Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

demmiblue

(38,763 posts)
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 08:08 AM Friday

Monica Lewinsky says she's grateful to younger generations for helping shift the perception of her story...

“How is it that the 24-year-old person with the least amount of power in this situation had the largest consequences for what happened?”

At #TAF25, Monica Lewinsky says she’s grateful to younger generations for helping shift the perception of her story, saying they wondered: “How is it that the 24-year-old person with the least amount of power in this situation had the largest consequences for what happened?” bit.ly/3IkhDd9

The Atlantic (@theatlantic.com) 2025-09-26T11:45:07.450Z


https://www.youtube.com/live/GqnNnP7_rjQ
66 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Monica Lewinsky says she's grateful to younger generations for helping shift the perception of her story... (Original Post) demmiblue Friday OP
Remembering Lewinsky drmeow Friday #1
Lewinsky was no Anita Hill and not a victim of any sort. valleyrogue Friday #12
This message was self-deleted by its author quaint Friday #20
Lewinsky was a victim mr715 Friday #26
If I recall she made it her mission to have her "encounter" with Bill Clinton. CentralMass Friday #33
Bill Clinton is batman smart. mr715 Friday #36
Bill was was also a "dog". CentralMass Friday #37
Yup mr715 Friday #39
Part of a long history of Blaming the Victim multigraincracker Friday #2
Lewinsky Is Not RobinA Friday #22
I think there are a lot of 24 year old females capable of making poor decisions mr715 Friday #30
But most of us didn't spend the rest of our lives capitalizing on it. Biophilic Friday #34
Given the chance, I'm sure many people would mr715 Friday #35
Setting her sights on one man Oeditpus Rex Friday #59
You think she'd be framed any differently? mr715 Friday #60
Which news broadcast Oeditpus Rex Friday #61
It certainly was subtext. As it is here. mr715 Friday #62
Where does one find 'subtext' in a news report? Oeditpus Rex 11 hrs ago #64
This message was self-deleted by its author mr715 11 hrs ago #66
it's utterly ridiculous Skittles Friday #49
I so agree with you. llmart Friday #55
they're consenting adults but they are both disgusting Skittles Friday #56
Linda Tripp included in that disgusting behavior also. llmart Friday #57
Linda Tripp AND Lucianne Goldberg exploited oasis 11 hrs ago #65
Not that I'm excusing Bill, but... Happy Hoosier Friday #3
She was a groupie. She took after her mother. valleyrogue Friday #5
I was, and did... Happy Hoosier Friday #7
Evidence he was a "horndog" other than the GOP smears valleyrogue Friday #9
Gennifer Flowers, Elizabeth Gracen, Dolly Browning, and Sally Perdue EdmondDantes_ Friday #14
Bill Clinton has a long history of cheating, it wasn't a slip up EdmondDantes_ Friday #11
Shame on you. The impeachment was political bullshit. So is piling on Lewinsky. marble falls Friday #47
Yes. obnoxiousdrunk Friday #51
It Was RobinA Friday #23
The Big Dog nt mr715 Friday #31
I hope people aren't buying what she is trying to sell. valleyrogue Friday #4
Her flashing her thong at him as an invitation for a "relationship." badhair77 Friday #6
People need to remember those inconvenient details and tell the younger generation valleyrogue Friday #8
She actually went back to DC to become an intern valleyrogue Friday #10
Most 5 year olds know that it is inappropriate to show your underwear... 3catwoman3 Friday #50
Yes, she had a show that was planned for release around 2016/2017 JI7 Friday #19
Monica and her "presidential knee pads", as I recall bagimin Friday #13
I find it hilarious the way people still go to bat for Bill Clinton's personal reputation, myself. WhiskeyGrinder Friday #15
It's Not Going To Bat RobinA Friday #25
Looks like Clinton was the obnoxiousdrunk Friday #53
Well, many of the replies in this thread are appalliing obamanut2012 Friday #16
+1 (I am not surprised, though) demmiblue Friday #27
Right? mr715 Friday #28
HUGELY appalling. marble falls Friday #48
it's pretty simple Skittles Friday #58
I can't think of anything more pressing in today's world. BannonsLiver Friday #17
THANK YOU Skittles Friday #52
History was made by a blue dress and a naughty lady. Ping Tung Friday #18
I would contest that she had the most consequences karynnj Friday #21
A lot of dead Iraqis because of her SamuelTheThird Friday #24
Gore probably would have won. mr715 Friday #29
Hey I'm a life long snowybirdie Friday #32
Actually, she hit on Clinton. PragmaticLiberal Friday #41
Okay snowybirdie Friday #54
Clinton was totally wrong Traildogbob Friday #38
It was more than 1 beej mr715 Friday #40
You are right Traildogbob Friday #42
You may remember the gross cigar story. mr715 Friday #43
I do! Traildogbob Friday #44
Ooof mr715 Friday #45
Hillary had to compete with Monica. Laura had to compete with Jeff Gannon. Melania is still competing, but weakly. Norrrm Friday #46
The MAGAt Republicans MorbidButterflyTat Friday #63

drmeow

(5,774 posts)
1. Remembering Lewinsky
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 08:22 AM
Friday

and Anita Hill, part of that shift is not just that the younger generation did not live through the "brainwashing" but there had been a shift in the cultural attitudes (which is a BIG part of why MAGAt men and Incels are so enraged). The increased awareness since the early 90's of sexual harassment, child sexual abuse, and the concept the coercive nature of a power differential has potentially changed people's view of this as a completely consensual relationship to something very different.

valleyrogue

(2,340 posts)
12. Lewinsky was no Anita Hill and not a victim of any sort.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:39 AM
Friday

She has made a lot of money being a pseudo-mistress of a US president. If she had an ounce of integrity, she would have lived her life in obscurity and found a real purpose in life. She has none because she is a narcissist capitalizing on other people.

Response to valleyrogue (Reply #12)

mr715

(1,998 posts)
26. Lewinsky was a victim
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:04 PM
Friday

Her name is synonymous with blowjobs. She didn't sign up for that.

She can be a victim and be a shit person. These are not mutually exclusive. For example, James Comey - asshole victim.

CentralMass

(16,539 posts)
33. If I recall she made it her mission to have her "encounter" with Bill Clinton.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:14 PM
Friday

He should have declined but she initiated the incident.
I am not going to make a judgment either way.

mr715

(1,998 posts)
36. Bill Clinton is batman smart.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:20 PM
Friday

He should have known better. He could conceive of potential fallout.

mr715

(1,998 posts)
39. Yup
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:24 PM
Friday

We contain multitudes.

Monica Lewinsky is a victim and a problematic figure in her own right.

RobinA

(10,430 posts)
22. Lewinsky Is Not
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 03:57 PM
Friday

a victim. Unless you agree that 24-year-old females are incapable of making good decisions.

mr715

(1,998 posts)
30. I think there are a lot of 24 year old females capable of making poor decisions
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:11 PM
Friday

Many of them end up becoming victims.

mr715

(1,998 posts)
35. Given the chance, I'm sure many people would
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:18 PM
Friday

Either way she is going to be the blowjob lady. She can at least be the rich slut or the poor slut.

I apologize for the provocative framing, but that is how I see her capitalization on this.

Oeditpus Rex

(42,770 posts)
59. Setting her sights on one man
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 08:37 PM
Friday

makes her a "slut" because that man was president of the United States? Do you see her capitalization on this that way, too?

mr715

(1,998 posts)
60. You think she'd be framed any differently?
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:16 PM
Friday

She was a woman on the news in the US because of her sexual activity.

Response to Oeditpus Rex (Reply #64)

Skittles

(167,709 posts)
49. it's utterly ridiculous
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 05:19 PM
Friday

she wasn't a child, I was a sergeant in the military at that age

so sick of her and her whining - jeez, will Stormy still be beefing in 20 years?

llmart

(16,878 posts)
55. I so agree with you.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 07:23 PM
Friday

At 24 I was married with two children and owned a house. She's not a victim. Clinton didn't force himself on her and if I remember correctly, she was pursuing him. Didn't she even show him a thong she was wearing or tell him that she was wearing a thong? I'm not saying he was stupid to do what he did, but I think she initiated it.

oasis

(52,946 posts)
65. Linda Tripp AND Lucianne Goldberg exploited
Sat Sep 27, 2025, 09:55 PM
11 hrs ago

Monica’s situation.
Those two bear a great deal of the blame for how this “affair” was thrust onto the public.

Happy Hoosier

(9,100 posts)
3. Not that I'm excusing Bill, but...
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 08:50 AM
Friday

Still curious why she kept that dress and didn't wash it. Like.... EWWWWWW.

valleyrogue

(2,340 posts)
5. She was a groupie. She took after her mother.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:05 AM
Friday

Gene Lyons and Joe Conason wrote all about it, but if you were alive then or old enough then and followed the sham "impeachment" of Bill Clinton, you would know she was anything but an angel.

"Presidential knee pads." Sure, she was a victim. Sure.

She was a woman who found herself dumped in favor of his wife and daughter, you know, somebody with family values, after he slipped up during the government shutdown over Medicare funding. But Lewinsky always wanted to be famous, so she has ridden this dubious fame for over 30 years ever since she opened her mouth to Linda Tripp. She is in her fifties now and STILL hasn't moved on.

