David Gregory’s right wing nosedive, part 2: unions, unions everywhere
It’s as if he was reading his talking points off the RNC website (what up!) … David Gregory was even more tooly than usual this week, as he interviewed Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who has created a $4 billion, results-oriented, competitive incentive program for states, school systems and non-profits called “Race to the Top,” and the new education twosome, Rev. Al Sharpton and Newt Gingrich, who are touring the country as part of President Obama’s education initiatives. The panel did their best, but when Newt Gingrich comes off like a reasonable centrist compared to the host, we’re nearing Fox News territory.
During the segment, Gregory mentioned “unions,” “teachers” or “teachers unions” 15 times, and seemed unwilling to allow the discussion to veer off the topic of what role teachers unions are playing in the demise of American education. By contrast, Gingrich, purportedly the conservative on the panel, mentioned unions exactly once, and teachers 5 times (compared to Gregory’s 6 union mentions and 9 teacher references.) Gingrich, Sharpton and Duncan kept trying to bring up the elephant in the room — parents, and their responsibility for demanding accountability at school, but were batted down each time, until finally, at the Gregory conceded, on the way out to break, that “Parents matter. Parents have to say, ‘We have expectations for you.’” Well thanks for that. A typical exchange follows after the jump. Here’s the whole, tiresome segment, in which Gregory also shows how out of touch he is, by focusing mostly on D.C., rather than the nation’s, schools:
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Oh HELL no! My kids’ charter school refused to air the Obama speech
About this post? Major edit. My two older children attend a charter school in Broward County which apparently, despite the blanket decision made by the county school superintendent (which contained no opt-out order, though who knows whether that applies to charter schools…) decided NOT to air the president’s stay in school message today. To put it mildly, I am not amused. I have a call in to the principal and will definitely be at the PTSO meeting tonight. Any other Somerset Academy parents out there? Holla at your girl. Read more
Obama to school kids: Obey (your parents and teachers … and stay in school)
One of my kids (including my 9-year-old) watched the president’s “stay in school” speech today, along with most other kids in Broward County (more on that in the next post…) and none of them turned into a commie (sorry, wingers.) Here’s the speech, as captured by C-SPAN:
Part 1:
School Child Indoctrination: Republican Style
“Every time you walk through that classroom door, make it your mission to get a good education. Don’t do it just because your parents, or even the President, tells you. Do it for yourselves. Do it for your future. And while you’re at it, help a little brother or sister to learn, or maybe even Mom or Dad. Let me know how you’re doing. Write me a letter — and I’m serious about this one — write me a letter about ways you can help us achieve our goals. I think you know the address.” — President George H.W. Bush, in an address to students at Alice Deal Jr. High School on October 1st, 1991, which the White House made available to the nation’s schools.
According to CBS News:
Prior to the appearance, Education Secretary Lamar Alexander sent letters to every elementary and secondary school in the country — 110,000 — urging them to allow students to watch the President’s speech.
That’s all for now, Comrades.
Jim Greer’s Obama swan song
Is Jim Greer AS dumb as a box of rocks... or dumber?
Jim Greer used to have this peculiar habit of speaking to school kids about Republican values … but of course that’s not at all political. Now, the Florida GOP chair, who went from ordinary political operative to Glenn Beck With Training Wheels with one silly press release, will tuck his tail in and send his kids to school tomorrow to be indoctrinated by the president with the socialist credo of staying in school, working hard, and not counting on your teachers to make your future happen for you. Said the new, improved Greer of the speech (after reading the straight-out-of-Karl Marx text):
“It’s a good speech,” says Greer, “It encourages kids to stay in school and [stress] the importance of education.”
No … really???
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