Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer takes the Glenn Beck train to Crazyville

On Aug. 26, the Secretary of Education sent the following letter to school principals across the nation:

Dear Principal:

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.

You can read the whole thing here.

And here is Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer's response.

For Immediate Release Contact: Katie Gordon
September 1, 2009 (850) 339-7087

Greer Condemns Obama’s Attempt to Indoctrinate Students

Tallahassee – Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer today released the following statement condemning President Obama’s use of taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America’s children to his socialist agenda.

“As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama’s socialist ideology. The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up more debt than any other President, is not only infuriating, but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power.

“While I support educating our children to respect both the office of the American President and the value of community service, I do not support using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda. The address scheduled for September 8, 2009, does not allow for healthy debate on the President’s agenda, but rather obligates the youngest children in our public school system to agree with our President’s initiatives or be ostracized by their teachers and classmates.

“Public schools can’t teach children to speak out in support of the sanctity of human life or traditional marriage. President Obama and the Democrats wouldn’t dream of allowing prayer in school. Christmas Parties are now Holiday Parties. But, the Democrats have no problem going against the majority of American people and usurping the rights of parents by sending Pied Piper Obama into the American classroom.

The Democrats have clearly lost the battle to maintain control of the message this summer, so now that school is back in session, President Obama has turned to American’s children to spread his liberal lies, indoctrinating American’s youngest children before they have a chance to decide for themselves.”

OK. One second.

WHAT THE HOLY FUCK IS HE TALKING ABOUT?

Obama's going to tell kids to study hard, stay in school, and yada yada yada - controversial shit, there - and Greer decides that instead he's going to give a five minute speech that will force them all to join their local communist party or something? Seriously?

Posted by Billman on 9/1/2009 5:29:09 PM Permalink | Comments: 42

Comments on this story:

Anonymous said:
Obama should actually be commended for his aggressive education plan that is not necessarily pro-teacher union...and I don't see a problem with a national address to students.
posted on: 9/1/2009 6:35:42 PM

Anonymous said:
Man, the RPOF just lost this independant voter until that nutjob is out... Good job guys. I don't care for Suzanne Kosmas, but she'll have to do...
posted on: 9/2/2009 8:10:14 AM

Anonymous said:
So, according to Will Greer, telling children to "work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning" is indoctrinating children with liberal lies and socialism??? Wow. Mr. Greer is either extremely undermedicated or so blind in his hatred of Obama and, apparently, schoolchildren that just the word "Obama" makes him start flinging charges of "socialism" and "indoctrination." Mr. Greer is a prime example of the reason that we mainstream Republicans are leaving the Republican party to become Independents. While being scared of the bogeyman and hysterical shrieking may play well to the extreme-right base, for most Americans it is simply that - the rantings of a hysterical coward who cannot rationally debate the subject and relies on scary buzzwords to prove an unrational point. Mr. Greer, your rantings would be really funny if it weren't so sad to see you help bring down my beloved party.
posted on: 9/2/2009 8:53:03 AM

Anonymous said:
This guy is funny. Hey, if people bought "death panels" then why not give this new absurdity a shot.
posted on: 9/2/2009 2:38:12 PM

Anonymous said:
This isn't about the kids at all. It's simply an opportunity to rake the President over the coals. He could be addressing Rotarians and he's say about same thing: "socialist" "communist", blahblahblah. Zero imagination; zero integrity. Here I thought being out in the wildnerness was supposed to make your party smarter...
posted on: 9/2/2009 3:13:51 PM

Anonymous said:
WOW!!!
posted on: 9/2/2009 3:30:05 PM

Anonymous said:
I only counted 5 grammatical errors and one god-awful sentence construction in his release. I'm disappointed; I would have expected more. Who is it needs to stay in school, again?
posted on: 9/2/2009 4:04:15 PM

