Obama's school speech. What are the reasons you are for or against it?

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Obama's school speech. What are the reasons you are for or against it?

by Michael Posted September 08, 2009 05:55:21

94 answers
Read all 280 comments
+8 raves

Conservatives have gone crazy over Obama's speech to school children. If you are conservative, what is your main issue. Most Democrats support his speech. What is it about his speech to school children do you think is worth supporting.

This is not an "us vs them" question, I just want to better understand each sides perspective. Remember you are not going to change the view of the opposite side, so stay respectful and try to offer a good explanation.

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	I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive. 50% 47 votes
	Other (leave comment) 24% 23 votes
	I do not support the speech. The similarities to a socialist or totalitarism regime is too close as the "leader" intends to spread his parties views (propaganda). 14% 13 votes
	I do not support the speech. I am not worried about brain-washing or propaganda. Like the separation of chuch and state, so should the president be separated from mass speaking to school children. This sets a bad precident for future school speeches. 6% 6 votes
	I do not support the speech. I believe the president's influence can easily brain-wash kids. If you control the youth then you control the future. 5% 5 votes

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Jerry September 10, 2009 07:20:41

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
I think anytime a influencial figure can motivate children to stay in school, its a good thing. I also heard the speech and it was very good. Just a good old stay in school, reach for the stars message. I also think him being a black president give the even greater message that in a America we can be what ever we want as long as we work hard for it.
☂ Gir ☂ September 10, 2009 04:40:27

Answered: Other (leave comment)
I don't care about the speech. All these Conservatives made a big deal about absolutely nothing.
th4life September 10, 2009 01:48:06

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
it shouldn't matter what your beliefs or who your against. he was adressing the speech to the children of american..trying to set and example..he wanted to show that he was not scared and that he could talk about school..i think the speech shouldnt have been such a controversy..all the man was trying to do was encourage kids..that education is key..nothing what so ever was said about "oh im a democrat" or "im republican".. that wasnt the point,,, he put differences aside..nothing was wrong with it!.
RICK September 10, 2009 01:32:12

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
(User did not leave a comment)
Lessa September 09, 2009 23:06:41

Answered: Other (leave comment)
The edited and presented version was too frigging long for little kids, especially on the first day back.
Laura September 09, 2009 17:05:35

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
I support President Obama's speech to the schools. He cares about our kids. What better example to a child is out leaders. He's a great President and I respect and honor him as our faithful President.
wise up September 09, 2009 14:26:04

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
(User did not leave a comment)
eric September 09, 2009 07:29:23

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
(User did not leave a comment)
Katie September 09, 2009 05:48:14

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
I am a Conservative, and I see no problem with him speaking to the youth of our nation about something as important as staying in school.
Although, I am definately not an Obama supporter, he had good intentions behind the speech, and I see no problem with him giving it.
Gordon September 09, 2009 03:29:58

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
I would have loved to see a broadcast speech from the President when I was a kid. Problem was we didn't have TVs back then.
Fakku_Un September 09, 2009 02:01:38

Answered: Other (leave comment)
...They had a speech? Why am I the only one who doesn't care about T.V. now!?
rightside September 09, 2009 00:21:35

Answered: Other (leave comment)
I think we should all go back to Kennedy's speech.
Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
Any speech should not be about the president, but about kids working in the free country to do what they can strive to do.
I think bama's revised speech was pretty good. But, like the other "pledge", I do not pledge my service to b. obama.
Brosia September 08, 2009 23:21:04

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
I think that this is a special thing that the president is doing. There are so many things that he has to do, but to take the time and address the people in school that all the education bills being passed are going to affect. I am rather upset that my children may be denied the ability to watch the address because their school will be screening the showing to judge its educational value, which just sounds like an excuse for the teachers to input their own political views on a situation. If they don't like Obama, they can just say that his speech was not educational enough.
♥♥Hearts♥♥Of♥♥Hearts♥♥ September 08, 2009 22:00:16

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
Can't wait till I see it tomorrow, I get out of work for that, and I wanna hear what he has to say. As for the lame excuses people gave for not letting their kids see it.. please get real, we know your true reason.

And FYI only a student who liked Obama or cared would pay attention to that speech. No reason to keep them out of school.
rodeogal September 08, 2009 21:44:12

Answered: I do not support the speech. The similarities to a socialist or totalitarism regime is too close as the "leader" intends to spread his parties views (propaganda).
another example of his super inflated ego. So now he can influence our children to stay in school....yeah right. Thats the parents job, not his. He couldn't fool the adults so now he goes after the most valuable resource in america, our children......
=P September 08, 2009 20:31:51

Answered: Other (leave comment)
I didn't really care about the speech we had to watch it today in class I just ignored it and continued talking to my friends.
Ltish September 08, 2009 20:22:59

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
Absolutely absurd to protest anyone, let alone someone who rose up to become President thanks to his education, telling kids to stay in school and study. Where is the political message behind that? Why are people so paralleled by fear?? Come on, folks. GROW UP!
American Nate September 08, 2009 20:05:10

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
He's the PRESIDENT of the United States. NOT a Demercate House Leader.
iTonks September 08, 2009 19:14:33

Answered: I support the speech. The President is the leader of America and has the chance to positively influence these school children. As long as it does not turn political, but stays focused on education and it's importance, I am fully supportive.
I'm not a huge fan of Obama but as a student myself I found it very inspirational and motivational. It was for students not for the rest of the nation, he named famous people that can be role model for kids and teens, people who never gave up on their dreams.
Andy Devine September 08, 2009 18:59:33

Answered: Other (leave comment)
Let’s see if I can express why I believe that the President should stay out of school. First of all, I acknowledge that previous Presidents have addressed school children; I did not agree then either.

There are always two sides to a coin. Many of the population have honest and heart-felt issues and disagreements with the President’s ideology. We do not agree with the direction that he is leading the nation. In a republic like ours, this disagreement is healthy and fundamental to the success of our political system. As a parent I influence my children with my political beliefs just like every other parent in this country. When my children become adults they are free to follow their heart and choose their own path. While they are impressionable, I attempt to shield them from influences that I disagree with.

The President is an elected political official. He is currently the top representative of the most powerful nation in the history of the world. As such, his power to influence people for good or bad is immense. There is every possibility that his speech will have a very positive influence on the school children listening to it. There is also a concern that I hear voiced in these comments that the President will use his stature and the authority of the school setting to ga...

Let’s see if I can express why I believe that the President should stay out of school. First of all, I acknowledge that previous Presidents have addressed school children; I did not agree then either.

There are always two sides to a coin. Many of the population have honest and heart-felt issues and disagreements with the President’s ideology. We do not agree with the direction that he is leading the nation. In a republic like ours, this disagreement is healthy and fundamental to the success of our political system. As a parent I influence my children with my political beliefs just like every other parent in this country. When my children become adults they are free to follow their heart and choose their own path. While they are impressionable, I attempt to shield them from influences that I disagree with.

The President is an elected political official. He is currently the top representative of the most powerful nation in the history of the world. As such, his power to influence people for good or bad is immense. There is every possibility that his speech will have a very positive influence on the school children listening to it. There is also a concern that I hear voiced in these comments that the President will use his stature and the authority of the school setting to gain an unfair political advantage over an entire generation of upcoming voters. This could be seen as a down-payment on the 2010 and 2012 elections. This concern is not something that you can ignore just because you share the political beliefs of the President.

So again I state “Mr. President, Stay out of school.” If you want to address the nation, do so on national television and I’ll decide if I want my children to listen.
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