Pixel this: Dad tells son switch to GOP or else

[tanyev]

HP: With college funds cut off, teen sells Web squares, Bush barbs

12:00 AM CST on Saturday, March 11, 2006
By KRISTEN HOLLAND / The Dallas Morning News

MONA REEDER/DMN
Ted Gambordella dislikes the idea that his only son, a Highland Park High junior, is a Democrat. He loathes it so much that he has flat-out refused to pay for his son's college education unless he becomes a Republican.

"Yeah, I'm serious," said Mr. Gambordella, a 57-year-old martial arts expert. "He's got to earn his own way." That suits Teddy just fine.

The 17-year-old said there's no way he'll switch to the GOP just to get his father's financial backing. He recently started a Web site – onemillionreasonswhy .com – to raise money for college.

"It's not about the money," said Teddy, who spent two years wrestling for W.T. White High before joining Highland Park's team last fall. "It's about spreading knowledge about Bush and his administration and proving my dad wrong. It's more of a principle thing."
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/DN-teddy_11met.ART.North.Edition2.f615355.html

Go Teddy! How'd he turn out so smart?

[brooklynite]

1. Might actually be more fun to switch to the GOP and...

ask his father why President Bush isn't living up to Republican principles:

[lpbk2713]

2. Register as a rethug.

And vote for the worst candidate in the primaries.


(A little trick I picked up from them)

[mdmc]

3. imo, he should join the GOP and take his dad's cash

Then he could write in Ann Richards in every GOP primary he participates in. He could also donate cash to the DNC to run moving billboards in his dad's hometown.:kick:

[tanyev]

37. I know, that's what I would probably do. Register as a Repug,

take the college cash, and vote for whoever I darn well pleased. Maybe that makes Teddy a better person than me.

[rucky]

4. notice how they spaced out his website so readers wouldn't link:

www.onemillionreasonswhy.com

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. The father is sick

How cruel.

[salin]

Interesting story

interesting kid. Idiot, condescending Dad.

[onehandle]

6. What a stupid kid.

All he has to do is be a Republican and he'll get his way paid?

Man, I'd jump at the chance.

To stay drunk and get high. Indulging in underage Mexican prostitutes. Getting away with road crimes and petty thievery. Forcing my girlfriends to get abortions.

Then after you turn forty you get millions from your dad's friends, "find Christ", and become President!

Go for it, stupid kid!

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Love that sig line!

[rucky]

9. then he wouln't be in the paper speaking out against the GOP.

much less raising thousands of dollars for college.

[Oilwellian]

8. Maybe he reads

My father is republican and doesn't want me to visit anymore as long as I have a DU sticker on my car. He thinks we're all anarchists or potential terrorists and doesn't want anything associated with that on his property. And yes, he's addicted to Fox News.

It's quite sad to see parents put conditions on what's supposed to be unconditional love for your children.

[salin]

10. funny how some folks who claim

Christianity - and use a skewed version of the religion to justify their republicanism - but just can't grasp the lessons of love, specifically unconditional love, that Christ taught.

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. He thinks Democrats are anarchists?

Democrats believe in the power of government to do good for others. Republicans voters fear that power and vote for people who use the power of government to enrich themselves.

[annabanana]

20. I'm sorry

for you that he constricts his input to the propaganda machine. I wonder what would make him unplug from that matrix and join the other 70% of Americans, and the rest of the world? How does he know you're on here... Does he come and look over your shoulder, or is he up to "higher tech" snooping?

[Oilwellian]

29. He knows because...

I proudly sport a Democratic Underground sticker on my car bumper.

And thank all of you who responded to my post. If I were younger, his stance would probably hurt me deeply, but fortunately I'm old enough to realize and accept the fact that I don't need my father's love and support to feel "good enough" in this world. I have the love and support of my children, husband and friends, and that's all I need.

I feel sorry for my father who is in the twilight years of his life, and has chosen to isolate himself from a large portion of his family who don't hold the same political ideals as he does. (All of my children and husband are democrats as well.) But I refuse to give up my belief system and everything I stand for, to appease his myopic view of the world. What kind of legacy would that be for my children if I did that?

[Tikki]

25. I can remember when a father might....

tell his son..."I would rather see you dead than with that long hair"....

WOW...dead.

The irony of it is that guys got their hair buzzed when they got drafted and many of those young men died.
...and some guys went bald over the years....wonder if their fathers finally loved them, then.

Tikki

[durrrty libby]

11. I love that his grandmother donated.

I hope it was his dad's mom.

[Danmel]

12. I guess I'm as bad

I told my kids they could tell me anything: they were gay (not that theres anything wrong with that or that i would really care), that they were or had gotten someone pregnant, that they needed help with drugs or alcohol problems- just don't tell me you are a Republican- then you're on your own.

[BiggJawn]

13. Sounds like MY father...

"If you don't do what I want, I see no reason why I should give you any money when I'm gone. Do what I want, or I'll have to go talk to my lawyer..."

That poor lawyer. He probably keeps a copy of dad's will on a "magic slate" because he's always threatening to cut people in and out of it.

Fuck him. And fuck Teddy's father, too.

