14-year-old wears “McCain girl” shirt to school, with predictable results
posted at 3:00 pm on November 13, 2008 by Allahpundit
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That wasn’t very tolerant of her, now was it?
“People were upset. But they started saying things, calling me very stupid, telling me my shirt was stupid and I shouldn’t be wearing it,” Catherine said.
Then it got worse.
“One person told me to go die. It was a lot of dying. A lot of comments about how I should be killed,” Catherine said, of the tolerance in Oak Park.
But students weren’t the only ones surprised that she wore a shirt supporting McCain.
“In one class, I had one teacher say she will not judge me for my choice, but that she was surprised that I supported McCain,” Catherine said…
One student suggested that she be put up on a cross for her political beliefs.
“He said, ‘You should be crucifixed.’ It was kind of funny because, I was like, don’t you mean ‘crucified?’ ” Catherine said.
Other entries in her notebook involved suggestions by classmates that she be “burned with her shirt on” for “being a filthy-rich Republican.”
Some said that because she supported McCain, by extension she supported a plan by deranged skinheads to kill Obama before the election.
She switched to a more appropriate shirt the next day and thus was her share in the monopoly on virtue restored. Her teacher, who collaborated in the experiment, insists that the class learned its lesson once the details were finally revealed. Uh huh. I look forward to their musings as JV nutroots bloggers four years from now, when they’ll deftly explain why an ad featuring Obama and, say, Lindsay Lohan is actually neocon code for racist rape/assassination fantasies.
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No comment on that dissonance necessary, I trust.
JohnTant on November 13, 2008 at 3:02 PM
“crucifixed” Heh. Way to go public schools. Perhaps Catherine should be teaching.
whitetop on November 13, 2008 at 3:06 PM
I’m a Texan who lived in New Jersey for 4 years recently. While taking college courses, I proudly wore my George W. Bush/Dick Cheney ‘04 sweatshirt from time to time.
Let’s just say that it was interesting.
latinchic on November 13, 2008 at 3:06 PM
“Crucifixed.”
God help us from the future when these numbskulls are in charge.
Kensington on November 13, 2008 at 3:07 PM
The shape of things to come for all those who resist the Obamanation.
FreeThinkerNYC on November 13, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Do you have to have the maturity of an 8 year old to teach school these days?
Blake on November 13, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Let’s just recycle some of the omnipresent anti-Bush t-shirts and replace W’s visage with O’s… see how that goes…the one with the gun to W’s head would be an interesting experiment in tolerance doncha think?
max1 on November 13, 2008 at 3:10 PM
Don’t judge me, bro!
Tzetzes on November 13, 2008 at 3:10 PM
Not even day one of his administration. Civil War II in 4 yrs should he lose.
ThePrez on November 13, 2008 at 3:11 PM
McCain Shirt: “You should be crucifixed.”
Obama Shirt: “Your brain came back today.”
Please tell me I’m not the only one seeing the irony here.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 13, 2008 at 3:11 PM
LOL… I heart John Kass. The only reason to evah read the Trib. is his reporting on the Chicago Combine.
Illinidiva on November 13, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Don’t forget the hanging Obama effigies, folks.
Remember, we they do it, it’s ‘art.’ If we do it, it’s ‘racism.’
Gothguy on November 13, 2008 at 3:12 PM
If the students got it, they are way ahead of the left bloggers (and mainstream bloggers, like Time’s Swampland)
MayBee on November 13, 2008 at 3:12 PM
Writer of the article calls that a “passive-aggressive threat” by the teacher. And he’s right.
Yeah, I’ll bet, lady.
inviolet on November 13, 2008 at 3:12 PM
Kass also wrote a lovely column a few years back about anonymously paying for the meal of a military guy and his girlfriend.
Illinidiva on November 13, 2008 at 3:12 PM
After living in Kentucky for five years, and being able to openly support the candidate of my choice with little to no backlash (I was going to school), I came back to New York and quickly remembered I had to follow a different set of rules. In two months I’d been called a racist, a fascist and several other words which I won’t repeat here.
Kudos to this girl for doing something proactive. I hope her classmates really did learn their lesson, but probably not.
Sir Corky on November 13, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Anyone for home-schooling after reading this article?
