What is wrong with the teachers there???

LEFT WING values???

HUH?

Sorry, but until I hear that the mother was unable, as opposed to unwilling, to provide for her child, I do not see it as an example of societal failure. Neglectful parents have existed in every age of this world. But this woman was employed. I don't expect that a teacher's assistant makes a huge salary; until this moment I was unaware that there was such a professional position.

But this woman evidently managed to feed and clothe herself, so her failure to do so seems more a problem relating to her own flaws, not society's.

In this particular instance, it is worth noting that society has taken steps to rectify the situation, as much as that is possible for a child who is no doubt the victim of years of neglect.

Sad story. Don't see any parallel to India, Brazil or anywhere else, though.

Probably because the teacher assistants don't get paid much money. Yes, her mother should have the book thrown at her. This is what we are heading for? I feel sorry for that little girl, and hope she can get over this horrible memory.

LEFT WING values???

Some people will interject politics into anything. The woman appears to be a very neglectful parent. What has LEFT WING [or RIGHT WING] values to do with it?

This story is not about liberal or conservative politics. Nor is about California as the embodiment of all that is decadent and nonfunctional in our society. It is about an apparent case of child neglect.

That's it.

Piling on:

California every week I read about a child be sexually abused there NOW the teacher assistants are starving kids!!! What is wrong with the teachers there??? LEFT WING values???

More likely, its mental illness. And of course, those funds for treatment have been cut. By whom???

This shouldn't be a politicized situation anyways! This is a humanitarian problem - how do we care for this girl?

no I was never what one would consider financially "mighty", I am educated but not in a field that would bring me great wealth, and I never looked down my nose at poor, starving children who live off garbage, actually images like that were what led me to get a degree in Human Nutrition so I could help feed the starving children.

Boy you people sure are vicious whenever anyone questions your "exceptionalism", perhaps if you didn't live under that particular fantasy you might realize that we are all one race, the human race, no one is better than anyone else simply because of the country they were born in or the color of their skin.

AKRandy?

Holy MOLY, that is quite a LEAP!

ffeineandsugar,

you are probably right, about the mental illness.

we are all jumping to conclusions, there wasn't enough information for any of us to draw conclusions....

sad....

STAND AND DELIVER, ironic name to go with the story.

just a few weeks ago 2 teachers were busted for molesting childern and feeding them cookies with semen on them in cali.

they were from the same school and prompted all the teachers from that school to be fired and replacements found.

i agree that politics should be kept out, but, it is a wonder why all this is surfacing from one state all at the same time.

i guarantee that if all this would have happened in texas ther would have been the opposite comment made.

i wonder how many parents this teacher had accused of abuse before this came out.

And when I bring up these types of cases to the anti-choice crowd, their only response is "well, she's wrong". That's helpful, isn't it? Not every pregnant woman should become a mother.

AKRandy, are you so ideologically blind as to think that this kind of human failure on the part of one neglectful parent is somehow represents the mindset of an entire population? No need to answer that. I already know the answer. I just wanted to repeat it so you can read how ridiculous that sounds.

Having said that, two can play your stupid game (and I do mean that facetiously): all of the Temecula state and federal representatives are Republicans. So this must be a manifestation of failed republican policies that refuse to help the poor, unemployed, and the under-employed.

In the state legislature Temecula is located in the 36th Senate District, represented by RepublicanJoel Anderson, and in the 64th and 66th Assembly Districts, represented by Republicans Brian Nestande and Kevin Jeffries respectively. Federally, Temecula is located in California's 49th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +10^[24] and is represented by Republican Darrell Issa.

You sir, fail on all polical counts. But, more importantly, you fail on all human counts.

AKRandy, are you so ideologically blind as to think that this kind of human failure on the part of one neglectful parent is somehow represents the mindset of an entire population? No need to answer that. I already know the answer. I just wanted to repeat it so you can read how ridiculous that sounds.

Having said that, two can play your stupid game (and I do mean that facetiously): all of the Temecula state and federal representatives are Republicans. So this must be a manifestation of failed republican policies that refuse to help the poor, unemployed, and the under-employed.

