CNN

Greer, the chair of the Republican party of Florida, this is the nut case that thinks the WH switched the speech. he's is the absolute worse.

Finally Mr. Obama gave a speech without an agenda for Healthcare or his other hobbies. And downing the Reps. Congrats!!!

Yes, everything isn't about politics. Get over yourselves.

The republic-cons and right wing fear-mongers did not really care if Obama gave a speech or not.....they just wanted to dis him for anything new he tries to offer or accomplish....

That's what the government and populus has become in this country–intolerant and non-supportive. Prejudiced against anyone who does not think like you or act like you or look like you...

If the two parties and their supporters continue to fight like this all the time, our superpower status is going to erode just like Rome, British Empire and all the other great nations......

Good speech but it is sad he had to be goaded into doing the right thing and changing the handout materials. And please don't be dumb enough to think they did not change the actual speech after the uproar – they did. With his huge ego I know that had to hurt.

Why was the fuzz all about??? don't get it!

Obama's speech was direct, simple, intelligent and to the point. These "mothers" saying......I don't want my children to listen to his speech........ are unintelligent, uneducated, unreasonable and I BET YOU ARE IN THE DOUGH litching the government from every point, UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! and for sure Republicans.

The American Taliban’s only objectives are to bring down this President and institute their own right wing policies. They will say and do anything. They are un-American and have chosen to ignore the democratic process and spit on the US Constitution. They are traitors. Their propaganda a fear and hate are strait out of the “Repressive Regime Handbook”. And they want to call Obama, Hitler.

It is time real Americans: the intelligent, the educated, the rationale individuals of this great nation stand up against these evil people and support our President; Barack Obama who was constitutionally and legally elected by the majority of the electorate, through our democratic process.

You don’t have to like him or agree with him, but if you don’t respect the office or our democratic process, you are not an American and you are a traitor.

How dare this man to go into our schools and talk such stuff to our kids like working hard for good grades and staying in school and listening to teachers. No one has the right to tell our kids who to listen to. They do not have to listen to anyone. I set my own examples for my kids everyday after dinner. While I am relaxing and sipping on a cool one I tell my kids how I told the boss off today coz he didn't know what he was talking about and my kids are proud of me. They don't need some Black President telling them when they have me.

Getting late now. Need to get to bed so I can get out early and find a new job tomorrow.

What is controversial about working hard and staying in school?

Wonderful speech from an inspiring leader. I wish our children heard this everyday instead of the repulsive rhetoric from the disturbing right wing These people are reactionaries who were against this speech and everything this President is doing for the American people. They need to look in the mirror and asked themselves" Am I a good, decent, loving human being that a compassionate God has created"....they might be shocked to see what they have become.
Also they need to go back to school and get a REAL education with an OPEN mind. The reality is the world around them is changing and their lack of education has left them behind!

"One of the most unexpected controversies of the Obama administration...." Huh? How is that "unexpected"? Do you want some shady character giving your kids advice? What kind of person are you?

Totally a ridiculous controversy. If kids can't listen to Obama, than every politician ought to stay out of every university, community college, and school. Where were the republicans when Bush Sr did this or Bush Jr, read about the pet goat? Oh that's right, they must have been sleeping or out chasing down little boys.

As a retired elementary principal, I found President Obama's message to students inspirational and on the money for the youth of our Country. It is hard for me to wrap my brain around all of the negative reactions to President Obama until I realized what is happening.
I
It is obvious that The United States of America has a long way to go I order to ase centuries of racism. It is clear that many can not tolerate an educated, well spoken, and not easily ruffled African-American as President.

Even when a video of President George Bush, Sr. was played showing he used the exact words as President Obama concerning writing him about how they could help hm as presodent, the uproar still continued..........because he is African-American.

It is amazing that those same parents have not shown their concern about the drop out rate, violance, and underachievement of too many students. They seem eager to build more jails rather than educate our children.

I AM SO VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE PROTESTERS WHO ARE THE ONES WITH A PERSONAL ADGENDA AGAINST AN INTELLIGENT, HIGHLY EDUCATED AND FOCUSED PRESIDENT. GOD HELP US TO LOVE AND RESPECT THE PRESIDENT WHO THE PEOPLE RESOUNDLY VOTED TO LEAD OUR COUNTRY.

Distractors are sending the message that even when one is highjy qualified to speak on education,reject him if he is an African-American. SHAME, SHAME ON ALL WHO OBJECT TO MOTIVATING OUR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS as well as take responsibility for their part in achieving high academic goals.

PRESIDENT OBAMA, I WILL DO WHAT I CAN TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR YOU AND YOUR POLICIES. I BELIEVE IT IS TIME FOR US TO HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS THERE BECAUSE HE IS QUALIFIED AND NOT BECAUSE OF FAMILY.AND POLITICAL TIES.

MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR PRESIDENT OBAMA.

Our President, has every right to speak to the school children of this Country, just like any other President has, and their has been other President's who have given speaches to the school children of this Country, and no one said a word about it. It just makes me so upset, when closed minded people want to lie about this speach. The far right and you know who you are, want this country to fail, and if we do you can take all the blame. I can only pray, and support my President Obama. thank you.

CNN – you are really close to losing me, and I log into this site daily. I am so tired of your overheated rhetoric and desperate search for controversy. If you can't fill a 24 hour news cycle, then change the cycle. Don't make up the news. There are two reasons this was a 'controversy:'

1. There are a few people who will say or do anything in order to try to destroy our President, and
2. CNN will report every word each one of them says, ad infinitum, with as many inflammatory words as possible.

Do your jobs better.

President Obama did not "deliver a controversial speech", as CNN's headline declares. Instead, he delivered a non-controversial speech that was demagogued by right-wing conservatives. CNN then reported the demagoguery with little or no comment, producing more of that brain-dead infotainment that we all know and love.

All the right-wing nuts out there who were going crazy over the idea of the President speaking to school kids across the country on their first week back ought to be really proud of themselves right about now for their misguided, paranoid rantings. His message? Stay in school and give it your best – the future well-being of your country could depend on it. Yeah, that's a message really worthy of protest. Maybe they'll learn to ignore the right-wing propaganda machine while they're at it....

