'Hey! Obama! Leave them kids alone'

Posted: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:06 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Republicans, Barack Obama

From NBC's Mark Murray
This coming Tuesday, President Obama is set to deliver a speech on education and its importance to students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA.

The speech also will be broadcast on the White House's Web site, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan has encouraged principals across the country to have their students tune in.

Yet somehow, the chairman of the Florida Republican Party, Jim Greer, believes Obama's speech as a platform "to spread" his "socialist ideology."

Says Greer: "As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology. The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, 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 beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power."

More: "While I support educating our children to respect both the office of the American President and the value of community service, I do not support using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda. The address scheduled for September 8, 2009, does not allow for healthy debate on the President's agenda, but rather obligates the youngest children in our public school system to agree with our President's initiatives or be ostracized by their teachers and classmates."

Has the state of our political discourse devolved to the point where a president's speech about the importance of education gets called a socialist power grab?

*** UPDATE *** We just spoke with Florida Republican Party spokeswoman Katie Gordon, who said that Greer's concern is the recommended lesson plan from Education Secretary Arne Duncan. One example for pre-K to 6th graders: "As students listen to the speech, they could think about the following: What is the President trying to tell me? What is the President asking me to do? What new ideas and actions is the President challenging me to think about?"

Gordon tells First Read that the Florida GOP believes that students should be taught to respect the office of the presidency. Its beef, she said, is that parents should be able to decide whether their children should be allowed to participate in this kind of discussion.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Okay conservative posters . . . time to choose sides . . . are you with this crazy dude or are you with America?

Time to stand up and be counted.

Republicans keep spinning, and America is getting dizzy (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:12 PM)

The indoctrination continues.

Nate W (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:14 PM)

Yes, just as it has devolved to the point where people who disagree with President Obama's agenda are immediately labeled as racists.

Jill F., Tulsa, OK (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:14 PM)

Educated people are referred to as "elite". What is that supposed to mean anyway? That people in America are against education?

What is wrong with people in this country? Where is their sense of pride? Where is their willingness to challenge themselves?

If they want to stay ignorant all their lives, fine. But don't ridicule those who want an education.

People should be embracing it. There is so much out there to learn about the world.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:17 PM)

Our kids have more important things to do then listen to the blowhard Obama. They need to learn to read, write, and do arithmetic. And, if they live in Chicago, they have to learn how to lock and load, along with duck and cover.

Meeley, Indiana (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:17 PM)

Has the state of our political discourse degenerated to the point that we accuse president's of attempting to indoctrinate students to heir political beliefs?

You bet they have.

Can you imagine the hue and cry had Bush made this kind of attempt?

And who would have been braying the loudest? Why, the mainstream media!!

Please. spare the crocodile tears when the machine you set in motion mows down the candidate of your choice.

no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:17 PM)

How is he going to feel when he gets the lowest attendance rate in elementary schools since 9/12. I dont think this is going to work in his favor. My son already had a doctors appointment scheduled for that day. I can probably have him catch the highlights on cable tv.

No Thanks (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:17 PM)

Political discourse has hit an all time low. when I was a school age child, there were numerous times that our teachers / principals would have the student body watch a presidential address. In fact, I can remember every president since Reagan on my TV at school. I never dreamed we were a country that would not want our children to watch a presidential address.

The shameless partisan gamesmanship is becoming underwhelming.

Ted, Mid Michigan (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:18 PM)

Well, when the Nielsen ratings show that any given weeknight from 7-10 p.m. ages 18-49 and 55+, 2.2 million watch FoxNews, 900,000+ MSNBC and 800,000+ CNN, it is no wonder the president's poll numbers are down. That coupled with the tea baggers and town hallers is proof of the ignorance and "dumbing down" of the population. I, for the life of me, cannot understand why people watch and listen to the right wing media hogs...and believe them. What is going on?

LB in FL (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:18 PM)

Take a look at the agenda for Obama's speech to the heads full of mush. Ridiculous.

RL - Cape Girardeau (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:19 PM)

Question? The senators and the reps all have a free health care - government run. So why can't we have the same but not free, affordable? Have you heard any of them complain about their health care? I haven't.

Also do any of you people research facts? There is many fact checks on factcheck.org that shows all the health care myths out there and debunks most of them. There is also mistakes by Obama on that too.

