September 3, 2009 11:47 AM

Conservatives Revolt Over Obama Speech to Students

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
In The News
(AP)
Next Tuesday at noon, President Obama will be delivering what the White House is billing as "a national address to the students of America."

"During this special address, the president will speak directly to the nation's children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school," according to Education Secretary Arne Duncan. "The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning."

The Department of Education encouraged teachers to build lesson plans around the speech and offered "educators a menu of classroom activities…to help engage students in the address and stimulate classroom discussions about the importance of education."

The Department also recommended that students be asked to write a letter to themselves on "how to help the president."

All this did not sit well with Jim Greer, the chairman of the Florida Republican Party. Greer released a blistering statement earlier this week claiming that the president is trying to "indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda."

"The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up more debt than any other President, is not only infuriating, but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power," he said.

Added Greer: "President Obama has turned to American's children to spread his liberal lies, indoctrinating American's youngest children before they have a chance to decide for themselves."

Some conservatives began to suggest that students hold their children back from school: Politico notes that conservative talk show host Tammy Bruce pushed on Twitter for followers to "Make September 8 Parentally Approved Skip Day. You are your child's moral tutor, not that shady lawyer from Chicago." Conservative radio host Dana Loesch also pressed parents to keep their children out of school Tuesday.

In response to the uproar, the White House has now altered its recommendations. The recommendation that students write a paper on how to help Mr. Obama has been changed to one urging teachers to have them "write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals," as the Washington Times reports.

Other language was also tweaked: a suggested question for older students, for example, was changed from "What is President Obama inspiring you to do?" to "Is President Obama inspiring you to do anything?"

White House spokesman Tommy Vietor told the Times that there would not have been such an angry reaction from some quarters had people actually heard the speech, which he said is focused exclusively encouraging children to stay in school and work hard, not policy or political issues.

A White House official acknowledged to the newspaper that some of the initial recommendations from the Department may not have been worded as carefully as they should have been, particularly as it was not yet known exactly what the president planned to say.

Add a Comment See all 171 Comments
by Cole_D September 8, 2009 6:14 PM EDT
I hope to get a lot of controversy from this statement, and that is why I am going to make it. If communism is going to work anywhere, then it would be in the United States. It's undeniable that the concept makes for one of the best possible governments, and I think that communism isn't bad per se, it is a failed communistic government that we don't want. I am in no way saying that Obama is trying to push us toward communism, I'm just saying that using it as an insult makes you seem a little uninformed.
By the way, I hope that all you parents who wanted to keep your kids away from our poisonous President read the speech. He specifically says to listen to your parents. Nowhere does he mention reporting your parents if they don't agree with him.
Reply to this comment
by hesyw00 September 8, 2009 4:42 PM EDT
I've read through most of the comments posted and definitely agree that this has a terrible outlook for adults (used loosely) from our youth. It is really a sad day when you get people (left or right) to use their children as sitting ducks in the water. These children should not know hate in such early stages in their lives. But that's how the cycle of hate continues. The people who chose to opt out or keep their kids at home today. ??? What type of message did you send to your kids, when you did this? How do you explain to them that the PRESIDENT is speaking today and I don't want you to listen? OK, keep him/her out, but don't you realize they will talk about it when they get to school. So, did you clearly explain to your kids, how to respond to discussions about staying in school or what goals do you have in life, what do you want to be or the PRESIDENT SAID, we can be anything we want if we study hard. This is what the kids will be talking about. NOT healthcare, tort reform, security issue in America. Come on you guys, we have to do better at parenting and showing respect to AUTHORITY. YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT, BUT OBAMA IS IN AUTHORITY OF AMERICA. (With the exception being GOD)

Also,I agree with Mrromeo113, I noticed the individuals who posted comments that disagreed on the President?s speech; you guys really need to watch how you post comments. There are sooooo many misused sentence structures in your writings. I?m not sure if your children should have stayed home, if you are having trouble with English. Sorry the stab, but I can?t stand it when people can?t form a proper sentence or the proper usage of words.
Reply to this comment
by Sweetpea2207 September 8, 2009 3:30 PM EDT
I just finished reading the President's speech and anyone who had any objections to children hearing this speech should be ashamed of themselves. As I am ashamed of how we are so color/political party driven that we disagree because of that alone. We tune each other completely out based on these issues and it is so sad. I sometimes feel that other countries look at us and how we handle our differences and say "those stupid Americans, why don't they not get it".

