Obama’s Back-to-School Speech Ruffles Feathers on the Right

So, President Obama wants to give our nation’s schoolchildren a personalized message Tuesday as they start a new year. One might imagine that the president plans to emphasize the importance of education, but some of Obama’s detractors are reading much more into the motives behind his speech.  —KA

AP via Google News:

Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, a potential presidential contender in 2012, said Obama’s speech is “uninvited” and that the president’s move raises questions of content and motive.

Many school districts have decided not to show Obama’s speech, to be delivered at 12 noon EDT Tuesday, partly in response to concerns from parents.

[...] Gibbs said former Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush delivered similar speeches to students. He said Obama’s speech will not be partisan but rather a chance for children to get “a little encouragement as they start the school year.”

The White House spokesman said he couldn’t speak to the motivations of some school districts.

“Look, there are some school districts that won’t let you read ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ ” Gibbs said.

Read more

whitehouse.gov

Laying the groundwork: President Obama talks about his planned back-to-school speech during an August interview with Damon Weaver from Kathryn E. Cunningham / Canal Point Elementary in Florida.