Did I miss something. Where was the controversy in telling kids to be responsible for their own future and stay in school and excel.

WOW...No wonder America is behind 3rd world countries when it comes to education.

The uproar over the president's speech to school kids and the paranoid parents keeping their little protoges from hearing the speech reminds me of the Rogers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific and the song "You've got to be Taught".
What are these parents teaching their kids?

SO controversial. Obama,stop trying brainwash my kids into doing well in school!!!

Horrors! The president talked about personal responsibility and the future of our country. We should all be outraged!!!!

The grand old party is so insecure they make up lies about the president addressing our children. I have never seen so much disrepect as we have seen from a bunch of ignorant cry babies. The media needs to stop feeding the frenzie and lets get back on track. Everyone is so worried about Obama being a socialist, where were they when the Bush/Cheney administration denied United States citizens their rights under the constitution? The GOP brings out the same old issues; abortion, gun control and gay marriage. They had 8 years to do something about those issues, but didn't, what would they run on if they did? Now we have crazies toting guns to public events because it is their right under the constititution, really?

Wow this guy really loves himself.....Whatever he would tell my kid I would tell them to do the opposite. After not even shaking President Bush's hand at the Kennedy Funeral that showed me how low this classless fool could sink to. Obama really is a Pathetic individual.

Hats off to you Mr. President. When did it become a terrible thing to have the President of The United States, speak to the children of America??? Did the right think President Obama would tell the students..hey go home & tell your parents to vote Democrat. My, my, my, we have some shallow people in this country.

The speech was very encouraging. I am not sure the INDIVIDUALS made an ISSUE out if this. It is very pathetic how we still possess such prejudice and racist ways.

If my child can be brain washed into staying in school, I welcome it. Some of these parents need to be tested psychologically.

And the world did not end.

Will the right wing fringe ever realize how much they are embarrassing themselves? Maybe that's the whole point of Obama's speech. If they would educate themselves, maybe one day they would realize.

Now that they got their hand caught tin the cookie jar. Its a shame that everytime there is controversy in the United States it always originates in Florida. We shouldchange the name to Them States because nothing we ever do has anything United about it.

It is really pathetic when the Rabid Right-Wing can't even agree with the President encouraging kids to stay in school and study hard.
They are opposing things just for the sake of opposing them.

The goals of young people in schools are so different from the more mature students who already accept their responsibility to learn for achievement. Basically, I think its commendable that our President want to encourage children to learn and would make time and effort to speak to the young generation. So, where is the problem?

As usual, much ado about nothing.

Great message for our kids - thank you, President Obama.

oh the republicans; obviously, what good for the goose is not good for the gander.
reagan was permitted to tout reganomics 2 decades ago to school children but obama can't tell kids to reach for the stars? smacks of hipocracy & racism. with more & more children coming from ethnic backgrounds, obama shows kids of all races that anything is possible.

Conservatives............................................there was no politcis in the Pres. Obama's speech..................................................none..............zip........nada...............

let me say it so you will understand.....................................................................NONE>

This is an inspirational and eloquent speech that comes from the heart. What parent wouldn't want their children to hear this? The "controversy" is just further evidence of the republican obsession/fixation with wanting Obama to fail. They hold onto this obsession even to the detriment of the country, and this controversy is a clear example of that. They should be ashamed. Obama WILL succeed, and he will do it despite the climate of extreme rancour out there. Healthy debate is fine, but the case of Obama's speech to school children is unmitigated nonsense. Stop it, everyone and grow up!

How dare Obama try to fill our children heads with, reading books and striving for excellence, those are un-American values that we need to reject, according the the Republicans.
We are proud American Idiots Mr. Obama, you can't force us to be smart, we will fight for the right for every kid to be dumb and uninformed because it's the American way. How dare you sir!!!!

congratulations President Obama!
I am so glad you don't listen to all those republican idiots that have labeled you Socialist.
Our children have to be repeatedly reminded to go to school and do good.
I am a parent of grown children but I always made sure they were in school and did their homework. Today they are all doing great. I am proud of them.
Parents have to be involved.
I really think republicans want our youth to fail so they can scare them into thinking Democrats are bad.
Keep up the good work president we are behind you.

Ohhhhhhhhh. . . . scary. The Republicans should be ashamed for creating and promoting such hatred.

This speech was entirely appropriate and full of encouragement for America's children. Years ago, it was a part of school curriculum for a Principal and/or Superintendent to REGULARLY call school assemblies to speak to and encourage students to do their very best in performance, behavior and achievement. It is a very sad situation in America, when PARENTS of our children do not encourage them to RESPECT our President, or ANYONEELSE for that matter. It is no wonder there are bullies, trouble makers, drop-outs, etc. etc. As the old saying goes - Our children mirror our own behavior! So it seems to me, that those who were very verbally disrespectful of our President in challenging his speech today, are the ones who need to take a class on RESPECT #101!! And interestingly, as usual, it is the Bible based, Evangelistic, GOP, Republican Right who have once again demeaned our President! These people are the VERY ONES in America who should have learned all about RESPECT of Country, President and each other, along time ago! As the old saying goes, "The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree"!!

I guess I will now have to get my child therapy to counter all that brainwashing that was done during the President’s speech according to republicans.

Anyone have a suggestions where the best brainwashing deprogram center is ?

Anyone with a brain knows that the decision to block our PRESIDENT's speech from schools around this country is based on two things – the fact that our president is an edcuated black man and a Democrat. I am sure that when President Bush gave a similar address during his first term in office, the speech was not blocked in these school districts. Can you imagine what would have happened if a black school district had boycotted then President Bush's address? They would have dismissed as uneducated bigots. The same applies to these districts' leaders and these parents – they are uneducated bigots and they are raising uneducated bigots!!

i taped his speech so my grandkids could listen iam canadian

The speech never was the controversy, it was the "study guide" that accompanied it. Have the children write a letter to themselves about how they can help Barack. Maybe they would be creative and pledge to be a servant to the president, like those Hollywood dopes have that kids like to idolize. That's the rub.

Who in their right mind would have a problem with the President of the nation encouraging kids to stay in school and work hard at their studies, certainly not me. But, when attached to that message is one of how the child can best serve the President's initiative, sort of reminds me of a leader of the not too distant past.

