I read the paper today and in the Outlook section there was an article by Jonah Goldberg

[Catherine Vincent]

I thought I'd go ahead and read it. I just ate my Thanksgiving dinner, was with family and I was happy so I thought, what the heck? The title ticked me off, it said something about Obama being a hypocrite. Then I read on, I didn't get past the second paragraph. Goldberg was calling Obama a hypocrite because he and his wife decided to send their two kids to a prestigious private school. That's why I stopped reading. I don't want to link the article because it's crap but did anyone happen to read it? If you did, what were your thoughts?

[tularetom]

1. He was so godawful even our RW rag fired him

so I couldn't read his drivel even if I wanted to. I wouldn't go to the trouble of finding him online.

[POAS]

2. Don't need to read it because

I was expecting that meme to surface as soon as they made the school choice.

Had they chosen a public school the meme probably would have been that Obama is pandering to the NEA at the expense of his children's safety.

[Dis Pater]

4. Why is the meme that a private school is safer than a public one?

None of the riff raff?

[alfredo]

12. Having the kids in a public school would put a burden on the school

to provide extra security.

[Dis Pater]

15. Both schools would face that burden, the cost would be picked up by the White House.

[eshfemme]

18. The problem is public property vs private property

A public school would have a harder time finding a legal way to prevent paparazzi and reporters from coming in and other such activity whereas a private school can simply forbid them from trespassing on private property and have a lot more control over the setup. That's the difference.

[Dis Pater]

20. No, a public school is not unrestricted. No one is allowed to wander around.

The secret service will be wherever these kids go.

[dsc]

34. the sidewalks, entryways, etc are not restricted

and have often had press and protesters on them. Public schools are public property and usually surronded by public property and thus the press can't be barred.

[alfredo]

36. But that school has experience with high security students.

It also appears the grounds are off the street unlike many public schools. I would prefer a public school for their kids, but because of the threats against Obama, and the willingness of the KKK types to target children, it might be a more secure selection.

[POAS]

19. It probably would be as safe but

that would not stop the right from exploiting the argument.

[Dis Pater]

21. How would they exploit it if the kids went to a public school?

[POAS]

22. I stated how in reply number two

you can read it there, I won't repeat it here!

[Dis Pater]

26. That cedes the safety issue to private schools.

Do you think Obama chose Sidwell Friends for the safety?

[POAS]

28. Look Dis

I am not making the argument that either the private school is safer OR better than the public ones.

Get this straight! I am saying that no matter what choice the Obamas make the right wingers will exploit the choice for political advantage.

There is a very simple, declarative statement. You should be able to glean from it that I am NOT advocating for either choice. If you want to argue the merits of public vs. private schools go look elsewhere because I will not play your game.

[Raster]

3. Jonan Goldberg, son of Lucianne Goldberg. That about sums it up.

[EC]

5. Didn't see the article and wouldn't read it anyway, but

that prestigious school is a Quaker School that teaches good deeds and peace...so I'd say they came down where they ought to be....as the Quaker song says...


Tis a gift to be simple
Tis a gift to be free
Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be...and when you find yourself in a place just right...
You'll be in the valley of love and delight....

[Staph]

9. Simple Gifts is not a Quaker song.

It's a Shaker song. The Shakers developed from the Quakers in the middle of the 18th century in England. The Shakers were much more emotional and physical in their worship (dancing, shouting, singing, and speaking in tongues were all a part of the "Shaking Quaker" services). Shakers were also strict believers in celibacy, the primary reason that there are only a handful of Shakers left.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Any article by Jonah Goldberg is meant to be left unread.

He is not one of us. Not even close.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. By "US", I think it is safe to assume you mean the human race, right?

[Catherine Vincent]

8. LOL! nt

[Shiver]

23. Well... I have always referred to him as an odious little troll...

Wonder what bridge he lives under.

[POAS]

25. It should have been I-35 in Minneapolis a few years ago

[Recursion]

10. It's our own fault for letting them frame the issue

The central, fundamental, and hideous lie of all the various "school choice" programs is the lie that claims most kids in bad schools currently would be able to go to a better school under a voucher program.

If I thought vouchers would let kids going to a horrible high school go to another school, I would support them. But they won't because the good schools won't accept most of those kids, and we've let them fool the public into thinking they will.

[rufus dog]

11. That sounds like a typical Jonah article

About 2 paragraphs are the limit. Now I occasionally read them starting with the last paragraph then work my way up. It is very amusing to critique his writing style.

[Trajan]

13. Same tired Right Wing argument ....

> Liberals promote public education ...

> President Obama (or Clinton or any other Democrat) sends their child to private school ...

Conclusion: Democrat is hypocrite because they support public education for everyone else but not for themselves ...

