“The president should be doing more about education than saying, ‘Lights, camera, action.’”

By Michelle Malkin  •  September 8, 2009 09:41 AM

No, that wasn’t a quote from any Republican in response to President Obama’s education address today.

It was Dick Gephardt, spearheading the Democrat congressional investigation of Bush 41’s education speech in 1991.

Posted in: Education

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  1. #801259
    On September 8th, 2009 at 9:51 am, tiredofit08 said:

    If dear leader really wants to help then send them a short one page letter like I received when I was in grade school extorting the benefits of keeping fit…simple and wouldn’t take an hour out of a student’s day listening to how hard he had it growing up. Some of these kids know far better than he did…they need not be lectured on it…

  2. #801267
    On September 8th, 2009 at 9:58 am, b-cat said:

    Funny, isn’t it, that all these years later I still disagree with Gephardt.

    The President should have next to nothing to do with education.

  3. #801272
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:03 am, flmom said:

    Here’s a great alternative to the lesson plan from the Dept. of Ed.

    http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/09/alternative_discussion_questio.html

  4. #801274
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:04 am, cicerokid said:

    A simple public service announcement would have been sufficient.

  5. #801275
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:04 am, jangar said:

    I have a better suggestion for any politician/president who may want to address children:

    Speak to parents/guardians, allow them to dissemenate as they see fit. We don’t need no stinking village to raise our own children.

  6. #801276
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:05 am, dan708 said:

    In PA, education system problems are mainly created by the state. Teachers unions are permitted to strike every two years, ensuring that labor chaos is virtually non-stop even in bad economic times. Also, the state mandates that local school boards – read that “we taxpayers” – have to pay a certain amount into the teachers’ pension fund every so often. And if the value of the pension fund drops because of bad investments, guess who has to make up the difference? You guessed it, they turn to us again! I didn’t see anyone propping up my 401k when it tanked last year!

  7. #801277
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:05 am, iamsaved said:

    Not only should Obama back off from prosyletizing impressionable minds, the Federal Government should get out of the education business along with all of the so-called teachers unions. The only thing they’ve been good at is dumbing down America and wasting untold tax dollars for very little return.

  8. #801279
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:08 am, tre said:

    If the President wants to help education, then may I suggest that he institute a voucher program. I would love to send my children to a private school, especially my autistic son. But I can’t afford private tuition and taxes to support the public school at the same time.

    Yeah, I know. Fat chance of that ever happening! The Non Education Association won’t allow it!

  9. #801280
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:08 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Dick Gephardt: Joe Biden Lite, perhaps a better haircut but besides that so what?

    President Bush 41 SHOULD have been the bad example for all Republicans: he catered to the Democrats on almost every issue-tanked on No New Taxes-and still the Democrats slapped him around from day one. And so the people correctly saw him as weak and sent him packing only to be resurrected in Bush 11 then John McCain tries the same thing.

    These is no dealing with the Left-they always stab you in the back and come for more.Yes Dick Gephardt, the current DNP leadership and their whores in media are hypocrites-anyone shocked? That there are Republicans, any Republicans that think they can honestly deal with this Leftist tsunami is shocking. Stupid as a Goal?

    Weaklings serve no useful purpose-as seat fillers they can be replaced with rocks. “Lights, camera, action” send in the clowns.

  10. #801281
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:09 am, iamsaved said:

    Oh, and by the way, the Departments of Education and Energy (the two DOEs)were by-products of the Carter era. That speaks volumes alone…

    Neither one has fulfilled their original purpose.

  11. #801284
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:13 am, no2pcbs1 said:

    zero loves the camera, must think everybody waits patiently day in and day out just to see his over sized ears on television. give it a rest zero try to get some work done, for a change. zero acts as if he is on a union salary getting paid for not working.

  12. #801287
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:15 am, JustifiedRight said:

    I’m conservative as anyone, so I actually like the speech text because it’s about personal responsibility. I want to encourage Obama when he speaks that way, not discourage him.

    Is anyone else with me on that?

  13. #801288
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:15 am, DBNinKY said:

    In my view as a teacher, the original lesson plan told the tale: the unrevised “speech” – not the one that will be delivered today – was about inspiring students towards political and community activism, as evidenced by the application of student reflection and connection, instructional methods used to develop student skills in reading and writing, in order to facilitate student rumination and induction of activist ideals.

    Fortunately, bloggers like MM and a select few non-MSM news outlets caught this in time.

  14. #801290
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:18 am, DBNinKY said:

    I want to encourage Obama when he speaks that way, not discourage him.

    I agree but this doesn’t appear to be where he initially was with this.

  15. #801298
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:29 am, cheapseat said:

    what goes around comes around. bush I was investigated by congress and pillaried for having spent 26k on the school speech, and the dem rallying cry was “bush spends 26k on a political speech to school kids, and cuts lunch budgets to the poor.” now obama spends (…) on a speech to the school kiddies, and cuts treatment to tre’s autistic child. or grandma’s hip replacement, or chemotherapy to grandma.

