Celebs for Cindy!

By Aaron Silberman

I walked into an elegant room with bright lights and vibrant colors. I sat on a black stage with all the other press waiting for a tribute luncheon for Cindy McCain to begin. The room was quickly filling with people who support the presidential bid of Senator John McCain

"Look at all these people in this place," actor Jon Voight said when talking to Scholastic News Online. "Look at this amazing group. This a huge event."

Voight was a big supporter of New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign. But now he supports McCain, as does Giuliani.

"They are very much similar they are good friends, they are two heroes who mutually admire each other," Voight said. "I spent some time with john. I’m very impressed with this guy."

Actor Robert Davi also spoke to Scholastic News. Davi has a new movie coming out in September, but he is probably best known for his bad-guy role in the tween classic "Goonies."

"I’m here to support the Mccain/Palin ticket and honor Cindy McCain," he said. "It is so important for everyone to get involved. It’s an important election. If you don’t know enough about the candidates, you should learn about them."

Although Cindy McCain was the guest of honor, many in the audience were just as excited to see the surprise guest who introduced her: "First Dude" Todd Palin. It was a first look at the husband of vice presidential pick Sarah Palin who gave her acceptance speech the night before at the convention.

"The Palin has had quite a week," he said. "I realize that I should have questioned Sarah more closely years ago when she said she wanted to join the PTA." Palin got involved in politics as a member of the Parent Teacher Association. From there she became Mayor of Wasilla, and after that Governor of Alaska.

The Palin connection was definitely a plus for Florida's youngest delegate, Erika Barger from Daytona Beach.

"It’s been awesome to be a part of this historic occassion," Barger said. She was on the floor during Palin's speech. I’m so proud to be a Republican and a woman at the same time."

Overall, the event was a wonderful tribute to Cindy McCain who has been traveling the world for 25 years working with humanitarian efforts.

She will introduce her husband tonight when he accepts the nomination for President. That's when the real race begins with both the Democratic and Republican tickets complete.

TOP PHOTO: Actor Robert Davi talks to Kid Reporter Aaron Silberman at a tribute luncheon for Cindy McCain in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 4, 2008.
BOTTOM PHOTO: Actor Jon Voight and Kid Reporter Aaron Silberman at the same event. Both actors spoke in praise of McCain's humanitarian work around the globe. Photos by Suzanne Freeman

Sometimes Adults Are Smarter Than 5th (and 6th) Graders

By Jack Greenberg

Unfortunately, the headline above is indeed true.  Today, Mall of America hosted "Kids Stump The Delegates," a twist on the "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" game show. Republican Delegates proved to be at least a little smarter than the students by winning the competition.

The competition consisted of two rounds of questioning. During the first round, the host  directed a question to the team and they had 15 seconds to confer and respond. If they answered correctly they were then given a bonus question. Each correct answer was worth 10 points and each correct bonus answer was worth five points.

Round two was the lightening round. Contestants buzzed-in to answer questions. Each correct answer was  worth 20 points and each bonus question was worth 10 points.

In the end the kids lost by a slim 20 point margin. Oak Grove Middle School students were not happy.  Chris R. blamed the loss on not being able to hit the buzzer quick enough.

Members of the audiencew were quick to say,"It was rigged!"  Some said the kids received harder questions about quotes on historic figures, opposed to easier questions about the colors of the flag that the delegates received. 

The delegates were certainly shocked they won.

"It was a close one.  It could've gone either way," said delegate Jack McGregor from Bridgeport, Connecticut.  "It's been a long time since I've been in 5th Grade. " 

A quick poll of the students who were spending their second day of school at Mall of America said they were all interested in politics, just like their older opponents. 

"We are both Democrats and Republicans," said one young woman. "We just go with the best candidates."  When asked to cheer for their candidate, most seemed to suppourt Obama, although McCain got a lot of cheers as well. 

Stay with Scholastic News Online  for all 2008 Republican National Convention with Michael Geheren, Aaron Silberman, and me.  Also, sign up for a twitter feed at twitter.com/ScholasticNews!

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Jack Greenberg quizzes the contestants at "Kids Stump the Delegates," a quiz show-like game at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, on September 3, 2008. Photo by Suzanne Freeman

 

Country First

By Michael Geheren

Joe Lieberman said that John McCain puts Country First not Republicans or Democrats first, but country. Lieberman a Democrat from Connecticut along with many other speakers all agree the "straight talker" brings Country First. They showed videos of Ronald Regan, George W. Bush, and George H.W. Bush and how they put country first.

Tonight they told some inspiring stories about some great young men who died in the line of duty and put country first. (According to MSNBC: Country First appears 23 times in the convention on signs and LCD screens.) When our current president made his speech I saw hundreds of country first signs waving in the audience. One side says, Country First, one side says Service. Tonight it's all about service and commitment to the country with an emphasis on the years of service in the military by John McCain, George H.W. Bush, and others.