EASILY refuted: President Obama and his family are obvious targets for enemies foreign and domestic ... They need schools that can better serve their unique needs as leaders of the free world ....

The Obamas support public schooling for EVERY American, and the unique facts of their own circumstances do not demand that they MUST use public schooling even if it may not be safe enough for a President's child ....

We have been hearing this one for a while ....

Does anyone realize that a mere 80 years ago, Republicans were still fighting against Child Labor laws ?

Fuck Jonah Goldberg, right up his lying keester ....

[Dis Pater]

16. why would you say a private school is safer than a public school?

are you making judgments about the students, the families, the facilities, or what?

[blogslut]

27. Let me ask you this

Do you want your child going to a school where the campus is covered in Secret Service Agents - not to mention the constant threat that will likely follow these two innocent girls for the next two years? Wouldn't you as a parent, with a child in the school attended by the President's children, feel like you didn't sign up for all that drama? How is that fair to children who go to a certain school because that's the district they live in? Their parents can't just leave school districts as easily as those who can afford to pay for their children's education.

[Trajan]

35. It should be obvious to everyone ...

The level of discretionary funds available in a private school, such as the one in question, make it better able to create more formidable physical barriers, hire more security, etc ... It simply has more resources to provide security ...

This isnt obvious to you already ? .... I actually had to say this out loud or you would not have thought of it ?

I do not begrudge those like Obama from placing their children in such a school, since it is one less thing I have to worry about ....

[Monk06]

14. When Jonah was circumcised his parents should have kept the foreskin

and thrown him in the trash.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

17. Jonah Goldberg has the brains of a fencepost

or possibly a toilet seat. Hands down, he is the stupidest person who has a national forum. and I am not forgetting about Coultergeist or Hannity.

[coalition_unwilling]

30. Is Goldberg more stupid than Max Boot? I cancelled

my sub to the LA Times when it fired Bob Scheer but kept running idiotic neo-con shit by Boot.

[Zomby Woof]

38. Boot quit his column a long time ago

The Times may print an article by him once every 6 months or so these days. But Boot got the boot.

[Shiver]

24. Actually

That's not quite what it was about. It was about how they shouldn't be chided for sending their kids to private school, as it's what any parent would have done - getting their child the best education possible.

The actual objectionable part came in just after that, when he started insulting public schools and teachers unions, somehow connecting them back to the Obamas as if the problems he perceives are their fault.

I shouldn't read his stuff, but I do when I need a good reminder that anyone can be published.

[mwb970]

29. I no longer even glance at any columns by the Doughy Pantload.

They're so predictable as to be a waste of time. "Conservatives good, liberals bad." There. I just summed up every Goldberg column for you, in four words.

I do want to know what the "other side" is "thinking". I read Krauthammer (usually), Kristol (yes), even Will. But I will never read another column by Jonah Goldberg. Life is too short.

By the way, my paper (Columbus Dispatch) has been very heavy with Goldberg since just before the election, not sure why.

[Bluenorthwest]

31. Ha! As if Jonah went to public schools!

Goldberg is the king of nepotisim, class of last century.
The Obamas would have been criticized for any choice they made school wise. The Jonahs of this world would go after them no matter. One thing I really respect about the Obama thus far is that they do not politicize their parenting, or rather they are always attempting not to, it is not easily done, but they do a dang good job of it. I can tell their goal is the best for the girls, not the best for Jonah's column, and that is the creamy center of it right there. They picked a great school for their daughters. Good choice, good for them.

[pipi_k]

32. Well I had read that

a private school would be better prepared to handle the whole dynamics of whatever security measures the girls would have.

Not talking financially here...just the whole dynamics of it. Which makes sense to me...


In any case, I think you're right...no matter what the Obamas did, the RW fruitcakes would have some problem with it. Public school, private school, home schooling, etc. Whatever they did would be "wrong" according to the crazies.

bah

let 'em bleat like the brainless little sheep they are

[H2O Man]

33. He is not just

a flaming behind, he tries to incite passions much in the manner of the Sarah Palin rally speeches.

[annabanana]

37. The Doughy Pantload needs to get out of the public eye. .

We've had just about enough of his nonsense...

[mitchum]

39. Jonah is proof that nothing but shit comes out of every one of Lucianne's orifices

[mrreowwr_kittty]

40. I haven't read it either but I'm going to guess:

Goldberg is accusing the Obamas of being hypocrites for sending their kids to private schools while supporting funding for public education and opposing vouchers. Of course, this is absurd.

[ShortnFiery]

41. I think the girls should have went to public school - even if they had to be driven to a VA suburb.

I don't think it's a good example to laud public schools while your kids are in elite private digs. :thumbsdown: