Girl Says Dad Died In Iraq To Win Contest

Mom Helped 6-Year-Old Make Up Lie About Her Father's Death To Win Hannah Montana Tickets

(AP)  A 6-year-old girl who won four tickets to a Hannah Montana concert with an essay that falsely claimed her father died in Iraq won't be going to the show after all.

The contest's sponsor, Club Libby Lu, withdrew the prize on Saturday and awarded it to another unnamed winner.

"With this decision, we hope to revive the intended spirit of the contest, which was designed to make a little girl's holidays extra special," Club Libby Lu chief executive Mary Drolet said in a statement Saturday.

Officials with the Chicago-based chain surprised the girl on Friday at a Club Libby Lu store in a suburban Dallas mall. Club Libby Lu sells clothes, accessories and games for young girls.

The girl won a makeover that included a blonde Hannah Montana wig, as well as the grand prize: airfare for four to Albany, N.Y., and four tickets to the sold-out Hannah Montana concert on Jan. 9.

The opening line in the essay was: "My daddy died this year in Iraq."

But the girl's mother, Priscilla Ceballos, admitted later Friday that the essay and the military information she provided about her daughter's father were untrue.

Ceballos had told Club Libby Lu officials that the girl's father died April 17 in a roadside bombing in Iraq, company spokeswoman Robyn Caulfield said.

She identified the soldier as Sgt. Jonathon Menjivar, but the Department of Defense has no record of anyone with that name dying in Iraq.

"We did the essay and that's what we did to win. We did whatever we could do to win," Ceballos said in an interview with Dallas TV station KDFW on Friday. "But when (Caulfield) asked me if this essay is true, I said, `No, this essay is not true."'

[brianbwb-2009]

The Bush klan profited from lies about Iraq, so why shouldn''t this girl?

[jetranger7]

Well this just goes to show that AMERICA has just gone to hell in a hand basket, geshhhhhh !!!!!!!

[g-gfather]

She lied to get what she wanted.
No one died.
Her dead soldier was make-believe.

Mr. Bush.

[bb19631]

You know damm well it was the mother''s idea. At 6 yrs. old, the mother should be setting an example of honesty not desepsion. The tickets should go to the runner up. That is if her story checks out!!

[formrusmcsgt]

"We did the essay and that''s what we did to win," Priscilla Ceballos, the mother, said in an interview with Dallas TV station KDFW. "We did whatever we could do to win."

If the mother is teaching a 6 year-old that it''s alright to lie to win, we can only imagine where the girl will end up.....

[bradshaw53]

"It''s not a lie if you believe it." (George)
An essay is an essay. Who said it had to be true?

[jyu1915]

This reminds me of the case of that woman in Texas who attempted to hire a hitman to off the mother of her daughter''s rival for the cheerleading squad so that her daughter''s rival would be so upset that she would drop out of the cheerleading competition.

[hereticzero-2009]

What is a Hannah Montana?

[closethippy1]

2) If this little girl''''s essay was a powerful as that "Camusesque" opening, she deserves a contract from a publisher.
Posted by Nancy_Naive

Goodness, what brains. Care to go out for some coffee?

[andrew_693]

Heck, with all the lying she could be a reporter for fox news. Or maybe an expert on weapons of mass destruction, they deceived the entire country. I know maybe she can be a republican senator, the only thing though is that she would have to confess being gay and come out of the closet later on, like the rest of the christian conservatives.

[andrew_693]

If she can find a way to confuse Australia with Austria she could become the next republican candidate for presidency, but in case of failure she can always misspell potato and become vice president of the retards party.

[mayaderen-2009]

How sad that a mother is teaching her 6 year old to lie - and for what? A silly concert and a "blonde Hanna Montana wig"? Pathetic.

[linfinster]

"We did whatever we could do to win."

Yes hon, it''s OK to deceive and lie to get what you want ... and hold your head up high when they''re doing that makeover! You should be proud of your accomplishments!!

Nominate this woman for scumbag of the year! There''s plenty of fellow nominees.

I can''t imagine the promoter''s expected people to lie

[barbaraf4]

"We did whatever we could do to win."

What a powerful lesson to teach a 6 year old.

[rochellerdk]

This is a crying shame.

The company should have automatically taken away the girl''s concert tickets and given them to another contestant or perhaps the daughter of a soldier who really was killed in Iraq. Even the lying mother and daughter could not oppose it without looking like scum.

The mother should be ASHAMED of herself. This reminds me of the case several months ago, where a young teenager hung herself and died after the mother of a teen neighbor helped her daughter use the internet to pretent to be a boy and "play with the emotions of the targeted teen."

The teen hung herself after the "boy," who became her "friend," sent an email, ending the relationship abruptly.

These types of mothers are teaching their daughters to live without dignity, integrity, self respect, or respect for others.

