Monica Lewinsky turns 40 today.
Fifteen years ago, this photo of a 24-year-old Lewinsky was more ubiquitous than every current reality TV star combined. Her physical relationship with President Bill Clinton spurred debate about what actually defined sex. Clinton’s original, strongly worded denial was rooted more in legal technicalities than the straightforward and fairly simple definition of “what would really piss off my wife?”
Lewinksy’s peculiar dry-cleaning habits left Clinton with no option but to confess to the affair that threatened the security and prosperity of no single American citizen.
Unfortunately, this took some steam out of Hillary Clinton’s statement on The Today Show about a “vast right-wing conspiracy” against her husband; however, Clinton’s philandering didn’t make it any less true. The right never fully accepted Clinton’s election in 1992, just as it never fully accepted Barack Obama’s election in 2008. The efforts to unseat Clinton and tag the Democratic party with its own Watergate were altogether pointless and needlessly destructive, but rather than serving as the nadir of what House leader Richard Gephardt called the “politics of personal destruction,” it proved to be the cold open.
Curiously — or perhaps not so curiously — Lewinksy suffered the most from the scandal. Independent Counsel Ken Starr has returned to obscurity and perhaps contents himself with community theater productions of The Crucible. Clinton’s eventual impeachment is now a mere footnote in a presidency that most Americans regard fondly. Hillary Clinton’s public humiliation arguably softened her image in the public and helped her win her New York Senate seat. Newt Gingrich lost the Speakership but returned to run for president in 2012.
Monica Lewinsky, unfortunately, became the national joke, and as she enters mid-life, it’s unlikely she’ll ever supplant in public memory her starring role in a presidential sex scandal.
Yet in a just world, no one would know her name.
This lady was playing a ukulele outside the Black Cat cafe on Alberta Street in Portland. I offered a dollar, as her performance was more than competent. She graciously accepted but also requested some of my just-purchased coffee. I poured a little into the thimble-sized paper cup at her table. We talked a bit more and let me take her photo before I went on my way. She rejected the first but approved the second.
Rolling Stone‘s decision to feature Dzhohkar Tsarnaev, the suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing, on the cover of its latest issue has generated a public reaction that I cynically suggest is probably what they expected.
Late Wednesday morning, both Tedeschi Food Shops and CVS pledged not to carry the Rolling Stone issue in its stores.
On its Facebook page, CVS wrote:”CVS/pharmacy has decided not to sell the current issue of Rolling Stone featuring a cover photo of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect. As a company with deep roots in New England and a strong presence in Boston, we believe this is the right decision out of respect for the victims of the attack and their loved ones.
And from Tedeschi’s Facebook page: “Tedeschi Food Shops supports the need to share the news with everyone, but cannot support actions that serve to glorify the evil actions of anyone. With that being said, we will not be carrying this issue of Rolling Stone. Music and terrorism don’t mix!
CVS’s statement is understandable. It’s less a free speech issue than a business decision. They don’t wish to offend their customers. Tedeschi’s statement makes less sense. Having not read the piece, Tedeschi can’t definitely state that the article “glorifies the evil actions of anyone” (unless Tedeschi is referring to the feature on Robin Thicke). Also, the line “music and terrorism don’t mix” reveals an ignorance of Rolling Stone‘s regular content — much of it is political and not related to music at all.
Catherine Parrotta reported on Twitter that Boston Mayor Thomas Menino believes the cover is a “disgrace” and that it should’ve featured first responders instead. The mayor already has one job with a limited career path, does he really need to try his hand at publishing?
Rolling Stone released a statement:
“The fact that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is young, and in the same age group as many of our readers, makes it all the more important for us to examine the complexities of this issue and gain a more complete understanding of how a tragedy like this happens.”
serhasacomplaint 
Coping isn’t controlling…
This woman’s problem isn’t asthma. Her abusive, jackass husband doesn’t seem to care if she lives or dies, just that her painful coughing disturbs his beauty sleep. Her “bestie” could teach an advanced course in passive-aggressive snarkiness. Oh, and I think she might work for the mafia.
Posted by Stephen Robinson on December 7, 2013 in Social Commentary
Tags: asthma, commercial, GlaxoSmithKline