Noah McCullough - the 9 year old 'whiz kid' republican. wtf is this sh*t

[clonebot]

Good lord - has the campaign become so retarded that georgewbush.com must post a transcript of a chat session with a 9 year old "expert" on u.s. presidents - who conviently named george h.w. bush and ronald reagan as the two best presidents of the twentieth century. check out this poor kid's rather odd and unfortunately corrupted view of u.s. politics:

---cut---
Doug Bush from North Palm Beach FL wrote:

Who do you think was the greatest president of the 20th Century and Why?

Noah McCullough answered:

I think that the best President in the 20th Century would be George Herbert Walker Bush and Ronald Reagan. I think so because Ronald Reagan helped with some of the stuff that happened with the Iran threat and Middle East conflict and George H.W. Bush had Operation Desert Storm to help keep the peace and restored the economy to prosperity - to what it was during Clinton's terms. His policies made our economy grow. And Bush senior was trying back then to remove Saddam Hussein to make America and the world safer.

Let me add to that last one that Ronald Reagan helped bring down the Berlin Wall and George H.W. Bush helped see us to the end of the Cold War. Ok, now we can take the next one.
---cut---

Look, I'm sure he is an exceptionally bright kid but something tells me he lacks the economic, statistical, and mathematical disciplines to completely understand economic growth, not to mention a lack of a particularly deep understanding of comparitive history.. check out this next one:

---cut---
B.J. Jones from Punxsutawney PA wrote:

Here's some trivia: ...I did see you on Fox News, and in spite of all the interviews you did with Democratic hopefulls, you decided Bush and the Republican Party was the way to go. What made you decide on the GOP and Pres Bush? You're a smart kid.

Noah McCullough answered:

I'm a Republican because I share many values with the GOP. I believe in business growth and smaller government like the Republicans do. I think that is what stimulates the economy. I share the morals and family values that many Republicans do. These points are enough to make me share the values of the Republican Party. Plus, I like Dick Cheney because he is prepared to be the President of the United States. It's like the Republican Party to be prepared.
---cut---

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I suppose he is supposed to be some sort of prodigy. I'm not here to brag but my childhood IQ scores were around 170 - and have my degrees in computer science and biostatistics - and I was content to play with star wars action figures at his age. I find it very hard to believe that he really understands what he is saying and this is how he strongly feels.

Geez Noah, make sure your parents prepare you for junior high where you'll have to deal with all those "negro kids on welfare". lets see how many days go by until the rest of the school gets sick of your shit and you wind up in the nurse's office with a black eye.

Seriously though - I don't want to be too hard on the kid because he's only 9 but I've got some serious problems with his parents/guardians. At least wait till he is 16 or 17 before you turn him into a young republican robot - at this age he doesn't even know what he's saying. Dragging him around the country and putting him on display to quote a crapload of g.o.p. propaganda does not sit well with me. check out the freaky transcript at georgewbush.com or

http://www.georgewbush.com/Chat/Transcript.aspx?ID=38

why the campaign felt this was important enough to post on their homepage is beyond me. why this bothered me as much as it did is probaly the bigger unanswered question here, though ;)

[saracat]

1. Disgusting. Reminds me of the Sumner Redfeild endorsement

of Bush. Whatever is good for the corporations.I gotta believe the parents turned the kid into a corporation,ergo, this thinking. Too bad the kid is a machine totally geared toward profit and self interest. He will have no empathy. The parents may regret that one day when they aren't productive to the little tyke.

[clonebot]

2. oh yes - look at this wonderfully anti-DNC answer as well..

Erin Blackstone from Birmingham AL wrote:
What main difference stood out to you between the Democratic and Republican Conventions?

Noah McCullough answered:

During the Democratic Convention, because I was a Republican, some of the Democrats did not treat me very nice. After I had interviewed with the Tonight Show, I gave someone my card, she looked at the Republican thing, and then she ripped it up, spit on it, stamped on it and said a word that I do not want to repeat. And there was Bush bashing at every turn. They were so critical. Democrat or Republican, I don't think we should bash any President of the United States, any sitting President of the United States. You can discuss how you disagree, but you shouldn't attack them like Sen. Kerry and his surrogates have been doing.

