John McCain’s first rally of the day, in Tampa outside Raymond James Stadium, only drew about 1,100 people. Local reporters noting that at almost the same spot just before the 2004 election, President Bush drew about 15,000 people. Two weeks ago, Obama drew an estimated 8,000.
Republican Gov. Crist, who had previously agreed to do interviews with CNN and various local affiliates, bolted right after the rally with no explanation.
That’s not a campaign we can believe in, my friends!
How many of the 1,100 were children forcibly transported from school?
How many of the 1,100 were children forcibly transported from school?
Oh, just stop. A field trip so school kids can see a candidate for President speak in person is not a bad thing.
I can think of a ten different ways this could be used to spark discussions of a dozen different things in the classroom. So unless you can demonstrate that the kids were attending as the result of some partisan scheme to bolster the attendance records or indoctrinate the kids into McCain-ism just STFU.
To be fair McCain supporters all have jobs they have to go to in order to make enough money for me to get my unemployment check, which I plan on spending on enough dope that I will be too high to remember to vote tomorrow thereby handing victory to McCain. They are sneaky that way – so remember people -no bong hits until after you get your “I voted” sticker! Which you should then affix to your bong in case you can’t remember if you already voted, because waiting in line twice would be a real bummer.
“my love will make up for the missing crowds”-Matt Drudge to Carol McCain’s abandoner
Sean D. Martin:
You do realize that the McPalin campaign bussed in a couple of hundred kids last week to a campaign stop to make it look better attended, right?
A field trip so school kids can see a candidate for President speak in person is not a bad thing.
I can think of a ten different ways this could be used to spark discussions of a dozen different things in the classroom.
Sure, and I can think of a dozen different things in the classroom that could be discussed based on going to see your teacher in a same-sex wedding ceremony. Doesn’t stop conservatives from losing their minds over how inappropriate that was as a field trip. Moreover, there’s no selfish advantage accrued to the teacher in inviting her students to her wedding, whereas McCain’s pumping up attendance numbers by busing in an entire school district plus at least three additional nearby schools isn’t an entirely altruistic deed for the kids’ enlightenment.
PG: Sure, and I can think of a dozen different things in the classroom that could be discussed based on going to see your teacher in a same-sex wedding ceremony. Doesn’t stop conservatives from losing their minds over how inappropriate that was as a field trip.
So let’s show how different we are from them by losing our minds over this field trip? Please.
PG: whereas McCain’s pumping up attendance numbers by busing in an entire school district plus at least three additional nearby schools isn’t an entirely altruistic deed for the kids’ enlightenment.
Yeah, right. McCain bussed the entire district to the high school he was visiting. The school district had nothing to do with it. When a candidate for President is speaking at a local high school the district doesn’t want their students to take advantage of this opportunity to see the candidate speak in person. But what could they do? McCain swooped in, stuffed the kids into buses and forced them to attend!
I haven’t checked everything online, obviously, but of the 15-20 articles I have found mentioning McCain and the “Defiance School District” every single one has nothing on this other than the same, single paragraph reported on MSNBC. Which states only that the majority of attendees at an even held at a high school were students.
From this everyone gets that it was some McCain-sponsored plan to corrupt our youth?
Anybody actually, y’know, check with the district or students or their parents as to why the students attended? Or how far in advance it was planned the kids would attend?
Nope. Of course not. In most cases articles blogs just provide a “as reported at ____” link to another article/blog that provide a link to HuffPo that provides a link to MSNBC. Does nobody do any actual research anymore, just reiterate the reiterations the read somewhere?
If you actually start to move beyond the regurgitations and check the school district’s site you see “Defiance students were extremely fortunate to see our political process in action when Presidential Candidate John McCain visited our city. Every child had the opportunity to attend the rally held in front of the Middle School/Junior High Complex. It was an educational experience that will be long remembered.”
You want to argue with the motivation stated by the district you’re going to have show some support for it.
Sean,
You might want to change your googling skills and search without quote marks.
From a local news article published Oct. 28 (for the Oct. 30 rally):
Struble noted that Defiance City Schools students will be bused in and attending the event. The Varsity Blues will be singing “God Bless America” and the high school band will perform the national anthem.
“We want to make the opportunity available for grades K-12,” said Struble. “There is educational value of learning this (election) process and I’m glad we can do that for them. We’re excited that a national candidate is coming to our town. We look forward to that.”
In addition, Central Local Schools superintendent Dave Bagley reported this morning that plans are underway to possibly bring some Fairview students to the rally as well. Bagley was meeting with his administrative staff early today to figure out the logistics of such an endeavor.
Ayersville Local Schools superintendent Tod Hug also reported an interest in bringing students to the campaign rally and was meeting with fellow staff members to determine which classes may get that opportunity.
Hicksville High School principal Sue Dangler stated that while school officials are still in the process of working out the details, the senior government class will likely attend the rally in Defiance.
http://www.crescent-news.com/news/article/4454433
PG,
Thanks for the link.
And that article also shows no indication that McCain’s campaign was involved in getting the students to the event. The school districts thought it would be a valuable educational experience.
My point stands.
“Why can’t we all just get along?” sez Rod King. Why, you ask? Some of U.S. just don’t wanna be damned; they’d prefer to stick their heads above the clouds when this Finite Existence is kaput, unlike the demigods. Make God thy first priorty and all else shall fall into place, for we all have to face the Final Judgment… and some of U.S. ain’t gunna see Heaven. God bless you… WE need it.