Taylor the yawner doesn't read at grade level.

[Changenow]

He was just on Oberhman and read a letter from the Chimp. The kid was reading like a third or fourth grader and is likely in the seventh grade (IMO the kid is ADHD). Why in the world his father would want the world to know this is beyond me, but the dad handed the kid the letter to read.

Now, the dad is a big Republican yuckedy-yuck so will he demand that the schools who have failed his kid become accountable or lose funding? Will he hold his kid in the kid's current grade until the kid drops out of school altogether?

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. This is so awesome...

This little ignorant kid is going to help us out a lot.

Like a gift from God, if you ask me!

[Vickers]

2. Seriously, I couldn't believe it!

My daugher is in 3rd grade (9 y.o.), and she reads a LOT better than that kid.

But I must admit, she has a genius dad.

:P

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. He won't ask for his son's school to be held accountable.

It's a private, Christian school and it's not part of the grand plan to put them under the microscope at this time. At least, not until the public schools have been dismantled. By then, young Tyler will have become part of Central Florida's one-step-above-redneck elite. Mediocrity bonds like cement.

[DemBones DemBones]

5. Is that true -- that he goes to a private, Christian school?

Or are you speculating? I haven't heard any details about the boy.

I certainly agree that there are serious problems with many private schools (and many homeschools) and that a lot of RWers would like to end public education.

[The Backlash Cometh]

32. He's a seventh-grader at Pine Castle Christian Academy,

It was in the paper I linked in another thread. His father is as Central Florida Republican as they come. That means that you can't tell the difference between his party goals and the Chamber of Commerce's. Unfortunately, that also describes many Central Florida Democrats -- and I mean that directly -- You can't tell the difference between the Republican's party goals and the Chamber of Commerce's.

[Shoedogg]

4. Ease up on the kid...

He's a kid. He was doing what a kid would do, being bored at a political event.

I'm sure he wasn't looking for attention, certainly not this "this kid can't even read" sort of attention.

I realize that you're actually meaning to attack his dad, but who knows what kind of learning disability this kid might have.

I shall now step off my high-horse. ;-)

[brook]

6. Did you see the interview?

The kid has a good deal more "attitude" than intellect. IMO, he's destined to be a cheerleader at Yale.

[Changenow]

9. The kid's father had him (not) read at grade level on national TV!

No one cracked a vault with his grades in it.

As a prudent parent one would think it best to protect his child from potential ridicule, and not from posts neither will ever see, but from the kid's classmates. The father didn't give a shit about that, why should I care what we say between friends here?

Taylor has not been taught respectful behavior, which at his age he should know well, regardless of his reading ability. My child who is exactly the same age sat behind one of the (unsuccessful) presidential candidates during the primary. My son knew well that being there was a privilege and an honor so he must treat the opportunity with respect because the rules apply to him. Good God, if my kid ever had the chance to take that position behind a president I'd dress him well and be certain he understand the importance of his actions in that occasion.

Republicans teach their children that the world is theirs by birthright. That's why Chimp is so sure he doesn't need the rules either.

[snippy]

29. The White House made the father make the kid try to read on TV.

The White House saw an opportunity to exploit the kid. The father had no objection and perhaps was even eager to have his son exploited.

[eyeontheprize]

34. Even if that's true,

why didn't the dad prep the kid? The dad could have had the kid practice the letter until he knew it better than his own name.

[PurityOfEssence]

7. Classic Republicanism: only inferiors and defectives don't like Junior

Obviously he's sub-par if he's not just riveted by and thrilled at the proximity of the great godking.

You'll note how wingers always sneer at the proclaimed faults of all whiners and losers who differ with them, and it's also easy to see how much of their "humor" derives from the suffering of others.

[proud patriot]

8. Proud Mom Here Just got a progress report for my son

He reads above grade level ...

I'm so proud of my boy ...

[MoonRiver]

10. Maybe he's LD.

What a hideous abuse of a child for political spin. I HATE REPUKES!

[PfcHammer]

11. Why are republikids f*cked up ?

Alcoholic, illiterate, drug addicts, robbing, speeding, smoking, doctor shopping in spite of so many advantages. All with impunity, though.

[drscm]

12. Have you considered who wrote the letter?

Are you sure that it wasn't handwritten in dyslexic form?

[MoonRiver]

13. Maybe the Moron in Chief wrote it.

:D

[Timefortruth]

16. Isn't that Moran?

The spell check doesn't always get it.

[MoonRiver]

17. Yeah, I think that bush* speak correct.

:D

[Changenow]

14. Ya know, I hadn't considered the possibility that the original

was incomprehensible. But considering the source it is a real possibility.

Don't you think that someone double checks the chimps correspondence before it goes out though?

[yardwork]

22. Who? Who would be competent enough to correct it?

[Vadem]

15. You're right! I was thinking the same thing as I watched him...

read the letter from Bush. He stumbled over simple words and I'm sure his father was cringing during that recitation.

On edit: he also appeared to me to be a snotty little brat! Anyone else get that inkling from him?

[NNN0LHI]

18. I did when he said his dad was a liar. But that was only momentarily

Then I realized his father is a Rethug and the kid is just telling the truth.