Why should we listen to MSM when the real facts are listed there?

I want AFFORDABLE health care like government employees!! (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:19 PM)

Mark Murray, how do YOU KNOW that his speech will ONLY emphasize the importance of education? Aren't you supposed to REPORT (what actually happened) and not Project (what WILL ACTUALLY happen)? We know Pres Obama believes strongly in community organizing and getting young people actively involved and that involvement (whether thru ACORN or others) overwhelmingly is tilted liberal. Pres Obama is a follower of Saul Alinsky who also emphasize reaching the youth with their philosophies. Pres Obama also was known to rave about Bill Ayer's books and ideas about education. Ayers himself went to Venezuela and raved with praise about the Venezuelan education system (championed by the dictator Chavez) which AGAIN emphasizes reaching their kids at a young age and getting them involved in what THEY (the gov't) deem important. So PlEASE don't condescendingly accuse those who oppose this idea of him speaking directly to our kids as being paranoid or anatagonistic. There's a reason why other presidents did NOT do this--it's not their job. We can respect the presidency and still NOT want that position or person lecturing our kids. And in the case of Pres Obama, most of us are already very tired and leary of his lecturing--it's empty and hyporcritical.

To Mark Murray..... (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:19 PM)

Mr. Greer seems to be lost somewhere in the Twilight Zone. President Obama is a mainstream, free-market capitalist politician with a liberal leaning. This is not a take-over of government by radicals. If there were radicals, they were in the administration of President GW Bush, whose war, combined with tax cuts, put the country into the current financial bind. If President Obama had not favored some government intervention into the auto industry, there would not be an American auto industry. If President Bush had not initiated the bank bailout and stimulus package last September, those school children in Florida might be worried about far more than whether they are hearing "propaganda." When the chair of the Republican party in a state has lost a sense of proportion, of pragmatism, and of common sense, the party is in deep trouble.

let it be (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:20 PM)

I guess Obama is not happy unless he's wearing makeup, staring into a camera, and reading a teleprompter. Mostly, it's the makeup though.

TJ Sutton (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:21 PM)

Parents take charge and educate your children at home as to the issues involved. Inform any/all school administrations that you forbid them to force your children to listen to some 1984 diatribe from the communist-in-chief...and follow it up with a letter from your attorney of the consequences for any school administration who violates your choice.

Our children, our responsibility (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:22 PM)

While I support educating our children to respect both the office of the American President and the value of community service, I do not support using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda.

So Greer - how would you feel if it was a Republican President talking about his conservative propaganda??

SAM, USA (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:22 PM)

This negative comments by Republicans about President Obama's education talk is sheer nasty mouthing about nothing. How long will it take the American Electorate to tune-out Republican mutterings as meaningless dribble and vote them out of office?

Mike Groshong, McMinnville, Or (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:22 PM)

Greer's goal is to have children grow up without an education, so that they can one day become loyal Republicans.

andy (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:24 PM)

More proof that the GOP is irrelevant and completely out of touch. They wouldn't know the definition of socialism, much less recognize a socialist if they bit them in the butt. This crew would rather pipe in the all knowing and wise party leader, Rush Limpballs. I say return Florida to the Cubans so they can begin to learn about socialist communist theory gone bad.

griff, seattle (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:24 PM)

republikans don't need none of that fancy book learnin'.

tom, nyc (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:24 PM)

Per DailyKos:
Here is the email being sent:
Word is traveling fast on the internet, between bloggers and twitter, the choice is clear : No school for kids on September 8th due to the beginning of Socialist Indoctrination of Americas children.
Keep your kids home September 8th
2009 September 1
by DanaLoesch
Take a day of vacation. Go to the zoo. Anything that would save your offspring from what I will bluntly say is just the quasi-fellating the executive branch. That cackling over a bubbling cauldron you hear is the NEA rejoicing.
Picture 4
President Obama’s Address to Students Across America September 8, 2009
I wouldn’t have such a problem with the Department of Education were this presented in a non-Orwellian fashion. Oh yes, it is, as the lesson plan directs, to listen to what t he president, the mayor, et al. says, to respect their "authoritah" </Cartman>, but there is no emphasis in here on why the president and other elected officials should listen to US. The focus is solely on authority. There is no consideration given to the authority of the American people. That’s what concerns me.
There is this mindset that those in Washington are the "elite," that we should mind our Ps and Qs and blindly follow their directives. That’s not the manner of governance upon which this country was founded – it is quite the opposite; even the hobbyist Constitutional aficionado appreciates this.
So yes, keep your kids home on September 8th and teach them that the power of America rests in the hands of its people, no one else.