Not unsual to see the right wing, neo-cons continue to use fearmongering tatctics.

What is wrong with the president asking american children to stay in school and work hard.

I think the 'education' speech was great. Why, because my kids wanted to talk about it. They listened to President Obama. Heck, they don't listen to me or my wife. So, President Obama.., nice going. Maybe, my kids will take a closer look at school and their 'education' and their future. Mike in Montana P.S.: President Obama, your turning out to be a good 'role model' for a parent or father.

The parents who didn't want their children to listen to the POTUS's speech are brain dead. These are the very same malleable children, who did not rebel when they were teenagers and who grew up being brainwashed by the neocons. They were programmed to accept a oligrachial, fascist form of goverment as a democracy.

Poor misguided people. Please do yourselves and your children a major favor, stop drinking the kool-aid

What I enjoyed the most was the Micheal Jordan quote.
"But he once
said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
These people succeeded because they understand that you can’t let your failures define
you – you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do
differently next time."
This is powerful stuff, so many students give up when faced with not being able to learn something instantly. Seems we are raising students who are going to quit if they can not hit a home run on the first try.
Mr. President good stuff here....

So, what's the controversy.

Who is he to tell our children to stay in school, study hard and listen to their parents and teachers. Look how his life turned out, and not to mention his own children. Maybe next time he should speak in prime time znd let everyone her him.

One recurring point that keeps being expressed by "conservatives" is that "...we express fear..." over this and that. Didn't you guys get the memo in November. We don't want fear, we want solutions, we want hope, we want progress, we want you out of politics!!! Thank you CNN.

Great Job, Mr. President.
I am tired of the racists comments and inuendos and I am also sick of the media giving them credence
I am amazed by the mother who didn't want her child to receive encouragement from the leader of the greatest country in the free world; that clearly is idiocy at its best.

Nice title there CNN. There was nothing controversial about the speech except all the scare tactics surrounding it.

his education message was learn to read from a telepromter and speech will not be a required class.

OMG, anyone that had their child miss out on this speech were blinded by their perception of President Obama, and his political views. Who better than to influence a child to stay in school, (stay the course) and better themselves than him. Sometimes child/ren will not care what their parents say, but maybe the president of the united states will. You go OBAMA!!! Influence the children to better themselves, afterall, one of them just might end up being a president to us, when we are elderly.

I thought that it was telling that the school districts that opted out of the speech voted over whelmingly for John McCain.

Much ado about nothing and that I believe is the Republican agenda this year – nada!

After reading President Obama's inspirational speech on education, I can clearly see that the only complaint the conservative far right has is the fact it was given by a BLACK President.

And CNN since you are now Fox-Lite, I expect 4 days of 24/7 coverage about how conservative republicans are against personal responsibility and advocate truancy and dropping out of high-school, because they are so against this "socialist" message.

The speech is NOT controversial. The GOP response was stupid!

Why is this still controversial? The guy made his speech. It is done and over with. Why can't the dems leave it alone. Republicans will never agree with dems on everything which if you didn't know that is why there are two parties. The speech was not as controversial as evryone made it out to be but I'm still glad it wasn't shown in my district. It should be up to parents to motivate their children not the Governments.

Affected parents should have kept their kids home to watch the speech.

Your headline is misleading. The speech itself is not controversial. Whack job right wingers attempted to make it controversial. Nice job attempting to stir the pot.

It wasn't controversial until the Repubs and other conservative smear tactic specialists made it so.

Egg on your face now; blessed ones ??

Bravo Mr. President! You were an inspiration today to America's youth, and you are a perfect example of what hard work and dedication can acheive. I believe you are an excellent role model to all children, especially ones that are not born into wealth and affluence. Keep up the good work.

The majority of Americans are still behind you 100%, please don't let the vocal minority derail the wonderful progress you have started with your first 8 months in office. The silliness of the ultra right wing is not the opinions of the majority of American that elected you into office.

Obama's Own state refused to play the speech in school that should tell you something?I guess it is about trust,and when your trust has been broken,why would you listen to any thing Obama said?

Didn't the 1st Bush and Regan do a speech to kids going back to school? I don't understand, what's the problem?

The expectation this country has on an administration to fix problems that have occurred over the last 8 years in 9months is ridiculous

And for the religous conservatives out there remember God is watching.

Honestly, who cares. Obama is such a disappointment...he just thinks he can brainwash the youth to his government control beliefs, but really....if he wants to act like a king, let him.

Dems probed Bush Sr. when he did the same thing...so now repubs complain....politics repeat itself, both sides are corrupt...that's why we need LESS government!

Good for you Pres Obrama. Every way we can we must impress our students that schooling is important for them and for our nation.

A February article in the Chicago Tribune by Clarence Page stated," The united States has slipped to 10th place among industrial nation in the percentage of 25 to 34 year olds who have received a post high school degre.". Page said these figures are from a study by the Lumina Foundation A good future demands that we do better.

Perhaps the fear and closed minds of people who refused to hear the Pres are a reason why we have slipped

Controversial only on the media.. The speech was in fact full of conservative values.

If kids will study well in schools, then who will join in the future the religious extremists of GOP base? No wonder GOP is nervous about this.

"Much to do about nothing". All these scare tactics are embarassing. I don't think this has ever happen to any other president. Obama is attacked by the losing party the moment he opens his mouth and has to spend his time trying to knock down the complete fabrications of the Republican tactic of "be scared of the Bogey man". The Republicans let Bush Jr. open his mouth and stick his foot in all the way up to his knee cap and they still said we need to support him because it was patriotic.

Well, America wake up. Our rating's as a nation came below Tanzania per CNN. We need to roll up our sleeves and start fixing our problems like healthcare, education, and our economy or watch the rest of the world pass us by. If a corporation can reward their CEO's multimillion dollar bonuses because they provided much less services to their customers and increased the prices by 20% a year....then you need to see which politician is getting money from that corporation.

Kudos to President Obama. He always seems to shine even in the midst of adversity. After hearing the speech, I'm still wondering why there was so much controversy surrouding the speech. Pray for the USA.

The controversy wasn't about him addressing the schools. It was about the idiotic way this administration went about doing it.

