Bush taps Clay Aiken
By on Sep 7th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
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Well sure, it takes one to know one.
September 7th, 2006 at 1:08 pmI’m going to simulate a double-take on the internet, by closing this window, reopening it, and acting very surprised.
wow.
September 7th, 2006 at 1:09 pmActually, this one is a non-issue. Aiken was into child psychology and intellectual disabilities long before he started singing.
September 7th, 2006 at 1:10 pm“Aiken, a pop singer and former “American Idol” contestant, is also well known for his work on behalf of people with autism. He launched the Bubel Aiken Foundation, which focuses on helping children with disabilities.”
well hey, I guess we have to give credit where credit is due. Hopefully this guy knows his stuff.
September 7th, 2006 at 1:10 pmThat sounds really gay
September 7th, 2006 at 1:11 pmReally, are any comments necessary? Doesn’t the headline pretty much say it all?
September 7th, 2006 at 1:14 pm…”then, Clay Aiken tapped Bush for intellectual defeciency.”
When pressed by reporters, Aiken elaborated on the many childish, boorish and short-sighted programs the President has iniated in his short domestic agenda.
The headline read: “MENTAL MIDGET MUMBLES PICKS.”
September 7th, 2006 at 1:15 pmHow appropriate for the American Idle President to tap a former “American Idol” contestant… I wonder if he had to promise to suck Junior’s dick, like the McFee/Hicks duo last month…
This American Idle Presidential disaster is just way too fond of the TV disaster.
September 7th, 2006 at 1:17 pmOh, the late night comedies will have a field day with this one …
September 7th, 2006 at 1:18 pm[comment deleted by admin]
September 7th, 2006 at 1:21 pmI can’t help but have seinfeld flashbacks from the episode where Kramer was thought to be mentally challenged and was the star guest at a disability seminar.
September 7th, 2006 at 1:21 pmTappin’ THAT ass?
(sorry, i couldn’t help myself)
September 7th, 2006 at 1:22 pmClay, why is there a cork on your fork?
September 7th, 2006 at 1:23 pmsome of these comments are gross and uncalled for…
shameful…
what purpose did TP have for posting this?
PoliticalOrphan is right: Aiken was into child psychology and intellectual disabilities long before he started singing.
drop the UNprogressive comments, please..
September 7th, 2006 at 1:24 pmLove that headline!
September 7th, 2006 at 1:24 pmC’mon guys, show some class. What are you ragging on this guy for?
September 7th, 2006 at 1:28 pmI hope Aiken does some good work here, I didn’t much care for Americam Idol.. Just don’t let them alter your opinions for political gains Clay, Ok? =)
September 7th, 2006 at 1:29 pmI agree with Katy and would remove my comment (#2) if I could. Bush didn’t ‘tap’ the American Idol star, he tapped the child psychology advocate.
September 7th, 2006 at 1:31 pmHey, if the guy knows his stuff, good luck to him. I just hope he doesn’t turn out like so many other Bush appointees (Loyalty first, ability maybe.)
September 7th, 2006 at 1:34 pmClearly he is qualified for the position.
September 7th, 2006 at 1:34 pmDid anyone else think that was a picture of Annette Benning?
No offense, I just really did think it was her until I read the caption, I don’t follow that crappy idol show.
September 7th, 2006 at 1:40 pmClay Aiken? who dat? I thought it was either a picture of Sinead O’Conner with hair or Annie Potts with a new dike hairdoo.
September 7th, 2006 at 1:41 pmYes, he is qualified.
Aiken brings considerable experience to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
He received his Bachelors Degree in Special Education from The University of North Carolina, Charlotte, in December 2003.
Five months earlier, in July of 2003, Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel, an advocate for children with disabilities who is herself the mother of a child with autism, co-founded the Bubel/Aiken Foundation. BAF’s mission is to integrate children with disabilities into the same life environment as their typical peers. In just three years, BAF has presented hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to advance its mission and has sponsored an inclusive summer day camp for three years.. The foundation has received multimillion dollar grants from State Farm Insurance and from the U.S. Department of Education to develop an inclusion curriculum for elementary schools.