And of course, the Republican speakers were better than the Democrats, especially George W. Bush.

---cut---

HE's NINE! NIIIINE!!! ARGH@?!# THE HUMANITY!!!

[WolverineDG]

26. For a prodigy

he has problems with adverbs as well as in-depth political, social, and economic analysis.

dg

[Arkana]

40. It escapes me

as to how this kid could be as bright as they claim after they finished brainwashing him. Truly an anomaly in the world of double-digit IQs.

[alphafemale]

3. He's no Mattie Stepanek.

Noah's obviously very intelligent, but he's also rigidly trained.

Mattie's brilliance and light came from within. He was a gift to the world taken way too soon.

[clonebot]

5. i'd certainly agree

in noah's world (or in his parent's rather), mattie would have no healthcare and no free speech and would be left to die as a crippled shut in.

because apparently peace is anti-american. and crippled children should get a job.

[leesa]

23. If he thinks George Bush is a good speaker, he ain't too bright.

[Uroboros]

4. Wow!

This is what Rove must have been like when he was 9! Lock him up now before he does real damage to the world and American

Besides, his mommy is probably still picking out his clothes for him and wiping the snot from his nose; and suddenly he's an expert on presidents?

Please!

[alphafemale]

7. Some smart kids obsess on one subject

I also had a young relative that could tell you just about everything about all the Presidents.

But the political bias in this case is obviously influenced by an outside force. Kids that age are NOT generally going to express different political views than their parents.

Critical thinking doesn't even usually even begin until...what? Twelve or so...?

[arcos]

10. yup, I was obsessed with the Solar System...

I was able to tell you every single detail about all the planets...

[alphafemale]

11. How long is Saturns Year? How Long is Mercury's Day? nt

[JHB]

14. Hell, I did that...

...and even explained orbital mechanics to my mother -- much later I heard it was one of her favorite "my kid is so bright..." stories.

I could also correctly pronounce a long list of dinosaur names, and describe almost all of them in some detail. Bright kids that age do that.

But insightful political analysis? Only the occasional unplanned "out of the mouths of babes" comment.

Someone needs to clue this kid in that the only reason he's on TV as a "political commentator" is that he's playing the part of a trained monkey, not because he's "a smart kid".

[kskiska]

29. I remember reading about a kid

who had memorized the entire NYC subway system and knew all the routes and stops.

[depakid]

39. Gifted kids don't fit the usual cognitive development model

Truly gifted kids often reason on much higher levels than their age group. A 6 year old may think cognitively like a 16 year old- yet often act emotionally like a 4 year old yet play soccor like their peers. They're extremely frustrating to deal with, because you never know which one in the mix you're dealing with.

[Bronco69]

6. All this tells me is that this kid has an excellent ability to

regurgitate whatever he is told. Pavlov anyone? We hear these same talking points every day, it's just that we have been around long enough to know that those policies don't work and many of us have experienced the economic downturns every time a republican is in the oval office. If the repukes really want to show how impressive this kid is, let them put him up against a nine year old who faces crime and poverty every day and wonders where his next meal is coming from. This just makes me puke!

[clonebot]

8. democrats are meanies

didn't you read? they tore up my card and spit on it and said awful vicious words that i don't want to repeat. you democrats are mean! mean mean mean!

sincerely,

noah mccullough,
president, 9 year old brainwashed freak children for bush/cheney 2004

www.democratmeanies.com

[Vickers]

9. "It's like the Republican Party to be prepared."

Oh?

THEN WTF HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 11TH?????

[ps1074]

12. Oh please

I am so tired of this BS - "family values"...

Only republicans have family values? Give me a fucking break.

If I hear one more time about family values I will go insane I swear.

