Barack’s Back to School Address Draws the Ire of Parents and Politicians.
by MikeScholtes on Sep.06, 2009, under Barack Obama
There may be some days in the recent weeks when President Barack Obama, once the darling the nation, may feel like he can do no right. Debates on healthcare reform have turned from polite town hall discussions into near pitched battles, and when record high unemployment figures were released on Friday it was seen by many as yet another blows to the President’s credibility. Now the most innocuous of things – a back to school speech to the nation’s children – has ignited yet another firestorm for the White House to diffuse.
The speech, scheduled for Tuesday was meant, says the White House, to simply encourage students across the country to work hard during the new school year and stay focused on their education. But many conservative parents are just not buying that line and are accusing Obama of trying to “indoctrinate” their children, pressing his own agenda on “impressionable young minds.”
One parent, Colorado native Shanneen Barron told a CNN reporter “Thinking about my kids in school having to listen to that just really upsets me. I’m an American. They are Americans, and I don’t feel that’s OK. I feel very scared to be in this country with our leadership right now.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty did not go as far as agreeing with such a statement but he did publically express his displeasure at the planned broadcast, which would be shown during lesson time. “At a minimum it’s disruptive. Number two, it’s uninvited. And number three, if people would like to hear his message they can, on a voluntary basis, go to YouTube or some other source and get it. I don’t think he needs to force it upon the nation’s school children.” He said. Pawlenty himself is often touted as a possible 2012 GOP nominee for President.
All of this controversy leaves teachers and school administrators across the country with a decision to make, do they allow the children in their school to watch the President’s speech and face the possible ire of unhappy parents?
Some of the controversy surrounding the planned speech is related to a lesson plan that was to be distributed to teachers nationwide. In the original plan it is suggested that teachers encourage students to draft letters to themselves that address “what they can do to help the President.”
The White House has since said that the original draft was merely poorly worded and it should have inferred that children should consider how they can “achieve their short-term and long-term education goals.” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has dismissed the whole affair as “part of the silly season”.
Still, many remain unconvinced. “As far as I’m concerned this is not civics education — it gives the appearance of creating a cult of personality,” was the comment to the press from Oklahoma state Sen. Steve Russell, who is, of course, a Conservative Republican.
September 6th, 2009 on 8:34 pm
I didn’t vote for him. I don’t like him. He will do nothing but make the world worse than when he was elected. You MORONS elected him. Are you Frickin happy now? We’ll be paying the bill for YEARS to come
September 6th, 2009 on 10:29 pm
Odd, wasn’t it just a couple of years ago the US Military was pushing kids to stay in school?
I see this as just another excuse for certain “radical” groups to use this to push their “polices” on the American people as a whole.
Where were these people when the Patriot Act was being pushed on the American people? Searches by law enforcement agencies WITHOUT a warrant? That’s in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Where we’re they when that was passed?
The parent who is scared about the Obama administration? The man must have slept through Georige Bush’s administration.
Seems that idea of “change” of the status quo has them more scared then anything.
September 6th, 2009 on 10:30 pm
What is wrong with people? When I went to school and when my children went to school, we were required to keep up with current events and to be informed about the government’s policies, the issues under discussion, and we even listened to what the President had to say before passing judgement. I was grateful when my children’s camp had them watch the Nixon resignation on t.v., and I watched the McCarthy hearings when a student.If the children are allowed to watch President Obama on tv Tuesday, then maybe, just maybe they can have an intelligent discussion with their teachers concerning the issues presented.
September 6th, 2009 on 11:54 pm
Seems to me somebody named Hitler started indoctrinating young school boys.
September 7th, 2009 on 1:19 am
Checkout germany’s, italy’s, Union of Soviet Socialist Repulics’ (Russia) and Japan’s Youth indoctrination programs from 1933 to 1945.
September 7th, 2009 on 1:25 am
GOV. Pawlenty has nerve to say PRES. OBAMA speech was not invited I DIDNT KNOW the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES needs to ask permission to speak. I QUESTION the people complaining about this when past have spoken to school chidren. what do they think he will say that would be harmful, he is the father of 2school aged girls. I WONDER IF THE BIGOTS HAVE FINALLY CAME OUT THE CLOSET GET OVER IT PRES. OBAMA IS THE PRESIDENT WHO HAPPENS TO BE BLACK! EVERYONE this country knew that when he ran for the office and got elected.
September 7th, 2009 on 3:07 am
Last I knew it wasn’t disruptive or uninvited to listen to something which the president stated to the nation, after all he is the president. What exactly was he elected for if he isn’t even allowed to send out messages, that is simply his job, and if he does a bad job then he gets outed in 4 years. That is just how it works, but either way the president cannot be stopped from being allowed to send messages to the public, young students or adults. Also, when did Youtube become the main source for people to find out what the president is stating, i understand that it is a great source for information but there was a time when people sat down next to radio’s and televisions to listen to and watch the president, now it has been reduced to a quick search in between watching mindless youtube videos, perhaps the president should be given enough slack to at least do his job.
September 7th, 2009 on 6:16 am
OK reporting until the last sentence: ” … who is, of course, a Conservative Republican.”
What’s up with the “of course”?
Blatant editorialization and does not EVER belong in ANY reportage.
Go back to j-school, Scholtes … or whoever you are, since your “by line” has no site attached.
September 7th, 2009 on 9:50 am
I find this amazing. Kids are joining gangs left and right, being led into drugs from every grade and when the President wants to talk to the kids all hell breaks loose. Amazing how people call themselves Americans yet you shut out every opinion but their own. Is your child so weak minded that he is going to lead them to doom? Can’t your kids think about what he says and adjust it to make their lives better? I think what he was trying to do was re-phrase “Ask not what your country could do for you…” into a way that children could understand. How’s a President supposed to do his job without the support of his country? If you are so worried about “Youth indoctrination” maybe you should find out why your child can’t think for themself in the first place.
September 7th, 2009 on 10:03 am
His healthcare plan would pay for late term abortions and and I can not nor will I support such actions. These babies feel pain and it is morally wrong to murder them. I can’t understand how a doctor who has taken an oath to save lives will kill these tiny innocent boys and girls. How do they sleep at night? I had 3 miscarriages many years ago, still feel empty, can’t imagine how I’d feel after an abortion. I believe unless the world turns to God times are going to get worse. You can see it happening already. Our money has “In God We Trust’ on it. Let us start living that way. God bless America
September 7th, 2009 on 11:07 am
Okay, we showed the world we could elect a negro. Now, we need to remove him, and quickly move forward again.