Moreover, I would pursue criminal and/or civil charges against the mother for fraud. It is sad that future contests may have to require all contestants to certify that their stories/essays are true.

Corrupt parents should be very careful about what they teach their children because what goes around comes around. I hope they never have to visit their daughters in prison one day (or at their grave sites)because the girls thought they "needed to do whatever it took to win."

[rowdytexan2]

Depends on whether they broke the rules of the contest! But what a dastardly way to get the sympathy vote. What a moral to teach your six year old, do or say whatever it takes to get what you want!

The six year old pro''bly has no clue what her mother has put her up to.

[sevenveils]

"We did whatever we could do to win."

A fine lesson to teach a child from a reality TV show. The mother is the real guilty party here, the 6 year child was along for the ride, makeover and concert tickets.

This type of behavior seems to spawn from the Chicago area, is there any reason for this?

[michaelcrook]

This truly is a sad sign of the times, and it''s proof that people will do anything to get whatever it is that they want. The problem is that Ms. Ceballos forgot how easy it is to dig up public records...

http://www.michaelcrook.org/blog/2007/12/29/texans-do-whatever-it-takes/

[excoachken]

Sounds like mom went to the Bellicheat School of Ethics.

[achtung-]

Congratulations to women, you are now as sickening as the worthless males of our culture -- fighting, lying, deceiving, and topping it all off, being as stupid as males. We have unisex at last: Undervolk everywhere.

[closethippy1]

"Father died today. Or, maybe, yesterday; I can''t be sure. The telegram from Iraq says: YOUR FATHER PASSED AWAY. FUNERAL TOMORROW. DEEP SYMPATHY. Which leaves the matter doubtful; it could have been yesterday."

That''s my entry to the contest. Do I win the tickets?

[closethippy1]

Congratulations to women, you are now as sickening as the worthless males of our culture -- fighting, lying, deceiving, and topping it all off, being as stupid as males. We have unisex at last: Undervolk everywhere.
Posted by achtung

ACHTUNG BABY!

[closethippy1]

Never mind the tickets. Just give me anything Ms. Montana used to wipe herself with.

[element51]

MCVet....You have stated my feelings exactly. These republican pric*s will stoop to any depth to slime the democrats. My father also fought in the Pacific and had the scars to show for it. A real hero. If he were alive today he would be angry beyond description.

[gmond]

Mom watched too many episodes of Survivor instead of Hannah Montana.

[fornicario]

I think that this shows that our country has degenerated greatly morally and socially, and instead of having a great big finger-pointing contest, why don''t both sides figure out a way to begin re instilling our children with the moral values we used to hold dear? I know this means that we need to put aside our backbiting games, but for our children, I think we need to learn how to cooperate again.

[payasyougo]

What is this? Someone who watches survivor and the view lies to win tickets to the next Brittany wannabe?
Where exactly is the news in this story? And who cares?

[standlee5]

Disgusting. Post the moms picture.

[erasmus6]

If this kid gets to keep those tickets then she is learning that it is okay to lie to get what you want.

It is sad how many s-h-i-t parents are out there, ain''t it?

Parents like this need to start paying some kind of consequence for their actions. They need to start paying for raising their kids to be criminals.

[excoachken]

I have a sense that the little girl just asked Momma "What would Hannah Montana do?" and this was the answer.

[bigsk8fan]

george w bush has made over 3,500 potential "winners"; and george and the rest of the republicans will not be happy til there are 50,000 dead soldiers to match the totals killed in korea and vietnam. what''s up with that george?

[ladyephesus1]

If someone did that to see me in concert, I would give them front row seats because they would have to love me to death.

[lilmsnformed]

The first thing that came to mind when I read this was the old "Dewey, Cheatham and Howe" line. It has never been LESS humorous though. What a shining example of parental guidance this mother is-"the end justifies the means"-Self-respect, personal integrity, and compassion be damned! It is just one more example of a society in decline.

[erasmus6]

"If someone did that to see me in concert, I would give them front row seats because they would have to love me to death." posted by ladyephesus1

WOW. (I am shaking my head as I say this) I bet you would make a great role model.

[iceman_1960]

"Mom Helped 6-Year-Old Make Up Lie About Her Father"s Death To Win Hannah Montana Tickets"

When Bush found out about this, he ordered the Pentagon to prepare plans for the invasion of Montana.

[iceman_1960]

"The sponsor of the contest was Club Libby Lu, a Chicago-based store that sells clothes, accessories and games intended for young girls."

[mitywhity]

Dearest Mum should go to jail for a month for this - piece of white trash she is!

[nomorewar1]

This little girl and her mother should be co-chairs for the Republican National Committee. They simply did the same thing that Bush did when he lied to get what he wanted, which was WAR in IRAQ. When our greatest leader lies and is supported by the rest of our politicians, we should commend those who start early, going down the Republican "Path to Truth". It is the way to world domination. We are American and should simply kill those who oppose us. Until then, we can fill up our prison in Cuba with ememies of the state!