[tom_paine]

15. K & R

:kick:

[calmblueocean]

16. Seems like just another get-rich-quick scheme to me.

Everyone wants to find the easy route to a million dollars. Teddy just copied the Million Dollar Homepage and added "why I hate Bush" to the mix. Then he probably sent out press releases to the local media telling them that his dad wouldn't pay for college if he stayed a Democrat -- that's just a marketing strategy. I'm sure Dad is only too happy to play along if it means his son might get a mil.

If this kid was really a Dem, the business model would show it. There's nothing public spirited about his business. No percentage donated to help the environment or any other charity. Just him. If he's successful, I doubt he'll even go to college! :)

[TorchTheWitch]

19. One of his 2 donors is his dad

This smells.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[salin]

24. Youch!

and I think that slap per post count is harsh.

The dad's ad is on one of the pixels marked "test" - click it several times and the pixel toggles between a beefcake pic and an ad for his dad's martial arts site. I think the kid is just getting started, and is testing out how it works.

[TorchTheWitch]

27. eee gad! I have a low post count!

because I have a life... the horror! Pardon me for not spending every free moment yammering away on here just to hear myself talk every spare moment that I have. I will immediately stop working, stop spending time with my family and friends, stop doing anything that's not absolutely necessary like sleeping or going to the bathroom and use every single spare moment to pad my post count so you won't be suspicious of me since it's just perfectly normal for this kid's dad to be one of the first donors to this venture, not to mention everything else that makes it look suspicious.

[desi]

28. I did...

..clicked on one of them and got this...I'm gonna side with those who believe it may be a scam...

http://www.wwwin.com/

[salin]

23. I saw that - on a "test" pixel

it seems to flip between the dad ad and a beefcake pic. I am guessing he is testing things out.

[Crunchy Frog]

30. Father-son scam?

That was my thought when I first read this. Sad that there's so much cynicism out there.

[unblock]

21. yeah, sounds like a SCAM to me

ok, it might not be, but who's to say? son & dad might both be repugs, trying to siphon off money that would otherwise go to democratic candidates. or they might both be dems or apolitical, just trying to beg from money.

or the might telling the truth about their party disagreement, but exaggerating the "i won't pay" part in order to scam money.


all i can say is that there are many FAR better places to send your money....

[Catrina]

38. I had the same thought ~ why not just go to work like many others do?

This is more the kind of thing a Republican kid would do, and how will people know when he has more than he needs?

There are many causes I would give money to before this one ~ like people who need fuel to stay warm in the winter, or food etc.

He's a healthy young kid, he could apply for loans and work his way through college ~ and I'd be more impressed if he was donating some of it to a worthy cause. He's playing on the extremely high emotions of people at the moment ~ I really hate being manipulated.

[Canuckistanian]

17. "Democrats are too extreme"

I think the American public is waking up to who the real extremists are.

[ingac70]

18. I sent the kid $100

I hate parents like his dad!

[salin]

31. Did you send a message

to be posted? There is some skepticism in this thread - am wondering if you sent something that should show up on his site so folks can see if/when it gets posted.

[1monster]

26. What kind of father tries to control his child(ren)'s mind(s)? The kind

who won't see the same child(ren) for dust once he/she (they)can legally leave the parental nest and go out on their own.

[CoffeeCat]

32. My father did this to me!

I applaud this guy for being proactive and finding alternative ways to fund his education.

It can be done.

My father, a staunch conservative and real narcissistic psychopath, cut me off too. I said, "Screw you. I'm going to college anyway."

I paid my own way, without his help--worked 3 jobs and got student loans. I also made the Dean's List several semesters and was inducted into Mortar Board.

I obtained a degree in journalism with an emphasis in media/public relations.

Someday, maybe I'll write a book about what a complete asshole my father is! :)

I'll definitely be donating to this young man's college fund!

[The River]

33. Reminds Me of "Dysfunctional Family Feud"

The old parody on SNL.

Dad is less a parent than a self
absorbed ego who wants his children
be carbon copies of him. They should think and
vote just like him because, in his ego mind, he
has all the right answers.

Far too many parents think of their children
as copies (or replacements) of/for themselves.
Instead of facilitating the growth and emergence
of a unique individual (with all that entails),
they create endless conflict within the family
by trying to bribe, threaten, punish or otherwise
coerce their children into being what they think SHOULD BE instead of
loving the child that actually IS.


This kid would be better off paying his own way,
even if it means student loan debt.
After reading his blog entries, I think a decent in-state school
is more realistic than Harvard or Yale.

He does get an "A" for creativity.

on edit: for freaking coherence!

[fishwax]

34. Does he actually give any reasons why

he doesn't like bush or why he's a democrat or supports democratic values? I couldn't find any on his web page, in his blog, in his press release, or in the article itself. I think it's curious. If it's true, though, then good luck to him ...

[salin]

36. he has a song he wrote

that he links to on his site - that could have been written by any duer.

[knitter4democracy]

35. And mine wouldn't pay if I didn't take up through Calc II.

Of course, I took both Calc I and II, but I didn't disagree with my dad all that much on his reasoning.

I know he was pissed I went to an evangelical college, but he still paid his share.

That dad's going to lose the battle and lose the war. What a moron. :eyes:


Smart kid, though. Must have a good mom. ;)