Read The Kid Who Ran For President for Free Online Page B

dumb mistakes.
    â€œFellow students,” I began, “we are making history today. Never, in the history of the United States of America, has a child — one of us — run for the office of president. That’s what I am doing, and I come here today to ask for your support.”
    Some kids started cheering and hooting. A chant of “MOON! MOON! MOON! MOON!” swept across the auditorium. The teachers did their best to shush the kids. I waited until everybody calmed down before continuing.
    â€œI’m sure you’re aware of the problems our country faces today. Crime. Climate change. Unemployment. Racism. Substance abuse. Too much homework …”
    That got a laugh.
    â€œLet me ask you this,” I continued. “Who is responsible for these problems? Is it Congress? Foreigners? Rich people? Poor people? Black people? White people? Women? Men? No, there is one group who is totally to blame for all the problems in our country today, and I’ll tell you who that group is.”
    I paused for a moment to find my place on the page.
    â€œGrown-ups!” I shouted.
    The kids went nuts. A cheer went up. Kids were stomping their feet. The teachers began to look around at each other nervously.
    â€œ That’s who’s responsible for the problems of our country. Tell me, who’s responsible for housing discrimination, sex discrimination, and race discrimination?”
    â€œGrown-ups!” they screamed.
    â€œWho burned all the fossil fuels, cut down the rain forests, made our water unsafe to drink, and our air unsafe to breathe?”
    â€œGrown-ups!” they screamed even louder.
    â€œWho brought on the health care crisis?”
    â€œGrown-ups!”
    â€œWho caused every war in the history of this planet?”
    â€œGrown-ups!”
    â€œThat’s right! Kids had nothing to do with any of these problems. Tell me this — are grown-ups going to solve all these problems they created?”
    â€œNo!” the whole school shouted.
    â€œThat’s right,” I said, more confidently. “In this young millennium, it’s gonna be up to us to solve the problems created in the last millennium. And the way I look at it, the first step is for a kid to run for president. And win!”
    They were in the palm of my hand now. I could feel it. Every student was silent and staring at me, even the eighth-grade jerks who never shut up for anything. I felt like I could tell them that the earth was really flat and they’d agree with me.
    I spotted Chelsea in the front row. She was looking at me in awe.
    â€œNow, we all know that none of us can vote yet,” I continued. “The grown-ups made sure of that, didn’t they? What I want each of you to do is convince your parents to vote for me . You may have to beg them. You may have to put a little pressure on them. But if you want to solve these problems I’ve been talking about, do whatever you can to get your moms and dads to vote for me. Because if they vote for another grown-up, we’ll only have the same old problems grownups have caused over the last two centuries.”
    â€œMOON! MOON! MOON! MOON! MOON! MOON!” they chanted. It took a while before I could continue.
    â€œMy fellow students, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, ‘What’s in it for me ?’ Well, I’ll tell you what’s in it for you. In appreciation for your support, my first official act as president of the United States will be to abolish homework, now and forever!”
    A huge roar of approval went up across the auditorium. Clapping. Screaming. Foot stomping. The whole room was shaking. It felt like a football game. The teachers were flipping out.
    I felt an exhilarating surge of power I had never experienced before. They were cheering because of me . They were whipped up because of what I was saying. It was a rush.
    â€œIf your parents vote for me,” I bellowed into the