Dear Delegate Jeff Eldridge, I am a resident of Martinsburg,WV and i am baffled about you trying to ban Barbies in W.V.! Have you ever taken a trip to the stores and actually looked at the Barbies? Evidently not if you haven't seen the idea of what Barbie represents to a girls future! There are Barbies "I can be" aka "When I grow up" There are set-ups of to be a Physician, Animal Dr., Marine Biologist, Teacher, Ballerina, Chef, swim teacher.and even President Of the United States! Just to mention a few!! If you have any little girls you must not have taken the time to look at Barbies. They no longer just get a tan and cater to Ken anymore!!!! Even the Barbie kits that are for fashion and make-up boost a girls confidence! My 11 year old daughter loves Barbie and has all types of Barbies, from the make-up, swimming party, to the professional series! She is a beautiful Ballerina, and very intelligent! She dresses very conservative and in no way has Barbie, a mere toy gave her the guidance she needs in life, this comes from her family!! Her grandmother ,and i are both respected health care professionals and played with Barbies! My son is a Biochemistry major for Premed, I'm so thankful all those Ninja Turtles didn't sway his future or I'd be or taking care of a young man who thinks he's green and wanting to live in the sewers around town!!! We live in a tri-state area and maybe we will have to bring back the days of bootlegging and result to smuggling Barbies across state line! I'm appalled that you would insult my parenting with this law! Also, it's a disgrace to WV as a state that you would take the taxpayers money to make laws about a classic toy when all other states are creating laws to revolutionize our Nation! It looks like Mattel the creator of Barbie is more aware of the current status of women in America than you are! Thanks for taking time to read my letter, Sheri Gregory,Martinsburg,WV

This is another example of elected officials assuming they have the right to make lifestyle choices for their constituents. Delegate Eldridge, West Virginians do not need you to waste the legislature’s time and our money on whether a doll is an appropriate toy for our children. That is a parent's right and responsibility. You’re lucky you’re not representing me. I’d be looking for someone who recognizes the intelligence of his/her constituents and their rights to live their lives without government interference

Hey! Doesn't he know that good ol' Santa Claus still comes to WV? :)

We try to fix the unreal when we are not capable of fixing the real issues.

"Social Security is fixed, we balanced the budget, fixed health care, no child is left behind, the war on drugs and terrorism is over!" "Let's take a breather." "Ah speaker, Jeff has a proposal over here."

If Mr. Eldridge wants to ban Barbies, then he should go ahead and ban G I Joe, and all the army dolls out there that all the little boys like to play with. I think they teach boys that it is ok to fight and kill people. I mean, isn't that what men do in the service when needed? Excuse me, women do it too since they join the elective services also. But really, Barbie. According to what I have seen, Barbie can be what ever the girls want her to be, a Dr., Vet., Nurse, Scuba Diver, Student in College, teacher,you name it, they have it. Yes they made her look beautiful, but what woman out there isn't? And it also teaches girls that they can do so much with their looks and the way they decide to dress. Get rid of the army dolls and tanks and guns and battle crusers along with the Barbie dolls Mr. Eldridge, it would only be fair to the girls or are you not into what is good for the goose is good for the gander thing? Lets get someone out there to design a doll that has to do with politics and see just how dumb they can make them look, ok? I don't live in WV but my family is from there, actually they are from Lincoln County and I also have relatives that live there now. Lincoln County needs to have another election and get rid of Mr. Eldridge. Sorry, but you deserve better than him.

I really think Jeff's motivation for doing this is to launch himself and political career into the public eye. The state of WV has far more pressing issues to address than banning a goofy plastic doll. It's an embarrassment to the state that this sort of issue makes it in the national / international news. Jeff has a history of seeking public attention. Gov. Manchin should scold him personally.

really,,,, this is the best way for a politican to spend his time...WV...it sounds like you have work to do next election....

Is this IDIOT for real or is he actually out to commit political suicide of his career? The shear absurdity of his proposal begs one to question the mental health status of Mr. Eldridge and consequently his ability to execute the duties of his office. Perhaps he was inspired by the latest proposal of another nanny state socialist, Bloomberg, the bergemiester busy body of New York City who is now calling for the regulation of salt in our diets. Applying Mr. Eldridge's socialogical hypothesis, why stop at banning a doll? Tonka trucks and Construction vehicle toys should follow because among boys, they promote the stereotype of males being all about brawn in lieu of intelect, right? Its high time that we as a nation, grow a backbone and reject this dictatorial social engineering wherever it sprouts and send its purveyors packing. It is a fungal blight threatening the very parchment of our Constitution. Government must be constantly reminded that they are OUR employees and as such, their authority and scope is limited. The mechanisms in place to remove Mr. Eldridge from his office should be engaged to send a strong message. Tell him that Venezuela is very nice this time of year.

I am embarrassed for Del., Eldridge, for Lincoln Co,, and for WV. How does a person with any intellegence(elected officials included), get up in the morning and hear what is happening in our state, our country, and the world and find himself focusing on BANNING BARBIE? If that is not sad enought, the man appears ill informed on the "Life and Times of Barbie". She has been a vet, doctor, and mother of twins! All this without compromising one inch of her waistline! How will we pay for the Barbie Police, is this included in the stimulus package? Maybe some of the laid off Century Aluminum workers can be retrained for this job!! Sound stupid? If the shoe fits........!!

My 11 year old daughter's school was recently closed due to unsafe conditions. 56 families my community are trying to obtain public water, as our water is of poor quality/quanity. I think there are other things in this state to worry about besides Barbie. So, Mr. Delegate, put your dolls away and get back to the real issues that children in our state face on a daily basis!!!!!!!!!!

what - they don't have the internet in WV? order barbie online! WV won't get the sales tax - clearly they don't deserve it if this a priority for ANY lawmaker.