You bet’cha!!
omnipotent on November 13, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Kids in the eighth grade are immature jerks. News at 11.
justfinethanks on November 13, 2008 at 3:15 PM
“Crucifixed” 2020
def: the practice of re-educating dissenters to the Way of the One. Subject is lashed to a wooden cross, kept awake through frequent dosing of cocaine (the O’s sacrament), forced to watch reruns of TV shows and movies starring Alan Alda and required to recite literary classic rendered in Ebonics. Crucifixtion culminates with a waterboarding finale lovingly administered by “The Fixer”
http://www.strangecelebrities.com/content/item/105516.html
max1 on November 13, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Hey, sounds like Hollywood. Conservative is the new gay.
Abby Adams on November 13, 2008 at 3:17 PM
I am mystified why anyone would proclaim support for a hate-spewing, homophobic, Chrisitianist, theocrat but the majority voted Obama in, so I guess we have deal with it…
Deconstructed thus: hate-spewing & homophobic = vocally expressing support of keeping marriage defined as a male/female union; Christianist & theocrat = holding and acting upon moral beliefs based in the Christian-Judeo tradition.
Oooh! Turnabout is fair play! This is gonna be fun!
Bruno Strozek on November 13, 2008 at 3:17 PM
DUDE. NSFW note on links like that. You’re gonna get me fired. (Work filter caught it, but too many “Access Denied” errors and a techie comes to bug me as to why I’m looking at those sites)
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 13, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Hmmmm…. just had an interesting thought…
We need a new conservative campaign…
Be a TRUE REBEL!!! Be a Conservative!!!
Kids are always talking about rebellion… well…. we are the new insurgency!
And thinking on it further… my 17 year old son is constantly having “discussions” with his teachers because of his Conservative views… maybe its already starting…
Romeo13 on November 13, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Redo the experiment, this time with a black girl wearing a McCain shirt. You want interesting, you got it.
Bishop on November 13, 2008 at 3:19 PM
I don’t have kids yet, but I’d love to have one like her. My husband is a liberal, so like her parents we’d be able to provide her with both sides, which I’m guessing is why she thought to do that in that in the first place.
AP, I’m sure you’re right that most kids didn’t get it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a few did, at least the bandwagon ones.
Esthier on November 13, 2008 at 3:20 PM
It is rather telling that when you strip away the vernier from a lot of liberals in their own mind there is often a fascist crying to get out.
MB4 on November 13, 2008 at 3:20 PM
Now this I’m curious about. What sort of “discussions”?
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 13, 2008 at 3:20 PM
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 13, 2008 at 3:19 PM
sorry man…didn’t occur to me…
max1 on November 13, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Anyone who is, please reconsider if you have a kid like Catherine. Public schools need students like her.
Esthier on November 13, 2008 at 3:22 PM
She said she found out what it was like to be a minority? Well actually she didn’t, she found out what it was like to be a majority with no morals.
When she wore the Obama shirt, no “minority” threatened her.
right2bright on November 13, 2008 at 3:22 PM
“You’ve got to be carefully taught…”
Richard Rogers & Oscar Hammerstein
J.J. Sefton on November 13, 2008 at 3:22 PM
It’s our fault. Conservatives let the liberals run the schools, and thereby, dictate the political discourse in the educational system. She who rocks the cradle, rules the world. The liberals understood that. The crux of the problem is that conservatives are not intellectually imperialistic. They don’t seek to create other conservatives. Liberals, on the other hand, know that the children are the future.
keep the change on November 13, 2008 at 3:23 PM
already there!
John Kass is probably the only honest reporter/journalist in Chicago. Kudos to this young girl for her courage and restraint in not responding to the taunts and bullying of the
young thugskids.conservative pilgrim on November 13, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Hey now, the Left is very tolerant of diverse viewpoints.
On the one hand you can adore Dear Leader. On the other you can think of Him as the healer of the planet.
See? Diversity!
rbj on November 13, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Ahhhhh, tolerance in Oak Park. I give that kid credit for having the courage to wear such a shirt. Perhaps we can create a fund to send her to Hillsdale College or some other appropriate conservative institution of higher learning.
Mr. Joe on November 13, 2008 at 3:23 PM
I was thinking about this earlier. I think a lot of lefties, especially young ones, are going to have a tough time coming to grips with the idea that they are now the establishment. There’s gotta be a way we can use that.
Farmer_Joe on November 13, 2008 at 3:24 PM
Won’t work. For some reason, no matter how Liberal the current establishment is, the only way for these kids to “rebel” is to become MORE Liberal. It’s never to become more Conservative – regardless of the current standing, moving Right is always considered becoming more conformist.
