Hillary Clinton or video games? One 11-year-old's choice

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

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[mona]

What a very perceptive, intuitive 11 year old. Making the right decision for America. It's too bad he is smarter than all the college educated elitists supporting Obama.

President Hillary 08

[T Ross]

Cute story, but the boy's parents should have explained to him that at this point in Hillary's campaign the donation would go to pay off her gross $20 million debt- not to the hope of a nomination.

Where are the informed parents these days?

[Bobby Hatfield]

It is shameful for Mrs. Clinton to accept political donations from a 11-yr old child and even worse for her to use his story in a juvenile manner by posting it to her website in dire hopes to elicit more campaign contributions from minor age children.

Shame on you Mrs. Clinton. Give back the child's donation and stick to raising money from adults.

By the way, does it not seem strange that a 11-yr old child can donate to a Presidential campaign BUT he cannot post to this website ?

[joe]

If you are under 13 years of age you may not post. So I quess that also includes Doltan Hatfield.

[CC]

Legal or not, it's a rotten thing to do. That child is throwing his money away, and the Clintons are bragging about it. Disgusting.

[DALE]

Kid, keep your money! its not worth it.. put toward a real cause like feeding a homeless person, or building a garden for the neighborhood. You just flushed $440 dollars down the drain.. kiss it goodbye. However, it is good to see youth get involved and not worry about their material poccessions!

[Jessica.]

Oddly appropriate that he'd be selling his video games in support of Clinton... as she stoically opposes video games, and has even tried passing legislation AGAINST them. How sad.

Video games don't make people violent- people like Hillary do!

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=051129223726.dqn74ka0&show_article=1

[Dee]

A fool and his (or her) money are soon parted.

[Bill]

Like taking candy from a baby....

[WOW. That should shut the pundits up.]

You know, if an eleven year old kid so strongly believes that Hillary Clinton shouldn't drop out of the race, that he sells his bike and video games to help her --- I think the pundits should respectfully shut up and let Hillary run until someone reaches the required delegate number. This kid gets the young patriot award of the year.

[Rick Sparks]

And, of course, the Clintons TOOK the money. From an 11-year old. Sheesh.

[wolf]

So, multi-millionaire Bill Clinton will take the only $440.00 an eleven year old has.

*sigh*

[Mike from CT]

The "happy end" to the story would have been for the Clintons to return the check (and perhaps add another $100 to the campaign's debt by helping the boy rebuy what he had sold).

I can admire the lad's commitment, but he is still an 11 year old. He (presumably) doesn't have the maturity or judgement even to post a comment, here....

[Miri NY]

& her Health care plan would make the kid's parents spend 5 times that much every month to give to her insurance company cronies

[Kent]

It would be more heartwarming if I didn't know just how hard that kid's parents probably had to work to get those things for him (it's not like the kid earned the money to buy the stuff) - probably cost a bit more than the $440 he got. But not everyone in West Virginia is dirt-poor, I don't see a struggling family letting their kid sell all his toys for pennies on the dollar. Maybe they thought it was a good learning experience.

For a kid in W. Virginia to be in the national news is a lifetime experience. All and all, I'll bet the family is proud - and now they are somewhat famous.

[Michael]

We should all be grateful that, unlike Barack Obama, he didn't take the money and buy coke with it.

Right?

Isn't using cocaine a felony?

Didn't Obama admit to a felony?

And he's running for President with his adoring followers.

I want to vomit.

M

[Vince]

The little squeaker just pawned all of his belongings to donate some chump change to Hillary Clinton just before she's about to drop out. I think the kid's parents should have talked some sense into the kid. Its not even his money anyway, I'm sure his parents bought his bike and video games for him, and now likely they're just going to give him some more.

[Gloria]

Wow, even a sweet story of an 11 year old with dreams and hopes for the future deciding to put his money behind Senator Clinton can't get it's proper due. It has to be tarnished by words of "debt" and other crap that has zero to do with the actual story. The story is a great one.

I'm not sure what kind of breed these Obama supporters are and I'm shocked by how unnecessarily cruel and childish they are acting at all times. It really sickens the heart. It's the reason that us HRC supporters will not, by any means necessary, vote for Obama.

And we won't. The percentages keep rising.
Why would we vote such a hateful person with vindictive followers...? no way in hell.

[Franky]

To Michael:

lol - don't worry, he didn't inhale....but these types of Clinton tactics make me want to vomit!

Clinton (yes, the one who's husband is a purgerer, disbarred lawyer, and impeached POTUS.) is done. All that fat-headed lady is doing is singing now.

Why not help her repay her $20mil debt? Or is that what you're doing?....

[SmartyPants]

>>
It's too bad he is smarter than all the college educated elitists supporting Obama.

President Hillary 08

Posted by: mona | May 12, 2008 at 03:22 PM
<<
----------

Plz dunt speal Edumated rite! U leetist!!! U speal & hav PC!! U rich leetest!!

Gu Hiluruty en '80!

[Justin M.]

The kids parents repaid the kid after he donated for them. Just a Clinton stunt....as normal.

[Aaron]

This is stupid, and 11 year old? Stupid. where are his parents? Where are the people that actually worked for the cash to buy all of that stuff for that 11 year old? Plus he wants to be a lawyer, and then the president? An idiot kid like that will be lucky if he makes manager at McDonalds.

Whatever, all I am saying is vote democrat, who cares who the nominee is. If we actually gave a bleep about policy and credentials it would be John Edwards.

By the way, using cocaine is not a felony, it is no more serious a crime than using marijuana actually. They both have the same scheduling. Our current president has done both of those things, the president before that did also. The president before that probably did not, but he was directly involved in the Iran Contra affair, the first Iraq war, the expansion of our prison system, and a debilitating recession.

So what matters? Mistakes someone made in their 20s? Or the destruction of our economy, school systems, and integrity as a nation?

Vote Democrat, who cares if it is Obama or Clinton, vote democrat.

[irma]

This kid made a decision with his parent's approval. He is following the election and made $440 selling his stuff. Smart kid. When can we count on voting for him as President? He has great aspirations.

[kenneth Patrick]

I have read most of the comments. I am aghast at the unkind and cruel comments from some citizens. Obviously thses are Obama supporters.I am stationed overseas in Singapore and we follow closely all the campaigning at home.
I am neutral and am happy that this 11 yr. old has the making of greatness in future. He has guts, resolutions and courage to make sacrafices and unselfish hard decisions like Hillary.Much more than a lot of adults who are voting not with their brains but their emotions .
For an 11 yr. old I an adult and world citizen salutes U and wish U well . In fact all Americans should take a leaf from the action of this boy and analysie the facts by asking him why he donotes toHillary and not Obama.
Best Wishes to U young man
Peace and happiness to America and the world.KENNETHPATRICK

[MH]

What's the legal voting age? 18. Why is 18 the legal voting age? Because that is the SOONEST most people will have the capacity to make an intelligent, informed decision about who should run the country.
Child prodigy's aside, most 11 year olds lack the ability to form informed decisions based on a candidate's voting record and affiliated party's platform.
I think what we are witnessing here, is a boy with an incredibly large heart, who has been unfortunately brainwashed by a vocal political zealot. For some reason I keep imagining a teacher...

I would be equally suspicious of any donation from a CHILD to a presidential candidate.