In the state legislature Temecula is located in the 36th Senate District, represented by RepublicanJoel Anderson, and in the 64th and 66th Assembly Districts, represented by Republicans Brian Nestande and Kevin Jeffries respectively. Federally, Temecula is located in California's 49th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +10^[24] and is represented by Republican Darrell Issa.

You sir, fail on all polical counts. But, more importantly, you fail on all human counts.

Folks, I think a lot of you really missed the point of deprogrammer's excellent post at 1.0. It would behoove you to learn about this nonsensical exceptionalism we get from the likes of Liz Cheney.

However, there is also good news. Pro-Lifers are lining up in droves to assist this unwanted child. Somehow she must have fallen through the Pro-life net of love.

well if you leave it to the tea party republicans, the local community churches should be the ones footing the bill for this childs "mental illness". Or is it that we're not paying the mother a living wage so that she can feed and clothe her child because the liberals in the state of california are busy funnelling all the money to the unions and illegal aliens. Or is this simply a case of an idiot adult having a child and keeping that child in captivity to satisfy their sick twisted agenda. Maybe its high time we got off this political bandwagon where we are at each others throats and maybe try to use that to do good for our fellow man.

. Okay, so the most likely answer is this woman is just a terrible excuse for a mom but I am way too familiar with childhood mental illness to jump on the bandwagon of verbally lynching this lady until all the facts are straight. I have seen mentally ill teens have similar episodes as this girl , as a parent of this type of child it is beyond difficult. (BUT yeah, most likely the mom is just a nut job)

AKRandy, You obviously have no idea about California. There are plenty of wingnuts living here. Temecula is populated mainly of people who moved from San Diego and Orange counties, two of the biggest wingnut havens in California.

AKRandy, You obviously have no idea about California. There are plenty of wingnuts living here. Temecula is populated mainly of people who moved from San Diego and Orange counties, two of the biggest wingnut havens in California.

Well, raddave , if the wingnuts have overrun the community, then if AKRandy's facts are correct, these newcomers have apparently not yet found the voting booth.

But seriously, there really is no political issue here. I've not heard even the wakiest liberal, or the most retrograde, reactionary conservative advocate either allowing or encouraging the neglect of children.

Of all the posts I've seen on this thread, the most thoughtful and least emotional, was by Kallie (#1.23). As she points out, it is quite likely that this allegedly neglectful parent may be dealing with a mentally ill child. Confronted with such a parenting situation, I'm sure many of us, particularly those without a spouse, and of limited income, might have difficulty dealing with it

But either way, this is not a democratic vs republican issue, nor even a libtard vs repugnant issue. It is, most likely, an instance of parental neglect and of child endangerment, or of mental illness.

Kallie, good luck with your parenting struggles, and nice post.

wtf - kids are treated like this all across the country . not just California .

people like this scum of a parent should do some serious jail time .

Clearly the mother dropped the ball somewhere, but I am not so quick to assume intended abuse. Maybe the child is mentally ill and got out of the house, maybe she was in the care of another person who was abusing her and she escaped, or maybe the mother was doing something unthinkable and the girl escaped.

Either way, the only acceptable excuse I can think of for your child going through the trash for food is if they were both homeless. Certainly no excuse for the child being naked. And it sounds like the mom has a job so even then surely she can afford to put even gas station food on the table.

I really do hope for the sake of the child and all the children that this mother helps to educate, that it was not due to abuse by the mother.

David Walker-easy for you to attack the people who you know won't attack back-the pro-lifer's. If you get your facts straight-Christians and pro-lifers contribute the most to help the needy. Atheists and pro-aborts contribute the most to support animals. How can you possibly ASSume that pro-lifers AREN"T stepping forward to take care of her? Although that's really a moot point-she is in custody. She's not being handed over to the care of anyone but the government right now.