It makes no sense to me, but that’s apparently how it works.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 13, 2008 at 3:27 PM
She found out both. Republicans are the minority at her school.
Esthier on November 13, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Interesting that this “solution” would be the first to come to mind.
baldilocks on November 13, 2008 at 3:27 PM
The only lesson learned here is that intolerance on the left is tolerated. Note the “redemption” line.
Tsk. tsk.
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 3:28 PM
14 year old kids being cruel?
Wow, this is such big news.
Make sure this gets to CNN right away.
A kid would get the same reaction from schoolmates for wearing the wrong band T shirt.
Dave Rywall on November 13, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Shouldn’t that teacher/collaborator be more than a little concerned that students are spewing this kind of hate? After all, weren’t we all lectured on the fact that bullying children leads to Columbine-like school shootings?
highhopes on November 13, 2008 at 3:29 PM
She’s lucky she’s in Oak Park and not at a Chicago Public School… for reasons that reach farther than this experiment.
fiscallyconservative on November 13, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Well… lets see… in debate class they watched the entire Demoncrat convention… spent a week on it…
Then less than ONE day spent watching the Republican convention…
He called her on it… and asked HOW if they were studying debate, she could only allow ONE side to give its views?
crickets….
Different teacher in AP History class… Teacher made the statement that “throughout history military people are mean, beause they study war”… I got called into the Vice Principals office on that one when he stood up and “forcefully” asked her to appologise… seeing as how he is the son of TWO military Vets….
LOL… got called in for his twin Sister last year… about her arguing with her Science teacher about Global Warming… wrong thing to do as I had HELPED her do the research for the paper…
Lots of things…
Romeo13 on November 13, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Where I went to public school was somewhat unusual. The school district was dominantly conservative, tilting toward social conservative. Almost all of the students were more conservative than their teachers. It may be different now, but when we had a political unit in middle school, all of the play-political parties we formed had mostly Republican or Libertarian planks on their platforms.
On the other hand, the majority of the students were not only white, but blond. Girls (and some boys) died their hair black to stand out. The one black guy in the school was popular because he was the one black guy (and taller than everyone else).
Count to 10 on November 13, 2008 at 3:32 PM
And the same thing would happen if I wore an “Obama Girl” shirt here in rural South Carolina. So what?
Stop with the drama.
Constant Parrhesia on November 13, 2008 at 3:33 PM
One of her classmates should get extra credit for a survey of fellow students regarding their views on being manipulated by Cathy and her teacher, academia, and the media.
Christien on November 13, 2008 at 3:33 PM
True Grue.. i never understood it either.. I was a punk rocker in the 80’s… personal freedom was of up most importance… why they (rebels) can’t see that conservatives fit the bill, I’ll never understand.
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Not even close. There are so many different clicks in schools often based on music that it would be nearly impossible to get any kind of majority of kids joined together in deciding you’re stupid. And even if they feel that way about your band shirt, they’re not likely to care enough to yell at you.
There are few things that would cause this reaction from kids in school. Politics is a new one.
Esthier on November 13, 2008 at 3:35 PM
utmost importance.. I should look before I send :(
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 3:35 PM
14 year old kids being cruel?
Wow, this is such big news.
Make sure this gets to CNN right away.
A kid would get the same reaction from schoolmates for wearing the wrong band T shirt.
Dave Rywall on November 13, 2008 at 3:28 PM
except this kind of behavior is not limited to 14-year-olds drywall…
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/obama-supporter-assaults-female-mccain-volunteer-in-new-york/
max1 on November 13, 2008 at 3:36 PM
You should try it instead of just exclaiming a fact to be true without a test.
Until then, I don’t believe you :P
apollyonbob on November 13, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Are you implying that if this same experiment had been conducted in a 12th Grade class, or in a University setting, that the results would have been different? Personally, I think they would have been very similar. The indoctrination of youth in the school sytems begins much earlier than in this girl’s particular grade level.
Red State State of Mind on November 13, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Everyone needs to chill out…
on both sides!
barry norris on November 13, 2008 at 3:37 PM
And the same thing would happen if I wore an “Obama Girl” shirt here in rural South Carolina. So what?
Stop with the drama.