For people who wave their academic credentials around, crowing about Ivy League schools and everything, they sure are making some serious faux pas when it comes to presenting things to the public.

Really??? Working hard, staying in school, setting goals, refusing to make excuses...that is controversial?!?! I now am the one afraid of the direction my country is going in! CNN – come to my house and take video of me crying because the crazy right wing freaks convinced our school superintendent not to show the address, preventing my daughter from watching the President of The United States!

I just want to point out that for years in the classroom we have been having students write on topics like, "If you were the President, what would you do" ? Every year we have a natiional President's H. S. essay contest for students–comes from the federal government–has for years. This whole thing is rediculous. It's just a move by the right wing conservative extremists to spook out those people who already just don't like this President, partly because he is black and partly because he won. It's okay to have a federally run education program called "No Child Left Behind" that has totally changed what we teach and emphasize in the classroom, which is "teach to the test", but the White House can,t give a speech on education or suggest a writing topic for "reflection" on the speech. Our writing scores are worst then our reading scores by the way and our kids need all the help they can get. So much for trying to motivate students to learn and make them responsible for their learnling. Gee I thought this is what the"right" expects–accountabilityy! Give me a break!

What's controversial about it?

That man loves to make speeches. It was a good one, but I don't see any student will pay attention to any speeches were some of them at the age of 11 or 12 already made up their minds what they going to do later in the years.

The speech was great – its just the hatful republicans that had a problem with it. But, the hateful republicans are against everything Obama does and says.
I say forget the republicans....let them stew in their own filth.

Republicans are a joke. They actually argued against a "stay in school" speech...that's just pathetic.

For those parents that kept you children away. You still don't get it. The speech will be or has been posted on Twitter, Face Book, My Space, etc. People will be talking about it. And you think your children wont see/read it. Oh I forgot you are soooo busy hating that you are not aware your child is in his/her room on the computer doing God's know what. When you tell your children don't to do something, do you really think they don't do it. Stupid is as stuipd does. Not all the time.

It looks like he stripped out all of the policy stuff. That's smart. What's smarter is to keep you politics away from kids that aren't old enough to vote.

Republicans sure stirred the pot, for what? They should be embarrassed. . . . again!

Ever notice how Republican get their undies in a bunch before they even read anything. Makes me wonder just how illiterate Republicans really are. Can they read or not, or are they just "winging it"? My bet it thery're just "winging it".

CNN calls this an "unexpected controversy", but that's wrong. I fully expect to hear the wing nuts launch a new "controversy" every time President Obama speaks. It's what the Party of No does: make noise to create chaos in the hopes that this presidency and this country will fail. Here are a couple of facts:

We have a black president elected by the American People.
We have a Latina Supreme Court Justice confirmed by the Senate.

All you wingnuts need to accept that and get over it. Your team lost. Your country loses every time you manufacture a controversy. You need to "man up" and act like Americans, or get the hell out.

I prefer that you get the hell out, or at least get out of the way.

OB 'speaks in poetry but governs in prose'

A great majority would agree that this great speech by the President could also benefit some bigoted republican parents who acted like small little brats by trying to prevent children from listening to their President.

Such parents have a lot to learn and should be ashamed for perpetuating their own hate, narrow-minded idiocy, and disrespect on their children.

About time someone informed young people that they better own it!

"Many conservatives over the past week expressed a fear that the president's address would be used to push a partisan political agenda".

Yeah, fear that he would talk common sense into children who have been indoctrinated by their bigoted or educationally challenged parents who are quite satisfied with the status quo - teen pregnancies, high school drop outs, underachieving students who pale in comparison to Asian and European counterparts, young substance and alcohol abusers, etc.. Hey, some parents even host parties which drive their children and their friends into a drunken stupor. Why change things?

My only comment is that about the heading of this article, which I know is used only to grab readers attention, but you could have used a more true attention grabber, i.e. people in uproar over President Obama's speech, or Parents view President Obama's speech as controversial. The plain ole' truth of the speech is that it is not controversial at all, but what has been drilled in every student head that enters the school system. DO WELL IN SCHOOL, STAY IN SCHOOL, MAKE GOOD GRADES IN SCHOOL...etc. And if you were not told that or taught that in school there being a prime example of desparity amongst those not receiving an education of value.

The Republicans certainly have shown their true colors with this made-up controversy. Actually, I wish all the right wingers would pull their kids out of the "govmint" schools. That way, we could really teach science, history, civics, math, literature, music and art without their "flat earth" interference. The country will always need garbage collectors, yard men, fast food servers, and truck drivers. As to Mr Obama - good show. Responsibility, ethics, hard work, and study are what this country needs, not the barriers to education and critical thinking shown by these revisionists. If these people put half the effort into reading and study they put into conspiracy theories, we would all experience an upward surge of compassion and empathy. But alas, I am sure they are already thinking up the next diversion. Listen to Beck and Rush, guys, real symbols of accomplishment (and buffoonery). Time for responsible people, liberal and conservation, to say "ENOUGH"!

Now I see why the right made this a big issue. How dare the President push his agenda of encouraging kids to stay in school and work hard in order to achieve success in life?

Like on the campaign trail...change starts with us the American people. What better way to start with encouraging students to stay in school, not drop out and to make something out of your life! Just an educated person telling others how they can have the American dream...what's so wrong with that? Because he's not a republican or black....it's time to put all the bull to the side and make this world a better place for all!

Whats happening in our country( America) comes down to nothing but race. With bush he could do anything that he wanted and no one could question him however with president obama everything he does is 'controversial'. What does this tell us about our country?

CNN, get it right. The SPEECH wasn't controversial – the rightwing's paranoiac response is the controversy. When will the press networks wake up and stop covering the crazy current political going-ons as he-said, she-said arguments instead of truths versus lies?

An inspirational speech...

Oh, the horror...wait a minute...need a moment...fake fainting...quick, someone call Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, and Fox masters to tell us WHAT to think. Oh my! LOL

What a joke the Party of No has become with their faux controversy about everything.

If the man blinks wrong, he's criticized... why is his speech any different than ones that preceded it?

