High School Student to McCain: You’re No Leader

McCain’s nuts! What’s he doing addressing kids in a HS. The only ones in HS who will be old enought vote in the next election are also the one’s old enough to drink!

How can you claim that it is “disrespectful” to question the beliefs and discuss the issues of a man who wants to be the President of an entire, diverse nation? To say the Senator did not “deserve” that kind of aggressive questioning is complacent. We ALL, no matter our beliefs or political leanings, should question our want-to-be leaders and ask them the tough questions and not allow them to sidestep around real issues affecting millions of Americans. I say good for you Mr. Sleaster for being an intelligent young man and not accepting simplified political speech.

Kudos to the kid for speaking the truth! McCain is no leader and never will be.
Its too often we coddle senators, congress men and women that we are in the sad situation we are in today. Time we call all these fools for who they are “Cowards”
Defend the damn constitution and Impeach this administration.

Disrespectful are you kidding me? The HS student was dead on with his concerns, he asked profound questions and received a typical answer from a politician. What else would expect from someone who is so hypocritical as to demand resignation from one senator and not the other when the only differences in the choice of the illegal service provider was the gender of the person. Are they not the same offense, and in fact one is clearly the adulterer and one is an attempted adulterer…so much for the so called moral superior party.

McCain is a relic. Wake up, candidates! Whether these kids are old enough to vote in the next election isn’t the point. This is the next generation of voters and I think this young man did an excellent job of voicing their dissatisfaction with the status-quo.

No one running for office deserves respect. That’s a guise they hide behind in an attempt to have people NOT question them.

The child who spoke of taking away someone’s rights fails to understand the difference between privileges and rights. It is illegal to marry your sibling in all 50 states regardless of how much you care for each other. Does that mean your right to marriage has been taken away? No, it means your right to think like an idiot has been upheld and your friendly federal government has protected you from your stupidity. Likewise, those with other immoral leanings are also protected from themselves for their own good as well as the nation’s. If they should decide to behave as God and nature have designed them, they are free to marry any non relative of the opposite gender that they choose. As long as they are not illegal aliens :-)

The kid was disrespectful, but he was right. This is why I don’t do sitting Senators for president. They’re not leaders, they’re a bunch of deliberators who think they should be president. If he was a leader, he would have said just what Pete said. You can’t deny someone a right that they don’t have. I’m sure most pedophiles would like to have conjugal visits in prison from minors. Is this their right? Are we denying them? We give conjugal visits to other prisoners. Hence the slippery slope. Fortunately, most pedophiles have the good sense not to ask.

I love it when youth show up the adults.

John McCain divorced his first wife for a younger, richer wife before carpet-bagging himself to Arizona to get a Senatorial seat by playing up his POW-ness. Why the views on marriage by a confessed cheater should be respected is something I don’t understand.

At least someone had the guts to say it. Too bad it’s a high school student and not a regular-Joe voter. And why shouldn’t gay marriage be legal? Just because someone’s outdated and skewed interpretation of the Bible says it shouldn’t? Equal rights for all, period.

Ahh, the “desperation that homophobic bigots are experiencing”. That’s the typical smear tactic used by those who so boldly believe in their own enlightened position that they don’t deign to actually engage in debate. Mr. Sleaster is someone who came to this meeting with an agenda and managed to highlight the blissful ignorance of a generation enamored with it’s own psuedo intelligence. More and more Americans are not becoming supportive of the gay and lesbian “plight” but the media and academia are getting more and more up front and vocal about their support of the issue. There are few voices in the “mainstream” media that oppose “gay marriage”. But outside of those concentrated blue zones on the opposite coasts most Americans are pretty disgusted by the idea. But then again, the rest of America is not nearly as enlightened as those inhabiting those cities. Homosexuality, like prostitution, drug abuse, murder, rape and various other social cancers has and always will be with us. We accept it as part of life. Just don’t try and force feed us the politically correct, moral equivalency garbage that makes up your socialistic, nihilistic philosophy. FYI, I’m no supporter of McCain.