This is, perhaps, the most idiotic legislation i have EVER heard of - and i am old!

did you see a picture of this guy? i thibk he is jeakous of ken doll and is taking it out on barbie.

give me a break!

I thought we in Arizona had stupid thinking politicians! Ban Barbie? Well I guess WV could favor the Fulla or Razanne dolls. Is this the direction Mr. Eldridge wants to go?

I'm so glad that our state economy, exployment, education and transportation systems are meeting such high standards that even one member of our state legislature has the time to address the huge Barbie issue in our state.

Oh...by the way...have you checked out barbie lately? Doesn't she have a job as a doctor or a vet or something else that takes brains?

Sheesh!

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING? ROFLMAO WE PAY THESE PEOPLE?

So Barbie is 'dumbing' up WV's little girls? Why not give up on the ban and insist that Mattel 'smarten' up Barbie. They could make a special doll for WV, for instance: "Barbie, The Governor's Daughter" which comes with a complimentary Master's Degree from WVU!!! Another choice which echoes today's lifestyles would be "Barbie, The Divorcee" which comes with all of Ken's stuff!! Yeah, I know I'm reaching well beyond reality and practicality but is this any dumber than trying to ban a doll?

Give the kids a break and let them be kids. Remember that not every boy wanted to to be a G.I.Joe just as girls don't want to be Barbie. Why? Because kids realize that they're toys and not reality. Reality = something on which Delegate Jeff Eldridge can't get a grip. He's the one who seems to have a problem distinguishing toys from role models and fantasy from reality.

I don't understand what this worlds coming to, one day video games are blamed for the reason kids go on rampages and kill people, and the next barbies the reason for little girls wanting to be beautiful. I mean seriously how many girls do you know that have commited violent acts on theirselves because they want to be like barbie. And as far as them being smart, how smart can a plastic doll be? How do you know barbie isn't smart? Obviously Eldridge is the one who isn't very smart, trying to take a harmless toy away from a child. I'm sure even he has played with barbies in his day. I think this is rediculous and i doubt it will pass, everyones already laughing at him and the ass he's making of himself. What's going to be next, no movies, tv shows,or music because the kids look up to the moviestars/popstars and want to be just like them. It's a phase young kids go through they eventually grow out of it, how many highschool girls do you know who want to be like barbie, and wake up every morning and wonl't leave the house unless they look just like her. I think this was just his way of getting attention, and if so he deff. got it, but is it the attention he wanted? He made a complete ass out of himself. I think our tax dollars should be spent on something besides the ban of barbie. What about the kids selling/doing drugs because they see someone else do it, and think its cool. Barbie never did or sold drugs, if she did maybe he would leave her alone, because drugs and violence obviously isn't the issue, it's beauty and perfection.

This guy needs to be taken out of office. There are alot more important things to worry about than trying to ban a barbie. Its none of his business what parents let thier children play with. I think somebody needs to vote him out office and get somebody in there that has some sense because apparently he doesnt have any. And isnt he smart enough to realize that if he bans Barbie here that parents are just going to buy them in other states and that theres nothing he can do about it because he cant tell people what toys to buy thier children? I know that if it passes that I will go out of state and buy my daughter barbies and i am sure alot of other people will too. I cant believe that he has nothing better to do with his time than to worry about trying to ban Barbie.

Is this our tax dollars at work? Really?! We can't do anything to improve our state other than create a ban on a child's toy? I'm appalled. As previously stated, the monitoring of what a child has access to should be the job of the parents, not the state..and how is this going to make a difference..if by some way this would pass, how hard is it to order a Barbie online, or for many West Virginians, buy one in a neighboring state? For a country "built on freedom", this is just one example of how we lose those freedoms one by one, all in the name of "for the good of the children"--if this keeps up, we will eventually have nothing left.

WHAT AN IDIOT!!! GET A CLUE DELEGATE ELDRIDGE. It is not the Barbie, it is the tv, the models, the actors / actresses, every little kid wants to grow up and be just like one of them. There are so many pressures on them as well. Let people be who they are going to be whether it be skinny or fat. Who cares, it is what is inside that counts. Why don't you help with the bill for doing drug testing for welfare people. Why don't you find a way to lower taxes and create jobs.

I went to EBAY and found the three he mentioned on the news. The cheap Barbie is the one that offers what he stated. The ones he mentioned are more expensive... fifty dollars. PLEASE DO RESEARCH BEFORE YOU ARE INTERVIEWED ON TV, and make untrue statements. It makes you look foolish.

every little girl has a barbie. this is a very stupid thing to do. i am sure there are better things that need to be addressed in this state.

If Del. Eldridge doesn't have anything more important to work on than that perhaps the good people of lincoln need to replace him with someone who will work for the people on important issues.

I have a daughter myself and I grew up[ with barbie I think this is wrong it is just a doll and my daughter is 18mths old and she has two collectables of barbie and many more to come if I have to go out of state to get it people need to grow up and worry about stuff that has a affect on our kids like video games and cartoons

OH YES-- West Virginia needs a BARBIE BAN!! Delegate Eldridge appears to have nothing positive in his life and needs attention. This is insulting to West Virginia parents when he is implying they are NOT competent to make decisions on children's toys! He is almost ready for a Washington position!!

doesn,t our Delegates have a little more to consern them selves? like maybe the thousands of jobs leaving wv every day, or our thousands of veterans with no place to live?