Anonymous said:
Wow this guy is total nut job. The president wants to encourage kids to strive for excellence and this guy starts screaming socialism, abortion and marriage. Where do they dig these kooks up? What, exactly, is this jerks point? That underacheiving is the American ideal? So goes the republican party So very sad. And a whole lotta spooky.
posted on: 9/2/2009 11:25:06 PM

Anonymous said:
Especially a whole lotta spooky. These people scare me. Seriously.
posted on: 9/3/2009 12:55:11 AM

Anonymous said:
the people who scare me the most are the ones who believe in presidents and the american government. They dont give 2 about us. The democrats/republican gig is a stint to make you believe you have a choice, when in fact, you dont.the bailouts on the banking system and automobile industry is disgusting. They are taking over 1 day at a time. Obama, Clintons, Bushes ect are all Globalists. They are all on the same side and plan for the same thing. Obama has met with the bilderberg group in Chantilly VA recently as well. Ever since Woodrow Wilson signed that agreement to create a world centralized bank back in 1913 it has been down hill from there. Major wars came into play and the rockefellers alone made 200 million off of world war 1. In todays standard, that would be in the trillions.If you seriously think this country is heading somewhere good, with a positive change for the people, you're wrong. The ones who speak out are the remaining people who arent brainwashed by such a messed up society. This life is a tent, when we die we go home..
posted on: 9/3/2009 7:23:25 AM

Anonymous said:
Poor Florida, Poor GOP, Poor Republican constituents who are being lied to and manipulated by their own party representatives. I so hope that they will see through all this BS, and rejoin the rest of us in reality.
posted on: 9/3/2009 11:14:07 AM

Anonymous said:
I am so discusted I could spit..... JIM GREER came to my son's class a couple of years ago and spoke on what his job was. (We both live in Oviedo). I am a Democrat....and I did not appreciate one bit his one-sided diatribe. Who the HELL is he to complain???????
posted on: 9/3/2009 2:33:44 PM

Anonymous said:
Seems like the right wing fa$cists are planning a coup. They are scaring the living daylights out of people. There are millions of these people thinking that the government is going to take their rights away then euthanize them. People are actually believing this propaganda. It is amazing to me how dumb and controllable some people are. This is serious stuff these people are peddling. They are going to cause violence with statements like this. They continue to the pour gasoline in hopes that some right winger will ignite it.
posted on: 9/3/2009 3:19:00 PM

Anonymous said:
It really is unfair! I think Jim Greer has a valid point. If, through the President's address children are encouraged to study hard, learn and eventually become independent thinkers, then there will be no one left to take Jim and his cronies seriously. We must nip this madness in the bud.
posted on: 9/3/2009 4:17:39 PM

Anonymous said:
Staying in school is now a controversial message because it undermines the homeschool nuts and voucher mongers who want to get their kids away from dark skinned people in public schools... How dare we deny them the right to keep these children stupid?
posted on: 9/3/2009 4:49:41 PM

Anonymous said:
Greer, what a treasure you are. If you ever decide to leave, you just don't let that door hitcha where the good Lord splitcha.
posted on: 9/4/2009 12:10:47 AM

Anonymous said:
Big Jim Greer was pretty red-faced on Chris Matthews/MSNBC tonight, when asked to explain how he knew that Obama was going to include all this in his talk to the kids.....he didn't have any knowledge of the content, this was all made up by him!! Purely politically-motivated lies. Designed to incite public disrespect and hatred towards the elected President of the United States of America, disrespect for the Americans who voted for him, disrespect for our country and exploitation of children as political props and pawns. This disgraceful exhibition shames America in the eyes of the world, who watch with disbelief as leaders of the Republican party openly incite disrespect, hatred and violence against the elected US President, ironically the leader of the free world. As responsible American citizens we cannot idly stand by while they tear America apart. We can stop this. They do not speak for the majority of Americans. WHO WILL JOIN ME IN A CLASS ACTION ETHICS COMPLAINT BY PATRIOTIC AMERICAN CITIZENS VS. REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND PAID PUBLIC OFFICIALS, REGARDING DEFAMATION & INCITEMENT OF HATRED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, INCITEMENT OF ETHNIC HATE, INCITING HATRED IN CHILDREN, VIOLATING THE HATCH ACT, ET AL? Please send an email to pandoraugirl@yahoo.com if you want to add your name, or help.
posted on: 9/4/2009 2:49:44 AM

