Kids for Kerry founder's speech wows Democrats
12-year-old girl steals stage at convention
By PATTY REINERTCopyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
BOSTON - Move over Hillary. Ilana Wexler is on her way up.
"There are some days that I would love to be governor," the 12-year-old said Wednesday. "There are some days that I would love to be president."
For now though, Ilana is focusing on helping Sen. John Kerry win the White House.
The seventh-grader from Oakland, Calif., with Little Orphan Annie-style hair and a wide grin, stole Democrats' hearts Tuesday night.
Sharing the convention stage with heavyweights including Teresa Heinz Kerry, Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, and Democratic rising star Barack Obama, Ilana rattled off Kerry's positions on education and health care.
Delegates jumped to their feet cheering when the pint-size founder of Kids for Kerry suggested a national "no name calling" day to clean up politicians' language on the campaign trail — and on the floor of the Senate.
Ilana scolded Vice President Dick Cheney for recently telling Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., to "go f--- yourself" in the Senate.
"He used a really bad word. If I said that word, I would be put in a timeout," she told the delegates, drawing more cheers. "I think he should be put in a timeout."
Ending her speech with a fist thrust into the air, she shouted, "Kids, this is about our future. Make sure all adults you know get out and vote. We can have a voice today!"
patty.reinert@chron.com