Obama’s school speech: The wrong battle to fight
Neal Boortz pretty well sums up my thoughts about President Obama’s speech today to schoolchildren around the country, and some conservatives’ angst about it:
TeamObama must have loved this one. Talk about a hanging curveball. Once the manic inanity started all they had to do is sit back, prepare an innocuous speech for The One, and let the people scratch their heads wondering what in the hell the Republicans were so upset about! Now the next time the right comes up with an objection to some Obama concept, people who last week might have been on board will stand back and look at the Republicans with a jaundiced eye.
The only sound criticism of the speech was of a related lesson plan that originally included asking students to write about how they could “help the president,” a question that could be construed as trying to turn the speech into a personal plug for Obama rather than a pep talk from him. But that item was quickly removed from the lesson plan.
Not that the criticism of Obama’s speech was ever that focused. And making a big deal out of the speech as a whole served only two purposes: providing an unnecessary distraction from a debate on more important issues that conservatives stand a chance of winning, like health care; and making conservatives look like a bunch of paranoid whiners determined to attack anything President Obama does. Neither is something I would consider helpful, for conservatism or the country.
It seems to me that this is part of a larger trend, one that dates back to the GOP and Bill Clinton, and which the Democrats turned into an art that consumed the Bush presidency: No matter what the president does, the opposition uses it as a chance to vilify him personally. Opposing the Iraq war or the privatization of Social Security isn’t enough; you have to cast George Bush as the tee-totally evil second coming of Hitler, too.
Now Obama is president, and pushing plenty of issues for conservatives to oppose legitimately, among them government-run health care, cap and trade, and a tax-and-spend government on a scale which we haven’t seen in decades. But rather than seeing Republicans take on Obama and the Democrats on these and other substantive issues, we’re getting a rerun of the Bush years. Every time Obama does something like take a vacation or give a speech to students, we get a blast of personal invective, often under the cover of “Well, just think if Bush had done that!”
This never-ending stream of personal venom helped Democrats at the ballot box, so chances are slim that the GOP will refrain from aping their tactics. But if you want to know why large numbers of Americans seem fed up with both parties, I’d argue that this aspect of our politics is a leading cause.
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124 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
September 8th, 2009
11:11 am
I applaud the civilized tone and about 95% of the content, Kyle, so even though I strongly disagree with your characterization of Obama’s initiatives, I do think this was very much the right post at the right time.
Ramguy
September 8th, 2009
11:22 am
This is just like the wingnuts. When they notice they are being seen as foolish they change the tone. Now it’s Obama changed the speech. Of course they don’t have an ounce of evidence to prove this. The R’s don’t need any help to look foolish. They’ve already filled that position with themselves.
Rachel
September 8th, 2009
11:28 am
It is even worse that that. The Republican party message appears to have been hijacked by shock jock entertainment. Although their extreme messages may get ratings with the party base, they are scaring away moderates and Independents from the party. Moderates and Independents close their ears when people argue against Obama’s policies by calling them “Socialist” and when they call Obama “Hitler,” a Marxist, and a “Commie.” Right wing shock entertainers are successfully making the Republican party look nutty and like the boy who cries wolf. People are closing not opening their ears to the Republican message. The shock entertainers are putting the reasonable Republican politicians in the odd position of rejecting the nutty shock jock claims (and defending Obama e.g. Obama is not an “Arab,” Obama is a valid citizen, school children should watch the speech) and offending their base or accepting the extreme claims and looking nutty themselves. This is not a good position for the Republican party. Now that the Republicans have been found to cry wolf on Obama’s speech, it will look like they are crying wolf on healthcare. The Republicans have successfully marginalized themselves by allowing the popular right wing shock jocks to get too big, powerful, extreme, and angry for their own good.