[rohink-2009]

The first thing that came to mind when I read this was the old "Dewey, Cheatham and Howe" line. It has never been LESS humorous though. What a shining example of parental guidance this mother is-"the end justifies the means"-Self-respect, personal integrity, and compassion be damned! It is just one more example of a society in decline.

Posted by lilmsnformed

~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~

Well said.

[nmsuip]

"...Drolet said the company is reviewing the matter, and is considering taking away the girl''s tickets..."

CONSIDERING? Is there something to consider here? Maybe I''m missing something. If I were the company, the only thing that I would be "considering" is legal action against that dumass mother. (yanking the tickets should be a no-brainer)

[feelfree1]

Re: "Mom Helped 6-Year-Old Make Up Lie About Her Father''s Death To Win Hannah Montana Tickets"

The folks at the SITE Institute and IntelCenter should hire this woman. She could help to make the fake "Osama" videos seem a little more convincing.

[agnim]

"Posted by brianbwb at 04:50 AM : Dec 29, 2007"

Brainweb, you took the thought right out of my mind. LOL

The whole invasion was UNPROVOKED and based on lies of our lost leaders.
Those deceivers in the White House and Congress set the stage for others to use the Iraqi debacle for personal gain.

Moreover, what''s wrong with a bit of FICTION in a silly contest?

[agnim]

Much ado about nothing.

The wig is FAKE hair.
The story is FICTION.
Perfect match. LOL

No need to disappoint the little girl now.
It''s only a silly concert.

If anything deny her the tickets because SHE IS TOO YOUNG for the concert!

[wtf1999]

I understand a parent%u2019s desire to provide their children the opportunity to see a celebrity idol - - - especially an idol with a respectful reputation.

The shame this mother brought onto not only herself, but also her daughter was an extremely hard lesson learned. She wrongly chose to feed off the pride our country has towards our military troops and she wound up characterized as one of our national losers.

I would hate to see the look on her little girls face when mommy has to explain why the tickets had to be returned. Hopefully, mommy will tell an honest story. Imagine a parent%u2019s diminished ego when their six year old child realizes what happened.

I also hope this woman prepares her daughter for the taunting and ridicule that may happen once elementary school resumes after the holidays and the little girl has to face her peers. Some kids these days are relentless in the cruelty inflicted upon other kids. A shameful story like this will spread like wildfire especially since mommy%u2019s face was shown numerous times on the NATIONAL news. The local neighborhood will know which daughter to connect with the mother.

I checked the eBay prices of the Hannah Montana tickets and the greed that feeds people charging these absurd prices for a CHILDS concert tickets is absolutely disgusting. The news shows ought to produce a show dedicated to these scumbags and show their faces on the national news as well.

[tisha_gem]

I think it''s disgusting that a mother would teach a child how to use a soldier''s death to win some tickets as if our soldiers giving up their lives wasn''t enough. "Be a real parent and teach your child the meaning of sacrifice instead of greed, lies. You reap what you sow!

[rheola-2009]

Moreover, what''''s wrong with a bit of FICTION in a silly contest?


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Posted by Agnim at 04:06 PM

Probably good training to become a future President of U.S.

Sounds awfully akin to a G.W. in training

[carolrhill]

The thing that really makes me ill is the fact she used something she had no right doing. How could you wish the death of anyone through a war that is totally sick. I am sure that this was the mother''s idea because she did not want to have to pay for the tickets. She has now taught her child how to lie and cannot stand to use lie the word for children is "fib" what worries me is how much more has she done before this. This cannot be the first time lying about something it just cannot be. I think this is a form of child abuse in a very bad way and that is a fact. The local people that watch for such things should take the child away from the mother and see what else she has done. Because this not the first time for doing such things it just is not and that is a fact.
I am afraid for this child because she going to through life thinking it is ok to LIE and that is 100% wrong.

[andor3]

Congratulations to the girl and her mother--they composed an imaginative essay that is topical and emotionally difficult. Many people have dealt with the loss of a parent, friend or sibling in Iraq. There is no reason to expect an essay to be based on fact, and if the judges thought it was true, it is even more complement to the writing.

She deserves the tickets and congratulations.

[andor3]

"Probably good training to become a future President of U.S. Sounds awfully akin to a G.W. in training"

except that GWB never made a success of any business or won anything--except the lottery of being born into a rich family. And that did not require any writing talent! Heck, I think he has to hire people to make up his lies for him.

[rheola-2009]

There is no reason to expect an essay to be based on fact, and if the judges thought it was true, it is even more complement to the writing.

She deserves the tickets and congratulations.


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Posted by andor3 at 05:40 PM : Dec 29, 200

That would be true,if she had not claimed the soldier to be her Father.
As she did, that makes it a completely fabricated lie to gain by deception