Posted on 09/07/2009 12:18:05 PM PDT by freed0misntfree
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former first lady Laura Bush is defending President Obama's decision to address the nation's school children, telling CNN Monday that it is "really important for everyone to respect the President of the United States."
"I think that there is a place for the President of the United States to talk to school children and encourage school children, and I think there are a lot of people that should do the same," she told CNN's Zain Verjee. "And that is encourage their own children to stay in school and to study hard and to try to achieve the dream that they have."
The former first lady said she believed criticism of the speech had arisen because of the accompanying lesson plans. If parents are opposed to the address, said Bush, "That's their right. You know that certainly is the right of parents to choose what they want their children to hear in school… (But) I think it's also really important for everyone to respect the President of the United States."
Does she think it's fair to criticize Obama, as some have, by labeling him a socialist? "I'd have no idea whether it's fair, do you think I thought it was fair when President Bush was criticized — not really. So, I guess not," she responded.
(Excerpt) Read more at politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com ...
I wasn’t very concerned about the speech it was the discussion guide put out the DOE that had me going. It tried to turn the speech from what the meaning was into adulation for Obama. For me that has always been the rub. I doubted that he would go afield knowing that everyone would be listening really close.
Hard to say what the context of the comments was (interview? Press release?) but she clearly also had other comments that make sens — about Cheney’s criticisms of the TOTUS-reading fuhrer and people’s right to keep their kids from being indoctrinated (all my words and not hers)...
Like I said, she has to say that and I’ll bet Barbara Bush would say the same thing.
“NOW, did the PREZ hear this...now he won’t have to blame the economy on George W...any longer.”
But, he still will.
Laura, I'm sorry, but you just fell a few points for me. You should have kept your mouth shut. Obama and his communist czars are the ones who aren't respectful to the Office of the President. I am respectful to the Office of the President but that doesn't mean I must be respectful to the usurper who has disgraced the Office and this country.
Misleading headline.
Pretty much. At least ther isn’t anything in there about rise of sea levels stopping, and great lights directing children to work harder for their government.
Why does she bother to give any support to BO at all? BO has directed the Satans in his administration to go after her husband and his administration. I wonder what she thinks about this? BO never opens his mouth without blaming Bush for something. She’s a better woman than I would be in her shoes.
Laura never did impress me despite all the worship on this site
I'm with Laura 100% one this one.
That campaign speech showed Obama to be a politician and a long way from presidential.
It is important to respect the POTUS, politicians can stick it where the sun doesn't shine in most cases however.
That is not so much a defense of Obama speaking to school children as a shot at those (like Obama) who disrespected her husband when he was POTUS. Doesn’t anyone, including the headline writers, read the damned article ?
She has turned out to be just what I have always thought. Poor George He just had to much to contend with,
Remember she is a libaryian. She is so liberated.
I have wittnesed many first ladies and there are only a couple that I have trusted.
Laura Bush is pro-abortion. I don’t care what she thinks about anything, really.
You can see why Republican got so little the past 8 years.
They want to be loved by the media. Go away Bushes.
It’s always about Barack Hussein Obama.
It wasn't the speech! If Obama had simply announced that he wanted to make a live address to students about the importance of staying in school, there would have been nothing to argue about.
It was the damn talking points that the Department of Indoctrination, errr... Education sent out to principals in advance of the speech. No, it wasn't entirely proper to bypass the state and local education agencies. But, it was really the wording of the "exercises" that set off the alarm bells.
The state-run media has, at best, acknowledged that it was "in-artfully worded". But, why can't they admit that it was a legitimate red flag for the large number of parents in this country that disagree with Obama's political views?
I’ve never liked the mutual suck-up and cover-up society that presidents and ex-presidents try to form together. Or the the way senators would do anything other than criticize each other. We don’t elect them so they better cover their a*&^s for their actions.
And I really don’t get W staying quiet but sending his wife out to do the sucking up so painfully publicly.
I kind of like this. It must twist the guts of progressives to be defended by a Bush.
In Before Somebody Said That Bushes Have Class
Laura Bush as wrong on this, and when she tried to expound on it she went further out on that pier of confusion.
the entire bush family are part of the new world order bunch.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.