Conservative media take a strong stand against ... learning?!?

[babylonsister]

Conservative media take a strong stand against ... learning?!?
Jamison Foser
2 hours and 41 minutes ago


If there is anybody out there who still doesn't believe that the conservative media will attack President Obama no matter what he does, consider this: Right-wingers are telling children to skip school as a protest against Obama's encouragement of students to stay in school.

I know, I know. You think I'm kidding. Or exaggerating. That I'm caricaturing the conservatives' position in order to make them look ridiculous.

Wrong. They defy caricature. There's nothing you can imagine that is too crazy for these people to say. They'll claim Barack Obama was secretly born in Kenya (his birth announcements in Hawaiian newspapers were just one part of an elaborate, decades-long conspiracy involving Kenyans, the media, Hawaii's Republican governor, and the Stonecutters). They'll say he has a diabolical plan to create government "death panels" to kill off the old and the young. They'll claim he is building a secret private army (consisting of -- I swear I am not making this up -- AmeriCorps and Peace Corps volunteers) that is "just as strong" as the U.S. military so that he can "seize power" and create a "thugocracy."

And when President Obama delivers the least-controversial message you could possibly imagine -- "Stay in school" -- they call it "indoctrination" and an attempt to "get 'em while they're young," warning, "They are capturing your kids" and "your republic is under attack."

That's right: "Your republic is under attack," and Barack Obama is "capturing your kids." By urging them to stay in school and ... learn. As Education Secretary Arne Duncan explained in a letter to schools:

In a recent interview with student reporter, Damon Weaver, President Obama announced that on September 8 -- the first day of school for many children across America -- he will deliver a national address directly to students on the importance of education. The President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning. He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens.

Well, clearly, no red-blooded American would stand idly by as the president of the United States urges children to work hard in school. That's something Adolf Hitler would do! (Oops -- I keep forgetting: Conservatives can't seem to come to a consensus about whether Hitler was bad.)

more...

http://mediamatters.org/columns/200909030002

[computerrepairguy]

1. Hmmmm

I can't stand the conservative media. They seem to be stuck in this 'stupid' mode. They see everyone except themselves as 'stupid'. They never look at their own failures but are quick to judge the democrats and shoot at Obama at any given occasion. The conservative media is just filled with so much bitterness it's unbelievable. I honeslty can't imagine how they think of themselves as being so intelligent yet they lack basic people skills like empathy and compassion. In one word: SICKENING


Best,
Austin
http://www.losangeles-computer-repair.net

[still_one]

2. Of course they will, but where are the Democrats out their slamming these lies?

In my recent memories, republican presidents always had strong voices from their party to defend their president, where are the strong voices from the Democratic leadership in Congress?

[monmouth]

3. I think they're there, it's just the media won't cover them...n/t

[still_one]

5. Maybe, however I suspect that if a Congressional Democrat wanted to call out their

republican counterparts, the media would cover it, no mater where their bias stands

I think more of the problem is the weak leadership in Congress, especially the majority leader in the Senate.

[monmouth]

7. Good point...n/t

[Beartracks]

11. Does laughing count?

Is it acceptable for a Senator to take the floor and then just laugh his/her ass off for 10 minutes at the Republicans?

[abq e streeter]

4. Well, there's a problem right there: you used the words "strong"..."Democratic...in Congress"

and "leadership" all in the same sentence.

[still_one]

6. You are right, it is pathetic. /nt

[Union Yes]

8. Public Education is the enemy of the Reich Wing.

[The Wizard]

17. Critical thinking

is the Republicans' worst enemy.
Willfully ignorant and proud to be stupid. They make a strong case for abortion and involuntary birth control.

[Ratty]

9. This is the strongest signal yet bipartisanship will not work

The Republicans are now literally opposing everything Obama does regardless. What kind of mindless haters spew lies about something as innocuous as addressing the nation's school children and urging them to stay in school? There is NO WAY we can work with these people. I say let our 60 vote super majority do the talking for us from now on.

[glinda]

10. If they keep them ignorant, then they control them. Just look at the people that

show up screaming stupid statements at Town Halls. It is a sad reflection of American Society.

[Beartracks]

12. For some years now, conservatives have derided

educated people as elitists, and have exalted ignorance as being a "real" American value. The Republican tack has been to tell folks (not in so many words, mind you) that they are stupid, because, in essence, book-learned and worldly people don't have anything in common with them.

[glinda]

14. True. I think the media should take a look at the lack of education in comparison to the

comments that are being thrown about. True that they are defensive about "how or what" they think and so stand up screaming and yelling and being belligerent in defense of their conditions. I understand that. America and especially the Dems need to find a way to up the eduction and information to this particular group. Not saying like in "college" necessarily but somehow.

[Chisox08]

13. The Conservatives want their children to be as stupid as they are

It makes it easier for them to control, and it also makes them likely to listen to and believe that drivel on Fox Noise.

[Chef Eric]

15. Is our children learning? nt

[Enthusiast]

16. Ignorance is essential for the RW

to achieve their goal. It's a fact. So their aim is to cultivate ignorance. This is the very purpose of Fox News and the whole RW radio cabal. On every front they are promoting falsehoods and ignorance. And they characterize this Democrat or that liberal as un-American. People, there is nothing more un-American than promoting ignorance.

[agentS]

18. Next week, the conservatives will say breathing is

Unamerican.

If Obama suggests everybody take a deep breath and back away from the hyperbole, they'll tell people to hold their breaths in poutrage.

[fencesitter]

19. Comment from the Kansas City Star ....

To an editorial about this ....

"Groenhagen is right!
Submitted by ApostasyUSA on September 4, 2009 - 2:09pm.

We should not respect ANYONE!

That is until they've "earned" it.

After all, education is a liberal, mind expanding plot to "indoctrination" them.

******
There you go.

[Anakin Skywalker]

20. "Hey Kiddies. Beware of the Big Bad Obama"

Ooh. Scary! :D