The local Phoenix media was abuzz with the story that John McCain was going to be at the city's Central High School - Cindy McCain's alma mater - to receive the endorsement of Hip-Hop artist Daddy Yankee.
Swooning students were ushered into the school's library as Yankee and his aviator shades were front and center as he endorsed John McCain for president. The grin of McCain filled the room and there was a burst of applause that a Hip-Hop singer would endorse a candidate at what the Wall Street Journal called "a campaign event."
Yankee then kisses some girls on the cheek and shook many hands and the Central High School choir belted out the "Star Spangled Banner."
And, it was all completely illegal.
I am sure John McCain didn't think much about the venue: a high school, a hip-hop singer, and dozens of kids. All he could muster was a grin that his photo op and the endorsement would do more than land him on the 6 o'clock news. All of those high school students would race home and tell Mom and Dad how great it was to see Daddy Yankee and that Daddy Yankee never would have graced the halls of Central High School if it hadn't been for that nice old man who is running for president.
McCain also didn't think much of the fact that Arizona statutes clearly forbade his campaign from holding a "campaign event." Arizona Revised Statue 15-511 is direct and to the point:
A. A person acting on behalf of a school district or a person who aids another person acting on behalf of a school district shall not use school district or charter school personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or other resources for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections.
Whether it was the principal or Cindy McCain with her alma mater influence, Central High School was forbidden territory for McCain's campaigning.
Although it may seem like a minor issue, there was great wisdom in the Arizona Legislature adding that statute to the books. There is something very distasteful and questionable about using a high school and its students as props for political gain.
If any school was allowed to host politicians for campaign events, the Pandora's Box would never cease to empty. Any politician could demand the right to fly a banner at a football game or hand out buttons and bumperstickers in the cafeteria.
But McCain and his aides were oblivious to that. Even if they didn't know the law, the fact that they were holding a political event at a high school and using students as backdrops should have given them pause. It didn't because McCain would never pass up an opportunity to advance his political aspirations. Even if it meant violating the law.
However, I do think McCain and his staff knew the law. Why else would McCain deliberately call this campaign event a "press conference"? As the conservative Wall Street Journal pointed out:
The event was labeled a "press conference" but McCain didn’t take any questions from reporters.
John McCain: the law and your kids are fair game as long as he gets to be president.
UPDATE: Looks like Daddy Yankee is not the kind of role model we want at Central High School. Click here to read about his song "Gasolina." (h/t to Deoliver47)