  16. #801300
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:31 am, moonsbreath said:

    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:15 am,

    JustifiedRight said:
    I’m conservative as anyone, so I actually like the speech text because it’s about personal responsibility. I want to encourage Obama when he speaks that way, not discourage him.

    Is anyone else with me on that?

    The speech isn’t the problem, it’s the work sheets and reading assignments that are.

    I would hope that there are some smart kids who respond to the work sheets by saying they would like to help Obama not to spend all this money and leave them paying for all this debt for generations.

  17. #801302
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:34 am, 7thson said:

    There must be a God because my cable box crashed this weekend and Verizon won’t have a new one to me before today and tomorrow’s speeches air. Are there any speeches planned for Thursday and Friday or will the Won be on vacation?

  18. #801304
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:37 am, rightwingrocker said:

    The Interloper ought to be getting the federal government OUT of education.

    RWR
    http://www.rightwingrocker.com

  19. #801306
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:39 am, rightwingrocker said:

    simple and wouldn’t take an hour out of a student’s day listening to how hard he had it growing up.

    Ya know, with all the socialism he had in his youth that’s just supposed to be so amazing, why in the world would we expect our kids to want to live under that same socialism if it didn’t even make the One’s life any better?

    RWR
    http://www.rightwingrocker.com

  20. #801307
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:41 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:15 am, JustifiedRight said:

    I’m conservative as anyone, so I actually like the speech text because it’s about personal responsibility. I want to encourage Obama when he speaks that way, not discourage him.

    Is anyone else with me on that?

    He teaches math.

  21. #801310
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:47 am, Wayfaring Stranger said:

    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:03 am, flmom said:

    Here’s a great alternative to the lesson plan from the Dept. of Ed.

    http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/09/alternative_discussion_questio.html

    Perfect!

  22. #801313
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:47 am, prendad said:

    I have banished Obama and the “Gang of Three” network news from my tv set but I think that I will force myself to listen to our Imperious Follower just to see what new health plan psychobabble he has come up with. I’ll bet that TOTUS is trembling.

  23. #801316
    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:55 am, TigerLady said:

    prendad, there isn’t enough compazine in the universe for me to listen to The Won.

  24. #801317
    On September 8th, 2009 at 11:03 am, swmntman said:

    Justified said,

    …Is anyone else with me on that?..

    I believe in judging by the content of their character - and I just don’t trust the man. I don’t want him speaking directly to my kids so I called up the principal and informed her that my daughter will not be participating. Our district has since backed out of showing this because of all the complaints from parents.

  25. #801319
    On September 8th, 2009 at 11:07 am, prendad said:

    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:15 am, JustifiedRight said:
    I’m conservative as anyone, so I actually like the speech text because it’s about personal responsibility. I want to encourage Obama when he speaks that way, not discourage him.
    Is anyone else with me on that?

    I was visiting my liberally misguided daughter-in-law the other day and she suddenly burst out with a question about Obama and his school speech (much to the horror of my son due to the diametric nature of her political and religious views with mine). I told her that I thought that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the president, or anyone for that matter, speaking with our nation’s schoolchildren and attempting to reinforce the attitde about staying in school, studying hard, and completing their education. However, injecting politics into the classroom is wrong and I strongly object to it.
    She smiled silently and the conversation ended.

  26. #801321
    On September 8th, 2009 at 11:08 am, rocketman said:

    ***
    Possibly President Obama (PBUH) can set up these kids to “community organize” their school! He can give them his expertise in this–his only–area of success. Another photop event.
    ***
    John Bibb
    ***

  27. #801337
    On September 8th, 2009 at 11:29 am, lgm said:

    That was true about Bush41. He didn’t do much about anything.

  28. #801344
    On September 8th, 2009 at 11:35 am, xler8bmw said:

    Just from the backdrop you can tell it’s political!

    Education For The Future
    http://www.whitehouse.gov

  29. #801346
    On September 8th, 2009 at 11:36 am, DBNinKY said:

    It all comes down to trust. I trusted Presidents Reagan and Bush to say to students what was beneficial for the country – not their personal philosophies or ideologies – so I fully supported their speeches.

  30. #801353
    On September 8th, 2009 at 11:43 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    n September 8th, 2009 at 11:08 am, rocketman said:

    ***
    Possibly President Obama (PBUH) can set up these kids to “community organize” their school!

    Bloods
    Cripts
    16 st gang
    Mojos?
    They are rather prevelent is some of our schools now. They could apply for a Department of Education grant to expand. Is Malik Zulu Shabazz of the New Black Panther Party available? He could be Czar of School Community Organizing. ACORN and SEUI would have to get their cut of course but as it is “for the children” no price could be too high.

    God Bless AmeriKKK and such.

  31. #801358
    On September 8th, 2009 at 11:48 am, Wayfaring Stranger said:

    On September 8th, 2009 at 10:04 am, cicerokid said:

    A simple public service announcement would have been sufficient.

