STUDENTS NOT KIDDING WITH GINGRICH.Byline: Daniel Taub Daily News Staff Writer When 14-year-old Granada Hills resident Steven Greanias got the opportunity to ask Newt Gingrich anything he wanted, he hit the speaker of the House with a tough issue: welfare. Steven, a ninth-grade student at Crespi Carmelite High School Crespi Carmelite High School is a private, Roman Catholic, all-male, four-year college preparatory high school located in Encino, California in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. in Encino, and five other teen-agers were given the chance Friday afternoon to meet Gingrich and question him on such issues as the federal budget, foreign policy and the media. The six students were selected from middle and high schools around the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. based on questions they submitted to Channel One, a television station shown in almost 12,000 schools across the United States. Steven's question, which he memorized for the occasion, easily could have been asked by a member of the Washington press corps: "The Constitution requires that the federal government promote the general welfare of its people. What are your views on how far the federal government's responsibilities extend in this area?" So how did Gingrich answer Steven's hard-hitting question? "He said that he believes that the federal government should protect (people) fully so that they can go out and get jobs," Steven said of Gingrich's answer. "And he believes that when (the Constitution) was written, it was totally different than the circumstances CIRCUMSTANCES, evidence. The particulars which accompany a fact. 2. The facts proved are either possible or impossible, ordinary and probable, or extraordinary and improbable, recent or ancient; they may have happened near us, or afar off; they are public or of today." "It was a good answer," said Steven, who comes from a Republican family. Steven, who follows politics by reading the newspaper and watching television, said Gingrich was impressed im·press 1 tr.v. im·pressed, im·press·ing, im·press·es 1. To affect strongly, often favorably: by his and the other students' questions. "Mr. Gingrich said that the questions were better than the Washington press corps'," Steven said. "He also said that Clinton should come out and do the same thing." The question-and-answer session, which included students from as far away as West Virginia West Virginia, E central state of the United States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania and Maryland (N), Virginia (E and S), and Kentucky and, across the Ohio R., Ohio (W). Facts and Figures Area, 24,181 sq mi (62,629 sq km). Pop. and Florida, will be featured later this month on Channel One News, a 12-minute news broadcast seen by more than 8 million teen-agers every school day. Gingrich visited Channel One's studios near Hollywood during a 10-day Republican fund-raising fund-raising, large-scale soliciting of voluntary contributions, especially in the United States. Fund-raising is widely undertaken by charitable organizations, educational institutions, and political groups to acquire sufficient funds to support their activities. tour. In addition to the six questions planned, Gingrich answered questions from Channel One's anchors and from the studio audience of 85 students from Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. and Orange counties. Steven's father, who accompanied his son to the studio, thought the session was a positive experience. "I think all of the kids did a heck heck interj. Used as a mild oath. n. Slang Used as an intensive: had a heck of a lot of money; was crowded as heck. [Alteration of hell. of a job asking the questions," Chris Greanias said. "I think the kids were quite satisfied." But the most positive part of the experience for Steven may not have been quizzing Gingrich. "I got to shake hands to perform the customary act of civility by clasping and moving hands, as an expression of greeting, farewell, good will, agreement, etc. See also: Shake with him," Steven said. CAPTION(S): PHOTO Photo (1) Speaker Newt Gingrich answers questions Friday. (2) Steve Greanias, center, was among a group of students invited to interview Newt Gingrich during a taping for Channel One News. Tom Mendoza/Daily News |
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