Opinion: Kid asks John McCain the darndest things--and he answers
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Necks craned at a town hall meeting in Albuquerque on Tuesday morning when in the middle of talking to voters, Sen. John McCain said he’d take a question from a reporter.
“When do you plan to announce the selection of your running mate?’ asked the scribe, Jacob Schroeder.
McCain played it cool. “As soon as we can,” he replied.
Schroeder persisted: “What qualities are you looking for in a vice presidential running mate?”
“Someone exactly like you: vigorous, talented,” said McCain in a shocking display of pandering to the press.
“That person has to share not only my principles and my values, but also my priorities… Could I also remind you, and I am sure you know this because you study hard, the vice president of the United States has only two duties. One is to cast a tie vote in the Senate. The other duty is to inquire daily as to the health of the president, and I am sure that is a big job for whoever the vice president will be.”
Schroeder seemed satisfied. He works for Scholastic Kids News service, and his web page says he is 8 years old.
The last time a Scholastic reporter made news was back in December, when Chelsea Clinton, campaigning for her mother Hillary, took a different approach to a young questioner. She snubbed the Iowa fourth-grader, Sydney Rieckhoff, who wanted to ask her about her dad.
‘I’m sorry, I don’t talk to the press,’ said Clinton. ‘Even though I think you’re cute.’
(Chealsea’s mother finished third in the Iowa Democratic caucus the next month.)
-– Robin Abcarian