All of these right-wingers are simply throwing bricks for the sake of throwing bricks. Because, truth be told, if it was John McCain preparing and giving this speech, they'd give him a standing ovation. And then they'd be saying something along the lines of "You tell 'em President McCain! Show these liberal hippie freaks that greatness is achieved through hard work and dedication, and not through government handouts and leeching off of genuine, hard-working Americans!"

The only controversy is ignorant parents that don't allow their children to hear more than one point of view.

Get a grip – kids and young people are much smarter than they are given credit for. Let them hear the speech – and then discuss it with them.

Now don't you feel stupid, Jim Greer and Tim Pawlenty?

Would some one please tell me what was "controversial" about the speech?

The news media, even no longer attempts to be an honest broker in calling out a manufactered controversy and untruths, It just plays along for the cheap suger high of disingenious reporting.

There was never any controversy involved witht he Presidents speech to school children, only the ginned fake out rage of the wing nuts and media.

I'm sure some poor ole' disgruntled Republican got his feelings hurt with this one. Complainers, one and all. I hate the GOP!

Thank you Mr. Predident for your continued course of taxing our grandchildren to death and get us deeper in debt.

Vote change next year. I don't think you get it yet or don't care about anything but your agenda getting a check mark beside the box.

Wonder how Republicans are going to find fault with this??????
I'm sooooo sick of the GOP!

Staying in school, and trying your hardest to reach your full potential is controversial? What's controversial about that? Let's talk about sensational headlines that imply that our President's rah-rah speech to kids is controversial....

I don't know why I still come to CNN for news. I'd probably get the same crud at E!

Thank you, Mr. President, for urging students to take responsibility, stay in school, and dare to achieve. We can all learn from these words.

I am beginning to think most of America has completely lost their minds. Why was Reagans and Bushes speeches not censored?
Why did they not have to post their speeches on line, and get approval? Maybe more parents should actually sit in the classroom with their children, maybe parents should monitor their childrens computers, friends, family members or maybe if they litsten to the media long enough they can make stuff up and twist the information in their minds so that when it actually comes out of their mouths they can convince themselves our president is a demon. I was taught to RESPECT the office of the president no matter what party is there. Teach your children the same. You should be ashamed.

I am appalled at the snake handler wing of the Conservative movement. Conservative leaders are saying things like "taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obamas socialist ideology." The Neanderthals who post on this blog are even more outrageous. There are two possible explanations:

1. Conservative leaders are stupid enough to actually believe what they are saying, or...
2. Conservative leaders are lying through their teeth and making fools of their followers.

Both explanations are pretty scary. Can anyone think of another explanation?

I mean hey, get off your high horse you conservatives, you are driving a wedge inside the country that could have detrimental effects even when a conservative takes office. All that is going to happen is that the politics of fear will be played to separate political classes and as clearly eveident, the gallible will pay the price

If his speech was "controversial" what was what Bush/Cheney did to this world??? What a joke. If the tables were turned and Dems called out Bush giving a speech we would be called "anti-american", repubs are such hypocrites.

I'm glad our President took his message directly to the students of the US. If Reagan & Bush #1 can do it, why can't President Obama?

Oh please... he's talking a good game here, talking about responsiblity-this and self-determination-that... but he doesn't believe even a word of it.

In fact, everything the man said in this speech is complete and utter bullsh!t, when juxtaposed against every vote the man has taken and every policy or program he has ever endorsed.

If he actually believed any of this, maybe I wouldn't view this through such a doubting prism. His speech was, in effect, no different than "Atheists for Christ" or "Addicts for Sobriety."

The President's speech about education this morning was an inspirational one. The message was clear and simple for school children to listen and take notes. The President used facts, (i.e Harry Potter's author and Michael Jordan's journeys) to convince the children about the process of becoming famous and/or how to use their God's given potential to excel in life. It was just a lesson about responsibility, persevarance, and not jeopardize your school work for any reasons. As a mother of three boys I was very pleased to hear the message live. I hope that children who had the opportunity to see the broadcast are inspired to do their best and become a better student in school. Remember, kids are more prone to listen to others than their parents.

Marie
Fort Collins, CO

The only controversy is the one the idiot rethugs tried to make and now they just look plain stupid and of course the media such as yourselves for perpetuating the stupidity!

I am so sick and tired of all the hate, prejudice right wingers. I work in a school and our children need all of the encouragement they can get. from everybody. President Obama deserves the respect . You might not agree with his policies or politics, but he did not say anything that would hurt any child. The sky did not fall, etc. and the hate mongers ought to be shame of themselves for making much to do about nothing ,but something positive for kids, our future. The republican party, the racist commentators, that fuel all of this hate and fear should remember we are all in the same boat. they should keep that in mind also but no, show the hate on tv and elsewhere, be the negative influences you are, and then expect teachers and others to undo and teach what you have espoused. many other countries would love for their head of state to be interested in our children's future. maybe the sarah palins, glenn beck, rush limbaughs, republican naysayers ought to go to one those countries because none of you act like americans.

As a teacher, I sat with 30 mostly African-American students. A couple put their heads down on their desk as the President spoke. I had to take a phone away from a girl who was texting, I had hush some boys who tried to goof off while the President tried to lecture them on responsibility.

No matter who the speaker is, some students just don't care, but we blame the schools and teachers.

I do not see anything controversial in President Obama speech to students unless the right wing extreme infer success and hard work as socialist idea. If that is the case, I will point out that Europe is east and go back

So, in your views, this was a controversial speech!!
How stupid!!!

To dislike a President so much as to not let you children hear a positive speech is scary. Continue to raise your children to hate. Call it what you like. Shroud it in politics, it will not change the fact that you hate the idea of a President that has color in his skin. That is the true bottom line. I know you don't see youself as racist its too ugly a word. But it is what it is. It's a speech and you deny your children. What would you REALLY call it?

Good job Mr. President.

I agreed with everything the President said in his address to students; however, remarks and encouragement for students in vocational schools were conspicuous by their absence. Don't we need mechanics, plumbers, electricians, chefs, etc. as much as we need people with advanced degrees? Not every student is college bound but each shares equally in the responsibility to excel in fields where their talents can thrive.