“Homosexuality, like prostitution, drug abuse, murder, rape and various other social cancers has and always will be with us.”
I can’t believe you just grouped homosexuality with rape and prostitution. People like you are the reason our country is bass-ackwards as far as civil rights go. Who cares if you think it’s disgusting? You don’t have to get married to a same-sex partner. Let ALL of our citizens have equal rights, it doesn’t have to be about the Bible, it should be about equality and what our country used (and should still) to stand for.

congrtats to this High Schooler. it’s a shame when a person in High School is the only one to know the difference between double-speak rhetoric and BS. Too bad more adults aren’t up to speed with what credentials a real leader needs.
btw: he was no way disrespectful, in fact McCain was, for not answering the question.

I support Barack Obama 100%. But I totally disagree with that student’s behaviour.
Yes, he was very disrespectful and Yes, McCain was very diplomatic.
Shame to you, Sleaster or hwetevr your name is.

What we’ll find out soon, is that republicanism is a disease, likely viral, possibly inherited, and we’ll know which direction to turn for a cure.
Meanwhile, the only response that makes sense: quarantine. If you find yourself in the same location as a republican, quickly get a surgical mask on, and leave the premises. Do not, do NOT attempt to engage the patient, this should only be undertaken by professionals. If you can, call former Senator Larry Craig for advice and logic.

“But then again, facts have never been one of the liberals (read utopian socialists) big concerns.”
Wow, some jokes really do write themselves! It would take a joke like that to believe in this superstition about gays.

I am a Gay American and I would not die for my country.
It has done nothing to provide me with equal rights. With foriegn countries recongnizing their gay citizens with the right to marry, they are surpassing the world’s most powerful nation in humanity and respect.
I was born a second class citizen and hopefully, with the help of our next generation, I won’t have to die one.
Bravo for questioning authority.

Utopian Socialists? You mean, Communists? Wow, tellitlikeitis, you can use Wikipedia to string together words that you believe make you sound intelligent. We’re all very impressed. But save the pseudo-intellectualism, and just call us Commies like you want to.
And precisely which “facts” are YOU so concerned with, tellitlikeitis? The “fact” that the universe is 5000 years old? The “fact” that dinosaurs and humans lived happily together as portrayed on The Flintstones? The “fact” that every animal on the planet today had an ancestor on a big wooden ark a few thousand years ago? Or is it the “fact” that God hates homosexuals and wants you to hate them too?
As for your poll, I’m sure you can find a poll from the 1950′s that supported segregation. Do you support that, too? What’s the difference? It’s our responsibility as a society to protect and equate the rights of minorities among us. Especially when it’s not the popular thing to do.
Have fun on your trip to the creationism museum, tellitlikeitis. Do lots of research.

Bravo!!! Mr. Sleaster – my hat is off to you. Way to call it as you see it.
Regardless of whether other’s agree with your or disagree with you – it is YOU who acted like a leader, by doing what your heart told you to do.
Those people on this board who are insulting you for speaking your mind — THEY are the followers. I’d venture that those who have a problem with what you said are simply ‘Right-Wing-Authoritarin-Followers.’ They believe that it’s your DUTY – as an American citizen – to shut up and keep from doing anything that undermines the authority of our glorious “leaders.” Don’t believe them.
Again, bravo for showing what TRUE leadership is all about.

Sleaster pressed on. “Do you support civil unions or gay marriage?”
“I do not,” McCain answered. “I think that they impinge on the STATUS and the SANCTITY of marriage between a man and a woman.”
The kid is right. Straight people fight to preserve a higher STATUS than gay couples is disgusting.
No CIVIL MARRIAGE has any SANCTITY they are a government civil – not religious – union. It is misleading to fall onto the sanctity BS when talking about a secular marriage – which most religions do not recognize as valid.
So this kid was right…. just a rich white straight military guy … working to CONSERVE (that is why they are called conservatives folks) THE STATUS QUO that gives him more STATUS than others in our society.
GO KID!!! GO !

