I repeat: It’s not the speech, it’s the subtext; Update: Don’t let me, me, me down
Scroll down for update…
Photoshop: Leo Alberti
Tunku Varadarajan is a professor at NYU’s Stern Business School, fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, and executive editor for opinions at Forbes.
He thinks I am a “kook” and “crazy” for criticizing President Obama’s education event tomorrow.
Tellingly, he does not address the actual substance of my arguments. But he packs in plenty of ad hominems:
Too Many Kooks
Tunku Varadarajan, 09.07.09, 12:00 AM EDT
Obama’s school speech drives the right crazy.The Silly Season ceases to be “silly” when what passes for political debate in America turns not merely stupid or witless, but certifiably demented.
I write of the kooky reaction of many conservatives–politicians, citizens and commentators in the media–to the plan by President Obama to address the nation’s schoolchildren tomorrow.
Obama will, as we all know, address our kids–plenty of whom need a lesson or two on the subject, since they clearly don’t get it from their parents–on the virtues of study, education and hard work. According to a White House spokesman, the aim of the speech is “to challenge students to work hard in school, to not drop out and to meet short-term goals like behaving in class, [and] doing their homework …” If anyone thinks that’s unpalatable, subversive, Commie and un-American, I’d like to meet for a duel at dawn by the skating rink at New York’s Central Park. (Pick your weapon, Michelle Malkin and Glenn Beck …)
Obama’s original “lesson plan” had been to ask students auditing him to write letters to themselves outlining ways in which they could “help the president.” This seemingly earnest proposal provoked a reaction so vitriolic from sections on the political right that I began to wonder whether I was missing a point–to wonder, in fact, that I, as a recent immigrant to this country, had failed to integrate well enough to grasp the nuances of American political debate.
Yes, you missed the point.
It’s not the speech (as I pointed out last week), it’s the subtext.
It’s the radical activism of the White House Teaching Fellows who designed the education guides tied to Obama’s speech.
It’s the overzealousness of public school educators who have turned classrooms into Obama campaign offices.
It’s the influence of the left-wing social justice crusaders of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge on Team Obama.
It’s the Left’s embrace of Obama Chicago pal Bill Ayers’ pedagogical philosophy of “education as the motor-force of revolution.”
It’s the activist tradition of government schools using students as junior lobbyists to pressure legislators for higher education spending, pro-illegal immigration protests, gay marriage, environmental propaganda, and anti-war causes.
Now, who are you calling “kook?”
***
Update: Speech text released. It’s not about Obama…except, of course, that it is.
Obama, Hygience Czar, tells your kids to wash their hands.
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Categories: Education
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May I suggest you choose wit, Mrs. M? You’d take him out with one shot.
After I’d first read about the speech and the lesson plan, I commented to my wife that the speech, in and of itself, wasn’t necessarily a bad idea (although with Obama I had my suspicions) but the lesson plan made the whole thing “creepy” – it was the best word I could come up with. Since then I’ve heard numerous commentators use the same “creepy” term (OK, I admit all on FoxNews). The fact remains I can’t get these visions of black and white film of the Hitler Youth out of my head….that’s really creepy.
Michelle: maybe you should as this “recent immigrant” if he has a green card. Just a thought…
It is unfair to enter into a duel of wits with an unarmed opponent.
I’m sure Freud would have had an opinion about that statement. It’s the stupid parents! Citizens just can’t be trusted to run this democracy. We need
Hugo ChavezSouth Side Barry to lead us out of this freedom quagmire.yeah right, like he’d show up…..
just another CS spouting off after a dose of Odopey Kool-Aid.
I was going to suggest any weapon, as I doubt Tunku is proficient in any. Yours is better, single stack.
We don’t bow to the President and we don’t involve our children in the bloodbath of politics.
Your failure to grasp American politics apparently doesn’t stop you from bloviating about it at length.
That’s the problem with one-world globalism.In a world where Americans account for a mere 4% of the world’s population, we are being lectured in our own country by a WSJ, FT globalist from India by way of Oxford. I’m more interested in the opinion of Americans who understand what this country is about. We don’t kneel before royalty in this country as they do in this guy’s native countries.
I would venture to say that the parents who object to their children participating in the Department of Education’s suggested objectives probably all ready have instilled all of these virtues. Just by their objections it shows that these parents are very aware of what goes on in the lives of their children.
