School Daze

American Conservatives have been up in arms since the White House announced last month that Obama would give a back-to-school speech tomorrow when many students have their first day of classes of the new academic year. America being America, there are diametrically opposed views on the speech. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says Obama simply wants to encourage the country's youth to do their best: "The president's whole message is about personal responsibility and challenging students to take their education very, very seriously." Wait a minute, says Florida Republican party chairman Jim Greer, who is "absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology." Have a look at this discussion.

Footnote: A change of heart from Jim Greer in Florida. "My kids watched it,," he said, "and I thought it was appropriate." His rationale: "The White House responded to the concerns of parents and educators across this country." Or Greer was wrong in the first place.