Girl wins contest with false essay about soldier dad...

[LionRun]

Yes, that mother is a real piece of work!:liar:
"When the child was asked about the essay that made her dream come true, her mother responded by saying: "We don't really want to talk about that ... OK?" Shortly after that, Ceballos took her daughter and quickly left the store, NBC 5 reported."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22424093/



You'd think she'd want her daughter to talk about the contest-winning work of fiction she wrote. You know, how she got the idea, what symbolism she was using with the angel pendant motif, what message she has for little girls whose fathers really have died in Iraq.

I couldn't agree more, STEADFAST. What she did was in my opnion fraudulent, dishonest and manipulative--and all of this she is teaching to her young daughter. That woman knew exactly what she was doing, and she is a disgrace.

Lion

 

[golfmom]

The mother knew exactly what she was doing! She's the one who gave details regarding the "daddy's" death. If she had denied that the essay was true like she's now claiming, there would have been no reason to make up additional details to expand on the essay.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12302007/news/regionalnews/hannah_fans_dead_dad_scam_637861.htm

At the event, the mother told company officials the girl's daddy, Jonathan Menjivar, was killed April 17 in a roadside bombing in Iraq.

 

[STEADFAST]

Here's a quote from the mother's sister. So heartwarming this family is.

"It was supposed to be told like a Christmas story, a good Christmas story, basically," she said. "And that's what she wrote, a Christmas story. But she didn't know it had to be true or anything."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22429882/



Maybe the daughter didn't know the story was being pawned off as true. (If she wrote it in the first place.) Maybe she thought up a story about a little girl whose daddy was killed in Iraq and who keeps an angel pendant that her daddy gave her mommy on the day she was born. I can see that being a Christmas story in a country-music sort of way.



I wonder if the mother's story about her husband, Jonathan Menjivar, dying in Iraq on April 17 was also supposed to be a Christmas story. Not so much, that one.

 

[LionRun]

The mother knew exactly what she was doing! She's the one who gave details regarding the "daddy's" death. If she had denied that the essay was true like she's now claiming, there would have been no reason to make up additional details to expand on the essay.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12302007/news/regionalnews/hannah_fans_dead_dad_scam_637861.htm

At the event, the mother told company officials the girl's daddy, Jonathan Menjivar, was killed April 17 in a roadside bombing in Iraq.

Ahhh, good point, golfmom. Does anyone know if Jonathan Menjivar is the girl's father? If so, then in addition to the mother being a fraudulent piece of work with no morals, it was a terrible thing to state the anyone is dead when they are not--especially the little girl's father. If I am mistaken and the name was made up I am sorry in advance.

Lion

 

[STEADFAST]

Ahhh, good point, golfmom. Does anyone know if Jonathan Menjivar is the girl's father? If so, then in addition to the mother being a fraudulent piece of work with no morals, it was a terrible thing to state the anyone is dead when they are not--especially the little girl's father. If I am mistaken and the name was made up I am sorry in advance.

Lion

Jonathan Menjivar is the father, and he is alive and well and working as a carpet cleaner.

 

[reportertype]

It's too bad her myspace page was canceled. I got a look at it and ewwwww. Anyway, I feel bad for this little girl and not just because she lost her tickets. She's being raised by a liar and a cheat and she'll learn to do the same, I'm sure. I am glad the tickets were taken away, though.

It's obvious to me that the mother knew that they would have to make up something sad to win; I don't believe for a second that this essay was written as some sort of writing exercise for her daughter. If it were, the mother would not have carried the lie forward when talking to company officials. She would not have submitted it under a false name, either.

 

[LionRun]

Thanks, STEADFAST. So if Jonathen Menjivar is alive and well, and that woman in deed stated that he was dead and killed while fighting in Iraq, it adds more to the compost pile that constitutes this sorry excuse for a mother.

Lion

 

[JanetElaine]

I wonder if the part of the story they said is 'worse' is that the little girl really thought her father was dead, and now she found out he's not.... If that's so, I hope someone will get this little one some help before her mother messes her up for good...

 

[Taximom]

Ahhh, good point, golfmom. Does anyone know if Jonathan Menjivar is the girl's father? If so, then in addition to the mother being a fraudulent piece of work with no morals, it was a terrible thing to state the anyone is dead when they are not--especially the little girl's father. If I am mistaken and the name was made up I am sorry in advance.

Lion

Hi Lion! See comment #92 and link provided.

 

[STEADFAST]

I think I know where the angel pendant story came from: the March 12 issue of USA Today.

"Before he left for Iraq, Sgt. James Gunter gave his 6-year-old daughter, Abagail, a necklace made of rhinestones with a pendant shaped like an angel. Anytime you miss me, he told Abagail, just rub the angel and say a prayer, and the words will fly around the world to me."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-03-12-cover-gunter_N.htm

Sgt. Gunter, by the way, was not killed in Iraq either. But then again, his wife and daughter never claimed that he was.

 

[LionRun]

Hi Taxi:blowkiss:. Thanks for the link.

Lion

 

[deanws]

I am glad that the mother and daughter have had this prize taken away, but I feel sad for the little girl. Too bad it won't be a life lesson for the little girl. It is more likely that the scum mother will blame the consequences of her actions on all but her lying, fraudulent self. Since her daughter is learning the ways of the world including values, morals, and ethics from her scum mother, she may grow up to be just like mom. Pitiful.

Lion

Yep...and I pretty much told her that when I wrote a little message to her too!

:loser:

 

[Amraann]

Here's a quote from the mother's sister. So heartwarming this family is.

