Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumbleSUN EDITORIAL:
Republican rhetoric
Conservatives over the top, blasting president’s planned speech to children as ‘indoctrination’
Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009 | 2:07 a.m.
President Barack Obama plans to give a nationally broadcast speech to school children across America on Tuesday. His speech is expected to be a pep talk to kick off the school year, encouraging students to stay in school and work hard.
It is not a policy speech, but conservatives have come unglued. Jim Greer, head of the Florida Republican Party, said the president is trying to “spread liberal lies” and “socialist ideology” by “indoctrinating America’s youngest children.”
The New York Times quoted Mark Steyn, filling in for conservative radio demagogue Rush Limbaugh, as saying Obama was trying to create a cult of personality like Saddam Hussein or North Korea’s Kim Jong Il.
On the Internet, bloggers are decrying the use of children as “political pawns.” On Twitter, there is a conservative movement urging parents to pull their children out of school Tuesday so they don’t have to see the speech. (Of course, the speech is not mandatory viewing. It is up to the schools to decide whether they’ll show it.)
To cut through all of this hyperbole, here’s a question for those right-wing reactionaries: Who’s really indoctrinating the children and using them as political pawns? Answer: The parents who keep their children from school and — horrors! — from hearing the president of the United States, who simply wants to encourage students to go to school.
The Republican Party has passed beyond the normal bounds of partisan politics and become paranoid. If the party had any ideas worth listening to, why would it be so worried about a presidential speech? The conservative outrage, though, is not about ideas — it is an inflammatory, false and reckless assault on the president.
Republicans should note that former presidents George H.W. Bush and conservative icon Ronald Reagan spoke to students in nationally broadcast appearances.
Bush’s 1991 speech was criticized by Democrats, who complained that taxpayer dollars were spent to produce and tape a “political advertisement.”
In response, then-Rep. Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., asked, “Why is it political for the president of the United States to discuss education?”
Good question.
Discussion: comments so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy. Additionally, we now display comments from trusted commenters by default. Those wishing to become a trusted commenter need to verify their identity or sign in with Facebook Connect to tie their Facebook account to their Las Vegas Sun account. For more on this change, read our story about how it works and why we did it.
Only trusted comments are displayed on this page. Untrusted comments have expired from this story.
No trusted comments have been posted.
Post a comment
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Discussed
- E-mailed
- Upset by new regulations, L.A. porn industry flirts with Nevada
- Las Vegas’ newest headliner: Mike Tyson signs on for live, one-man ‘confessions’ show on the Strip
- A secret of how Elizabeth Halseth won her state Senate seat — Democrats
- Grubb & Ellis files for bankruptcy, will be sold
- Sworn in as new DA, Wolfson promises to hit the ground running
- Judge: Settlements reached in 41 hepatitis C lawsuits
- Families of 2010 slaying victims sue businesses
- UNLV’s Chace Stanback won’t use knee issue as an excuse for his recent struggles
- Analysts weigh in on Wynn fight with board member
- Strip Scribbles: DJ Pauly D vs. Nikki Sixx (one takes the high road)
Blogs
High School Sports Scene
High School Basketball State Championship Picks
The Kats Report
Oscar Goodman goes Shecky as Mob Museum opening prompts a mob scene (2 Comments)
Elsewhere
MGM Resorts, Ameristar form marketing alliance to draw visitors
High School Sports Scene
High School Hoops Picks: Updated with Friday's regional finals (3 Comments)
The Kats Report
What a Whitney Houston residency in Las Vegas might have looked like (5 Comments)
Elsewhere
Caesars' unit extends term loan maturity
The Kats Report
Color from scene at Thomas & Mack: We have a wire job! Rebels win, and Louie Armstrong sings!
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Once again the LV Sun refuses to allow us to respond to Brian Greenspun's editorial on the Fairness Doctrine
Brian Greenspun Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009
It seems that the other day, Sen. Harry Reid was simply being Harry.
While shaking down Bob Brown's of the R-J, Harry said words to the effect of: I hope you (the R-J) go out of business.
The LV Sun said Sen. Reid's words were honorable and fully American. "Sen. Reid does not need me [Brian Greenspun] to defend him against Sherm and the R-J -- I do it because it gives me some pleasure".
I suggest, however, that those who just fell for Sherm's latest ruse turn, instead, to the Las Vegas Sun for credible information and insights."
What was Sherman Frederick, the R-J publisher, great sin he accused Harry of bullying tactics toward the R-J's in an attempt to shut the newspaper down.
When Harry Reid has friends like Mark Lloyd diversity Director for the Obama FCC the R-J should be concerned.