I’m so exhausted with the Moral Superiority Right Wing clique. Gay/Lesbian/Transgendered individuals are people too.
When did Christianity become a religion of hate and exclusion? I know that there must be loving, caring Christians out there, but it seems like the only ones we see any more are the ones spouting bigotry and regressive social policies.

How considerate – and pseudo-intellectual of you to so rabidly attack a high school student who had the courage of his conviction to face a presidential candidate and, in the process, give many of us faith in the younger generation. I don’t live on either “left” coast, nor do I believe you begin to have the right to speak for me and hundreds of thousands of other enlightened, tolerant, American citizens who feel that EVERYONE deserves a voice under the Constitution (as it was written).
I don’t care what CNN poll you wish to quote, and none of my gay friends know what this alleged “homosexual agenda” stands for – perhaps you could tell them.
McCain is running to be president of the United States. As citizens, we don’t have a right or privilege to confront candidates – even U.S. Senators – on their positions. Every American citizen has a duty to learn everything they can about the candidates, and that means asking tough, thoughtful questions – not listening to sound bites, or accepting only what a high school student’s parents want him/her to hear or believe.
Accepting complacency or mediocrity is akin to a willingness to live under fascism. And when did “Christianity become defined by hate and intolerance?
With any luck, Mr. Sleaster will run for public office once he graduates from college.

A 16 year old? This Slickster, or whatever his name was, can’t hold McCain’s soiled underwear. Calling McCain too old and too conservative was merely the liberal brainwashing he’s been subjected to by his dullard parents living under Bernie Saunders.

I salute the young man who sunmmoned the courage to offer the questions. I am proud to consider he and I as fellow Americans. I also salute Senator McCain for his encouragement of this type of discourse, no matter that it put him on the spot. Altogether, a refreshing diversion from some of the vituperative and mean-spirited text included in the responses. You don’t have to agree with either of them to see that they both deserve respect and gratitude for keeping the level of discussion at a relatively high level. Thanks to both of the gentlemen.

McCain is a moron — and a hypocritical moron, at that. I agree with Mr. Sleaster 100%.

“Ironic the kid’s name is Sleaster…” by Aaron….
I find it ironic that just because someone questions and stated his feeling in looking for a leader that Aaron needs to imply that the student is a Sleaze. Hmmm… Sounds to me that he (Aaron) has learned some basic propaganda tools by those who don’t know that the process is about questioning. Sleaster in my book is much more intelligent. Go Sleaster!

aw, poor McCain…..some kid had the guts to tell it like it is and you all fawn around McCain like adoring dolts.
DAMN RIGHT that kid had nerve. Will ny of you NOT be allowed into your partner of 25 years hospital room because a parent he has not spoken to in years won’t allow it, AND……..because of no gay unions the partner has no recourse?
hypocrites. Good for this kid for having the nerve to stand up to this moron

“I understand,” McCain said. “I thank you. That’s what America is all about.”
Good, then recognize your finished..and drop out of the race

Outside Looking In hit the nail right on the head. This high schooler we’re all talking about did the right thing. He stood up for himself and that which he believed in. That is, believe it or not, part of what this country stands for.
This whole argument really is quite frustrating. America falesly prides itself as being the so-called “Land Of The Free,” quite possibly the biggest joke I’ve ever heard in my life! If this really were a “free” nation, I’d be allowed to legally marry the one man I’ve loved with all that I am for the last fifteen years.
It genuinely offends me when bigots automatically equate homosexuals with drug-pushers, sex addicts and child molesters. These are people who, years ago, had the nerve to tell me that my relationship was invalid, that it wouldn’t last, and that I would somehow contract the AIDS virus simply because I was gay. Well, here I am 15 years later, still happy–DISEASE FREE, thank you very much–and still with the same wonderful man my MOTHER, of all people, introduced me to! Ironically, each and every single person who ever doomed my relationship to failure have all seen their own collective marriages wither away and ultimately succumb to the bitterness of divorce. This is why I simply laugh anytime some stranger, who doesn’t affect my life one way or the other, shuns the happiness that I have with somebody I’ve never considered as anything less than a loving husband.
Discrimination is discrimination. Why is that such a difficult concept for certain people to wrap their minds around?
I applaud William Sleaster for what he did. He has a great head on his shoulders and deserves nothing but the utmost praise.