In addition to appearing at benefits in support of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving and America’s Promise / The Alliance for Youth, Aiken has been a keynote speaker at the Pacific Rim Conference on Disabilities and the Fearless Caregiver Conference.
In 2004, Aiken was appointed to be a National Ambassador for UNICEF (the United Nations Childrens Fund), with a focus on education. Following the tsunami in December 2004, he made field trips to Banda Aceh, Indonesia, to observe the rebuilding process. He also visited camps for people displaced by rebel violence in Northen Uganda, helped raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina and served as the spokesperson for the 2005 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign.”
He received his Bachelors Degree in Special Education from The University of North Carolina, Charlotte, in December 2003.
September 7th, 2006 at 2:45 pmSo? Who is that?
September 7th, 2006 at 3:39 pmI think we do our selves a disservice by assuming every appointment made by Bush is a political hack and an incompetent. I do sympathize and it is very tempting to do so, but I think our arguments against the true administration incompetents would resonate more if we gave credit where credit was due, or simply held our peace.
September 7th, 2006 at 3:57 pmOh boy… A BACHELORS DEGREE! My kid just wasted 5 years of my money to get one and he’s constantly told it’s not enough qualification, and that’s just for drafting and CAD, not something as weighty as HEALTH CARE!
As the parent of a toddler with both hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy, I cannot stress enough how nauseatingly media hungry this announcement is on the part of the Bush administration.
When Mr. Aiken achieves his doctorate, please let me know and then I’ll accept it and his “qualifications”… Talk about trying to bank on “pop culture” to polish the image.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:46 pmIn addition to the qualifications listed by others, Clay has taught children with autism in a classroom setting, been a YMCA counselor and program director (the Bubel-Aiken Foundation now funds camps through the YMCA) he has also been a CAP worker. The Bubel Aiken Foundation has received funds in the past from the Dept. of Education to develop curriculm for the inclusion of children with special needs. With his degree in special education he is very well qualified for the position.
September 7th, 2006 at 4:52 pmWhat’s with you people!! Bush had been making bad choices since the beginning of time, but now he has FINALLY made his first good choice : Clay really IS able to make a difference! for that matter, he already has! so if you dont even know who he is, why are you so quick to criticize? i think he’s an amazing singer, and now this appointment with the president! well, he really has made it! i feel damn proud for him!
September 7th, 2006 at 4:56 pmWendy
I can see that there are some ignorant people here who hate Clay or at least are jealous of him.
Many people with doctorate degrees may not be as qualified as Clay Aiken for this committee. It is not just the level of the degree that qualifies someone for this kind of work.
Clay has a degree, so what if it is a BA? So what if he had no degree at all?
What he has more than anyone else and that qualifies him for the job more than most other people could qualify, is a true interest in helping people with disabilities, a generous and loving heart, great intelligence, willingness to put himself out there and help first hand, humbleness and a true believe that people with disabilities are as able and deserving of being a participant member of society as anyone else.
He has not and will not stay behind a desk or sitting in his living room while sending a fax with a suggestion. He has been there, he has worked with and for people with disabilities, he has created a foundation to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the same activities as people without disabilities, he has donated his time, his talent, his money, his work and his personal care to people with disabilities and to different charities and institutions.
He is an ambassador for UNICEF and has been abroad on UNICEF related work more than once. He participates on many different charity campaigns.
He is TRULY qualified because he lives the cause, not just because he sat in a classroom and never even got personally involved with people with disabilities, like I am sure some people with a doctorate may never have.
September 7th, 2006 at 5:16 pmWendy, if you don’t see the irony in an administration that’s compassion challenged, creatively challenged, and above all, intellectually challenged then you missed the point of the posters who upset you. Chill out. Politically correct is so, so, well…yesterday.
BTW, why so hung up on Clay Achens, he hasn’t done anything of substance yet.
September 7th, 2006 at 5:23 pmHey guys Clay is very good choice for this position. You guys need
September 7th, 2006 at 5:57 pmto see him with kids.He is not all about money he wan’t to make a
differece in this world.Helping others is what he does very well.