I did my part to spread the word, and I’m glad to say that most parents will keep their children out of school tomorrow.
In Texas, headcounts in the classroom count for everything. A school’s budget is set on headcounts. I guess plenty of schools which have chosen to indoctrinate children will come up short.
If you would like to e-mail Mr. Varadarajan to explain our country to him, here is his NYU faculty page.
Just further evidence that Obama has no clue in terms of being the President. He continues in campaign mode, not leadership mode. He continues to focus on his voters and trying to gain votes, not on the country as a leader of all Americans.
Unfortunately, many establishment conservatives, e.g. the type that hang around the NRO, are taking a similar line. Here’s a synopsis of what some of them have been saying: “What’s wrong with the president addressing school kids? Why FDR may have done the same thing for all I know. I sure am getting tired of all these right-wing crazies embarrassing us. We need to do a better job of policing our ranks.”
That “policing” comment comes from Jonah Goldberg, btw.
In and of itself, some of the acts of Obama, taken in isolation appear innocuous. But when placed in the context of everything else he is doing and attempting to do, they become far more menacing. Too bad we are adding to the President’s burden, but his problems are entirely of his own making and no one on the right need make any apologies to him or anyone else for our concerns and suspicions.
Other than those on the “right” who appear to have nothing better to do than forever make apologies, of course.
Of course the sorry state of our schools and the incompetent teachers and corrupt unions share no blame in our nations childrens educational failures!
What an IDIOT. If this was Bush doing the speech, Tunku would be protesting and talking about violations of his civil liberties and torture.
The left has still yet to explain how if this was Bush, they would not be protesting. I guess if you are the chosen one, then you must worship his holiness. I have less and less respect for liberals and academia each day that passes.
“We don’t bow to the President and we don’t involve our children in the bloodbath of politics.”
Not only that but the arrogance of assuming a parent’s role in the life of a child by the President is appalling. Its not his job to pass on his political views to my children.
Just more evidence that the left views the Presidency more like a king or queen than an elected office and politicians more like a ruling class having the power, not the people having power.
In other words, the left has going 180 degrees opposite of the founders of this country and our founding documents.
The content of and the President speaking to our “children” is evidence of their political philosophy. A philosophy we disagree with on content, a process, the President taking on the parent’s role, we disagree with.
This is way more than a speech to school kids. WAY more!
The argument in favor of Obama giving this talk is that the message of studying hard and maintaining good bahavior is valuable to any kid, and they should hear it, so who cares if it’s being delivered by a far-left radical with long-standing ties to “educators” who promote using schools for political indoctrination? If that’s how it is, then why not send your kids to hear a speech on water safety given by a drug dealer, followed by a bicycle safety talk from a child molester? Those are important messages, and according to mainstream thought, it shouldn’t matter who delivers those messages.
The best speech kids could hear would be one about thinking for themselves, acting as individuals, and doing things their own way, as opposed to joining the government-approved herd and taking orders. That would be a good message, though it would not be valuable for Barry to deliver it. Guess there’s no need to worry about that.
Eventually, you may find yourself where I am, holding them in utter disdain and with contempt.
You know what kids need a “lesson or two” on those virtues, sir? The ones in the inner city – the ones raised by single mothers who never know their fathers, the ones where black culture often tells them getting a good education is “acting white”, the ones where violence is a way of life and rap music provides the soundtrack. The ones where teenagers already have lengthy rap sheets.
The ones who, by and large, don’t go to school on a regular basis to begin with and the ones who – when conservatives try to reform education – are defended by liberals such as yourself from supposedly “racist” policies and “racist” criticism.
I’ve seen enough of the goings on in my local public school system to know it’s a black hole of mismanagement and overspending that disenfranchises inner city youth for the sake of political correctness and gain.
But those aren’t the people you’re talking about, is it?
No – your comment is directed at parents who actually parent and who have a problem (after spending a summer being vilified by their government as “Nazis” and “terrorists” and “stupid”) with the president of the United States (who surrounds himself with uber-liberal radical activists) spending some quality time with our children.
Because these parents don’t buy the liberal pogrom hook, line, and sinker they aren’t good enough for you and don’t instill those “virtues” you deem so important in your children.
I don’t trust Obama one bit. He surrounds himself with Marxists, Communists, racists (or race-baiters) and, as they say, you are known by the company you keep.