People we need to start looking at our "similarities" and stop focusing on "differences" and perhaps it won't be so difficult to come up with a healthcare plan.
Reply to this comment
by ericgarrison September 8, 2009 1:30 PM EDT
This agenda is truly the most pathetic I've ever seen offered by the GOP.
Reply to this comment
by angeegirl September 8, 2009 1:06 AM EDT
It amazes me to see what parents can do to rob their child's opportunity to think freely. To put your child's mind in a box is exactly what these parents are doing when they keep their child home from school for fear that the President of our country may corupt their minds and politicize thier classrooms. This is hypocritical and goes against the very same ethics that these "dictorial" parents are claiming to be standing for. What an amazing opportunity these children have. To be spoken to by the president. These children aren't going to remember the policies but rather the voice that they have. The president's message is to give these children a voice and let them feel that they can be involved and make changes if they choose. This is a true democracy. These conservatists are standing in the way of their own movement.
Reply to this comment
by truthwillsetyoufree1 September 7, 2009 9:09 PM EDT
I have read the speach .Saw nothing bad in it. Its not what our pres. says.Its how he will say it . He is using a type of hypnotic speak ,invented by a german Doc.The same as Hitler used.It works best w/the young and the old, but if you listen to long can snare anyone w/ago along kind of mind set.It is our duty as american's to speak out when we disagree w/ what our Gov. is doing.Don't like the war then speak out .Don't like Pres. Bush then speak out.This is not racism or biogty or crazy or a freak show you,me,we are not morons or feeble-minded.We are all americans. I sat back for eight years and listened to hate speak about Pres. Bush.There are lots of books about how to kill him when he was in office.WOW' now thats alot of hate for one man to live with. I have prayed for all my Pres.including Pres Obama and his family.I hope and pray that just like Pres. Obama said ,WE can disagree w/out being disagreable.After all that is the American way,and what far to many have died for.Together we (all of us)can make it better. GOD BLESS all of you. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Reply to this comment
by whybs September 7, 2009 7:06 PM EDT
Let's all chill out & have a beer before we speak!

Let's hear what Laura Bush says about Obama's school speech!

http://twitter.com/whybs/status/3826456874

Obama should make her his honorary adviser to help heal this nation from further divisiveness!

Cole D, BTW, Biden had a Buckler Non-Alcoholic drink during the infamous WH beer meeting! And as a Brown grad, I highly recommend it -- if you could get in! There are a few good profs there! Good luck in school, question everything (religion/politics/etc.) & keep learning! :)
Reply to this comment
by kathrowe September 6, 2009 5:57 PM EDT
I'm flabbergasted that anyone could object to the President's encouraging children to stay in school and do their best to be successful. Isn't personal responsibility for bettering one's life what America is all about? Isn't it all about individual achievement? There's nothing socialist about that. I can't wrap my mind around the mentality of those who would condemn President Obama for trying to inspire children to do their best. It's insane. Perhaps Joe Six-Pack and the Missus have had one six-pack too many!
Reply to this comment
by ducdebrabant September 6, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
I never thought I?d see the day when parents would demand a President of the United States be barred from addressing their children. Because our current President is of another party (and, in some cases, because he is of African descent), he is now being treated as, immoral, villainous, toxic and alien. It will surely not be lost on African-Americans that a new precedent is being set for our first African-American President. Speaking as a Democrat, I have never in my life dreamed of treating any Republican President like a drug pusher or sex offender simply for offering to speak to schoolchildren. It is the height of impudence that any President?s remarks be ?screened? by parent-ideologues of the other party, by tendentious teachers or school administrators. That any teacher, principal, school board, municipality or state should take part in this outrage is nothing less than a scandal. I rarely use this term, but there is no other term for it: is un-American.
Reply to this comment
by r9119111 September 6, 2009 1:17 AM EDT
The party of NO haa apent more money saying "NO" than Obama has spent to save our broken economy. Obama is simply trying to encourage our children to stay in school and try harder. Nutjobs are hitting him from every angle. What would you rather have him do? Would you rather have him say, "Stay out of school, you're not learning anything anyway." What horible examples some misguided parents are especially if they listen to the Republican "NO" line of BS.
Reply to this comment
See all 171 Comments
.

Follow Political Hotsheet

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...