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Obama's planned speech to students draws conservative ire

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Some conservatives, driven by radio pundits and bloggers, are urging schools and parents to boycott the address. They say Obama is using the opportunity to promote a political agenda and is overstepping the boundaries of federal involvement in schools.

The right wing-nuts have truly scraped the bottom of the barrel with this one. No good educator or parent would deny their child an opportunity to hear a message directed towards promoted thier education. It's certainly not like past Presidents haven't done the same thing; where was bush when 9/11 happened? Wasn't it (gasp!) a school? Checking... yeah, it was!

Quit teaching your kids intolerance, close-mindedness, and racism. Let them hear the duly and fairly elected President of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama. Better yet, be there to hear it with them. Some of you could stand to learn just as much as your kids.

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If I had kids, I personally would want them to hear any positive educational message from the President of the United States. It wouldn't matter what color or nationality the President would be. Kids look up to the President of America, I sure did. This is royal ignorance from the schools and parents, if they prohibit there kids from being informed of the times there living in History. Gag me with a spoon ignorance!

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No good educator or parent would deny their child an opportunity to hear a message directed towards promoted thier education." Hold on. I am sure you have felt the same had it been McCain or Bush doing this and I would say to you that is your right. I for one thing, have been very un-happy with a lot of the rhetoric coming out of this admin and am appalled that many in this admin praise a certain leader who is responsible for the deaths and human rights violations, including relatives. Again, it should be your right to send you kid or not - not the gov's (and that is one of the problems I have for people like you). I agree with you that the kids should hear the president, but don't go knocking those that are not so happy about it, how about listening to them, "you could stand to learn" something too.

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It was just great when Ronald Reagan and the 1st George Bush to talk to children, but when Barack Obama wants to speak to students he's a socialist or a marxist or a communist.

This sounds like McCarthyism agsin. < :-)

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I recall the Dem's getting all up in a tizzy when Bush 41 did something similar when he was in office so it's not at all unexpected. I've come to expect no less from both parties.

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I had children in school then and I don't remember some tizzy like the republicans are showing. Actually I don't remember anything but the oppurtunity for students to hear a speach to them. Not over their heads, like we see normally. I'd like to see a link. Maybe I was too busy. < :-)

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I'd like to see a link.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/09/03/2051165.aspx

Same basic situation, more lame excuses for attacking the other party. Both now and then the attacks carry little weight and will probably be forgotten until another republican (or an independent if I had my way) takes office, tries the same thing, and the process starts all over again.

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It's not just conservatives.Remember, the "teachable moment" with the cop and Professor Gates didn't work too well.In fact,it was a disaster. I'm beginning to have some buyer's remorse myself. I'm definitely starting to suffer from Obama fatigue.Too many appearances,speeches,beer summits,rigidly orchestrated press sessions.

I'm also worried that Obama is losing Jon Stewart,who is basically like Walter Cronkite for many young liberals.Back in July Stewart joked about all the president does,giving theremin concerts to the homeless, his interest in Urdu poetry,and how he seems to be everywhere.And then he kinda shocked his audience

"That's great, now fix the economy."

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America really should divide itself into two countries. Liberals who want links with the rest of the world in the north and gun-toting, xenophobic arseholes in the south. Does any other country in the world have two groups of people who constantly argue and bellyache about everything and anything?

Same as two children fighting over the same toys, day after day after day.

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America really should divide itself into two countries." no, 3!

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I looked at the link and missed the mud slinging and the outright lies and accusations. Yeah, there was some honest dispute without all the name calling and conservative terrorism. < :-)

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I had children in school then and I don't remember some tizzy like the republicans are showing. Actually I don't remember anything but the oppurtunity for students to hear a speach to them." But did you go into a tizzy? Yes, I am sure you did. Also, I think what got a great many up in arms is not Obama himself, but what many of the local board of Ed's are pushing, such as writing essays on the speeches, which I recall never having to do when I was in HS way back in the late 80's (in fact, I don't even recall saying the Pledge of Allegiance, which is all but banned in many places). Also, while I can honestly say I like Barrack, I hate Nancy and a lot in this admin. That is also a case to take into consideration.

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Quit teaching your kids intolerance, close-mindedness, and racism." Right, so I hope in the next election, you will, even at the sacrifice, you will vote for a Hispanic! I'm also glad you praise Bobby Jindle, and let's not forget there is still Joe Lieberman, one of only a handful of Jews in the gov.