I’d much rather Bush appoint a guy who seems qualified than one of his political cronies, like ‘Brownie’ was appointed for FEMA. At least Aiken has practical experience in the field. He’s young and probably idealistic, maybe he CAN make a difference in this position. Why don’t we wait and see?
September 7th, 2006 at 6:36 pmIs Clay from Texas?
September 7th, 2006 at 6:40 pmTP should pull this at once!
September 7th, 2006 at 8:40 pmTP should pull this at once!!
September 7th, 2006 at 8:41 pmJudd, this one is over the top and the thread should be deleted.
September 7th, 2006 at 8:45 pmI’m not too worried. Clay Aiken has an extensive background in working with children with intellectual disabilities and is a UNICEF ambassador. And to top it off, he’s a LIBERAL. Bush probably assumed that he was conservative just because Aiken is Southern, but Clay is a registered Democrat.
September 7th, 2006 at 9:14 pmResponding to Jim W. Sr: I am sorry you and your child face life with these challenges. I can certainly understand your position on this. Although I wasn’t born with any mental health disabilities, I was thrown into that world fifteen years ago.
Pieces of paper don’t always make the most successful candidate. Sam Walton (Walmart) didn’t finish High School, Michael Dell dropped out of college and no one can argue their accomplishments or their bank statements. Clay may not have his PhD but I can promise you the man will accomplish more than any 10 PhD’s. He will prove himself worthy of the position.
September 7th, 2006 at 9:15 pmI’m serious. I’ve never heard of that guy before.
September 7th, 2006 at 9:28 pmI really don’t have an opinion on Clay Aiken’s credibility for the job, I just wanted to say “Wow a thread that has nothing to do with 9/11…”
September 7th, 2006 at 9:44 pmI don’t have an opinion about Clay Aiken’s qualifications for the job, I just wanted to say “Wow a thread that’s not about 9/11…”
September 7th, 2006 at 9:46 pmunbelievable,
Have faith in the comments…they will arrive…
Stupid 9/11 crap movie.
September 7th, 2006 at 9:48 pmZoo,
I have no faith :)
Well, it’s just been a whole week about the movie. How many does it take to make the point?
September 7th, 2006 at 9:55 pmCongratulations to Clay Aiken for this appointment. Bush finally did something right! Clay’s “job” may be singing treacly pop songs, but his heart and passion is with and for the children of the special needs community. I’m sure this appointment means more to him than winning 10 Grammys.
He is a registered Democrat, and he will make a difference.
September 7th, 2006 at 10:04 pmunbelievable,
Exactly. I just emailed TP. Important stories are being missed!
September 7th, 2006 at 10:17 pmWhat’s with you people!! Bush had been making bad choices since the beginning of time, but now he has FINALLY made his first good choice : Clay really IS able to make a difference! for that matter, he already has! so if you dont even know who he is, why are you so quick to criticize? i think he’s an amazing singer, and now this appointment with the president! well, he really has made it! i feel damn proud for him!
Wendy
BIG WORD TO THIS POST
September 7th, 2006 at 10:30 pmJust so you know, Renee, I wasn’t criticizing this guy. I really had never heard of him before.
September 8th, 2006 at 12:44 amClay Aiken has a degree in Special Education. He worked with children with disabilities during his college years. He founded the Bubel-Aiken Foundation to serve children with disabilities. The foundation has set up camps for children with disabilities and given out dozens of grants to aid children and schools in the last few years. He’s served as a UNICEF Ambassador for Education.
Aiken is also a registered Democrat and described by friends as “very liberal.”
