Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Obama Education Speech Transcript To Be Available In Advance
Share:
by alia_d | September 4, 2009 at 10:55 am
3950 views | 60 Recommendations | 38 comments
Photos
In the face of criticism from conservative critics, the Obama Administration has announced that it will make the Obama education speech transcript available on Monday in advance of Obama's address to students nationwide on Tuesday at 12 noon EST.
Obama's decision to address students has led to a national debate with some parents saying that they may not send their children to school in fear of a politicized speech. The White House hopes that the decision to make the Obama education speech transcript available hours ahead of time will enable parents to read Obama's education speech in advance and decide whether it is appropriate for their children.
The Obama Administration has also assured the public that the Obama school speech will not be politicized in nature, but send a positive message to students. Obama's education speech will urge students to "take personal responsibility for their own education, to set goals, and to not only stay in school but make the most of it."
Interestingly, former president George H. Bush addressed students via a national speech in 1991 in the face of democratic backlash.
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Crowd Power
QueensHart
boston, USA., United States
alia_d
Vancouver, Canada
Recommendations (60)
Rory Cripps
New Port Richey, Florida, United States
Samir Joshi
Vadodara, Gujarat, India
The_Cynic
Freddy Beach, Where the deer r, Canada
Rhonda J Mangus
North Tonawanda, New York, United States
a211423
Clearlake, California, United States
Phyrillas
Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United StatesQueensHart
boston, USA., United States
Roy C
Vancouver, Washington, United States
Blue Crush
Toronto, Canada
smkovalinsky
New York, New York, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (38)
at 11:04 on September 4th, 2009
The political divide in the US is so large, that this kind of foolishness happens. I think Dems and Repubs need to take a deep breath and look at getting their country united and move on.
at 11:43 on September 4th, 2009
ACP - I will share this with you as you posted the divide is obvious.
But, and I hope upon hope and pray to any God that this does not happen - but Fox and the wingnuts are being driven beyond human comprehension - there will be a child who will be killed who has a button that says anything pro-Obama.
That is how much I see the craziness in the US.
at 12:00 on September 4th, 2009
It truly is reaching that level of insanity, TC.
at 12:15 on September 4th, 2009
I just hope we never get to this point in Canada. I am totally against attacking the other side. I want to see sensible debate without the accusations. Debate policies, if you will, forget characters. Judge the incumbents on the promises they made and what they accomplished. Then be fair in your judgment why it wasn't achieved. In my estimation this constant back and forth and lack of trust for the incumbent becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as you mentioned above.
Don't let Common Sense become so rare, that it is mistaken for genious.
at 12:32 on September 4th, 2009
Cowpoke, it is not the back and forth that is the problem.
It is that there is no voice among those that would be represented or are within the same party as Right Wing extremists, that is within the Republican Party, who will stand up and say that all of the Hitler talk, he's not a citizen, he's a socialist, he's America's worst enemy and all of the rest of it, is untrue and should end.
For fear of loss of the Republican base, which I do hope are truly not as they have been characterized, hour after hour, day after day, Republicans skirt the line of credibility as they remain mum on all of these dangerous and false pronouncements.
The back and forth has to and will continue as some of this stuff that is being allowed to float out there cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged.
at 12:47 on September 4th, 2009
Interestingly enough, it is this same sort of perception of the religious establishment that led many people, my age especially, to be disenchanted with it all.
at 18:10 on September 4th, 2009
Simply not true that there are not many voices with different opinions in the republican party.. Many, if not most republicans, disagree with the "birthers", and, if you read anything by them about them, you will find articles about just that.
The town hall crowds are not angry about the birth certificate but are angry about the deficits, the way the health care bill has been done by Nancy Pelosi and Reid, and the insults that the "Hitlers of the left" heap onto ordinary people.
Obama doesn't know how to lead. He has blown the element of trust. He won't or can't debate the issue of health care which cannot be sold as his biography was sold to the American people.
By the way, with all your firm credentials as someone opposed to Hitler's positions, do you denounce the anti-Semitism of Louis Farrakhan?
And, if you consider the Black Muslims of Elijah Muhammed's day, when Malcolm X was there, do you think that they were "left-wing" anti-Semites or "right-wing" anti-Semites"?
Really, if you believe literally in the Koran, and you believe that God himself has given us commandments not to drink alcohol and not to eat pork, for example, and you oppose all pre-marital and extra-marital sex, how could you possibly be "left-wing"?
Muslims are authoritarian social conservatives and are close to right-wing Christians.
at 18:51 on September 4th, 2009
Roy, I wrote:
It is that there is no voice among those that would be represented or are within the same party as Right Wing extremists, that is within the Republican Party, who will stand up and say that all of the Hitler talk, he's not a citizen, he's a socialist, he's America's worst enemy and all of the rest of it, is untrue and should end.
For fear of loss of the Republican base, which I do hope are truly not as they have been characterized, hour after hour, day after day, Republicans skirt the line of credibility as they remain mum on all of these dangerous and false pronouncements.