Also tonight we will be making our way to the convention floor. Sitting in front of us is Cindy McCain and George H. W. Bush. Be sure to watch updates on twitter and the blog from Jack Greenburg tommorow!

PHOTO: Senator Olympia Snow of Maine talks to Scholastic Kid Reporter Michael Geheren from the convention floor on Day Two of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, September 2, 2008. Photo by Suzanne Freeman

Breakfast with Wyoming and 6.1 Million Pennies!

By: Michael Geheren

Today things are going back to normal at the Republican National Convention—kind of. We are starting to hear speakers take on the Democrats. Yesterday, speeches were short and focused on how to help victims of Hurricane Gustav.

Today I started out coverage of Day Two at the Repubican convention by having breakfast with the Wyoming delegation. I talked to the US Senator Mike Enzi and many other people from Wyoming. Did you know Wyoming has three senators? Every state has 2 and there are 100 right? Wrong! There are actually 101—sometimes that is. Vice President Dick Cheney is the head of the senate and has a vote when there is a tie.

After the breakfast we headed to the Minneapolis Convention Center to see Cindy McCain and Laura Bush at the One Campaign event. A group of about 200 people gathered to assemble caregiver packages for people working with AIDS victims in Subsahara Africa. My dad couldn't get in without press credentials, so he volunteered to help put together the packages. I helped, too, after getting my interviews. We put surgeon's gloves, Vasoline, cotton balls, pens, notebooks,  flashlights, and medications into orange plastic boxes. These boxes were sealed up in cartoons, ready for shipping.

Also, at this event, I spoke to a representative of Got Cents? campaign. She and her parents brought in 6.1 million pennies and laid them out in the shape of a ribbon. Each penny represented a person who has died of AIDS. I never saw so many pennies in my life! Stack them up one on top of the other and they would go 6 miles high!

I also visited  the Civic Fest, which featured a miniature of the White House, a presidential limo, and Air Force One from the Nixon era.

We also interviewed Meghan McCain at the Civic Fest. She was leaving and her handler said she couldn't stop for an interview. But when Ms. McCain heard we were from Scholastic, she said, "Oh, I love Scholastic. I can take a minute for Scholastic." THANKS, MEGHAN!

Next stop: the Xcel Center where the convention is being held.  I was interviewed by ABC radio WLS from Chicago. The station had one of dozens of desks set up on Radio Row in the Xcel Energy Center.

Now we are in the arena where normally the Minnesota Wild hockey team plays. Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman was the first speaker to take on the Democrats. I expect a lot more of that as the night goes on.

PHOTO: Meghan McCain, daughter of Republican presidential nominee John McCain, talks to Scholastic News Kid Reporter Michael Geheren from the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 2, 2008. Photo by Bill Geheren

A Shortened Convention

By Kid Reporter Jack Greenberg

It's the 1st Day of the 2008 Republican National Convention and there's not much to blog about. In response to Hurricane Gustav as it bears down on the Gulf Coast, the Republicans shortened their National Convention from a long, speaker-filled event to a couple of hours of voting on proposals for the Convention.

The keynote speakers,  President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, cancelled their speeches.  Many members of the pressed moved their focus south to the hurricane.

Even some delegates from Gulf of Mexico states decided to stay home with their families. Delegates in St. Paul were very concerned with the hurricane.

"Today we are not Democrats, not Republicans, we are Americans," Rep. Bob Lynn of Alaska.

Chadwick Melder, a delegate from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said about 14 of 88 of their delegates decided not to come.

The convention ended with First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain encouraging everyone to go online and donate supplies, food, money, etc to current and possible future victims of Hurricane Gustav.

So stay with Scholastic News for more Scholastic coverage of The 2008 Republican National Convention with Micheal Geheren, Aaron and Ben Silbermna, and me, Jack Greenberg. 

PHOTO: State Representative Bob Lynn of Alaska talks to Kid Reporter Jack Greenberg on the floor of the Republican National Convention on Monday, September 1, 2008. Photo by Janey Ranlett.

Republican Convention Changes

Monday at the Republican Convention will be short and sweet. Delegates will meet from 3 to 5:30 pm Central Time for the purpose of conducting business only. There will be no roll call tomorrow and no political speeches blasting Democrats.

"We want to be respectful and make sure that nothing we do distracts from the activities in the Gulf region," said campaign manager Rick Davis  "There will be some things we will have to do, but we will be looking for an opportunity to help. We will do what we can to raise money for the charities in the gulf coast region."

John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, asked delegates to "take off their Republican hats and put on their American hats." All organizations that have planned events around the convention are being asked to focus their attention on raising money for hurricane victims.

"We have a  request by our candidate to be as responsive as we can be to a natural disaster unfolding," Davis said said. " A horrible storm is bearing down on the Gulf. People should be more concerned about that than the politics."