In 2008 Mark Lloyd participated in a "media reform" conference and He spoke of Mr. Chavez's "incredible revolution, a democratic revolution," and of the "property owners and the folks who then controlled the media in Venezuela"
Reid can choke the R-J out with ownership restrictions and equal time demands.
Want to know why many people rightfully despise Obama? Because he's not merely in favor of "equal opportunity" -- which all thinking people would agree is a good thing -- but he also favors "equal outcomes."
Almost all of his actions follow the credo that if someone makes more money than you or has something they worked for, such as good health care, and you don't have it, then you must have been failed by an inherently unfair system. So what we're going to do is take some of theirs and give it to you so your feelings aren't hurt. It's the worst kind of pandering, like saying every kid is "above average."
This idea of "equal outcomes" is evident in practically every speech Obama makes and it's why the "socialist" tag keeps getting thrown around. I think people are rightfully fearful he'll advance the same philosophy -- overtly or not -- in his speech to the students.
All men are "created" equal, but the second we're out of the womb, the inequality begins and not everyone is going to "win" or "get theirs," whether we're talking about being born into great personal wealth, having health care, being well educated or just plain having good luck. It's not possible. There will be winners and losers in life, rich and poor, and Obama thinks he can legislate or preach that away.
Right about now I can sense the criticisms being typed. "You Repubs hate your fellow man!" and "Repubs are evil." This suspicion of success and wealth and striving is what's truly evil. I would only ask Obama, "Has a poor man ever provided you with a job?"
I'll be waiting to see the advance text of the school speech when it is released Monday.
"The New York Times quoted Mark Steyn, filling in for conservative radio demagogue Rush Limbaugh, as saying Obama was trying to create a cult of personality like Saddam Hussein or North Korea's Kim Jong Il"
... and that's why the newspaper industry is going down the john; one guy makes up a fake quote and everybody else copies it, without even the most superficial fact check. See for yourselves:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q...
Dear editors, do you actually have any journalistic ethos left? Will you print a correction and an apology for your false claims that any first-grader can debunk within a minute and with three mouse-clicks?
Cordially,
DHH
The Sun gives those with different views more of a chance than the hate-talk radio goons. When you do hear an occasional opposing caller, they are talked over, cut-off, put up against the news or potted down. "Get off my phone." The handful of opposing callers are selected because they are not that articulate.
It's like Rush Limpbaugh said: "I take callers that make me look good."
In Portland Oregon, progressive Tom Hartman has the top-rated morning drive show. You would think that Clark County, that went Democratic in the last 4 presidential elections, would support a progressive talk show. Yet Beasley Broadcasting, after spending millions on buying kdawn has terrible ratings. KDOX is another joke of a station with no advertisers.
The Limpbowel station in town was responsible for hyping the non-story about Reid "threatening" the poor RJ. They held a contest to "become a talk show host" and who won? A John Ensign staffer. What a coincidence.
They even when as far as going to a website that deals with radio, and had critics of their station kicked off the site by blocking their net access.
Then they take to the airwaves and complain about the critical postings on the Sun's website regarding town hall meetings.
From the "tea-party express bus (33 people) run by ex-talk show host Mark Williams, to the contrived frenzy over "Reid threatening the RJ,
" the crackpots, birthers and bigots of talk radio are out to make a mountain of every mole hill.
We certainly need the fairness doctrine, it should have been Obama's first objective.
"The New York Times quoted Mark Steyn, filling in for conservative radio demagogue Rush Limbaugh, as saying Obama was trying to create a cult of personality like Saddam Hussein or North Korea's Kim Jong Il"
Giggle
mred just doesn't like to listen to the side of an issue that he does not agree with. He puts out misinformation to substantiate his bias. He also resorts to name calling as you can see in his posts.
Frankly, the thought of that socialist clown talking to the kids makes me want to puke. The only thing Greenspun wants to know is where to buy his kneepads.
look at the cast of scum bags in the retarded republican party...
w the scum bag liar loser clown...
cheney the evil doer...
karl i have no morals rove...
sarah dumb as a bag of rocks palin...
johnnie boy i slept with my best friend / senior staffer's wife, then fired them both when i got caught, then ran to mommy and daddy to fix my boo boo ensign...
jimmie monkey boy no one from either party respects me gibbons...
rushbo the drug addict...
glen i have lost my mind beck...
ann the ugliest person on the planet coulter...
these are the voices of the retarded republican party...
pathetic...
absolutely and totally pathetic...
who the hell would want to join that retarded republican party???
gmagbirdi: Teddy Kennedy would if the option were available.
