RNC: Young Reporter's Notebook

Children's PressLine. Posted September 1, 2004.

Somebody’s got to do it

New York City Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg was right … the GOP is bringing business to the city. From the looks of a pre-convention tour of Madison Square Garden on Thursday, every electrician, carpenter and plumber in the five boroughs is at work making sure the weeklong party is a success. It’s a wake-up call to see all these hardworking people.

Even the guy who puts down the rat traps at Madison Square Garden doesn’t wear gloves. The traps were the sticky kind, good at catching dust bunnies. Luckily we didn’t see any dead rats.

Patriotic protest

On Saturday, one of the protestors at a pre-convention protest was protesting the protestors. He was wearing a pretty tall top hat, plastered with the American flag and pictures of the president. Around his neck, he wore a clock that, instead of numbers, had images of Bush from the different speeches he has given. His shoes were even patriotic, painted with nail polish – red, white and blue. He said it took a lot of work.

Cheney visits, crowd gets earful

On Ellis Island, the republicans held an official welcoming party for Vice President Dick Cheney. The press had to stand way in the back but the regular people got to be up close. The Secret Service told us that when the press pulls out microphones they get jumpy because from far away, they don’t always know what they’re microphones. We saw snipers on nearby buildings, so we backed away.

We did meet a friendly Secret Service guy who gave us Secret Service pins. He was tall in a dark suit. He told us he was from Mississippi but now lives in Miami. He’s only been in the Secret Service for two years. It’s his first time in New York. He had done security for both the president and for Kerry and, he says, they protect them all the same.

To entertain the crowd, a high school marching band in yellow and black sweat outfits played a version of Britney Spears’ “Toxic” and D12’s “My Band.” D12 is Eminem’s band. While they performed, bag pipers rehearsed behind us.

Scissors, wrestlers and Boy Scouts

At the New Yorker Hotel, World Wrestler Entertainment presented their “Smackdown Your Vote” event with the help of the Boy Scouts. It seemed like they were expecting a lot more Boy Scouts to show up. After 30 minutes of the wrestlers speaking, they all sat down and started making Thank You cards for the troops in Iraq. Some had to sit on the floor but they were enthusiastic, none the less. One wrestler, using a purple marker and yellow construction paper, asked out loud how he should address his letter. He decided on “Dear my hero.”

Sly Fox

Fox News didn’t like our line of questioning with House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.). During the second question, a cameraman gave us a hand signal signifying that we should end the interview. We wanted to ask Hastert about how testing actually affects the education of students. We know that testing isn’t the same as educating kids but wanted to give Hastert the chance to defend the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.

We had to use very “kid-like” voices to get interviews with Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Mike DeWine (R-OH) about NCLB.

Chambliss said that the government funds testing so that it can see improvements in the classroom. He also said that the government should fund more scholarships. This will only work if the scholarships go to average kids who need the financial aid, like those who won’t go to college without the help.

DeWine said that NCLB isn’t under-funded and that it will reach its goal by 2014. By then, we will be in our mid-20’s.

In and out

It was hot and steamy outside Madison Square Garden yesterday afternoon, but that didn’t stop party-faithful from showing off Republican regalia. Delegates, interns and volunteers expressed their GOP pride with pins: “Luvya Dubya,” “I Only Sleep with Republicans” and “Win One More for the Gipper.”

Lindsay, an 11-year-old from Missouri who accompanied her parents to the convention, sported American-flag earrings. Trudy Pellerin, a delegate from Orange County, Texas, dressed up in a printed vest also featuring Old Glory. She and Lydia Damnel, her colleague, shaded themselves with red and white cowboy hats that matched their Native American jewelry.

When asked how the Republicans intend to address children’s issues, Damnel responded that providing social services is the job of “churches and Christians. If it’s done through the churches,” she continued, “children will be taken care of properly…all [the federal government] has done is take care of the outside of children and we haven’t provided them with what they need inside to be better people and grow up to be productive adults.”

This article was reported on by: Kibuchi Banfield, 17; Natasha Kirtchuk, 13; Laurence James, 13; Emily Olfson, 16; Marie Ponsot, 11; and Nily Rozic, 18; from Children's PressLine; Carlie Coccia, 12; Andrew LaCombe, 14;; Danielle Thoune, 14; Kristie Tonge, 17; from 8-18 Media; and Jordan Denari, 13; Allison Gardner, 14; Andy Goldblatt, 16; Izaak Hayes, 13; Emma Hulse, 17; Katie McDowell, 11 from Y-Press.

Liked this story? Get top stories in your inbox each week from AlterNet! Sign up now »