Constant Parrhesia on November 13, 2008 at 3:33 PM
BS, prove it…
max1 on November 13, 2008 at 3:37 PM
My son is in his second year at UC Davis and wore his McCain/Palin button leading up to the election. He’s received some very strange looks from the majority of students (and others) who’ve noticed the button. But surprisingly no one made any direct comments. Tolerance? Or could be that he’s 6′3″ tall.
Between our conversations and what he’s researched on his own, he remains a conservative. Which is tough to do here in Nor Cal.
Smooth Rooster on November 13, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Awesome kids.
Esthier on November 13, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Hey- look at the other top story at the Chicago Tribune.
Bill Ayers: Barack Obama a ‘family friend’
MayBee on November 13, 2008 at 3:38 PM
I hate it when I type something like it sounds instead of like it’s spelled XP
apollyonbob on November 13, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Your kids are fighters too.. :) It is great!
Now THAT is being a rebel!
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 3:40 PM
You need to shut up-
on both sides of your mouth.
HornetSting on November 13, 2008 at 3:40 PM
This kind of stuff happens in Europe every day. Self-described “anti-fascist” groups physically attack peaceful demonstrators concerned about the Islamization of Europe calling the protestors intolerant bigots. This is the logic of the Left.
DerKrieger on November 13, 2008 at 3:40 PM
I’m not so sure about that. Of course the “intelli”gensia will always regard conservatives as “more conformist”, but I seem to recall that in the early 80s, you could have made a reasonable claim to being at least an iconoclast by backing Reagan. (At least that was the case here in the northeast).
Farmer_Joe on November 13, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Seconded!!
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 13, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Why are any of you surprised………………?
Seven Percent Solution on November 13, 2008 at 3:41 PM
HAHAHAHA.. I have to laugh … it keeps me from crying!
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 3:41 PM
I’m keeping my “NOBAMA/NO Socialism” sticker on my car until the sun fades it away. Screw the rabid Lefties.
DerKrieger on November 13, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Heh, I was a newborn around that time so I can’t make any claims. I’m only speaking from experience through the Clinton and Bush years.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 13, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Well, it could be that America has never been this far LEFT before. That Society has never been this Politicaly Correct before… and that therefore the RIGHT has never been the outcasts like they are now (at least in America).
The Left has always been able to cast themselves as the outcasts, and for more Freedom in the past… now its just the opposite where doctrinal purity is demanded by the Left, and they are for much greater government power….
I think a messege of Freedom brought about through smaller government and Federalism could resonate with the younger crowd today… as the Libs just became the Establishment.
Romeo13 on November 13, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Apart from the clear lunacy of this statement, we should be quite concerned at the lack of intelligence of many of these Obamatons.
I remember a report that was issued that showed that a large portion of Rush Limbaugh’s audience were highly educated — I imagine this young girl is a Rush baby ;)
Richard Romano on November 13, 2008 at 3:42 PM
How the hell did we get here? I swear I am heartbroken.
ronsfi on November 13, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Hey, didn’t I ask you to be careful?
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Davis is not really indicative of the greater Northern California region. It’s is more like Berkley with tomato fields.
thomasaur on November 13, 2008 at 3:44 PM
And the same thing would happen if I wore an “Obama Girl” shirt here in rural South Carolina. So what?
Stop with the drama.
No offense, but I think you’re sadly underinformed. Have you notised patterns on one “side” and the other? And once you see those, check out the responses.
e.g.: Sarah Palin pictures of her punched in the face: libs think it’s no big deal
Ashley Todd faking an attack by an Obama supporter: conservatives are amongst the first to register skepticism.
So to your reply: I think not.
fireweednectar on November 13, 2008 at 3:44 PM
My beautiful, bright 3 year old has a shirt that says
“I may be little, but I love SARAH PALIN” and she wears it quite often (on days I get to dress her when her Mom is not looking). She has gotten some unusual looks from some teachers at her daycare, and I stare right back at ‘em with pride!
GOD bless TEXAS
ReaganConservative3 on November 13, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Drywall! Dude! Did you go to a meeting and get appointed as the official liberal splainer for HA?
LOL, there is nothing that libs do that offends you.
hawkdriver on November 13, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Well, I suppose it’s OK for the Trib to come out with these two telling statements now.
