Obama backs off a little

For Immediate Release

September 2, 2009



Contact: Katie Gordon

(850) 339-7087



Greer Leads the Charge – White House Backs Down

Department of Education Revises Biased Teaching Materials



Tallahassee–Yesterday, Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer released a statement condemning the Obama Administration’s attempt to indoctrinate American children to his liberal ideology through the use of biased teaching materials surrounding the President’s address to school children scheduled for early next week. Today, the White House told the Associated Press that Chairman Greer had nothing to worry about, but Chairman Greer kept the heat on, and late tonight the Obama Administration backed down, withdrawing a controversial portion of the teaching plan and issuing revised materials via the Department of Education.



See below for news coverage of today’s events.



Washington Times: WH withdraws call for students to 'help' Obama

The Obama administration late Wednesday withdrew a recommendation that school children who watch a video featuring President Obama next week write about how they might "help the president" as part of a classroom assignment.



The decision came after conservative critics attacked20the plan by federal education officials that teachers supplement the speech with a special curriculum that was designed in concert with the White House.

…

"While I support educating our children to respect both the office of the American President and the value of community service, I do not support using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda," said Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer.



CNN: Florida GOP chair: Obama trying to 'indoctrinate' children

The chairman of the Republican Party of Florida on Tuesday issued a statement to "condemn President Obama's use of taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda."



Jim Greer also accused President Obama of "using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda."



The state party chair issued the statement in response to a White House announcement that Obama would appear in a nationally broadcast address to primary school students around the country. The White House has said the president would be urging students to “(take) responsibility for their success in school.”



"As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology," Greer said.



The Department of Education has released documents that list suggested questions for students to consider during the speech, and activities that teachers can use to guide discussion afterward. Activities listed include creating posters out
lining their personal and academic goals, and “(writing) letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.”


ABC News: WH, Dept of Education Revise Language on Students Outlining How they Can “Help the President"

In an acknowledgment that the Department of Education provided lesson plans written somewhat inartfully, surrounding the President Obama’s speech to students next Tuesday, the White House today announced that it had rewritten one of the sections in question.

…

Today, after Republicans accused the White House of trying to indoctrinate school children with liberal propaganda the White House and the Department of Education changed the section to now read, "Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short‐term and long‐term education goals.”

…

Yesterday, the Florida Republican Party sent out a press release portraying the address as more of a policy speech rather than a specific educational address to children.



AP: Fla. GOP: Obama to spread socialism in schools

Florida's Republican Party chairman is objecting to President Barack Obama's plans to give a back-to-school address next week, saying Obama's real motive is to indoctrinate students with his "socialist ideology."



Obama plans to address students across the nation on Tuesday with a message about staying in school, working hard and achieving educational goals.



Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer issued a press release Tuesday slamming the pla
n. The release quotes Greer saying he is "absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology" and "liberal propaganda."



The White House said Greer has nothing to worry about. Spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama has no plans to give a policy speech to school children.















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