GOP party head in Florida says it's "socialism" to have the president talk to school kids about working hard
http://www.americablog.com/2009/09/gop-party-head-in-florida-says-its.htmlI seem to recall that for many years it was American conservatives out there yearning for a message of personal responsibility to the nation's school children.
Next Tuesday, President Obama says he wants to deliver exactly that, a televised address in classrooms that will "challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning." But now that the president is Obama, apparently conservatives don't want that message anymore. In fact, the chairman of the GOP in the 4th most populous state in America is calling Obama's address to the kids
"socialist indoctrination."I kid you not. In the interest of fairness and balance, I now bring you the entire unedited statement of Jim Greer, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida:
For Immediate Release Contact: Katie Gordon
September 1, 2009 (850) 339-7087
Greer Condemns Obama’s Attempt to Indoctrinate Students
Tallahassee – Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer today released the following statement condemning President Obama’s use of taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America’s children to his socialist agenda.
“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.
“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.
“Public schools can’t teach children to speak out in support of the sanctity of human life or traditional marriage. President Obama and the Democrats wouldn’t dream of allowing prayer in school. Christmas Parties are now Holiday Parties. But, the Democrats have no problem going against the majority of American people and usurping the rights of parents by sending Pied Piper Obama into the American classroom.
The Democrats have clearly lost the battle to maintain control of the message this summer, so now that school is back in session, President Obama has turned to American’s children to spread his liberal lies, indoctrinating American’s youngest children before they have a chance to decide for themselves.”
more:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/A_new_front_in_the_GOPs_war_on_sanity.htmlThe Republicans have sent their paranoid minions to townhall meetings across the country and not just scared the bejeesus out of Democrats, but they've effectively knocked the health care reform express off the tracks.
Unless Democrats take this extremism on, and embarrass the GOP into stopping the (literal) madness, it's only going to continue, and will probably even ramp up some, causing even more consternation among Democrats, and more damage to our agenda.
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(Here's what Obama is actually doing with the kids next week.)
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/academic/bts.htmlPresident Obama announced that on September 8 — the first day of school for many children across America — he will deliver a national address directly to students on the importance of education.
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.