Obama campaign patches up goof with Naperville Girl Scouts
After some prodding, staff donates items for 2nd-graders' political lesson
Jon Yates | What's Your Problem?
September 10, 2008
Michelle Walsh wanted to teach her 2nd-grade Girl Scout troop about the presidential election.
What the Naperville mother got was a lesson about the rough-and-tumble world of political finances.
Walsh said she called both campaigns and asked for free trinkets she could give the 7-year-olds to help them learn. If they did well, she explained, each Scout would earn her "Ms. President" patch. The tchotchkes would provide added incentive.
A representative for John McCain responded immediately, sending Walsh a box filled with stickers and signs.
The Barack Obama camp wasn't quite so generous, Walsh said.
The troop leader said she called Obama's Chicago campaign headquarters and explained why she needed the curios. Walsh said she was directed to Obama's Web site—where she could buy all the buttons and posters she wanted.
On the Web, a packet of 50 stickers that say "Obama '08" goes for $5; a yard sign is $8. "Got Hope?" bumper stickers are $3 each, or two for $5.
Walsh found the prices a bit exorbitant her small group.
She said she asked Obama's campaign worker again if she could get a few items for free. She pointed out that McCain's camp had agreed to send a box and, well, her 12-member Scout troop runs on a very small budget.
Walsh said the woman at Obama's headquarters put her on hold. After a few minutes, she returned with the same answer. The woman told her that she sympathized, but the Obama campaign needs every penny it can get, Walsh said.
"She said, 'We're up against the machine and we just can't hand anything out for free,' " Walsh said. "She was very nice . . . but I wasn't getting anything."
The woman then directed Walsh to another spot on Obama's Web site where she could print out pages for the girls to color on, she said.
Instead, Walsh e-mailed What's Your Problem?
"I was very surprised," Walsh said. "I thought this was a no-brainer. Especially since McCain's camp responded without a thought."
How, Walsh wondered, could a campaign that has raised roughly $400 million be so stingy?
Walsh said she was determined to remain impartial. "My whole point was I did get something from McCain. I can't even hand out the McCain items without something from the Obama side as well," she said.
The Problem Solver called Obama spokesman Justin DeJong.
Within days, an Obama employee personally delivered Walsh a box of pins, magnets and bracelets with the slogans "Hope" and "Obama."
DeJong said that whoever took Walsh's call at the campaign headquarters misspoke.
"Each day, we go out of our way to accommodate requests for signs, stickers and other items," DeJong said. "We're unsure who took Ms. Walsh's call."
The spokesman said Obama's Illinois campaign staff has also offered to meet with the Girl Scout troop to talk to them about the importance of the election.
Walsh said she declined the invitation because she would then feel obligated to bring in someone from McCain's campaign as well. That seemed a tad much for 7-year-olds, she said.
Included with the box of trinkets Obama's campaign gave Walsh was a letter from Obama wishing the girls good luck working on their "Ms. President" patches.
The woman who delivered the materials to Walsh's house was extremely nice, Walsh said.
Still, Walsh questioned why Obama's campaign didn't just send the materials when she first asked.
"I thought it was a little ridiculous," Walsh said. "I guess I don't understand what the problem was."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-problem-walsh-10-sep10,0,522300.column
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