VP question gives Westminster third-grader 15 minutes of fame

[DogPoundPup]

Source: Rocky Mountain News

Eight-year-old Brandon Garcia has dreamed for a long time about becoming a police officer, but by the end of Wednesday he was throwing newscaster into the mix, too. No wonder.

When his question, "What does the vice president do?" got pitched to the current contenders for the job, it put the Westminster third-grader's name front and center in the local and national spotlight — on the "Today Show," the "Keith Olbermann Show" on MSNBC, The Associated Press, 9NEWS and, well, here.

His parents, Silviano and Graciela Garcia, have their own opinion of the turn of events.

"They said I'm great, and a good son," Brandon said.

It began when 9NEWS came to Sunset Ridge Elementary School in Westminster to ask third-graders to rustle up questions for reporter Adam Schrager's viewer-driven Q & A "Your Show." One of the questions would be posed to Joe Biden and Sarah Palin when they came through town this week.

Read more: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/oct/22/vp-question-gives-westminster-third-grader-15-minu/

[Ian David]

1. How many death threats from Republicans has he gotten so far? n/t

[MelanieArt]

2. I guess they won't be inviting him on the road as "Brandon the Third Grader" anytime soon. N/T

[MO_Dem]

4. Heeheeee

Good one! :applause:

[scytherius]

8. HAHAHA n/t

n/t

[redirish28]

3. I think the spun has begun. My wife heard a winger at work say the kid must have been

"TOLD" what question to write down.

These people are driving her crazy.

[NYC Liberal]

5. Leave it to Palin to fuck up a softball "photo op question" by a 3rd grader

Amazing.

[Politicalboi]

6. Even the kid

Knew she was wrong. Just like Mr. PotatoE. Sarah Quailin.

[GeneralCobra]

7. Palin = Moron

And to think this isn't the first time she's been asked this. I don't know if this answer was any better. lol And last time it was, "I don't know".

[gratuitous]

9. Look, Sarah Palin isn't interested in your "gotcha" questions

She's going to talk about what she wants to talk about, without any of your liberally-biased third-grade filter. That's what Sarah Palin's going to do. So you can just take your sneaky little booby trap questions, Brandon Garcia, and ask them of the other inmates at Guantanamo after Sarah Palin sweeps to victory two weeks from now!

Brandon giggles, "You said 'booby'."

[Cresent City Kid]

10. Worse than wrong

She's not just getting it wrong, she's making up Cheney-like powers and claiming they're in the Constitution. I'd like the see the look on her face when the Senate says "No tie votes today, move along." Of course I'd prefer she never had the chance.

[onager]

11. Any good Repub should remember one V-P Senate vote

1993, when President Bill Clinton tried to pass a modest tax increase on the wealthiest Americans.

The bill deadlocked 50-50 in the Senate and Vice-President Al Gore had to cast the deciding vote. (He wisecracked: "I'm waffling.")

Repugs predicted the tax increase would crash the economy, cause massive unemployment, kill the housing sector, etc. Total economic Armageddon!

A few years later, President Clinton noted: "Time has not been kind to their predictions."

:rofl:

[Kalifornia.Kid]

12. Go into the article and read the comments - bunch of haters.

[Piewhacket]

13. The stupid bimbo... here's how to answer that question! Reach into your pocket...

"That's a really great question Brandon, lets see if I can find an answer for that..."

(reach into pocket for paper http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html)

"Here in my pocket I keep a copy of a wonderful document, the most important document in
the entire history of our country... the Constitution of the United States."

"Did you know Brandon that our Constitution, drafted by our Founding Fathers,
tells us how we are supposed to govern our country.... and it also gives
us an answer to your question "what does the Vice President do?"

"In the 25th Amendment the Constitution says that if the President becomes disabled
or dies while in office, then the Vice President becomes the President.
So the Vice President must be ready to become the President if needed."

"In Article I it also says that the Vice President is President of the Senate, but he can only vote
when there is a tie. That means he gets to decide whether the measure passes, or not.

"Those are pretty important jobs, don't you agree? And that was a pretty darn good
question for a third grader. So did I get it right, do you think?"

In Article I (sec 3) it says:
"The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote,
unless they be equally divided." Art I sec 3

In the 25th Amendment it says:
"In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation,
the Vice President shall become President." Amendment 25

[Solly Mack]

14. Early on Palin claimed she didn't know what a VP did - but wanted the office to benefit Alaska

and now 3rd graders are tripping her up

wonder how that benefits Alaska? ....new show...Are you smarter then Palin? Game show open to children, Pre-K thru 2nd grade