Last Second Surprise

My daughter's school just robo-called to announce that they will carry President Obama's speech tomorrow, and that parents who did not want their children to see the speech should send a note to the teacher, so that the student can be separated from the rest of his class. Nothing like a little grade-school ostracism, is there?

I've read the speech and there is absolutely nothing offensive in it (other than Obama's inability to deliver a speech without referencing himself repeatedly), but my larger question is this: if the school's adminstration feel that there is sufficient controversy to necessitate robo-calling, then why did they chose to carry the speech in the first place?

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 08:29 PM

Comments

1 And for the record, I'm not opposed to this or any other President speaking to our children, I'm just not thrilled with the gutless last second actions of the school.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at September 07, 2009 08:36 PM (WjpSC)

2 Most likely b/c the school admin's just read the copy of the speech and made the decision following that reading.

Posted by: dad29 at September 07, 2009 08:48 PM (4PciU)

3 The speech seems all right but I do appreciate being given the option to opt out.

Posted by: James at September 07, 2009 09:41 PM (qJbSo)

4 So letting children "opt out" of school prayer would have a chilling effect on their freedom of expression, but there are no conceivable consequences to letting them opt out of the President's speech?

Riiiiight.

Posted by: Steve Skubinna at September 07, 2009 09:53 PM (Vcyz0)

5 Nothing objectionable in him claiming he is Great Benefactor who provides your little tykes with books, computers, and rainbows?

Posted by: mockmook at September 07, 2009 10:30 PM (xMO+c)

6 This guy has no business speaking directly to kids. His goal is self aggrandizement, to give a captive audience a good impression. Many 17 year olds will be voting age in 2010. If he wants to give a speech do it in prime time so parents decide - not teachers - a majority of whom are democrats. This whole thing was a rope-a-dope. The lesson plans first put out asked kids to help Obama, then they pulled back on that. Now they put out the speech text and say see what were those crazy conservatives talking about? All governmental takeovers start in an innocuous, innocent, we only want to help, manner. Stick to your duties Obama, leave the kids alone. If you really wanted kids to stay in school you would have done something for Chicago's inner city kids while you were community rabble rousing.

Posted by: Jayne at September 07, 2009 11:28 PM (dwIL0)

7 I don't get it that there is no problem with the text of his speech. Was it that "social justice" and "fairer world" were so far down on the text that you missed it? Those very words are anathema to what he tells our children to do in the earlier part of his speech. Unless, of course, he means work hard so you, too, can give to those who do not.

Posted by: Laura at September 08, 2009 12:24 AM (2aW+D)

8 The speech is totaly innocuous because it was massively rewritten over the weekend. I, for one, would like to see the original draft, before general knowledge of the content of the educational notes became public. I bet it was full of ways that kids could help the president.

Posted by: garretc at September 08, 2009 12:22 PM (DQjJA)

9 And for the record, I'm not opposed to this or any other President speaking to our children, I'm just not thrilled with the gutless last second actions of the school.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at September 7, 2009 08:36 PM

I don't see how you can square this comment with your next post on who is Obama (based on his associations, colleagues, etc).

You basically acknowledge that Obama is a radical racist and Communist. Yet, you say, simply because he holds the title of "President", that you have no problem with a radical racist and Communist speaking to your kids.

Huh?

Posted by: Michael in MI at September 08, 2009 12:44 PM (ObTcs)

10 It isn't very difficult at all, Michael.

First, his speech today isn't promoting his ideas; Rush was on the radio saying it was a speech againsthis ideas. He is trying to build back up his approval rating ahead of tomorrow night, his 28th (I think) attempt to salvage Obamacare.

If my daughter actually listens to the speech, she's only getting reinforcement of the same work ethic we drill at home. If she ignores him and tunes out after a while--as I suspect most kids will--Obama will have lost some of his luster among the younger set as just another politician in love with the sound of his own voice.

Either way, this is a win-win for us

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at September 08, 2009 01:06 PM (WjpSC)

11 What, my God, is wrong with the right in this country?

I'm 59 years old. I've lived through Republican admnistrations, from Ike to Bush.Every one of those men was the president. My president. That doesn't mean I agreed with them. Most, I didn't. But they were my president.

Eisenhower. Nixon. Ford. Reagan. Bush. Bush.

As a student in middle school, I was allowed to campaign for Goldwater in '64.

The president was respected, regardless of party. If he came to our school to speak, he was given due respect of his office.

Hell, I was given the day off from second grade to watch the VP, Richard Nixon, drive by in his motorcvade. That was just to drive by and this was before his campaign for president.

My daughter grew up with Reagan and Bush. She listened to them. We talked. She learned. That's how things work.

Have some faith in your children.

Every administration needs a vigorous opposition, but one of grown-ups, not petulant, whining children.

Posted by: David L Terrenoire at September 09, 2009 10:33 PM (Bx4FB)

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