To all those idiots like Shanneen Barron, if you feel so scared to be in this country then leave and see how GREAT you will have it anywhere else. This is totaly pathetic when a speech to school students gets to be such a political hot topic. Don't we have greater issues in this country to be more focused on. We are no longer a country that wants to be its best. It seems to be a rule that if your party is not the leader of this nation, you must disagree and bury the current President. Fight, lie, to anything to make our President a failure. I supported Bush in the beginning but found it very disturbing when we were told Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and NONE were found. Can anyone think that our HEALTH CARE system is NOT broken? When speical interest are spending money to keep the status quo, what does that say?

I hope this speech proved just what fools some Republicans are. I can't believe some of them were raising such a ruckus about this.

Another example of news not covering subjects with substance and being distracted and in turn distracting the nation with stupid junk like this. If we had 1/2 the amount of substantial journalism on the serious issues we would have a nation of well informed voters instead we have birthers and teabaggers.

Honestly, the actions by the wingnuts are beyond comprehension.
Keep trying to muck up the country - you're going a long way toward ensuring Democratic administrations for years to come, while your children will remain as lacking in gray matter as you.

Why do you label it controversial just because some on the right said so? This is why the Media get such low marks these days. Nothing that he said was controversial except to those whose only job is to paint any remark the president makes as controversial and to scare their constituents. Stop being yellow journalist and do the resonable amount of work to come up with your own label

This is an inspirational and eloquent speech that comes from the heart. What parent wouldn't want their children to hear this? The "controversy" is just further evidence of the republican obsession/fixation with wanting Obama to fail. They hold onto this obsession even to the detriment of the country, and this controversy is a clear example of that. They should be ashamed. Obama WILL succeed, and he will do it despite the climate of extreme rancour out there. Healthy debate is fine, but the case of Obama's speech to school children is unmitigated nonsense. Stop it, everyone!

And again, the right wing is all sound and fury with no substance. When will they do the job they were elected to do?

I don't care about this harmless speech to students.

I do care that this SOCIALIST has to constantly be in the lime light.

Where is OBUMMER's detail plans to cut the huge deficit that he has created? Don't whine about inheriting the BUSH deficit (That I did not like) when you increase by 3.5 fold.

Why is unemployment still rising after that huge PORKulus bill?

Much ado about nothing( For you conservatives, that means its not a big deal). I don't ever recall anyone accusing a previous president of attemtpts at indocrtrination, though Bush #41 was accused of politicizing his speech in 1991( a sin of lesser degree, but an idiotic accusation nonetheless). None of the pitch-fork- carrying crowd could say with any real certainty where or how the President would indocrinate our children.

It should be noted that one of the primary goals of the GOP in its early history was to help transform immigrants and working people into "Americans" as quickly as possible, through controling public education and telling the emerging middle class how to model proper American behaviors. When it comes to indocrination, the GOP has a long history of putting it into practice. Read it, if you can.

Great, great speech! Inspirational, encouraging, insightful, thoughtful and timely are words that come to mind. What a breath of fresh air this President is! All of those kids (who were actually 'allowed' to hear and see it) will be much better off for it; IF they truly listened and decide to take his words to heart and make something more of themselves in the future.

I am so pleased that our President has chosen to speak to the young folks in this country. The youth should never feel forgotten for a moment. So many positive messeges are passed no matter what your politics are. (I had to laugh at the "boogie man" mentality that kept some kids from watching this speech) Those that did not want to or have their children watch had that right. We are still Americans. I just feel sorry for the missed oportunity to potentially inspire thought one way or another in a child. THE CATS OUT THE BAG LONG AGO "FIX NEWS". HE GONNA BE THERE 8 YEARS.

We are badly in need of another political party....The repubs are an embarrassment

Shock and awe! It's hard to believe parents would be against their children to stay in school. But, what do you expect from parents who would take a child out of school for a full day because of a 15 minute speech made by the President of the United States.

So that was the 'Socialist ideology' Jim Greer and everyone else said the President would be indoctronating children with today?

Let me re-phrase it for Mr. Greer and the rest of these idiots:

"We just don't want a black man speaking to our children"

If you're going to be shameless, at least be honest.

Great speech.

The only thing controversial about the speech is the title of your article and the lies that have been put out. It wasn't a problem when President Reagan spoke to school kids or when President Papa Bush asked them to send him letters supporting him and telling him how they could him him. Let's get real, this is a non-story unless you're wacked and part of the right wing.

The word controversial should have never been used – WHy do you continue to base your entire news network on Republicans speaking points – CNN has become a major joke since not one of your news reporters ever fact check their stories – and can you tell me when 20% of the popoulation – known Racist Republicans and Blue dog Dems speak for the entire country.

You should simple merge your company with Fox News and then you can continue to report on the racist hard working white republicans and what they think

One more time...it wasnt the speech itself that was controversial...it was the "lesson plans" propogated by the liberal teachers unions surrounding the speech..... "I pledge allegiance to Obama....", "What can I do for Obama?....." etc.

I had the pleasure of reading the complete text of Pres. Obama's speech to the students this morning.
I found nothing remotely political in his speech. it was very uplifting and full of sage advice from a man who made it to the top the hard way.
Pres. Obama was given nothing; he fought to get to college, worked hard to be successful in law school, and in politics. The advice he gave the students should be taken by everyone. Work hard, have personal responsibility, and respect those around you.

I am so disappointed that my son's first grade class, in Naperville IL decided not to show president's speech to the students. I was looking forward to him seeing the president and knowing he can reach far if he works hard.

So WHY exactly did the White House originally send out classroom assignments asking the children to write a paper, "How can I help the President?"

"Controversial"? Let's see, the President exhorted student to work hard and not give up in school, get the education they need to both fulfill their personal goals and be good citizens, and avoid destructive behavior.

Wow, how radical can you get!

Granted, some people have been offended by this, probably because the notion of being educated and thinking about political problems is so subversive to them. In this case "some people" = Republican base.

I wish the reporters talking to those people who did not want their children to listen to the speech, had asked those parents about their own education background, their hopes and aspirations for their children and the country.

There has been an too much focus on athletic achievment. Hardly any recognition for academic achievement. We glorify and/or idolize school dropouts that happen to be actors or athletes, implying that is the goal to strive for. While I admire their talents, they are not necessarily good role models.

So, ask those parents, ask them who they think is an appropriate role model to go to their kids school and talk to them about staying in school and taking charge of their own lives now and into the future.

