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Monday, October 09, 2006

What's wrong with this picture?

This picture, which appeared in The Ledger (Lakeland, FL) last Friday, Oct. 6, ran with the following caption:
"U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, a candidate for U.S. Senate, helps Rachel Seifert, 6, fill out a straw poll ballot Thursday at Politics in the Park in Lakeland."
It's a cute photo, and Rep. Harris should no doubt be commended for getting little tykes like Rachel interested in the political process (although Rachel will soon learn it's a no-no for candidates to enter the poll booth with you and "help" you vote).

Just another fun day at the park with the kiddies, right?

Yet when one visits the Katherine Harris for Senate website, one finds a press release that suggests the Harris campaign places much more stock in the "results" of the "straw poll" that Rachel and her kindred grade-schoolers, having only recently mastered the alphabet, participated in:
Harris Beats Nelson -- Leads 54% to 45%

Thursday, October 05, 2006

TAMPA, FL- Congresswoman Katherine Harris, the Republican candidate for the United States Senate, soundly defeated Bill Nelson this evening by a 54% to 45% margin in the straw poll conducted at the Lakeland Bi-Annual Politics in the Park. The Harris campaign continues to build momentum, engendering tremendous grassroots support throughout the state with a pro-growth, pro-family message that resonates across the political spectrum.

Congresswoman Harris commented, “I appreciate the strong support of a majority of voters who are disillusioned with Bill Nelson’s lack of leadership and his record of voting against Florida’s best interests. I will fight for Florida in the United States Senate.”

The Lakeland Bi-Annual Politics in the Park straw poll illustrates the widespread support that exists for Harris’ consistent message of cutting taxes, eliminating wasteful spending, protecting the institution of marriage and opposing amnesty for illegal citizens.

Who knows, the Harris campaign could be right: maybe Rachel, before being seized on by Harris during an innocent game of marbles or duck-duck-goose, was busy discussing with her class-mates the finer points of federal tax policy and the immigration debate.

And maybe, after a spirited discussion of these issues with Harris at Chuck-E-Cheese, she even decided she agreed with Harris on, say, the estate tax and Congressional earmarks, and rallied her fellow post-preschoolers to drop their Fashion Fever Barbies and take a stand with the Harris campaign.

In which case, Rachel may very well vote for Katherine Harris in the November elections -- in 2018, when she's eligible to vote.

Until then, Harris has some catching up to do.
posted by Chris Kromm at 4:30 PM | Email this post | Post a Comment
7 Comments:
Blogger thesnotgreensea said...

Uhm, have you considered maybe Harris is simply showing the girl how it works?

10/10/2006 3:12 PM  
Blogger LM said...

Uhm, have you read the second paragraph which quotes the caption for the picture "U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, a candidate for U.S. Senate, helps Rachel Seifert, 6, fill out a straw poll ballot Thursday at Politics in the Park in Lakeland."
Even apologistas need to read for content.

10/10/2006 3:46 PM  
Blogger Dantzler Smith said...

who is taking the pictures for this newspaper? i mean, next time they should feel free to photoshop the guy's ass out of the forground.

also, of course kathrine harris is getting kids to vote for her. if you havent noticed, she's a little crazy. and if she doesn't think seperation of church and state is real, then why would she think that the amendment making 18 the official voting age is real either?

10/10/2006 4:02 PM  
Blogger thesnotgreensea said...

LM,
Yes, I did. What's your point? Replace Harris with Nelson in the photo and you think we'd be having this discussion then? The most plausible conclusion is not an apology.

10/10/2006 4:06 PM  
Blogger Blue Gal said...

Chuck E. Cheese! My kids love Chuck E. Cheese. But if they voted for Katherine Harris, even pretend, even in a straw poll, I'd give them time out for a month.

10/10/2006 5:49 PM  
Blogger cfaller96 said...

Green Sea, what part of "helps...fill out a straw poll ballot" did you not understand?

Part of me feels very glad that Katherine Harris will be kicked out in a few weeks, but a part of me feels very sad that we won't have Crazy Katie to kick around anymore.

10/10/2006 6:15 PM  
Anonymous superblibbet said...

People, people, people... It was one of those "straw polls" at what are called political "hob-nobs". They are expensive and KNOWN for attracting mostly Republicans/Conservatives/Rich People. I've been to a few only through union activity (could never afford it myself)... everyone is allowed to vote, even kids...it's supposed to be just for fun - and any politician or media that reports on it like it matters or has any validity, is just stupid, disengenuous, or delusional (all three?).

10/10/2006 7:51 PM  

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CHRIS KROMM blogs three days a week for Facing South. Chris is Executive Director of the Institute for Southern Studies and publisher of the Institute’s award-winning magazine, Southern Exposure.

SUE STURGIS blogs four days a week for Facing South. Sue is the Institute’s Editorial Director and a former reporter for The Independent Weekly and The Raleigh News & Observer.

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