When Bush spoke to students, Democrats investigated, held hearings

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What was he looking at? Three are looking to their left and ole W was looking to the right.

Probably something shiny.

[Scott & Lai 12]

What was he looking at? Three are looking to their left and ole W was looking to the right.

Hey, now...the same thing happened after my wedding when the posed photos were being taken. We didn't have a professional photographer, instead we had four people with digicams taking pictures. Unfortunately, we didn't think to have them each take a shot in turn; they were taking them almost at the same time, so we didn't know which direction to look. Few shots have everyone looking in the same direction.

[HAL 9000 96]

'Coordination' is a special skill only known to professional photographers. J/K

Its happened to all of us.

[SuperDuper! 230]

The controversy over President Obama's speech to the nation's schoolchildren will likely be over shortly after Obama speaks today at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. But when President George H.W. Bush delivered a similar speech on October 1, 1991, from Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington DC, the controversy was just beginning. Democrats, then the majority party in Congress, not only denounced Bush's speech -- they also ordered the General Accounting Office to investigate its production and later summoned top Bush administration officials to Capitol Hill for an extensive hearing on the issue.

Unlike the Obama speech, in 1991 most of the controversy came after, not before, the president's school appearance. The day after Bush spoke, the Washington Post published a front-page story suggesting the speech was carefully staged for the president's political benefit. "The White House turned a Northwest Washington junior high classroom into a television studio and its students into props," the Post reported.

With the Post article in hand, Democrats pounced. "The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students," said Richard Gephardt, then the House Majority Leader. "And the president should be doing more about education than saying, 'Lights, camera, action.'"

Democrats did not stop with words. Rep. William Ford, then chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, ordered the General Accounting Office to investigate the cost and legality of Bush's appearance. On October 17, 1991, Ford summoned then-Education Secretary Lamar Alexander and other top Bush administration officials to testify at a hearing devoted to the speech. "The hearing this morning is to really examine the expenditure of $26,750 of the Department of Education funds to produce and televise an appearance by President Bush at Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington, DC," Ford began. "As the chairman of the committee charged with the authorization and implementation of education programs, I am very much interested in the justification, rationale for giving the White House scarce education funds to produce a media event."

Unfortunately for Ford, the General Accounting Office concluded that the Bush administration had not acted improperly. "The speech itself and the use of the department's funds to support it, including the cost of the production contract, appear to be legal," the GAO wrote in a letter to Chairman Ford. "The speech also does not appear to have violated the restrictions on the use of appropriations for publicity and propaganda."

That didn't stop Democratic allies from taking their own shots at Bush. The National Education Association denounced the speech, saying it "cannot endorse a president who spends $26,000 of taxpayers' money on a staged media event at Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington, D.C. -- while cutting school lunch funds for our neediest youngsters."

Lost in all the denouncing and investigating was the fact that Bush's speech itself, like Obama's today, was entirely unremarkable. "Block out the kids who think it's not cool to be smart," the president told students. "If someone goofs off today, are they cool? Are they still cool years from now, when they're stuck in a dead end job. Don't let peer pressure stand between you and your dreams.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/...s-57694347.html

Life is not fair and just. There are double standards. Deal with it. You weren't promised a rose garden.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

The controversy over President Obama's speech to the nation's schoolchildren will likely be over shortly after Obama speaks today at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. But when President George H.W. Bush delivered a similar speech on October 1, 1991, from Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington DC, the controversy was just beginning. Democrats, then the majority party in Congress, not only denounced Bush's speech -- they also ordered the General Accounting Office to investigate its production and later summoned top Bush administration officials to Capitol Hill for an extensive hearing on the issue.

Unlike the Obama speech, in 1991 most of the controversy came after, not before, the president's school appearance. The day after Bush spoke, the Washington Post published a front-page story suggesting the speech was carefully staged for the president's political benefit. "The White House turned a Northwest Washington junior high classroom into a television studio and its students into props," the Post reported.

With the Post article in hand, Democrats pounced. "The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students," said Richard Gephardt, then the House Majority Leader. "And the president should be doing more about education than saying, 'Lights, camera, action.'"

Democrats did not stop with words. Rep. William Ford, then chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, ordered the General Accounting Office to investigate the cost and legality of Bush's appearance. On October 17, 1991, Ford summoned then-Education Secretary Lamar Alexander and other top Bush administration officials to testify at a hearing devoted to the speech. "The hearing this morning is to really examine the expenditure of $26,750 of the Department of Education funds to produce and televise an appearance by President Bush at Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington, DC," Ford began. "As the chairman of the committee charged with the authorization and implementation of education programs, I am very much interested in the justification, rationale for giving the White House scarce education funds to produce a media event."

Unfortunately for Ford, the General Accounting Office concluded that the Bush administration had not acted improperly. "The speech itself and the use of the department's funds to support it, including the cost of the production contract, appear to be legal," the GAO wrote in a letter to Chairman Ford. "The speech also does not appear to have violated the restrictions on the use of appropriations for publicity and propaganda."

That didn't stop Democratic allies from taking their own shots at Bush. The National Education Association denounced the speech, saying it "cannot endorse a president who spends $26,000 of taxpayers' money on a staged media event at Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington, D.C. -- while cutting school lunch funds for our neediest youngsters."

Lost in all the denouncing and investigating was the fact that Bush's speech itself, like Obama's today, was entirely unremarkable. "Block out the kids who think it's not cool to be smart," the president told students. "If someone goofs off today, are they cool? Are they still cool years from now, when they're stuck in a dead end job. Don't let peer pressure stand between you and your dreams.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/...s-57694347.html

Life is not fair and just. There are double standards. Deal with it. You weren't promised a rose garden.