“The idiocy of this statement shows just how much this Sleaster kid has been spoon fed the pro homosexual agenda via mass media.”
Oh yes, I bet the poor kid also believes in equal rights for blacks, including interracial marriage– more evidence of his brainwashing by the pro-black agenda!!!!1
My god. I try to be open-minded to all views, but the utter denial of rational thought among anti-homosexuals is absolutely mindboggling.
…but that’s not what we came to discuss. Unsurprisingly, I’m full of kudos for the kid. Not many teenagers seem to be able to think past “Bush ROOLZ” or “Bush SUCKZ”, politically, but this kid seems like he actually knows what he believes, and knows what he would like to see in a leader. It’s enough for me to not give up all hope in my generation…

“No CIVIL MARRIAGE has any SANCTITY they are a government civil – not religious – union. It is misleading to fall onto the sanctity BS when talking about a secular marriage – which most religions do not recognize as valid.”—–
Oh ho. I had not even considered it from that angle. That’s a very good point… it perfectly augments the “marriage as a social, not just religious, institution” argument.

Sleasters gutsy jabs at Republican/Democrat antigay politician McCain may seem like a minor incident in the campaign, but it represents a sea change going on in American politics. Our fight against the Democrat/Republican Parties DADT and DOMA and for a tough EDNA are integrated into the politics of a new generation unburdened as never before by bigotry.
Sleaster’s linking that to “how to help the working class in America” represents the next big break for our movement – using the connectivity of our issues with those of our natural allies and working with them in independent political actions away from the treachery, corruption and ‘politics as usual’ of the Democrat/Republicans, the political organ of the billionaires.
Sleaster is light years ahead of frauds who masquerade as leaders but hustle and shill for the politics that have kept us in chains for generations. Sleasters generation is ringing the death knell for sellouts like HRC, the Logheads and the Stoneheads.

The kid is right on the money. By the way, McCain doesn’t even believe what he said. He has said before that he has no problem with same-sex marriage, which is the typical live-and-let-live decency of Arizonans. He only says his right-wing drivel in his quest to get the Republican nomination, also known as Operation Fat Chance.

I am not a supporter of Sen. McCain’s views on the war, etc., etc. I also support William Sleaster’s right to ask tough questions. Having said that, his comments about McCain not being a leader were out of line, and very disrespectful! Just because William’s views are not those of McCain’s doesn’t give him the right to insult McCain…He WAS disrespectful, plain and simple… he probably hasn’t even started shaving yet, and he’s already shooting off his adolescent mouth to a most distinguished war hero and U.S. Senator… Sleaster should have ended the dialogue with his last question, and kept his opinion about leadership to himself, the disrespectful punk!

The student was not only perfectly correct but perfectly respectful. Being able to tell a public offical that you disagree with his stance is the essence of being an American. The student didn’t interrupt a speech, didn’t use profane language. He made a declarative statement to a campaigning politician.

“The kid was disrespectful, but he was right. This is why I don’t do sitting Senators for president.”
Disrespectful HOW? Having the guts to stand up and ask direct questions that should be expected in politics? Aren’t they equally as direct in the Senate at question time? Isn’t that the reason you go into politics, to interact?
No-one would have said Sleaster was “disrespectful” if it were any other question other than a gay one, because no-one would have noticed!
I like this kid and I’m straight and totally support his view. Marriage is not threatened, it’s the state’s idea of “Christian American identity” that feels threatened and it’s time these old warhorses stopped putting heavy expectations on everyone else.

I think if the gays all want equal rights, then break off a chunk of land from Texas and let them all live on it as a Sovereign Nation. They can make up their own laws and rules and not bother us with their “equal right for all b.s.” And since they seem to think being republican is soo bad then they can all become democrats… See how far that gets them.

Psst. Hey PETE. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and endowed with the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There’s the right you were lookin for. Happy to help!

Apparently,rightwingers only use the word “disrespectful” when it appears to be directed against a fellow rightwinger. To me this shows they don’t really give a hoot about “respect” since they really have none and actually deserve none.

