As a 5th grade teacher at Carters Valley Elementary, I am appalled that grown adults would turn an educational experience for children into an argument that turns to insulting my students. The students at Carters Valley worked hard over the last two weeks to learn about citizenship and the importance of voting, regardless of how you choose to vote. A huge thank you to my fellow co-workers who worked so hard to bring in the guest speakers and such for our students. I bet if either presidential candidate were to read the majority of these comments, they would be very disappointed that we as a nation have resorted to insulting children simply because of a mock election that was used as a tool to enhance the learning process for our students.

So Chris, thats realllly not your name eh?

First of all that is Mr. 22nd and 24th president to you! Brush up on your history I am the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms! Secondly, no I didn't have any money on the Elementary school election, because Bush and his administration crashed the economy, raised gas prices, killed 750,000 jobs and caused a mortgage crisis! Maybe in 2012 when Obama brings the economy back to life I will be able to put a couple of thousand dollars on the elementary school election.

No Allison I will not insult your child. You said she voted for Obama so obviously she is a very intelligent child that understands that a change is needed for America and this economic crisis that the Bush administration put us in. Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on the kids because the fault mainly falls on the closed minded parents who tell their children to support McCain because God loves him and to hate Obama because he is a terrorist. However, the kids do need to understand that if they want to be spoiled on Christmas and their birthdays they should vote for the man who will actually put money in their parents pocket. Obama Obama Obama

Hattie Falin~
Get back to me in a year or so and we'll see just how happy you are with your new President Obama!
Remember everyone tomorrow is election day so regardless of if you are making the right decision please let's get out there and vote!You better believe I will :)

Wow. I see it has come down to insulting children. Wanna take a jab at my 10yr old Mr."Cleveland?" Oh,she voted for Obama in her school election. Got anything to say about her? Come on,really? Calling kids dumb? You talk about the area republicans giving NE TN a bad name. What did your comment just do for us democrats? I'm glad all this will be over after tomorrow. Then, we can start a whole new set of comments. Can't wait for those! Mr. Mulky, does this mean I can call myself something other than my actual name on these posts?:)YEAH! I think I am gonna be Anne of Green Gables.

Wow what a bunch of dumb kids. I guess these kids don't want to have social security, good health care and a 401k when they grow up.

Angelita Gottwald's comment on Obama's source of money originated from another scurrilous e-mail campaign designed to badmouth Obama, painting him as "pallin' around with terrorists." Anyone who is interested in the TRUTH may visit snopes.com and debunk the garbage here. The website is http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/money.asp

Nobody ever said she couldn't afford her drug problem. But the fact remains that she DID steal from her own organization to fund her painkiller habit.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, has admitted that his wife not only illegally used drugs but walked away from criminal charges. The McCains have worked to make Cindy McCain's addiction into a political asset--despite the fact that she stole the drugs from a charity she directed and used them while mothering four young children.

In 1994, Mrs. McCain admitted that she had solicited prescriptions for painkillers from physicians who worked for an international charity that she founded, the American Voluntary Medical Team. She then filled the prescriptions in the names of her staff.

It seems as though the other question about John's affair with her was answered for me already. We all want to sling mud at the other guy (whichever one that may be), but we seldom acknowledge the wrongs of our own guy. People were throwing Clinton's affair out there like it was something bad, so I would just like to know why nobody feels the same about McCain's affair?? And his wife's substance abuse problem?? And her stealing to support it?? Confirmation bias. We search for information that supports our cause. Who cares about information that goes against what we believe. Is that it?? Neither of the candidates have led "perfect" lives. There are questionable parts of John McCain's past just as there are Obama's. Let us all stop living a delusional life in which "our" candidate is perfect.

Angelita - Same info about Democrats. Well we all know about Edwards. Doesn't seem to be any such information about Obama. One of the thing the press seems to do a pretty good job at is keeping tabs of this sort of stuff.

"Where did the money come from for Obama?" And if Obama was "financed" by someone or some organization, what "strings" are attached to that massive investment?? What must he do for them if he becomes president?

I started looking into Obama's life.

Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California . He is very open about his two years at Occidental, he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting his time but, even though he purportedly had a brilliant mind, did not apply himself to his studies. Before that he went to high school at Punehoe School in Hawaii. Tuition is reportedly $30,000 annual. Where did he get that money?

"Barry" (that was the name he used all his life) during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, both from Pakistan . During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made a "round the world" trip. Stopping to see his mother in Indonesia, next Hyderabad in India, three weeks in Karachi, Pakistan, where he stayed with his roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his father's family.

