LAT: "See Dad Run" (press made "on-plane playground" for Jack and Emma C!)

[DeepModem Mom]

STYLE & CULTURE
See Dad run
Jack and Emma Claire Edwards produce an unscripted sideshow.

By James Rainey, Times Staff Writer

.... Into the small laps of these siblings — ages 4 and 6, respectively — fell a road trip for the ages. It would take them 5,000 miles on planes, trains and buses. It would take them across most of America, from Boston to Baton Rouge, La., to New Mexico and back home to North Carolina....Along the way, they visited SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla., and the zoo in Kansas City, Mo. They got new backpacks, snapped pictures, kept a journal, learned to shoot dice (and win a few dollars) and, oh, yes, watched their dad run for vice president of the United States....

***

At virtually every turn over the last two weeks, cheers and smiles greeted Jack and Emma. They cavorted with usually unsmiling Secret Service agents and charmed those professional naysayers, the media, into assembling an on-plane playground....

***

Jack and Emma's excellent adventure began at the end of the Democratic convention. Even as Kerry reached the final imploring lines of his acceptance speech late the night of July 29, Jack was backstage at Boston's FleetCenter, tugging at his mother's hem.

"Mommy, Mommy," he said, "I need to say something."

"OK, son, what do you need to say?" Elizabeth Edwards answered.

"No, no, I need the microphone!" Jack said. Attempting reassurance, he added: "It will only take a minute."...

***

On the first flight, from Toledo, Ohio, to Miami on Aug. 1, an NBC cameraman fashioned a basketball hoop out of an empty Corona 12-pack box, mounting his creation with duct tape in the rear galley....Jack scored a series of hoop victories, benefiting not only from an inventive, underhand shot but also from a preschooler's creative math. He then learned to bowl — with empty bottles serving as pins — and to play a dice game (Left, Right, Center)....

***

(The kids are now having some down time in North Carolina. After Labor Day, they'll return to school in D.C., Emma Claire to first grade, and Jack to his last year of pre-school.)

Sunday when the Edwards clan flew into Lawrence, Kan. — a visit meant to make up for an earlier slight....John Edwards spoke for about three minutes. Then he turned and handed the microphone to Jack.

Stunned for a moment, the boy paused. But he recovered quickly and the crowd roared as he piped: "HOPE IS ON THE WAY!"


http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-et-rainey13aug13,1,3643715.story

[NMDemDist2]

1. they are so sweet! and I don't even like kids n/t

[fob]

2. Waht's with these quotes? Promoting the face of Dem Family Values?

learned to shoot dice (and win a few dollars)
creative math
empty Corona 12-pack box
empty bottles serving as pins

What a bunch of crap.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Guess I thought the article was a rare, entirely positive piece --

I think maybe the dice and bottles are meant to reflect on the traveling press, and not the family.

[AP]

7. Yes. The corrupting influence of the press. Maybe Rainey doesn't like...

...his colleagues in the press corps.

[fob]

8. Now that I can believe

[MuseRider]

3. I was there in Lawrence, Kansas

about 20 feet from the stage and the look on Jack's face when he heard his voice was really funny. He was as proud of himself as his parents were I think.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Wow, MuseRider -- a first-hand report! n/t

[jean]

5. I'd love to read the whole thing but LAT requires extensive info on reg

[Doctor_J]

9. elsewhere,

the press made an impromptu "on-plane saloon and drunk tank" for Barbara and Jenna.