This is so beyond the pale; read this letter from an outaged parent:
My 8th grade son is in an advanced English class at a public middle school here in Racine, Wisconsin. I just found out that my son’s new (copyright 2008) Wisconsin – McDougal Littell Literature book has 15 pages covering Barack Obama.
I was shocked – No John McCain, no Hillary Clinton, no George Bush – Just Barack Obama. I’m wondering how it is that Obama’s story gets put into an 8th grade literature book? It would be one thing, if it was just the tidbit about his boyhood days, but 15 pages, and they talk about his “Life of Service”. Honestly, what has Obama really done to be included in this book? Not only that, but on page 847 there is a photo of Obama at the 2004 Democratic Convention with at least 8 Obama signs in the background! Front & center is an http://www.obama2004.com sign.
Now I understand that many teachers are liberals, but does the school have the right to shove Obama down our kid’s throats? All the kids grouped together and read the story. After that, they discussed it… I guess it appears that Obama is planning ahead. If he doesn’t get his coveted Presidency, Obama is going to make sure, that the younger generations know all about him, and his “life of service”.
If you would like to see the 15 page story on Obama, it appears that you can order this book online. There is a note in the book that says, For more on Barack Obama, visit the Literature Center at www.ClassZone.com The book is: Wisconsin – 8th grade – McDougal Littell Literature – copyright 2008. The Obama story starts on page 830. I hope you will take the time to look at this book. I’m really angry about this – In fact, I would love to rip the pages right out of this book.
Gateway Pundit says:
The hard Left is already pumping out massive Obama indoctrination material in 8th grade textbooks.
Maybe this was part of the Bill Ayers education plan?
8th grade students in Racine, Wisconsin are now using textbooks that contain a 15 page section on Barack Obama.
Note: No Hillary, No McCain, No Palin, No Bush… Just Obama!
How can such naked political indoctrination be allowed?! My God, if this is what public school textbooks look like now, what will they look like if the megalomaniac is elected?
RELATED:
If that wasn’t galling enough, there’s now a children’s book about the “dear leader”, which contains many of his enlightened life lessons:
Here’s where Obama learned many life lessons about “whitey”
You know, in the videos I saw of TUCC, the flock wasn’t sitting quite as so calmly as that…
Whatever.
Nice Deb 
Nikita Khrushchev circa 1960: “I once got in trouble for saying, ‘We will bury you’. Of course, we will not bury you with a shovel. Your own working class will bury you”. Slowly, we are burying ourselves. Maybe not so much the working class, but more from our politicians. Obama is re-introducing political ideas that were once taboo in this country. Ideas that, 40-50 years ago, would have raised “RED FLAGS” among most of the citizens in this country. These ideas today are now being “embraced” by the media and by a large percentage of the American voters. Obama recently admitted he wants to take money from those who are successful and give it to those who are not. This is the Government telling you …you cannot keep your money, we know you are successful, but you MUST share with those who don’t work as hard. Individual responsibility is not possible, for the better of the whole, we will all share alike, no rich, no poor…hey we’re all equals now! This is an idea, that in the past, would have sent Obama running to the hills to hide. This idea would have labeled Obama a communist. And today?….What a great idea! It’s very very scary!
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The book in question is an English book. The article in question is a speech Obama gave during the 2004 National convention. It is used as part of a lesson plan on how to write a good speech. I guess they used his speech because it was well-written. My guess is as good as those who are going to immediately come to the half-baked conclusion that Obama (or Bill Ayers) had something to do with this.
I’m not advocating partisanship by any means, but I am saddened to see so many of you automatically throw together so many half-truths and come up with the idea that Obama is a Communist out to “indocrtinate” our kids. I really expected more out of you, America.
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Yes John…..do you really think that it’s appropriate to put a 15 page spread in a school textbook about a candidate for POTUS, during an election year?
Really?
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It is used as part of a lesson plan on how to write a good speech. I guess they used his speech because it was well-written.
And I’m sure the publisher couldn’t find an example of a good speech that didn’t involve a current candidate. Afterall, before Barry the Blessed™ graced us with his candidacy, we never once had a politician give a good speech.
When people are as willfully blind as John, I start to fear we are getting what we deserve.
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“Yes John…..do you really think that it’s appropriate to put a 15 page spread in a school textbook about a candidate for POTUS, during an election year?
