Carly Fiorina has been accused of “ambushing” a group of children, after she ushered pre-schoolers, who were on a field trip to a botanical garden, into an anti-abortion rally in Des Moines.
On Wednesday, the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive embarked on a day of campaigning across Iowa, in an attempt to boost her ailing presidential campaign.
The alleged ambush occurred when Fiorina hosted a “right to life” forum at the Greater Des Moines botanical garden. Entering the rally, before a crowd of about 60 people, she directed around 15 young children towards a makeshift stage.
The problem, one parent said, was that the children’s parents had not given Fiorina permission to have their children sit with her – in front of a huge banner bearing the image of an unborn foetus – while she talked about harvesting organs from aborted babies.
“The kids went there to see the plants,” said Chris Beck, the father of four-year-old Chatham, one of the children Fiorina appeared with. “She ambushed my son’s field trip.”
Okay that is just straight up child abuse in my opinion.
These are preschoolers for God's sake. Telling them about sex, procreation, and the termination of a pregnancy without their parent's permission is WAY over the line.
Clearly Fiorina needed some props for the camera, and did not care one bit if she traumatized these kids while getting her photo-op.
In response to the accusations a Fiorina staff person sent an e-mail saying this:
“We were happy that these children chose to come to Carly’s event with their adult supervisor.”
Yes the kids "chose" to attend a rally that they do not understand anything about, and to hear a strange lady with a weird face lecture them about an election in which they are too young to participate.
Uh huh.
I think the adult supervisor of the preschool children should be in big trouble.
ReplyDeleteHope somebody ads this to Carly's Wikipedia page.
Deletewhoever was supervising or chaperoning should be fired, if a teacher. if a parent(s) they should never be allowed to chaperone a field trip again. they showed very bad judgment and an inability to protect the kids who were in their care.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteI've worked in elementary schools for the last 17 years and I cannot imagine any of the staff members I've worked with permitting students to be exposed to anything like that.
No way!
DeleteAny half-way intelligent adult know there will be hell to pay from parents, especially for something this controversial.
let me add that my children went to grade school in Des Moines. if this had happened to a group they were in heads would have rolled, i assure you!
ReplyDeleteThe idiots who were supervising the children need to be FIRED immediately. I know if one of my kids were ever subjected to something like this I would demand that heads roll. No way could Fiorina done this without their consent.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. Teachers may not have realized what was about to happen. I don't find it surprising that if a "famous politician" wanted a photo op with kids that a teacher might have thought it was innocent.
DeleteOnce it became obvious that they were set up, it may have been difficult to get out of the situation. One of the children's dads (the man quoted) was fooled as well.
Wild Tortoise
The fetus poster should have been enough to let any intelligent adult know it was not an appropriate venue for very young children.
DeleteThe adult accompanying the children could have EASILY quietly removed those children with a gentle "let's go to the next exhibit, children". Easy, peasy.
BUT, the real crime here is that Carly Fiorina deliberately subjected those children to her own mentally unbalanced ranting.
It is horrifying to think that one's child could be abused in this way while you are thinking they are safe in the company of their teacher(s).
How can you be fooled? There's a poster of a fetus in the room. You know what Fiorina stands for and lies about...the adults should be ashamed.
Delete9:57
DeleteWhile you make believe this was inadvertent and difficult to "get out of", the teachers on this field trip can and should be held accountable. The teachers are the ones who collect the written permission slips for photographs to be taken so they are very well aware of the law about this activity. The father chaperone on the field trip who spoke up would be the only one that excuse would hold up for if charges were to be filed.
How stupid was the teacher smiling in the background in the video? She is herding them like sheep onto that state with Carly.
@ wild tortoise
DeleteThen they should have been smart enough to gather their students and get them out.
In this day and age, all teachers know the rules. You don't give access to the kids in your care without written consent from parents.
DeleteThis is ESPECIALLY true for something as controversial as a presentation having to do with abortion given by a person running for POTUS.
Either one of those things would be enough to run the other way. Taken together, the only excuse I can see is that the teacher is a crazed anti-choice Carly fan.
No excuse for the teacher or for the idiot candidate and her handlers.
Who cares if the teachers made a scene escorting their students away from the stage?!?!?
DeleteIf Fiorina is callous enough to subject children to that situation, she is not worthy of any respect from other adults.