This was meant to address the fact that there are no voices in the Republican Party, in any true fashion, speaking and saying that which I have spoken of in my previous comment.
I have no idea what is your seeming obsession with the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X, Farrakhan .... , since you want to bring them up at every other post of yours.
In addition, as for the rest of it, my belief in the Quran, (BTW, I've never spoken of the Quran, the Bible or professed any faith), drinking alcohol, eating pork, pre marital and extra marital sex (????), Roy, I have no idea what in the blue blazes you're talking about or how any of that relates to anything being discussed here.
at 17:29 on September 5th, 2009
Not true. You don't read the voices that exist who say exactly this stuff, from Bill O'Reilly to the Townhall.com crew.
You don't read them. You don't know them. Therefore you stereotype the republicans.
The other point is that your point of view about right-wing extremists lacks the perspective of acknowledging that what you seem to support is very similar to right-wingers' point of view: i.e. authoritarian family structure, the Koran as revealed truth, and the rest in some of your apparent political allies.
In other words, what Malcolm X supported was extreme conservative social points of view, not then so alien to your understanding and Farrakhan continues that today..
at 17:56 on September 5th, 2009
The major leaders and figures in the Republican Party have not stood up and distanced themselves from any of the extreme behavior and talk that has been emanating from the extreme Right Wing of the Party.
When cornered, they tap dance around the issue, with RNC head Michael Steele constantly reversing his stances and opinions on everything.
Roy, as you are not an acquaintance, confidant or friend of mine and as I have not discussed " .... authoritarian family structure, the Koran (sic) as revealed truth, and the rest in some of your apparent political allies", with you or anyone else here, you know nothing of which you speak and I ask that you discontinue making personal assumptions about me.
You have ventured into unknown territory of which you know nothing.
at 16:12 on September 6th, 2009
Please remember not to assume facts about other members and keep the conversation on topic. Thanks.
at 16:39 on September 6th, 2009
[edited]
at 17:47 on September 5th, 2009
Simply not true that there are not many voices with different opinions in the republican party..
This is partially true. There are many voices, but most of them are tending towards the extremity, and there are quite a few that are openly preaching hate.
We want a sane voice, not just a plurality. I have my ear out for that one, even through the shouting and the screaming, but so far nothing heard
at 15:21 on September 4th, 2009
ACP: Thank you for your sensible and level headed comment. Lone voices in the wilderness often cut like a knife through the noise.
Americans have a tendency to allow their emotions to get the better of them when it comes to ideological issues near and dear to their hearts. And Americans are even quite capable of violence and mayhem when they get to the point where they've had enough with the insults no matter what direction the insults come from. The fact that the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution exists allows Americans to express their emotions and even call each other names and apply labels (that often have no basis in reality) to one another. But in spite of all the name calling and hateful speech--on both sides of the American political spectrum--I'm glad that Americans are exercising their right of free speech today more so than they've done since the Vietnam War. Indeed, Americans are now getting a full dose of what their fellow Americans really think in terms of political ideology and what direction America should be headed in.
What Americans think, today, couldn't be any clearer: Millions love President Obama and will blindly follow him to the ends of the earth no matter what his policies are. Millions hate President Obama and will blindly follow, to the ends of the earth, those whose only wish is for President Obama to fail. And then there are millions of Americans whose voices are drowned out by the ideological noise and that only want what's best for their country. The latter primarily consist of "independent" voters. And "independent" voters are the determining factor in who winds up in the White House. At this point, there is a dramatic decline in support for President Obama among "independent" voters.
at 17:49 on September 5th, 2009
Wise words, Rory, wise words
at 17:23 on September 5th, 2009
Or perhaps a child that doesn't have a pro-Obama button on will get his finger bitten off or worse. As far as violence goes, the score is one for the pro Obama team and zero for the anti-Obama team.
Can't we be fair and objective here? It's obvious that there are political ideologues on both sides of the issue. But it's equally obvious that many have legitimate disagreements with President Obama's policies. And because they simply disagree and voice their disagreement they're being painted as wing nuts and crazies. I often wonder how one gets to the point of being so consumed with political ideology that any and all opposing viewpoints are dismissed as lunatic rantings.
The facts are that roughly half the American voters simply don't agree with President Obama's policies. Moreover they don't like many of the personalities that the President has surrounded himself with. And many of these voters are getting tired of being labeled as wing nuts and other ridiculous and absurd labels that have no basis in reality.
at 18:06 on September 4th, 2009
Obama has lost the trust of the independent voters, such as myself. They are against him almost as much as republicans at this point.
What is the purpose of this speech? It has no real purpose in terms of moving America forward. When you have lost the trust of the people with the deficits, badly written legislation and so on, in the vacuum of that loss of trust, people do get paranoid, especially since this speech has no purpose, and Obama does have a cult of personality nascent with ACORN, commie czars in the White House, FCC regulators who think the Chavez is the man and that Freedom of Speech is a "distraction" from the issue of diversity.