"Well, raddave , if the wingnuts have overrun the community, then if AKRandy's facts are correct, these newcomers have apparently not yet found the voting booth"

maybe they havnt,...it seems when it comes to elections of local district representatives nearly everyone cant find a voting booth,...these elections almost always suffer from poor voter turnout, maybe its apathy, maybe its disenfranchisement, or voter are just plain lazy..likely the latter...as a result the representatives do not always actually represent the majority views,...nevertheless....in my personal opinion it does have alot to do with the liberal pop culture, and the entitlement mentality of so many lefties...i can hear this woman now rationalizing why her needs are far more important than her daughters....i don't think this mentality is exclusive to librals,...but a trend is a trend....and in california we can see this trend manifest itself in every negative way possible....from hollywood self indulgence. to therapy mavins, wiccan vampires..you name it, every wack job on the planet either lives in california or are on thier way there.

LEFT WING values???

Oh Hell, another R-tard. Fact is that this stupid game can be played by both sides of the aisle. What if someone came up and said hey "Right Wing values, starve the poor and give to the rich. If the Left Wing was in charge they would be getting money and food stamps." I am not impressed when stupid people paint human misery in political colors for rhetorical gain.

I can't begin to express how sad it is to read all these posts of people jumping to conclusion on insufficient evidence, and even worse are those who are trying to tie polical motivations to all of this. I am forced to agree with the few thinking people here that this article gives far too little information to base ANY conclusions on. If it turns out to be neglect or abuse the woman should be punished and the child moved into better care but as noted by the thinkers here it could also be a matter of a mentally or emotionally disturbed child, in which case we should ALL get behind making sure the girl gets proper treatment.

What is truly sad and a very poor commentary on our culture and people is that the percentage of people who didn't jump to unfounded and unsupportable conclusions is a very small minority. No wonder we're in such economic, political and ecological straits.

I need to know a lot more about the circumstances before I can analyze it. There just isn't enough to go on. These are difficult times, it may have some bearing on the story or it may just be another case of a disfunctional parent....but I can't tell yet.

I couldn't find enough info in that story to come up with a conclusion, but I see that does not stop all the clairvoyant posters from adding their uneducated opinions! why don't you folks learn the facts before you break out the tar and feathers, the story is incomplete wait for the rest of it it might surprise you, what if the child was under someones care while the mother was at work and the child is retarded and some how slipped away, till you know the facts you should restrain yourselves from making comments. when the facts are out in the open then by all means give your educated opinion.

I didn't see anything in the article that said the 12 year old even had a mother,or a father for that matter. She could have been a ward of the state in a group home for all we know from the article. AKRandy is but one of several right wing trolls here on The Vine that goes out of their way to try and assign blame for every ill in the world to liberal beliefs

Like several on here I think there is too little info to come to a conclusion. My main concern is that if everyone would take responsibility for themselves and their children and make sure they are held responsible for any actions they do (good or bad as the good actions need as much if not more recognition to reinforce good behavior)then maybe we could rid ourselves of some of the evil things that happen in this day and age. Please take care of yourself and those close to you before you throw stones at someone else. Lots of love and personal responsibility can go a long long long way to solve lots of problems.

Joe F, well then you didnht read the article! The very first sentence would be your clue!

This is a somewhat shocking story that pales compared to the shocking posts, from all directions. One was good, in my opinion, that put forward the possibility that the child is mentally ill. The simple fact is that, regardless of the spin, the name calling, the making this something it's not, the story doesn't give nearly enough information to draw any conclusions. It was/is certainly a sad situation and I hope it gets the attention it needs from people able to evaluate and help, but I don't know enough to have an opinion. Neither do the writers of the vast majority of these posts.

This whole knee-jerk reaction with attendant politicizing says volumes about our country today.

I have to agree with all posters who suggested the child may have a mental illness. Mom may have been at work, and the child was in the care of someone else, OR, maybe even home sick and on her own (she is old enough) and Mom didn't realize just how bad things are for her child, OR child on meds is fine but maybe child didn't take her meds or tricked Mom into thinking she had. I just can't jump to the conclusion that Mom is abusive or negligent. Not until more facts come out in this story. I have been more likely to jump to the conclusion of the child has a mental illness.

Bluelake

Stand and Deliver- Using Fox and News together is oxymoronic. It's Fox Republican Propaganda. All lies, all day, delivered by rehabbed zombies.

As opposed to NBC & affiliates whose news is written and delivered by Media Matters? I would pose that NBC and "news" is oxymoronic- to include MSNBC. I came to read a story of a girl that seemed to be abused (and probably is, but until the facts are in, I will reserve judgement)- and I get the left winger's out there decrying anything Fox. Hard to leave politics out of it even when it's about an abused or mentally challenged girl...