My question - Where did he get the significant amount of money for this trip?When he came back he started school at Columbia University in New York. It is at this time he wanted everyone to call him Barack - not Barry.

Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia ? It's not cheap, to say the least. Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe. After Columbia, he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000. a year. Why Chicago? Why not New York? He was already living in New York .

By "chance" he met Antoin "Tony" Rezko, born in Aleppo, Syria, and a real estate developer in Chicago. Rezko has been convicted of fraud and bribery this year. Rezko, was named "Entrepreneur of the Decade" by the "Arab-American Business and Professional Association."

About two years later, Obama entered Harvard Law School . Do you have any idea what tuition is for Harvard Law School? Where did he get the money for Law School? More student loans?

After Law school, he went back to Chicago . Rezko offered him a job, which he turned down. But, he did take a job with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Guess what? They represented "Rezar" which was Rezko's firm. Rezko was one of Obama's first major financial contributors when he ran for office in Chicago. Obama worked as a "Community Organizer" for ACORN or off-shoots of ACORN. His job was "agitation" in the poor communities.

In 2003, Rezko threw an early fundraiser for Obama which Chicago Tribune reporter David Mendelland claims was instrumental in providing Obama with "seed money" for his U.S. Senate race. In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in Kenwood District of Chicago for $1.65 million (less than asking price).

With ALL those Student Loans - Where did he get the money for the property? On the same day Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining empty lot for full price. The London Times reported that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million three weeks before Obama's new home was purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many times with Rezko.

Now, we have Obama running for President. Valerie Jarrett was Michele Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz, Iran! Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy?

On May 10, 2008 The Times reported, Robert Malley advisor to Obama was "sacked" after the press found out he was having regular contacts with "Hamas", which controls Gaza and is connected with Iran. This past week, buried in the back part of the papers, Iraqi newspapers reported that during Obama's visit to Iraq, he asked their leaders to do nothing about the war until after he is elected, and he will "Take care of things." We all know what Hamas thinks of Israel.

Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that were born in Pakistan ? They are in charge of all those "small" Internet campaign contributions for Obama. Where is that money coming from? The poor and middle class in this country? Or could it be from the Middle East? We know there are phone banks operating in Gaza, dozens of people call America to raise money and elicit votes for Obama.

And the final bit of news. On September 7, 2008, The Washington Times posted a verbal slip that was made on "This Week" with George Stephanapoulos. Obama on talking about his religion said, "My Muslim faith". When questioned, "He make a mistake". Some mistake!

All of the above information I got on line. If you would like to check it - Wikipedia, encyclopedia, Barack Obama; Tony Rezko; Valerie Jarrett: Daily Times - Obama visited Pakistan in 1981; The Washington Times - September 7, 2008; The Times May 10, 2008.

Where are Obama's Punahoe, Occidental, and Columbia transcripts? He will not release them. Was he graduated without having completed the classes or passed the exams? Why won't he release his transcripts?

A phrase that keeps ringing in my ear - "Beware of the enemy from within"!!!

I remember that haunting movie, "The Manchurian Candidate."

I just had to pass this e-mail that I received on.I do hope that some of the helpful democrats can clear some of these things up for me.So far,from what I have researched these claims are true,please check for yourselves!Reminds me of a song popular in the early 90's,Things that make you go hum????






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BTW Joe can I find the same liabilities for the democrats seeking nomination on this site?

Thank you Joe for answering one question even though McCain may have committed adultery that won't prevent me from voting for him.Let's face it,former President Clinton did it and most democrats still stood behind him.You also answered my second question when you stated that Mrs McCain was as rich as she was beautiful.Seems she could afford her own drug problem :)
Whoever you choose to vote for, please just get out there and vote!I know I will, for whatever good it will do :)

Angelita - Although the question wasn't directed at me this may help. Here's a link to an article in Washington Monthly that discussed the liabilities for three Republicans seeking the GOP nomination. It appeared before the primaries. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2006/0607.benen.html Here's two paragraphs from the article "But it wasn't until 2000 that McCain, possibly emboldened by Clinton's survival of his scandals, became the first confessed adulterer to have the nerve to run. Now, just a few years after infidelity was considered a dealbreaker for a presidential candidate, the party that presents itself as the arbiter of virtue may field an unprecedented two-timing trifecta. McCain was still married and living with his wife in 1979 while, according to The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof, "aggressively courting a 25-year-old woman who was as beautiful as she was rich." McCain divorced his wife, who had raised their three children while he was imprisoned in Vietnam, then launched his political career with his new wife's family money. In 2000, McCain managed to deflect media questioning about his first marriage with a deft admission of responsibility for its failure. It's possible that the age of the offense and McCain's charmed relationship with the press will pull him through again, but Giuliani and Gingrich may face a more difficult challenge. Both conducted well-documented affairs in the last decade--while still in public office." And here's a link to an atricle in the Phonex paper that background Mrs. McCain's drug problems. http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/content/printVersion/161307 - Finally if you're up to it you can google Cindy McCain and Charles Keating to read about her and John McCain's business and political dealings with the man who was the center of the Savings and Loan scandals and Keating 5 hearings in Washington.