    But then I Won wouldn’t have time to reference me, myself, and I over fifty times. :roll:

  32. #801375
    On September 8th, 2009 at 12:07 pm, mchristian said:

    The President should leave education up to the states. The Department of Education should be shut down tomorrow. It is nothing more than a money pit.

  33. #801376
    On September 8th, 2009 at 12:08 pm, madshark said:

    Back when I was attending school (Los Angeles Unified School District, thank you), most of the tests we took were closed book tests. In other words, we had to know our stuff, and we weren’t allowed to use books or class notes. Some courses that I took in college allowed open book (and sometimes take home) exams.

    This got me to wondering. Is Obama’s speech an “open teleprompter” or a “closed teleprompter” speech?

  34. #801385
    On September 8th, 2009 at 12:19 pm, battleaxe said:

    I think a speech by Obama to inner city/minority/disadvantaged kids would be really good if it covered one topic – that Obama made it to the Presidency from humble beginnings through hard work, sacrifice, being smart, and staying in school.

    As long as he didn’t stray, I think this would have a profound impact on minority children.

    However, since it would undermine the false democrat premise of white oppression that Sharpton and Jackson put forward, it won’t happen.

  35. #801410
    On September 8th, 2009 at 1:00 pm, rocketman said:

    HI BATTLEAXE–12:19–I also think that President Obama (PBUH) and his lovely wife Michelle are prime examples of how people in the U.S. have the chances to advance themselves in their lives despite not being in the “rich” and “privileged” groups.
    ***
    Other societies don’t provide these opportunities. But our first family doesn’t seem to see things this way. They only see oppression and racism–and seem bitter.
    ***
    In the Messiah’s book DREAMS OF MY FATHER he sees his loser “Father” as a person to be looked up to. He forgets how his Dad and Mom abandoned him (and his many other half brothers and sisters) and went about building their socialist / marxist lives for themselves.
    ***
    It was Obama’s strong Grandmother who loved him, cared for him, and gave him a good future. He lionizes his Dad in the book. Our president is a man with bad judgment. He will change our country into one with a lot less opportunity for all with his bad economic and social policies.
    ***
    John Bibb
    ***

  36. #801415
    On September 8th, 2009 at 1:04 pm, xler8bmw said:

    Off subject but, Important!

    Glenn Beck Says He Will “Expose Something” that will Result in “People Going to Jail”

    http://tinyurl.com/lkrsdq

    HHHHMMMM I hope so that’s a big statement to make if you can’t back it up!
    I do know it has to go through legal @ News Corp and clearance before it can air.

  37. #801440
    On September 8th, 2009 at 1:51 pm, American Elephant said:

    Lets not encourage Obama to do ANYTHING. The less he does the better!

  38. #801458
    On September 8th, 2009 at 2:46 pm, graysonret said:

    From Fox news:

    WASHINGTON — A top senator is calling for fines of up to $3,800 on families who fail to get medical insurance after a health care overhaul goes into effect.

    The plan from Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana would make health insurance mandatory, just like auto coverage. It would provide tax credits to help cover the cost for people making up to three times the federal poverty level. That’s about $66,000 for a family of four, and $32,000 for an individual.

    But those who still don’t sign up would face hefty fines, starting at $750 a year for individuals and $1,500 for families. The maximum penalty on individuals would be $950.

    Baucus is hoping his plan can win bipartisan support. A copy of his proposal was obtained by The Associated Press

    It begins…the forcing of people to spend their money the way the government sees fit, just like a totalitarian nation. I hope the American public can trash this idea quickly.

  39. #801639
    On September 8th, 2009 at 6:46 pm, rightwingrocker said:

    That was true about Bush41. He didn’t do much about anything.

    If this were true, Bush41 would have been renowned as one of the best presidents in all of history. He inherited the greatest peacetime economy in the history of the country and just about everything was flying high except Donk morale.

    He should have followed the example of his predecessor. Instead, he made nice with the Donks and opened up the door for the very crap we’re dealing with today.

    RWR
    http://www.rightwingrocker.com

  40. #801640
    On September 8th, 2009 at 6:48 pm, rightwingrocker said:

    Lets not encourage Obama to do ANYTHING. The less he does the better!

    Amen …

    Can we encourage him to keep his monkey-trap shut?

    RWR
    http://www.rightwingrocker.com

  41. #801672
    On September 8th, 2009 at 7:52 pm, TigerLady said:

    that Obama made it to the Presidency from humble beginnings through hard work, sacrifice, being smart, and staying in school.

    I think that would be good too, if it were true. He’s a prime example of affirmative action. He doesn’t know the meaning of hardwork, sacrifice or being smart. He can read a teleprompter and that’s about it.

  42. #801822
    On September 9th, 2009 at 1:14 am, lonewolf said:

    The problem is not what Obama said. The problem is that he interjected himself into a self-aggrandizing situation where he has no business.
    I don’t want my kids or grandkids looking to Obama as any kind of example or role model. They are not ready to discern between his “innocuous” message and subversive intent.

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