Here’s one woman the recall hasn’t reached

LOLITA HARPER

Sigh. It’s the last day before the recall election. Twenty-four

measly little hours to sum up campaign promises, attacks, defenses

and apologies before the people of California get out to cast their

votes.

Groping, racist ties to “pro-Mexico” groups, governmental

mismanagement, tributes to Hitler, orgies and overall weakness in

leadership mean absolutely nothing to 19-year-old Paulina. She

couldn’t care less about who wants to terminate what and who gave

drivers licenses to whom.

She is too worried about catching the bus to get her daughter to

the baby-sitter’s house, to get back on the bus and head to Target,

to make minimum wage, to pay for her $750-rent for one month in a

motel room and keep her and her daughter off the streets.

“I have way too much to worry about for that,” she told me at a

special luncheon titled “Reach for the Stars.”

Paulina is a teen mother whom I was lucky enough to get as my

“mentee” during an extremely inspirational program on Saturday

sponsored by the Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center and

hosted by the Irvine Company in Newport Beach.

(More on that in Wednesday’s column.)

With the election around the corner, I thought I would ask this

young, voting-age woman her thoughts on what some people call a

“circus” and others call “sending a message.”

But rather than hear the excitement of a young woman who has a

chance to participate in history, I got a roll of the eyes and then a

sigh. You see, Paulina doesn’t really trust adults, least of all

rich, powerful, politicians-slash-wanna-be- politicians who couldn’t

“care less about her and her daughter.”

The 19-year-old Costa Mesa resident was placed in “the system”

when she was extremely young. She was in and out of foster homes, and

finally, as every foster child dreams, she was adopted.

A few years later, her adopted parents began having marital

problems and eventually divorced. Paulina went with the mother, who

-- as she put it -- “just went crazy.” The pressure of raising her

biological children and a foster child was apparently too much for

the woman. She took her frustrations out on Paulina and began beating

her. The woman (whom Paulina never referred to by name) remarried,

and the husband also beat the little girl.

It got so bad that Paulina went back in the system and in and out

of various group homes. It was then that she sought love from a man

and found herself pregnant. She received the required help from the

state-run homes, but as soon as she turned 18, as is the case with

all children who are wards of the state, she was turned loose.

Out on her own, without a soul to help her. Just she and her

daughter -- two babies alone in the big world.

“They don’t teach you anything,” she said. “I didn’t know how to

cook. I had no credit, so I couldn’t get an apartment. I had no

money. I had nothing.

“I had no one,” she added.

Thankfully, she found the Child Abuse Prevention Center. Through

them, she has been able to qualify for state medical benefits, food

stamps, the Women with Infant Children program and child-care

stipends.

Any politician or adult with any kind of money or power who allows

such a “system” to supposedly “raise children” gets no support from

her. To her, they are all the same. Democrat, Republican,

Independent, martian -- whatever.

“They are all just rich people trying to get ahead, forgetting

about anybody else who may not have had a good life like them,” she

said.

Much has been said about this historical election. Pilot columnist

Steve Smith reminded us to remember what we are teaching the

children. I’m sure his children are learning from their loving

parents that everyone has a voice and if politicians are

irresponsible, good Americans have the right to toss them out.

Well, Paulina is stoic, guarded and quiet. At an event at which

nearly every mentor shed a tear or two while sharing and hearing

about life’s obstacles, she kept a gorgeous poker face. She told her

story as if she were reciting a grocery list, running down the

catalog of things she has been through.

She feels she has no voice, but when she speaks, she chooses her

words carefully. Perhaps some readers may be interested in what she

has learned from all this.

“This whole thing is just another example of people finding a way

to use their money to get their way,” she said, with another roll of

the eyes. “Same story, different day.”

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and

covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or

by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.