Won't somebody think of the children!

I’m sure many of you have heard of the furore caused by some rabid rightwingers in the USA protesting about President Obama’s speech to school children to be broadcast to schools across the country. One of the most insane comments that I’ve read comes from Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, who said:

Obama has pushed his political agenda to the extreme by forcing himself on America’s children. Obama’s political agenda on healthcare and his expansive vision for government is being rejected by the American people. Now Obama is after our children, who, like some socialist members of Congress, have not read the healthcare bill. Americans do not appreciate the President’s attempt to use our children as political pawns in his game of chess. Mr. President, you must abide by the rule of law and stop this illegal activity. Our children do not belong to you.

Liberty University is a fundamentalist Baptist university located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and was founded by Jerry Falwell who was a bit of a dickhead, to put it mildly.

Media Matters summarised:

Numerous conservative media figures have baselessly accused President Obama of trying to “indoctrinate” America’s children with his planned back-to-school speech encouraging students to succeed and persist in their studies. Sean Hannity claimed that “it seems very close to indoctrination,” while Fox News commentator Monica Crowley said “just when you think this administration can’t get any more surreal and Orwellian, here they come to indoctrinate our kids”; similarly, Michelle Malkin claimed that “the left has always used kids in public schools as guinea pigs and as junior lobbyists for their social liberal agenda.”

I mean, seriously! How… what… but… !!!

So when President Obama finally got around to making his speech today, I had to watch it. Then I read it. And I’m still looking for the indoctrinating statements, the socialist ideals, the surrealism and Orwellian comments and the liberal agenda.

For all the hysterical and childish panic among conservatives, it was not a controversial speech. There was no hidden agenda, liberal or otherwise. The President emphasised that students should take responsibility for their education and future, and that “if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country” — a rather patriotic statement which conservatives usually love.

Of course, that won’t stop the moronic conservatives from trying to find baseless criticism of the President’s speech, but this is just a great example of the pathetic fear-mongering that rightwingers have been reduced to — and deservedly so.

You can watch the video of the President’s speech here.

As for “indoctrination”, do read this. So disgusting.

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