"It was supposed to be told like a Christmas story, a good Christmas story, basically," she said. "And that's what she wrote, a Christmas story. But she didn't know it had to be true or anything."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22429882/



Maybe the daughter didn't know the story was being pawned off as true. (If she wrote it in the first place.) Maybe she thought up a story about a little girl whose daddy was killed in Iraq and who keeps an angel pendant that her daddy gave her mommy on the day she was born. I can see that being a Christmas story in a country-music sort of way.



I wonder if the mother's story about her husband, Jonathan Menjivar, dying in Iraq on April 17 was also supposed to be a Christmas story. Not so much, that one.

In the beginning before all the details came out I was not so quick to condemn this women but now with all that has been released there is no defending what she did ...
I do however still contend that the contest did not specify the essay had to be true.
Based solely on that the child is entitled to the prize..
Putting all morals aside the contest should have specified that.
Right wrong or otherwise she deserves the tickets based on their lack of clarification.

 

[STEADFAST]

In the beginning before all the details came out I was not so quick to condemn this women but now with all that has been released there is no defending what she did ...
I do however still contend that the contest did not specify the essay had to be true.
Based solely on that the child is entitled to the prize..
Putting all morals aside the contest should have specified that.
Right wrong or otherwise she deserves the tickets based on their lack of clarification.

Maybe she was disqualified on the technicality that she entered under a false name.

 

[Linda7NJ]

Well, I for one am glad the lying pair isn't going to Hannah Montana!

 

[Amraann]

Maybe she was disqualified on the technicality that she entered under a false name.

I guess I am confused about why she would use a false name to begin with???
But that would be totally a valid reason.

 

[JBean]

IMO, it didn't need to be spelled out that this was to be truthful. That would have almost been insulting. It is implied and this mom knew she was cheating to win:

"We want to hear how you're going to ROCK someone else's holiday. Maybe it's Mom, your best friend, or maybe it's someone you don't even know! It's easy: just write (no more than 5 sentences) and send it to us. Maybe you are donating a coat (sorry sis) or maybe you are making breakfast in bed for your Mom (maybe next year Dad!); whatever it is tell us all about it."

Here is the legal language: "No purchase necessary to win. You must be between the ages of 6 and 13 by 11/22/07. Club Libby Lu cannot accept any entries from individuals under the age of 18 without consent from parent or legal guardian. You must be able to attend the concert on 1/9/08 to be eligible. Grand prize consists of four round-trip coach class air travel on airline of CLL's choice from major airport nearest winner's residence to Albany, NY, on 1/9/08 and returning 1/10/08; 2 days, 1 night hotel accommodations. Winner and at least one parent/legal guardian of winner must attend a Public Relations event scheduled during the trip in NY. Winner and guest must travel together. All travelers must execute a Release of Liability and a Publicity Release prior to ticketing. Travel arrangements and accommodations are at the discretion of the Sponsor. Trip value may vary depending on point of departure and airfare fluctuations. Approximate retail value of Grand Prize is $3,000. Other great prizes will be awarded. Winners are solely responsible for paying all applicable federal, state, local taxes and all other expenses with the acceptance and/or use of prizes. For complete details including entry information and judging criteria, send a self addressed stamped envelope to Club Libby Lu Attn: Hannah Montana Official Rules, 2700 West Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612."
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/myfox/pages...ale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

 

[Trino]

The contest did not stipulate that the story must be true.

Plenty of writers write fictitious stories about war and people dying in them.
The company needs to honor their end of the deal.
I see a lawsuit coming.

I completely agree. Although it's sad the young girl wrote this, still the contest did not say the essay needed to be factual.

If the company really wants to make this story go away, just give the girl the tickets and move on.

 

[Amraann]

I completely agree. Although it's sad the young girl wrote this, still the contest did not say the essay needed to be factual.

If the company really wants to make this story go away, just give the girl the tickets and move on.

I think Steadfast had a point that the using of a fake name could have been how they justified this.
Although they did not have the forethought to add that the story needed to be true so I doubt they had the forethought to add you must use your real name.

I do take issue that when the story first broke they said they would NOT take the prize from her and then did (no doubt due to society pressure)
SO they in effect lied too.

 

[Amraann]

IMO, it didn't need to be spelled out that this was to be truthful. That would have almost been insulting. It is implied and this mom knew she was cheating to win:

"We want to hear how you're going to ROCK someone else's holiday. Maybe it's Mom, your best friend, or maybe it's someone you don't even know! It's easy: just write (no more than 5 sentences) and send it to us. Maybe you are donating a coat (sorry sis) or maybe you are making breakfast in bed for your Mom (maybe next year Dad!); whatever it is tell us all about it."

Here is the legal language: "No purchase necessary to win. You must be between the ages of 6 and 13 by 11/22/07. Club Libby Lu cannot accept any entries from individuals under the age of 18 without consent from parent or legal guardian. You must be able to attend the concert on 1/9/08 to be eligible. Grand prize consists of four round-trip coach class air travel on airline of CLL's choice from major airport nearest winner's residence to Albany, NY, on 1/9/08 and returning 1/10/08; 2 days, 1 night hotel accommodations. Winner and at least one parent/legal guardian of winner must attend a Public Relations event scheduled during the trip in NY. Winner and guest must travel together. All travelers must execute a Release of Liability and a Publicity Release prior to ticketing. Travel arrangements and accommodations are at the discretion of the Sponsor. Trip value may vary depending on point of departure and airfare fluctuations. Approximate retail value of Grand Prize is $3,000. Other great prizes will be awarded. Winners are solely responsible for paying all applicable federal, state, local taxes and all other expenses with the acceptance and/or use of prizes. For complete details including entry information and judging criteria, send a self addressed stamped envelope to Club Libby Lu Attn: Hannah Montana Official Rules, 2700 West Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612."
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/myfox/pages...ale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

I disagree Jbean... Legally speaking it DID need to be spelled out. That is what official rules are for.