McCain camp had to bus in school kids to fill crowd!

[catgirl]

Sam Stein at Huffington Post:

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.

Video of Joe the No Show at link:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/30/mccain-camp-busses-in-sch_n_139300.html

[bushisanidiot]

1. Hahahahaha!! 14 busses!!! What a friggin' LOSER!!

americans have lost interest in that cranky old man. this news only emphasizes that reality.

[KansDem]

2. Isn't this "child abuse?"

I mean, subjecting children to the hate and violent outbursts of the average McC/P rally attendees could have detrimental effects on them...

[panader0]

5. It seems illegal to me.

How can a school district lend support to a candidate in this way? I'm sure that at least some of the parents of those kids will vote Democratic. So how can these kids be used to "endorse" mccane?

[screembloodymurder]

6. I agree.

If Obama did this, they'd be screaming. How can a public school use public funds to force children to attend a rally for one party and not the other?

[catgirl]

10. I was wondering that myself

How do the parents feel about this? I would be pissed!!

[YOY]

3. If they took my kid to their little Klan rally there would be words.

Strong words with the principal of her school and superintendant.

[JuniperLea]

4. The sad old man is getting sadder by the day...

Especially on the heels of seeing Obama fill that massive arena in FL!

[Ozma]

9. That rally last night in FL was really cool, both of them actually! n/t

[nc4bo]

7. So where'd Joe go? bwahahaha! Where's Failin? Follow the moose droppings. nt

[Window]

8. McCain & Co. certainly give Keith a lot of material to work with. Idiots.

[spiritsong13]

11. If I was a parent of one of these children.

I would be raising holy hell about my child being bussed to a partisan political event. Believe me, there would be heads rolling at the School Board and some principals would be losing their jobs. Send my kid to a hate-speech rally and I would kick some serious ass!

[zbdent]

12. interesting ... don't schools usually have to have a parental permission slip

to go on a field trip?

Did the schools get all the parents' permission slips signed?

It could be considered kidnapping ...