Lou7777777

David Walker-easy for you to attack the people who you know won't attack back-the pro-lifer's.

Lou, where do you live that pro lifers don't attack back? I've lived in the Northeast, the Midwest and Cal. In none of these places have I seen the anti-choice people be particularly retiring. In fact, some places they throw bombs and murder doctors-so much for not attacking back!

Even if you didn't have your facts totally wrong about this, where do you get your statistics? I didn't see the form that acknowledged my religious preference last time I donated money. We know you pulled this 'statistic' out while sitting in the bathroom, because there is no data of this sort collected-nice try but your bold face lie is very obvious. Do you always create statistics to try to validate your personal opinions?

Calling pro-choice people 'pro-abortion' is like calling AAA members 'pro-breakdown'. It's not that we want unwanted pregnancies, we simply acknowledge the possibility and want options when they occur. I’ve never met anyone claiming to be ‘pro-abortion’ in my life. We can't know, but perhaps if this woman had access to medical care thirteen years ago, we wouldn't be reading this article.

Like so much of mainstream news, this story asks more questions than it answers. For some to speculate that it is the fault of 'permissive Liberal America' or the repression of 'Right wing puritans' says so much more about the political baggage you are carrying than any useful speculation about this story.

Just for the record, the voters of CA voted against gay marriage and have voted down every attempt at gun control. With the exception of parts of the SF Bay area and Hollywood the state isn't all that liberal. It has a very big military and arms industry presence. Most of the Eastern half of the state has more in common with Nevada and Arizona than SF or LA. Thinking of California as a monolith would be as crazy as thinking there were religious litmus tests for charity donors.

A neglected girl was rescued and her mother arrested. Did this really tell anyone how to vote?

Lou lotsasevens:

How long should I plan on waiting for the proof behind your ridiculous assertions? As long as there are unwanted children, as long as orphanages exist, as long as homeless children wander the streets, as long as children are sold into servitude your post puts the lie to your words

Spare me your holier-than-thou crap. No group is more vocal than the woefully misnamed pro-lifers. Ironically, the loudest are the men who will never give birth. In the end, it's about control with you alleged pro-lifers. No more, no less.

I'll check back for proof of your assertions. Of course, you will have none. Run your mouth and run away. Proof, not noise.

I didn't see anything in the article that said the 12 year old even had a mother,or a father for that matter.

Joe F Las Vegas - below is the first sentence of a very short article. As you are perhaps aware, the mother-daughter relationship is mutual, so if this teacher's assistant was charged with the endangerment of her daughter, if follows, that the 12-year-old girl referenced does have a mother, just perhaps a not very effective one.

A teacher’s assistant from California faces child endangerment charges after her 12-year-old daughter was found naked and rummaging through trash cans for food, officials said.

This makes me realize how so much misinformation creeps into public debates; too many people just do not read or listen to any utterance that wouldn't fit on a bumper sticker.

AKRandy California every week I read about a child be sexually abused there NOW the teacher assistants are starving kids!!! What is wrong with the teachers there???

LEFT WING values??? #1.2 - Mon Feb 20, 2012 10:35 AM EST

Tellin' folks who have been tryin' for two or more years to find employment that just don't exist 'cause the fatcat business owners have sent the jobs to India, China and Thailand "Get a job! I ain't gonna pay for your welfare check!". Meanwhile the kids have to go hungry 'cause there ain't enough money to pay for food, let alone rent and "insurance".

Yeah -- them's RIGHT WING values, bubba.

AKRandy,

RE: your post #1.2

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Vail Elementary is in the middle of a bastion of conservatives who hold the values of the Reublican and Tea Party higher than the Bible, but just barely higher. Try another lie!

I'm no expert by any means, but as soon as I saw this, I immediately thought about a mother who may have had a fight with the girl (the girl might have said something that set the mother off, or whatever), and threw her out of the house with nothing. Honestly, I know that sounds far fetched to some of you, but I know people have done that, and I probably would have been a victim of the same thing, had my mother have raised me. She wasn't the nicest to me after she met me 20 years after she left us...so no telling what could have happened.