September 8th, 2006 at 2:09 amCongratulations to Clay Aiken. Congratulations to George Bush for making this choice. Clay is a exceptional choice for this position for the reasons stated above by numerous supporters. Is is possible that Bush made this appointment partly because of “pop culture”, possibly. But it doesn’t matter — I have never witnessed a young person/celebrity who cares more about disabled individuals than Mr. Aiken. He will take this position very seriously and work for the betterment of all disabled individuals. Once again, congratulations Clay.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:26 amLadies, ladies please… Why is it that anyone with a differing opinion on this tread is considered a “Clay Hater”? I work in the music industry and have nothing against the guy or his talents. I do hope he does well, but let’s face it… Bush did not appoint him for his outstanding qualifications, there are many out there with the same or better and you all well know it.
At it’s base, I just consider his appointment as Bush trying to cash in on a currently popular personality in another lame attempt to raise his own dismal poll numbers and distract the nation from more pressing matters, nothing more.
And to the person who referred me to Sam Walton’s legacy, I certainly hold no respect for a man who built his family fortune on the backs of an unskilled, low paid and many times illegal work force.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:42 amI’ve been a follower of Clay’s career for several years now. On the one hand, I think it’s pretty obvious that he would not have gotten the job if he were not famous. This IS a publicity-grabbing celebrity appointment. However, Bush probably picked one of the best celebrities he possibly could have managed to fill the bill. He does actually have both the educational background and the practical field experience working with autistic kids to back this up. While I hope Clay is not the only person on the panel, I think he will probably make a fine advocate for his cause and I am delighted for him.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:45 amI may be a Clay fan but if Bush thinks he can raise his poll numbers by appointing Clay to anything, he has another think coming. I may approve this one particular appointment but it’s the first thing he’s done right in 6 years and it doesn’t change my opinion of him one iota.
September 8th, 2006 at 11:13 amI find it interesting that so many people want to slap Bush that they can’t see the forest for the trees. Some think Clay is unqualified for the post, but he is in fact very qualified. He may also be asked to use his celebrity to raise awareness which also makes it a smart move to appoint him. While Clay’s party affiliation is known to his fans, Clay doesn’t usually wear his politics on his sleeve. He mostly uses his voice for the causes he believes in.
September 8th, 2006 at 1:04 pmClay has received critical comment for taking two years to put together the new album coming out 9/19. One of the reasons that has been true, in addi-tion to performing 6 successful tours, has been his UNISEF trips, running the national Toys for Tots campaign for the last two years, running the Trick or Treat for UNISEF national campaign, and participating in the Ronald McDonald house, Best Buddies, and Caregivers programs. Clay has testified to Congress on three occasions and received multi-million dollar grants to develop the educational program to integrate children with intellectual and developmental disabilities with abled children in grades 1-12. I am certain the President was quite aware of Clay Aiken as Clay has been making news for these accomplish-ments for over three years, and the U.S. government was one of the sources of the received grants. His programs also include the integration in social situations as well as in school. These tasks have taken a good deal of Clay’s time in the last three years, as he passionately insists his contribution will do the job.
September 9th, 2006 at 1:06 amJo….You are so knowledgeable when it comes to clay but not on UNICEF. There is no S in UNICEF.
And to the person who mentioned 9/11. If they had the chance to have a serious discussion about the plights of the world and clay….he would win hands down.
Plus, the only opinion that counts when discussing clay is theirs…..all others are haters. As for being jealous…..of what???
September 9th, 2006 at 4:07 pmDAMN!!! The Claymates are everywhere to sell their wares…oops!! i meant their cult leader…LOL
September 9th, 2006 at 4:55 pmI don’t know if clay would do a good job or not. I don’t know if he is qualified of not. Is he dedicated? How much time will he actually put in it. Just look over what he has done over the last year and I am not talking about when his fans donated alot of money in his name, that is their dedication not his. What has he personally done in the last 9 months that he has been pretty much idle? Please don’t talk about his foundation because he is certainly not hands on, as a matter of fact you could say his fans started it. And if he got his degree in 2003 what time has he had to use and formulate the things he learned. I think the appointment was a quid quo pro, and rumour has it that the appointment was first floated in early 2005, but he was too busy and asked that it be postponed, and now just before his new cd drops the annoncement is appropriate? My question remains, is he dedicated? Or does this just promote his new cd?
