In school speech, Obama advises caution in what kids put on Facebook
ARLINGTON (AP) -- In a pep talk that kept clear of politics, President Barack Obama today challenged the nation's students to take pride and ownership in their education -- and stick with it even if they don't like every class or must overcome tough circumstances at home.
"Every single one of you has something that you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer," Obama told students at Wakefield High School in Arlington and children watching his speech on television in schools across the country. "And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is."
Presidents often visit schools, and Obama was not the first one to offer a back-to-school address aimed at millions of students in every grade. Yet this speech came with a dose of controversy, as several conservative organizations and many concerned parents warned Obama was trying to sell his political agenda. That concern was caused in part by an accompanying administration lesson plan encouraging students to "help the president," which the White House later revised.
Obama preceded his broad-scale talk with a meeting with Wakefield students, where at one point he advised them to "be careful what you post on Facebook. Whatever you do, it will be pulled up later in your life."
Obama, accompanied by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, met with some 40 students gathered in a school library before the speech carried on ESPN and on the White House Web site.
"When I was your age," Obama said, "I was a little bit of a goof-off. My main goal was to get on the varsity basketball team and have fun."
The uproar over his speech followed him across the Potomac River, as his motorcade was greeted by a small band of protesters. One carried a sign exclaiming: "Mr. President, stay away from our kids."
During his meeting inside, one young person asked why the country doesn't have universal health insurance. "I think we need it. I think we can do it," Obama replied. The president said the country can afford to insure all Americans and that doing so will save money in the long run.
Obama is not the first president to give such a school-opening talk, but his plans seemed to almost immediately get plunged in controversy. Critics accused him of overstepping his authority, and school districts in some areas decided not to provide their students access to his midday speech.
Duncan acknowledged Tuesday that some of the prepared guidance for school officials included a suggestion that students could compose essays stating how they could help support Obama -- an idea the education secretary acknowledged was wrongheaded.
In his conversation with the Wakefield students, Obama said that not having a father at home "forced me to grow up faster."
One young person asked the president whom he would choose to dine with if he could make only one such selection.
"Ghandhi," Obama replied. "He's somebody I find a lot of inspiration in. He inspired Dr. (Martin Luther) King" with his message of nonviolence.
"He ended up doing so much and changed the world just by the power of his ethics," Obama said of the inspirational leader Mahatma Ghandi. At another point, Obama told the students that "a lot of people are counting on me."
Obama proceeded later with the speech the White House had released a day early, virtually unchanged. The school he chose as the setting for his talk -- Wakefield -- is the most economically and racially diverse school in Arlington County, according to the Department of Education. Nearly 40 percent of graduating seniors pass an Advanced Placement test. That's more than twice the national average.
"There is no excuse for not trying" he said in the speech. He said students must be individually responsible for their education, and that it's important to work hard, pay attention in school and complete assignments.
"Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it," Obama said. "The truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject that you study. You won't click with every teacher that you have."
"At the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents and the best schools in the world, and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities," the president said.
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Jreb: Washington Post - reliable source. I guess for someone who lives in DC part time (work release maybe?) you find the Washington Post to be a hot bed of conservative wing nuts too.
You didn’t read too close did you? While the parens say Barbara Bush, the references after the parens continually refer to “Barbara” as “he”. Unless Barbara had a sex change operation and was the president, I’d say the parens are an editing error. Considering that President Bush’s speech was the issue, attacking Barbara Bush doesn’t make much sense, does it? Little problem with the critical thinking skills, huh? That’s O.K., I’m glad to help.
Did anyone try to keep people from listening to President Bush’s address? I don’t know, probably not - but, the democratic political machine certainly puddled the floor to the point there was an investigation.
Private citizens can encourage folks to either show or not show something, watch or not watch something. People call for boycotts for all kinds of things all the time - how about that FIRST AMENDMENT chief? Gotta love it. So what if parents called the school to complain? Are they not allowed to call the schools to complain? What’s the problem with that? It’s their choice. They can complain all they want and the school can tell each of them to get bent.
Look, my kid is sharp enough to accept the encouragement and filter out the political gibberish - so I had no problem, one way or the other, if my kid saw the speech. I wasn’t calling for boycotts or phoning schools, but, if a parent wants to complain, they’re allowed to complain.