I wish people who don't want children, would give them to some of us who do. There is no sense in causing these poor kids pain and grief like they do.

I have to wonder, did I miss something or doesn't she have any relatives? The story doesn't give much information to go on. (Typical MSN).

Wow must be a slow news day for MSNBC - a teachers aid in the spotlight for child abuse - wow MSNBC actually whacking on a union member- usually they cover it up with left wing radcial liberal rhetoric.

Also to the feminist that decided this must be a case of some poor woman that was "FORCED" to participate in sex without a condom or the pill - here's a bit of wisdom for you -- if you don't have the 50 cents to invest in condom and you don't want a pregnancy then you have three choices: 1. say no 2. oral/ anal or 3. masturbation. none of those options appeal to you then its your fault no one Else's.

A teacher’s assistant from California faces child endangerment charges after her 12-year-old daughter was found naked and rummaging through trash cans for food, officials said.

I couldn't help but wonder if this "assistant" was employed as the school lunch-inspector who decides if the kids packing their own lunch ( bringing food from home) are getting a nutritional lunch that meets the State requirements for a healthy meal.

What a shame, what a mess this country is in. One more example of no personal responsibility, sorry no amount of legislation is going to correct a problem of this nature unless they pass a law against being selfish and stupid.

I am quite heartbroken to read all the articles of how children are being treated in this world. Do people not realize that they give birth to our future?

Do you want to breed children who have love, and strength in their hearts, or those who steadily grow this world to be cruel and cold?

Our world will not get better until we teach our children well, love them , protect them and guide them. We are growing crooked, injured trees instead of tall, strong straight ones.

These events make me lose hope that there is a rhyme or reason about what happens in life. So many couples are infertile and the universe gives these vile people a life to ruin.

Some wild imaginations posted here...and the usual bubble people. Based on what I read - no opinion should be offered at this time - hope some of you are never on Jury Duty.

OMG Really, Cali has it's perverts, Texas has it's religious compounds. Every state has individuals with issues. Mentally deficient people taking advantage of children for whatever motivations knows no state or political boundaries.

Bluelake, Next time I'll put "Fox News Entertainment" in quotes.

That the child might be psychotic occurred to me immediately because I have a psychotic teenager who has done some bizarre things that have nothing to do with neglect. Some kids rummage through garbage even though they are well fed at home. Heck, I have been known to pick up furniture, lamps, and even electronics from the side of the road on garbage day because the local college students discard everything when they graduate. (You just let the electronics dry for two weeks in case they were exposed to rain.) Of course it's neglect that she couldn't control her child but we just don't know enough to condemn. Without the correct diagnosis and medication, it can be nearly impossible.

Access to birth control in the USA is not the problem. Condoms are cheap, the pill is given out in many places for free or for less than $20 a month. People use that kind of logic but it makes no sense in THIS COUNTRY, it's so easy to get that it's ludacris to try to claim that birth control access is the problem.

The inherent story here is the girl's mother was a bad parent.

BlackHillsLaura - or maybe they are just too stupid, irresponsible or lazy to care if they pop another one out.

No where in the article does it say there was no food or clothing to be had for the girl, just that the mother was not providing care, which could be from neglect or to abusively control the child. OR, the girl could have diminished mental capacity herself. It could sound that way - she did not look to other people for help, she avoided other people and hid in a car when they were looking for her.

What? the parents knew 12 years ago that this would happen so don't have kids?

The Feds. give everything away free, so there is no excuse. If the parents "say" they were not aware of they were mistreating their daughter, I bet the parents were well fed, dressed and had cars.

All these excuses....bottom line, the mother is still responsible. I would give up my clothes to keep my child from being naked. Wake up people! It's a human being, no longer a choice!

FYI, stop blaming the government for your own personal responsibility. I say again your personal responsibility!!!!! Really?! Come on for christ sakes when will the human race just accept the choices they make and stop pointing the fingers. I'm sorry BlackHillsLaura I totally disagree with your statement. The parents are completely at fault for such behavior and if they are endagering their child in anyway shape or form they should be held accountable for all their actions. A child running around naked in the streets looking for food is not the blame of our government over some birth control methods and if they are available at a cheap cost. Serioulsy!? You are out of freaking mind. Go back to your little hole until you can figure out the idea behind being accountable for your own actions.