Basically, Obama is finished. Next election, it will look like the Japanese parliament with most of the representatives replaced. Especially after the commercial real estate collapse that is about to happen plunges us, once again, into a situation where big bankers will request bailouts and the economy will shrink again.
at 11:24 on September 4th, 2009
This being done, obviously, in the hopes that, once seeing the content of the speech, a collective light bulb will go off and those opposed to the idea of the President delivering a sort of pep talk to the students will suddenly get it.
Let's see how long it takes Right Wing Republicans and conservative extremists to disappoint with increased calls for boycotting the speech, in spite of this effort.
at 12:03 on September 4th, 2009
Looking around my school I think most people could use some motivation. I have never seen so many of my friends care at all about politics before the last election. I believe they are more likely to respond to a man they see as intelligent and capable. He is in a way my generation's Kennedy.
at 12:08 on September 4th, 2009
I agree, Grace, and see no sensible or logical reason for this conspiratorial aversion to this speech.
at 11:42 on September 4th, 2009
On one hand, I hope seeing the content will convince the malcontents of any so-called political intentions; however, it is disconcerting that the President has to convince anyone of his intentions in something as benign as a speech about the values of education. What level of trust is this? Every day Americans send their children to school to be taught and guided by teachers, are we going to question their motivations now?
at 12:13 on September 4th, 2009
I remember when Bush addressed the children this did not happen. I did not get any sort of letter and I was in elementary school at the time. However, today during second period I was given a letter to give to my parents explaining that if they do not want us to watch the broadcast, seperate rooms will be set up.
I am a senior in high school... The only reason they're doing this is because enough parents called the school. If your kid can't think for themselves by this age what the hell are they going to do with their life?
at 12:19 on September 4th, 2009
" .... are we going to question their (teachers) motivations now?"
The answer is yes, A, there are those who will.
As long as there is any department that may have any involvement in education that is in the Obama administration, whomever has been appointed, whomever is on staff, the teachers themselves, will be viewed with a jaundiced eye, their integrity tarnished by association, with maybe seven degrees of separation from President Barack Obama, a president elected with a majority vote of nearly 10 million and 365 electoral votes, 95 votes above the electoral count of the required 270.
at 12:30 on September 4th, 2009
Karen
My daughter is finishing her Master's Degree and credential for elementary school teaching, so this is worrisome to me that teachers' political views can be used this way. Although, she is bit more conservative than I am, she supported Obama all the way. I am going to advise her about being careful with political views among educators.
at 12:37 on September 4th, 2009
we disagree with his policies and his plans for our country. We are not reading anything into his words, he has made it quite clear. i am an American and i have the right to disagree and to campaign against this man. Just as yall did against Bush. The rhetoric really got amped up when yall could not or would not accept the defeat in the election in Florida. We are playing yalls game and getting very good at it. I dont think Obama is a bad man! I just disagree with his policies. and as good Americans should campaign for what they want and against things that they dont want.
at 12:43 on September 4th, 2009
We lived with Bush for eight years and you cannot be tolerant for even eight months?
at 18:06 on September 4th, 2009
eddie hatch:
" i am an American and i have the right to disagree and to campaign against this man. Just as yall did against Bush."
Yes! I may or may not agree with your politics, but I will defend your right of free speech until my last dying breath. Other than America, where else, in the world, are you allowed to say what you mean and mean what you say? The reality is that the writer of this story, along with those that have commented, would have faced either censorship, ostracism, threats, violence, arrest, or even death, had the story and comments been posted anywhere else but Canada and America and, possibly France.
It is becoming increasingly and disturbingly apparent that here, in America, political ideologues have an irrational desire to shut down free speech on the part of those that disagree with their ideology. Most of those ideologues clamor for "democracy". In my opinion, "democracy", out of all forms of government, is the most oppressive because it ultimately leads to mob rule and the expression of total and complete "Social Darwinism" I, personally, would have no problem surviving in a "Social Darwinist" environment. However I prefer to live the comfortable life that I've lived and I hope to do so until my number is up.
at 14:09 on September 5th, 2009
...ostracism, threats, violence, arrest, or even death, had the story and comments been posted anywhere else but Canada and America and, possibly France
You probably need extend the definition. You could include most of Western Europe, even some of Eastern Europe, some of South America, all of Australia and New Zealand, parts of Asia, Israel, parts (less daily sadly) of Africa and I could go on. There are many free nations, thankfully, so I just think that limiting it to Canada, America and possibly France was a little inaccurate
at 16:56 on September 4th, 2009
Obama is a joke. What better of an audience to promote healthcare to than 5th graders. Sure a "public option" is great; just wait until you have to get a job and pay more taxes to pay China back because our deficit is so sky high. This is pediatric propaganda and it is pathetic. There is politics all over this. Obama is showing if all else fails, go to people who can't even vote so they can harass their parents about the public option. Nice way to recruit an army. Too bad they won't be able to vote for him in 3 years.
at 18:36 on September 4th, 2009
relax: I love Chinese food! Especially deep-fried Pigeons!