I know you find opposition to President Obama theological heresy, but, people have the right to call for boycotts, agree or disagree with them.
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/74741197.html?dids=74741197:74741197&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+3,+1991&author=Kenneth+J.+Cooper;Eric+Pianin&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&edition;=&startpage=a.14&desc=Funding+of+Bush+Speech+Draws+Fire;+Democrat+Calls+Education+Broadcast+Paid+Political+Advertising’
I take Media Research Center rags about as seriously as I take The Huffington Post. If you only want to read the extreme unrepentant bias (editorializing under the pennant of “exposing liberal bias”), that’s where you can go.
Posted by ( mrright ) on September 08, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Jreb- Dan Rather said ...
Now what’s that about talk radio?“Cite” for me one lie that Rush Limbaugh,Sean Hannity, or Glen Beck have told Or Chuck Todd or Byron York.Just one.
Dan Rather said what? WTF are you babbling about now? Why are you continually trying to change the subject?
And if you were seriously interested in researching the endless lies spewed forth from your favorite RWNJ talking heads, you’d look it up like I’ve just done. Oh, remember Rush pleading not guilty to prescription-drug fraud? When he didn’t even have the sense to use multiple pharmacies for his 2,000+ scripts? That’s genius….
Want more? Of course… here’s the kind of source you and Randy like:
Careful clicking there, old man!
Jreb- Dan Rather said ...
Now what’s that about talk radio?“Cite” for me one lie that Rush Limbaugh,Sean Hannity, or Glen Beck have told Or Chuck Todd or Byron York.Just one.
So the very best you guys can come up with is the “Washington Examiner” and “Newsbusters” both notorious right-wing crackpot organs.
And when I actually chase one of them down and find the utter nonsense at its core, MR says “oh I dont click on links in my own stories, they might contain viruses!“
Comic relief, you two. Awesome. And Randy keeps crowing “You lose you lose!“
Impressive. Gotta love it.
Posted by ( Randy ) on September 08, 2009 at 9:02 pm
J-Reb: It wasn’t just a complaint, an investigation was launched. Look, parents at the grassroots level called and complained about Obama’s speech.
Randy, post an authentic cite about this “investigation”...from a real source, not some looney right-wing fringe affair as you and MR have done so far.
THEN we can discuss its ramifications.
Meanwhile, I hope you’re not going to pretend that the anti-Obama campaign wasn’t thoroughly orchestrated by the same right-wing sources (some of the same ones you use, in fact). There are HUNDREDS of cites to be found in support of that.
Finally, cut to the crux of the matter and address my question below: Did these Democrats try to prevent anyone from seeing or hearing Bush’s speech?
Randy has been so kind as to provide link to my cut-and paste.I don’t know about you but I don’t run to every link someone posts.Its a good way to get a virus.I was trying to make it easy and concise for a guy who lives in D.C. part time and doesn’t watch TV.(Do you really not know who Chuck Todd is? Not surprising.The middle initial “U” is parody.Sorry you missed it,genius)
You can pretend to be above it all you like but you are the epitome of someone who believes only what they want to believe.Only if it fits your template of reality.People like you are why we have a guy like Obama in the White House who doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing.He’s accomplished NOTHING.
You accused me of making something up and you’ve been proven wrong in tandem.Obama wasn’t prevented from speaking and any teacher out there who wants to use the video can show it.Obama should have followed proper channels if he wanted that speech shown on the first day of school.He didn’t.Bush did.
Do you have a problem with the fact some parents don’t want their kids to see it ? To Darn Bad, fella.That’s not your call.
And by the way,spare me your Saul Alinsky style ridicule.If you don’t know who HE is google it yourself.
J-Reb: That’s the funny thing, unless you get a phone call, certified by Western Union from Van Jones confirming the story, every other source is not credible. Nice try.
Read this: You lose.
Then read it again.
And again.
I’ll accept your desperation as a concession of defeat.
Randy, it appears you are wasting your time. If this is the way it goes in congress then it’s no wonder things don’t get accomplished.
LOL Randy… I (foolishly) clicked through your BS “source” and it claims the Dems attacked BARBARA BUSH! Ace work Randy! Who could ever doubt your “sources” ever again? Clown!
Like I said… Talk Radio, at best.
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