That was then:
This is now:
INC on November 13, 2008 at 3:48 PM
You should ask if he can find someone to tell him about the “Aggie cartoon incident.” Back when Clinton ordered the bombing of Serbia over Kosivo, the student cartoonist for the campus paper ran a series of gags involving a laser pointer. The final strip had a character point out Heart Hall with the pointer, then and explosion, followed by a news anchor saying “A a bomb from Kosivo strayed off course and destroyed the Minorities Studies department at UC Davis. The Chancellor said it was a ‘close call.’” The campus went berserk. Students and faculty protested out on the lawns with tape over their mouths, saying the comic had silenced them. Some jerk ran around campus one day and sprayed every campus newspaper with ketchup (”these agies have blood on them”).
The cartoonist was almost canned, even when he explained that it was a criticism for the way that the chancellor didn’t appreciate the department.
Count to 10 on November 13, 2008 at 3:48 PM
“Don’t mess with Texas!” is so fitting…..
I bet this experiment couldn’t even happen there…someone would get shot!
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Good for you. If they have to be in a public school, stay in there and keep swinging.
hawkdriver on November 13, 2008 at 3:49 PM
He got dropped on his head by his mother when he was little. I guess the floors in Canada are harder. He also contracted this sickness in his teen years called Canadianus Stupiditus. Sad to say, it is untreatable.
HornetSting on November 13, 2008 at 3:50 PM
I think we might just have to avoid one another any time Time comes into play…
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 13, 2008 at 3:50 PM
To be fair, a rare few do recover on their own.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 13, 2008 at 3:51 PM
You got it Beth! This is where the militia will begin if we have to overthrow our Gubment!
ReaganConservative3 on November 13, 2008 at 3:53 PM
This teacher should be reprimanded for that comment. Its not right for teachers to be imposing their beliefs on children.
nobleclem on November 13, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Love your nickname. If I had a kid, it would be named Rooster. Smooth Rooster, love it.
HornetSting on November 13, 2008 at 3:53 PM
8th graders, liberals/leftists. What’s the difference?
Harpoon on November 13, 2008 at 3:54 PM
I’ve long been of the opinion that –in the most general terms– parents need to teach three things to their kids: Self-regulation; Empathy; and Critical Thinking. Everything else is just details. Your mileage may vary, of course.
In any case, this young woman has got all three in spades. Her parents should be surpassingly proud, and I can only hope to do as good a job with the Li’l Cyte.
Her peers and teachers (but one)…not so much.
Noocyte on November 13, 2008 at 3:54 PM
My wife is a naturalized American citizen of Canadian descent and this disease is not only treatable but curable. It just takes patience and love.
thomasaur on November 13, 2008 at 3:54 PM
Not even close, but thanks for playing.
PappaMac on November 13, 2008 at 3:56 PM
I’m implying that kids are jerks. I grew up in a small town of 2000, where I was regularly told that I was a commie faggot who needed to get a job. Which often prompted me to explain that, being under 14, it was illegal for me to work. I also had eggs and bottles of urine thrown at me.
A report of kids acting like jerks proves nothing besides that kids are jerks.
justfinethanks on November 13, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Not all Canadians contract the disease, thomasaur. Just one’s named Drywall that love to comment on American politics and are jealous, oh and LOVE OBAMA. Your wife is fine. Just had a cold.
HornetSting on November 13, 2008 at 3:57 PM
That’s Oak Park for you.
PS Dave R – GFY, and please link to all of the stories of death threats to 14 year old girls wearing Obama t-shirts.
Jaibones on November 13, 2008 at 3:59 PM
I doubt it. Her parents are on both sides of the isle, but it’s certainly possible.
Esthier on November 13, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Democrats are the party of TOLERANCE, people! Sheesh just because they threaten to kill people doesn’t mean you should get your panties in a twist/
Honestly, while I have silently questioned the intelligence of his cultists, I never once threatened them with violence or called names.
I suspect the media will call for all this to stop?
HAHAHAHAHAHHAH
clnurnberg on November 13, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Heh. She’ll be just fine.
Spirit of 1776 on November 13, 2008 at 4:01 PM
On behalf of my Kids, thanks all…
Stand by, there is hope in the next generation… there are some really good kids out there… they just need to be talked to like adults, and given a choice.
Romeo13 on November 13, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Great Story. I love up-in-arms but misguided. Like Emily Litella on SNL. “Never mind.”
hawkdriver on November 13, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Actually, given this climate it should be pretty darn easy for jihadis to advocate beheadings for political differences here in the near future.
The behavior of the Obamunists lets us know that we are closer to the jihadis than we think and that the veneer of civilization is terrifyingly thin
clnurnberg on November 13, 2008 at 4:03 PM
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