Partisan furor on president's talk goes corrosive

[azmouse]

A great Editorial letter from the AZ Republic. Yeah, I know they're conservative, but on this they got it right.


http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2009/09/04/20090904fri1-04.html

Conservative commentators suggest Obama wants to indoctrinate our youth. Where was that angst in 1991 when President George H.W. Bush spoke to 4.4 million students under similar circumstances?

One national conservative TV personality calls for kids to skip school the day Obama speaks. Perhaps adults urging that approach might benefit from a little pep talk on hearing all points of view - not just the ones they like.

Some have problems with the materials the U.S. Department of Education provided to schools for use with the speech. An early version called on students to "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president." It has been tempered to suggest students "write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals."

There's nothing wrong with criticizing the president. But when adults in positions of authority lend credence to the idea that children should avoid listening to the duly elected president of the United States, it smacks of partisanship gone corrosive.

There are some things a president - any president - does that transcend politics. Telling schoolkids to work hard is one of them.
Barack Obama - like every president before him - is president to all Americans. That's how our system works.

[tridim]

1. That's refreshing. I'm seeing lots of anti-RW blowback this morning, from conservatives. nt

[azmouse]

2. I'm hopeful that at least some of the RW realize they've gone too far.

[Lex]

3. A right-winger on TV said they shouldn't show it because some might "disagree" with

something Pres. Obama says.

:wtf: So that's their rationale? That some might "disagree" with something he says?

[azmouse]

5. Oh the horror!

The RW is so brainwashed they can't stand the thought of hearing something they might not agree with?!
I wonder what they find disagreeable about staying in school?

[mzteris]

4. maybe it'll help expose the lunatic fringe

for what they are . . .

I think they lose credibility with every insane reaction. I don't believe there are that many - they're just the ones getting the ink -- er the video -- and moderate Republicans will hopefully distance themselves further and further away. I can't believe that ALL Republicans are completely racist and insane. Are they?

[azmouse]

6. I've heard a few hopefully sincere Republicans

say that the behavior of their party towards Obama is driving them away. They may not be ready to be Democrats but they are seriously rethinking their allegiance to the Republican party.

[YellaDog1950]

7. Nice to see this.

It really is nice to see this. I obviously live in a state where the RW is feeling no guilt.

[azmouse]

8. Welcome to DU!

:)

I doubt the Republicans in AZ are feeling much guilt either but at least the newspaper got it right.

[louis-t]

9. repugs are over-playing their hand.

Even diehard righties have been silent when I bring up "Obama's gunna kill yer gramma".