Posted on 10/20/2004 2:02:39 PM PDT by freespirited
Ask people of voting age who they want to win the presidential election, and the answers will range from impassioned to illogical. Informed to indoctrinated. Inspired to insipid.
When the people you're polling are fourth-graders, the results aren't much different. The 9- and 10-year-olds' answers are just a little more colorful. And candid.
Unlike the televised debates between the President George Bush and Democratic hopeful Sen. John Kerry, there was plenty of spirited discussion in Kosciusko and Attala County classrooms when the youngsters were polled last week. They cast their ballots privately, but were told they could talk about their vote if they chose to.
"John Kerry stinks," said Justin Self, who was in Mrs. Guess' class at Greenlee Elementary.
Most city and county kids agreed -- even if they didn't say it that way.
Bush won big, taking 66 percent of the vote to Kerry's 34 percent (148 to 75).
Most of those who voted for him cited his experience and leadership during the ongoing war on terror. Many Kerry supporters used the war against him.
"John Kerry will stop the war," Shaquenna Mosley said to Justin, whose father David Self will be deployed to Iraq in the next few months with his National Guard unit. "George Bush started the war. He's why people are getting killed. Why don't they dress him in an Army suit and send him over there?" Jamal Luckett also voted for Kerry because "Bush started the war."
Reuben Fleming didn't get involved in that battle. He likes Bush because "He's the coolest president."
Across the hall in Mrs. Yarbrough's class, Jody Evans said he was for Bush because "Clinton (sic) said no TV." Dustin Jennings said Bush "will make laws that keep us safe. He won't let people drink and drive."
Next door, in Mrs. Dees' class, six of the nine students who revealed their vote were Kerry supporter. "He'll make my Papa's job better," Miranda Brantley said. Jamal Felton and Antez Hopkins agreed. "Kerry will bring down gas taxes," Zack Moody said. And Trey Haslett, whose uncle is in the military, said "Kerry might help in the war." But classmate Matthew Young said Bush "was a good president during the attacks on the World Trade Center."
Long Creek Elementary was overwhelmingly for Kerry, 24 to 7.
In Mrs. Johnnie Armstrong's class, Takyia Lewis said Kerry will "help us keep our neighborhood clean." Janeisha Smith added, "He'll give people shelter and money for products." Tameka Bailey said Kerry will "help poor people," and Olivia Teague said he will "let us get a better education." Dankita Witt had her own ideas, though. She likes Kerry because he "likes fun sports."
Down the hall in Ms. Stingley's class, there were more Kerry supporters. Curtis Witt said he would "stop cutting down trees in national parks." And Quaneka Triplett said, "He won't starve us like Bush would." Sylvia Bennett said, "Kerry is honest, Bush isn't" and Davida Newell said Kerry would "protect the United States."
At Kosciusko Upper Elementary in Mrs. Corbett's class, Shanteka Washington said she likes Bush because "he doesn't make people pay a lot of money for taxes." Christian Barrow-Torres supports Bush because "he's smart" while Ashley Williamson is for the president for another reason. "I don't like Kerry," she said.
In Mrs. Roberson's class, Catherine Zamudio said Bush "has been good so far, and he'll be better than last time." Sabrina Caldwell and Kaylan Smith said they back Kerry because he is "nice." Darius Griffin said he didn't like Bush because of the war. "They never did nothing to us," he said.
Students in Mrs. Rushing's class were issue-oriented. "Kerry said abortion was OK, and I don't like that," Jeremiah Sears said. Daniel White agreed, adding, "I don't like Kerry because he's trying to take away our guns." Abortion was also the key factor for Bush supporter Autumn Lewis, who said, "I don't want a president who would kill children. That would end the world." Cody May said guns and abortion were key issues for him, too. "I like Bush because he's a good Christian," he said. But Kimberly Young said she supported Kerry because "Bush is raising all the prices at Wal-Mart," and Nicole Engelman said, "Bush is making gas go up."
