Obama Meeting Costs High School Class President His Office
It’s a controversy involving a president and a would-be commander in chief.
But the president, in this case, is an 18-year-old Pennsylvania high school student who claims he was forced to resign as head of his senior class because he skipped gym and left school to see Democratic presidential would-be Barack Obama.
Colin Saltry, a Scranton High School senior, and fellow classmate Joey Daniel reportedly bolted school on Monday to catch a glimpse of the Illinois senator during a campaign stop at “The Glider” restaurant, just minutes away from their school.
Saltry and Daniel say they met Obama, snapped photos with him, and even had the candidate sign excuse slips to present to their teachers.
But their decision to skip out did not sit well with school administrators, who said the students broke the rules by leaving school without permission.
Both Saltry and Daniel were issued one-day suspensions. Saltry also claims school principal Brian McGraw told him to “start writing his resignation letter,” according to the Scranton Times-Tribune Web site.
McGraw reportedly denied the claim and said Saltry voluntarily withdrew as class president.
The Obama campaign declined to comment on the controversy. McGraw was not immediately available for comment.
Meanwhile, students at Scranton High School expressed outrage over Saltry’s resignation, posting online messages of support on his Facebook.com Web page.
The group site, which claims to be the official site for Saltry’s future presidential campaign — “sometime in the next 40 years” — was inundated with postings Wednesday by students angered over their classmate’s punishment.
“Help keep Saltry in office,” one statement read. ” Voice your support here on the wall or on his wall…Thanks for sticking by him and let’s rock 2008 right to the very bitter end!!!”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sigh - once again - a clear demonstration that there are few things in this country stupider than a public school administrator.
Ditching school is ditching school! What the heck is Obama thinking FALSELY SIGNING AN EXCUSE SLIP FOR THESE KIDS! Just another example of the stupid things he pulls and thinks nothing of it. Just another lie he signed off on.
Why would Obama write excuses for those two students to skip class. Has he not been talking about getting a great education for everyone?
Does excusing students that skipped school help his cause—I don’t think so!!!!!. He should have had a good talk with them about staying in school and not skipping classes. He would have set a better example for all students.
Go Hillary
or
Go McCain
no Obama
I think the students were met with the proper punishment. Don’t break the rules if you aren’t prepared to take the consequences. We are already facing a generation so focused on “ME” it’s hard sometimes to see how things every get done. They must learn it isn’t always about them…that they can’t just have everything the way they want it regardless. What does it say if a young man or woman does not follow the rules, and the school rules involved are common sense to a student who has any, and they are not disciplined for it? It says that in other areas they might be able to get away with the same things…hmmm, sounds alot like politicians at times huh? Ok, so perhaps I should change my opinion since it seems Saltry is an aspiring politician. Perhaps he’s on the typical track of one.
Yet another shining example that kids today think that as long as THEY feel they have a good reason, then rules/laws can just be ignored. The kid knew what he was doing would get him in trouble. If he wants to be a leader, then he needs to stop whining and accept the consequences of what he has done.
The students have to learn that they’re responsible for their actions.
There are often consequences to your actions.
I feel for the student, but he should have gotten permission. If the school didn’t give permission for something like this, the school should be held accountable, but the student should never have missed school without permission, especially a role model like class president. My child would be punished if they skipped without asking first. As a parent, I would have requested that he miss school for this occasion, but that he give an oral or written report on the event. This was an historical event and it seems it would have been appropriate for a student representative to be present.
Looks like we have future Democrats already breaking the rules.
Ridiculous,
We constantly bemoan the fact that our young people are apathetic and don’t care about voting and politics, then something like this happens to a kid who takes interest in politics and a campaign.
A former Republican, I would complain the same way if a young person was booted from office for meetign with Jon McCain too.
-Left the GOP and haven’t looked back.