Obama's Back to School message: "Study hard, set goals, get ahead" — Page 3

In my very Republican neck-of-the-woods, one district has announced that they WILL NOT be showing it to their children. Another district has said that it will be optional, with parents (or children, apparently) able to "opt out" of it. One local writer remarked that since his son was the "Chairman of the McCain mock campaign" at his middle school, he'd "of course" be skipping it. And while I am long out of school, I know local schools showed kids Bush's speeches following 9/11, usually as part of social studies classes. I can not imagine there was as much as a murmur. I was in high school during the Iran Hostage crisis and remember the school broadcasting the audio of one of Jimmy Carter's speeches over the school PA- perhaps after the failed rescue attempt? I can recall much ridicule of the president at the time, but no one even considered it was harmful to hear his address- even though he was up for reelection at the time.

Updated On: 9/4/09 at 11:58 AM

I wonder if people students in England can opt out to watch the Queen speak? Just curious.

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this is why i don't get the "liberals would do the exact same thing" argument.

in all my years of being brainwashed by the reagan administration, what i don't remember is any bally-hoo and hoopla about it.

My district handed us a flier during the opening days of school about the speech saying that since we have a half day we won't be in school then, but they're going to try to tape it so we can show it later.

Of course, I live in liberal NJ.

And honestly, had Bush (who didn't have the "cred" to give a speech about staying in school and studying hard) tried to give a similar speech, I don't think ANYONE would have said boo.

But Bush was too busy putting into place NCLB which effectively is the exact opposite of Obama's intended message...

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Tim Pawlenty, often a voice of reason within the GOP, seems to be using this 'issue' to make points with the lunatic fringe.
T-Paw

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Really, when it comes down to it in the end, the outrage is ridiculous, and the people outraged over those people who are outraged are equally ridiculous.

Pawlenty has crossed over to the dark side.

"...The story of America isn?t about people who quit when things got tough...."

Sarah Palin's head just exploded.

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Stockard, did they say why?

One of my ultra-conservative friends has been railing about this on her Facebook. I pointed out that there actually is a precedent for this type of speech (set by Reagan and Bush Sr.) and that the topic was merely a "stay in school" message.

This was her reply:
"I would also disagree with a Republican president doing the same thing as I agree with Josh politics should stay out of the classroom. I did not have children in school during the HW Bush and Regan administrations so that is not applicable. It is far more important for Matt and I and our extended family to be telling our children to stay in school, work hard, and go to college. I do not need the president (or any government official) taking any time out of the school day to repeat a message my child is already getting at home. I would not tell another parent they should not allow their child to watch because I respect the fact that it is a personal decision and I don't think it's too much to ask for that same respect."

Nevermind that she doesn't have kids in school now either. Her oldest is 4. They don't even go to daycare. She's a stay-at-home mom.

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Updated On: 9/7/09 at 01:49 PM

Did you call her out on that?

There is NOTHING political in that speech. NOTHING. It's nothing more than supportive and if anyone says that it?s wrong, THEY have a HUGE personal problem.

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This whole thing has gotten out of control and dumb. Whatever happened to just respecting the president on school grounds? I do remember writing a letter or drawing a picture or something for George HW Bush at school in first grade, and we got a little booklet thing back, and we were all excited about it. Nobody's parent called and complained.

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Actually, except for the references to Twitter and Facebook, that speech could have been lifted straight from a script for an episode or Father Knows Best or The Donna Reed Show.

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