Happy Hoosier

(9,100 posts)
7. I was, and did...
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:27 AM
Friday

As far as I know, she has always said, at least until recently, that she was a willing participant.

Having said that, Bill is a horndog and always has been. He had a very hard time keeping it in his pants. And interacting that way with an intern is pretty clearly unethical, but also pretty clearly completely legal.

valleyrogue

(2,340 posts)
9. Evidence he was a "horndog" other than the GOP smears
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:31 AM
Friday

which tried to pin all kinds of women on him for political reasons simply because he posed a threat to the GOP's "Southern Strategy"? There ain't any of note, and there haven't been any serious claims since his presidency that he was a "horndog."

You bought into a lot of garbage by the political right, aided and abetted by the media.

EdmondDantes_

(946 posts)
14. Gennifer Flowers, Elizabeth Gracen, Dolly Browning, and Sally Perdue
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:46 AM
Friday

All of them have admitted to affairs with Bill Clinton. Clinton himself acknowledged Gennifer Flowers but claimed it only happened once.

And that's not getting into the claims from multiple women that he assaulted them.

EdmondDantes_

(946 posts)
11. Bill Clinton has a long history of cheating, it wasn't a slip up
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:38 AM
Friday

His actions don't scream family values. Admittedly I have a harsh view of infidelity, but as her boss, he had greater responsibility.

RobinA

(10,430 posts)
23. It Was
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 03:59 PM
Friday

a trophy. Guys put the heads of dead animals on the wall, Monica kept the dress. I mean, she bagged big game.

valleyrogue

(2,340 posts)
4. I hope people aren't buying what she is trying to sell.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:04 AM
Friday

Last edited Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:50 PM - Edit history (1)

She took after her mother, a woman who pursued married celebrities. That was her whole goal in life, to be a groupie to a famous man. Hers was a president of the United States, who, by the way, broke off this "affair" because of his own family. He wasn't a Newt Gingrich or anything like that. Furthermore, she was seeing another man at the time and had gotten pregnant by said man.

She was not a "victim" of any sort.

I am really tired of her defenders because they clearly don't know anything about the case or were too young to remember it.

She is STILL trying to capitalize on the fact she engaged in some clumsy foreplay in the Oval Office instead of actually doing something constructive with her life.

No sympathy for her and I will never have it for her.

badhair77

(5,002 posts)
6. Her flashing her thong at him as an invitation for a "relationship."
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:14 AM
Friday

her history of an affair with a married former teacher with a family, her sharing of the blue dress details with Linda Tripp, and the list goes on that she lacks understanding of boundaries. I, too, wish she’d find some purpose in her life and move on. She exhausts me so I try to stay clear of anything ML.

valleyrogue

(2,340 posts)
8. People need to remember those inconvenient details and tell the younger generation
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:29 AM
Friday

that she was NOT a "victim" of an "imbalance of power" or anything remotely closely to it. It was Bill Clinton who had her sent to the Pentagon because he KNEW that what he did was a bad idea.

We can all be grateful she didn't try to pass off her pregnancy, which ended in abortion, as being from Bill.

The FIRST thing I did when I read Bill's autobiography was look up the Lewinsky thing and Hillary's reaction after Bill told her the truth about it. She kicked him out of the White House bedroom for a time, with his only real friend being his late, beloved dog Buddy. She would have been justified divorcing him, but they patched things up and are still going strong all these years later.

valleyrogue

(2,340 posts)
10. She actually went back to DC to become an intern
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:36 AM
Friday

in order to bag the president of the United States. She had no other motive. She wanted to be a "presidential mistress" like Judith Exner supposedly was, like Nan Britton was. She succeeded to some extent though she came up short. She capitalized on her dubious notoriety.

JI7

(92,696 posts)
19. Yes, she had a show that was planned for release around 2016/2017
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 12:17 PM
Friday

to try to gain from what many thought would be a Hillary Clinton Presidency.

Clinton was wrong for cheating but this wasn't a case of harassment or using his position to gain something.

Every few years she herself comes out to talk about this.

bagimin

(1,629 posts)
13. Monica and her "presidential knee pads", as I recall
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:45 AM
Friday

On her way to the White House with ulterior motives. Not excusing Bill, but this was a planned deal on her part. Just go away already.

WhiskeyGrinder

(25,732 posts)
15. I find it hilarious the way people still go to bat for Bill Clinton's personal reputation, myself.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:49 AM
Friday

RobinA

(10,430 posts)
25. It's Not Going To Bat
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:03 PM
Friday

for Clinton. It's believing that women are capable of making their own decisions. Good or bad.

demmiblue

(38,763 posts)
27. +1 (I am not surprised, though)
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:05 PM
Friday

I really admire how she rose above the trauma of the situation, and used her experience to help others. Not many could. She is good people!

