Chelsea Clinton defended political foe Kellyanne Conway on Twitter Friday, saying the president’s counselor deserves an apology for Rep. Cedric Richmond’s “despicable” joke at the Washington Press Club Foundation’s annual awards dinner.
Mr. Richmond insists he wasn’t trying to be crude when he clumsily delivered a joke Wednesday night about the controversy surrounding Mrs. Conway kneeling on the Oval Office couch.
“She really looked kind of familiar in that position there,” the Louisiana Democrat quipped.
The joke was widely interpreted as sexual innuendo, but Mr. Richmond said that wasn’t his intent.
“Where I grew up saying that someone is looking or acting ’familiar’ simply means that they are behaving too comfortably,” he said in a statement.
Mrs. Clinton, whose mother Hillary Clinton suffered a stunning election loss to Mrs. Conway’s boss, President Trump, said Mr. Richmond’s explanation isn’t enough.
“Despicable. I hope @KellyannePolls receives the apology she deserves-certainly never thought I’d write that & I mean every word,” she wrote.
Despicable. I hope @KellyannePolls receives the apology she deserves-certainly never thought I’d write that & I mean every word. https://t.co/NmvFwNL21d
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) March 3, 2017
Mrs. Conway thanked the former first daughter for her support.
“Thank you, @ChelseaClinton. As strong women, as moms to Charlottes…appreciate you speaking out on this,” she tweeted Friday afternoon.
Thank you, @ChelseaClinton. As strong women, as moms to Charlottes…appreciate you speaking out on this. https://t.co/rxBnXq553t
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) March 3, 2017
Mrs. Conway told The Daily Caller that Mr. Richmond’s joke would have provoked more outrage from the media if she was liberal.
“And it is not just if I were a liberal woman, but if I were a pro-abortion one,” she said.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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