Very good piece, Mr. Chapin. Your placing this bizarre episode into its wider context is much appreciated.
One other angle that you might have explored: what choice did Senator Clinton really have in reacting to that comment? As the “feminist” candidate, how was she supposed to react to a phrase like “pimped out”? With an image like that and a husband like hers, I’d say her only choice was disgust — anything else would have been an intolerable comedown.
A variety of responses were, of course, possible: laugh it off (meaning “I don’t take it seriously”), have them ask Chelsea if she feels “pimped”, flash a little anger at your child being referred to as a whore, or even just disagree. The odd tragedy is Mrs. Clinton reflexively took none of those options (including disagreement); rather, she had to feign “outrage.”
The irony here is impossibly rich: PC advocates think they’re building a more “tolerant” world but by outlawing sentiment their moral choices have actually seized up. As a mother — even one running for President — Mrs. Clinton should have simply been livid with Mr. Shuster. But that might have let him keep his job.