We are aware of his agenda and of those around him. Letting him face our children once, lets the fox into the henhouse. They seek to build up your trust first and then they seek to control you. I believe he has sinister motives and I don’t want him playing his pipe to the children. Bad, bad vibes from this man and his cohorts.
One question for this “recent immigrant from India” that will answer all questions about his “assimilation” into our society and his “understanding” of the “nuances” of American politics …
What “caste” marking are the women in his family forced to wear on their foreheads?
The social customs and fabric of an immigrants’ upbringing are always among the cultural things they bring with them to this country and are most likely to continue to practice … you can find this to be true irregardless of the country and culture and religious background from which people come to America …
Difficult to understand America if you are still stuck in the culture back in your “homeland” …
Maybe Communism has been mainstreamed in the Obama Administration but it isn’t in the rest of the Country. Those who have ears only need to listen,Those with eyes only need to see. IF they don’t want to be portrayed as Marxist, all they have to do is stop adopting Marxist tactics. I believe the Public Relations Department of the White House is either being led by uber left or is empty. These are amateur mistakes, that don’t need to have happen.
Obama maybe in the center of the Left but that is still not the Center of the entire country.
These Obamaniacs, though, think he can do no wrong. And, just as in communist Russia, the mere fact that you oppose him is proof that you’re an idiot.
These people have done more than just drink the Kool Aid. They also are down on their knees smelling Duh Ones farts.
He’s making it too easy. Michelle and Glenn would pick FACTS as their weapons and clean his clock.
Obama the First has proven himself to be generally untrustworthy because of his close association with those who hate our Liberty and way of life (”Rev.” Wright, Bill Ayers, Van Jones etc.). It is his deceptive ways and double speak that concerned citizens are leery of him speaking directly to our children. Obama is not a statesman who represents our country, he’s just another political hack lusting for power. Just a Chicago Thug who wishes to impose his warped views of “social justice” onto our children using his lackeys and toadies in the teachers union as the conduit.
You’re the kook Mr. Varadarajan. Do your homework, take two aspirin then reconsider your moronic comments.
If he thinks he can do good, let him give his speech to the kids in Chicago. Isn’t that the murder capitol of the world now? Let him try it on them, first. Come to think of it, why hasn’t he said anything to denounce the gang violence in Chicago anyway? Oh, right, he didn’t live in those neighborhoods. Ever.
My children go to two different schools in the same school district. The elementary school has decided to leave such things to the parents and won’t show the indictrination film. The middles school has decided to show it but give an opt out. Yet, there will be discussion after the film, “There will be a short discussion using
a prompt developed by the Leadership Team,” this is where I have the problem. I have instilled much in my children concerning our values, I won’t allow my middle schooler to even be in the discussions, although I think she may want to just to be a wrench in the gears.
Nice response Michelle. The left always falls to those things called facts.
I heard a couple of commentators yesterday, and one put it most accurately: that in today’s environment, with the msm acting as a propaganda arm of the Dim party, and with the halls of academia infested with deranged liberals, people on the right just do not trust anything libs do, as being innocent or not part of an overall agenda. But just as is the case with left wing media bias (which some on the left consider a right wing bias!), you wont convince these hypocrites that we have a valid concern due to their own behavior and that of their little lemmings in the media. So we shouldn’t even try. Not to mention that when GWB was going to address students in 2001, the left also made stink about that. Imagine that: a liberal that says do what I say, not what I do. Shocking.
Translation: Regardless of what Obama actually said, I get to decide what he meant. I can really let my imagination run wild. Then I get to huff`n`puff about the awful things our fascist dictator is thinking.
That didn’t hold water when you posted it the first time. An “activist” is someone who gets involved in schools to try to make them better. That’s a long way from Communism.
One teacher in one class asked the kids to draw Obama pictures on inauguration day. The campaign was over.
Then there’s stuff other people have done, some of whom actually met Obama before he ran for office.
Another TOTAL embarrassment for this WH… Keep up the GOOD WORK B. HUSSEIN… C’mon November 2010… Talk about EARLY CHRISTMAS!!!
Now, if that is all the speech is about, I would agree. However, we all know there is more to it than that. Obama won’t be able to resist recruiting the kids to his cause. Prove me wrong, Mr. President.
Of course when we say “the right” we mean “as in the correct”. Obviously Tunku Varadarajan does not grasp this and thus I do not want him speaking to our children either. Is Tunku Varadarajan one of these “it takes a village” idiots who he thinks we need a President or community organizer to raise our children? Guess so- so again I do not want him speaking to our children.
