McCain Camp Buses In School Kids To Fill Crowd

The most cringe-worthy political moment of the day, so far, came when Sen. John McCain called out for his new buddy Joe the Plumber to stand up at a rally in Ohio, only to be greeted with confused silence. Joe the Plumber wasn't there.

But that rally featured another embarrassing moment, one that illustrates a far more troubling dynamic for the Republican ticket. The McCain campaign actually had to bus in school kids from the surrounding area in order to fill the event. As reported by MSNBC:

A local school district official confirmed after the event that of the 6,000 people estimated by the fire marshal to be in attendance this morning, more than 4,000 were bused in from schools in the area. The entire 2,500-student Defiance School District was in attendance, the official said, in addition to at least three other schools from neighboring districts, one of which sent 14 buses.

This happened -- as if a reminder were needed -- less than a week out from the election, when the heat of the campaign should be drawing record crowds.

Comments

[DEFI96]

I am a resident of Defiance, OH. I have a child in the JR High. I allowed my son to go, although I struggled with it.

My friend attended the event and thought that there was a lot more than 6000 in attendance. I was told that they viewed the event as a field trip. I do want to say that my child's teachers seem pro mccain. As one told the class that if they were not going to the rally, they should just stay home.

[emncaity]

Right. "Just stay home." And thereby make yourself a "weird" kid, one of "those."

Exactly why you can't do stuff like this--along with the fact that it's an obvious violation of the principle of objectivity with regard to public money.

[bearcck]

This looked like a great opportunity for the parents to explain to the children why they will not be going and that peer pressure is never a reason to do anything that doesn't seem right. The ones that stayed home learned a far better lesson than the ones that went. I'm surprised the parents didn't protest that they were put in such a position. Also a great opportunity for the children to understand that they cannot be used in such a manner ever.

[Speakupper]

It's one thing to bring students to a rally like this as witnesses to history. The problem I would have is if any of the children were photographed or used to hold up McCain signs. Its hard to tell, but the video looks as if some of the people behind McCain may have been pretty young. If they are students, they should not have been used this way. No child should have appeared on the risers behind McCain or been given signs without the permission and preferably the presence of their parent or guardian.
The seat filling theory has a lot of merit with me since the district official says the entire 2,500 student district was in attendance. Why? I don't see much value in bringing any children under the age of 9 or so to an event like this unless its with their families. Are first, second and third graders really discussing politics at school?

[DrYRHead]

Hay, "no child left behind", as they say. Besides the GOP must figure that it is never to early to start to poison these kids minds. Hay kids, tell your parants to vote for John, so that you can get drafted to fight in the 100 year Iraq war, or the war that John wants to start in Iran too.

[Tinsdale]

My Friends and fellow prisoners,
We are all Defiance School District pupils now!

[bluepearl2001]

I'm guessing Hot Ms. Alaska Barbie didn't show up to cast her spell on the crowd before he spoke?
If one of my kids had been taken out of school and bussed to the rally without my written permission (like when the go on a 'field trip'), I would be hiring an attorney right about now. Isn't that against the law?
And if I had been asked if it was permissible for my child to waste the day at a McCain rally, I would have said, NO WAY NO McCAIN, NO PALIN, NO HOW. Would have let her stay home and play video games. Woulda been a wash...

[carolcobra1947]

County school busses were used to transport schoolchildren, on a school day, no less, to a political campaign event ! ????? !

Seems to me that any non-McCain­-supportin­g taxpayers in that county should ask for a refund for what they paid in school taxes.

Seems to me that federal funding should now be withheld from that school.
Those were MY tax dollars!

This really makes me angry. And I have to ask:
Why haven't we heard about this in the so-called "liberal" "drive-by" media ???????????

[IDgal]

Who paid for the fuel? The taxpayers? I'd question that.

[txfanz]

EXACTLY Carol! Another reason to NOT vote for McCain - he has his priorities for children out-of-whack, pulling them out of school for a partisan event, not to mention he was not looking out for how taxpayer money is spent. Do these small school districts really have the budget allowance to bus the ENTIRE student body to an event - when some schools are cutting the week to 4 days.... Should I bother asking why he didn't speak up in protest about this?!?

[follow the money]

so very embarrassing for the mccain camp...

bussing in 4000 children,
with 6000 attendance?

so much for brains..they got caught in the act, by the press,
who can spread this all over the world, with a click of a mouse...

embarrassing...

[Speakupper]

Rally fraud.

[DrYRHead]

I'm surprised that the GOP has not used virtual technology to make the rallies look bigger on camera. Oh hold it, it was probably John's idea, and he knows diddly squat about computers.

[1flower]

I, as an adult from the city, would have rather gone to a tobacco spitting contest. Those poor, poor children had to sit through a McCain speech. Lord Jesus have mercy.