It is a sad day when parents deny their own children an opportunity to learn and grow. Deny them the opportunity to listen to a lesson in civic and personal responsibilites.

Interesting how he changed it from this origina version.

You read that right – Controversial.

Because no American president has the right to tell kids to do better. or to work hard. Or to refrain from making excuses for failure. Or break the news to them that they arent going to play in the NBA, or become famous rappers, or live off their earnings from 'dancing with the stars'...

How dare he? How arrogant to think that he has a right to talk to any group of US citizens (regardless of age), and dispense advice and exhortations.

Next thing you know, he'll want to talk to Union leaders on Labor day, or address Congress about pending legislation.

Just who does this guy think he is – the president or something?

Mr. President thank you for talking to our children. President Bush talked to me and President Reagan did too. As a children I did not know if they were Rep or Dem. All I know is that the president told me to do good in school and stay aways from drung.. My parent already told me that and stress that at home but some children do not have that. It does not mater who is talking to the children as long as they are telling the children the right things about life.

These parents need to stop making their children political pawns. If you taught your child morales, values, character and give them the right foundation, nobody can change that.

Once again Mr. President thank you for thinking about the children.

To eveyone out there who hates the "educated elite," here are a couple questions to ask yourself:

- Do you like your TV?
- Do you like your computer?
- Are you proud of our country and its status as economic leader (at least for now)?
- What do you think of the Founders of our country (and the Constitution with its pesky First Amendment guaranteeing all your freedoms)?
- How do you like automatic doors at the grocery store?
- Or the scanner at the checkout?
- How do you feel about going over a bridge, knowing that it won’t collapse?

All of these things were created/invented/refined by people who were educated (mostly, in U.S. public schools and American institutions of higher learning).

-------------------------------

YES! I hope the brainwashing took. We do not want kids to see a minority in a position of power. It might end bigotry.

Thank you President Obama for doing and saying what many parents won't. I am so proud that I voted for you. You represent this country well. Keep up the splendid work that you have been doing.

I can't wait for Glen Beck to use his blackboard to show us the secret message in the speech if we only rearrange the letters in it like the Bible code....

YES! I hope the brainwashing took. We do not want kids to see a minority in a position of power. It might end bigotry.

Keep trying, stay in school, make the most of your education? What's this? No brainwashing? No indoctrination? Go figure.

CNN, please stop misleading your viewers and readers. You have the transcript of the speech since yesterday, you already heard and televised the speech. Why such a misleading title ?? What is controversial in the President's speech to students that we all heard today.

What a socialist speech ! Work hard and stay at school ! I am moving back to Cuba right now ....

and those that did not hear or listen
missed a golden opportunity

How ludicrous! What is so "controversial" about a duly elected sitting president telling children to stay in school, study hard, ignore negative peer pressure and commit to goals of personal excellence???

Knee-jerk Republican hacks are so blinded by partisanship that they will even attempt to demonize the president when he makes statements that should directly correlate with their own self-proclaimed values of hard work and self-reliance. Idiots, all!!

Excellent, motivational speech. Well done, Mr President.

Staying in school, positive attitude, studying, academic success. I can certainly see why Republicans are against that.

Our country would be nothing without it’s educated populace ... It's beyond me why anyone would be against their children hearing the President encourage them to stay in school, work hard, studying hard, for their own and their country's betterment.

The ones who had the paranoid reaction about President Obama "indoctrinating" their chidlren are people who are guillible and easily swayed. These hysterics need to wake up to the fact that they are being used by the GOP who only want power and money, at the expense of our country.

Why put "Obama delivers controversial school speech" as the title of this article?

Was there anything controversial in the speech?

NO.

Kudos to the Reckless Republicans for successfully creating a distraction intended to achieve their true objective: to block needed health care reform that will improve the lives of millions of Americans, all so they can win political points against President Obama.

Shame on the media for allowing this nonsensical story to continue as though it were real news.

Thank you Mr. President!

Sorry that some children of the uber-partisan rightwing in this country were not allowed to listen to your well-thought-out speech concerning their lives and what their success means to our country. Those unfortunate children will no doubt have to go around school for awhile as if the letter 'L' (for loser) were tatooed on their forhead. But kids are resilient, and they will recover from the slight inflicted on them by their proudly know-nothing parents. The parents themselves, on the other hand, have more permanent damage, because there is little doubt that their skulls were breeched when the word 'STUPID' was branded on their foreheads.

If this deviciness continues we'll end up having "troubles." Everythng the Republicans do is promote hatred. & it's working – I hate them more than ever.

Even Mrs. Bush said yesterday that the President. should speak to the children. He has a great message.

A pray for our country which is so going down the wrong road.

I watched the speech...and Oh My God! Obama asked kids to wash their hands to prevent the flu....must be some sinister Democrat plot behind that request. What does washing hands have anything to do with education, hard work and staying in school. I just knew those Democrats are up to something.

The GOP tried to create a frenzy about a speech they obviously had never even seen. What a pack of morons.

BRAVO for the speech; it's about time someone charged our students with doing their work. And BOO to the GOP for trying to sabotage an important message from Obama.

Stay in school, study and try harder. Wow, he is so radical! Repubs are losing their credibility with this one.

Another non-controversy blown out of proportion by the right wingers intent on disrupting anything Obama does. The media – including CNN – bear responsibility in this charade.

These people make up a small minority of the US population, but based on the media coverage one would never know this. The right-wingers spreading lies and mistruths are despicable, un-American and couldn't care less if they damage America in order to "bring down" Obama. The should be called out and exposed for what they are: extremists and political hacks who only care about Republicans getting back into power after 8 years of utter disaster under Bush.

The media's behaviour is also reprehensible, they should know better.

Apparently, they took out the part about asking the kids to write to the President about what they would do to help him and the country; I just don’t get why anyone would be against that.

I’ve always thought, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” was a good thing …

Thank you Mr. President!, student from the minority needs your advice now more than ever!. God bless you and keep up the good job your government is doing.

How is it controversial? Only the Loonies are making a big deal about this, and, as what has become quite obvious to everyone now, they make a big deal about anything Obama does- which just kills their argument.

Don't republicans look like fools now!

