grandmother, who died this month.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/business/media/chelsea-clinton-hired-by-nbc-news.html?smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto

[Lucinda]

1. I wish her well!

It's tricky finding work you love. It sounds like a good beginning.

[No Elephants]

38. Perhaps not as tricky when your Dad was POTUS. NBC has had Jenna Bush working for it for a while,

and not because she would have had so much to offer even if her father had not been POTUS.

[Lucinda]

80. Your parents have nothing to do with finding work you love

You may have more opportunity because of your family, but IMO, finding work that you love has nothing to do with anyone else.

[lebkuchen]

82. Connections are everything

[Auntie Bush]

84. It's called networking.

Suppose to be the BEST way to find a job.

[alarimer]

90. That's pretty naive.

And not how the world works. If you have connections, you get far. If you don't (like most of us) you are screwed.

All the bullshit about "work hard and you'll get ahead" is just that: bullshit.

In almost every single field (and especially in politics and business) it is who you know and who your family is.

[Lucinda]

91. I didn't say that. You seem to have missed my entire point.

:hi:
I said, in essence, find work you LOVE. And I hope she does.
Regardless of how you get in the door.

[snagglepuss]

2. So when the Left criticizes corporate M$M all they have to do is point out

that a Clinton is working for them. Frankly I find that this reeks of ruling class nepotism. She got a very desirable job because of her connections. I'm sure there are lots of people with experience who were passed by.

Don't like this at all.

[roguevalley]

5. really. she and that guy who used to do meet the press, his kid

pays to go to journalism school, work like a slave and get ... nowhere.

I am sick of hearing clinton and bush. Go.

[snagglepuss]

10. Frankly I find it obscene that someone with immense privilege is waltzed

into a job. It upsets me that people have no issues with this because it's a Clinton family member. How many hundreds of excellent journalists are unemployed due to the number of newspapers that have gone under? Her previous job was with a hedge fund. I'm appalled.

[pam4water]

22. +1

[dipsydoodle]

34. ditto

.

[naaman fletcher]

57. +1 nt.

[No Elephants]

40. Tim Russert's son got his job because of his father, too.

It's not as though every journalism school graduate with no particular talent or appeal gets a job with MSNBC right out of school.

[snagglepuss]

77. So two wrongs make a right? If Joe or Josephine Nobodies were trying to

secure such jobs they would have to have countless grueling interviews and auditions not to mention have a portfolio from previous hobs in the industry. Why should the privileged be spared from the grueling competition that everyone else has to endure?

[JDPriestly]

14. Yes. Do you seriously think she would have gotten that job if she hadn't been

the daughter of 1%ers?

It's not a matter of jealousy. It's just a recognition of how the system works.

I'm sure she is very talented and well educated. She worked as hard as anyone in school. But there are others who are just as talented and educated and work just as hard -- and report for the tiny newspaper in Smalltown USA for peanuts. And why are they working for a nowhere newspaper in the boondocks while Chelsea works for NBC? Because their parents don't know anyone at NBC, whereas Chelsea's parents are famous and rich.

We have an aristocracy. They may be a nice aristocracy, but nonetheless, they don't mix with the rest of us -- or if they do, it is a rare day.

I noticed long ago that with very, very rare exceptions, most of my friends ended up almost exactly in the socioeconomic strata of their parents.

The myth of upward mobility in the US, mobility based on merit alone is not even close to the reality. My children have done well in intellectual endeavors, very well. But socially? Materially? No, of course not really. Just like their parents.

[snagglepuss]

20. You know what strikes me in your response? The defensive statement

us 99% make 99% of the time when discussing this sort of thing, namely "it's not a matter of jealously".

As soon as I read what you wrote, I wondered how many of the 1% feel the need to say "it's not a matter of greed" when opining about the 99%? I imagine bloody few.



edited to correct grammar and clarity

[JDPriestly]

27. You would have to know me to understand.

I'm huge on social justice. It isn't a matter of some sort of traumatic experience so much as it was born into my being. It's in my blood, in my ancestry. It's quite extreme. I always see two sides of everything and weigh them and then think and think about what's fair.

Second child in a not-too-small family and a Gemini to boot.

So, I always think about how the pie is being cut. And yes. I think when I have a good piece too. I feel very lucky in my life. I am extremely aware of the fact that while I don't have a lot of money, I really got much more than my share of life's best.