Anonymous said:
Praise Obama! Praise his name! All American children must sing for their dear leader before the nationwide "address" and write an essay on how to help his holiness! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2naSzb1psU
posted on: 9/4/2009 8:26:03 AM

Anonymous said:
Bow down and worship our god Obama! All hail Obama! We live in thanks and gratitude to our god Obama! Praise be to our dear leader Obama! Long live Obama! Praise him forever! Praise be to Obama! Praise be to Obama! Praise be to Obama!
posted on: 9/4/2009 8:29:08 AM

Anonymous said:
part of me scoffs and finds it funny that republicans regularly scurry to some out-of-thin-air hyperbole upon which to base argument and legislation, but then i remember that i share roads and grocery stores with these people, and i feel crummy instead.
posted on: 9/4/2009 12:40:07 PM

Anonymous said:
"I am beginning with the young, we older ones are used up, we are rotten to the marrow. We have no unrestrained instincts left. We are cowardly and sentimental. We are bearing the burden of a humiliating past, and have in our blood the dull recollection of serfdom and servility. But my magnificent youngsters! Are there finer ones anywhere in the world? Look at these young men and boys! What material! With them I can make a new world." Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf (21).
posted on: 9/5/2009 11:23:50 AM

Anonymous said:
There is only one God - Obama! Bow down and worship him! He will take care of us forever! Praise be to Obama! Praise be to Obama! Praise be to Obama! Praise Nancy Pelosi! Praise Maxine Waters! Praise Barney Frank! But above all, Praise be to Obama!
posted on: 9/5/2009 1:49:56 PM

Anonymous said:
Two quotes complaining about the President giving the speech to schoolchildren: "The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students," . . .."And the president should be doing more about education than saying, 'Lights, camera, action.'" And a second quotation, referring to the speech to school children as: "the arrogance of power," and that the White House should not be "using precious dollars for campaigns" when "we are struggling for every silly dime we can get" for education. The first quote is atributable to Rep. Richard Gephardt, then the Democratic majority leader in the House of Representatives. The second is from Patricia Schroeder, then a Democratic member of Congress from Colorado. Both were made as part of a Democratic complaint against President George HW Bush speaking to schoolchildren in 1991. How positively hypocritical huh? Funny and humorous to say the least.
posted on: 9/5/2009 8:27:36 PM

Anonymous said:
So I guess what you're saying is that it's now the Republicans turn to be the hypocrites. I see. Well, if you can dig up any more quotes from Democrats concerning Reagan's political speech to kids in school, George H.W. Bush's two political speeches to kids in school, Jim Greer's political speech to kids in school and any other Republican's political speech to schools, from governor down to dog catcher, let us know, will you? Because the more Republicans we find that gave the speeches, the more hypocrites we uncover at the same time.
posted on: 9/6/2009 2:35:14 AM

Anonymous said:
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! Van Jones resigned overnight! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! Moo Hoo Waa Haa Haa!
posted on: 9/6/2009 9:10:20 AM

Anonymous said:
This seems to have made your day. Perhaps time to get a life?
posted on: 9/6/2009 10:25:23 AM