[livingstonlake]

2 canadian comedians pranked Palin...she really thought she was speaking to Sarkozy. Embarrassing performance. Reveals her ignorance and unpreparedness for VP / 1 heartbeat away from presidency.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcEiR01QK7o

[tonyj1600]

mccain voter fraud
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGF-HEd6XnA

[Greygolla]

This is in the grand old tradition. I suspect the kids were there less for the educational benefit than as filler. Still, many may look back on meeting the devil at the crossroad. Great news, Jimmy, this year you get to go to GI Joe Camp for free, remember when you went to the President McCain rally?

[notajesusgigolo]

Talk about stupid! The legal implications of busing kids anywhere without parent permission is mind-boggling. The superintendents involved should be fired immediately. They, obviously, don't know sh*t about educational law.

[bluepearl2001]

EXACTLY!!

[janeyu]

Before you shoot off your mouthes with falsehoods read the facts...All of Defiance City Schools students had the opportunity to participate in the rally with thousands of other supporters, though their parents had the option of saying no. On Tuesday, the students were GIVEN LETTERS TO TAKE HOME GIVING PARENTS THE CHOICE of attending or not attending the rally.

"Putting party affiliation aside," said superintendent Mike Struble in the letter, "I believe that this is a once in a lifetime educational opportunity for our students to see a presidential candidate in person. It is a unique occasion to see the U.S. political process as it actually unfolds. I am happy that the national spotlight is on Defiance, Ohio, for however briefly.

"Defiance has wanted national candidates to visit the city for many years," the letter continued. "I am honored that our school district has been chosen to host this event in the final week of an intensely contested national race."

[BaileysMom]

It's been while but I seem to recall needing a permission slip signed by my parents before I boarded any bus for an event outside of school. I find it impossible to believe that the parents of every child in the Defiance School District could have been contacted in time to approve this.

Yes, it's great to teach kids about the political process. I was in 11th grade government when President Ford was running in 1976. Our teacher told us we could volunteer to be part of the crowd at the UofM's Crisler Arena. I went. But it was voluntary on my part, my parents were aware (and delighted) and I had to get there on my own because the school either would not or could not be responsible for me getting there.

[B4warned]

I am an educator and an Obama supporter. I see absolutely nothing wrong with allowing the students of Defiance Ohio to attend the McCain rally. We teach children that in this country they have rights provided by the consitution and one of them is the "Freedom of Speech. So many "teachable moments" were there and it was a probably a once in a lifetime experience for some children. Parents, should use this opportunity to interact with their children and share why they have chosen a particular candidate. As a teacher, I help students to research issues and make their own decisions. It is interesting to note, that I can always tell the pulse of the nation by listening to the students and when we held our school wide mock election Obama won hands down!

[KathieKH]

Great post and reinforces my point. Children need to be educated into the politcal process. It will be part of their life in the future.

[WillCooney]

Was parental permission granted for all these students to be bused to this event? I need an answer!

[omahkohkiaayo]

I am also an educator--over 30 years--and Obama supporter who finds a whole lot of problems with this on several levels. First of all, use of school time and resources to use children as stage props for a clearly partisan event (I woujld object if the same were done at an Obama rally). Secondly the issue of informed consent with an option to opt-out with no recriminations or social isolation. Next, why subject the children to non-stop lies and the very worst of the political process. Next, the resources used should have been registered as a campaign contribution by the school districts. Next, the children should have then been subject to rebuttal sessions for opposing points of view. Next it reinforces the notion of two-party system as there are independent candidates as well.

Teaching is a very special forum with very special powers and forms of influence that must be handles with integrity and care. So many teachers are basically egotists that think they have some kind of special mission to indoctrinate (fundamentally incompatable with real education which is about turning people on to possibilties) and as someone who teaches the teachers, I am not very impressed with what types of individuals are seeking--and their apparent motives--education degrees these days.

[Archivist1000]

DO NOT WIMP OUT NOW! WE ARE COUNTING ON EACH OTHER!

Lines are long .......... take a cooler full of snacks and drinks!

YOU CAN THEN SIT ON THE COOLER WHILE IN LINE!

HAVE A PARTY!

CELEBRATE YOUR VOTE >>>>>>>>>>>>> BUT VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!

[KathieKH]

I voted today, felt so good to do it. Luckily I feel our aduitor is honest and I trust our optical machines. Talked to my parents today and they said they voted a straight ticket, I told them that is the worst way to vote but they are old and think their vote can't be stolen. We have seen it before and will probably see it again. At least they fulfilled their civic duty and voted!

[YepImaConservative]

So, someone on here would be "livid" if their child were taken to a McCain rally??? I guess it's not enough that you have your child's head screwed on in one direction only. Does the child watch television? I'd be happy for my child to see enough of the world that he'd be able to have thoughts and opinions based on a broad scope of information versus only a NARROW MINDED, ONE-SIDED opinion...coming from home base. Granted, you may not be a Republican supporter, but at least be LIBERAL enough AND FEARLESS enough to show that there are two sides to every story. It's history in the making whether you like it or not. It was a great experience for those school children!

[proudloudlib]

How can you say that when the children were exposed to only one candidate?