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Third-grader no third-rater at questioning

Palin bobbles query about duties of vice president

By Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 22, 2008 at 7:45 p.m.
Updated October 23, 2008 at 12:43 a.m.

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Brandon Garcia's question to Sarah Palin: "What does the vice president do?"

Photo by Chris Schneider © The Rocky

Brandon Garcia's question to Sarah Palin: "What does the vice president do?"

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Eight-year-old Brandon Garcia has dreamed for a long time about becoming a police officer, but by the end of Wednesday he was throwing newscaster into the mix, too.

No wonder.

When his question, "What does the vice president do?" got pitched to the current contenders for the job, it put the Westminster third-grader's name front and center in the local and national spotlight - on the Today Show, the Keith Olbermann show Countdown on MSNBC, The Associated Press, 9News and, well, here.

His parents, Silviano and Graciela Garcia, have their own opinion of the turn of events.

"They said I'm great, and a good son," Brandon said.

It began when 9News came to Sunset Ridge Elementary School in Westminster to ask third-graders to rustle up questions for reporter Adam Schrager's viewer- driven Q & A Your Show. One of the questions would be posed to Joe Biden and Sarah Palin when they came through town this week.

Brandon said it took him three weeks to come up with his question. Biden's answer to "What does the vice president do?" passed under the radar. For some, Palin's remarks became the gotcha of the day.

Palin's answer - "they're in charge of the United States Senate, so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators" - has been pounced on by her critics, a fact that the 8-year-old found somewhat bemusing.

On one hand, Brandon is aware that Palin "answered my question almost wrong," but on the other hand, he thought her answer was "great," too. He especially liked the part where she promised "to make good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom."

But apparently she can't win his support. Brandon, a composed young man who speaks English and Spanish, and loves soccer and video games, has made up his mind whom he would vote for.

"Obama," he said. "I always listen to the speech of Obama in the commercial that he will help pay the rent of (our) house."

In any case, the school is tickled. "I think it's pretty neat," said Principal Roger Vadeen.

When the mother of Brandon's teacher called from New York to say she had just heard Brandon's name on Olbermann's cable show, Vadeen's thought was: "Hey! Brandon Garcia is kind of like Joe the Plumber!"

And to think it all might not have happened if Brandon had chosen his backup question.

"How old is the White House?"

Comments

  • October 22, 2008

    8:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    freefall writes:

    Vadeen's thought was: "Hey! Brandon Garcia is kind of like Joe the Plumber!"
    Um, yeah, sorta. Quit looking for his 15 minutes, we just squashed him.

  • October 22, 2008

    8:55 p.m.

    freefall writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • October 22, 2008

    9:04 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    forwhatitis writes:

    Brandon is not at all like Joe the Plumber. He is such a good son because he was born in the USA and thus help his parents who are illegal aliens reside here. And, just like the rest of em, he likes to hear that the government is going to help pay his rent!!

  • October 22, 2008

    9:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    dale14er writes:

    Who are we supposed to vote for when the VP candidate of one party apparently hasn't read the U.S. constitution, and the presidential candidate for the other party wants us to sell our freedom in exchange for security so he can "help pay the rent of (our) house"?

  • October 22, 2008

    9:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    TigerKOD writes:

    Socialism will help pay for his family's rent, with my hard earned dollars. NOBAMA

  • October 23, 2008

    5:23 a.m.

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    WHATRIGHTS writes:

    This poor kid, next we will be hearing that he is a democrat spy, his family members are tax evaders and this was a set up to take down the credibility of the republican candidate for VP....oh wait, no we won't, the republicans don't need to drag the "average Joe" Americans or children through the mud in a foul attempt to make themselves look better.

  • October 23, 2008

    6:35 a.m.

    18Zwife writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • October 23, 2008

    7:12 a.m.

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    danirobi writes:

    Which VP candidate are you talking about dale14er? Biden was wrong when he answered the VP question during the debate, saying that the ONLY job the VP has is to be President of the Senate? WRONG! Read Articles 1 and 2 of the Constitution and you'll find that the VP plays a role in both the legislative and executive branches. Oh yeah and read that 25th amendment too.

  • October 23, 2008

    7:27 a.m.

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    thelizard writes:

    The VP of the US is, in fact in charge of the Senate. According to Article 1 Section 3 of the Constitution. Other than saying they are president and cannot vote unless breaking a tie, there is no other information about how much the VP can work with the Senate. Historically some Vice Presidents have been very active especially during the early years, prior to various Senate rules.

    Palin was constitutionally correct. It's the blubbering Biden (the "constitutional scholar") who couldn't name the correct article or branch in which these duties were outlined during the VP debate.

    http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/h...
    <>Under the original code of Senate rules, the presiding officer exercised great power over the conduct of the body's proceedings. Rule XVI provided that "every question of order shall be decided by the President [of the Senate], without debate; but if there be a doubt in his mind, he may call for a sense of the Senate." Thus, contrary to later practice, the presiding officer was the sole judge of proper procedure and his rulings could not be turned aside by the full Senate without his assent.

    The first two vice presidents, Adams and Jefferson, did much to shape the nature of the office, setting precedents that were followed by others. During most of the nineteenth century, the degree of influence and the role played within the Senate depended chiefly on the personality and inclinations of the individual involved. Some had great parliamentary skill and presided well, while others found the task boring, were incapable of maintaining order, or chose to spend most of their time away from Washington, leaving the duty to a president pro tempore. <>

  • October 23, 2008

    7:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Hambone writes:

    Richard Darth Vader Cheney - probably more influence than any of us know in creating policy.

    Dan Quayle - no comment necessary.

    It depends on the administration.

    Presiding over the Senate is basically useless. Especially if the Democrats have that 60/40 majority. If that makes you mad then blame the current administration.

  • October 23, 2008

    8:26 a.m.

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    Highcountry writes:

    Brandon is way cooler than Joe The Plumber. Smart kid too. If he could vote, he'd back Obama. Hopefully his parents vote for him!

  • October 23, 2008

    8:55 a.m.

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    whatsupjay writes:

    First of all, the response Palin gave was intended for an EIGHT-YEAR OLD kid. Of course she has to dumb it down, in order to put it into terms that a naive child can understand. The critics have just totally lost touch with reality. The most disheartening part of the story was where the kid is quoted as favoring Obama because he'll help pay their rent. This point cannot be overemphasized...he's basically saying he favors the ticket that will give him the biggest government handout! What is this world coming to? What has gotten into the Hispanic community lately? Not long ago they valued hard work, independence, reliance on family and community (not government), and strong values. Now it seems to be "gimme, gimme, gimme...."

  • October 23, 2008

    12:08 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    disenchanted1 writes:

    forwhatitis you are an idiot how do you know he got his parents their papers?? go listen to more rush dimwitt you sound just like him!

  • October 23, 2008

    2:54 p.m.

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    mugsy writes:

    to disenchanted1: I hope you will enjoy helping this family and all the others like them pay their rent, their medical bills, their education bills, their car payments, their child care costs, their wardrobe expenses, their restaurant and grocery charges. They will really appreciate it and won't you feel good, you poor thing.

  • February 18, 2009

    5:56 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Oh_Wise_One writes:

    "Obama," he said. "I always listen to the speech of Obama in the commercial that he will help pay the rent of (our) house."
    Good grief. You kool aid drinkers get what you paid for, I will oppose this clown Obambi at every turn. Fools.