In response to the recent letter from Ricia Maxie of the local Democratic Party, I tend to agree with the initial assessment that it was disrespectful not to allow students to view a speech from the president live. However, that is where our agreement stops.
The letter makes mention of speeches from past Presidents’ Reagan and Bush Sr., but doesn’t recall the upheaval that we saw with President Obama’s speech. Maybe we need a brief refresher with the following comments:
“The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students,”
“It is outrageous for the White House to start using precious dollars for campaigns when we are struggling for every silly dime we can get for education programs.”
“If he feels obliged to use government funds to hire outside consultants to make him look good, then he should fire some of the public relations experts on the White House payroll. Then the president might be more sympathetic to unemployment benefits.”
These comments were made in response to President George H.W. Bush’s speech to students in 1991. It was the same general speech that President Obama made. These comments were made by Democratic House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Democratic House Reps. Patricia Schroeder and Martin Frost.
My point is that I agree that it is disappointing that we cannot allow a speech from the president of the United States to be aired live in school; however the local chairperson is playing politics when she claims that past Republican presidents spoke without the opposition coming unglued.
The office of the president should be respected and the speech heard by all regardless of the party affiliation. Hearing from the president will only encourage our children to succeed.
Gary Cooper
Cumming
The letter makes mention of speeches from past Presidents’ Reagan and Bush Sr., but doesn’t recall the upheaval that we saw with President Obama’s speech. Maybe we need a brief refresher with the following comments:
“The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students,”
“It is outrageous for the White House to start using precious dollars for campaigns when we are struggling for every silly dime we can get for education programs.”
“If he feels obliged to use government funds to hire outside consultants to make him look good, then he should fire some of the public relations experts on the White House payroll. Then the president might be more sympathetic to unemployment benefits.”
These comments were made in response to President George H.W. Bush’s speech to students in 1991. It was the same general speech that President Obama made. These comments were made by Democratic House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Democratic House Reps. Patricia Schroeder and Martin Frost.
My point is that I agree that it is disappointing that we cannot allow a speech from the president of the United States to be aired live in school; however the local chairperson is playing politics when she claims that past Republican presidents spoke without the opposition coming unglued.
The office of the president should be respected and the speech heard by all regardless of the party affiliation. Hearing from the president will only encourage our children to succeed.
Gary Cooper
Cumming