Anonymous said:
Anonymous at 2:35 - Those WERE quotes about George HW Bush - did you not read my post? The point I was making is hypocrites appear on all sides - how do you - in such a disgustingly partisan way, take hypocritical quotes of the Democrats adn turn that into republican hypocrisy? You are blantantly and disgustingly offensive in your bias. I was simply pointing out the irony of the current conversation when applied to political context - something you do not seem to have the cognitive ability to do. As to Reagan - both sides - if you bother to remember - were very pro Reagan for a large part of his tenure. He was a uniter - very different from both the administrations of both the last Bush and the current President - both of whom ruled/are ruling in a very divisive way. And you are the perfect example of that. It is fun to be a libertarian because then one can watch both sides foam at the mouth. One little pleasure for me has been in seeing those Dems who complained about the way Republicans acted during the Bush years, show their asses in a much less classy way now. Thank you for adding to that observation.
posted on: 9/6/2009 11:10:05 AM

Anonymous said:
Perhaps you should calm down a bit first, and quit hurling insults about my cognitive abilities and my capacity to remember anything before you carry on. It's precisely this kind of inability to discuss differences that's at the heart of today's political divides. First, your post at 8:27 mentions NOTHING about Republican hypocrisy. As a matter of fact, it doesn't mention any shared hypocrisy at all. It's clearly about Democratic hypocrisy,which I assume is why you helpfully provided two examples. If your point was to illustrate some hypocrisy of politicians in general, you laid out your case poorly. Then, I chose to bring up the Republican side of the hypocrisy, using several examples of presidents past speeches to public school kids. These are real, verifiable examples of hypocrisy in light of Greer's comments. This of course makes ME the partisan hack, not you. LOL. Laughable. Absolutely laughable. Your comments make it appear as though you're a Republican, not a conservative OR Libertarian at all. And notice, if you will, I lay out my case with none of your personal vitriol about your cognitive abilities or "foaming" and such. See, it can be done.
posted on: 9/6/2009 11:48:47 AM

Anonymous said:
Point by Poing 11:48:47 Because, in this case cited above that we are supposed to be referring to, there is heavy ire against one party, without recognizing the bias of the other. That is what my initial post was in response to - and what we are supposed to be responding to. If you will please show me the balance in the article that says "Hey Dems, you are pretty hypocritical as well, not just the Repubs" I will then state that I should have mentioned Republican bias. My comment about your cognitive abilities referred to the fact that you asked me to post about HW Bush - which is exactly what I had done. I very clearly referred to both Bush Jr and the current administration as both divisive. That would not be a "Republican" viewpoint I am afraid. And, the comment about foaming is very apt. Democratic party leaders and members of the populace as a whole are foaming about any criticism or seeming slight, the same way they complained that Republicans did during the last administration. They. Are. The. Same. Exact. Animal. But they are too invested to see that on both sides, therefore my divulging the fact that as a libertarian I can watch both sides act in a ludicrous manner.
posted on: 9/6/2009 11:55:11 AM

Anonymous said:
Oh and one more thing. My initial post was in direct response to the article, showing that one party is perfectly capable in acting in the same exact ludicrous way that the other is, and providing credible support and proof for such. My second post was in direct response to your twisting the issue from the irony of Democratic hypocrisy in the light of this matter, to the concept of Repuclican hypocrisy. Your post in "response" to my first? Was not a response to me at all, but simply a chance to insult one party over the other - 100% a response to your own partisan leanings.
posted on: 9/6/2009 12:02:53 PM

Anonymous said:
And your comment noting that "both sides were very pro-Reagan for a large part of his tenure" is by and large correct, though that popularity was fraying by 1986. So you're point then is, what, that's now it IS OK for a president to speak at schools, so long as he's popular with a lot of people? You're a hard guy to follow, Mr. Anonymous.
posted on: 9/6/2009 12:04:16 PM

Anonymous said:
So then I did nothing more than you did, which was to note the irony of one party's righteous indignation over the actions of the other, while doing EXACTLY the same thing at another time. Yet I get accused of "mouth foam-ery" because I pointed out the Republican portion of yet another hypocrisy in response to your post. I must be missing something.
posted on: 9/6/2009 12:10:01 PM

