US President Barack Obama steered clear of politics in a pep talk to students that sparked controversy among conservatives, who accused him of trying to indoctrinate US children.
Presidents often visit schools, and Obama was not the first one to offer a back-to-school address aimed at millions of students in every grade. Yet several conservative organizations and many concerned parents warned Obama was trying to sell his political agenda through his speech to children on Tuesday.
That concern was caused in part by an accompanying administration lesson plan encouraging students to “help the president,” which the White House later revised.
In his speech, Obama challenged the nation’s students to take pride and ownership in their education — and stick with it even if they don’t like every class or must overcome tough circumstances at home.
“Every single one of you has something that you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer,” Obama told students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, and children watching his speech on television in schools across the country. “And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is.”
Obama, accompanied by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, met with some 40 students gathered in a school library before the speech carried on the C-SPAN cable channel and on the White House Web site.
The uproar over his speech followed Obama to Virginia, near Washington, as his motorcade was greeted by a small band of protesters. One carried a sign exclaiming: “Mr President, stay away from our kids.”
During his meeting inside, one young person asked why the country doesn’t have universal health insurance.
“I think we need it. I think we can do it,” Obama replied.
The president said the country can afford to insure all Americans and that doing so will save money in the long run.
Meanwhile, Obama was to take on the bitter healthcare reform debate yesterday with a high-stakes speech to the US Congress on his top domestic policy priority.
Aides have promised Obama’s nationally televised address will provide specifics about his vision for overhauling the US$2.5 trillion US healthcare system — although they said he will not offer his own legislation.
“The president will outline his plan moving forward,” both on healthcare and how to get a bill passed by Congress, spokesman Robert Gibbs said. “I don’t think you’ll walk away confused about where he is.”
Obama told ABC News in an interview he would use his speech to “make sure that Democrats and Republicans understand that I’m open to new ideas, that we’re not being rigid and ideological about this thing, but we do intend to get something done this year.”
One administration official said the president would articulate his vision of bringing affordable coverage to those who do not have insurance and more security to those who do.
“His plan will bring reforms that will reduce the unsustainable growth in the cost of health care, which has doubled in the last decade and will again, unless we act,” said the official, who requested anonymity.
The address to a joint session of Congress will start at 8pm in Washington and last for about 30 minutes, Gibbs said. Polls say many Americans plan to watch.
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