Politics is an ugly business. From backroom deals, to somewhat legal payoffs, many people get turned off on the process and never look at it again. While some things are somewhat unavoidable, like scandals that are bound to happen to members of any party, some aren’t. It’s probably because of this ugliness that we have the voter apathy in this country, a problem that has lead us to the point we’re at right now. If there’s going to be hope for tomorrow, we need future voters who are interested in the process and understand where the money comes from.
But harassing a 16 year old kid via email? Pretty sad really.
We’ve written on this site about Kyle Constable. He’s 16 years old, and is actually a pretty impressive kid. He understands policy better than a lot of adults. What’s more impressive is that he understands policy better than a lot of politically active adults.
That’s why I listened when he sent an email to me saying that he had decided to back Rick Allen for the Second District seat currently held by Sanford Bishop. Kyle had been behind Mike Keown, but that was before meeting Allen and while he never said anything negative about Mike Keown, the man, he did question his leadership.
Yesterday, Kyle forwarded an email exchange with someone who hid behind the anonymous identity of “ilikefirst name Mike”. Now, “ilike” asked some valid questions, though Kyle wanted to know who he was talking to before answering them, but one line in particular struck me.
I would like to hear that “reasonable” explanation. I bet it has more to do with Rick Allen showing you more attention than it does any actual politics.
For what it’s worth, Kyle shared his “reasonable” explanation with me to the question posed. It was. I’m not going to get into it now, because it’s neither here nor there. This is about someone, apparently an adult, sending an anonymous email regarding a candidates support from a 16 year old kid.
I contacted the Mike Keown campaign to get their thoughts. Mike Keown said he knew of no such email being sent from someone within his campaign, which isn’t surprising. I strongly suspect that this was a supporter of Mr. Keown, but not staff and wasn’t done with Mr. Keown’s knowledge. In fact, Mike Keown said, “Kyle is a fine young man and I wish him the best. I hope he gets a lot of good experience running a campaign.”
Politics is ugly, but there are lines that should never be crossed. Harassing a 16 year old because he supports a different candidate? Please, someone tell me where that’s acceptable?
For what it’s worth, Kyle seems more amused than anything, but that hardly excuses such behavior from what I assume is an adult. Politics is ugly, but it’s no reason to act like a child.
Having been someone that has tangled in differences with Kyle some regarding support for our chosen candidates, I agree with your comments that having an anonymous email throwing questions out like that is going too far.
Kids like Kyle, who is some ways is much older than his real age, need to be mentored and guided. Regardless of your opinion of him, this is a key time in his life where he is going to decide who he becomes later in life.
No one needs to bash the kid, there are times he may need to be set straight like any other kid, but he does deserve some measure of respect. We can have our stark differences and still make amends and share mutual respect for one another.
The kid does know a lot and that is dangerous if it is not mentored and guided. Bashing and harassing will be more detrimental than anything, and one day he will become an adult.
When a child enters the public arena like this, wise care needs to be taken in order to propel him forward. He just needs guidance, mentoring, instruction, and support.
The kids has potential, and this is coming from some that has taken strong issue from some of his comments.
There is a line and there is a proper way of handling things.
There is no excuse for being an anonymous harasser. At least let the kid know who you are so he knows how to respond.
J Sellars:
My thoughts are almost identical to yours – that’s why he is now my campaign manager. I figure I can give him at least SOME real-world experience doing something he likes in a somewhat controlled environment, and when I win it will look good on his political resume going forward.
And if he decides in a few years to abandon politics to do something else, hopefully he will learn both outward skills and more about himself to succeed in whatever he does then.