Nine-Year Old Supports Kerry In School Discussion Groups

[cal04]

While the Bush camp is pushing for votes here in Ohio, John Kerry has one special supporter in the Buckeye state that's making headlines.
Nine-year old Essence Cheatham, of Columbus, Ohio, makes it no secret that she's a big Kerry supporter.

So big, in fact, that she hosts a pro-Kerry group every Tuesday at her school. The students in the group research and discuss campaign platform issues and even do a little "Bush-bashing." Cheatham says she's proud that she's not only pro-Kerry, but is pro-active and stands on her beliefs.

"That's why I actually kind of started this group, because I wanted to kind of like make a difference in this school," said Cheatham.
"This is a student that I think that comes around once in a lifetime," said Mike White, her teacher and group advisor."She's so driven and passionate about her beliefs."

Cheatham started the effort last year after she read a magazine article about George Bush that she didn't like.



http://www.wcpo.com/news/2004/local/09/25/kerry_kid.html




Wa

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. Ha! Now there's an article about John Kerry that George Bush won't like

thanks to this young lady.

[Cha]

2. Oooooh! I would love to know

who wrote the article that Essence didn't like about bush.

THis young lady is an inspiration! Good she's making news, too!

[KittyWampus]

3. Compare/Contrast With "Whiz Kid" Who Is A GOP Parrot

sounds like this kid doesn't just spout propaganda she's been fed.

[Nevernose]

4. My kid's almost the same age

And she wears two things religiously to school:




I was pretty concerned when she came home and told me that two boys in the class had given her a hard time about the dogtags. I told her not to wear the dogtags anymore, that she shouldn't cause any trouble in school and not rock the boat. She wore them anyway, and told those boys where they could go. Her teacher sided with her, and decided that now until November the kids would also be doing a unit on democracy and politics, even if that's not tested under NCLB.

We were the first ones to open house, and since there was no one else around, I asked her teacher if she was registered to vote. Her teacher's response was "My son's going to Iraq on October 1st. You'd better believe I'm registered to vote."

My kid has gone to MoveOn meetings with me, canvassed for ACT with me, put up signs with me, passed out tickets and attended Kerry rallies with me, and drew pictures of American flags while I worked phone banks. The only thing I'm doing with my life right now that's more important than getting Kerry in the White House is teaching my child that politics DO matter, and that in order to make a difference you have to be involved.

Politicians always talk about the children of today being tomorrow's future and all that happy-sounding sound-bite crap, but kids like Essence Cheatham and mine really are the future.

[faithnotgreed]

7. wow. she and essence could be twins!

great job.

[Nevernose]

9. I never miss a chance to brag about my kid.

:D

[cheshire]

5. I'll vote for her as soon as she's of age. Essence is Presidentual.

[Insomnicole]

6. It'd be cute if Kerry heard about this and gave her a call.

I remember really liking Jimmy Carter when I was a kid and being delighted when he won, but even I wasn't this dedicated. Good for Essence!

[JI7]

11. agree, i hope the Kerry camp hears about it and contacts her

she is from the all important swing state of Ohio also.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

8. Glad to hear her school isn't interfering either

I heard the other day about a local public school that wouldn't let a kid wear a "NO WAR" button or let his mom wear a Kerry/Edwards button on the campus. Ridiculous.

[JI7]

10. notice a lot of these little kids for Kerry get involved on their own

they read things and they go out searching for info and doing other things on their own.they aren't even old enough to vote yet they are still very much involved.

they aren't sitting around watching american idol or scott peterson case while complaining about the candidates. and they don't need a debate to figure out who to vote for.