NOTE TO OBAMA :

LEAVE OUR KIDS ALONE !!!!

Funny thing is, you didn't hear a peep from these nutjobs when the first President Bush delivered a 15 minute speech to the nation's classrooms on the importance of avoiding drugs. You didn't see any of them blowing a gasket when teachers were supplied with guides to help student's interpret President Reagan's Challenger Speech. And you certainly didn't see Democrats pulling their kids out of school over either of those events

Indy in PA (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:24 PM)

"The President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning. He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens." ~Arne Duncan (from his letter to principals.

ooooooooh so socialist.

#1 this is an invitation, no one is forcing anyone

#2 I wish the president would of identified with us when I was in grade school and beyond. Instead he was busy builing "Star Wars".

#3 The only details on what the president is going to cover is listed in the quote above, so what's with the assumptions you low life, pompous, rhetoric spewing, P.O.S. pr*ck.

Get a life and get back to work Greer...

Greg P. NW Indiana (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:25 PM)

Florida Republican Party, Jim Greer, IS NUTS, for years presidents have had photo ops with school children to either talk about the dangers of drug use, or the importants of reading or what ever, this nut job thinks the president of the united states, leader of the free world would use kids to further his as he said socialist ideology. i guess reagan, bush, clinton, bush were doing the same thing. i guess barbra and nancy were reading to school kids to further there husbands adjenda. i guess george bush on the morning of 911 was at that school to for a photo op to let binladen fly plans in to those buildings. this guy it completely nuts. and this whole thing is getting sickening!!!!
it may be me but since the president is a black man any thing he does must have a hidden adjenda behind it!!! next if the president has doggie day at the white house the nut jobs out there will say he is promoting dog fighting!!!!

Jeff Westmont IL (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:26 PM)

FR--Yet somehow, the chairman of the Florida Republican Party, Jim Greer, believes Obama's speech as a platform "to spread" his "socialist ideology."
---------------------------------------------------

This is a sick old racist SOB that needs to be horse whipped. If he feels like this, then it further explains what the Republican Party truly is. Every elected official that is a member of this party and have taken part in the race baiting in August during recess need to be expelled from office.

I think that it would be an excellent idea to start a national petition to get rid of every one of them. They are an embarrassment to this Nation and a threat to it’s National Security.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:26 PM)

What an ass. A simple speech to children about the importance of education and this clown turns it into something politcal. It just proves the point that no matter what the President does, GOP ignorance will be on display. Obviously, this guy should be listening about the importance of education.

And why does the media feel the need to disclose all the idiotic, asinine things these Republicans say. Your little rebuttal at the end does nothing to counteract the stupidty of what he said. This is why their message gets across so well. Urgh!!!!

Joi G., The Sunshine State (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:26 PM)

Response "To Mark Murray": We'll obviously be covering the speech here in First Read next week. If the subject is not on education -- and is instead about socialism -- we'll definitely report that.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Mark Murray (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:29 PM)

The problem people like this guy have with education is that the more educated we get, the more realize the Republican party is a bunch of bible thumping racist idiots!

pat huntington ny (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:29 PM)

Hey, Birthers and Deathers, be sure to listen up!

READING is FUNDAMENTAL! Get hooked on phonics!

Ed,San Antonio (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:31 PM)

WHAT DRIVEL, BULLSH** AND UTTER NONSENSE!
Makes me wonder where this guy was educated. What a tiny pea brain he has! I almost want to vomit!
Does he have no common decency? Furthermore, getting people all up in arms over such a non-event is like the boy calling wolf. They will not recognize the real thing when it happens. Come to think of it.... it is this kind of republican BS that sounds like a Nazi diatribe to me! Pure Nazi-like propaganda!!!! VERY SCARY!

