Obama's Back to School message: "Study hard, set goals, get ahead"- Page 2

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 9/3/09 at 12:18pm

It's kind of terrifying actually. It's like the right has been thrown into hysterics. But what scares me is some of these people don't identify themselves as conservatives.
Sadly..I think it has to do a lot with "don't let the scary black man talk to MY kids" mentality.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/3/09 at 12:19pm

I can't wait to see them grasping at straws for talking points when it turns out to be just generic positive messages about staying in school and studying hard to be successful in life.

Can these people just cede from the union and be done with it so they stop screwing up the country for the rest of us?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/3/09 at 12:20pm

Somehow, in the minds of these parents, having their children have to listen to the president's speech is the equivalent of getting smacked in the face by a stranger at Walmart.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/3/09 at 12:33pm

"Can these people just cede from the union and be done with it so they stop screwing up the country for the rest of us?"

Ah, secession.

I have a growing fear ... no, make that a realization ... that we will see second U.S. civil war within our lifetimes.

The onetime joke is getting less funny by the minute.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/3/09 at 2:12pm

To me Besty, the horror is that by the very force of their rage they ARE driving policy. Think about that situation in Wisconsin- a moderate-to-liberal state. Parents have raised such outrage over the PRESIDENT of the united states addressing their children- in a speech that will be carried live on dozens of TV channels- that the school feels they need to "screen" it for dangerous messages. It's being discussed- they have won. The president's speech is now "controversial" and possibly "Dangerous."

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/3/09 at 2:14pm

Just to play devil's advocate, don't you think you would be hearing the same things coming from the left if a Republican president wanted to do the same thing?

I feel that I can say confidently that I know several people who would indeed be keeping their kids home if the parties were reversed.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/3/09 at 2:21pm

Oh really? So you aren't aware of George Bush & Ronald Reagan's addresses that were broadcast to school children? This is a 100% manufactured controversy by the republicans.

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/3/09 at 2:24pm

Dude, Reagan made us exercise and do a certain number of sit-ups and pull-ups, and we were rewarded a congratulatory letter if we completed his test on fitness. Only now do I realize it was a plan to create an army of supermen to conduct a second invasion of Grenada (that the first Bush ultimately was too wimpy to pull off).

Meanwhile, I don't remember getting these when Nancy told us to just say no.
just stick your fingers in your ears and say la la la

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/3/09 at 4:19pm

"So you aren't aware of George Bush & Ronald Reagan's addresses that were broadcast to school children?"

Maybe my memory is fading away as I age, but I honestly don't remember having to watch any messages from Bush, Reagan, or Clinton while in school. Closest I remember were Nancy's "don't do drug ads" on TV and watching the inaugurations of Bush and Clinton.

And yes, of course, the Presidential Fitness tests, but I think Schwarzenegger was featured in the one video I very vaguely recall being shown about that.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 1:50am

"If your child's school is participating, ask what alternatives there are for the children of families who wish their students learn about the establishment of the country respective to the Founding Father's intentions. Discussion can focus on the Constitution, the definition and actions of a republic, and the responsibility of elected leaders to their constituents."

I have to wonder if anyone stupid enough to do this has even READ the Constitution. Do they even realize there are 25 other amendments after the second one which they hold so dear?

Updated On: 9/4/09 at 01:50 AM

[Plum]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 4:25am

My god. This is the President of the United States we're talking about - and Wisconsin wants to see if his speech will be appropriate for children? Really? I can't believe that liberals are the ones who get accused of being unpatriotic - show some freaking respect for the office, teabagging blowhards.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 7:35am

In 1991, I was in first grade, and remember watching President H.W. Bush's speech to the nation's children. Here's a link to the text of the address.
George H.W. Bush's remarks to school children in 1991

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 7:46am

"Show some freaking respect for the office."

Like the freaking respect for the office liberals showed when pummeling Bush?

I guess it depends on whose ox is being gored. But I can't stand the hypocrisy shown by both sides depending on which one is in office.

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 8:48am

"As far as I am concerned, this is not civics education - it gives the appearance of creating a cult of personality," said Oklahoma Republican state Sen. Steve Russell. "This is something you'd expect to see in North Korea or in Saddam Hussein's Iraq."

Ooooooooooooooook-lahoma, where the politicians are insane


Link

[bethnor]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 8:59am

anyone who is in their 30s right now who doesn't recall being brainwashed by reagan memory is indeed fading.

find any male in their 30s, dare them to deny that they played "guns" when they were children, and the scenario wasn't "US vs. Russians." heck, just look at the movies that were being cranked out at the time: rocky IV, red dawn, etc., etc.

say what you will of reagan's policies, but no one could deny his ability to systemically program the thought waves of the country.

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 8:59am

Only the far right fringe could contort a message about personal responsibility into socialism.

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 9:15am

Oh bethnor, I remember, believe me -- not just the scary Russians but the aforementioned fear-heavy and fact-lite "just say no" program, for which we can thank the zero-tolerance policies in place now that get kids expelled for taking aspirin or sharing an asthma inhaler.

Updated On: 9/4/09 at 09:15 AM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 9:56am

After Eight, you are correct. A speech to grade schoolers and lying to get us into war are the exact equals on the scale of moral equivalency.

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 10:03am

I'm not saying there is moral equivalency between these issues.

I'm referring to the self-righteous indignation expressed in the reference to "respecting the office of the presidency," as used by BOTH sides, but only when it suits their needs.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 10:06am

I said I agree with you.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 10:07am

We just got word that we'll be viewing the speech with our students on Tuesday. We're even re-arranging the lunch schedule that day since 12:00 is right in the middle of the lunch periods! I'm waiting for the calls to come in from the "soccer moms" about how dare we change the time their children eat! Little Jimmy needs to eat at exactly noon!!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 10:44am

Only commies and fags eat lunch after noon.

[Calvin]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 10:52am

And still call it brunch.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 11:04am

How apropos, I just checked the lunch calendar for Monday, and the cafeteria serving "breakfast for lunch." We'll be further indoctrinating them!

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 11:11am

Here in Virginia, a couple of counties decided against showing it, live. In other counties, it's being left up to each school's principal. The county I live in, each school makes its own decisions about their school day. It's not directed by a central office. The biggest complaint I've heard is not that he's making the address, but that he's doing it on the first day of school, and there are too many other things going on. The counties that aren't showing it, live, are making it available to be shown later, if teachers wish to do so.