Conservative lawmakers upset by Obama’s plan to address students
President Obama’s plan to address school children on Tuesday is ruffling a few conservative feathers in Oklahoma.
Obama plans to talk to school children in an address that will be streamed live over the Internet on White House Website.
Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, said allowing Obama to speak directly to students is “indoctrination.”
“No president, Republican or Democrat, should interrupt the education process in this manner,” Kern said. “Our children should not be exploited this way for partisan purposes.”
In a release sent out today she said: “To many parents, it looks like children are going to be held ‘accountable’ if they don’t propagandize on behalf of the Obama administration,” Kern said. “I’m sure those involved are well-meaning, but the appearance here is very troubling…The purpose of our government schools in a constitutional republic is not to force a captive audience to establish a bond with the president. Such an action would be appropriate for Cuba but not the United States of America.”
Kern said parents concerned about the issue should contact their local school principal, superintendent and school board members and state their disapproval. If school officials will not listen, she noted many parents plan to keep their children home that day and “could make their voices heard at the next round of school board elections.”
Sen. Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City, also weighed in on the issue. Russell, a decorated Army veteran, compared the President’s plan to speak to school children to indoctrination programs in communist countries and Nazi Germany.
“I’m concerned parental rights are being usurped by this,” said Russell. “This is akin to something you would see in North Korea or under Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. It attempts to create a cult of personality and goes directly against our personal liberties.”
Russell, who home schools his two of his five children, said Obama’s address will not be on the family’s lesson plan that day. His two other children that attend a public high school are off on Tuesday as part of an extended Labor Day weekend holiday.
Russell said many voters were not aware of the president’s plan to speak the children and the plan has caught them unaware. Russell said he doesn’t think any elected official should use their political position to “use a bully pulpit” to speak to children, and not their parents, who can vote.
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Comments
It sounds like the Republicans are envious of our president.
It is ironic that president Bush was speaking with school childern when we suffered 9/11. Presidents have been taking wwith childern for as long as there has been Presidents. When I was in school it would have been a great honor to
have a President speak to us. Where did the idea come from that our childern will be… ” a forced captive audience to establish a bond with the president?”
While there is nothing wrong with a President speaking to children about hope and education. Having this speech part of a curriculum with Q&A by teachers afterwords is very troubling. No matter what you other folks believe, there is not a precedent for this. I would suggest you begin researching how the tactics of the Left are being applied throughout bureaucracies that have a long reach into what we as individuals experience as daily freedoms. That is my concern. An a-political speech given to our children is laudable at any level. With all that’s happening in politics today it will be hard for the President to keep it so.
It’s what happens after the words are said that I’m wondering about. Despotic tactics begin with a cult of personality and the inability to question the means to achieve the end. Granted, the President has the “bully pulpit” and the right to speak about what he believes to be important. However, I am seeing too many tactics employed that are designed to mute those who disagree, instead of open debate of what means we use to arrive at a result.
My point exactly Lynne. I’m not a big conspiracy person, but these are tactics of the Left to gain power, plain and simple. Today it’s a speech followed by a workbook lesson with subliminal codewords related to an agenda that the Administration is promoting. Tomorrow it’s the “I Pledge” video introduced as legislation in some form. Don’t get me wrong, I believe there are shared values in that video that all can embrace. It was well done and most of it was acceptable as a value system. Not, however, as a replacement for the pledge of allegiance to our country. To tie the package with a “Dear Leader” ribbon of dedication to President Obama speaks to the cult of personality that causes many ill informed people to regret their support of seemingly high reaching ideals.
I bet he plans to send gay waves through the TV and internet to make our children queer! Resist!!!!!
Just thought I’d keep checking this blog for informed commentary. Sadly, I guess it’s time to go, as this last retort is telling in its reason.
“Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counterattack ridicule. Also, it infuriates the opposition, who then react to your advantage.”
Ever hear of Saul Alinsky? If you haven’t, maybe you should educate yourself.
I am a conservative and believe in less government in everything. I am college educated woman who works hard to support my children. I am the one who will instill the values of education, honor, and civic duties to my children. It is not that I don’t think that a president should speak to our children it is just that this speech seems to have strange timing. While other presidents have spoken it was usually with a message reguarding a current crisis or tragedy..9/11 and the shuttle disaster. The idea that this speech comes with a guided lesson plan that seems to be leading these young minds in one direction or another is what trully upsets me. I have spoken with my children’s teachers and have made plans accordingly…but again I am tired of the government stepping in to do what I believe is my job….sorry but the government does not know whats best for me and my family.
So for our kids to watch 9/11 was Ok (Bush politicized in order to get support for his invasion) but to hear a black man, who became the US President just by doing the right thing is not OK?
For the narrow minded, what are you afraid of? That your vision may be blurred by someone else’s opinion?
If you believe you taught your kids right, it does not matter what anyone says. They will make the right choices. Now, maybe, just maybe, Obama has a better message than you.
If our president wants to tell my kid to stay in school, aim high and stay out of trouble, that is definitely a reason to vote for him, isn’t it?
Now, if you are so scare that he is taking us out of the war, fixing the economic crisis, giving more opportunities to ALL, and being honest, wow, that is the America we all want!
[...] 7, 2009 by Tricia Don’t ya just love all this “indoctrination” talk stirred up because—gasp!—the President seeks to directly engage [...]
George W. was speaking at an elementary school at the time of the 9/11 attack.
Video of George Bush at Booker Elementary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IedVRYUNWUU
I guess asking anyone affiliated with OPUBCO to actually present facts that might be damaging to a republican – especially Sally Kern – is asking wayyyyy tooo much.
Losers.
http://www.thelostogle.com/2009/09/03/politics-in-the-classroom/
This is something that presidents have done for years! They typically talk about why education is important and why they should be interested in government. They typically don’t get into their political views etc. I’m amazed and people’s ignorance about this! I’m not a big Obama fan but the guy is a Columbia and Harvard Law grad and is now president!
The timing of President Obama’s message is not unusual. If you haven’t noticed, it’s the beginning of a new school year. Truancy, illiteracy, and dropping out of school are still huge issues in this country. There simply is no controversy here. So Obama wants to put his own spin on a traditional practice with follow up questions regarding the address. So what? It seems to me it’s just a simple educational tool for teachers and children to process the information contained in the speech. I applaud Obama for once again going against the grain, trying something new, and I feel sorry for all of the hysterical parents out there who have chosen fear over common sense. So what if you don’t share Obama’s opinion! Talk about it with your kids over dinner. Welcome to America – the country that was founded on differing opinions!
I have been a Republican all my life…but voted for President Obama. Every time I hear or read about our Republican legislators and what untruths they are spreading via the news or town meetings, I am embarrassed. This takes the cake! To suggest that school students should not be allowed to hear our President, during school hours. It reminds me of when our Oklahoma schools would not tell us that President Kennedy had just been shot. Rediculous! Signed: A New Democrat!