Posted on 04/05/2002 5:37:36 AM PST by jaz.357
Kathleen Willey, the Richmonder whose name became synonymous with the pitfalls of Clinton adoration, will be host of a local radio talk show starting Sunday.
Willey's two-hour, after-church drive-time slot on WRVA (1140 AM) could prove a powerful companion to unctuous sermonizing or a frightening bit of deja vu for listeners who thought the seamier aspects of the Clinton administration were history.
"On the contrary, I told her to lead with it," said WRVA's Randall Bloomquist, when asked yesterday whether Willey's notorious encounter nine years ago with the president in an Oval Office anteroom is old news.
Bloomquist said he hired Willey, 55, after she approached him about a radio show.
"I was really struck by her passionate description about how you need to keep a sense of self-worth after you get sucked into the world of power politics," he said.
Willey's noon-to-2 p.m. debut comes four years and three weeks after her famous "60 Minutes" television appearance in which she described a November 1993 private encounter with the president.
Willey said the president groped and fondled her. Clinton swore that the allegation was false, but the allegation did much to buttress similar charges from other Clinton acquaintances, including Paula Jones.
Clinton was never charged in connection with the Willey encounter.
Willey, who had been active in Democratic politics and was a White House volunteer, had approached Clinton for a more prestigious position.
Her story to Clinton of imminent financial ruin and family problems dramatically heightened when, a day later, authorities announced that Willey's husband had committed suicide. His death was not known to his wife when she visited the White House and Willey's husband apparently was not aware of the Oval Office encounter.
Edward E. Willey Jr. was the son of a prominent state legislator from Richmond. The Willey Bridge across the James River is named after the late state senator.
Bloomquist declined to say how much Willey will be paid.
Bloomquist said Willey has been an outspoken advocate for other women caught up in political scandals, such as Chandra Levy and Anne Marie Smith, the flight attendant.
Levy and Smith were linked to Rep. Gary A. Condit, D-Calif.
Guests will include various figures Willey encountered during her tempestuous White House years.
Nicknamed "Irish" for her temper, Willey will be making in her appearance a full and timely circle of sorts.
One of her first jobs at the White House was helping coordinate the traditional Easter Egg roll. She also will be filling the kind of role once held at the station by former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder.
Willey was a key volunteer coordinator at Wilder's inaugural parties.
Sunday morning talk radio is a ratings graveyard.
I wish her the best, and I'm betting she finds a special niche with radio listeners.
I'm sure she's familiar with FreeRepublic. Be sure and tell her we are pulling for her success, and that we will alert Richmond area freepers to her show.
Webcast (?) at www.wrva.com/audio.html#
And maybe with enough publicity, her show will get an early ratings boost. There's got to be interest, even if it's just morbid curiosity from libs and wishful thinking on their part that she will bomb. That's how perverted they are. I mean, she's been an liberal democrat activist, but liberals would wish ill will on one of their own out of their twisted loyalty to Clinton.
Have you every heard what Jessie Jackson does when a conservative is about to make a great point? He stammers and stutters, louder and louder until the next commercial break.
Sorry....While I believe Kathleen Willey regarding Slick's behavior, that kind of statement is a tease I don't have time to hold my breath for. The only acceptable reason for withholding ANY information about Slick or what she knows is that she still feels threatened for her own or her family's safety. I've heard similar statements from others, and the "interesting info" never gets revealed. I wonder why.
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