Julian Fairchild
September 8th, 2009
11:28 am
Makes no difference to me what party the president belongs to – republican or democrat – he has no right to speak directly to children without consent from parents. Politics is for adults to be concerned about. Children have enough conflict without further conflict being offered by any president. It is impossible for a president to offer the individual consideration which children deserve in his speech. What shall we say to the child who tragically lost his parents or whose parents are drug addicts, when the president urges children to “listen to your parents:” Who will be there to console the child or clean up his mess? What about the potential arguments over politics within the schools – even if out of loyalty to one’s parents, children are taking on the republican vs. democrat debate with aggression and hostility? Regardless of the President’s intent, which I suspect is reasonably pure, the whole thing smacks of arrogance, inconsideration and is lacking a well thought out and mindful assessment of the speech’s impact.
kwingfield
September 8th, 2009
11:34 am
Ramguy: Read the whole Boortz column, which makes exactly that point…namely, that such a reaction now is petty and pointless.
Jeb Bush / Lez Cheney 2012
September 8th, 2009
11:35 am
Stop the insanity of having this foriegn born muslim communist indocrinate out innocent children with socialism and islam. We need to rise up as one great Christian nation and regain our Presidency. A vote for the Bush Cheney ticket in 2012 is a start. God Bless America. And please push for more tax cuts for the wealthy – to get this country out of obama’s depression.
J. W. Rittenhouse II
September 8th, 2009
11:36 am
Reducing this to political diatribe is totally missing the point. The Federal Government is overstepping its bounds and has been since about 1916. The government does not belong in our schools, or our lives for that matter. It’s time to take our constitution back, undo the changes toward democracy and give ourselves back to “the republic for which it stands”.
Dan
September 8th, 2009
11:39 am
Conservatives should read The Boy Who Cried Wolf and pay attention to the moral: “Even when liars tell the truth, they are never believed. The liar will lie once, twice, and then perish when he tells the truth.”
Jeb Bush / Lez Cheney 2012
September 8th, 2009
11:39 am
J. W. Rittenhouse II – Right on brother! Lets start first by shutting down the Federal and State governments. The good thing about obama’s dictatorship is that we all can see what were fighting and once again, the muslims have united us like they did after 9/11. This kenyan(?) is proof at just how insane our government has become.
Jeb Bush / Lez Cheney 2012
September 8th, 2009
11:42 am
Dan – If obama (your massa) was telling the truth – he show us his birth certificate – apparently he is suppressing the release of his Kenyan one. So who’s the liar?
Jeb Bush / Lez Cheney 2012
September 8th, 2009
11:46 am
Ramguy & Rachel, Please vote Republican in 2012. The Republicans fought for the little guy by getting tax cuts for the wealthy. The wealthy obviously then have more money so some of it gets to trickle down to the low and middle class folks (the little people). Obama gave the middle class a tax break in his so caled stimulas package – loser!
jt
September 8th, 2009
11:47 am
Mr. Wingfield wrote;
“But rather than seeing Republicans take on Obama and the Democrats on these and other substantive issues, we’re getting a rerun of the Bush years.”
Complain all you want,
You’ll be voting Republican this coming election.
Don’t question your elders son.
jt
September 8th, 2009
11:48 am
boy
Davo
September 8th, 2009
11:52 am
Kyle please do us the favor of seperating the terms ‘republican’ and ‘conservative’ as they ceased to become synonomous since before Reagan.
Jeb Bush / Lez Cheney 2012
September 8th, 2009
11:59 am
Davo – In a crazy world were a muslim communist from Kenya is president of the U.S.A. The Republicans are the only thing that seperates God fearing right thinking AMERICANS from death camps.