As with all the Left he goes
rightdirectly to the insults and name calling: not merely stupid or witless, but certifiably demented.You say executive editor for opinions at Forbes? That I will have to think about. Pick your weapon: PICK ME-PICK ME I am good at it (although I can not skate).
==
Tunku Varadarajan
A native of India and a British citizen, Mr. Varadarajan: DAMN IT-CLOSE THE BORDER. British Citizen? There is a reason God put those people on an island! native of India: if you are not happy with us GO HOME and stay there.
Tunku Varadarajan
Clinical Professor of Business
Joined Stern: 2007 Leonard N. Stern School of Business
Kaufman Management Center
44 West 4th Street, Room 10-85
New York, NY 10012
Email: tvaradar@stern.nyu.edu
/looks back over his shoulder, at the rapiers hanging on the rack behind him
Hmmm… I’m part of “anyone”… so… Dual 48 Inch Rapiers? also known as a “Case” of Rapiers? (for how they were carried to the dualing grounds)…
Please, call your Seconds… I’m sure I can get Blade or Tora (probably the two top Elizabethan Fencers in the Nation) to act as my Second…
Here is my e-mailed response to this dope. If anybody else wants to contact him, this is his e-mail address:
tvaradar@stern.nyu.eduTunku:
===================================
Tunku:
Well, what a shock!! Another left winger whining about evil conservatives raising a ruckus over the President addressing school children. Not that anybody on the left can be convinced otherwise as all of you seem to be immune to those things called facts, but did you object when the left did this to President Bush when he was going to address school children during his first term?
With academia infested by about a 9-1 count of liberals vs conservatives, and the same applying to the mainstream media, can your little mind even understand the concern of the right? We do not trust as innocent anything the left does, and with good reason. So keep whining to your choir. They love you for it. You’re just so brave sticking up to the terrible Michelle Malkin in the mainstream news outlets.
Disrespectfully,
[my name]
====================================
He makes the point himself. The public education system believes they can raise OUR children better than the parents. Parents are an inconvenience. They are mindless idiots who need to be taught how to raise their own children and not question the “wisdom” of the “trained” professionals.
I canceled my subscription to Forbes years ago once they jumped on the amnesty and open borders bandwagon. Same with WSJ. They are a big part of the one-world global government agenda. Borders have been reduced to nothing more than barriers to trade where all cultures are equal. If we continue to take counsel from these academics, the entire world will be reduced to third-world. It was not an accident that 4% of the world’s population could produce more than 25% of the world’s output.
If you want to appreciate the value of borders, just cross our southern border and see how a country that has the same natural abundance that we have here in the US insists on being poor and oppressed. Our Constitution matters and we better defend it. Step one is to insist that our leaders honor it. All of it.
Does that help Mr. Varadarajan? It’s not exactly a subtle nuance you are missing but the very point of America’s existence. Now go home where your way of thinking wins honors. Or go to Venezuela.
clever.
Dare I say…witty even?
I was thinking of a knock down drag out, kick him he is down but that is just me. I am older but live by:
b-cat wrote:
“Eventually, you may find yourself where I am, holding them in utter disdain and with contempt.”
Personally cannot remember when the contempt stage set in it was so long ago. Wish English Queen would e-mail Mr. Varadarajan her comments. They are fantastic.
My favorite academic(amongst the few) is Victor Davis Hanson. To me he is a local boy made good, from the big CA Valley. Great columnist too, unlike the many liberal nutcases so prominent in the MSM.
Obama – what a whiny little pansy. I mean, seriously: “There were times when I felt like I didn’t fit in.” Give me a break. Obama sounds like he was practically asking the school bully to take his lunch money and give him an Atomic Wedgie. No wonder Ahmadinnerjacket and Cha-Cha-Chavez think they can get over on this twerp.
I’m skipping over most of the comments to post this; apologies if someone else has mentioned this, but I don’t think it can be stressed enough:
Source: An Overview of the U.S. Department of Education: What the Department of Education Does NOT Do
By creating those classroom activities, even posted with the caveat that they are suggested activities, the DoE seems to be ignoring the above quoted prohibition.
Most kids whose parents don’t support their education come from socio-economically disadvantaged areas. These areas overwhelmingly supported Obama in the election. Maybe this speech would be more appropriate on the campaign trail.