Rachel Peavler-Where did you get your info that McCain cheated on his first wife with his second?Just wondering?
As far as his second wife stealing from her own organization to fund her drug habit that also seems hard to believe.I mean she is heir to the Budweiser fortune,not likely she is hard pressed for cash!

Mr. Bringman, everyone posting comments here are talking about the same thing in one way or another. They are expressing views of past elections and the current election. Sorry if the freedom of speech being expressed here is offending you! But if it makes you feel better and stays within the context of the article - God Bless these Kids! Feel better?

as far off track as this thread has gone...as so many of the ones involving the candidates have lately...I have to ask: So, we should be embarrassed by Clinton's affair, but it's ok that John McCain cheated on his first wife with Cindy? And it's ok that she had a substance abuse problem and stole from her own charitable organization to support her habit? I'm just wondering, that's all.

ummmm...
this story was about elementary school kids learning the election process. I guess you all missed that?

John Falin....Economic times were the best under Clinton. The problem with the economics in this country started with Reagan and his "Trickle-Down" economics that takes care of the guy on the top. In theory, it should work, but the guy on the top did not let things trickle down. The Republican crooks on the top kept and stole everything. Look at Walmart for example. Some think they create jobs and benefit the communitities. No, the Waltons and the top-dogs keep the wealth and want more tax breaks while buying eveything from China and destroying our GDP. Walmart also burdens our welfare system because they pay sub-standard wages and force poeple to government assisted programs. Hillary Clinton was on Walmart's board until she found out how they are and resigned. She even returned campaign money to them that they sent her. So, don't tell me that the Clinton's were bad for our country. Write it on the board and look at it in a few years that the American way of life will be better off with a caring democratic admisistration. Face it, Obama has it won, so get used to it. The entire world's view after being polled is that the United States will be better off with Obama. The entire world is sick and tired of Bush, Cheney, and McCain.

For some reason???? People think clinton was the best man ever. They seam to forget that he was impeached. One of only two ever!!!!! If you do your home work, you would know that clinton started this whole wall street mess. He was the one that wanted ever man to own a house. He did not care if they could pay for it. clinton changed the laws on credit cards. 15 years ago you could not buy food on a credit card, grocery stores didn't take them. Now you can use a credit card at Pals. If you can't pay cash for fast food, you should be eating at home. If you are eating out on credit then you can't blam George for that. The only one to blam is yourself. If you think one man is going to change Washington, YOU ARE WRONG. If you thik that doctors are going to take a pay cut YOU ARE WRONG. If you ever wondered why your doctor is from another country, it's because this is the only country they can make this kind of money in. If you think they are going to just give it up, because obama wants them to, YOU ARE WRONG. If you think anything will change with obama? It will, but not for the good.

That's okay Chris. I give credit where credit is due and this was good! You said something though that I wonder about - why do young adults feel it's their responsibility to have sex? Is it a primal need or does it stem from some sort of twisted competition to track the number of people they have sex with? I glad I am at the age that places more value on sleep! It seems that people put more thought into picking out shoes than who they sleep with. What has our society come to when a girl is valued for her body and all television shows being broadcasted these days is centered around sex. Could this be a factor in the number of abortions in this country? I think it is. Why is a girl who decides to wait to have sex until she is married deemed a religious freak? Seems that society now demands that she be a promiscuous freak to be accepted. Doesn't anyone want to be respected? This has become a very morally weak society where no one has to take responsibility for any of their actions. I'm sorry but Obama cannot put morality and respect for one another back in this country and that's what it needs. I don't think any president can. That is for each person to do themselves. A fetus is a precious, developing life. Not a wart to be excised because it is unwanted or less than perfect.

Peter Griffin....your figures are incorrect. Sadam was not charged with killing that many people. If these facts as you state are available, Sadam would have been charged accordingly. You did not read the rest of the post. The main reason why bush invaded Irag is because Sadam had a contract on daddy Bush. And for McCain winning Tennessee, he may, but what about most all of the rest of the country he is winning.