Anonymous said:
Anonymous at 12:04 - very simple to follow. We are speaking not of it is alright to speak at schools, but of the other parties objections or lack of objections. I am not hard to follow, you however seem to change the topic. You brought up Reagan's speeches, and mentioned that I should post objections. There WERE none. Reagan was not a divider at the time (though his memory tends to divide even his own party right now) That wsa the only point. Not hard to follow at all. I did NOT accuse you of "mouth foamery" My EXACT quote was " It is fun to be a libertarian because then one can watch both sides foam at the mouth" - and both sides - Republican and Democrat are doing just that. By doing exactly what you are doing - only taking what you seek and objecting to it. As to the hypocrisy of the situation: Once again since you seem to have the hardest time following anything said - and that doesn't surprise me because you speak directly from your partisan bias - is this: A) There is a posted article B) The article calls into question the actions of a former Republican leader C) The editorial theme of the article is "WHAT THE HOLY FUCK IS HE TALKING ABOUT?" (as printed verbatim from above). D) I simply posted VERY similiar remarks made by the Democrats during the SAME exact situation when dealing with a Republican President. E) Showing how the "righteous" indignation of said article above, and the ongoing outcry in the media currently about any objections, was hypocrisy. No need to mention Republican Hypocrisy in this particular instance. IS there plenty of it to go around? YOU BET. Is this one almost solely the hypocrisy of Democrats who are judging Republicans for making comments? You bet - the hypocrisy is exhibited in the fact that THEY made the same observations for Bush Sr. Hope that was enough hand holding for you.
posted on: 9/6/2009 5:13:44 PM

Anonymous said:
Wow. To the guy posting at twelve oh four and twelve ten - Anonymous above is right - it is easy. The article above questions the actions of Republicans. The poster showed that Democratic Politicians did the same thing. You immediately deflected that BACK to Repubs for no reason other than your own blind allegiance to your party. Sad really. Sad.
posted on: 9/6/2009 5:40:03 PM

Anonymous said:
According to the Orlando Sentinel, this same Jim Greer spoke in FLA schools and told the kids that "Republicans get up and go to work Democrats get up and go to the mailbox to collect a check." http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/orl-loc-maxwell-greer-obama-090509,0,6959752,print.column
posted on: 9/6/2009 6:06:23 PM

Anonymous said:
Okay. Anonymous at 6:06. Jim Greer is an asshole. How does that interfere with the fact that right or wrong, Democrats also disparaged a Republican president from speaking to the schoolchildren? I mean, just asking. So Jim Greer is an asshole. Ok...your point is?
posted on: 9/6/2009 6:16:08 PM

Anonymous said:
Jim Greer is a jackass - not an asshole...there is a difference.
posted on: 9/6/2009 9:22:52 PM

Anonymous said:
Ok. I will bite. What is the inherent and perceptible differences between a jackass and an asshole? Just by instinct I would say a jackass just is while an asshole actually tries. Let me know please. Fascinated by this. Perhaps a definition, or a compare/contrast, including examples? If you can classify the following it would help - I am sure all fit under one or the other: George W Bush Nancy Pelosi Karl Rove Harry Reid Charles Rangel Dick Cheney Looking forward to the clarifications and classifications.
posted on: 9/6/2009 10:11:14 PM

Anonymous said:
My partner and I think Jim Greer is a hunkie hunk...he should come and party with us at Parliament sometime :)
posted on: 9/6/2009 10:26:11 PM

Anonymous said:
wow!
posted on: 9/6/2009 10:45:11 PM

Anonymous said:
OK Anonymous at 10:26. What disturbs me, is that I thought homosexual men had better taste than that.
posted on: 9/6/2009 10:50:53 PM

Anonymous said:
I thought Bush was dumb...but it appears to have been contagious and now the entire GOP has become so stupid that I they will soon not just be unable to utter complete sentences but may lose the ability to speak entirely.
posted on: 9/10/2009 4:56:31 PM