W.H.: School Speech Criticism Reflects "Silly Season"

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: White House

5257929White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said this morning that criticism of the president's planned speech to American students reflects "silly season" and compared school districts that won't show the speech to those that "won't let you read Huckleberry Finn."

"I think we've reached a little bit of the silly season when the President of the United States can't tell kids in school to study hard and stay in school," Gibbs said at a gaggle with reporters, according to CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller.

Some conservatives are considering keeping their kids out of school when President Obama gives the speech out of fears that Mr. Obama is trying, in the words of Florida Republican Party chair Jim Greer, to "indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda."

Conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, echoing that argument, said this: "The left has always used kids in public schools as guinea pigs and as junior lobbyists for their social liberal agenda."

The Obama administration says the address is focused exclusively encouraging children to stay and excel in school, not policy or political issues.

Gibbs pointed out to reporters Friday morning that two Republican presidents have given speeches to students: Ronald Reagan in 1988 and George H.W. Bush in 1991. Democrats were critical of those speeches, just as Republicans have been critical of Mr. Obama's.

Some schools are electing not to show the president's speech, though for many the reasons are logistical, not ideological, as the address coincides in many districts with the first day of school.

Asked about the fact that some schools are not planning to show the speech, Gibbs evoked school districts that "won't let you read Huckleberry Finn."

The Department of Education tweaked its initial accompanying materials for the speech following criticism of certain recommendations, including one that students write themselves a letter on "how to help the president."

The Department has also elected to release the speech on Monday, Labor Day, so that parents can review it before students see it on Tuesday.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by kiawest September 7, 2009 12:12 PM EDT

Obama is to blame as he hasn't built any trust with the American people. He is President, yet constantly in a campaign mode, dissing people who disagree with him, his party is calling independents and republican citizens names, asking people to report on them if they voice an opinion different than his, stating he will ask the kids how to help the President and serve the President (not the country nor the President serve the citizens as he is sworen to do). This President is dividing the country with his campaigning. He is suppose to be here to "serve" all the people, no here for "all the people" to be forced to support him out of fear. People don't trust what he will say to their children; his radical views are not supported by the majority. He campaigned, until he was elected to the left middle, now he is farther left than any President or political figure in our history. It's his fault that he is not trusted and he needs to start including people, listening and respecting other ideas to win thr trust of the majority. We like the constitution and are against the change that goes against it and big government, while at this point he hasn't shown he can support the constitution, financial responsibility and rights of the people in a limited government.

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by kickerrr September 8, 2009 1:47 PM EDT: LOL, you're the majority? You must of voted for him then...


by carolhill814 September 5, 2009 4:45 PM EDT: I think I would let them listen to him so they can see what kind of idiot he really is.

I couldn't even imagine anything he could possibly say in twenty (20) minutes that he could hurt anymore than the programs they watch on TV these days or the "music" they listen to.

I would let them listen and let them make up there own minds as to what they heard or not heard.; Reply to this comment

by tucano2 September 5, 2009 2:38 PM EDT

So its "Silly Season" if one DISagrees with what Mr. Obama is up to.
Guess that means it is "Stupid Season" when one agrees with his policies.

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by carolhill814 September 5, 2009 4:46 PM EDT: You really made my day.

That is why I call him BO you can fill in what BO means his policies really stink!!!


by lovegetpeace September 4, 2009 7:10 PM EDT: Folks,
I think I got it this time....

Since the children of the Conservatives never listen to them, the Conservatives are bitter that they will listen at least to President Obama.

I admire a President who cares more about the education of our children than the parents of these children given that America is dead last in math and science in the world.; Reply to this comment


by Change_Agent September 4, 2009 6:00 PM EDT: Just as this article states. These Conservative ignorant people are Silly and ridiculous and need to get a life. Any person willing to encourage children to dream and strive to be the best should be appreciated by any normal stable person. It is too many unstable crazy people and the ones speaking negatively about President Obama encouraging kids are the stupid people I'm speaking of.; Reply to this comment


by Change_Agent September 4, 2009 5:56 PM EDT: I am sick of these ignorant, racist pitiful people. I am thankful for President Obama and very appreciative. I have not been on blogs in a while, and now that I see what is being said I am not only disappointed, but outraged.
We will have a new healthcare plan. I am praying and believing for it. The racist republicans who released lies to confuse people in order to bring contraversy was successful, but they will stop progress. Kennedy did not die in vain. Those critics of Kennedy have not done one fingernail worth of good for this country as that man did. Obama is a highly intelligent and enthusiatic man and that angers the republicans the most.
It is time to stand up for President Obama. Obama has spoken and given more detailed information on policy and proposal than this country received the last president in his combined 8 years. Your comments on this blog are disrepectful, inappropriate and off just as each of you are.; Reply to this comment

by Change_Agent September 4, 2009 5:52 PM EDT

I am sick of these ignorant, racist pitiful people. I am thankful for President Obama and very appreciative. I have not been on blogs in a while, and now that I see what is being said I am not only disappointed, but outraged.
We will have a new healthcare plan. I am praying and believing for it. The racist republicans who released lies to confuse people in order to bring contraversy was successful, but they will stop progress. Kennedy did not die in vain. Those critics of Kennedy have not done one fingernail worth of good for this country as that man did. Obama is a highly intelligent and enthusiatic man and that angers the republicans the most.
It is time to stand up for President Obama. Obama has spoken and given more detailed information on policy and proposal than this country received the last president in his combined 8 years. Your comments on this blog are disrepectful, inappropriate and off just as each of you are.

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by carolhill814 September 5, 2009 4:49 PM EDT: Just because he is "black" doesn't mean they are racist at all and in the first place he is not 100% black he has a white in him so his ideas are not good because we will never ever be able to pay for his wonderful ideas and that is a fact.

You love the way he goes overseas and says he is sorry for what we have done to people that want to kill us?


by stratus666 September 4, 2009 4:42 PM EDT: I will repeat. Anyone who has an issue with the preseident of the USA, whether a repub or dem, telling school kids to stay in school and do well, is simply insane.

I guess all you lunatics did not go into an uproar when Bush was reading to school kids, did you?

Of all the issue I have seen in the last 10 years where the right wing zombies have lost it, this one is the most fascinating. It shows their true colors. They are out of their minds.; Reply to this comment


by oldsoftee September 4, 2009 4:27 PM EDT: cckcity - So, by talking to kids about staying in school and working hard, POTUS is recruiting them for a sinister youth movement, huh? What was GWB doing when he actually appeared live in front of a group of students to read "My Pet Goat"? Muslims EAT goats. Wait a minute. Was GWB actually delivering a coded message about Muslims? That those dirty non-Christians will sneak on to your property under cover of night, steal your goats and (gulp!) eat them.; Reply to this comment


by stratus666 September 4, 2009 4:09 PM EDT: The right wing in this country is truly a group of deranged lunatics. I have never seen anything like this in my life. Obama wants to tell kids to stay in school and do well and this is supposed to be some marxist socialist propaganda.

You people are sick paranoid maniacs. what is wrong with country???

Keep it up wingnuts. I hope reason will eventually prevail and you idiots will be marginalized to a mental institution in Texas, which is where you all belong.; Reply to this comment