Yeah they were! But the commie got fired!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What was he looking at? Three are looking to their left and ole W was looking to the right.

Hey, now...the same thing happened after my wedding when the posed photos were being taken. We didn't have a professional photographer, instead we had four people with digicams taking pictures. Unfortunately, we didn't think to have them each take a shot in turn; they were taking them almost at the same time, so we didn't know which direction to look. Few shots have everyone looking in the same direction.

Glad to see you post, Scott. Hope you're all settled into your new place.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

What was he looking at? Three are looking to their left and ole W was looking to the right.

Hey, now...the same thing happened after my wedding when the posed photos were being taken. We didn't have a professional photographer, instead we had four people with digicams taking pictures. Unfortunately, we didn't think to have them each take a shot in turn; they were taking them almost at the same time, so we didn't know which direction to look. Few shots have everyone looking in the same direction.

Glad to see you post, Scott. Hope you're all settled into your new place.

Whats up billboard?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Cant sleep tonight? Cleo?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The controversy over President Obama's speech to the nation's schoolchildren will likely be over shortly after Obama speaks today at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. But when President George H.W. Bush delivered a similar speech on October 1, 1991, from Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington DC, the controversy was just beginning. Democrats, then the majority party in Congress, not only denounced Bush's speech -- they also ordered the General Accounting Office to investigate its production and later summoned top Bush administration officials to Capitol Hill for an extensive hearing on the issue.

Unlike the Obama speech, in 1991 most of the controversy came after, not before, the president's school appearance. The day after Bush spoke, the Washington Post published a front-page story suggesting the speech was carefully staged for the president's political benefit. "The White House turned a Northwest Washington junior high classroom into a television studio and its students into props," the Post reported.

With the Post article in hand, Democrats pounced. "The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students," said Richard Gephardt, then the House Majority Leader. "And the president should be doing more about education than saying, 'Lights, camera, action.'"

Democrats did not stop with words. Rep. William Ford, then chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, ordered the General Accounting Office to investigate the cost and legality of Bush's appearance. On October 17, 1991, Ford summoned then-Education Secretary Lamar Alexander and other top Bush administration officials to testify at a hearing devoted to the speech. "The hearing this morning is to really examine the expenditure of $26,750 of the Department of Education funds to produce and televise an appearance by President Bush at Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington, DC," Ford began. "As the chairman of the committee charged with the authorization and implementation of education programs, I am very much interested in the justification, rationale for giving the White House scarce education funds to produce a media event."

Unfortunately for Ford, the General Accounting Office concluded that the Bush administration had not acted improperly. "The speech itself and the use of the department's funds to support it, including the cost of the production contract, appear to be legal," the GAO wrote in a letter to Chairman Ford. "The speech also does not appear to have violated the restrictions on the use of appropriations for publicity and propaganda."

That didn't stop Democratic allies from taking their own shots at Bush. The National Education Association denounced the speech, saying it "cannot endorse a president who spends $26,000 of taxpayers' money on a staged media event at Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington, D.C. -- while cutting school lunch funds for our neediest youngsters."

Lost in all the denouncing and investigating was the fact that Bush's speech itself, like Obama's today, was entirely unremarkable. "Block out the kids who think it's not cool to be smart," the president told students. "If someone goofs off today, are they cool? Are they still cool years from now, when they're stuck in a dead end job. Don't let peer pressure stand between you and your dreams.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/...s-57694347.html

Life is not fair and just. There are double standards. Deal with it. You weren't promised a rose garden.

Only that hopey changey thingy. How's that working out for you? 30+ Czars.... 3 times the number the previous record holder held (Clinton). FAIL!

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I know why he's looking the opposite way, the photographer said everybody smile and look to your left.

[Mark&Steph 0]

I'm a democrat. I didn't care about a presidential speech to school kids then. I don't care about it now. I don't care about anyone who does care about it. I just don't give a rat's ####.

You need to care, you need to denounce the Democratic hypocrisy and denounce Obama for spreading his socialist agenda. Anything else is anti American - you might as well burn a flag

I'm denouncing them all. The democrats for being big pussies and the republicans for being insane.

[Mark&Steph 0]

The controversy over President Obama's speech to the nation's schoolchildren will likely be over shortly after Obama speaks today at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. But when President George H.W. Bush delivered a similar speech on October 1, 1991, from Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington DC, the controversy was just beginning. Democrats, then the majority party in Congress, not only denounced Bush's speech -- they also ordered the General Accounting Office to investigate its production and later summoned top Bush administration officials to Capitol Hill for an extensive hearing on the issue.

funny how the left forgot about this.........

I never even heard about it. But I was in college at that time. Chances are, I was drunk. I wouldn't have had any problem with it though. Unlike his son, George Sr. actually had a good head on his shoulders.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I've read the transcript of the Obama speech, I haven't read the Bush Sr one - so not really in a position to compare the two to see if the criticisms of the earlier speech hold water or not.

I wonder how many of the people here have read both speeches to reach the conclusion that the author is making...

Its a good bet that they're just taking the author of the OP articles word for it...

Edited September 9, 2009 by Private Pike

[Peikko 1,575]

Imagine that. Thank you so much for your concern at my welfare Marc, needless to say I slept beautifully last night. My husband however works nights.

[Mark&Steph 0]

Imagine that. Thank you so much for your concern at my welfare Marc, needless to say I slept beautifully last night. My husband however works nights.

The reactions to Marc's posts always make me so glad that I have him on ignore.