Should the president be able to address school children

[solemnclockwork]

Originally Posted by pumpum

You know what? id like to agree with you but im just not so sure! on one hand it would make sense to say that the right is shrinking, yes maybe because at the end of the day teh country just voted a black democrat for president, however this action may be more complex than just voting for party lines.

BUT !!

Look at the amount of people going mental over obamas helathcare plan ? its not just a few is it? so i dont know if i believe that the right is shrinking, ill tell you one thing though i F****** hope so !

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Originally Posted by MMM

I never called you a "Bad American" and I don't think you are a "Bad American" so please, stop putting words in my mouth. I would never tell someone they need to believe the way I do, but even you aren't answering my question.

The president has 1000 things to do in a day. This simplistic idea that any minute he is not spending on health care is a complete waste of time is silly. (We are also at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, remember).

And to say spending 10 minutes addressing the nation's youth about staying in school is a waste of time also seems silly to me. (Silly. Not you are a "Bad American. Just silly. If that is too insulting to you, then your skin is too thin.)

I think spending 10 minutes of the president's time to tell the nation's youth to stay in school is not only not a waste of time, but is probably the best use of his time.

CAN you STOP simplifying this? I have repeatably said to you, constantly that it is NOT about every waking minute he has to be on health care. I WOULD expect you to know that is not the question here. BY extension how is what I think silly, I provided backup to my reasons wither you agree or not? Iraq and Afghanistan (he's not the commander on the ground is he?) have no bearing on this.

DUDE, I HAVE SAID THE CHILDREN TO ME IS NOT THE ISSUE, IT'S NOT ABOUT IT BEING A BAD/GOOD THING HERE (I have said it also would be a success if he inspires one child if not more) I HAVE ALSO STATED THAT, if there was no pressing concern then there wouldn't be a problem with it. Don't be smug, and please this time read what I write so I don't have to keep repeating it. On the surface I believe right now he could be focused on working on health care, while also if he does inspire a child then it was a success. It's not a black and white issue with me, don't make it into one.

At the base of inspiring children to do good is great and good, I'm not debating that. What I was questioning is whither this is the right time to focus on that. Health care reform or whatnot will be a huge effect on there lives in the future.

Quotes from me.

Let me also say this, if there wasn't a concern right now such as health care, I wouldn't be having a problem with it

MMM, Again I was not nitpicking how many hours he chooses to spend on anything, but his focus! If it was a non-argument then there wouldn't be any controversy. Just because you see one side, doesn't mean there is not another side to be seen. I would say the exact same thing for elderly and vets, why would you think I wouldn't (you use the words anyone so it does apply to me)? IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE CHILDREN, can you please stop with this.

Simply put, in a way there are more pressing concerns right now then giving a speech, which could be given at a later date, while also putting the focus on education.

You have still not explained why the most important and highest official in our nation should NOT address our nation's children as to why they should stay in school.

As I child I was taught that even if we didn't like the policies of our president, we should respect him for the position he has earned. That level of respect has continuously been maintained for decades all up until January 20, 2009.

Suddenly people that respected the office of the president of the United States of America treat it as important as the winner of American Idol. The respect is gone. The trust is gone. And it's not because of 8 years of George W Bush.

What a sad statement for America if that is really true.


That is a very strong insulation that everyone who thinks that the President (for whatever reason) should not speak to the schools, is a Bad American. If you don't want people walking away with that idea, perhaps a less black-white approach is necessary.

[wizard1231]

Originally Posted by YukisUke

I just wish America would just stop being so judgemental about the man. Ever since the inaugeration, he's had an invisible camera on him the whole time watching his as well as his family's every move. That's not the way it should be. I just can't take this anymore. And now the people are losing confidence in him. For what? What did he do to have the people lose confidence in him?

I have wondered the same thing. What did he do to have people lose confidence in him. I admit that the economy has been slow to recover and maybe not all the results we want to see have happened yet. But the guy is a total multitasker and he is trying to do a ton of things at once. If he is sitting around doing nothing, then we have a problem.

[Ryzorian]

Look folks, it wasn't the speech that bothered most people, it was that questionare thingy. The president going "staying in school is cool" is just photo op fluff that all presidents have done, big woop. Now yes, haveing it shiped to all schools across the country has shades of Orwellian big brotherism, but lets not believe Obama is bringing about "Animal farm" just yet. Afterall Bush senior did the same thing in 91, and yes, democrats complained about it then and the end of the world didn't happen.

However, it doesn't mean people shouldn't keep a distrustful eye on government. That's American tradition historically, Like Understanding America 101. NEVER TRUST THE GOVERNMENT. It doesn't matter who's in office, reguardless of party. The overall bulk of the government just gets bigger and more intrusive, that's just bad all around.

As for Government controled health care and why I basically oppose it, my answer is simple. Fema...Am Trak, Postal Service, Welfare system, Haliburton, Public Schools and dozens of other side show attractions that would make Michal Myers scream in terror.

The bigger something gets, the more slowly it tends to move, the more power it takes to move it and the harder it is to stop once it does get moveing. Titanic was considered unsinkable because of it's technology and it's size...we all know how that turned out.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by solemnclockwork

CAN you STOP simplifying this? I have repeatably said to you, constantly that it is NOT about every waking minute he has to be on health care. I WOULD expect you to know that is not the question here. BY extension how is what I think silly, I provided backup to my reasons wither you agree or not? Iraq and Afghanistan (he's not the commander on the ground is he?) have no bearing on this.