[snagglepuss]

30. I didn't mean to direct that statement at you specifically, I often say the same thing

myself to make sure people understand that I am not mean spirited etc. I just have realized how very wrong this is. When I read comments wishing her well intead of questioning a system that caters unapologetically to the 1% I despair that anything will ever change. As long as the 99% are nervous about appearing jealous, the 1% know they have no worries.

Clinton and others in the 1% don't care whether their actions may unseemly because they think it's their due and by reading this thread you can understand why they think that because so many hold back justifiable criticism.

[LanternWaste]

69. Based on her age, eduction and experience

Based on her age, eduction and experience, precisely which company then should she be working for and in what capacity...?

[Scuba]

32. Bingo.

[No Elephants]

39. NBC hired Jenna Bush well before it hired Chelsea.

[gateley]

3. I look forward to her contributions - I hope she is happy. nt

[SoapBox]

4. Eventually, will she ask the hard questions?

No on else seems to.

Luke Russert kind of seems to try...but the rest, (Gregory...makes my blood boil) are limp.

[JaneQPublic]

16. No hard questions in the "Making a Difference" segment

It's the "positive news" piece the Nightly News ends with most nights, where they focus on average citizens who have made a worthwhile, inspiring contribution in some way.

It's qutie the opposite of hard-hitting news.

[kimsarah]

18. No hard questions?

She could fill in for David Gregory on Meet the Press

[JaneQPublic]

19. Bwahahahaha!!!! Good one! (nt)

[kimsarah]

23. Thank you!

That was easy!

[No Elephants]

41. Luke Russert does not strike me as anywhere near as bright ot as hard working as his Dad.

However, like his father and like NBC, their employer, he favors the right.

As an example:

During the last Presidential campaign, he gushed over how young voters love McCain because he is so authentic.

Meanwhile, "authentic" McCain had done at least fifty 180 degree changes in position between 2003-04 and 2007-08

Either Luke was very ill informed or bsing or both. In either case, the gushing was far from journalism.

[No Elephants]

42. Self delete. Dupe.

[bluestateguy]

6. We so rarely hear what her voice sounds like

While I think she did a fine job campaigning for her mother in 2008, I do think she should have given interviews to the media. She was an adult and that is to be expected out of a campaign surrogate.

In any event, I wish her well. I wonder how she will get along with some of the smirky reporters who used the Lewinsky ordeal to advance their careers. Yeah, I'm talking about you Lisa Myers.

[KT2000]

7. She interviewed her dad

and it was shown on C-SPAN this weekend. She was very good - intelligent, poised and not intimidated by her interviewee. She has a nice solid voice that will do well on TV.

[No Elephants]

43. Not intimidated interviewing her own father? Is that impressive?

Chelsea seems far more intelligent than Jenna Bush, another NBC hire. However, she got this job because her father is POTUS, period.

If you don't believe that, have your representative call NBC and tell them you are not sure what you want to do next and see what happens.

[KT2000]

79. Of course she did

but I still think she will do well. She is a growup as opposed to the Bush girls.
Actually the interview with her father was interesting. She posed some complicated questions and as one would expect, he took off with 30 minute answers.

[applegrove]

8. I'd be curious to find out which of her parents she takes after, if not both.

[Fool Count]

9. "Mr. Capus said he had met with Ms. Clinton and had a long conversation that began with a simple

question. “I asked her: ‘What are you interested in doing?’ ”

I wonder, why don't Mr. Capus ask me that question? Sure, I would turn him down, but I know that my next door neighbor might
be interested. Why wasn't she asked? She's got to be at least as qualified as Chelsea Clinton, if not more.

[snagglepuss]

21. How nice to move from a job with a hedge fund to a prestigous and interesting

job in the media. No audition, no experience required, no grueling interview or 3 interviews for that matter that is now required just to get consideration for a crappy job. As the reality of this sinks in. I get more and more disgusted.

[Fool Count]

25. I have just finished reading Steve Jobs' biography and the most

revealing thing I took away from it was how incestuous and clubby the American ruling elite is. Steve Jobs called Bill Clinton to ask him to
call Tom Hanks and ask him to do a voiceover for a Mac commercial. While Clinton was still a US President no less. That is the kind of stuff
that makes you go: WTF, really, is that what US Presidents are for? And why wouldn't Clinton do it? Who knows, maybe one day Chelsea
decides that she wants to do some product development for Apple. Disgusting is right.