Judy in AZ (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:31 PM)

As a conservative who has been royally pissed off at the education establishment for using public schools to brainwash my kids with liberal propaganda, I completely agree. Parents should have the right to teach their children political thought without their children being force-fed bias liberal bullcrap from the biased bedwetting douchebags in our public schools. Keep your BS to yourself Obama (that goes for you, too, Al "You Know More Than Your Parents, Kids" Gore!).

I don't pay taxes to support this kind of public education -- you give the little socialist president what he deserves, Greer!

Greg in WA (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:33 PM)

I've called my childs school about this. They aren't carrying The Obama Show. The kids have more important things to do the school admin said. Like go to recess.

Linda Hughs, Davenport, IA (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:34 PM)

This guy is kidding, right? The president is going to make a speech to high school students about public service. I am certain it will be appropriate and inspiring.

Have they finally gone off the deep end. When will it end? When will the insanity end........

By the way, I wonder why this idiot thinks its okay for me to pay pay for his four kids to attend school. As an American with no children, I pay for those four kids to attend school. Oh, but I guess that socialist handout is okay, right? How about he and everyone else who opposes socialism just pay for their kid's education themselves. I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to send other people's kids, kids they CHOSE to have, to school. How is an education a right but not healthcare?

This guy is a fool.

Oh, and Bill from Fairfax, your analogy comparing homeowner's insurance and auto insurance to health care insurance is completely ludicrous. Your health is not a commodity, like a car or home, or a pair of shoes or handbag for that matter. You don't choose to get sick.

My hope is the democrats pass legislation that results in the ability of all Americans to afford decent quality healthcare. That legislation will include a public option. Like every other important legislation that improved the lives of lower and middle class Americans, fought against tooth and nail by the republicans, health care insurance reform will pass and become extremely popular. The republicans will not only be as irrelevant as they are now, it should result in a complete implosion.

Lincoln Mitchell's column is right on.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lincoln-mitchell/who-will-be-hurt-if-the-d_b_274902.html

GS, PA (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:35 PM)

Like we needed another reason to get the federal government out of the Education business.

Danial, Dallas Tx (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:35 PM)

Our children, our responsibility, are you smart enough to AFFORD a lawyer?

Auntie Fascist (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:36 PM)

To Mark Murray,

Thanks for the reply. I do appreciate it and am glad you guys will cover the speech. However I must ask, can we trust MSNBC to really "cover" it? After all, MSNBC takes the time to do condescending posts about Sarah Palin (in Runners Magazine and vanity fair) which have Nothing to do with politics or our country's key issues and yet FAILS to post anything about Howard Deans' recent comments at a town hall admitting Dems won't take on trial lawyeres with tort reform because they don't want a fight (i.e. they receive too much money from lawyers and don't want to upset them). A month or so ago, two liberal leaning journalists (Helen Thomas and Chip Reid) drilled Robert Gibbs about the Obama adminstration's controlling of town hall meetings and press conferences. The elderly Mrs Thomas said "it's the worst I've seen in my entire career (40+ years of reporting). Again, not a peep from First REad. If that had been about the BUsh Admin, you would've had multiple postings about it. And only recently do you finally report anything about Mr Rangel's ethics issues and the long, drawn out "investigation" lead by Ms Pelosi. So, in conclusion, I'm glad you'll cover the school lecture, but please excuse me for being a little reluctant to believe it will be objective. BUt I do thank you for replying....

To Mark Murray (again) (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:39 PM)

Yeah having crazy religious based education forced down our childrens throat is so much more enlightened eh rightwingnuts?

Notice how the kooky intelligent design nonsense went by the wayside when republicans lost power?

Rick, NC (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:42 PM)

Instead of watching the prez the schools can teach UNIntelligent Design.

kirsch59,salem,ct (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:42 PM)

This is nothing. Obama gave the same lesson to his cabinet members. Look at the questions: "As cabinet members listen to the speech, they could think about the following: What is the President trying to tell me? What is the President asking me to do? What new ideas and actions is the President challenging me to think about?"

See? Just repackaged stuff.

Lenny (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:51 PM)

No Jo, No Bo:

What is wrong with you? What that idiot said is ignorant. Plain and simple.