What a disrespectful little snot! Talk about being raised with no manners. He’s not fit to gather the crumbs under Sen McCain’s feet. McCain is a war hero, who’s service to this country is one of the reasons this jerk gets freedom of speech. Must be awful having to pander to the likes of high school students….Sen McCain has two sons serving in the US Miltiary…wanna bet smart mouth will never serve?

What a disrespectful kid?! McCain has served our country in ways more than a book can be written. He served our nation bravely. When he was captured and being tortured in Vietnam, he refused a deal to be let go early before other POW because he believes in first comes first leave and won’t dishonor himself and his fellow soldiers. He stayed in a POW prison for another 5 years without knowing if he will make it out alive. McCain has served honorably as our senator. That little punk all he can do is whine. Frankly, he is the kid of person who will sell out his country in the face of someone will torture him. Frankly, many great Americans are against gay marriage. People somehow thought this is a republican-democrat thing. No, it is not. Colin Powell certainly against gay marriage. Bill Clinton signed the infamous Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). John Kerry and G Bush both ran on “support civil union, but against gay marriage” in 2004. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and Bill Richardson are all against gay marriage.
You know. I am actually for gay marriage, but it is these disrespect jerks (like this kid) make me wonder what I am standing for sometime.
Some people are confused. They thought the whole “protection of traditional marriage” ideal is pushed by only Christians. Well, what a ignorant idea! China is a atheist country and it does not allow gay marriage. Saudi is a Islamic country, and gays are stoned to death — by being just gay. India is Hindu, and there is no gay marriage. Gays in America have more protection than say in China or North Korea, which are atheist countries, so please do not make it into some “Christian versus gay” things.

The Right Wingers here are simply bitter because they know that kids like Sleaster will change the future and not in the way the right wing wants..
Interracial Marriage was taboo a few decades ago to older generations, but younger generations see nothing wrong with it. The same will soon be said of Gay Marriage and Conservatives know it. Their only defense is to say that “the homosexual agenda” is brainwashing kids. I suppose these people would have said the same things about the “civil rights agenda”.
These politicians are too used to speaking in front of supportive audiences that agree with everything they say. And sadly for the Republican party–kids aren’t on their side. :)

Posted by: Dave | Sep 4, 2007 1:02:32 PM
“So you believe in taking away someone’s rights becuase you believe it’s wrong?” The idiocy of this statement shows just how much this Sleaster kid has been spoon fed the pro homosexual agenda via mass media. Homosexuals have no right to marry so there’s no right to deny. No one has the right to do drugs though many do and many more think that there’s nothing wrong with it. Just becuase someone wants to do something they don’t automatically have a “right” to do it. I thought my generation was pretty pathetic but this shows that the next one is even worse.
Oh Really Dave? What is the Gay Agenda? Wanting to be treated Equally..you know, like the laws Heteros TAKE FOR GRANTED>? Not being fired from your job because your gay? Being able to adopt/or foster a child? The 1400 Federally backed rights Marriage gives to heteros? Even Hetero murderers on death row can marry,but law abiding,TAX paying Gay citizens can’t? Let’s take away or limit your rights and see how you like it!

> “Wow, in every post I’ve read the fact that left wingers actually do think that they have a more enlightened grasp on what society really should be keeps coming to the surface.”
Wow, in every post I’ve read the fact that right wingers actually do think that they have a more enlightened grasp on what society should be keeps coming to the surface.
Grow up.

I agree with Sleaster, that it is completely unfair for someone to deny a gay couple the rights to engage in an affair. McCain might as well prohibit two men from being friends. One could say that if two people of the same sex were supposed to be together, the would be able to reproduce together. The point of the human race is to expand, and same sex relationships does not encourage that. Even though both sides can be argued for centuries with even force, I believe that one cannot control who they love. It is fate that puts two people together, and a leader cannot reverse fate.