[clonebot]

13. if family values means

that dick cheney can go up on stage with his entire family EXCLUDING his gay daughter then that looks more like BREAKING UP families to me.

[Nimrod]

15. Anybody ever see

That kid sitting on Saddam's lap looking like he'd been lobotomized?

Yeah.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

16. Maybe the GOP are running out of adult endorsements

They had to find a 9 year old who thinks GHWB and RR are the two best presidents ever. The vast majority of grown-up historians (people who have actual history degrees) beg to differ.

[Selwynn]

17. At 9 years old, all he is doing is regurgitating indoctrination.

[Gin]

18. Finally...a constituent on the same psychological level as the president.

Intelligent, reasonable, people who think before they act are making me sick and tired.

I like people who plan a course...stick to it no matter what...and go down with the ship because of their stupidity, and stubborness.

Bush 59-kid 9...same wave length. Two puppets, spouting words and ideas they did not create and do not understand. May God help the US!

[clonebot]

19. you left out resolute

but you have to say it right - in that texan drawl: 'i'm resolooote."

[mikehiggins]

20. Golly gee whiz! This kid wouldn't be home schooled would he?

Just asking.

[BiggJawn]

21. That's what I think. "Wait till he gets in Jr. Hi..." Yeah, sure...

He'll be home-schooled until he goes to a RW college like Bob Jones....

[playahata1]

41. Don't forget Patrick Henry College.

I hear that it's even worse than Bob Jones.

[FearofFutility]

34. Hey!

I homeschool my kids. Do you have an issue with kids who are homeschooled? Just asking. I know the stereotype that kids who are homeschooled have parents who are right wing Christian fundamentalists, but this is not always the case. That being said, this kid is homeschooled. :-)

[prolesunited]

22. Our great leader and the entire homeland should be very proud

[AntiCoup2K4]

24. This is child abuse

Yeah, they aren't physically harming the kid (as far as I know) but forcing him to repeat this spew.... it is simply impossible for a 9 year old to know anything about Reagan or Bush Sr's presidencies, because they weren't fucking there. Shit, he's not even old enough to remember Clinton's presidency in any practical terms.

The poor deluded child is repeating talking points that are pounded into his head repeatedly - figuratively or otherwise. His parents are likely about the same mentality as that "fine example of Christian America" Phil Parlockkk.

[Cat Atomic]

25. He's like a parrot. He's just repeating talking points and

Republican "conventional wisdom". That doesn't mean he's intelligent- it means he has a good memory.

The fact that this kid can do it just as good as any adult Bush supporter should give Republicans pause.

[Judi Lynn]

46. He is channeling an idiot! n/t

[AngryAmish]

27. That kid is a shithead

[mitchum]

28. Good, that little bastard can enlist for Syrian clean-up duty in only 9...

more years. Unless someone beats him to death on the playground (highly likely) Fucking little piglet.

[VOX]

30. Who's scripting this little right-wing talking-point tool?

I mean, really, consider such tired right-wing chestnuts as:
"He leads by example through faith - as a father, son, brother and as our President...It is a crossroads time in the life of our country with all of the terrorist acitivity in the world that we are trying to eliminate. We are fighting for peace and freedom beyond our borders, so that peace always reigns here."

If this kid is truly writing this bilge, he is delusional, not gifted.

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

32. Doesn't it seem extra-extra-extra-super-Soviet? n/t

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

31. I found a picture I drew when I was nine

When his beloved Reagan was President.

The caption (which I wrote myself) read: "A terrible thing is happening to our economy..."

The picture was the facade of "Bill's Bar" with a view in. Neon "BUD" and "BUD LIGHT" signs, Asteroids and Pac-Man machines. A disgruntled guy in a plaid shirt sitting alone at the bar and drinking a big foamy mug of beer as his cigarette burns in an ashtray.

I wish I knew what the hell I was thinking when I drew that, but it seems a more inspired nine-year-old comment on those times than little Noah's comments on ours.

You can't give the kid any points for originality!