[snagglepuss]

26. What riles me is that people on this thread, supporters of OWS are happy clappy

that a member of the 1% is handed a prestigous job on a platter, muscling out those who actually need a job and who have solid experience in the industry.

[muriel_volestrangler]

37. What was Clinton's reply? I hope it was "I'm not your secretary ...

... make your own business calls". But from the way you are telling this, I fear Clinton made the call to Hanks.

[No Elephants]

51. Reply is almost irrelevant. For starters, try calling the WH and getting through to the President.

Point is, as some author (Fitzgerald?) noted, "The rich are very different from you and I."

[muriel_volestrangler]

53. Sure, Jobs' wealth and job got him special access to the President

but I'm concerned whether Clinton agreed to do work for Jobs (especially work that Jobs could easily do for himself or pay people to do - it's one thing the head of a large company saying "Mr. President, could you have a word with the Russians about allowing access to their market" or similar, since there would be a national interest there, it's another saying "I want a voiceover from Tom Hanks - can you do the job my advertising agency should be doing for me?").

[No Elephants]

59. Obviously, Jobs thought Hanks would be likelier to say yes if Clinton asked

than if Jobs asked, let alone Jobs's ad agency. And perhaps Jobs had already asked and been turned down.

But, whether Clinton said yes or no (or some polite equivalent) to Job's request or not, the point is that the wealthy are treated differently by politicians in a theoretical democracy than are other voters/taxpayers are; and that seems to me to be the crux of the problem.

Whether Jobs asked for a special favor for his company as to trade or a special favor for his company as to ads doesn't seem to me to be the important issue. The issue is a theoretical democracy is access to the POTUS for a favor that a company that was struggling would not have, either as to casting its ads or as to doing business abroad.

But, reasonable people can differ as to which is more important.

[Fool Count]

61. The book says that Clinton "pocket-vetoed" Jobs' request, and

Jobs had to go with Richard Dreyfus for that commercial. Anyhow, Jobs didn't appear to have felt
overly slighted and continued to let Bill and Hillary stay at his empty mansion every time they
came to Stanford to visit Chelsea. Every such visit necessitated filling the mansion with rental
furniture. On one occasion Jobs' wife overseeing uploading of the rentals noticed that one painting
was missing. When she awkwardly inquired about it, Clinton security detail produced a painting of
a blue dress which they safely stashed in some closet and forgot about. That is also not entirely
obvious to me why an acting US President has to rely on hospitality of a business tycoon for
accommodation. Apparently they were just friends and that's what good friends do. They may also
not let such trivial things like public interest put a damper of their friends' business, but
that we will probably never know about.

[MgtPA]

55. Think she'll have to pee in a cup like the rest of us?

[alp227]

11. Great! In fact, one of GWB's daughters also contributes to NBC

that'd be Jenna Bush Hager: "In August 2009, NBC hired Hager as a new correspondent for the morning television show Today. Her role is to contribute stories about once a month on issues such as education.<30> On April 19, 2010, Hager interviewed former President Bill Clinton and discussed Haiti and his daughter Chelsea's upcoming marriage.<31>" (Wikipedia)

[No Elephants]

45. Not sure why you would think either of those hires is great.

[Turbineguy]

12. Let's hope she doesn't say

anything awful about that POS Rush Limbaugh.:evilgrin:

[FreeBillClinton]

13. Child of the 1% gets a job thanks to her name/parents

Just what the national media needs, more faux-progressive democrats!

[Kolesar]

36. PaidBillClintonsDaughter...eom

[lonestarnot]

89. I'm inclined to agree. And donate to foundation, isn't that tax free?

[TlalocW]

15. On-air flubs

"Dad, I mean, former President Bill Clinton held a rally near his Harlem offices in support of..."
"In other news, Mom, er, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Israel Prime Minister..."

TlalocW

[CreekDog]

17. If you want to make it to the top

be born there!

:dilemma:

[No Elephants]

46. The American dream of working your way up to exceed your parents' status is so last century.

And the rich volunteering, instead of taking jobs from people who actually need a paycheck to survive, is so Nineteenth Century.

"More modern" does not always equal progress.

[TheeHazelnut]

24. I wonder if this was part of the deal for covering her celebrity wedding?

"You want access, I get a job down the line?"

