Kid's-Eye View Of GOP Convention

Children's Express, a group of stellar youth journalists, goes to San Diego to see what all the fuss is about

For 21 years, Children's Express, a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, has been using oral journalism to give children a substantial voice in the world. This time CE reporters and editors, who range in age from eight to 18, are in San Diego to give their take on the Republican gathering. Their stories are crisp, their insights fresh and their reporting revealing. AllPolitics is proud to have them as a collaborator. (Here's a quick take on CE.)

Aug. 15, 1996

Notebook

• CE And The Press
• Let Them Eat Chicken Feed

On Being an American

With immigration being a hot issue at this year's Republican convention, Children's Express asked young people around the country to answer the question: What is an American?

EduDole 2000?

If Sen. Bob Dole's plan to give vouchers to people so they could go to the schools of their choice works, kids from poor neighborhoods may not have to go to private schools to get a better education. However, doesn't the school have something to do with the students? When you put different kids in the school, it's going to change. It's not going to be like the private school that it was when it had all those fancy, rich people in it.

Aug. 14, 1996

Notebook

• BOB DOLE - HEARTTHROB?
• THE GREAT COMMUNICATOR
• THE CREDENTIAL HUNT
• CONGRESSMAN WINKALOT
• WINKALOT II

The Covering Of The Convention

A news team from Children's Express went down to the convention center to talk to the adult press about covering the biggest party the Republican Party has every four years. Some of them didn't want to be there because of all of the expense and hassle, but most of them thought it was important.

Being There at the Perfect Moment

Finally securing an interview with Republican candidate Bob Dole involved Snapple, a lost disposable camera and a small restaurant in downtown San Diego.

A Convention-Wide Roundtable On Abortion

Several groups of Children's Express reporters and editors fanned out across the convention center in San Diego to talk to people about what's important to them during the Republican National Convention this week. The one thing that kept coming up was the issue of abortion on the platform, though many said it shouldn't be so significant. One man's opinions on abortion were very unusual. We had never heard anyone say we should not have abortions so younger people can support the older people. It was a condescending view. He is not that old and he could still support himself.

Aug. 13, 1996

Notebook

• The Convention Beat
• Faceoff
• Interesting Characters

All In The Family

They march around San Diego and the convention center while the convention is going on, because the GOP doesn't think that they should be given the rights that everyone else has. They wanted to prove that they have a voice, too.They are not going to go quietly away -- they are going to be heard.

Dole/Kemp Take The Field

We started off the day at Jack Murphy Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers, where hoards of people wearing our nation's colors crammed into yellow school buses on their way to meet an old hometown hero. We boarded buses for the arrival ceremony for Senator Bob Dole and his newly selected running mate Jack Kemp. To my surprise, the bus passengers were already sporting Dole/Kemp in '96 shirts and banners. We walked to the dock where Dole's boat was landing. Everywhere we looked we saw red, white and blue -- shirts, hats, ties, and socks. One woman looked like a flag. She was red, white and blue all over -- even her USA earrings. She used to be a Democrat!

Notebook

• Dole's Arrival
• CE Party Notes
• Who Picks the VP?

A View From The Harbor

We went to a Dole arrival party at the Marriott Hotel at the Embarcadero. He was coming from Kansas with his running mate Jack Kemp. We were surprised that there were that many people, 17,000, to see two men that they could see on TV. It probably has something to do with the fact that they can go home and in later years say, "I was there."

Young Delegate Excited About GOP Convention

She gets a rush from politics that she doesn't get anywhere else, and after meeting Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, she found him to be all that she'd hoped for. Nineteen-year-old alternate delegate Jennifer Foxx is having a lot of fun.

Kids Discuss Family Values

Family values is a phrase often talked about by politicians, but seldom actually defined. Children's Express spoke with young people around the country about what they consider family values to be and where they learn them from.

Gingrich: The Tyrannosaurus Rex of Politics?

A picture of the Speaker of the House on the mantlepiece in his office has "Newtie and the Blowfish" written on it. There is the huge tyrannosaurus rex head that takes up a lot of space - you can see the teeth and it's actually kind of intimidating. We guess Newt Gingrich is kind of thought of as the tyrannosaurus rex of politics.

Kids Losing Ground

"If America is going to preach about the greatness of its democracy, it must open the doors for young people to participate in the workings of our country."

Quotables

"I hope most of you will not imitate Sam Donaldson but will instead imitate Rush Limbaugh." - Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to CE News Team after an interview

President, Anyone?

As part of the Children's Express "A Child's Voice in American Democracy Project," D.C. Children's Express teenagers held a roundtable to discuss whether or not young people still thought being President of the United States was a worthwhile pursuit.

McCain On Indians

John McCain, Senator from Arizona and Chairman of the Congressional Committee on Indian Affairs, discussed with Children's Express the value of reservation life for Native American children and how low educational standards and funding threaten their futures.

What Makes A Good Leader?

With the "character issue" set to become a big topic in this year's Presidential campaign, Children's Express asked some kids what they thought about character, leadership and what qualities they want their President to have.

San Diego Ready For GOP

San Diego Mayor Susan Golding sat down with a team from one of Children's Express' newest bureaus, based in the San Diego Central Library, to talk about her city's role as host of the Republican National Convention.

Forbes Backs Bob Dole

"Senator Dole's weakness is that he has spent a lot of time in the Senate."