Obama and the People From Crazy Town

(Update on Bellevue schools below.)

Shocking, I tell you, just shocking. Stay in school and listen to the grown-ups in your life. Realize that even if you have challenges, teachers are there to help you and you can achieve. That's what Obama is going to tell American school children tomorrow. Gosh, you should read it for yourself what terrible and abusive things Obama will be saying tomorrow at schools across the nation.

From the LA Times story:

"On Thursday, Jim Greer, chairman of the Florida Republican Party, accused the president of attempting to "indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda." According to Greer, "the idea that schoolchildren across our nation will be forced to watch the president justify his plans for government-run healthcare, 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 the beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power."

Anxiety over the speech seems particularly high in Texas, where many districts are offering parents involved in the boycott movement the option of taking their children out of class. (Whoever thought we'd see Texas treat advocacy of personal responsibility like sex education?)

The irony wasn't lost on everybody in the state. Puzzled Texas education officials told the Houston Chronicle that students often watch presidential speeches broadcast during school hours and that, in 1989, President George H.W. Bush specifically spoke to students about drug abuse. "It's hard to imagine anything more ridiculous than attacking the president of the United States for talking to students about the importance of getting a good education and being a good citizen," said Kathy Miller, president of a statewide school monitoring group. "I wish our elected leaders were responsible enough to denounce this kind of wild-eyed paranoia."

C'mon. Don't like Obama and his policies? Fight the good fight but hells bells, it's a speech to tell kids to stay in school and try hard. Personally, I wish he hadn't said God Bless America because I'd like to think that God (or a god) would bless every country (just think if ALL kids in on this planet were educated) and not just the U.S.

Oh yeah, here's what the Bellevue School district has to say:

"President's Speech: The Bellevue School District curriculum department decided to tape President Obama’s September 8 speech. It is our understanding that the President will be advising students to work hard in school, persist, and stay focused on achieving educational goals. Following this, the tape will be made available to any teacher who wants to use it in a balanced discussion, so long as it fits within the education objectives of the class."

September 8th at Bellevue SD:

"We applaud President Obama’s message to school children to work hard, stay in school and not settle for anything less than the best possible education. It fully supports our school district’s two goals and priorities of ending the achievement gap and extending learning for all students.

While we acknowledge that the process we put in place was one some of our school community members opposed, we felt the need to exercise caution in order to address all voices. We strongly encouraged all of our teachers to include the speech in their instructional plans, and we have posted a link on our website for easy access. Our intent has never been to censor our President’s speech but ensure that it be used as an instructional tool imbedded in our curriculum. We apologize to those of you who may have been offended by this decision and we encourage everyone to watch the speech with your children if you are a parent and with your students if you are a teacher."

Interesting that they felt the need to clarify. Our own school district, which hasn't updated its home page in days, says nothing. Now on this particular subject I sort of get it because school doesn't start until Wednesday. But, there's no "Welcome back to School" page or Back to School quick help page in case you need info on transportation, schedules, etc.

However, for a good laugh, here's a fake speech.