It truly is a sad story to know that a grown as woman took 12 years to realize they were unfit to be a parent for this child, and not to just kick them out on thier own at such a age, but to kick them out stripped of everything this poor girl ever possessed. Great job, these parents should pay to the fullest extent of the law!!! You know what it should extend beyond that, as the law has a way to protect people as well.

I'mrightnotyou. Try reading the story. "...found the girl in a BMW parked on their street..."

This kid may have some sort of mental problem and left the home without the mother even knowing. Just too odd that a 12 year old girl would be totally naked rummaging for food. There is probably more to this story.

nobody said she was driving the BMW!!! just that she was found in it. maybe it was a random unlocked car that she tried to hide in.

there are a lot of conclusions being jumped to by many people. political conclusions, state specific conclusions, and conclusions about the mother.

We have no indication from the article about why this girl was naked and eating from trash cans. Yes the mother could be abusive, OR....

the girl could be mentally ill and escaped the house, OR....

the girl could have been under the care of a third party who abused her with the mother unaware, OR...

a bunch of different explanations. The mother was arrested but that doesn't mean she's guilty. It is possible that after her arrest they will find out the details leading to this situation and the mother may be exonerated. Who's to say? We will have to wait and see.

Yes, birth control always comes up, and the woman's always blamed. There's always someone who says 'she should have/could have kept her legs closed.

Where is the person to say 'he should have kept it in his pants?' There is still a double standard and it's sickening to see it survives.

Fathers are equally responsible for the lives which they create. No woman falls pregnant by herself, and anyone who points the finger at a woman shames himself.

Where was the father of this child?

That poor child!

This is a horrible story.

I didn't think any kind of comment could possibly have made it any worse, until I saw all the materialists spouting off about how the child should never have lived in the first place. I'll take that poor wretched child over the people wishing death on her any day of the week.

"Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Sergeant Woods at the Temecula Police Department at 951-696-3070" Here you go Sergeant Woods, talk with the neighbors....

Linda, Maryland-915430 post 2.9 Thank you for your post. Thank you for getting on topic. You write: "the mother is still responsible." 40 year old Tracy Betts has proven to be "irresponsible" in a most gross manner; if she can even be called a "mother." How did these posts turn into a matter of "birth control?" What does that have to do with a starving, naked child? Betts gets arrested and charged with "child endangerment" while posing as a teaching assistant at the local elementary school. How horrific is that thought? She has been hired and entrusted with the lives and well being of other children, and paid for doing it with local and federal tax dollars.

Other posts will follow asking who and why didn't any one do this or that. "Where was the back ground check before she was hired?" Where is the biological father and why....? The same old same old. Then, the Superintendent of Schools will open his or her mouth with dramatic and ineffective actions they will take. Local "child social services" may make a statement....more blah blah blah. Eventually the lawyer for Betts will have a psychiatric evaluation done and she will be found to have been "suffering from depression," " bipolar," herself abused as a child, and a dozen other excuses for her actions, like the economy, or welfare services denied her the rights due to all "citizens" of the state of California.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, all across America little children are being abused. Most cases go unreported by the media. There is an interesting dynamic that is allowed us by this computerized system. One is to set "Google" alerts for ones choice of key words like "child abuse." I assure all of you who are reading this that you will fall out of your chair, pull your hair out, vomit, or all of the above by the sheer volume of daily news articles you will receive on this topic or any other that deals with the way the children in our great country are harmed.

I have found that there are a very few groups in America who do not have a political or financial motive working to save innocent little children such as this 12 year old girl. The first is Focus Adolescent Services, www.Focusas.com My wife and I have followed their good work for twenty years. In the words found in Mat:6 it says to do your good deeds and then shut the hell up about it. That is now what I am going to do.

It is very easy to preach abstinence. It is very easy to tell kids to not have sex. Yes that is easy, but it DOES NOT WORK. In the real world we should teach kids how to protect themselves. Girls condoms are 98% effective if used properly. Yes guys will tell you they don't like to use them but insist if you are going to have sex INSIST ON CONDOMS.

