I think Robert Gibbs is silly.
Posted on 09/05/2009 6:31:04 AM PDT by Son House
"I think we've reached a little bit of the silly season when the president of the United States can't tell kids in school to study hard and stay in school," Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said. "I think both political parties agree that the dropout rate is something that threatens our long-term economic success."
But critics objected to the language of one of the lesson plans, for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 6, that suggested that students "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president." Another assignment for students after hearing the speech was to discuss what "the president wants us to do."
The suggestion about writing letters has since been changed to: "Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals."
White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said the changes to the language are intended to make the lesson plans clearer. He added that the president's speech will not be a policy speech, but is intended to encourage kids to work hard and commit to school.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, on Friday defended Obama's plan to address students.
"The bottom line is we need the president of the United States of America to use his bully pulpit to talk to kids about the importance of education and to help inspire kids," she said on radio station WOR in New York.
The White House plans to release the text of the speech online Monday so parents can read it. Obama will deliver the speech at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Saddam Hussein is back!
Presumeably, after this first ice-breaking speech to the impressionable minds of schoolchildren - aided and abetted by their NEA teachers and complete with detailed lesson plans from the Federal Dept of Ed and the White House - we can look forward to more, many more, of these "teachable moments" by Dear Leader.
Like, every week and eventually about every day. Just as we can't turn on the tv without seeing him yakking and listening to his minions and media sychophants, neither will the schoolkids be able to escape his omnipresence and wisdom in the classroom.
If compulsory public schools can do condoms, sex ed, multi-cultural studies, and GLBT all day, all the time, why not add in Dear Leader for more direction (and adoration) into their little empty lives?
“It must be “Silly Season” at the White House when there are much more crucial problems in America and all Obozo wants to do is chat with kids.”
Not only that, he/they also know that doing this may/would generate controversy especially at this juncture of his presidency and he/they did it anyway. He/they are solely responsible for the partisanship, the Silly Season and thus his/their declining approvals.
The Republican Party in Washington has done itself more good than harm by staying in the sidelines, keeping a low profile even when attacked with seldom participation on the State Run Networks.
No Randi, your fat and happy union teachers need their asses kicked in gear to properly do their job.
Obama is having a hard time with his agenda with this pesky INTERNET!
Gibbering Lib:”Oh Yeah? Well, Ronnie Rayguns and King George the 1st both made speeches to schoolkids and you guys didn’t think it was such a big deal back then! This uproar over Obama is just ignorant and SILLY!!”
AAP (Average American Person): “As far as I know their speeches didn’t come with government sanctioned lesson plans and the big difference-— most of us American citizens TRUSTED those guys and the office of President back then. We may have had strong disagreements with aspects of their policies, but we sincerely felt they had the best interests of the nation at heart Your guy Obama has totally corrupted and soiled the Presidency. His best interests are for him and him alone. So, yeah...of course we’re just a ‘wee-wee’ bit suspicious” ; )
Yes they do. I wonder how all those “Principled Conservatives” are enjoying the response to the “message they sent”?
Utterly appropriate, IMHO.
Personally, I have great sympathy for all WH Press Secretaries, for what they have to withstand. Of course, I think the Republican Administrations start off with a handicap but all of them have to stand up there and perform the kabuki dance of spinning the news.
I get the feeling that Mr. Gibbs is not quite the same happy fellow that he was in the earlier months of the 'honeymoon'. Anyone think that he will survive to 2012? Given the current trends I think that the WH Press Corps will resemble a starving wolf pack like it was for Bush.
Yes - that line is strange from a guy who continually says “it’s not about me”
Why wouldn’t the children write letters about how they could help THEMSELVES.
Anyways - are they asking kindergartenrs to write letters in the beginning of the school year? Really?
And asking young’uns about short term and long term goals? Really?
Where is the link to these lesson plans?
His smugness and arrogance reflect that of his boss.
This White House is full of condescending nasty a$$holes.
You know it is interesting the way the White House is just plain dismissive toward the American people.
They are condescending in a way that shows they believe they know more than regular Americans and that the typical American is just not that intelligent or informed.
They are patronizing, to the point of saying “Whatever” and then then they say “Speak to the hand”.
This how you inform and gain equal stature with the very people you are trying to influence?
Tell Them the are uninformed(code for not very smart)
“We need to use the Bully Pulpit...” What kind of retarded as sales pitch is that? If you are trying to influence people you don’t use “The Bully Pulpit”, you show yourself as a partner in whatever process you are trying to promote and garner more participants.
These guys view Americans as opposition and enemies. That makes them the opposition and enemy.
"I think we've reached a little bit of the silly season when the president of the United States can't tell kids in school to study hard and stay in school," Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said.
"It's particularly silly, since this was supposed to be all about Ramadan and the destruction of Israel, and Death to the Infidel!"
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Exactly right.
Maybe he could limit his lectures on responsibility, staying in school, etc to his campaign appearances - I’m sure that the uneducated are disproportionately represented among his supporters.
And B.O. MUST counteract what the kids are hearing at home from their parents—disenchantment with the Muslim CIC and his policies.
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