[progressivebydesign]

33. He's a parrot...

.. because what 9 year old, regardless of his brightness, gives a fuck about business? I mean really... Intelligence does not give emotional intelligence, a kid who is 9.. regardless of his IQ would not naturally care about business. He's just parroting his parents views and things he hears on tv, I hear kids like him all the time at my daughter's school. Big deal.

I tested off the charts on the intelligence tests in 4th grade.. I was still a total dufus kid... and still am. I cared about the environment at that age, and was into politics a bit.. but nothing like that kid. He bases his OPINIONS on someone else's opinions... what an embarrassment.

[Qanisqineq]

35. sounds like he's just repeating

the crap that is fed to him. He may be bright, but he obviously can't think for himself yet.

[Yuffi]

36. This was online?

Did anyone see him? If not it was a 50 year old GOP operative.

Obviously no one will care if the interview is with "50 year old GOP opearative" but "9 year old whiz kid" or whatever is more interesting.

Plus it makes people think "awww a 9 year old likes bush? he can't be all that bad." "aww isn't he cute. look at the nice things he says about bush".

Rove probably personally signed off on this.

[clonebot]

62. he was also on t.v.

on the tonight show apparently

[elcondor]

37. This sounds like Dubya

himself if you ask me . . .

I first became interested in politics when I was eight but, damn, I can assure you I was never like that!

[depakid]

38. This is NOT a truly gifted child

Those who study, counsel and teach gifted children (TAG) kids will tell you that one set of characteristics that they share is a deep and systematic empathy. They worry about environmental issues, social justice and the human condition, they have incredible emotional range and depth and are frequently obsessed with ways of serving humanity.

They are a totally different breed of cat- these "rainforest minds." They are intense, complex, highly sensitive and often misunderstood. Noah McCullough's coments evince none of these traits- what they sound more like is something one hears from driven kids- bright children whose parents push them and shape their accellerated intellectual development... often for their own purposes and gratification.

If you notice, these comments aren't deep at all- they aren't in the slightest bit profound. They don't evoke a higher understanding. Listen to some real gifted children's comments sometime and the difference is as plain as jam on toast.

A rainforest mind would make the connections- and quickly. A rainforest mind would find George Bush and Dick Cheney deeply offense. He or she would see right though them on many, many levels.

While nothing Republicans do surprise me, they never cease to appall me. Exploiting this kid for their corrupt political purposes just goes to show the kind of character that they have. Not one to emulated, I hope... even in order to win- which is A LOT for me to say, as I'm a frequent critic of Democrats for their failure to fight fire with fire.

[BillZBubb]

42. This kid is not that bright. I've seen him several times.

He's the equivalent of a trained dog. He has memorized facts about each president, but has ZERO comprehension about what he's discussing.

Basically, he's a kid pushed by parents to find some "talent". His is rote memorization without any intellectual capacity. He's a loser. Other kids, who actually can think, will soon pass him in the every aspect. His fifteen minutes will end with Bush*.

[iceman_419]

43. A modest proposal

This kid is no smarter than I was when I was 9 or most kids. Ask him a real question like which generation had the best cartoons or who is cooler Garfield or the Power Rangers? Let's see if he can answer those questions correctly. Seriously though, I'm sure some mom needs to wipe her mouth again because there is only one way her child could be used in that manner. Also this kid is nine, so how the hell would he be able to understand the political and economic issues that were pressing the U.S. during Reagan and Bush's administration. The only reason this means anything is because it proves once again that our president has an IQ below room temperature. Seriously he freaking cares what a nince year old says? Let's hope Darwin takes care of this little problem before he grows up, because his parents obviously should have never been alowed to breed.

[dansolo]

58. Or better yet, ask him to elaborate on his assertions

He seems to be good at spewing back talking points. But I suspect if he were asked to elaborate, without anyone there coaching him, we will find out how "gifted" he really is.

