Michelle Obama scraps graduation speech

[Rose Siding]

Source: The Hill

First lady Michelle Obama is scrapping her plans to deliver a graduation speech for high school seniors in Topeka, Kan., after hundreds signed a petition in protest.

More than 1,750 people had signed a petition protesting the first lady's appearance at the graduation ceremony, angered that security concerns would limit the number of friends and family who could attend.

...

Instead of delivering a graduation speech, Obama will be at the school the day before graduation, and will deliver remarks at a "Senior Recognition Day.".....

"The remarks will celebrate the achievements of the graduating class of high school seniors in Topeka, home of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year," the White House said in a statement.




Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/204285-michelle-obama-scraps-graduation-speech-after-protests

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An elegant and gracious solution to a ridiculous controversy. We got 6 tickets to my daughters' graduations and I don't even remember who spoke.

[JoePhilly]

1. Maybe they'll ask Cliven Bundy to replace her ... dopes.

[Rose Siding]

2. Judging by the comments at the article you are correct.

samples:

"Victory!!! 2014, the year Americans take America back!"

and

"Wnder how many signatures we need to get Mooches' husband to step down and resign for crimes against humanity, illegal executive actions, unconstitutional appointments, obstructing mmigration law, inciting employers to break the law under the WARN act, failing to meet the constraints of the war powers act, illegally legislating from the executive branch, etc?"

[JoePhilly]

3. YUP ... didn't even have to look to know what would be there. nt

[louis-t]

7. Crimes against humanity.....crimes against humanity.....

There just aren't any words do describe the stupid in these people. I doubt this person knows anything about the War Powers Act, the WARN Act, executive powers, etc. This person is repeating something they heard on hate radio.

[Demit]

4. They'll feel pretty stupid 20 yrs from now. They could've boasted they had a First Lady as speaker.

[George II]

5. How many guests would each have had anyway?

My high school graduation was held in Carnegie Hall (yes, THE Carnegie Hall) and there were no overwhelming requests for tickets. My parents were all that went to it to see me graduate.

Screw them - they're upset because there aren't enough seats? Now the place will probably be half-empty.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

14. I don't know about that...

Where I live, we don't have any extended family in town (or even close by). But we still had four people for my daughter's graduation a couple of years ago. Had any number of aunts, uncles or cousins lived in town and wanted to attend, we would have had to institute some sort of lottery.

[OnlinePoker]

25. My graduating class had 374 students in 1980

We filled a 3000 seat arena to capacity.

[Robbins]

6. well

I guess they don't want a black speaker there.

[uppityperson]

11. well....

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. They're on it!

[uppityperson]

16. I love Sid's graphic he made. Yay for the new team!

[greatauntoftriplets]

17. Yes, that's very clever.

Tried to start a thread on this. Whoops. Sent a PM instead

[uppityperson]

18. my last failed alert got me. It will take a bit to remember we can't deal with it directly

[greatauntoftriplets]

20. I keep trying to go back to MIRT and end up in Hosts.

[uppityperson]

21. heh, I just went to latest page, hovered over the red envelope and couldn't find Hosts

funny how we get into habits.

[greatauntoftriplets]

22. And old habits die hard.

[merrily]

9. I wish she still could have addressed whoever wanted to listen at a

separate event, in a large venue. That way, there would have been no issue about someone not getting to see a loved one handed a diploma and the kids still could still have had a very memorable speaker.

[7962]

30. She is speaking the day before, so they still can go see her. nt

[merrily]

31. Great. Thanks.

[cbdo2007]

10. Wow, did anyone even read the story?? It was a space issue, lol.

[COLGATE4]

15. Yeah. I guess six tickets per kid was

just not enough.

[Beaverhausen]

23. sure it was

please give me a break. Graduations have tickets limits these days. It had nothing to do with space.

[cbdo2007]

27. That was the problem, ticket limits. LOL

wow, DU is really slipping if this is the kind of thing we're getting worked up about.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

13. I guess we have a most gracious first lady

and she knows how to get around a problem . Speaking to the students directly is what is of high importance and that is just what she will do. After all the graduates are the first priority .Better the parents are not in attendance, It's all in how you see it, or don't see it. The way I see it, the first lady is also a sharp lady, meaning wise.

[1000words]

24. Gracious, indeed.

[olddad56]

19. Its Kansas, it isn't like it happened in the USA.

[hack89]

26. I would be pissed off too, but for a different reason

they combined 5 separate graduation ceremonies into one for the first lady. If I was a student or a parent, I would be upset to share that special moment with a bunch of strangers. When you graduate with kids you have known since first grade, it creates a special bond and sense of family that is something to behold.

[Beaverhausen]

32. Who spoke at your high school graduation?

Do you remember? I don't. I don't remember who spoke at my college graduation either.

But having the first lady speak, no matter who she is, is something I think many people would enjoy and have fond memories of.

Sorry but I don't buy the space issue or the combined school issue.

[hack89]

33. The speaker was not and should not be the center of attraction

my graduation was a celebration with my friends and family. The graduates were the center of attention.

[Beaverhausen]

34. well, lets agree to disagree about this

I don't think the graduates will get any less attention if she had spoken, and I think they would have had great memories. YMMV

[jaysunb]

28. I wonder how many parents and family will try to attend the

Senior recognition day event ? That should be very interesting.

[Tarheel_Dem]

29. Somebody finally answered the question..."What's the Matter with Kansas?".