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skipthesong: "I agree with you that the kids should hear the president, but don't go knocking those that are not so happy about it, how about listening to them, "you could stand to learn" something too."

skip, the people who are 'knocking' those who are against the president speaking to their kids are knocking them because of their so called 'reasoning'. They claim that Obama is pushing the equivalent of Marxism and death panels and what not on their kids in order to 'brainwash' them. In other words, their reasons for doing so are based on lies.

Reading about morons like these people makes a vision of the future US quite scary -- a bunch of gun-toting fools who listen to highschool dropout DJ's spewing nothing but hate and disinformation. It's pretty clear that the people who REALLY need educating are parents who so easily buy into the crap being fed to them by the fear-mongers.

skip: "But did you go into a tizzy? Yes, I am sure you did."

I realize you are not addressing me, but where's your proof? Sorry, but your judgements aside, I don't recall adaydream getting into a tizzy about said presidents addressing students at all. But can you back up your insinuations?

Seriously... not wanting your kids to attend a speech/event because you don't like the message being delivered is one thing, but not wanting your kids to attend because you WERE TOLD NOT TO LIKE what some TOLD YOU was the message is just out and out wrong. At the very least, these people need to check into the facts and THEN make a decision. I would say 'and THEN make an EDUCATED decision', but clearly these people left education behind the door when they started listening to whomever it is they are listening to.

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skip: "Right, so I hope in the next election, you will, even at the sacrifice, you will vote for a Hispanic!"

Haha... nothing racist in your comment on racism, there!

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smith: back off, read between the lines. I was joking, but yes, I am going to call all those that said if we don't vote in Obama, we are a racist nation... well, why can't that fly for us?

Additionally, I think you are wrong. What, you think I don't talk whites at all? You accusation in calling them racist, gun tooting loonies is an accusation that the prez has supported if ANY disagreement comes down. That right there is part of the problem.

Did I have proof of Aday's tripping on a repub speaking..... do I need it? look at his posts. He's so far left, that he's basically right winger of the left.

again, I don't have an issue with him giving this speech, but if I had kids of school age, I would have an issue with so many libs in the dept of Education push.

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correction: again, I don't have an issue with him giving this speech, but if I had kids of school age, I would have an issue with so many libs in the dept of Education push on their cause. Would like education to be somewhat neutral. Is that asking for too much?

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With all the interconnectivity in the modern world and living in Japan,able to see my country from afar, I almost worry that school children in other countries,not to mention adult voters, will envy America even more.Like him or not Obama is cool.He came out of nowhere,and his rise to the highest office in the land refutes a lot of the worst stereotypes about class and power and race in America. I mean,hey,can you imagine school kids in Canada respectfully sitting through a broadcast from the loser who is their prime minister (whoever it is ,I don't even know)or British kids taking to heart whatever message the terrorist - for- oil-swapping Gordon Brown would try to give. What would Japan's new leader - another hereditary politician - say that could inspire J-kids?

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skipthesong I don't think you were in my home during GW-41 4 years. You may have heard those comments in your home, but not mine. < :-)

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skipthesong I don't think you were in my home during GW-41 4 years. You may have heard those comments in your home, but not mine. < :-)

adaydream,

There was no blogosphere yet during the G.W-41 years. I would agree we wouldn't have heard your comments during those years because there really was no instant forum for all to see them back then. I would say if there was a blogosphere during GW-41 you'd be typing away with tons of negative posts on this subject of a President using taxpayers dollars to a captive audience to give a speech.

As far as amateur hour at the whitehouse. If Obama really wanted to reach kids and not stoke the divide between those that dis-agree with his policies and don't endorse the direction he is taking us. He should have planned this as a JOINT speech between him and Senator McCain, that would be real leadership and putting our kids first.

That would also have shut everybody up and really would have been a positive message for our children. Instead we now yet have another example of how Obama still hasn't measured up as a President who can unite people. He seems to excel at dividing them instead. Not good, not good at all.

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I looked at the link and missed the mud slinging and the outright lies and accusations. Yeah, there was some honest dispute without all the name calling and conservative terrorism.

Considering the link was only a snipit about something that happened nearly 20 years ago forgive me if the artical wasn't engrossing enough for your viewing pleasure. You wanted proof that something similar existed so I provided it, if you wanted a blow by blow you should have asked.

