Obama Under Fire on Message to Students
The right side of the blogosphere is buzzing about next week's presidential speech. Not the address to Congress about health care reform on Wednesday -- the message to America's schoolchildren he'll deliver Tuesday morning.
President Obama's speech on the day many kids start classes this year will urge students to be responsible and stay in school. But some conservatives are up in arms over what they see as an attempt to spread Obama's "socialist ideology," as Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer put it. There's even an online movement encouraging parents to protest by calling in to work sick and keeping their children home from school on Sept. 8.
The White House denies there's anything political about Tuesday's speech, but the government's suggested lesson plans for teachers have been changed because of the conservative criticism. A call for students to write about "what they can do to help the president“ has been cut.
An incident in Utah is also stoking fears about government indoctrination of students.
The principal of an elementary school in Farmington showed this "I Pledge" video at an assembly. It begins with images of President Obama talking about patriotism, hard work and responsibility, followed by celebrities making pledges. Most are apolitical, but in one clip, Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis says, "I pledge to be of service to Barack Obama."
Gayle Ruzicka, president of the Utah Eagle Forum, blasted the video as "radical, leftist propaganda." A school district spokesman says the PTA board picked the video and the principal -- who hadn't seen it before it was shown to kids -- has apologized.

so the video was chosen by the Parent Teacher Association

now I wonder which parents refused to join the Parent Teacher Association and were unable to influence the vote to see the video?

I have not seen a transcript of the speech....


Have you????

Well, the bottom line is that half the country doesn't like/respect Obama. Add to that the fact that it is their right to teach their children as they wish. It is inappropriate for the President to ask schoolchildren how they can help him with ANYTHING. The lesson plan was changed for good reason. There would be a huge backlash from the left if Bush had tried the same thing, don't get all self righteous.

This might be the video.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/i-pledge-video-angers-parents/2046792190

I don't particularly care for Obama. He is a Democrat and expect him to promote Democrat policy and philosophy which I dont agree with

but THIS is a tempest in a teapot. I see no problem with the President of the United States addressing school kids as an attempt to motivate them to excel in school

the rest is all right wing partisan propaganda and hyperbole

Just watched the "I Pledge" video....They want you to pledge to Obama...lol....I think not. I'll pledge to the Flag, not to any President.

What does this video have to do with Tuesday's speech????

It's actually kind of pathetic.
Rational adults aren't buying into his BS. Many poor souls who were seduced by his smooth talkin' and empty promises are waking up now. The religious moral scam didn't fly either.
So, he goes after our kids.

I saw that video on here last night. I plan on showing it to my child. lol

It talks about pledging to recycle, pledging to help others, etc.

Exactly. I don't care if it was Bush doing this and I don't like Bush.

I like seeing children learn about politics but I honestly think that they will be bored with any president's speech.

I have consulted the bones and this is my prophesy:



once he gives this speech to the kids, 99% of the people are gonna say "that was it? all that foofaraw over that?"

but 1% of the people are gonna parse his words and manipulate the context and meaning to find some great government conspiracy in it and we'll have to hear about it for the next 4 and maybe 8 years



mark my words

I have spoken

I haven't seen the video, have heard very little about it (basically, just what you all have written and something my cousin wrote on Facebook). But, whether anyone likes or agrees with him, the fact of the matter is he's our president (please hear me out before you get your undies in a bunch). He is current events, he is government civics, he is history. Therefore, he is an appropriate subject to address kids. Now, if parents don't like his message, they are certainly free (and I encourage them, as I will) to discuss it, make their own views known. Teachers, if they are any kind of teacher, will encourage discussion of what the kids have seen and what kind of message the kids got. They will encourage discussion of opposing viewpoints (probably mostly for older kids but you never know).

Personally, I think the idea is a great idea. It can spark a lot of discussion and can and should be used as a really wonderful teaching tool, both at home AND at school.

technically he's a Fascist...socialism is when the government owns and runs private business...fascism is when the private sector owns the business...but the governement runs it...although...there is an arguement for both sides...

Well said. :)

What does that have to do with a president speaking to children?

it means...I don't listen to or believe ANYTHING any Fascist...reads off a teleprompter...words written by someone else...

Psst......all past presidents used a teleprompter.

Psst.....all presidents have speech writers.

That sounds real good. It would be like me saying that I don't want my child to listen to anything a Republican president would have to say.

I want my child to learn about all Presidents.

I just can't believe what some folks will believe in these days. It's just unbelievable.

for speeches yes...for every fuggin' thing that comes out of your mouth...NO !