In the highly unlikely event that the chaperones couldn't figure out what she was planning to talk about from the giant fetus poster with 6-inch-letters spelling 'IOWA RIGHT TO LIFE' at the top, they certainly had every justification to stand up and escort their group out the moment she mentioned the words 'abortion' or 'fetus', regardless of whether or not it was disruptive.
I've worked in schools long enough to know that anyone who would let a child in a photo op with strangers without a parent's permission might be looking for another job. There are children under state care who are not allowed to be photographed for various safety reasons.
DeleteHell, one of these children's parents could be running from an abusive spouse. The teacher was obviously inexperienced. And Carly is a slime pit.
Fiorina is totally desperate if this is how she gets "supporters" for her speeches. One can't go much lower than this, making 4 year olds on a field trip listen to an anti-abortion speech! She needs to quit right now and realize that Americans are not at all interested in her quest for the presidency. She is so not qualified!
ReplyDeleteIf that worthless piece of shit EVER pulled that stunt with one of my kids, she'd be wearing my hand print on her face for a very long time and have to have my boot surgically removed from her ass.
ReplyDelete9:14 AM Welcome to jail. Her bodyguards would flatten you and have you arrested, tough guy.
DeleteDamn I hate that bitch as much as Palin and the other GOP idiots.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of $carah, HuffPo has a terrific sendup of photoshopped pres candidates. The one at the bottom is a humdinger. (And you know who I mean, don't you?)
Deletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-seed/what-happens-when-you-mix_b_9046682.html
Ailing campaign? Only a necromancer could revive it.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, it is child abuse, and she should be arrested for doing it. However, if there is any retaliation, a 'staffer' will be the one to go down.
It is kidnapping
DeleteIt would be hard to blame a staffer when the video clearly shows Carly herding the children.
DeleteI blame any staffer that doesn't have the spine to say "these kids are under my supervision and they go where and ONLY where I say so".
DeleteGood grief! A staffer that can't prevent random strangers from herding kids into age inappropriate venues is a criminal.
12:19
DeleteThe "staffer" would be in reference to those working for Carly. Not the teacher
Just like $cratch, the hate oozes from her every pore.
ReplyDeleteI would seriously sue her ass AND the preschool for this.
ReplyDeleteIt is not beyond belief that Carly's campaign arranged and paid for these children to be at the botanical garden during her speech without their parents' knowing the actual intent.
DeleteIf I was one of these parents, I would insist the principal get to the bottom of this ASAP. To have 15 children become interested in her and follow her to a stage is just not believable. Sounds like this was a setup between the school administration and her campaign.
In addition, it's not like the children watched a Muppet movie. This was age-inappropriate political indoctrination.
Schools in Maryland are legally required to get your written permission to have your child photographed for noncommercial reasons only. Even if you had signed this waiver, if the school was committing a fraud by accepting payment of some sort from her, that school has really left themselves open to a lawsuit. Especially if the parents actually paid for this field trip.
Here's to hoping someone makes this into a political campaign ad.
Does anyone catch what school this was?
I think you are on to something, 66. I don't see a group of preschoolers being the least bit interested in what she has to say. I smell a set up and I hope the parents can get to the bottom of who allowed this to happen.
DeleteI agree 100%.
DeleteI believe that our society is far too litigious in general. However, I would certainly make an exception in this case. As you suggested, both Fiorina and the school should be sued.
Carly steps in it again.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, if she did not have written permission to photograph them, she is open to a lawsuit. My youngest just graduated high school in 2015. For the past decade or so I waiver came home for your signature that your child has your permission to be photographed for noncommercial reasons.
ReplyDeleteI think photos are the least of the problem here, what about trauma to the children for exposing them to age-inappropriate material?
Delete9:59 - I absolutely agree it was traumatic for these children
DeleteOne must realize the value of the videos and photos as the evidence of this crime, however.
Without the photos and video, there probably would be no case.
Fiorina's judgment is horrible. I tried to fine the phone# for her campaign but could not find it. Anyone know what it is. We can all call and tell them how pathetic she is.
9:59 - You are right about the trauma being the most important concern in this situation.
DeleteHowever, I suspect that what 66gardeners is suggesting is that the photo permission requirement gives the parents very concrete legal grounds to sue. It may be difficult to prove that a child was traumatized by that experience, but there can be no denying legal responsibility if a child was photographed (and then that image used in a political campaign) without a parent's permission.
In my school, the staff is very strict about not photographing the children whose parents refuse permission, even if the photos are to be used only within our own building.