Grumpy Gramps said:
“…Where one is weak the other is strong. Children need to be raised by TWO HEALTHY parents (a man and a woman) to be able to learn how to function effectively and become well rounded, functional, successful adults. Single parents (I was one), self centered parents, same sex parents, work alcoholic, emotionally immature parents…are selfish and thinking NOT of what is best for the child — but their own desires of “having a family” etc. You only need to look at the current generation and the children of the 60′s to see the damage that has been done.”
As a Gay Man who has been happily partnered for 13 years and has raised a ‘genetic’ son I am truly amazed at your ignorance.
Your basic argument is that kids raised by Straight parents are ‘good’ and ‘whole’ (except for those darn ‘hippies/commies/(u fill in the blank)’)? What data are you using to justify this supposition? If I may be so bold, I don’t believe that you have any data to back up your hypothesis – you are using a vague/general concept to justify your beliefs.
Have you met any kids raised by a gay or lesbian couple? Have you spoken with them? Have you sat in their families’ homes and talked about your concerns? Have you talked to their teachers? coaches? parents? Probably not…
Before you go judging people, try walking in their shoes for a day or two…

I get very, very ticked off when my generation is basically told that we’re hopeless, but when something happens that could potentially prove that we have a collective IQ of more than a box of rocks, the kid gets called disrespectful.
I think it’s awful to use that wonderful thing called a double-edged sword without telling us: we’re “lazy, good-for-nothings” if we don’t say what we think, but we’re “disrespectful” if we do, and it hurts someone’s feelings.
Can someone make up his/her mind?
Personally, I’d like a follow-up on this: did the kid get a detention/suspended?

The student WAS disrespectful. Whether he had good points or not, he went about expressing them in a very disrespectful manner. Every word that came out of his mouth was argumentative and completely unnecessary. McCain showed respect for the kids differing opinion, and the little brat refused to show him the same courtesy.

first of all mccain has served this country for many years and does not deserve the disrespect.. in the bible and i will quote leviticus 18:22 you shall not lie wit a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination

Whether one agrees with the high schooler’s views, dissent, doubt, and constant vigilance is indispensible to a working democracy. There are countries in which one is not allowed to critcize their leaders. See North Korea, Stalin’s Russia, Hitler’s Germany, amongst others. It is a sad day in America when dissent has been given the label of disrespectful. Let those who deserve respect get it and may those who don’t not get slavish adoration because of popular ideology.

And RJ…A president puts his/her hand on the Bible or other holy book of choice if he/she chooses to, and swears to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. He/She doesn’t put his/her hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold The Bible.

LOL. McCain dodges but the kid is “disrespectful.” Republicans have become too accustomed to hand-picked crowds and prearragned questions.

Wow, so many ignorant comments from “Christians” and republican party wanna-be hacks. I think the kid did great! McCain is a tool, and his defenders (at least here) appear to mostly be small-minded, foolish people that are easily persuaded to follow whoever says the word “jesus,” which has the same observable effect on reality as the word “expelliarmus.”
The stupid runs deep in my country. Bravo to this student for not letting himself get washed away in it.

Pete, sorry to burst your bubble but the survey data just doesn’t support your conclusions.
For example, Gallup, a respected leader in polling the public has been taking a poll on what Americans think is moral and immoral since 2001. For the first time, it’s even split on homosexuality. (48% to 48%)
A different gallup poll from 2007 shows that 59% of respondents think homosexual relations should be legal, that’s up from 50% in 2003.
Pew Research released a poll in 2007 that showed that people who know gay folks are more likely to support their civil freedoms than those who merely hear about them from preachers and politicians.
The Pew center found in 2006 that 51% of Americans still oppose legalizing gay marriage, but in 2004, there was much more opposition(63%).
So sorry, homosexuality IS becoming more acceptable.

Respect is earned not given. What has McCain done to earn respect?
Oh yeah, he sat in a ditch for 5 years because he was patriotically fighting an illegal war and was dumb enough to get caught and too dumb to talk his way out.
The kid is right – he’s no leader, just a whiner, whining about how he spent a gazillions years as a grunt. dumbass.

The kids was brave. Its like asking his own father about sexuality. It sound disrespectful but in deep, the question is sound.