Amy White
September 8th, 2009
12:22 pm
Jeb Bush / Lez Cheney 2012 I am completely disgusted with your ignorance and prejudice against our president. To claim your belief in name of religion is the same reason why the religion itself distants itself from like of people like you. Religion never once stated that “white” were better then other races in the world. Re read your bible and read teh descriptions that were given of people on the era. Learn the reason why your ancestors came here. Obama is nothing like Fidel Castro because if that were the case the we would not be allowed to travel to other countries and would all be in the same class. Everyone would be neither rich nor poor and the constitution just would not exist. Obama is a Christian. Kenya is a country that was torn apart because of Muslim trying to take control of the oil and thus the “Kenyans” were killed because they were Christians or displaced into refugee camps. It is now that some have been able to return to their village. And just because someones parents is a certain religion it does not mean the child is as well. We are all adults therefore can decide which religion to follow. You are just a sorry excuse for an American in this country and prove that ignorance and racism will always exist.
Churchill's MOM
September 8th, 2009
12:25 pm
We need a Woman at the head of the ticket.. ****Palin Sanford/Mccain/Cheney 2012
deoblotwo
September 8th, 2009
12:30 pm
Normally most folks wouldn’t oppose his address to the schools. However, looking at his political background & folks he has been proven to associate with, it seems logical no parent wants him to have their childs undevided attention to discuss anything without there approval. Finally american parents are starting to take responsibility for what happens in the class room. (I applaud you!!) Even if its a very small step.
Secondly, I can’t understand the liberal mind set that when any president & his political machine: Pulosie, Reed, Franks etc. Make remarks about retirees, some of which are Vets (in Wheel chairs), mothers & fathers of children serving in the arm forces and call them un-patriotic and say this country can’t afford to provide them with health care benefits because we have a volunteer
service & they knew what they were signing up for & they must have a different definition of patriotism than he does. (Someone who hasn’t spent a day in uniform, has defended anything but his corrupt budies from Chicago; what does he have to do to reveil his true identity.
If a republican, or independent had made some of these remarks about your parents, children or family members that you know for a fact are not riot fear mungers will you ever take a stand to protect this country & your heritage. No wonder so many are ashamed to admit they voted for him. When will you!!!!
Amy White
September 8th, 2009
12:34 pm
If it were a white president there would have never been an uproar to Obama speaking to our children.
Jake
September 8th, 2009
12:47 pm
When Ronald Reagan spoke to kids in 1986 was there an uproar? His speech was pure politics. Look up the text.
American Gal
September 8th, 2009
12:53 pm
Since today is the first day of school, I have a pop quiz for you. Who said the following?
“Every time you walk through that classroom door, make it your mission to get a good education. Don’t do it just because your parents, or even the President, tells you. Do it for yourselves. Do it for your future. And while you’re at it, help a little brother or sister to learn, or maybe even Mom or Dad. Let me know how you’re doing. Write me a letter — and I’m serious about this one — write me a letter about ways you can help us achieve our goals.”
Who said it? Even suggested kids TEACH THEIR PARENTS??
Nope, not Obama. GHWB in an October 1991 televised address to our nation’s schoolchildren. http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research/public_papers.php?id=3450&year=1991&month=10
Swami Dave
September 8th, 2009
12:59 pm
Amy White:
a) By your response, I can only assume that you actually thought “Jeb / Liz 2012″ was a legitimate poster. I can only refer you to the repeated stereotypical ravings of the clueless idiot, “Redneck Convert”, in Bookman’s threads for more examples of negative demagoguery by someone unable to apparently make reasoned philosophical defenses of their own ideas. It would be as completely asinine as someone else posting under the pseudonym “Jimmy StewartAve” and making outlandish comments in ebonics about “gubmint cheeeeze”.
In all likelihood, you are arguing against someone who probably holds philosophical beliefs in line with yours, but who lacks even the most basic ability to explain or defend them.
b) To your comment “If it were a white president there would have never been an uproar to Obama speaking to our children.”, I contend that you show much more focus and attention to race than do those whom you oppose. My 7 year old son is not listening to PrezBO today because of his philosophies and his policies. I would opt him out of any occasion where a collectivist (that would be liberal, communist, facist, or socialist) is to be allowed to propogandize. I would also opt him out of any occasion where a thief was being celebrated. Since liberals do with legislation what thieves do with guns, that is doubly reason (collectivist & thief) to prevent that influence.
