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| Friday September 03, 2010 | Sidney Daily News Online - 937-498-5939 |
| 2/12/2010 8:32:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Elizabeth Trisler, 19, of Sidney, laughs at an unexpected edit as she watches her and her mom's interview on “The O'Reilly Factor” Thursday night at a friend’s house with her family in Sidney. The interview was taped earlier the same day. Bill O'Reilly talked with Trisler about Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish’s initial decision to not recognize her winning of the 2009 National Right to Life Oratory Contest on the House floor. Elizabeth is the daughter of Sandi and Lee Trisler.
SDN Photo/Luke Gronneberg |
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Trisler appears on national TV
Teen talks about Ohio House speaker controversy
By Darrin Michael
Staff writer
A Sidney teen who was denied the presentation of a legislative honor on the Ohio House of Representatives floor for winning the National Right to Life Oratory Contest appeared on the nation's No. 1 news talk show Thursday evening to tell her story.
And her time in the national spotlight may not be over. Sarah Palin may present her with an award next month.
Sitting with her mother, Sandi, by her side, 19-year-old Elizabeth Trisler met with officials from Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" show in Dayton to tape an interview with the show's host, Bill O'Reilly. The show aired from 8 to 9 p.m.
On Feb. 3, Trisler, who won the 2009 national right to Life Oratory Contest, was scheduled to be presented with a proclamation by state Rep. John Adams, R-Sidney, for the achievement. Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish, D-Beechwood, however, decided to cancel the ceremony on Jan. 29, saying it could be considered divisive.
The move had outraged Ohio Right to Life and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which on Monday sent out releases to media outlets in Ohio noting their anger with the speaker's decision.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for Budish's office said the speaker had reconsidered his decision on the matter and reached out to Adams' office. A new presentation to honor Trisler has been set for Wednesday.
During the interview, O'Reilly asked Trisler a number of questions regarding her speech and how she felt about the whole situation. At one point, he even asked the 19-year-old to act like he was Budish and to "tell me where I went wrong."
With a smile, Trisler told O'Reilly, "Because we are the future leaders of this country."
After the segment featuring Trisler's story aired, she told the Sidney Daily News that having the opportunity to appear on the nationally known news show was at the least, "very exciting."
It would seem Trisler's story is not finished yet, either. This morning, she also appeared on the television program "Fox and Friends" and Ohio Right to Life Executive Director Michael Gonidakis also has reportedly asked former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin to present Trisler with an award at a pro-life event on March 5.
A pure coincidence, Trisler, a senior at Christian Academy Schools in Sidney, said her mother discovered she was pregnant with her right before participating in the Rally For Life in Washington D.C. in 1990.
"I've pretty much been involved in politics even before I was born," Trisler said. She added she wanted to thank everyone who has helped in getting her story out.
"I'd like to thank John Adams for all his hard work and support as well as Mike Gonidakis' support and prayer," she said.
Although she said she wasn't nervous about appearing on national television, Trisler did point out the interview almost didn't go quite as planned.
"I wasn't nervous but I started coughing right before the interview was going to happen and couldn't stop," she said, laughing.
Trisler is the daughter of Lee and Sandi Trisler of Sidney.
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