I refer back to every other statement I have made about the modern British. This fellow obviously feels the same way everyone in Labour does.
Let’s see, the DemoCommies don’t like the Pledge of Allegiance but would like to have the kids pledge to help the President.
That says it all – Personality over Patriotism.
Thanks DemoCommies. Thanks for reminding us why constant vigilance against tyranny is so important.
As an aside – I think Dueling is illegal in New York. It’s perfectly legal in Georgia. Come on down to the Peach State and give it a try. I doubt any of you Commnist fools have the minerals for a real fight anyway..
Georgia you say? Except for Fort Gordon I have some good memories of Georgia-now I know why
I understand why Fort Gordon has an “except” in front of it!
Come on back and visit – once you leave the Atlanta city limits, Georgia’s a great place.
you are known by your friends AND enemies…I would take it as a badge of honor, Michelle, to be called a kook by this arrogant liberal pin-head.
The text of Obama’s upcoming speech has been posted.
Interestingly enough, when I subscribed to National Review (it was the last MSM publication I cancelled) I read several articles by Tunku Varadarajan. So I’m not sure I’d classify him as the typical socialist that most college professors are. He seems to fit nicely, in this case, into the compartment populated by other National Review types outlined above by been there.
My problem with the president’s speech to the children is threefold:
1. It sets a precedent. No president has ever done this before. For the record, NRO, not even FDR. From now on every president will want to do this. What will the topic be next year or in 2019? Once you’re on record as sanctioning a speech to schoolchildren by the POTUS, can you say that some topics are OK, but others aren’t. After all, to some people the POTUS (depending on the political persuasion) always knows best.
2. Obama may give a vanilla speech about “the virtues of study, education and hard work.” I, however, do not trust the socialist “educators” that dominate the public school system to keep the post-speech discussion to those limited themes. With socialists there is always the agenda that they put upfront. Then there is the hidden agenda that is the real message they seek to indoctrinate with. I fully expect many of these “educators” to use the speech to launch into supplementing any message Obama happens to give with their own version of social justice. Just remember the “teacher” in NC (where I happen to live, btw) who termed the war in Iraq as “unjust” and reduced the 5th grader to tears because of comments the “teacher” made about her military father. That was despicable behavior on her part. Expect more of it following this speech.
3. Obama may give a vanilla speech about “the virtues of study, education and hard work.” What has Obama done to indicate he values the vitues of study, education, and hard work? He has sealed every single academic record going back to his days at The Punahou School in Hawaii so we have no evidence of that. Even as an adult, how has he demonstrated hard work. He won two elections (state and US senator) by thug tactics against his opponents and didn’t stay for a full term in either position before moving up and out. As the POTUS, I have yet to see any evidence that he has cracked a sweat. He is no role model about hard work that I would want any kid to emulate. Can he “party hearty and swing the dirty deal?” You betcha. But work hard? Not so much.
Bottom line, I believe what most of us on this thread are saying is we don’t trust Obama and the socialist educators to keep the discussion to the basics. Evidently, Tunku does. He has much more faith in Obama and the public schools than I do. That makes him a useful idiot in my book.
Yeah, what’s the worry….
“They will tell you that I don’t look like you…that I have a funny name…”, B.H. Obama
“Barack will not allow you go back to the way it was…” Michelle Obama
The “adminstration Obama” attempts to propagandize thinking American ADULTS has so far, failed. He now turns to a captive audience of which he can claim (with a straight face) he has a connection…children.
That’s right, children…the same ones he would so callously allow to be aborted if the “mommy to be” was having issues, or a bad day! Why not have THAT fact televised to the children, since he feels they are old enough to comprehend his message of personal responsibility? Oh, would that be too cruel and inhumane, or does he fear it would hurt his image in their eyes?
The president is broadcasting his message not for the children, but for their parents. By engaging the children , and getting them emotionally involved, (he hopes) to help change the uncompliant parents perspective on his plans for America…whatever that might be. At this point, we can only guess. He continues to be evasive on particulars, does he not?
And tell us, Nancy-boy, why your definition of “activist” holds water. Let’s use the Annenberg Challenge chaired by Ayers and his butt-boy, Obama, as a case study. How’d that work out? I notice you used the weasel word “try” in your definition. So you can always say “well, they tried to make the schools better. What they tried just didn’t work.” First of all, I don’t think they even tried for improvements. It was all about the money. No matter what, however, liberals always want to be judged on the basis of intentions, never on results.