That woman really is the stereotypical CEO sociopath! Cold, callous, uses regular people for her purpose......
ReplyDeleteI hope some parents "choose" to sue Fiorina for her outrageous hijacking of small children. What is wrong with Republicans???
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Carly is mostly a single issue candidate, and I agree that she stepped way over the line on this. She didn’t have their parents permission and I seriously doubt she talked to their teacher beforehand about what she was going to say.
ReplyDeleteCarly’s behavior from this certainly should be seen as her inability to make wise decisions without apparently thinking it through beforehand. I hope those on both sides of the abortion issue see this for what it was, a very poor and thoughtless decision on her part that involuntary involved children. Their parents have every right in the world to be mad about this.
Just one more despicable Republican candidate who think they have what it takes to be President of the United States and leader of the free world.
ReplyDeleteIf I were a parent of one of those children, I would be outraged and would make sure she knew it. If she had any sense of decency she would issue an apology.
just like cruz talking down to everyone, carly seems to be angry all the time from the way she delivers her speeches. why do these politicians always seem to think that we all want to be next to them for their benefit, not ours. self centered ass holes most are....
ReplyDeleteShe says her best line is that unlike Hillary, HER husband actually likes spending time with her.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone seen her husband photographed with her on the campaign?
She is so damned obviously un-sexually attractive. Plus, I find her personality absolutely cold and unappealing.
DeleteThat woman is going 'nowhere' as she has already proven in the private sector!
Cold and unappealing is so apt. To paraphrase a quote from Absolutely Fabulous-"She's so cold she probably had her period in cubes."
DeleteJennifer K
No, there are no photos of her husband with her. He didn't give written permission! :-)
DeleteThe smartest kid in the group asked, "when will the house fall on this lady?"
ReplyDeleteDid she use a gingerbread house to entice them into her lair?
DeleteThis woman is bat shit crazy. Totally insane and if i were the parents and the school I would sure her ass into oblivion.
ReplyDeleteWow! This is so shamefully and disgustingly inappropriate!
ReplyDeleteAs someone who works in a botanical garden which often hosts school field trips, I know how much work and money it takes to arrange educational programming.
The Fiorina campaign needs to immediately refund any and all fees paid by the school for their field trip. For example, we charge between $3.75 and $7.00 per students and chaperones. AND THEY SHOULD BE PAID BACK FOR THEIR TRANSPORTATION (school bus or other)!!!
For extra inconvenience, I'd suggest that the campaign be required to issue individual checks for each student.
Garden staff salaries for the docents should be reimbursed. This was time set aside in the garden budget for education which was totally wasted.
Oh, and paid make-up time for the teachers, also, too.
All of the little "props" were provided to her by taking advantage of the educational commitment and team effort of both the school and the garden. Where exactly does Fiorina stand on educational funding votes? What's her record (I can guess that already)?
In addition, what are Iowa guidelines on kids' involvement with political rallies during class time?
In addition (and making more of a hassle for the campaign) they need to obtain release forms signed by the parents to use any of those kids images!
Grrrrr. Wild Tortoise
Except Fiorina has already used the photo without written permission. Ooops.
DeleteWhere the hell were the people who were supposed to be watching these kids?
ReplyDeleteCarly's spokesperson says the children chose to accompany her to the anti abortion speech. They are not even claiming they had permission from the teacher/chaperones
Delete“Telling them about sex, procreation, and the termination of a pregnancy without their parent's permission is WAY over the line.”
ReplyDelete-------------------
I am speechless!! Totally inappropriate and really makes me really question her decision-making abilities. I didn’t think Republicans could sink any lower.
I doubt she was telling them about sex and procreation, she was telling them about killing and chopping up innocent babies. I bet Carly against teaching sex education in schools because that is the duty of parents.
Sue the hell out of her, parents, for USING & ABUSING your children.
DeleteHer decision making is horrible! She'll never be elected POTUS - ever in her life!
Why talk about a non electable like Carly?
ReplyDeleteA better question would be:
Why would Wall Street shower Hillary Clinton with millions of dollars in speaking fees and tens of millions in campaign contributions?
I think it is an insurance policy. Wall Street wants a friend in the White House to protect the status quo, and if they can't get a Republican elected, Hillary is the next best thing. I think they need a friend in government because the industry could not survive an investigation into how they actually make their profits.
