Monica Lewinsky has just walked back into the public eye. Whether that’s a smart move remains to be seen.
Now 40, Lewinsky has spent the past decade a recluse, chasing and losing job after job, haunted by the presidential sex scandal that made her name.
She’s moved around a lot, trying to outrun the scandal and move on – she’s lived in London, LA, New York and Portland. She got her masters degree in social psychology at the London School of Economics, but she’s really struggled to hold down a job.
She has finally decided to share her story in an article in Vanity Fair. Bits and pieces have popped up online, and the full article will be available next week on May 13.
Already there are some vicious responses online: People suggesting that she’s speaking out now to sabotage Hilary Clinton’s presidential announcement, calling her a ‘slut’ and a ‘whore’, verbally abusing her, trying to silence her and prevent her from reclaiming her story.
Here are the outstanding quotes to emerge so far from Lewinsky’s extremely candid story. A story she says she felt compelled to share because she fears for the safety of women who, like her, have had ‘suicidal temptations’ after being bullied and humiliated online.
1. She regrets what happened.
“I, myself, deeply regret what happened between me and President Clinton. Let me say it again: I. Myself. Deeply. Regret. What. Happened.”
2. It’s time to move on from the symbols that defined her.
“It’s time to burn the beret and bury the blue dress.”
3. Her silence was never for sale.
“I turned down offers that would have earned me more than $10 million, because they didn’t feel like the right thing to do.” “The buzz in some circles has been that the Clintons must have paid me off; why else would I have refrained from speaking out? I can assure you that nothing could be further from the truth.”
4. The president took advantage of her.
“Sure, my boss took advantage of me, but I will always remain firm on this point: it was a consensual relationship. Any ‘abuse’ came in the aftermath, when I was made a scapegoat in order to protect his powerful position. . . . The Clinton administration, the special prosecutor’s minions, the political operatives on both sides of the aisle, and the media were able to brand me. And that brand stuck, in part because it was imbued with power.”
5. She cannot hold down a job.
“Because of what potential employers so tactfully referred to as my ‘history,’ I was never ‘quite right’ for the position. In some cases, I was right for all the wrong reasons, as in ‘Of course, your job would require you to attend our events.’ And, of course, these would be events at which press would be in attendance.” What do you think of Lewinsky’s decision to publish her story? What do you think her motivation is?
Top Comments
Its a bad time to come out with this story as it affects Hilary Clintons campaign for presidency. Thats my opinion. Hilary doesn't need this right now. Hopefully though by trashing it out for hopefully the last time things will work out for Hilary. But she as a politician had risen way above it. I hope people don't forget that.
Monica Lewinsky was a young intern - duty of care on the part of the employer, folks? 50-year-old President and his wife against a starstruck kid? Hillary cruelled Monica Lewinsky along with Bill Clinton. Lewinsky has behaved with absolute class throughout the post-court-proceedings decades - betrayed by both sides of politics. I'm not surprised that it has taken 20 years before she was strong enough to put her side of the story. It is absolutely her right. It does Hillary Clinton no credit that she "stood by her man" at the expense of the truth, and a vulnerable young woman. Don't think for a moment that Hillary's vengeful streak (which she openly discussed with Hamish and Andy some three years ago) didn't get fully played against Lewinsky throughout the last two decades. Familiar with intergenerational grudges among the politicians of NSW? Same deal in Washington. On balance, the moral transgressions have been overwhelmingly by Bill and Hillary. Monica's small, power-imbalance-driven transgression is the tiniest part of the story - pretty much insignificant in relation to what has happened to her life. Hugs to you, Monica, you're a brave woman and a survivor of massive institutional abuse - from the State, no less.