Perhaps in Tunku’s country of birth, it is considered appropriate to have a drug dealer talk to kids on the importance of working hard. He wants to hang around Central Park looking for a fight, no problem. He should just go there at 2AM and I am certain he will get the business lesson of his life. I wish we could ship his sorry ass back, since we have enough idiots to take care of in this country already.
Liberals can call conservative criticism “silly season” all they want, but how silly can such criticism be when it is repeatedly leading liberals to “recalibrate” their message?
Case in point – isn’t the President’s address to Congress this week going to be his THIRD national attempt at explaining his “vision” for a government controlled health care system?
Tunku is an East Indian immigrant.
Large portion of immigrant Indians are highly skilled and reach their American dreams faster.
As their financial prosperity grows, they tend to shed their socialistic views (India was aligned with USSR and had Socialist Policies until recently) and gradually become fiscally conservatives.
There is one exception to this phenomena: Those employed in the Journalism, i.e. people like Tunku.
The issue comes not so much from the speech (which will almost certainly be typical Obama — you know, soaring deliver of meaningless phrases), but from the original “suggested curriculum” which is all about OBAMA. How many of the questions were about education? No, they were all about the President — what does he want me to do, what can I do to help him, etc. That’s what turned what would be an inane snoozefest for most kids to “creepy.” We don’t
Patterico has the text of Obama’s speech up. The link is on this page. Let’s count the times he uses “I”. It is very difficult to not conclude that this is a cult of personality speech.
I’m going to re-read it to see if he refers to himself in the third person. Probably not. That always jumps out at me as a major irritant no matter who does it.
I would like to pose a question for all of you to consider …
IF … Obama’s healthcare plans were not in such disapproval with the public …
Would this speech to schoolkids even be happening? …
Sure seems like it was decided upon rather hurriedly … as if they wanted to get it done before anyone could get a chance to object …
Isn’t that the M.O. for B.O. ???
I counted 52 times he uses the word “I”. You can probably double the self-references if you include the words “me” and “my”. This is more about Obama than it is about the children. Why don’t we recycle some of the Governator’s “You are my action heroes!” speeches.
Narcissism run wild.
Tunku is a British Citizen. 10 to 1 he votes Labour.
This isn’t about Indian immigrants. Those who have supposed it is are dead wrong. Of all the immigrant nationalities represented in the USA, Indians tend to be the most independent of our system. They are also the most likely to succeed in business.
This is about Socialists who follow the British model of attempting to impose their political ideals as the only worthy ones.
Poorly worded or not is beside the point. As per their own website, the Department of Education has no business writing curriculum for use in the classroom.
I read the President’s speech he intends to give to students…I excerpted the real message found in the body of the text…
“You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.” Well, that takes care of the social agenda…
“Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren’t any different from any of you.” Nope…an illegal alien, an infirmed white boy, and a young black community organizer…just like us!
“Maybe you’ll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community.” AmeriCorps?
“Maybe you’ll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look.” More social justice, and rebel rousers for ACORN in the future?
This speech is everything I thought it would be. It is proselytizing for the social statist’s religion…liberal causes…recruiting if you prefer.
“So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be?” And there’s the lead in for classroom discussion that I thought they said was removed.
The only thing missing was a blatant offer of money for joining. He’ll no doubt leave that little bit for the teachers to bring up in the classroom discussion… volunteer for ten years, and your college education will be paid for.
It appears he is trying to not only be America’s number one gun salesman, he’s trying to be the top salesman for Americorps, as well!
As usual, the socialists frame their attack on a “non issue” and pretend that the opposition is against something that they are actually for.
As many have pointed out, THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE. The issue is the added curriculum and discussions about Obama, for Obama and controlled by those for Obama.
Not if the activist is a Communist or a communist.
Obama as savior…yeah, right! He’ll straighten those kids out, make them really value hard work and studying! Just like he’s done before, in Chicago, now the garden spot of the Midwest due to his work there…oh, wait, maybe that’s not such a good example. I’m sure Obama has a track record somewhere, somewhere, of actually accomplishing something, anything? Besides getting elected, that is…
We have sunk to new lows as a country that we elected an empty suit. Hopefully those who are culpable who must not have been paying attention are finally opening their eyes.
