Child Journalist Damon Weaver Finally Meets the President

The whole interview is above. It’s not a one- to three-minute soundbite from ABC or The Early Show. It happened last Friday. Trust me to be sleeping late that day instead of watching The Early Show. From the Independent.co. uk:

But although the persistent young reporter even came to Washington in January for the inauguration, nothing happened. Then the summons suddenly came. “I couldn’t believe it,” Brian Zimmerman, Damon’s broadcasting teacher, said. “From what I was told by them [the White House], Damon Weaver is the most famous student reporter in America.”

The youngster confessed to being a little nervous as he waited for Mr Obama to enter the ornate White House Diplomatic Room where the interview was held. But during the nine-minute session, in which he asked a dozen questions, Damon was as composed as veteran news anchors 30 or 40 years his senior, and in his smart suit and tie, looked exactly like them too. Afterwards he pronounced the President to be “very tall and nice”.

Good. Good for him.

In early May, I wrote about Damon Weaver and especially about his question for Obama: “President Obama, what can you do to help Pahokee?”

[…T]he answers the boy seeks is not necessarily just in him or in his neighbors, but also in Obama and his policies that will impact African Americans. And Obama cannot shy away from that responsibility, no matter how he may dodge or delay it.

Damon Weaver has gotten his interview but was it worth it? (Courtesy: luvreforsale)

It seems that Damon’s all-encompassing original question was pared down to encompass just education. However, while listening to Damon’s questions for President Obama, I conclude they echo exactly that original question. The little brother journalist didn’t give up on asking it, and he asked it in many different ways. As usual, Obama gave his usual stern stump answers about the responsibilities of parents, etc. In other words, deft politician that he is, Obama may have answered some but not all of the questions directly, so that he cannot be accused of committing himself to anything.

I had that same–but for me, mildly dismaying–experience interviewing a Republican candidate for governor of California in the Seventies for the student radio program. The ranking San Jose State student supporter for this same candidate who was present at the interview was horrified at how many times the candidate deflected my calm but direct questions. He ended up confessing to me to have had second thoughts about his guy dancing around a simple question.

The same cannot be said of young Mr. Weaver. Obama’s now his homeboy, but it seems rather a hollow victory. Everything else seems to have deflected from young Damon’s achievement. It would have been better had the boy and the President met just after the Inaugural. I was somewhat fazed reading some of the stories from bloggers and reporters alike that said that Damon’s got connections now, and more entré into the White House than everyday people. What the hell? It wasn’t about that at all.

Some commenters even hit at what the boy wore, that Damon seemed lost in a sea of suit and an oversized tie. What these people don’t want to realize is that Damon Weaver, nearly 12, is a growing boy in a poor neighborhood. He’s a sixth grader who is on the verge of middle or junior high school; and that this suit has to last a year or two between growth spurts and church attendance and any other outings. In other words, he’s still very much just everyday people. People who buy from Target and Sears, and who like fresh mango and fries in their school lunch.

Well done, Damon. Keep on doing good and making history. Whether we are family, friends or strangers looking on from a long way, we’re all very proud of you, child. Let’s continue to hear from you now and again.