In Mrs. Mims' class, Shelby Blankenship said she liked Bush. "He's truthful, and he caught Saddam Hussein," she said, adding that she didn't like it when "Kerry kept laughing during the debates." The discussion heated up after that. "Bush is ridiculous to our country," Chris Crawford said. "He bombed innocent people ... they were minding their own business." Bush supporter Jessica Reynolds retorted, "Bush didn't start the war, they ran into our Twin Towers." But after that, Crawford said, "Bush ignored the notes he got and went golfing." Cody Williams said Kerry is honest while Brian Carter said Bush, "Because he's honest." Alex Chadick took Bush because "Kerry married his wife for money."
In Mrs. Kerr's class, Alyssa Gullett supports Bush because "he wants to keep the Army going and Kerry wants to quit it." Cory Tew voted for Bush because "he's trying to get bad people in the war so they won't destroy Mississippi," and Robert Burrell said Bush would "keep us safer."
In Mrs. Lindsay's class, Amber Sartain said Bush "speaks better "and "looks better" than Kerry. Kaitlin Fowler said Kerry "looks like a robot," and Hunter Wofford said he likes Bush because "the other guy's just plum-out ugly." Madison Munn said Kerry "has a weird name -- Heinz Ketchup." Dylan Pope picked Kerry because "he'll make peace and let us do anything we want." Marquist Griffing prefers Kerry because sof the war. "Bush is keeping my daddy (Maurice Smith) away for a long time," she said.
Some students said they formed their opinions by talking to their parents. Voting against Bushes is a "traditional thing in my family," Savannah Adcock said. But most of the kids said they form their own opinions by keeping up with the news and listening to their parents. Many said they watched the debates.
"My grandma made me watch," Autumn Lewis said.
Asked what purpose the debates served, Kelsey Wiggers said, "That's where they say bad things about each other."
And what did they learn from the debates?
"Not to vote for Kerry," Cory Ballard answered. "Not to vote for Bush," Jeremy Sears shot back.
Mrs. West's Upper Elementary gifted students, Bypass, are gathering information to present to other classes in the school so they can have a mock election.
Two of her students summed up the way most of the country's voters feel.
"I voted for Kerry because he doesn't think we have to be in this war," Kelli Randle said.
"George Bush led the war the best way he could," Jacob Newsom said. "He's fighting for truth. Kerry just doesn't make sense."
Brevity...... a good thing.
This kid gets my vote.
Well he is French, isn't he? Good history teacher no doubt.
This child obviously views the world in simplistic terms. The child does not understand the nuances of John Kerry. John Kerry did not stink until he stank. Which has been quite a while.
At least I think that's Kerry's core constituency
A future DUmmy
MAN, these kids have a lot more savvy than kids in my grade school did way back at the dawn of civilization!
Every time my two-year-old sees Kerry on TV, she says "John Kerry stinky." Pretty much sums it up.
I like this kid.
ROFL!
You'll never hear this in the MSM...I was listening to the radio a few mins ago and ABC news drooled over a tampa fla mock vote of 9-10 y/o's who favored Kerry.
Anyone say "Because Kerry's a pompous ass"?
Also...this was done in Miss...if Bush didn't do well with children there I'd be shocked.
"4th-graders pick Bush -- 'because Kerry stinks'"
A sign of hope for the educational system :)
They crack up at the NASA "bunny" picture and the soccer ball head pictures.
Thank you thank you. You've been a great audience and I appreciate it. Don't forget to tip your server. On Thursday and Friday I'll be appearing at the Hyatt on Elm! Hope I see yall there.
That sort of brainwashing borders on child abuse.
Applogies to Rodney fans
John Kerry walks into a doctor's office with a soccer ball on his forehead. The doctor asks, "What happened?" The soccer ball replied, "Well it started out as a pimple on my butt!"
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