To your point, if it were a SUPPORTER OF FREEDOM, OPPORTUNITY, AND ACHIEVEMENT, -I- would have had no problem with PrezBO speaking to my son.
-SD
Hillbilly Deluxe
September 8th, 2009
1:03 pm
I don’t agree with Obama on much of anything but I can’t get all worked up over a “stay in school and get an education” speech. Daddy used to give us that speech nearly everyday growing up. He never finished high school and understood the value of an education, probably more so than a lot of people with higher educations.
Azazel
September 8th, 2009
1:11 pm
This our “Blazing Saddles” moment in history (or should I say histrionics) Indeed “The sheriff (president) is …” . The republicans have succeeded in destroying all government by deceit and divisiveness.
American Gal
September 8th, 2009
1:14 pm
Swami Dave posted (to Amy): To your comment “If it were a white president there would have never been an uproar to Obama speaking to our children.”, I contend that you show much more focus and attention to race than do those whom you oppose.
Here’s the thing about sublimation …. usually the person redirecting a latent feeling doesn’t realize it.
Black Like Me
September 8th, 2009
1:15 pm
Swami Dave,
In the words of Bill O’Reily, you sir are a pinhead and an idiot.
Bo Chambliss Lobbyist
September 8th, 2009
1:18 pm
Saxby will be voting for the Cap & Trade, it is full of Ethanol subsidies and we all know how Saxby loves those midwest corn farmers.
LM
September 8th, 2009
1:30 pm
Good heaven people get a grip…education is neither democratic or republican…If the president wants to encourage children to learn he does it as a concerned American. I encourage children to learn every single day, and they don’t give a hoot what party I associate with. Focus your energy on teaching your children how to read, write and spell, encourage them to work hard, and stop spending so much time name calling and tearing down fellow american citizens.
Charly
September 8th, 2009
1:46 pm
I agree, to think that our children have to be subjected to messages like “stay in school”, “work hard”, “don’t give up”, “I believe in you”, etc…
What an outrage!
Worse yet, to think our children have to see someone who, regardless of whether they agree with him or not, has become the President of the United States.
Can you imagine the chaos that would grow if our children were constantly encouraged by successful public figures?
Utter madness I tell you!
I mean why should the government intrude on our lives when we were fine being lazy, remote, fly by night parents to begin with? I don’t need a speech, I’m like the majority of other parents and allow my child the normal 5 hours of TV a day with no physical activity and McDonalds for dinner every night. I haven’t helped them with homework in like 4 years, but doesn’t American Idol teach them everything they need to know?
I can’t believe the audacity of this President!
Thomas J. Waeghe
September 8th, 2009
1:58 pm
How soon they forget: In 1989, President George H.W. Bush gave a 15-minute speech to students on the evils of drug use, then another in October 1991 that urged students to study hard and stay away from drugs.
House Democrats criticized Bush for the 1991 speech and accused the U.S. Department of Education of providing free political advertising to Bush, who was gearing up for his re-election bid the following year.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-obama-speech-b090809,0,3293113.story
I fully support every president speaking often to the children of today’s public and private schools. However, it’s odd that he would emphasize personal responsibility, when all of his and his administration’s actions so far have exempted people for responsibility for their actions: mortgage meltdown after being encouraged to buy what they could not afford, takeover of US Auto companies, make work projects (shovel-ready projects in the Porkulus Bill), etc., etc.
Nzakanzaka
September 8th, 2009
2:15 pm
Amy White, you seem to have misread the postings by “Jeb Bush / Lez Cheney 2012″. He/she is doing an amateurish Stephen Colbert neocon rant. I believe he/she is debunking the right-wing fixation with Obama. Don’t waste your time being too serious with life. That’s the same advice i have for all those who have refused to deal with the fact that Barack Obama won a clear mandate from Americans to be their president. Losing an election should not be reason to wish death on the winner. Democracy is not limited to when we win. The woman who was whimpering on TV about the prospect of Obama speaking to her children is at the height of loathsome fear and hysteria. Only inexplicable hatred could have caused such a torment.