Don

[ptroy]

20. Does it make you guys feel big to insult a kid?

And before you ask, no I'm not a Republican, nor am I a freeper. I'm just an adult who considers it beyond the pale to sneer at a child, no matter what politics that child or his parents might embrace.

Lately, this place has begun to read more and more like a Free Republic forum. Are you out to prove that Democrats and liberals can be every bit as contemptible a Freepers?

[Vadem]

21. I'm sorry that you think that I was "sneering" at a child....

I have two children of my own; I don't want you to think I was sneering at a child but he did impress me as a usual 12 year old smartass. Yep, he was, and I saw his father kick him on TV when he answered in a smartass way to a question I cannot now remember. It was just impressions on what I saw on TV, NOT sneering at a child!

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

24. I was watching that too

and so was my husband. We both thought that the kid had an obnoxious attitude and the father looked like a very tense and humorless type. Also, they should teach him to cover his mouth when he yawns.

Reminds me of that letter someone wrote to Buzzflash about how Karen Hughes was a soccer mom at the same team as the letter-writer, and how the other team parents all completely loathed her because she complained and bullied and never volunteered. Naturally she gets treated like the Mother of the Year by the press!

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Timefortruth]

23. Did you read the original post, or the subsequent ones?

This is about the dingbat father, who works hard to limit educational opportunities for children and exposes his son to ridicule. If the father were not an advocate for poor education and if the father had not handed the child the letter to read you might have a point. If the father raised a well-mannered child you might have a point.

It is the ironic that the Republicans who pretend to stand for family values don't walk the walk. If there weren't Democrats where would all the polite children come from?

PS A parent who wanted to teach a child proper behavior would not parade them on national TV and make up excuses (he was tired and had to go to the bathroom) for rude actions in front of the President of the United States! The sensible thing to have done is have the kid send a letter of apology to the president and to the network, then ground him for a few weeks so he understands the gravity of his actions

[Lorien]

36. Richard Crotty is as slimy as they come

he's from my county (Orange, in Orlando). He certainly has never shown any of us any class or thoughtfulness. The apple truly hasn't fallen far from the tree here.

[eyeontheprize]

25. Um, he isn't a preschooler.

He is an adolescent. He should act his age, even if he can't read at his age level.

Isn't this about the kid anyway.

[The Backlash Cometh]

38. Who's insulting children here? No one.

The attacks have been aimed at his Republican father and Republican policies, primarily educational choices that make this event viable for the news. Personally, my feeling regarding Tyler's yawn is "out of the mouths of babes..." Go Tyler!

[Merlin]

19. Will somebody here please tape the Letterman segment on this tonight.

Not sure I'll be able to catch it. Sure would be great if somebody would tape it and post it.

[K-W]

26. Hopefully he rebels in his teenage years and turns dem.

"Screw you dad, Im gonna care about people."

[mmonk]

27. I have an ADHD kid and there is no shame in having one.

There is a shame in using a child politically like this though, especially since republicans generally oppose funding any educational help for kids with any learning difficulties.

[blondeatlast]

30. Well said. What a shameless way to exploit a kid. nt

[blondeatlast]

28. Have we sunk to THEIR level with this? Dad may exploit him, but

we can do better.

[eyeontheprize]

31. This thread should probably die a natural death because the issues

have been drastically confused.

The issue is that the kid's dad works against adequate education at the cost of his own child's academic success. The issue is that the child of a "law and order, spare the rod" parent hasn't a clue how to act in what should be one of the most important events of his life. The issue is that the father didn't even teach the child how to respond well after the kid made a mistake.

No one knows if the kid is ADHD or not, the father may not even know. However, the kid could easily pass as someone with ADHD from a distance. ADHD isn't anything more than another of life's challenges, and children with this disorder certainly can learn how to act appropriately. The difference is that they must be taught what comes naturally to other children.

[GreenPartyVoter]

33. Folks please don't shred that poor kid; he doesn't deserve it!

Besides, plenty of conservative families have turned out progressive kids. For all we know, he could be on our side one day.

[eyeontheprize]

35. The kid isn't being shredded, his father is.

The Republicans decided to put the kid on the tube, attacking the father for the performance is fine. This shouldn't fall into another PC taboo, if they didn't want the kid to be considered they should have left him home and put just his father on the tube.

[seabeyond]

39. didnt see olderman saw letterman

the kid was cute as pie. and seemed like a normal kid.

cnn lied somewhere, and i think white house lied, and then cnn covered. and it was a stupid thing for the white house to do

watching the interview, the kid was fine, and the letter bush sent was nice (even though politically motivated, got the boy out of trouble, which i think he should have), and when letterman dropped the "gift" the boy was concerned and politely wanted to help, and when the show ended the boy got up and went around the desk to help letterman pick up the cokes, which is sweet

i can leave it for what it was.

all it was a funny that letterman showed. we can all giggle and get on with life

[Logansquare]

40. This is a PR offensive from the WH, in any event

I'm sure Crotty has received his orders to trot his kid out for damage control. Never mind what's good for the kid.