[juajen]

28. WOW, what sour grapes! Neither Bill or Hillary Clinton came from

money. Hillary worked at a fishery (or some such, anyway, where they processed fish for canning) to earn money for college. She and Bill both earned good scholarships, but when they moved to the White House they did not have a home of their own. They had only rented in Arkansas, when they weren't in the Governor's house. It is the way in this world that a lot of people get by on knowing people that can help them get connected. It is done at all levels. I have used it also to help my children get jobs.

So, here is a very smart young woman, who is gifted in many ways, who is donating any money made to help the poor and malnourished people in this world, and you are sick of Clintons. For those of you who protested, tell me, please, what you would do if a friend of your Mom or Dad heard of a job and recommended you for it. You would take it, wouldn't you? Now, what do you call it?

The best of luck to a wonderful young lady, and her outstanding parents also. Get a grip, people!

[muriel_volestrangler]

44. I think the criticism is of NBC for ignoring her inexperience in the field

in favour of her name instead. It may be they are sucking up to the current Secretary of State; it may be they think the quality of their programs isn't so important as the names attached to them.

Chelsea Clinton is smart, but she's not a journalist. Yet she's landed in a full-time national network position on the basis of her name. Without a famous name, normal people have to start in small operations (where the interview doesn't consist of just ‘What are you interested in doing?’), or freelancing where they're only used on the basis of suitable work they've already done.

In fact, the only criticism of either parent I can find in the thread is about Steve Jobs calling Bill Clinton, while he was still president, to get him to persuade Tom Hanks to do a commercial voiceover (and I've asked to clarify what Pres. Clinton's reply was). There may be some implied criticism of Chelsea for taking advantage of NBC's celebrity-worship.

And, by the way, 'sour grapes' refers to a situation in which someone who cannot obtain something gives up and says "oh, I didn't want it anyway". Which I don't see anyone here saying.

[No Elephants]

48. No, if I were heir to $150 million and counting, I would not take that job. I would volunteer

somewhere that actually needed workers, as opposed to, on the basis of my father, taking a paycheck and a highly desired position from someone who needs it and merits it.


As far as Hillary, regardless of how she grew up, she had no compunction taking jobs she would not have been offered had it not been for her husband.

[valerief]

60. Bingo. If she cared, she'd be out holding signs with the Occupiers and getting batons beat over her

head with them.

[snooper2]

63. Don't worship false idols

[DarthDem]

70. +1

The bile on this thread is ridiculous. Geez. What did Chelsea ever do to you people?

[JI7]

29. for those criticizing Chelsea Clinton, what do you think she should do ?

if she uses her position to do good and bring attention to important issues isn't that a good thing ?

she could just be living like Paris Hilton, kardashians etc.

[snagglepuss]

31. She could work for a non-profit or a union to lobby for social change, to fight

against a system that effortlessly opens doors for people like her, well it shuts them on everyone else.

[Kolesar]

35. The press serves an important role in our democracy

When I was in school, I considered getting a job as a reporter because I loved reading the newspapers and Time magazine.

[No Elephants]

50. Any reporter could use his or her position to do good and bring attention to important issues.

As far as "she could just be living like Paris Hilton," true, but she could also just be living like Mother Teresa, only without those pesky vows of poverty, chastity and obedience M. Teresa took.

As for what I think she should do, please see Reply 48.

[Marrah_G]

72. She worked at a hedge fund management company right out of college.

She has the right to take any job she wants, but I wouldn't try to paint her as some sort of humanitarian.

[SixthSense]

75. And she married into Goldman Sachs

she's a 1%er and damned proud of it

qualifications and hard work and earning coveted positions are for you plebes

[housewolf]

33. She's So smart

and beautiful
and committed to public service

This is heartening news! I'm looking forward to seeing more of her on tv.

Bye the way, CSpan's BookTv ran an a spot of her interviewing her dad on his new book, "Back To Work", over the weekend, and she did a terrific job! It was great seeing the two of them together. They are obviously very proud of each other.

[No Elephants]

93. How is managing a hedge fund or taking a high profile, high paying job with NBC

public service?

[fasttense]

47. A member of the lucky sperm club has landed another cushy job.

I should be surprised?

Here where I live as part of the 99%, my children have been working since they were 16 years old. They worked their way through college, graduated and are sending out resumes hoping they will get a permanent job and not another temp or intern job. When they are offered a $10,000 a year job with no benefits they wonder what was the use of college.

So glad another rich daughter of a high-profile politician, the same politician who gave us NAFTA and repeal of Glass-Steagal, was able to land such a good paying permanent job. I bet she gets benefits too.