This parent was irresponsible and should be punished in the same humiliating way the child was, let them go naked and look through trash for food, don't give them access to clothes or anything else for the rest of their lives, torture them the way they tortured this girl. I guarentee they won't ever do it again.

More details. Search: newsfeedresearcher girl betts child

The mother took her daughter to work, left her in the car and took her shoes and clothes so she couldn't leave the car. The father arrived minutes after the police.

kama

Where do people find out about this birth control? From school's, that only teach abstinence, or maybe from their minister or priest? Discussing birth control with their parents would also probably be just as fruitful of a discussion. If they don't know that these things even exist, it probably won't help them too much.

Before judging or putting your political spin on all of this without credible evidence, I am glad this girl is safe. But it did remind me, except for age, of my ex running around the same area of California naked due to mental problems and drugs. For all of those that want to make this an issue of government paid birth control, you are pathetic to make this horrifying incident into a free birth control issue. Some of these people won't use birth control because they know they get a bigger (free) check for having kids.

Where do people find out about this birth control? From school's, that only teach abstinence, or maybe from their minister or priest? Discussing birth control with their parents would also probably be just as fruitful of a discussion. If they don't know that these things even exist, it probably won't help them too much.

...or from Planned Parenthood. They do that sort of thing every day.

Oh, yeah.... Never mind.

keith - thanks for the additional info.

I seriously doubt this girls mother had trouble accessing birth control.

this woman doesnt need anyone's excuses...she needs to be held accountable for once in her life.

There's absolutely no logic in this world that says you leave a 12 year old naked in your car while you work...ABSOLUTELY NONE.

and anyone who employs that kind of logic, doesnt need to be raising kids. period.

imrightnotyou, It amazes me how often humor is lost on others. Then again, the majority of the population is beyond stupid, so I'm not surprised people are bashing you for 'not reading the story' and thinking she was driving... Someone really needs to come up with a sarcasm font.

PS: In the event you read the story and comprehended that the girl was driving.. please, please don't tell me and totally shatter what I thought was a pretty funny joke.

Just read some of the details on other websites. Mother took the girl's clothes and shoes off so that she wouldn't get out of the car while mother was at work. That was mother's BMW she was found hiding in. There are so many things wrong with this scenario... You do not leave your child in a car while you work. You most certainly do not strip her naked while she is in said car by herself. All I could think was - naked 12 year old girl would make VERY easy prey for a pedophilic rapist/murderer of some kind. I assume the child had some mental problems b/c i'd like to think that a "normal" child would not get out naked and rifle through trash cans. However that does not explain why she was hungry??!! If the mom's driving a BMW, while the kid is inside hungry, you've got your priorities all turned around. There is no excuse for this lady. She should be behind bars and never allowed to work with children - much less chlidren with special needs. I shudder to think of the kind of treatment they'd get from her if left alone.

It seems like the mother was paying for her BMW by saving on babysitting costs. It's not apparent whether or not the father was aware of the situation. Parents who so wantonly shirk their responsibilities should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. I am glad that the young girl is safe and received care. May her future be brighter.

Public School are the very worst. I know i am stepping on a few toes here with this broad brush i am using but "Jesus Christ" people, WTF is going on? I am from the tidewater region of VA and we just put 3 employees (teachers and coaches) in jail for having sex and using drugs with their students. Look what just happened across the country with those fools that were running a complete kiddy porn business out of their public school, and now this?????? Did any of you know that public school employees are the least fired employees right behind federal employees. Our own kids cant read and write unless we as parents teach them. many of us lazy parents think that raising the kids (taking them to school, feeding them breakfast, lunch, and now even dinner in some areas is the schools job) It is not!!!! Check their backgrounds, evaluate their performance, and fire the lazy stupid ones that we expect to teach our children. This will weed out many of the weirdos on the pay roll. God bless this child, and to hell with her parents......

Lynchmob - "least fired employees" tidbit isn't true, dunno where you got that information from. Perhaps nowhere?

justsara No where in the article does it say there was no food or clothing to be had for the girl, just that the mother was not providing care... #2.4 - Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:00 PM EST

Really? Where does the article say that -- 'cause I must have missed it. Oh, right, the article doesn't actually say that.