September 9th, 2006 at 10:29 pmJust another example of the “cult of celebrity” overriding responsible government stewardship. The Committee seems happy to get a pop tart on board with them, and the pop tart is already using the appointment to help sell CDs and divert dialogue from more controversial subjects. Just another day in America, where being famous is the ultimate achievement.
September 9th, 2006 at 11:17 pmThis has nothing to do with his CD or publicity. Clay worked for charitable causes even when he was in college. He worked in the class room with children with special needs even before he earned his degree in special education. While working as a program directior for the YMCA camps, he learned first hand about the challenges faced by kids with special needs when it came to including them in the activities of typical children. That is why the camps funded by The Bubel Aiken Foundation, working with the YMCA help to provide and train the staff required to include those kids. The foundation does a lot more than than that through grants that help kids with special needs perform their own community service projects to give back to the community. They recently helped to fund a program where typical children are paired with special needs kids in a high school setting in a peer to peer relationship. The funding to develop the curriculum for inclusion in schools is only one of the many things the foundation does. Clay worked as a CAP worker for a year and a half with a young man with autism prior to being on American Idol. To suggest that Clay is only doing this for personal glory or that fame has anything to do with this is very off base. He is serious about this and has been involved in these issues long before he became a singing sensation. Clay is also known for being a great guy and working with kids even when the cameras aren’t rolling. He has been very careful to use his voice and celebrity when he thinks it will do some good for a cause and has, in fact, been disdainful of celebrities that do good works for personal glory. Clay is a class act and the real deal. Those of us who have followed his career, what he says, what he does and what those who know him best say about him can tell you that this is true. His fans hear a lot about him that the press and the general public never do. He is truly a very kind, caring and dedicated individual. If you doubt me, read his memoir entitled Learning To Sing where he describes fighting for the inclusion of a girl with down syndrome in a YMCA camp and the problems he faced in doing so. this book was published a couple of years ago and has nothing to do with album promotion. He is bright guy with a lot to say. You might be surprised.
September 10th, 2006 at 12:41 amClay Aiken is qualified for the job. Clay likes Bush and supports him despite being a Democrat.
September 10th, 2006 at 3:48 pmClay Aiken is qualified for the job. Clay likes Bush and supports him despite being a Democrat.
September 10th, 2006 at 3:48 pmI hope Clay taps Bush for Intellectual deficiencies!
September 11th, 2006 at 11:08 amCongratulations to Clay! He is very qualified for this committee. He has been an advocate for Children with disabilities for quite some time. He has classroom experience in addition to working with the YMCA .He worked very closely with an autistic child, whose Mother encouraged Clay to enter the American Idol Contest. Since he started recording with RCA he started the Bubel Aiken Foundation which helps children with disabilities. He also works with Unicef as a Child Advocate. He has worked with the Ronald McDonald House and Toys for Tots. I don’t think the committee could do any better. His practical experience in working for these causes in conjunction with his BA in Special Education does make him qualified. To the comment that he is plugging his new CD. His music speaks for itself, all you have to do is listen.
September 11th, 2006 at 3:15 pmaccording to some clay is the only person who has ever worked with children in the special ed department. Get those tissues out mates….I hate to break it to you…..he’s not.
Ok, I listened to his music and it does speak for itself….it’s not that good.
*hands all the mates a tissue*
September 12th, 2006 at 10:28 pmThe tabloid garbage is false from everything I have seen and heard on the subject. If you believe that stuff, you will believe anything. I am not going to dignify these comments with further attention. To make these claims villefies an innocent man without proof, IMHO. Shame on you. May no one ever trash you with same flimsy standard of “proof”.
No one claims that Mr. Aiken is the ONLY person qualified for the committee. I have responded to those who claim that he is unqualified to show that he is indeed a good candidate for the job. For those who feel that celebrities should not be appointed merely because they are celebrities, remember that this is commonly done to raise awareness of certain issues. That is the whole idea behind some of the celebrities who regularly testify in committee hearings before Congress and the UNICEF ambassador program. Where is Angelina Jolie’s degree in international law, world history or political science or any other qualifying degree? That isn’t the point.
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