Jeb Bush / Lez Cheney 2012
September 8th, 2009
2:15 pm
Swami Dave – You are a pinko commie. Obama was not even born here, he can’t prove it at all. Where is the placenta? Where is the stained sheet from his conception? There is no cervical or umbillical blood presented as evidence. These minor things are all we need to clear this up. Obama could end this immediately, instead he shames us.
Zion
September 8th, 2009
2:25 pm
Let the right continue with their ignorance, it will lead to their extinction. Then, real Republicans like myself will return the party to sanity and ideas.
CrazyJoe
September 8th, 2009
2:31 pm
I kinda LIKE the crazies in the republican party — just as much as I like the crazies in the democratic party. I’m hoping Americans will finally wake up and form a viable THIRD party — this madness has gone on long enough. Birthers, truthers, etc.; are all just a bunch of crazies who are on the fringe of their respective parties; the real power comes from the people in the middle.
We in the MIDDLE need to unite and form our OWN party; these other two have proven time and time again that they can’t be trusted with American values, money, expertise and management. Our past president lied, cheated, used cronyism and let loose a sadistic madman on the country; and our current one seems to think he has to pander to the crazies that just left! It’s time for a DIFFERENT party — one that really holds America’s PEOPLE’s interest; and NOT the corporations.
Vote Independent.
theawake1
September 8th, 2009
2:33 pm
The fact that people do not want to hear Obama speaking to push students to be the best they can be shows how far down this country has gone. The media has turned a speech meant to inspire into something inane. Why is this even being discussed so heavily? I think we all know why. This country is being controlled by fear. The media tries to keep up fearful everyday. People are letting their fears control them into not thinking and being ignorant. Once you open your mind to realize this you can start seeing things in our country for what they are and are becoming.
TexasGuy
September 8th, 2009
3:03 pm
Obama is the best thing since sliced bread! He is doing a great job to try and clean up the mess from Bush and his Oil Fancy! GO OBAMA GO
Amy White
September 8th, 2009
3:05 pm
From a Principal: …The message behind his speech is all- purpose for children, but it does focus a little more on kids that may not have it easy, kids that will have to push through a lot, to even attend school, let alone learn. The crazy people who are protesting, at least some of them, won’t like that the speech focuses on the underprivileged, lest they be too inspired, and become too “uppity’…I do believe racism is behind it all… I rarely feel things this way, but in my gut, I think the thoughts behind all of this controversy are really very primitive.
Vincenzo35
September 8th, 2009
3:10 pm
The Kenyan Pres speech to the kids turned out quite well. But, let’s get real. It got that way because of the objections raised by conservatives over the associated lesson plan which encouraged children to explore and develop ways to help the pres accomplish his objectives. Had it not been for the hue and cry over the lesson plan, I am convinced that this pres would have presented a vastly different and very parochial speech.
Amy White
September 8th, 2009
3:23 pm
” Listen my children and you shall hear “…
For those of you fortunate enough to learn, through hearing, the message is clear, put aside your ignorance and either educate or allow yourself to be educated.
Education is the basis upon which you will better yourself and brighten your future and the future of both this country and possibly this world.
Open the doors within your mind,
the more you learn, the more you will want to learn.
Your potential is unlimited, ignorance is self destructive, parents, encourage and stimulate their minds,the future needs and depends on this.
No need to approve of the messenger,
It’s the message that’s important.
” Logically Speaking “.
catlady
September 8th, 2009
3:33 pm
I guess some of you have real problems with the WW2 vets speaking to “your children” on Veteran’s Day, or the local Baptist preacher speaking, or the police chief speaking on Career Day, right? Or is it only when Obama speaks?