Skittles

(167,709 posts)
58. it's pretty simple
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 07:46 PM
Friday

if you don't want to be known as a horndog prez, don't have any kind of sex with an intern

if you don't want to be known for a blowjob, don't blow a prez

they were both disgusting and for the love of GAWD I she would stop talking about it, MOVE THE FUCK ON ALREADY

Ping Tung

(3,708 posts)
18. History was made by a blue dress and a naughty lady.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 11:04 AM
Friday
The citizenry thrives on salacious scandals.

"Mind your own damn business." Tim Walz

karynnj

(60,565 posts)
21. I would contest that she had the most consequences
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 03:02 PM
Friday

Bill Clinton and through him the country paid a very high price.

For Clinton personally, it means that though he was a successful two term President, it unfortunately will likely be the case that most mainstream obituaries will mention the scandal and that he was impeached. By his own account, he for at least some period of time nearly lost his marriage. He had some in his administration leave.

For the country and the world, his transgression may have cost Gore the Presidency. Consider that Bush, who had drinking problems until he was 40 ran on bringing decency back to the White House - even as he ran against Eagle Scout Gore. It has since then likely made his strong voice less compelling to some who were not Democrats.

I think what he did was stupid and beyond wrong. However, both of them were adults and it apparently started when she flashed her thong. What still surprises me is that this did not lead to her immediate removal for inappropriate behavior. It does suggest that Clinton's closest people may have seen this as a Clinton norm.

It also seems that had she wanted, she could have dropped her first name in favor of her middle name, changed her hair style, color etc and gone about applying for jobs or higher education. She seems to have often used that short period of her life to be a media person etc. She did not have that many accomplishments when the scandal happened. Her internship happened because her stepdad was a big donor.

mr715

(1,998 posts)
29. Gore probably would have won.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:09 PM
Friday

But she didn't kill those Iraqis. The blood is on other hands. The stuff on her hands isn't blood.

snowybirdie

(6,359 posts)
32. Hey I'm a life long
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:12 PM
Friday

Democrat and still am mad at Bill Clinton. He should never have hit on a young woman in his employ. Remember the Me Too movement folks? He is a married man who made vows and he violated them. Think of what could have been off only he'd resigned and Al Gore became president instead of Junior Bush in 2001

snowybirdie

(6,359 posts)
54. Okay
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 06:41 PM
Friday

A starstruck young woman hit on a 50+ year old man. Young people are sometimes stupid. A 50+ year old man knows better than to reciprocate her advances. Especially a high ranking politician. Clinton was an excellent president, but debased his legacy with this stupid affair with MS Lewinsky. So glad Hillary rose above this scandal and was an excellent Senator, Secretary of State and almost President. An amazing woman.

Traildogbob

(11,891 posts)
38. Clinton was totally wrong
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:23 PM
Friday

To cheat. He got one blow job under the table by a mistress that was willing based on her admiration of him, and vulnerable. And we don’t know how many more he MAY have had. I would believe many. Lots of GQP Christian’s probably laugh about it because of their hate for Hilary. She WAS a victim with zero sympathy from most Americans.
Trump gets over a dozen blow Jobs under the table for 3 hours with live coverage at each cabinet meeting and STILL treated as Gods right hand man and a real Christian.
And can we even attempt to count the cheating Trump accomplished on ALL his wives?
The Old Testament has a cure for cheating, so let’s get some rocks, and do what God told us to do.
Amen!!!

mr715

(1,998 posts)
43. You may remember the gross cigar story.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:34 PM
Friday

I shall not recount it here.

There were many victims. Monica Lewinsky was one. Hillary Clinton was another. Both are defined, in part, by someone else's choices concerning their lives.

Traildogbob

(11,891 posts)
44. I do!
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 04:42 PM
Friday

At 15 and friend and I snuck into a county fair X Rated tent and observed a cigar smoking incident.
Scared me for life. And she blew smoke rings!
Can’t watch anyone smoking stogies now and not see it again😳😵‍💫😵‍💫🥴🥴😵😵

Norrrm

(3,040 posts)
46. Hillary had to compete with Monica. Laura had to compete with Jeff Gannon. Melania is still competing, but weakly.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 05:11 PM
Friday

MorbidButterflyTat

(3,714 posts)
63. The MAGAt Republicans
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 10:47 PM
Friday

made a great big circus of the impeachment, hauling in boxes of "evidence," it made me sick.

I think Monica's used up her 15 minutes.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Monica Lewinsky says she'...