Varadarajan seems like a pretty smart guy, so his recent piece regarding MM begs the question:
Why is Varadarajan so accepting of Obama’s already “re-calibrated” strategy for our Nation’s youth, and yet so dismissive of conservative suspicions regarding Obama’s “scholastic” intent, when Obama has already proven himself to be someone who pretends to be someone he is not?
Is Varadarajan really that obtuse, or is he simply just another liberal hack?
Any dissenting students in his classes? Or all they all learning how to be good little lemmings?
Any parents of NYU Stern students with a dissenting view?
Wake up!
The DOE approved post speech lesson plan is what set me off about this entire fiasco. I wonder how many of the good little NEA Obamabots will still continue on with the post speech indoctrination despite the DOE changing the syllabus and apologizing for being caught by the new media and outrage by the mere knuckle dragging peon taxpayers. How dare we give a damn about what lies and propaganda is fed to our children by the Government run schools. I am thankful we no longer have any children in school, but at least we were able to keep our kids from being totally sucked into their leftist agenda who have turned out to be fairly stable conservatives in their world view.
In our household the usurper and his minions have been exposed for their leftist agenda long before the election and we must thank Michelle and the efforts of many other hardworking bloggers doing the heavy lifting in exposing him and his allies that the discredited dying MSM could not or would not do.
JFK said, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
Obama says, ask not what you can do for your country, ask what you can do for me.
That’s true of an intellectual duel with any liberal.
How can you tell when you are winning an argument with a liberal? 3 … 2 … 1 … raaaaacist!!!!
OT…but have you guys seen this?
Re: Update and me,me,me;
I counted 6 America/American references. Surprised to see any.
Re: The original lesson plan;
Stuck out to me that the lesson plan didn’t ask students what they could do for America. Instead, for the president. March lock step…
Thomas B, just noticed your comment … Promise I didn’t copy!
I thought Brits were subjects, not citizens. Big difference.
OT sort of. When you have time go look for the Gibbs/Animal House write up on Drudge. The comments are fantastic.
Why would ‘bama want to talk to schoolchildren just because Bush did?
Why would ‘bama want to talk to schoolchildren at all out of the presence of their parents if he didn’t have some agenda? If his agenda is for kids to stay in school and learn all they can, then the kids at greatest risk of dropping out should be the ones targeted and not interrupting the learning day of all kids to encourage them to learn.
Knowing the backgrounds of both men and given that your children don’t even know either one of the men, which man would you rather have talk to your children?
The current circumstances of the talk being out of your presence as the parents, and under the control of the local public school knowing the American public school system’s left-leaning political stance is in itself suspicious. Why not rather put it on television some evening for all to choose to watch or not? That’s got to be because he knows what you choice would be.
The chances are remote that children will be able to bring home verbatim quotes from ‘bama’s speech to them and regurgitate them to you like the MSM does, even if they wanted too.
Definitely something CREEPY about it.
Replace all the “I”s with the name “Barack Obama” and see how creepy it gets.
Good point(s) Michelle. It’s not that I’m concerned about a president telling my kids to study hard in school… it’s that I’m concerned about what he wants them to study, and that the NEA is being used to these ends. This speech is just a tailgate party before the big game, which I believe will be an unprecedented indoctrinational push. We need to push back.
this cartoon comes to mind….
http://www.strangepolitics.com/images/content/135650.jpg
Wow, Obama says “I” 56 times… just two short of the number of states in the U.S.
In the USA we pledge allegiance to flag, country and the Constitution, not to a man.
Obama wants people to think he’s JFK. But JFK told Americans to ask what they could “do for their country”, not what they could do for HIM!!!
It’s hard to find a politician who puts what’s good for the country ahead of his own self-interest. You certainly can’t find one in the current administration.
Now that all the libtards are screeching “See! You were all upset over nothing!, why doesn’t the White House release the original speech he was going to make? I’m sure the one we are seeing is a frantically produced rewrite.
Hopefully the one bit of good to come out of this is a raised awareness (concern) about what TEACHERS are telling kids in the classroom. My charismatic 10th grade history teacher had me leaning left for a few years. Carter and Reagan helped correct that.
PS – I forgot to mention in my last post that the teachers I see commenting about the President’s address on local DC news have all been in favor of it–even before the re-write.