Maybe the republican parents could listen to the speech and answer their children's questions about it, or explain why they don't agree with it.
A closed mind is a terrible thing to waste.
I don't have a problem with the President speaking to school children but when he attempts to use these children to further his political agenda that many call socialist, I, like a lot of others, do have a problem. This presidency appears to be approaching cult status.
A cult is a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some PERSON, idea or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control designed to advance the goals of the group's leaders to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community.
It's all about him...
Obama has shown himself not to be trustworthy during the health care debate. No wonder people are concerned that he might sprinkle a little agenda into his address to 6 year olds. This concern is further bolstered by the suggested lesson plans which have teachers asking young students to express admiration for Obama and to suggest ways they can "help" him.
The concern is justified, particularly since Obama hasn't released a text of his planned remarks.
Sorry, but I don't get all the hate-spreading-screaming-and-yelling going on. Everyone is panicked before said speech.
I'm guessing here that the equation goes something like this: fear + (the unknown x blindness) = blinding rage.
It should be known that this speech is not being played to all students. Hardly. Any teacher here who wants to show it must present a legitimate lesson to go with it and a justification for using classroom time on it. Very few will, I'm sure.
Hate to sound so cynical, but I've been a teacher for a number of years, and it kind of goes with the territory: How about parents listen to the speech and watch it with their kids, and discuss it, whatever you think of it? Very few will, I'm sure.
I don't have a problem with the Prez giving a speech that may or may not be heard by our country's youth.
I also glad that the education department pull out of its lesson plans some of the dubious items. That is the root cause of all this uproar. They made some boneheaded mistakes. They fixed them. We should move on.
It amazes me that a speech by the President of the United States that is intended to inspire our children to do better, is turned into something diabolical by right wing extremists. Following eight years of dismal governance by the Bush administration, this political faction insists on finding fault with EVERYTHING the opposition proposes, thereby keeping America on the fast track to mediocrity and beyond.
I don't have a problem with the President speaking to school children but when he attempts to use these children to further his political agenda that many call socialist, I, like a lot of others, do have a problem. This presidency appears to be approaching cult status.
It's really a shame that you couldn't even get the facts right, instead perpetrating a lie from the NY TImes, even though they had a link to Steyn's comments.
What he said was "Obviously we're not talking about the cult of personality on the kind of Saddam Hussein/Kim Jong-Il scale." But why let the facts get in the way when you're bashing, as usual, republicans. Funny, I don't recall Greenspun's shock and dismay when the Dems were using over the top rhetoric during the Bush administration. Just shows why the mainstream media, in all of its forms, is dying.
The two tasks that students were to do after speech that caused a stir:
Students "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the President."
Another task recommended for students immediately after listening to the speech: to engage in a discussion about what "the President wants us to do."
It should be about the "Country" not the "President."
"...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
Macbeth
Hump a thump
With your leanings and infatuation with peoples' mention of farm animals and the personal attacks I WILL say you qualify as a typical Replublican. You go both ways.
Exactly. This would NEVER have been an issue had it not been for the "lesson plan" devised by the apparatchiks in the Dept of Ed. It was all about The One, not about country or education. Barry's lived in his little bubble for so-long that he has no real idea how things are in the real world; hell he didn't even have a problem with appointing an avowed comunist, Mumia-supporting 9/11 truther to his administration! "This is now a global struggle against a U.S.-led security apparatus and military agenda" Van Jones.
BTW, have you seen the "I pledge" video? "I pledge to be a servent to the President"? If that isn't a cult of personality, praytell Mr. Greenspun, what is?
Sorry, but the Repubs are right on this one. Obama is blantantly trying to indoctrinate and manipulate our children and create a cult of the personality.
Obama needs to be stopped.
No swine flu vaccines for dittoheads, use that swab stuff you put up the nose that Limpbowl advertised instead. (Oh I guess it was pulled from the market because it ruined the sense of smell, which means they can't smell themselves???)
Next thing the Replublicans will tell the American people: "President Obama is taking away Christmas this year!"
What? No Christmas this year? I knew that the Obama's do not celebrate Christmas, but I did not know they were taking it away from us. Can we keep Christmas if we promise to pay a tax on it?
News Alert: The President has announced that the H1N1 flu vaccines will be available free to those people who promise to vote for him in the next election. Those people who disagree with the President will have to pay double so that the rest can get it for free.
Birdiedreamin - you forgot a few names on your list.
Marion Barry - Can't remember how many convictions he has to his credit.
Former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich - Won't forget that name anytime soon.
