by Don Frederick
As 11-year-old Dalton Hatfield set about selling his earthly possessions, his parents thought he was doing his part to help pay for a family vacation.
Instead, he was doing his part to help his favored presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton. And on Friday, the young fellow made news when he presented a stunned Bill Clinton with a check for $440.
The former president, according an Associated Press story on the occasion, "seemed to nearly come to tears" as he accepted the donation at a fire station in Williamson, W.Va. (one of the many off-the-beaten-path locales where he has been rallying support for his wife).
The Hillary Clinton campaign, understandably, was so taken with the boy's gesture that today it posted the AP story on its website. Every little bit helps, after all, when it comes to erasing the $20-million debt that the campaign acknowledged on Sunday.
Killjoys that we are, we checked federal regulations just to make sure everything was on the up-and-up with Hatfield's contribution. And we are relieved to report ...
that it passes muster.
The key, according to the law, is that the "decision to contribute is made knowingly and voluntarily by the Minor" and that the "funds, goods, or services contributed are owned or controlled by the Minor."
Hatfield generated his money, he told the AP, by peddling his video games (talk about commitment!), bicycle and anything else "I could make money with.''
It's just as well he didn't cast his lot with Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential race; otherwise, his initiative might have been squelched. The Times' resident expert on campaign finances, reporter Dan Morain, reminded us that on its fundraising pitches, Obama's campaign says it will not take money from federally registered lobbyists, political action committees and those under the age of 16.
We could be hearing more from Hatfield, who's from the Appalachian town of McAndrews, Ky. (close to the border with West Virginia). He says that after becoming a lawyer, "I want to be governor or a senator, then president."
As thrilled as the Clinton camp is by the lad's generosity, there is one possible downside to it. Given the history of the region he hails from, we came only assume an onslaught of McCoy money is headed Obama's way.
Don Frederick writes the Top of the Ticket blog at the LA Times
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Comments
Isn't it heart-warming to hear of HRC's campaign taking money from an 11 year old. (How much are her campaign staffers being paid, again?) It's all the more warm and fuzzy when you consider that HRC has virtually no chance of winning the nomination. Like taking candy from a baby . . . . Doesn't this just make you feel good?
Posted by: Buster | May 12, 2008 5:57 PM
Another "puff piece" for the Democrats. Gosh!...even 11 yr. old children want "change." If the kid was going to give his money to McCain, I'm sure the author would have looked into his families background to see if he is part of some evil right-wing organization. Gosh !...he might even belong to those evil Boy Scouts or maybe his father is an NRA member. Maybe this kid even goes to church on Sunday's? It's amazing how the media is in the tank for the Dem's.
Posted by: joe | May 12, 2008 6:31 PM
Don't become a lawyer, kid. If you go that route the only thing that'll happen is you'll get corrupted by slumlord political patrons the same way that Obama did with Tony Rezko. Or you'll end up an ambulance chaser like John Edwards.
Try professional wrestling or stand up comedy as an entree to politics. Those are the only sure paths.
Posted by: Jeff | May 12, 2008 7:06 PM
What do you expect - it happened in West Virginia. Clearly, the kid is no Rhodes Scholar in terms of making sound investments.
Posted by: Wolfgang | May 12, 2008 7:07 PM
What a waste of money....poor kid
Posted by: Billary Clinton = bad for you, bad for America | May 12, 2008 7:10 PM
How low can you go?
As a result of her mismanagement, Hillary's campaign debt is now estimated at $20M.
Is this going to become a new fundraising scheme for the Clintons? KIDS! Sell your stuff and give the money to me! Me! Me! Me!
Pathetic.
Posted by: Susan | May 12, 2008 7:34 PM
HOW could a grown woman MILLIONAIRE take that much money from a child ????
I'll tell you how - it's the lying cheating clintons - that's how. The are so arrogant they believe they deserve what no other adult would accept.
Tomorrow they will get a clue and give the money back. (A second publicity stunt off of the same kid).
No decent person would have taken it in the first place.
Still this is nothing compared to the amount of money Hillary will take from ALL WORKING PARENTS WHO ARE U.S. CITIZENS if she gets elected - add several zeros to this kid's "donation".
P.S. the kid is not of age to make such a decision - the parents will no doubt try to make up for the loss of money by getting some publicity of their own - heck the clintons may have even staged this - it sure would not be the first time - watch and see the kid will be interviewed by Katie Couric or Matt what's his name before week's end.
Even if the kid were of age and consented to the act, he would have still been subjected to falling for the lies and undue influence of Bill - sound familiar ????
Posted by: katt | May 12, 2008 10:14 PM
jeff - good comment (and funny) but how in heck could you possibly leave out the fact that BOTH CLINTONS ARE LAWYERS (although Bill was dis-barred for perjury) and BOTH have been associated with some sleeeezy deals themselves ?????
JEFF - Are you one of those hillarites who ALWAYS keeps blinders on ??? (in other words a hillarite period - because virtually all hillarites are so careful to keep their blinders on at all times that reminding people of this fact is rather redundant)
IF you are one of those blinded hillary supporters, I truly feel very sad for you. if not, then sorry - my bad (but hillarites are, if anything, champions of double-standards - if nothing else - so you never know)
Posted by: katt | May 12, 2008 10:27 PM
Such a double standard in the reporting.
"Killjoys that we are, we checked federal regulations just to make sure everything was on the up-and-up with Hatfield's contribution. And we are relieved to report ...
that it passes muster."
Had you done the same regarding the Rezko stuff, millions of impoverished Obama supporters could have saved some cash, too.
Posted by: Killjoy gets around | May 13, 2008 12:08 AM
Don't become a lawyer, kid. If you go that route the only thing that'll happen is you'll get corrupted by slumlord political patrons the same way that Obama did with Tony Rezko. Or you'll end up an ambulance chaser like John Edwards.
Try professional wrestling or stand up comedy as an entree to politics. Those are the only sure paths.
Posted by: Jeff | May 12, 2008 7:06 PM
Someone is losing it, (Jeff) or drinking way to much Kool-Aid. Of course if you want comedy you need only wait a day or to until John McSAME's next senior moment. The kid should have kept his money. I guess his folks never told him about the 100 plus million that the Clintons pulled down the last few years. I wonder were it all came from?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6fmyH_Yh2c&feature=user
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z394KVHF9Gw&feature=user
Posted by: Anton Chigurh | May 13, 2008 12:08 AM
Don- this story was disgusting. Little kids should not donate money to public servants under any circumstances. Donate time? Fine. Raise funds for a school program or charitable cause? Fine. Money to an elected official. Wrong.
You'd think that an adult from the Clinton campaign would've said, "Thanks, we're touched but save the money for law school. You can help us pass out some yard signs."
Shame on HRC, Maggie Williams and crew. It is becoming increasingly apparent that continuing this campaign will only separate more gullible or naive donors from their money to retire debt.
Let the Clinton's do it themselves. Unlike this kid, they can afford to.
Posted by: Critical Dune | May 13, 2008 11:48 AM