As it stands my point remains. We have both parties sniping each other over the exact same issue at different points in time. You seem to be under the impression that the Dem's have the moral and ethical highground no matter what they do, I believe that the two parties are different sides of the same coin. Both equally unscrupulous, lying, politically motivated conglomerates of corrupt bureaucrats. I trust and respect a few select individuals but the radicals of both parties tend to drown out these few voices of reason.

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That would also have shut everybody up and really would have been a positive message for our children." Or perhaps some in his admin should shut up. They are giving the right too much ammunition.

What ever happened to kids just simply going to school, learning the basics? These days it seems, each side wants to get kids as young as possible to warp them into something that would further their agenda and I say that to both right and left.

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McCain lost. He's not sitting in the WH with Obama.

If McCain won, you'd be calling for Obama to talk with him to students? Please. That's the hypocracy of the republicans. < :-)

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I want my kids to grow up open-minded, tolerant, and patriotic, therefore, I want them to hear the words of a truly great American, President of the United States of America Barack Obama. The rest of you can do as you please. Let me know how it works out.

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If McCain won, you'd be calling for Obama to talk with him to students?

Why wouldn't I? You don't think that isn't a good idea? I sure do.

As a matter fact given McCain's ability to reach across the aisle to Democrats in all of years in the Senate and if he would have won and was proposing to do something like this also, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to think that he would have not done exactly that in the first place to get the message to our schoolkids that staying in school and doing your best is the most important thing.

You can dis-agree with me all you want but I would have said the same thing if the roles were reversed and it was McCain in the hot seat if he was going to do this on his own and this controversy started to flare up if he was President.

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I want my kids to grow up open-minded, tolerant, and patriotic, therefore, I want them to hear the words of a truly great American, President of the United States of America Barack Obama.

Don't you mean....therefore, I want to FORCE them to hear the words instead?

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The rest of you can do as you please." No, we can't. That's the problem and that is what has been the problem. if you live in the south, you are not allowed to learn evolution and if you are in a lib state, you are not allowed to learn about creationism. You are no longer allowed to help you kid choose his/her playmates and you are not allowed to question what they learn in school. Those days are long gone. Its all about political agendas these days.

I just read something from Bill Orielly where he praised the prez as a role model for kids. I couldn't believe the onslugght he's been taking because of writing one good thing.

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skip: "smith: back off, read between the lines. I was joking."

My bad. The possibility you were joking/being sarcastic crossed my mind, but alas sarcasm sometimes does not 'translate' well in cyberspace (hence the birth of emoticons). It's not simply a matter of reading between the lines, since you have numerous times talked about the possibility of Hispanics in office (as POTUS, I mean).

"...but yes, I am going to call all those that said if we don't vote in Obama, we are a racist nation... well, why can't that fly for us?"

Here you go again seperating everything into 'us' vs. 'them', when either side are both sides of the extreme, and not the vast majority in the middle. Go ahead and call up those who said not voting Obama into office means you are a racist country, but you CANNOT call up those who said 'not voting for Obama BECAUSE HE'S BLACK is racist'. One is the foolish assumption made by people either by intention for political purposes, or because they are simply misdirecting. The other is a statement of fact based on racially motivated behaviour.

"Did I have proof of Aday's tripping on a repub speaking..... do I need it? look at his posts. He's so far left, that he's basically right winger of the left."

Sorry, bub, but that doesn't fly. Without proof of saying the things that you say he's said, it's simply you reading into things that are not there and drawing your own conclusions. You have on quite a few occasions mistakenly said people said what they have not, and judged them for it. I believe in a couple of cases you later took it back or even apologized, but I might be mistaking the latter part.

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sailwind: "Don't you mean....therefore, I want to FORCE them to hear the words instead?"

You really have gone off the deep-end since the last election, eh? Mathmatics and Family Studies (or Home Ec.) are 'forced' on kids, as is having to read 'To Kill A Mockingbird' or 'Johnny Tremain and the Boston Rebels' for kids who don't wish to learn. So are you suggesting kids not have to go to school if parents don't want them to be 'brainwashed'?

Give it a rest, man. About the only thing 'forced' on kids at school, if you cannot say EVERYTHING is forced on them, is to stand and put their hands over their hearts for the anthem and pledge of allegiance.

Having the president of the US, and an incredible role-model whether you believe in health-care or not, is an incredible opportunity for EVERYONE involved, including Obama. Everyone can learn from the experience; and it seems the parents who are refusing based on what a disc-jockey with pracitally no education himself says can learn more than others.