DUDE, I HAVE SAID THE CHILDREN TO ME IS NOT THE ISSUE, IT'S NOT ABOUT IT BEING A BAD/GOOD THING HERE (I have said it also would be a success if he inspires one child if not more) I HAVE ALSO STATED THAT, if there was no pressing concern then there wouldn't be a problem with it. Don't be smug, and please this time read what I write so I don't have to keep repeating it. On the surface I believe right now he could be focused on working on health care, while also if he does inspire a child then it was a success. It's not a black and white issue with me, don't make it into one.

At the base of inspiring children to do good is great and good, I'm not debating that. What I was questioning is whither this is the right time to focus on that. Health care reform or whatnot will be a huge effect on there lives in the future.

It is the start of the school year. When is a better time to encourage children and young adults to learn? At the end of the school year is a little late.

I can't add anything more to this without repeating myself.

Best to the president on Tuesday, and I feel sorry for the children that are not allowed to hear what he has to say to them.

[Aniki]

Originally Posted by samurai007

You don't know that's what the speech was to be about, because the President REFUSED to release a copy of the speech ahead of time. And the homework that WAS released ahead of time didn't say "How will you stay in school and study hard", it said "How will you help President Obama?" THAT, combined with his "obama-youth" notions that he talked about during the campaign, and the indoctrination of children in leftist policies advocated by the school board he and Bill Ayers were on together back in Chicago JUSTIFIABLY worried a lot of parents. Anyone who wasn't worried wasn't paying attention or has already guzzled the Obama Kool-aid. Now he's backpedaling, changing the homework, and likely sanitizing the speech that once went along with the original homework.

Here's something that should clear your doubt about that "How will you help President Obama?" question...and if that won't help...nothing will.


As one of the preparatory materials for teachers provided by the Department of Education, students had been asked to, "Write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president. “

Today, after Republicans accused the White House of trying to indoctrinate school children with liberal propaganda the White House and the Department of Education changed the section to now read, "Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short‐term and long‐term education goals.”

“We changed it to clarify the language so the intent is clear,” said White House Spokesman Tommy Vietor.

The idea, Vietor said, was that students should think of how they could help the President in terms of reducing the national dropout rate.

Yesterday, the Florida Republican Party sent out a press release portraying the address as more of a policy speech rather than a specific educational address to children. The White House says that’s not true and there is no evidence that the President intend to discuss any policies

WH, Dept of Education Revise Language on Students Outlining How they Can “Help the President"

[samurai007]

Originally Posted by Ryzorian

Look folks, it wasn't the speech that bothered most people, it was that questionare thingy. The president going "staying in school is cool" is just photo op fluff that all presidents have done, big woop. Now yes, haveing it shiped to all schools across the country has shades of Orwellian big brotherism, but lets not believe Obama is bringing about "Animal farm" just yet. Afterall Bush senior did the same thing in 91, and yes, democrats complained about it then and the end of the world didn't happen.

However, it doesn't mean people shouldn't keep a distrustful eye on government. That's American tradition historically, Like Understanding America 101. NEVER TRUST THE GOVERNMENT. It doesn't matter who's in office, reguardless of party. The overall bulk of the government just gets bigger and more intrusive, that's just bad all around.

As for Government controled health care and why I basically oppose it, my answer is simple. Fema...Am Trak, Postal Service, Welfare system, Haliburton, Public Schools and dozens of other side show attractions that would make Michal Myers scream in terror.

The bigger something gets, the more slowly it tends to move, the more power it takes to move it and the harder it is to stop once it does get moveing. Titanic was considered unsinkable because of it's technology and it's size...we all know how that turned out.

To clarify, the speech has not been released to the public, that's why it didn't bother anyone directly. The questionnaire was released because it had to be delivered to schools ahead of time, and it presumably related to what was to be said in the speech. It was that tiny window into the speech that set people off, and caused them to change things.

[Ryzorian]

People are the same anywhere, it doesn't take much to set them off. I guess that's one trait we share as a species with Killer bees.

[YukisUke]

Originally Posted by wizard1231

I have wondered the same thing. What did he do to have people lose confidence in him. I admit that the economy has been slow to recover and maybe not all the results we want to see have happened yet. But the guy is a total multitasker and he is trying to do a ton of things at once. If he is sitting around doing nothing, then we have a problem.

I can say for a fact that he's working his butt off. He's doing everything he can to get America back on his feet. I just wish people would stop rushing him and judging his decisions.

[Kenpachi11]

Originally Posted by MMM

Next week the US president is planning on addressing all of the nation's school children in a televised address to encourage them to keep up with their studies and stay in school.

Extreme right-wing conservatives are calling this an opportunity for the president to indoctrinate and brainwash America's children with socialist ideals.

What do you think?

What i find funny is that the people who skipped school and wont be able to see it is the ones that need it most.

[burkhartdesu]

Originally Posted by YukisUke

I can say for a fact that he's working his butt off. He's doing everything he can to get America back on his feet. I just wish people would stop rushing him and judging his decisions.

Obama's on vacation, but the healthcare debate isn't -- latimes.com