[Uzybone]

44. The kid lives in the Houston area

his mother says she is a democrat and his father is "non political". At least thats what the Houston chronicle tells us. They had his story in there back in March.

But why the heck is a 9 year old boys thoughts on ANYTHING worth discussing. Next thing they'll haul out a chimpanzee to give presidential press conferences.....oh...they already did.

[ghostsofgiants]

45. ...

Does he get a cool knife too?



Also, did anyone else picture him as the kid from Magnolia when you were reading this shit?

[FlemingsGhost]

47. It's gonna be messy when this kid rebels against his folks.

Poor kid.

[Julien Sorel]

48. Where does anyone claim this kid is gifted?

It doesn't say that on the Bush site. Has this claim been made elsewhere?


One of the things about accelerated development is that you'll find "prodigies" in mathematics and music, but almost nowhere else, certainly not in the humanities. There is an element of emotional depth needed in the humanities that can only be acquired through experience, and there seems to be physiological changes that are necessary before that depth can be achieved. Mozart wrote symphonies when he was 8; Gauss made his breakthrough in geometry at 16, as examples, but there are no equivalent achievements in other fields. This kid ain't the exception to that rule.

Let's hope, despite being put on display like a toy, he grows up to be a normal, happy adult who learns the error of his ways and looks back aghast (as many of us do), at the mistakes he made in his youth. Or the mistakes his parents made for him.

[depakid]

49. I second that motion

It's the exploitation and the implication of giftedness that bothers me about situations like this.

There are subtle things not said that get placed into the so called "common understanding" nevertheless and therefore made sort of indistinguishable... and they so cloud things from they way they truly are, that make it so hard. Parents of bright children often don't get it- and parents of rainforest minds seldom do. Even the best professionals struggle to understand, and even they too can be of little help... as they've no way to relate- nor confirm- nor communicate. They've as much trouble building bridges as any of us do- and maybe even more, considering their long years of training.

The only place my thoughts differ appreciably from yours is in my hopes. I hope that Noah forgets the display and becomes a self actualized person. I hope he doesn't look back aghast but instead looks forward and finds ways to contribute using the skills he's learned, though they may have been acquired in perhaps a hard & harshly lit way.

[Columbia]

50. Don't blame the kid

His parents probably brainwashed him.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[depakid]

52. No one is trashing children- 'cept maybe those who might

exploit them. I've lived way too long and tried to explain this to too many people, so my guess is that it's best to look it up for yourself. Do a little reading. Don't feel either arrogant or humble. Listen. Consider. Then post again- as there are certainly lots of things to discuss and criticize- to go over.

That's why DU is so cool. We welcome thoughtfulness and for the most part, we've learned to listen- or are on the road to trying to....

We may have fears, but my thoughts are that the vast majority of us posters here aren't so insecure that we'd drop the dime on someone who proposed different idea's than maybe most of us have.

So If you've something rational to say, then run with it... otherwise, understand that to many of us, you sound ridiculous.

[smirkymonkey]

53. What the hell does a 9-year old know about life?

I'm sorry, but he can't qualify based upon memorization of right wing talking points.

What an inane little stunt.

[bobthedrummer]

54. It should be noted that all German 10 year olds were expected to join

The Hitler Youth.

And who can forget the USSR's Young Pioneers or the child soldiers of today?

[depakid]

55. Here's a little touch about how gifted children see

I think Linda's OK with me posting more than four paragraphs:

R is honest -- will tell the truth even if he gets in trouble; sensitive -- shows concern for others' feelings; sensitive -- easily hurt; has a clear sense of right and wrong...

P is quite sensitive to the feelings of others and has a well developed sense of justice. She befriends the outcasts in her class and will not tolerate cruelty from other children. She comments to me if she feels her teacher is not treating children consistently.

N is very sensitive and she is easily upset by criticism or by ignoring her suggestions. She is very mature for her age. She is compassionate, and very aware of other people's feelings and needs... of fairness... of moral issues and values. She forgives easily those who have offended her.

