"F" In Reading Comprehension

Wow, what a preemptive hissy fit from the right over President Obama's planned address to the nation's kids in classrooms next week on the importance of staying in school and working hard.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says in a letter to principals:

During this special address, the president will speak directly to the nation’s children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school. The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning.

But somehow, this mutated into a subversive un-American threat against our children, according to Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer, who writes in a press release:

"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."

Uh, Mr. Greer, what are you reading? Where in Ms. Duncan's letter do you see the terms "health care," "taxes," or "debt," to name a few?

But you probably wouldn't complain if Rush Limbaugh were piped in for 15 minutes, eh?

Or Glenn Beck...

Thanks Mr. Greer for making me proud once again to be an independent.

UPDATE: The St. Petersburg Times' "Truth-O-Meter" does an excellent job of debunking Greer's baseless attack -- it rates as "Pants On Fire."