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Having the president of the US, and an incredible role-model whether you believe in health-care or not, is an incredible opportunity for EVERYONE involved, including Obama. Everyone can learn from the experience; and it seems the parents who are refusing based on what a disc-jockey with pracitally no education himself says can learn more than others.

Well smith, all I can say is that I hope he doesn't use the term 'wee wee'd up' somewhere in his speech to our youth of America.

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sailwind: "Well smith, all I can say is that I hope he doesn't use the term 'wee wee'd up' somewhere in his speech to our youth of America."

One would hope not, yes, but he'd still be lords above the gaffs of former presidents if he did.

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If McCain won, you'd be calling for Obama to talk with him to students?

Sure, hell throw in the chief justice and put the cabinte in the background giving supportive nods to the camera while the talk is being filmed. Then you could close with the entire assembly of Congress shouting something encouraging to the students in unison. I think it would look rather nice.

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I was a teacher in the USA, and now here in Japan. If a kid has no interest in hearing a speech by Obama, or by XYZ, etc..a kid will do something different, etc..just to get kicked out of the class and avoid this speech. Kids will be kids, some like Obama, some may hate him etc..if they come from racists families. The USA is a free country and you can not force anybody to like anything or accept anything. Long live our democracy and I really want to watch this video on Youtube etc..!

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Great to know the school district in the city of my home state is choosing not to take part in this sham. Kids already know to stay in school and work hard. Perhaps Obama should go to a place like Detroit instead and speak directly to the high risk kids that are dropping out in great numbers! Makes ya wonder about his real motives.

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I just can't imagine what the big deal is about.

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"If McCain would have won...blah, blah, blah."

He didn't.

"If conservatives wanted to speak directly to school children....blah, blah, blah."

They don't. They want to stop the president from speaking. (Come to think of it, they didn't even ask to have time equal time for a rebuttal or to to get equal face time with the soon to be voters. Nope. That would be a positive thing to do. They only see negative.)

Anyway, all of these hypothetical scenarios are superfluous.

The fact is, the president wants to speak directly to school children about staying in school, setting goals and doing their best. Conservatives want him to fail at that.

That's not hypothetical. It's whats happening. All this other stuff is just an attempt to avoid responsibility for what is now happening.

Buy the ticket; take the ride.

Taka

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Lets be honest everyone, if Bush Jr. had this line in one of his speeches to students everyone here would be in an uproar accusing bush of the same thing these people are accusing obama of.

"“write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.”"

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Oh come on that is not true joebigs and you know it, if bush would have said that they would have accused him of trying to get the young people who are under the age of 18 to help support his war policies.

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I think it's just a matter of perception.Obama's supporters among liberals and a declining number of independents think Obama,who benefitted enormously from affirmative action,and could be called our first affirmative action president,just wants to pay back the system and acknowledge how lucky he was and emphasize the importance of a good education.

But conservatives and a growing number of independents say the cult of personality thing is getting creepy and "dear leader" beaming himself into each and every one of the nation's classrooms is another example of the president assuming too much power.

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Sailwind - Force my kids to hear Obama's words? LOL! How about "allowing my kids to hear Obama's words and making up their own minds instead of being piss-scared of Obama for no rational reason"?

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“write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.”

obama got busted. what a hack job!

of course the right wing is over reacting. why not? over reacting was mighty effective for the Dumbs last time around. it sure seems to be working for the Repugs this time. just watch those numbers fall.

by the time we get to 2010 the Dumbs will surely be suffering at the polls.

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What is wrong with having your kids being encourage to do the right things by The President?

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How about pre-reading the speech first before assuming anything? Then decide and cry a river about it. Doing so beforehand only looks pathetic.

Respect the Office of the President. The highest honor in grade school is called the Presidential Scholar Award after all. If they're gonna name the award after the Office, then might as well let a President encourage students to achieve it.

Any college these kids end up attending would be proud to have a President giving their commencement address, so what's the big deal now?

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How about pre-reading the speech first before assuming anything?

in fact they did. and that's when it became clear obama was make a pitch to the kiddies. 'how can you help the the president!' give me a break. only a true, starry eyed obama lover could fail to see how ridiculous that was.

bush sr was investigated by the Dumbs when he gave a similar speech (with out the personal call for support). let's hear the Dumbs mock that reaction before they mock Repug cries now.

face it this is another small straw on obama's back. they are piling up, he's going down. and he'll take the Dumbs with him. just like bush did with the Repugs.

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