PHOTO: The nation's youngest mayor, John Tyler Hammons of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was also one of the youngest delegates at the Republican National Convention. He spoke to Kid Reporter Jack Greenberg September 1, the first night of the convention. Hammons was 19 when he was elected Mayor of Muskogee, and when he spoke to Jack. He turned 20 on the 4th night of the convention when Senator John McCain officially accepted the nomination as the Republican presidential candidate. Photo by Janey Ranlett

 

The Gustav syndrome (By The Way, Welcome to St.Paul)

By Kid Reporter Jack Greenberg

Well, we are here!  After a week of reporting live from The 2008 Democratic Convention  in Denver, Colorado, I'm here in St.Paul, Minnesota, live from the Xcel Energy Center, for the 2008 Republican National Convention! 

But the convention has been altered drastically.  Hurricane Gustav completely reworked the RNC Schedule.  President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, originally scheduled to speak tonight, have dropped out.  Bush is currently  at a  Hurricane Center in San Antonio, Texas. 

Also, the convention has been reduced from about 6 hours of convention meetings and speeches on the first day to a measly 2 hours.    

Many members of the press, including CNN's own Anderson Cooper, have decided to instead shift their focus from the Republicans to storm battered New Orleans. Instead of reporting from the convention floor, Cooper and other big name anchors are braving the hurricane winds in Louisiana.

Delegates affected by the storm have been flown home to be with family. So you will have to stay with Scholastic News for all possible coverage of The 2008 Republican Convention and Hurricane Gustav with Jack Greenberg,Micheal Geheren, and Aaron and Ben Silberman.

Photo: Kid Reporter Jack Greenberg finds a sign that describes him to a tee at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minneapolis. (Photo by Suzanne Freeman)

 

McCain to Announce VP soon

Republican presidential candidate John McCain will announce his choice for vice president today at a large rally in Dayton, Ohio. Media outlets are buzzing with ideas on who McCain's choice will be. It appears that frontrunners for the Republican number two Former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty are out of the running.

McCain's announcement builds excitement for the Republican National Convention (RNC), which opens on Monday in St. Paul, Minnesota. Scholastic Kids Press Corps will report live from the RNC, bringing you the kids' eye view of the action.

Obama Accepts Nomination

By Kid Reporter Jack Greenberg

After looking back on his past 47 years of his life, after only a short introdction of any kind, Sen. Barack Obama offically accepted the nomination for the Democratic Party for the U.S. Presidency.   Obama, a junior Senator from Illinois, declared his acceptance in front of a crowd of about 75,000 Thursday at Denver's Invesco Field. 

Obama opened up with a firm aceptance, but then went on to thanking former rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former President Bill Clinton, VP PICK Joe Biden, and finally, his lovely wife, Michelle. 

Obama than went on to the issues, such as the enviornment.  "We will no longer be depenedent on foreign oil in ten years," Obama proclaimed .

When on to health care, he shared a story of when his mother was suffering from overion cancer.  Obama stated how she was more concerned arguing with health insurance than herv own care. 

He took time to rip Republican Rival John McCain.  "He has voted with George Bush 90% of the time.  We don't want a 10% chance of change.  On economy, he promised tax relief for 95% of Americans.  He than concluded with bringing his wife,two daughters, Joe Biden, and his wife Jill on stage, and watched the fireworks explode above their heads.  And with that, the 2008 Democratic National Convention concluded.  S o stay with Scholastic  for 2008 Republican Nationional Conventional Coverage with Micheal Geheren, Daysha Peterson, Aaron and Ben Siberman, and me, Jack Grenberg!

Photo: Senator Barack Obama of Illinois accepts the Democratic nomination for President at Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado, on August 28, 2008. Photo by Suzanne Freeman

Update from Invesco

By: Kid Reporter Ashlyn Stewart

A palpable excitement in Invesco Field is buzzing around the stadium.  The cheering, whooping, and hollering is almost deafening.  Currently, everyone is anticipating Obama's speech, but let me catch you up on what has happened so far...

Sheryl Crow gave a great performance, singing three songs.  One spoke of the change Obama promises.  Her other songs were about taking the thoughts from our minds, and placing them in our hearts, and getting closer to people we love . The whole stadium was up on their feet, dancing in the small amount of space we each have.

Many people spoke before the next major music event: Stevie Wonder.  Stevie performed two songs, and captured the stadium with his amazing voice and lyrics.

After Stevie, our Scholastic group decided we needed to get some dinner.  As we were leaving, we  were told we couldn't get back in.  We grabbed a few hot dogs and tried to hurry back into the field.  They had closed all the entrances that have floor access, and our section was one of them.  After jogging around trying to find an open entrance, we crowed in with a group of other people also trying to get back to their seats.  After about 10 minutes, a lot of explaining, squishing, and showing credentials, we were back in our seats just in time to miss Al Gore.

With a few minutes to go before  Obama's acceptance speech, people are trying to find a food stand that hasn't sold out and are digging through their bags, preparing their cameras, so that they can capture the moment that will forever more be apart of history: Obama accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for president of the United States of America!

Photo: An Obama delegate pauses for a picture at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, on August 28, 2008. Photo by Suzanne Freeman