Barack Obama voted against a ban on partial birth abortions and then went on to criticize the Supreme Court for upholding it. How is this considered anti-abortion! And no Mr. Taylor, I am not joking about abstinence. It isn't hard to abstain from sex when you don't let your genitalia do your thinking like some animal. But then again, I am an old fart from an era before "Girls Gone Wild".

From the mouths of babes...
All of you people that think Obama is the answer,all of you people that think Obama will bring change,let's see what you have to say about that choice in a year or so.Everyone has their right to an opinion and mine is with Obama change is ALL you'll have left!Ask any small business owner what they think about higher taxes which equals less growth meaning less employment which is essentially what Obama stands for!I will be voting for John McCain on Nov 4th for many reasons and yes,one of them is because he is PRO-LIFE!The other is because I DO NOT believe that people who work hard for their money should have the "wealth redistributed" to others who choose not to work as hard!Regardless of my opinion I do see the writing on the wall and while McCain winning this election is a long shot,once again my opinion,I do think he is the best man qualified for the job.Remember Nov 4th is right around the corner so get there and VOTE and Happy Halloween :)

Abstinence?!?!? Are you joking? Its the mindset of the Dark Ages to manage to convince yourself that simply telling kids "Don't have sex" is the best way of educating them and, in turn, preventing unplanned pregnancy. That hard-line belief system is hanging on to the coattails of knowledge and progress in this world. The current mess that is the evangelical right appears doomed, and rightfully so. Telling kids that jesus says not to have sex as a form of "education" is blasphemous to human existence.

Ms. Smith let's be realistic here shall we? The US Government has spent over $1 billion dollars since 1998 on an abstinence campaign that has had 0 effect. A 6 year study done on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, examined the impact of the abstinence-only sex ed. Researchers found no evidence that these abstinence-only programs increased rates of sexual abstinence. The point being that it's time to wake up and see that abstinence only programs do not work!!!! Sarah Palin is a strong advocate for abstinence only sex ed. It stands to reason that this is what she would teach to her own children, right? It appears this methodology didn't fair to well for her daughter. Sen. Obama has never advocated giving condoms to elementary school kids. It sounds like you're only getting your information from that Republican attack ad that aired back in September. Sorry to say that was debunked a long time ago.

Whoa there Mr. Burke. Human Rights Watch attributes Saddam with being directly responsible for the deaths of 1.1 million Iraqis. 600,000 of those were public civilian executions. This is only the deaths they know about. Who knows how many more could actually have happened. Since 2003 there have been somewhere between 88k and 96k civilian deaths associated with the Iraq war. I too am an Obama supporter but let's get our facts right. The only thing these mock elections do is illustrate who their parents will vote for. People who read more in to it are delusional. 8 year olds do not have the mental faculties to understand a tenth of what the candidates are even saying. McCain will win the popular vote in TN, it's no big surprise.

He is not anti-abortion! He has consistantly voted in favor of abortion. If he wanted to advocate for preventive pregnancy, then advocate for abstinence. If he had his way, the school would be handing out condoms to these kids! Is this the "logical solution of preventing unwanted pregnancies" you are referring to?

John Falin.....Your comment does not make sense. These are young children were not living during all the of Bush/Cheney years to see the damage the two have done, and McCain right there voting the same as Bush. These children were not living during the Clinton democratic years when times were the best this country enjoyed. These children have not lost money from 401K plans and have lost their jobs. These children were not living during the Clinton years when he worked with the Saudis to keep oil and gas prices down. Do the country a favor and go talk to anyone that knows anything about the economy and they will tell you that the world prospers under a democratic administration. Furthermore, McCain is such an angry man, do we want him as a role-model for our children? No we don't! We need someone that knows how to talk to people and solve problems without going to war with them. This unjust war in Irag has gone on long enough and should not have been started in the first place. Bush wanted the war because Sadam had a contract on Daddy Bush.
That is not a reason to invade a country. There have been more people killed in Irag because of Bush and Cheney than under Sadam.

Maybe kids realize that Obama's stand on aborton would legally murder them.

Carters Valley, like most of Northeast Tennessee, nothing else to say. Lower middle class voting for the wealthy and waiting on the drippings from the gravy bowl.

It's nice to know that at least the children are smart enough to know the best man for the job!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like there is some hope for John McCain....he can fool the elementary school children. But, look at the rest of the world that polls him and he is behind. The PEW poll suggests the world would be better off with Senator Obama. Yes, McCain has some supporters in the USA because he was a war hero. It takes more to run the country other than being a war hero and a lover of war as McCain is. The PEW poll was the world's view. That is a powerful view since we are in a global way of life.