Obama's speech to students today

Did people think Obama was going to try to push healthcare reform on kids or what??

Are we that paranoid as a society that we can't trust the President to speak to our kids, or are we that dumb?

I can't help but think there's some racist undertones with all of this "outrage".For a vast majority of conservatives I'm sure there's no racist component, there are always "fringe" people unfortunately. When Bush 1 spoke to school in DC in 1991 the Dems actually started an investigation and the Post ran a front page story condeming Bush and the event.

School Detention Then and Now: Bush 41 vs. Obama - Greta Van Susteren | On The Record With Greta - FOXNews.com (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,548163,00.html)

I saw the President's speech and read the transcript, I had no problem with it, my son was at school yesterday. Although, Obama could've done excerpts from the Communist Manifesto and it wouldn't have mattered.....my kid probably wasn't paying any attention, he's a Junior and he's "too cool for school". LOL

Did people think Obama was going to try to push healthcare reform on kids or what??

Are we that paranoid as a society that we can't trust the President to speak to our kids, or are we that dumb?

I can't help but think there's some racist undertones with all of this "outrage".

Based on what?

Look - I think any "outrage" over this was dumb. The man's the President and wanted to call the nation's children to study. Further, he did so in what appeared to be a non-partisan fashion. Excellent. I think it should be a mandatory part of every President's term.

But let's not be naive here. The country is polarized and the media (left and right) love to stir things up and overhype any controversy (good ratings don'cha know). The left media likes to portray the right as a bunch of dumb hicks incapable of rational thought and the right media likes to portray the left as a bunch of fellow travellers out to destroy capitalism and democracy. All it takes is a few idiots to say "He's trying to brainwash the kids" for it to play right into these two lines of thought. That's what the "controversy" was about - it had nothing to do with race.

Like Matty said, I saw a woman on the news saying she would hold her kids out of school so they could avoid the "brainwashing". She seemed pretty angry, and clearly didn't like Obama. I took it as her withholding her kids from school, because she doesn't like Obama and doesn't want her kids to hear anything he has to say. Whether it's race or not, the anger is unfounded. So, to me, it's basically the same thing.

Haters will be hate and political opportunist are the epitome of haters. This is nothing more than a political opportunity gone array. In the end these haters make for awesome self-destructive clowns.

Like Matty said, I saw a woman on the news saying she would hold her kids out of school so they could avoid the "brainwashing". She seemed pretty angry, and clearly didn't like Obama. I took it as her withholding her kids from school, because she doesn't like Obama and doesn't want her kids to hear anything he has to say. Whether it's race or not, the anger is unfounded. So, to me, it's basically the same thing.There is definitely anger against Obama out there, but anger against his policies and positions (which some feel are Marxist/socialist) and anger against him because of his race are TOTALLY different things. I have no problem with someone who feels anger against his policies/positions and withholds their children from school. That's not to say I agree with that thought process, but to be against a person because of their actions is one thing. However, anyone who has anger/hatred towards him because of race is completely wrong and completely stupid.

Based on what?

Look - I think any "outrage" over this was dumb. The man's the President and wanted to call the nation's children to study. Further, he did so in what appeared to be a non-partisan fashion. Excellent. I think it should be a mandatory part of every President's term.

But let's not be naive here. The country is polarized and the media (left and right) love to stir things up and overhype any controversy (good ratings don'cha know). The left media likes to portray the right as a bunch of dumb hicks incapable of rational thought and the right media likes to portray the left as a bunch of fellow travellers out to destroy capitalism and democracy. All it takes is a few idiots to say "He's trying to brainwash the kids" for it to play right into these two lines of thought. That's what the "controversy" was about - it had nothing to do with race.

I wish I could be so sure about that.

I do think this pertains to those on the fringe as SS33 said above.

I think what's naive is to think there is absolutely no racist element out there to this, fringe or not.

Exactly. So let me get this straight -- parents of children in public schools are upset that they'll be lectured and indoctrinated by a government official?

lol...

I wish I could be so sure about that.

I do think this pertains to those on the fringe as SS33 said above.

I think what's naive is to think there is absolutely no racist element out there to this, fringe or not.

The birthers can legitimately be called racist/xenophobes, don't know about these people whining about the speech. Then again the GOP is infested with birthers.

I wish I could be so sure about that.

I do think this pertains to those on the fringe as SS33 said above.

I think what's naive is to think there is absolutely no racist element out there to this, fringe or not.

There will always be a race issue no matter what color a person is but I just don't see that as an issue with most people who do not agree with Obama. Just look at the town hall meetings and you saw angry white people mad at their white rep. it had nothing to do with the color of their skin.

The birthers can legitimately be called racist/xenophobes, don't know about these people whining about the speech. Then again the GOP is infested with birthers.I don't think the GOP is "infested" with birthers. And I'm not sure racist/xenophobes is an accurate description, but they are certainly unwilling to accept proven facts and make themselves look pretty dumb, much like the 911 truthers.