[tularetom]

49. My granddaughter is about her age and she is also

"kicking around what she wanted to do next.” Having gotten her BS in Public Administration, worked for a couple of years, married and became a mom, and now looking for part time work. She's attractive bright and personable and eminently qualified for a position with NBC.

Perhaps I will contact Mr Capus and arrange a meeting. I'm sure we will all be seeing her doing feel good puff pieces on NBC very soon.

Clinton has now gotten where he always wanted to be. He's accepted by the people who used to hate his guts. He gets to rub elbows with poppy bush and his kid gets work because she's his kid. And all he had to do was get a few things done like media consolidation, welfare reform and ending Glass Steagall.

[No Elephants]

52. I would wager that people who used to hate his guts still do, but may disguise it better now.

Being willing to use Bubba for your own purposes doesn't require that you respect him.

Even Poppy Bush certainly has made it clear on camera that Bubba is not his newest son, or even his new friend, despite all the hype from the press and W. to the contrary.

[No Elephants]

54. I'm relieved she won't become a 99er.

[harmonicon]

56. Rich people are ADORABLE!!! nt.

[godai]

62. LOL! n/t

[valerief]

58. On the ruling class can be really trusted to spread propaganda. That's why she got the job. nt

[City Lights]

64. NBC = Neopitsm Broadcasting Company.

:thumbsdown:

[dipsydoodle]

65. For beautiful , smart and intelligent

watch FRANCE24. http://www.france24.com/en/category/tags-auteurs/nadia-charbit

I think I'd rather watch Crufts on Youtube than Chelsea Clinton.

[bikebloke]

86. I have a secret crush on Nadia Charbit.

[dipsydoodle]

87. Good pic here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robwallace/5429272266/lightbox/

[boomerbust]

66. You mean the same Chelsea Clinton that was a...

Hedge fund manager? Interesting.

[Name removed]

67. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AngryAmish]

74. "Chelsea, you married an Orthodox Jew...."

Really?

[Marrah_G]

76. Serious question

Can an orthodox Jewish person marry someone who is not also an orthodox Jewish person? Are they the ones with the long sideburn curls?

[No Elephants]

92. The ones with curls are Hasidic Jews.

They are Orthodox, but not all Orthodox Jews are Hasidic Jews.

[Marrah_G]

95. Ahhh thank you

[greymattermom]

68. pickupamerica.org

My daughter is volunteering for pickupamerica.org. They will be on that segment soon, probably this week. Maybe Chelsea will be doing the stand up. They'd love the extra publicity that the Chelsea curious crowd would bring them. It could be a good thing for the folks who are featured in the segment she'll be reporting.

[w4rma]

71. Awesome. (nt)

[NashVegas]

73. I'm Guessing It's An Unfortunate Time to Work In Hedge Funds

You would think, given her career-to-date and her husband's, MSNBC would hire her for her experience in financial markets.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

78. Nepotism or Cult of Celebrity?

In the cases of both Jenna and Chelsea, I highly doubt they're the most qualified for the positions they've obtained. No doubt their consideration was largely influenced by the attention their names draw.

Nepotism? Perhaps. It certainly isn't an unfair concept to consider when some famous face gets a job they're probably not as highly qualified for as many others. I'm more inclined to think of this as a side effect of our society's insidious cult of celebrity. The reality is we live in a society where our fascination with celebrities elevates them to statuses they most often have not earned. Which affords celebrities privileges above others simply because they're celebrities.

[moondust]

81. Ahh, the legacy success track.

Nothing like working your way to the top!

:sarcasm:

[Kahuna]

83. Wow! NBC has done a full reversal since that creep jack welch left. nt

[No Elephants]

94. Not a full reversal at all. It's still overrun with Republicans.

[Stand and Fight]

85. Disgusted by this.

For those of you hailing it as being "awesome", etc... Get a clue. The only reason she got this position -- with ZERO real vetting -- is because of who her parents are. And this isn't sour grapes against the Clintons either, as I was a supporter of Mrs. Clinton in 2008 for president. I just find this kind of favoritism beyond the pale.

:puke:

[unkachuck]

88. why do I....

....find it hard to give a rats ass what Ms. Clinton does?....another off-spring of the rich and powerful groomed for corporate stoogehood....who the fuck cares....

....it has nothing to do with the gritty reality most people face in this country....