Obama's Back to School message: "Study hard, set goals, get ahead"- Page 5

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/7/09 at 9:38pm

Bush had almost unprecedented bipartisan support for a couple of years following 9/11.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/7/09 at 9:39pm

I never once saw a parent on TV crying - CRYING - because their child was going to hear a speech by president Bush but I saw two different ones on tv this week crying about Obama.

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/7/09 at 9:42pm

"I never once saw a parent on TV crying - CRYING - because their child was going to hear a speech by president Bush but I saw two different ones on tv this week crying about Obama."

Like others have said, those poor women are suffering from SBGS (Scary Black Guy Syndrome). Now that Jerry Lewis is done with his telethon, maybe we should organize a telethon to help defeat SBGS.

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/7/09 at 9:42pm

orangeskittles: Do you find the statement I quoted an equal "blatant lie?" If you took the trouble to look, you would note that mine was a reverse image of that one.


Updated On: 9/7/09 at 09:42 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/7/09 at 9:50pm

Since when is HD Thoreau back?

I thought he was run out of town on a rail.

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/7/09 at 9:55pm

"Since when is HD Thoreau back?"

Apparently, since 6/5/09.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 9/7/09 at 9:59pm

Bush had over a 70% approval rating two-years into his Presidency.

Facts are such a frightening thing.

Bush earned the contempt of the nation by he end of his second term.
From 90-30 in 8 years.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/7/09 at 10:09pm

No, I don't find anything wrong the original statement you responded to. Can you name ONE issue so far in Obama's administration that hasn't been met with opposition from the conservatives? They're even opposing the president telling kids to stay in school!

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/7/09 at 11:31pm

orangeskittles: Come on, is there an issue which will EVER meet with absolutely no opposition from the other side? In my post, I was trying to say that it cuts both ways.

And for the record, I've been disappointed in both parties.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 9/7/09 at 11:37pm

No opposition? Nope. Obama is getting overwhelming opposition on everything. Reps are really being sore losers to the detriment of the country. They don't care if we all go down the tank as long as Obama is shown as a failure.

Updated On: 9/8/09 at 11:37 PM

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 12:06am

My mother was telling me today that George W. Bush went to talk to a second grade class back on 9/11. She said there was no controversy with that, except that people wanted him back at the White House taking care of what was going on. So yeah, there is absolutely no good reason for people to be complaining about this.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 12:40am

I didn't say there had to be absolutely no opposition, just something remotely comparable to the bipartisan support Bush receieved throughout his first term. I'll save you the trouble- it doesn't exist. Literally everything Obama has attempted since he came into office has been met with hysterical backlash from the right. So as I said, you were wrong.

[Love the Tussin]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 12:53am

I didn't say there had to be absolutely no opposition, just something remotely comparable to the bipartisan support Bush receieved throughout his first term.

Truly. Look no further than the "Birthers."

I wish Democrats would have the balls that the Republicans do rather than concerning themselves with what a party full of "religious lunatics and Civil War re-enactors" (thanks, Bill Maher) think. The public option isn't getting passed because not enough Democrats support it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 11:41am

The health care battle is far from over, BTW.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 12:07pm

Just got this from a Republican friend--I don't remember this happening though. Does anyone else?

===

When President George H.W. Bush delivered a speech to kids on October 1, 1991, Democrats, then the majority party in Congress, denounced Bush's speech and ordered the General Accounting Office to investigate. Then they summoned administration officials to testify at congressional hearings on the issue.

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 12:14pm

I didn't recall it, but I did read the same thing. The way I read the story, however, the furor arose after the speech, and there wasn't any movement to prohibit kids from hearing him speak. Either way, seems like the Dems were wrong then, but it didn't seem to rise to the level of hysteria that we have now.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 12:30pm

So this will be the opposite. There was furor before, but certainly it will die down now, after the speech, and we will be on to the next "manufactroversy."

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 12:31pm

Democrats objected to the use of tax payer money to produce it. That reaction was specifically about partisan politics in DC. This is not- most conservative politicians are distancing themselves from this manufactured controversy.

[violet72]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 12:34pm

I hope all those people were glad their children didn't have to listen to the Pep talk...so glad that they directed the spotlight on that speech rather then Healthcare...I want him to take off the gloves tomorrow night but he probably won't

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 12:52pm

When Reagan made a speech, there was major opposition from the Democrats, when Bush, Sr. did it, the same thing. There will always be loons on both sides, who over react to something as innocuous as the President speaking to school children. Granted, this time it was an even bigger deal, but there are a couple of differences. First, you have the loons (a given), but add to that the lesson plan, which not only told teachers how they should approach their classes (rather insulting to assume teachers couldn't figure that one out on their own), but was also created and distributed by the Department of Education, which took time, money and resources, paid for by taxpayers. NOT THEIR JOB!!! Add to that, questions in the lesson plan like "Why is it important for us to listen to our President and elected officials?" What the hell kind of question is that, anyway? We live in a Republic/Democracy. Our President and elected officials are supposed to be listening to us! Besides, what does that have to do with doing our best in school? How about "Why is it important to do your best in school?" Finally, the President's speech was on the first day of class in much of the United States. Not the most convenient time for most schools.

Still, there does seem to be an over abundance of loons, this time. Or perhaps, just a lot more coverage of them. I thought his speech was excellent, and I'm glad he gave it. The should have been smart and left the lesson plans to the schools. That's THEIR job.

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 12:53pm

I just got an e-mail from a friend and she said that Laura Bush came out in support of the President regarding the speech.

You know, I have been thinking about this since last week and this mornig a thought came to my mind. Maybe these people who are against the speech and against the letter writing that was to be part of this are afraid their kids may just make suggestions that their parents don't agree with. Young kids will speak from the heart. That may scare some adults. Just my random thoughts.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 1:31pm

The other reason to consider why you seem to be hearing so much more about the opposition to this than to either Reagan or Bush's speeches is that there are far more outlets for the opposition to be expressed in than there were back in those days. Most people then got their information from their local paper and TV stations. There was no mass dissemination of your opinion through email or internet message boards. It's no longer nearly as difficult to find a way to make your "voice" heard.

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 1:44pm

Very good point AEA.

Has anyone seen this? If it has been posted, my apologies for a second post. It was sent to me on Facebook:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adiLJxayfg8

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 2:01pm

"Obama may have lost health care and Van Jones, but he won the speech debate."

So 1 out of 3 is a good ratio for a President?

Updated On: 9/8/09 at 02:01 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/8/09 at 2:03pm

The news media is dominated by the right. They have massive resources to bang the drum incessantly to MAKE this an issue. Only a tiny percentage of parent objected but is was presented as a political hot potato by the press. You can't "show both sides" of an issue like this- one side is clearly nuts.