Joi G., The Sunshine State (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:51 PM)

Bush did the same thing and none of these Republicans were outraged or accusing him of indoctrinating children.

Keith, Springfield, MO (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:52 PM)

Maybe the Republicans would be OK with the president reading "My Pet Goat" to the kiddies.

Houston (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:53 PM)

Has the state of our political discourse devolved to the point where a president's speech about the importance of education gets called a socialist power grab? From NBC's Mark Murray

Mark,
What planet have you been living on? Of course the current state of our political discourse has devolved to this point. Don't you even pay attention to your own broadcasts any longer. The blatant disrespect the GOP spews towards our President daily and the outright ignorance of the un/under/non informed public allows them to get away with it; and the media just encourages more of the same for "ratings" sake.
This "ranting whine" would never have entered this dimwit Jim Greers mind had this speech been scheduled by a Rethugliklan President. The only thing these @@sholes are interested in or motivated to act on is stopping anything President Obama wants to do for the country. The sooner we all realize this and accept it, the sooner we can move on and change our country for the better without them.

Chris, Dorr, MI (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:54 PM)

Reponse to "To Mark Murray (again)": Thanks again for the reply. If you'd like, we'll try to remember to post the entirety of Obama's speech on Tuesday.

We do our best every day -- especially in First Thoughts -- to provide commentary on all political issues out there. And I can tell you from reading the comments here that our liberal posters aren't often happy with what we right. We try to be as fair as possible.

We never saw the stuff on Dean, but did report on the controversy surrounding that planted HuffPo questioner at that WH press conference a few months back.

Also, we've written about Rangel four times this week -- in First Thoughts on Monday, First Thoughts today, in our Congress section today, and in a separate post about an hour ago.

Again, thanks for reading and commenting.

Mark Murray (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:56 PM)

Let your children attend, pay attention and understand what is being stated. It will make more sense to them as the get older and understand that this president, and his specially appointed advisors, actually did all thye could to alter the constitution and go against the American people. This will aid our country far more in future generations to recognize liberal elitist that want nothing but power and control over everyone.

Mark ballard (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:56 PM)

And people thought it was just people blowing smoke about how politician's of the south want to keep there base under=educated.Wonder no more,Greer is trying to do the republiklan dance on there brains,while 99% of the country gets the whole education thing,the rebels just don;t seem to understand,they would rather be duped,and scooped then educated.Being stupid is like a badge of honor to these folks.Where is the department of education,why are these states education dept heads still working if there not trying to teach our children to be better prepared for the rest of there lifes.See folks these kids are going to have to use there brains one day and if there is nothing to draw from they will become what there for-fathers were.scared to death of the government,scared of Colored folks,scared of there shadow,and only feel brave when they have there gun strapped to there side.Maybe the pulpit people should give a sermon about fear being the work of the devil.He seems to have a hold of the south.

jesse St Paul MN (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:56 PM)

I don't even know what to say about such monumental ignorance. I can only imagine that stuff will hit the fan here where I live and teach. Some of the people I work with took issue with me showing the inauguration last year so when parents hear that we've been told to show the President's speech, it won't be pretty. I should change my name to Last Liberal in Lumberton.

Champ, Lumberton, TX (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:56 PM)

Maybe Obama should instead sit down and stammer out a few passages from a reading book, and then sit there in indecision for 11 minutes like Bush did - just to show them what an idiot looks like.

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:57 PM)

Our Children sez:"Parents take charge and educate your children at home"

So, do you understand quantum physics, physical chemistry, and microbiology well enough to educate your children at home? Or do you believe that these disciplines are part of a left wing, communist conspiracy to indoctrinate children.

Chris, Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:58 PM)

From the looks of some of the posts here it would be safe to say that people are "nuts" and that all is lost, but at least there is nothing left worth saving.

MK,MO (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 2:59 PM)

These are the same people who had no problem with us lying to our kids about the Iraq war and WMDs, who had no problem pushing his neocon agenda on our children, or digging into our wallets by borrowing from the Chinese to pay for that war. Now they are patriots? Now they don't want the president to even be allowed to speak to school children for fear of propaganda of a liberal socialist movement? Who are these nutty people and why do they keep following me?

Mike Lawson, Nashville, TN (Sent Wednesday, September 02, 2009 3:01 PM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=2050250