John R. Talbott - (As a Former Goldman Sachs Banker, I Say Bernie Has It Right)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-r-talbott/why-wall-street-gives-mil_b_9049992.html
Joe Scarborough lives in a glass house that I haunt.
Delete"Why talk about a non electable like Carly?"
DeleteYes, we get it...you don't like Hillary.
However, the point of this post has nothing to do with her and everything to do with the unconscionable actions of Carly Fiorina.
If you are not outraged about 4-year-olds being forced to listen to a graphic anti-abortion speech, then you need to carefully and thoroughly reassess your values.
If your campaign event is you taking a bunch of preschoolers hostage and shrieking at them about abortion, perhaps it's time to bow out. What a delusional moron. She has no personality, sucked at the one job she's known for, and has had so much surgery that she looks like a praying mantis. Enough already!
ReplyDeletePerfect!
DeleteNo words.
ReplyDeleteAppalling.
Did someone sign a release for those kids pictures be used?
ReplyDeleteThat's a very good question.
DeleteI would get together with the other parents and sue her ass for all those photos of my kid being distributed world-wide without my express permission!
ReplyDeleteI would sue Fiorina so fast that the Botox would come flying out of her fucking face. She did not get the parents permission for the children's picture to be taken. If the anti abortion group were to try and use that photo, I would go to court to stop them. I would also be taking the chaperone to court. There are very specific laws and rules that govern children and photographing them for publicity of any kind. Carly's campaign is in the dumpster and her numbers are only going down. However, I would not let that stop me from taking her ass to court.
ReplyDeleteTHAT woman is a bitch. It's no wonder the company she ran went in the tank. Cannot begin to imagine what she is like as a boss.
ReplyDeleteNo for a fact she'll NEVER be elected POTUS! No way - no how!
I work at one of the companies she used to work at before HP. Trust me, no one who works here is saying anything about how we should hire Carly back or vote for her for Pres. No one.
ReplyDeleteI know one of your possible co workers at Compaq, had HP not made the deal to take over Compaq computers, Carley's golden parachute payback couldn't possibly happen- at the expense of a damn good company driven to the ground.
DeleteGryphen knows about child abuse. Telling the world that a child doesn't have a chance because of her parents. Children grow up with enough baggage as it is, without some stranger saying you have no chance but to be stupid because of your parents.
ReplyDeleteSure, this might be some obscure blog, but the internet is forever.
Hey, you forget how to spell "defunct"?
DeleteWelcome back, there hasn't been any trolling for 24 hours or more, we were getting worried.
What a vile, nasty, manipulative woman.
ReplyDeleteI can't understand how and why anyone would finance her horrible little show all this time.
ReplyDeleteWhat's in it for whom, to have her scary countenance mouthing off all the time?
That is outrageous. I would sue.
ReplyDeleteGreat comment from a reader at Think Progress, specifically about the campaign staffer who said, “We were happy that these children chose to come to Carly’s event with their adult supervisor.”
ReplyDeleteHere's the comment:
"So they're OK with 4 year olds making their own choices, but not with grown pregnant women making their own choices."
If this happened to one of my kids, I assure you, Ms Fiorina would have to undo her shoelaces to apply mascara to her nose hair. You exploit ANY child and you'll have hell to pay, do it in my presence, you'll beg for hell, bitch.
ReplyDeleteIf the child or children are hers, it's her prerogative. These kids have their faces plastered in news media and on blogs with their faces clearly shown, Fiorina took the opportunity, and Fiornia needs to be held accountable.
Sorry, but this hit a raw nerve with me. There's all sorts of yahoos on the wrong side of this issue, she's damned lucky nothing physically happened.
Don't minors need parental consent to be in photographs? When we host kids for science days we need to have releases for any kid whose photo we use.
ReplyDeleteIf using these children are an example of her judgement no wonder she tanked HP. She is a horrible, despicable woman.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone think to have the children's necks examined for fang marks after being around Fiorina?
ReplyDeleteIs she surely not in breach of international child protection laws by having the children photographed without parental consent? That would be a criminal charge. The second charge would be what other jurisdictions would classify as child abuse, also a criminal charge (at least in England and South Africa...the laws I know as I'm not in the US). Add the US equivalent of a "nervous shock" action for pecuniary damages. Hell, I'm at the other end of the planet and I'm outraged by this. Does she have a public profile where we can remind her how disgusting she is. SURELY the parents aren't letting this go unchallenged?
ReplyDelete