Ted Griffen, Philip's neighbor, is running for the school board. Mr. Molloy brings Philip to see him as he's unhappy about what he sees as the unfair treatment dished out to his son at school. Ever the politician, Mr. Griffen spies an opportunity. In truth, he's not really interested in helping out Philip; he just wants to take up his cause as a way of furthering his own political career. Although Mr. Malloy gives a distorted picture of why Philip's been suspended, it doesn't much matter to Griffen anyway. All he's concerned about is getting elected to the school board, and if he can do so on the basis of a patently false story, then as far as he's concerned that's all well and good.

So Griffen champions the cause of patriotism in his pitch to be elected to the school board. Taking his cue from Philip and his dad, he falsely accuses the school of preventing students from practicing the "elemental values of American patriotism". But it's all complete hogwash and he knows it. Griffen couldn't care less about Philip—or the school, for that matter. He just wants to get elected, and will say anything and do anything to help him achieve that goal.