Ted Kennedy - King of Morals
Eliot Spitzer - Perhaps the original member of Governors Gone Wild.
Harry Reid - We're so proud of our corrupt millionaire senator.
Former U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance - Don't remember him? Google it.
Former Pres. Clinton - Immortalized the name Lewinsky.
Alan Mollohan, John Murtha, Alcee Hastings, and on and on and on.
Oh wait, I forgot - you left them out intentionally - they're not Republicans. So what's your point?
You might want to consider this to help you grow as a human being: Tomorrow, get out of bed and make the decision that this will be the day you post something intelligent and thought-provoking. It's possible this one action will motivate you to begin behaving as an adult.
The Bird may not be posting tomorrow as it is Labor Day and he will be riding in the "Union's Buy American" parade with Harry in his new KIA that he got under the "Cash for Cluster" program.
What sort of "values" does it teach children when parents are afraid of the President of The United States?
Paranoid Schizophrenia.
Larry Henderson, have you ever heard "name calling" from LimpBaugh? Levine, Sean Insannity? Michael Sewage?
You dittoheads can dish it out, but you can't take it. I saw the tea party express boob on TV say they had 33 people on the 2 buses. That is fact. Just because a guy with a beard shouts on the radio in the morning doesn't make him right.
Who is a better influence on today's children? A happily married family man with two children and an Ivy league education
... or a three times married and divorced, cigar chomping drug addict college drop out ex-disc jockey who takes blue pill fueled trips to the sex tourist destination of the Dominican Republic?
Who is Larry Henderson?
at least he didn't call you Larry Detroit or Larry Pahrump.
If The Review-Journal goes out of business what happens to the Las Vegas Sun? I get the RJ delivered every day and inside is a little pamphlet called "The Las Vegas Sun". Onc e in a while I read it but the only thing of value in that fishwrapper is the Crossword Puzzle. Wil Shortz is my favorite puzzle editor. Brian Greenspun is an heir to a good newspaperman and that is where it ends. Brian's daddy was a real tough gutsy guy and he was fair. Brian is a Democrat and he blindly agrees with all Democratic principles. Anybody that publicly agrees with every thing any one party stands for is a fool. Are you a fool Brian?
He can call me anything he wants, but Larry5 was also posting on this discussion.
Too often, these comment boards are used to issue personal attacks on commentators, instead of making personal comments about the subject or close to the subject at hand. I get tired of comments about what they assume 'af' to mean or my 'racial' views, or my non-racial views, or my 'education' views, but I never get commented on about my economic status. Wonder why?
afveteran could be air force veteran. Rooster is a veteran too. And I was on our side.
ghostcommander, very well said!
You need to post more.
Come on ghost commander, get your command back together. I think you left them back at Nuremberg.
I promise I will "...not physically try to impose your opinions on others."
Oh... Saltydawg has your submarine waiting to take you to Argentina.
Larry, that's a start.
But you need a little bit more insight to realize that he was referring to the right-wing insanity.
So, basically what the dittoheads are saying, is that watching Obama
deliver a short speech and writing about it afterwards will permanently
rearrange the brain cells of their children, turning them into flaming socialist
tree hugging hippies who pray to Obama every night instead of Jesus,
despite the best efforts of the poor parents to instill conservative values.
Man, Barack is awesome!
OK--now we know what the speech says--make goals for the coming school year, like reading a book every day and studying hard. What so F-ing socialist about that?? Come on, I'm sure you can twist it into something communistic.
Obomba is meaningless just like his ideas and actions. Pure nothingness. This pres has no clue.
When I witnessed the LWN press successfully blame a sitting president for natural disasters, I realized then an entirely new level of "nasty" had been achieved in the fine art of LWN's reporting on politics as usual. The LWN press made a habit of giving above the fold front page press coverage to political cheap shot artists like Harry Reid and Micheal Moore.
Now the Obama administration is getting a dose of what the Bush administration got for eight years and I hope he enjoys it because it isn't going away anytime soon.
hey glen beck is on this afternoon, maybe he can give another hate filled show for your republican children.
Glen Beck is on FOX News at 2:00 p.m. local time. I will be watching his show.
Hey did you hear about Van Jones? You didn't? Thats because you were not watching FOX.
See I am not afraid to say it...
How did Anthony "Van" Jones sneak into Obama's inner circle? How did Obama manage to sleep through 20 years of Rev. Wright's sermons? And asn't Billy Ayers just one of the neighborhood guys?
Strange pattern emerging here. We might need Dick Tracy and Charlie Chan to investigate.