Ty'Sheoma Bethea: Obama Inspired By Letter, Invites Young Student To Speech

One of the guests at President Obama's address to Congress Tuesday night was Ty'sheoma Bethea, an eighth grader from a small town in South Carolina. Bethea wrote Obama and asked that money from the stimulus go to her dilapidated school. She had reportedly never been on a plane before boarding a flight to D.C. with her mother for the speech.

The president referenced Bethea's story in his remarks, and quoted her letter:

I think about Ty'Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina - a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom. She has been told that her school is hopeless, but the other day after class she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this room. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp. The letter asks us for help, and says, "We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina but also the world. We are not quitters."

In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," Bethea revealed her own ambition: to be the first female president. She said she was inspired to write the letter because she thought too much of the stimulus money was going to people who already had enough. Watch:

Comments

[TheUnlovelyTruth]

Um, listen to that clip again. It's unlikely Bethea can even read the letter she supposedly wrote.

Look, the Times is write: this is political theater and a transparent scam. What, out of all the letters Obama has received over the past three months, somehow one gets through from the same school he's had photo ops at in the past? A load of crap, and I'm not buying it.

Add to this the whole "I finna borrow a stamp" oh wait a minute "The Principal scanned and emailed it" confusion, and you realize the stories aren't straight. This is all bullshit.

[butterfly32]

I live in the town Ty'Sheoma is from and not all our schools are that bad. However; That school was built in 1896 and is in bad shape. We passed a bond referendum, but with the economy like it is, nobody will buy them. There are counties all over our state who have plenty of money to fix up their schools and it's true she was just asking for money, but shouldn't communities want their children to go to school in the best facitlities possible? I also want to point out that Ben Bernanke went to school there and look where he is today. So, even with all the problems the building has students still learn, but it doesn't seem fair that all kids can't have good school buildings. If your county was in the same situation I bet you'd do the same thing.

[Nicon]

She is also the first 8th grader to sit though a full state of the union address. Congratulations kid!

[joeythetrollslayer]

Rayct45, yeah, you really don't get it.

[rayct45]

I'm sorry, but I don't get it. It's wonderful that an 8th grader had the initiative and passion to write a letter to Congress, but what's so inspiring about saying: "We're not quitters..­..give us money"? I think it would be helpful to actually see the letter and know what in it is so inspiriing. By all accounts it's nothing more than asking for federal help for her school. That's not a story of some kind of personal achievement or other admirable act. It's really a reach.

[ZimboDude]

In your country, most children dont want to go to school. They would rather play video games. Oprah had to go all the way to Africa to open a school because she says American kids want Nike and designer sneakers. To find a young BLACK kid who is keen to go to school is inspiring to me.

[bluehand]

ZimboDude and rayct45, you are both Un-inspiring, and neither one of you have a clue.

[SandraL]

Im a hot mess. We are not quitters is my new motto. If there's anything that will shock us out of complacency, it's the voice of the young. Being invited to DC to sit next to the first lady?
Im drafting my letter RIGHT NOW :D

[jorge4u]

And yet, Standford refuses to take money for this State.

[mlaiuppa]

You think it's a coincidence Obama used that example?

[Lee Andrew]

Not a chance. Brillant move, taking the battle to them. Shame on Sanford, SHAME.

WE ARE NOT QUITTERS. We're all in this TOGETHER.
Sad thing is that the GOP is ignorant to the fact that if the Economy folds, its over for all of us.

What is it 3 years and 11 months until the next elections.­.. So, we're suppose to wait until then for their ideals? And don't give us the failed trickle down, tax-cut bs. We need action now. We're not quitters and we aren't LAZY either! (9bodies nor minds) We're American damnit!

Lt's get this job DONE!!!

[Jenababy]

I have a feeling that Pres. Obama, did this intentionally, hopefully it will shame Mr. Standford into doing something about that school. No child should be in such a crumbling building, where the train rocks the building six times a day, peeling paint, and the ceilings leak. That man should be shamed in front of his state and country. He is putting innocent children in danger because of his Republican ideology.

[butterfly32]

His name is Sanford and he has to take most of it by law. He just wants to make sure the government doesn't take over the schools.

[Elahrairah]

I hardly even noticed the girl. Couldn't keep my eyes off of Michelle. Nothing as hot as a tall intelligent and sensitive woman, yowza!

[loveobamas]

I know that's right!!!

[westreal]

Did Damon Weaver ever get to interview his homeboy President Obama?

[KOisGod]

"We are NOT quitters!"

We ARE worth saving.

Thank you Ty'sheoma Bethea

Signed,

The American's

[Lee Andrew]

cp-signed!!!

We are NOT qutters...­.

The name is AmerICAN damnit!

[anaicram]

I was moved. What was sad was that this girl is attending a school in South Carolina that's falling apart, yet her Governor is talking nonsense about not wanting to take the stimulus money. They need to keep that in mind the next time he's up for reelection.

[edgeways]

oh, I have no doubt that this is a very directed message to the SC Governor. Her story is important and powerful and needs to be highlighted. The fact that it is also from a State that is making a bunch of nonsense noises about the stimulus is full of win politically.

[the964kid]

What a touching moment - I'm glad Obama made sure all of America remembers that there are kids out there ready to work hard and ready for a chance if only we will give them that opportunity by providing a reasonably decent chance of getting an education. Right now too many areas schools are failed and cannot provide a first world education.

[LABC]

I got all teary at that point - I don't know - it was her poise, I wanted to hug her too. I know, I am a sappy mess...

[KOisGod]

Me too. Against all odds, some kids succeed, while some, born with a silver spoon, become wastrals.

[tressie22]

If you are then I am, too! I was a blubbering mess of salty tears and hiccups by this point!

[Bocado]

I absolutely LOVED the tenacity of this girl, fantastic.

I wish her well in whatever she does, she'll do great.

BRAVO

[RachelMc]

i hope south carolina's governor isn't thinkin gov of not taking the stimulus money. isn't this the state where there of more state prisons than colleges..­. smh ridiculous.