Perfectly fine speech. Would it have been so if watch dog citizens had not protested the creepy letter Obama wanted students to write about how they could help Obama? Was there going to be a different speech that included some of Obama political agenda and asking students to help advance it? Did he change his speech after the protest?

To all who freaked out about this speech before even hearing it: we're all pretty embarrassed for you. What's the next "scandal" you're looking for?

You Have to be an idiot, to think this school address is controversial.

yup! this speech is what was needed to make the kids socialists. dumb and racist parents who won't allow their children to watch this speech of encouragement are just simply mad that these words are not coming out from a white man's mouth. the world has changed and these silly people think the world is going to change for them – no you fools you better change with the world or else you will be left so far behind you won't be able to progress as the rest of us will.

Wow...misleading...the speach was only "controversial" until he gave it and all the "indoctrination" and "soshulizms" nonsense that the GOPers were ascribing the speach was proven definitively false by the words that actually came out of Obama's mouth. Feel free to keep treating the GOP's claims as though they deserve to be given credence or merit a "discussion" though, CNN...you're nothing if not giving them every chance in the world to actually bother to say something meaningful...even if they do it by accident. We're completely and utterly understanding about your need to justify your ad pricing to your advertisers though, so it's ok that you pander to the right by not calling them the stinking liars that they are and expressing any outrage at their democracy-threatening misinformation jihads. We'll forgive you as soon as the country collapses as a result of the media's failures to live up to its ethical obligation to correct such wrongdoing.

I am a retired teacher. I would like to tape today's speech for a fellow teacher who is still teaching. Will CNN be playing the speech again?

Beautifully delivered , truely inspirational to all children as well as informed , concerned and proative parents. Thank you Mr. President.

And so the party of no ideas whipped their base up and made a mountain out of a mole hill.

A great speech to encourage kids to study hard and stay in school, linking it to patriotism and their future as well as the country’s future.

Reagan, George H W Bush, and now Obama have talked to school kids, wow what a controversial subject. Next up the far Rightwing Nuts attack apple pie as a “socialistic desert” – and motherhood as a secret liberal cabal out to overthrow fatherhood.

Oh no! Republicans wrong AGAIN!

There was nothing "controversial" about the president's talk to the nation's schoolkids. The real issue was the cynical and outrageous politicizing of this non-event by the right wing crazies in this country.

What about this speech was controversial?.. CNN your headline goes way beyond hyperbole.

COME ON!! The Republicans are still trying desparately to save us from the 20th Century. To be afraid of a speech from the President is ludicrous! Grow up, and quit whining!! Perhaps the Republicans' collective shadow (generated by the corruption, deceit and mismanagement of the past 8 years) is the thing they SHOULD be afraid of.

Well once again, President Obama made his ultra-conservative critics look like idiots. Seriously, there is only so much stupidity from the Right one person can take before the smart people start thinking everyone on the Right are also idiots. Will all the smart, intelligent, and analytically thinking Republicans please stand up....anyone?

I think addressing high school students was key. They're the ones most likely to skip school and cut class and I think the President's message was on point. No where near as good as the speech that he gave to the NAACP though.

Lets see I think there is free speech in this country for everyone but the President of the United States.. Right ? RIGHT

The absolutely innocuous nature of the speech and the outrageous response by Republicans really makes it clear that the GOP has been taken over by a fringe whose hatred of Obama has NOTHING to do with his policies and everything to do with just simply who he is.

remind me again why this was ever an issue?

Let's just say it...get it out there and move on. The people who are complaining about their children having to endure an inspirational, motivational speech from the President is that they still can't get past his color. Grow up America!

What happened when he asked the kids to write down what they could do for the president? That wasn't mentioned you say? Then the speech was altered!!

Obviously CNN has sided with the wingnuts when it decides to call it a "controversial" speech in its headline. The problem witrh the media is that they thrive on controversy even when they create it.

The emphasis on the people who have decided to oppose President Obama no matter what he attempts to do are given voice no matter how small their numbers or how inaccurate their contemtions from pastors praying for the death of the president, to birthers, to people lieing about death panels, to one Republican state leader out of 50 to a former governor whose words she posts on Facebook are treated as news.

Perhaps candidiates can save scades of money if campaigning is strictly done on Facebook and the media can pick and choose what they will post.

So interesting that CNN used the word 'controversial' in their headline grabbing subject line. Gosh, how radical can we get...stay in school, work hard, try and try again, respect your teachers, do your homework, get help from responsible adults, take individual responsibility, etc. etc. etc.

The 'furor' regarding Obama's message demonstrates one of the most important tasks of this administration: rapid and continual response to the false chaos, lies and diversion tactics used by the right wing extremists.

It was a great speech....keep up the good work Obama!

What exactly is controversial about the speech. CNN needs to stop recycling nonsense all the time. It is getting boring. Get real editors to post stories on real time instead of telling us what they thought was the story yesterday.

Once again......it was never the speech that was controversial. It's been done before. It was the NORTH KOREAN-STYLE lesson plan which the DOE was planning on force-feeding students and teachers.

Check my faulty memory but didn't President Bush address the school children – asking them to send money to kids in Afghanistan??

I do know that In 1991, then-President Bush addressed school kids in a speech broadcast live to school classrooms nationwide. Among other things, he promoted his own administration's education policies. But before he wrapped up his remarks, H.W. Bush told students something else:

'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.'"

Somehow the words simple-minded and hypocritical come to mind when I think of the GOP .... wonder why?

The speech is not controversial; it's just the conservative talk-show hosts who tried to make it controversial. There was nothing out of line with the content.

Any parent who let their kid skip out of this speech should be ashamed of themselves! I went for a run on my lunch hour and couldn't believe the number of kids I saw on a bike trail. The parents viewed this as an extra vacation day for Johnny & Sally; truly sad!

I have no problem with the speech he gave. Other presidents have done it. I had a problem with the inital speech he was going to give because of the wording in asking students to help HIM, but they changed that.

Just remember, when President George H.W. Bush gave a speech at a school to students, the Democrats investigated and held hearings to see if it was legal. Hypocrites, all of them.

Thank you, President Obama.

Republicans you scared away even more people from your party with your lies and fear-mongering !