Bubba Smith
September 8th, 2009
3:37 pm
Keep the President away from our children.
Bring back segregation in schools.
Make Jesus compulsory.
Teach creationism.
Your nation is pathetic.
KZGuy
September 8th, 2009
3:40 pm
Jeb Bush !! Did you say Jeb Bush ? It will be a cold day in GOP land before another Bush is elected anything. He has less of a chance than that retard Palin.
concernedcitizen
September 8th, 2009
3:45 pm
Although to most I may seem like just a tiny, insignificant citizen of this nation, lacking the esteemed political knowledge of most of you who are posting here, but it is very concerning to me as to why many are choosing to not to face such an obvious question we should all ask ourselves: Why is it that so many are living in fear of the direction our Pres is taking us? Again, I may be naiive, but I just can’t remember when there was a time that so many citizens were afraid for our future because of one man. Yes, there has always been Rep and Dem, with undoubted distaste for the victor of the presidency, in every election that I can recall. However, if our Pres invokes fear in so many citizens of this country, then maybe those of you supporting him should ask yourselves “WHY?” Where there’s smoke, there is almost always “FIRE!”
jconservative
September 8th, 2009
4:06 pm
Davo September 8th, 2009 11:52 am
“Kyle please do us the favor of seperating the terms ‘republican’ and ‘conservative’ as they ceased to become synonomous since before Reagan.”
This is correct in my opinion. If you look at every Republican president since Eisenhower all you are see are liberals dressed in Republican clothes. This is why we have a liberal country. We have not had a Conservative president in 50 years.
Otto
September 8th, 2009
4:13 pm
Yes we are tired of both parties. The last president was bad and this one is worse. It has been a downward trend for atleast 30 years.
Michael H. Smith
September 8th, 2009
4:22 pm
I agree Kyle this was one very, very, dumb move on the part of any Republicans or Conservatives (non-republicans) who got involved in this foolish non-sense of trying to make an issue out of Obama speaking to school kids. It was an idiot’s battle just begging for a defeat.
Wise up guys.
Jim's a Cherry Picker
September 8th, 2009
4:50 pm
Hi Kyle,
Nice to see your blog open.
Yeah, the GOP really put foot in mouth on this one. Kudos to your assessment…in general I’d addribute the origins of behviour like this to your buddy Newt and his application of “The Art of War” to American National politics. Nice book, if you’re actually fighting a war.
Basically what it says is that negotiating is for losers…if you want to win a war, there is no room for debate. For debating one’s opponent is tantamount to lending him credibility. What you really want to do is marginalize him, then destroy him, then destroy his family.
Unfortunately, our system of governance really needs debate. But the cat’s out of the bag. No looking back…there’s no reason to debate healthcare because death panels are just a non-starter in my book.
saywhat?
September 8th, 2009
5:03 pm
Funny how the same people protesting the President of the United States giving a speech telling kids to work hard in school, have no problem with a semi-literate professional athlete doing the same thing.
Swami Dave
September 8th, 2009
5:05 pm
Bush / Cheney 2012: Thanks for proving my point.
Black Like Me: I’d be more than willing to take my chances with O’Reily. *smile*
American Gal: I can only present the facts as they are; namely, -my- contention with PrezBO is his philosophy and policies which are (at foundation) wrong and (by historical measurement) an abject failure in every nation at every time that they have been tried. Personally, I care little about his race, but accept that reality that you may or may not choose to believe it.
In the end, I will save myself the time of attempting to make up race-based lists of candidates whom I might support as supposed evidence that I hold no racial bias. Realistically, you already hold a preconcieved notion and there is nothing that I can do to dissuade you of it. I’ll save you the insult and will not even try. You will just have to accept or reject it of your own accord.
-SD
Azazel
September 8th, 2009
5:13 pm
Read your Chomsky and Howard Zinn