Step In What, did YOU know 12 years ago what YOUR particular financial/personal circumstances would be today? No? Then please refrain from preaching that line of bull@!$%#e.

How the hell did a news story suffering from a definite lack of details become a case of "Oh, it's the mother's fault, she was neglecting/abusing her own daughter"?

People, there is NOTHING in this article that even implies that the mother is actually at fault. The girl was found during the day, apparently THE SAME DAY the police arrested the mother at the school where she works. This tells me that while the mother was working, she left her daughter at home -- and the article DOES NOT state whether the girl was left alone or in the care of a third party!

Bottom line, all you "Hang the mother by her toenails" types: STOP JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS BASED ONLY ON WHAT YOU WISH TO BELIEVE!

@ The Quacked One: You are sooo right. A Naked 12 year old girl, sifting through trash, and her Mother was arrested. An oddity? Maybe. Maybe not. Regards

sounds to me like the poor thing is mentally challenged and we do not know why and if her mother left her alone. she may have been under someones care and wandered off. A 12 year old who is in control of their mental capacities would starve before they'd run around completely naked eating food out of trash cans. Looks to me like the child and/or the mother need a mental evaluation before the child is returned to the home.

This is tragic, no doubt. But, but it could be that this child was in a psychotic episode. With so little info,

we are jumping to a lot of conclusions. I hope all ends well.

Well quacked...what an attitude for someone who doesn't know anymore than anyone else on here.

How do YOU know that it WASN'T child abuse? Are you a personal friend of the mother? The kid?

It's a story. Pretty sorry bit of information, but people, in case you haven't noticed, speculate on ALL the stories posted here, so why should this one be any different?

I think if it only takes a message board to set you off like this, you have bigger meteorites headed your way. Scary to think people are walking around free, that get so worked up over nothing. Sheeesh!

Have a good day. Never know if it's your last one or not. :D

I never read were they said anything about the mother leaving the child in the bmw naked.Maybe the girl had a mental problem and did this on her own without the knowledge of the parents.You know sneaking out, like so many teens have done in the past and still do.Dah get all the facts before condeming the parents,children are not perfect either.

It seems that the GOP wants to mandate forced childbearing, even for people like this. The moral right cares about people from conception to birth, and after that, to hell with them.

Seems like the socialists want to mandate taxpayers pay for birth-control. Not on my dime! You wanna lay pipe, better make sure that ditch has been prepped first at YOUR own expense.

It's called personal responsibility...

When are people going to understand that crazy is lost in crazy - it could care less about your stupid parties (left or right). If you are stuck in the left v right drama - you are a totally different crazy. Keep your crazy out of their crazy - you will breed a mutant who will destroy the planet.

There is not enough information to come to any specific conclusion regarding the mother or the child so far.

It was noted that the child was later found in a car where her mother had left her or something like that.

The mother was arrested. Not much info there...

What if they were living in the car? What if the child removed her clothes while waiting for her mom to return?

Just not enough info was given to come to any thoughtful conclusion imo.

Nothing was mentioned about the mother being a teachers aide....

Hope they were not homeless....

Hopefully tomorrow will bring more info?

After someone noted that this occurred in Issa's district I just thought O....K.... Hmmm

The mother should be tried for child abuse, and the girl should be placed in a foster home.

All of you who think this is good advertising for mandatory abortions for OTHERS and/or free birth control should be ashamed of yourselves. If you can't make a point without trying to take advantage of this young girl to make your case, your case has no merit.

Lynch, you were right on two levels:

You did in fact step on some toes, but I don't care.

You did tell the truth about of public school teachers and coaches, aids etc, being the least fired and most undesired. We hardly even scrutinize their backgrounds in any manner and I find that intolerable. These are the very same people that we as parents place the sacred bond of entrusting them with our children. The only ones that may be any worse of a deal breaker is those catholic priests. I also want to point out that the good ones and there are a few, deserve major pay raises but I think we need to overhaul the process and go on performance for pay only. To hell with tenure, that only breeds complacency.