A has a world awareness and consciousness and a well-developed sense of morals and values that goes beyond rules. She thinks about what is right in this situation, this circumstance.

B has a strong sense of right and wrong. It almost seems that she came this way. We have been guides and examples of strong principles but B knows what is good and what is not by instinct.

Having observed the development of gifted children for over 35 years, I am continuously impressed by the moral sensitivity of this group. Many parents (such as B's mother above) have reported that their gifted children seemed to have an innate sense of right and wrong.

We have dozens of cases on record of gifted children fighting injustice, befriending and protecting handicapped children, conserving resources, responding to others' emotional needs, becoming terribly upset if a classmate is humiliated, becoming vegetarian in meat-eating families, crying at the violence in cartoons, being perplexed at why their classmates push in line, refusing to fight back when attacked because they considered all forms of violence -- including self-defense -- morally wrong, writing letters to the President to try to end the Gulf War, and writing poems of anguish at the cruelty in the world.

I have found that the higher the child's IQ, the earlier moral concerns develop and the more profound effect they have on the child. But it usually takes maturity before the child can translate moral sensitivity into consistent moral action.

<snip>

Here's another bit from Paula Prober in Eugene, Oregon (since I've already picked up and used some of her words and tried to translate them- she really ought to be way more than credited:

Fourteen-year-old Grace would rather read Anna Karenina for the sixth time than hang out at the mall. Carlos, 15, prefers to cook a gourmet meal for his family than grab a burger at McDonald's. While his cousins watch the Super Bowl, he worries about global warming. When boys he knows tease other kids at school, he struggles with questions of morality. Ellen, 11, would rather discuss human nature with her mother's friends than go to a birthday party. She comes home from school exhausted, not due to the rigors of the curriculum, but because she feels bombarded by fluorescent lights, noisy kids, and toxic chemicals.

Developmentally advanced and intellectually gifted children have what I call "rainforest minds." Like the tropical rainforest, they're intense, complex, highly sensitive, and misunderstood. They crave creativity, mental challenge, and emotional depth, and are often obsessed with finding ways to serve humanity. While all youngsters have precious gifts, those with rainforest minds, as a population, have special counseling needs that often aren't addressed in therapists' training.

There is SO MUCH more. If you're interested. PM me. Otherwise, please understand that these kinds of kids see things differently and suffer for it more than you all know. Cut them some slack... but at the same time, make an effort to listen. You may find that they have something way cool to pass forward.

[Yuffi]

56. I agree

the analysis above is very accurate.

However, by this child supporting bush (unless he has been given nothing but sanitized information) in no way supports humanity, nor cares about the well being of others. In doing so he is supporting concepts that are entirely contradictory to what you have posted.

Perhaps this is an example of what happens when gifted children go bad.

[alphafemale]

63. Noah's bright and good at memorizing data. Mattie Stepanek was gifted.

Or rather, the world was gifted, with Mattie's company for a few (too few) years.

Is Noah bright and coachable? Yes.

But gifted? No.

Gifted kids lead those who would teach them.

[porkrind]

57. This is a smart and gifted child

That is just parroting what he has been told. There is nothing wrong with that for a child of his age, it's normal. He doesn't have the perspective that age and experience give one, so all he can do is repeat what he has been told. To bad for him it has all been right wing propaganda.

If he is as smart as he appears, he will eventually see the lack of ethics, inconsistencies, and fallacies associated with right-wing ideology. If he is ever honestly confronted with progressive thinking and takes the time to consider it, he will adopt it.

I wouldn't be upset with little Noah, I would be upset with his handlers that are abusing him as a sideshow.

[ogsball]

59. I guess that 9 year olds don't know about

the "Great Depression" or World War II which somewhat relate and have a lot to do with the economic and political stability of the world. Let's see who was in Office then? FDR - Nope not a Republican.

[Flammable Materials]

60. 9 years old is generally when a GOP voters mind stops growing. n/t

[bobthedrummer]

61. lol, it is also about George W. Bush's reading level.