Help Damon Weaver Get An Obama Inauguration Interview

***Updated, below***

One of the realities that journalists hoping to cover the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama are confronting is that there isn't going to be enough room for all of them, because Washington, DC will instead be filled by four million people and their terrible, hulking tour buses. The Politico's Sarah Abruzzese, noting that journalists are just not being laid off fast enough to avert this crisis, reports that the bad news shall be handed down to hopeful journalists very soon:

The galleries plan to start saying no this week to those who don't qualify for credentials.

"We're going to have to be very stingy this year," said Mark Abraham, the deputy director of the Senate Press Photographers' Gallery.

All of which is neither here nor there, because there is only one journalist that we actually care about: ace ten-year old reporter Damon Weaver, who famously interviewed Joe Biden, has received crowdfunding support from members of the Miami Heat, and is just, in general, two scoops of ultra-cool, smothered in awesome sauce. Let's remember his appealing appeal to the Obama transition team for access, shall we?

How can anyone say no to that? Nevertheless, Weaver's teacher, Brian Zimmerman, reports that Weaver's efforts have hit a snag:

I just received an email from the Senate Gallery that said they will not be able to give my students and I press credentials for the inauguration ceremony ... An aide from Congressman Alcee Hastings office has been in contact with the Presidential Inaugural Committee's press office. They told him they will not be able to give us press credentials for any of Presidential Inaugural Committee events. I also contacted Barack Obama's Transition Team about our request to have Damon Weaver interview him. They told me the interview will probably not happen.

All of this is happening despite the fact that Weaver has won the prestigious recognition of the Huffington Post, who named him one of the year's Ten Best Media Moments!

Anyway, to the Senate Gallery and the Obama Transition Team, I put the question: What in the world is wrong with you people? Were you all raised in a barn or something? Can you not recognize the genuine allure of having this awesome kid present at the inaugural? His level of maturity and lack of overall insipidity should be held out as a model, not excluded! Someone has to offset the presence of pop-celebrity charlatan preacher Rick Warren!

I intend to stay right here and fight for this lost cause. Should anyone like to press the various gatekeepers, and spur them to allow Damon Weaver to bring some measure of unalloyed delight to our political process, send an email to the Senate Gallery officials, the Presidential Inaugural Committee, and the Obama Transition Team. Si se puede!

UPDATE: I'm getting word that emails for the transition team and the PIC are not working. If I obtain better information on those points of contact, I shall let you know!

Comments

[kclay]

TO DAMON WEAVER:
You made me smile today when I saw you on tv. You are wonderful. Keep giving your all to follow your dreams. I am proud of you!

[fitfavored]

Give Damon the Fox News spot. Yes, children should get to have one of their own in the press pool. It will be a great educational and inspirational tool.

[FollowDTruth]

Careful. We all know what happens when we put children in the pool. ;)

But seriously, how do we know that this child is more deserving than some of the millions of others across this country? To be fair, maybe next time there could be a national contest for a student press spot or two.

[LynnW49]

"To. . .the Obama Transition Team, I put the question: What in the world is wrong with you people?"

Good question. The part of the team handling the inauguration is decidedly witless. Let's have extremist Rick Warren who uses his tax-exempt status to preach a political agenda, but let's deny access to this dedicated and smart young fellow who might well be President someday. . . These people are idiots and worse than "tone deaf." They've filled their ears and heads with some sort of arrogance-inducing substance. I'm ready to start a Damon Weaver for President in 2036 Campaign. On the campaign trail, he can tell the story of how he was kept out of Inauguration 2008.

[TLaw]

Good looking and seemingly very smart too but Tyra Banks would absolutely abhor your American accent kid.

[FollowDTruth]

Maybe my info is only half-baked, but here's what I've learned since I first heard of Damon's story:

The Senate Gallery has absolutely nothing to do with granting interviews. They just hand out press credentials (limited in number) and distribute allotments of tickets (limited in number) for the Inauguration ceremony at the Capitol.

Obama and his team have the power to grant an interview with anyone they please at any time (it's good to be da king!).

[CoffeeBreakDMV]

WOW a fantastic young Man!
If I had the connections I would make it happen. Since I don't.. I will wish him a very sincere & heartfelt Good-luck!
Michelle
http://coffeebreak8.blogspot.com/

[ZimboChick]

Rooting for u son!

[RightWingMarine]

Does no one else believe that the President of the US has more important things to do than be interviewed by a child? Should we remove a real journalist from the press pool and throw some kid in with the pack to try and fight to get his questions answered? I'm sure all the other reporters there will be just as wowed as the readers of HuffPo with the kid and let him ask his questions first and just aww over how cute it is.

[jeliz]

I doubt Damon would take up that much of our new President's time during a week of inaugural festivities. He did a wonderful job with Joe Biden and kept his questioning to a minimum. It seems that 5 minutes could be taken to give this young man an interview during an election that has such historical significance. We are talking about access to the Whitehouse for all of us -- even young men like Damon! This is also very significant. No one has had access to the Whitehouse for 8 years. Let's change the dynamic.

President Obama, please inspire the children of our country by granting Damon's interview!

[wallis104]

Wonderful reply jeliz....... I whole-heartedly concur with everything you said.

[Gainsbourg69]

A real journalist? What are those?

[cam737]

Good luck Damon. If you don't get a chance to interview Obama soon, then hopefully you will in the near future. Don't give up!

[overcat]

I really hope this kid gets his interview, he's got spunk.

[dragger201]

You want kids to be involved in civics?? Then maybe our civic leaders need to inspire the kids. And not with another photo op reading My pet goat"..............

C'mon Mr. President, grant the kid the interview. Get him his press credentials.

[Classof89]

I don't see why the Senate Gallery officials, the PIC, and the OTT will deny this young talent an interview with the President-elect. Do they view this 10-year-old as some sort of threat, or are they afraid he will ask tough questions that Obama won't be able to answer? They need to lighten up and let Damon do his thing. What a sweetiepie.

[postman606]

I love where Damon says have your people get in touch with my people. MSNBC get ready.

[Shieldmaiden]

Awww. He is so cute. You seriously cannot say no to him. Give him a chance.

[reno1190]

PRICELESS