Desert Lover is right. Obama gives speeches to distract from other things he doesn’t want you to think about. He talked about health care on TV while trying to distract us from “kneecap and trade”. He is an egomaniac without peer and a Chicago politician (i.e. crook) I don’t want spewing propaganda to my great-grandchildren tomorrow or ever.
I received an e-mail from Mr. Varadarajan; he is not a man of the Left or the Right- he is a Libertarian. Oh well if he says so but OBEDIENCE, KOW TOWING and PERSONAL ALLIANCE TO THE PRESIDENT are generally not what I have thought of as Libertarian but if he says so it must be true; he works for both Forbes and the WSJ and teaches something somewhere.
1)Obama is talking about Obama
2) water runs down hill
3)and the sun rises in the east
Three for three!
OT – MM’s blog will not allow me to logout. Hmmmm, I hope the Left hasn’t gotten to her! lol!!! ;o)
i read the speech and his self promotion was what struck me also. i i i was all i saw. wash your hands. oh and stay in school and you too can become a communist community organizer just like van jones and i.
We just can’t stand to see you go darlin’-just can not stand it
To those who think that this was all a bunch of alarmist nonsense, consider that people with no governing power were apparently justified enough in their concerns to make the DOE make some changes in the lesson plans. Regardless of whether you think Obama’s intentions are good or devious or somewhere in between, the DOE’s altering of the lesson plans should make one curious about the things the original version of the speech said before the furor arose. As Bogtrotter already mentioned above—is this version of the speech a more sanitized version of one that was originally intended? If nobody had put up a stink, would Americans have been given the chance to read and evaluate the speech before it was given? Would you blindly trust a politician (never mind a radical, community-organizing politician) to talk to your children without knowing what he was going to say beforehand?
Unlike what some on both sides claim, this goes beyond a “IBDI” (if Bush did it) moment. It’s more of a “WBDI” situation, though it was the elder Bush who tried to reach out to the nation’s kids. The opposition was outraged back then, too.
The narcissism is evident in this speech, but the message shouldn’t be terribly objectionable. In fact, some good points are made. However, I won’t hold my breath waiting for test scores to improve.
And since Obama can say “God bless America” in schools, he must be giving the okay for students to talk about God in school now.
You have to wonder how many hours each day Obama spends looking in the mirror admiring his persoanl magnificence.
Problem: The public educational system is horrendous (with some exceptions but those being the vast minority)and public education is overwhelmingly composed of liberals and union workers.
Solution: Have the Liberal-in-chief give ‘em a pep talk. That will fix it!
Classic liberalism, create a problem then propose yourself as the solution.
Is there hope for lgm? He certainly nailed that part.
At least when Jerry Ford was doing heard firsts down the stairs of Air Force One, it was funny in an endearing way.
They ought to make one of those Cours football coach post-game press conference commercials out of all of these Obama pratfalls.
The guy is just tone deaf. His presidency is becoming one long narcissistic rap video award show.
This odd mix of Narcissus and a Big Eared Bat could spend even more time in front of a mirror-all the time he wants-24 hours a day. It would not be enough.
I just KNOW this spoiled man child was never told NO as a boy by anybody. He, his wife and fellows all have undeserved, unwarranted chips on their shoulders and that is what makes them dangerous. Sadly it is hard to approach that shoulder with the Secret Service being all cautious and such. So I guess we will have to step into the parental role and say No, Big Eared Bats and little Narcissus can not have more candy.
Never give in to a temper tantrum–just turn up the Talk Radio
—
Hope you are all having a great labor day not doing much. I was going to put out the flag but it seems like too much work.
Sorry, but this is an all too common error in grammar; to beg the question doesn’t mean there’s a question that needs to be asked.
A proper usage might be as per the following [fictional} exchange:
Person A: "Why is the Department of Education writing lessons for use in the classroom in the first place?"
Person B: "It was poorly worded, so they've rewritten it."
Person A: "That begs the question."
In other words, the original objection/question was never answered; another way of saying it is that the non-answer begs [the original] question.
And it still hasn’t been answered to my satisfaction. What the *blip* is the DoE doing creating and pushing lessons for use in the classroom when its own website states that it does NOT have any control [or influence, real or suggested] over classroom curricula?
Of course the answer is fairly obvious, which is why so many of us object to this POTUS addressing America’s
education hostagesschoolchildren. The I Won and his minions think they are above the law of this land, from the Constitution right on down to the congressional charter for the DoE.