Really?”
So you are stating that the book was indeed released during our election year of 2008. Yet you offered no proof that the original story was being truthful about the copyright date. The burden of proof is on you. Until then, your question that I quoted above is moot.
And, even if you are right, the 2008 book was released on June 30, 2008, well before Obama became the Democrat’s nominee.
Lastly, why would one call me blind, when I am searching for fact with eyes open?
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Newt Gingrich is a very erudite fellow who has given many great speeches. So have countless other Republicans. Ask yourself if you would have a problem if the textbook devoted 15 pages to one of theirs.
You honestly believe this doesn’t smack of indoctrination…forcing children to read a political speech of a Democrat candidate?
Do you think they gave an equal amount of time to a Republican? Because they didn’t.
Don’t you think maybe they should have?
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Nicedeb,
First of all, a question for you: have you come up with the proof that the text was released in 2008? Because your entire argument is based on an assumption that I asked you to provide a basis for. It seems you accidentally sidestepped my original rebuttal.
Moving on…
“Ask yourself if you would have a problem if the textbook devoted 15 pages to one of theirs. ”
If I had a nickel for each time someone asked me that question today, or a variant of it…
“Do you think they gave an equal amount of time to a Republican? Because they didn’t.
Don’t you think maybe they should have?”
Did you even read my original post? I believe I stated clearly: “I’m not advocating partisanship by any means”. Let me translate for you: the fair thing would be to have a Republican speech included in addition to a Democrat speech. I don’t know why I’m spelling this out for you, as I have already said that I’m not defending the partisanship. Furthermore, how do YOU know for sure that a Republican speech was not covered? Do you have the textbook in front of you, or are you blindly accepting an angry parent’s words as gospel?
“You honestly believe this doesn’t smack of indoctrination…”
I never, ever said that. I do think people jumped to conclusions without actually READING the speech, or realizing why it was used.
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Here’s what the person who wrote the letter says, as I posted:
If you would like to see the 15 page story on Obama, it appears that you can order this book online. There is a note in the book that says, For more on Barack Obama, visit the Literature Center at http://www.ClassZone.com The book is: Wisconsin – 8th grade – McDougal Littell Literature – copyright 2008. The Obama story starts on page 830. I hope you will take the time to look at this book. I’m really angry about this – In fact, I would love to rip the pages right out of this book.
Why is it incumbent on me to come up with further proof than that, as if it matters? I could search the internet for corroboration, but to what end? Putting the political speech of a Democrat to the exclusion of another point of view in a middle school textbook is rank partisanship…..whenever it was printed. However, I strongly suspect it’s a brand new edition, which makes it especially egregious during an election year.
Seriously, what is your point?
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You can’t argue with these people, Deb. There is nothing anyone can point to that is sufficient proof to persuade them of anything.
One can only hope that if one is ever on trial – the jury consists of members of the left.
Oh wait … I forgot the FIRST OJ Simpson trial:)
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It’s dejavu all over again! In a ham-fisted attempt reminiscent of early Hitler Brown Shirt tactics, Obama spporters have taken a calculated and terrifying step into the world of totalitarianism.
Children who were heretofore assumed to be the beneficiaries of a liberal education are instead the targeted victims of politically correct indoctrination.
Can this be happening in America?
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I believe I stated clearly: “I’m not advocating partisanship by any means”.
Oh yeah, we could tell:
I am saddened to see so many of you automatically throw together so many half-truths and come up with the idea that Obama is a Communist out to “indocrtinate” our kids.
Meanwhile we wait for your proof that the book wasn’t published in 2008, as stated. Or were you just engaging in wild-eyed partisan speculation?
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Somehow I logged out as I wrote the preceding comment.
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“Meanwhile we wait for your proof that the book wasn’t published in 2008, as stated.”
I do not have to give any proof, for I did not assert that the book had a specific copyright year. That’s like telling an atheist to prove God doesn’t exist; it makes no sense.
For the record, this has nothing to do with who I support and who I don’t. This has everything to do with principle, and trying to show people reasoning instead of assuming.
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This story made http://detentionslip.org ! Check it out for all the crazy headlines from our schools.
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Hey, I like your site. I’m adding it to my blogroll.
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Pingback: Dad, What Was That Thing You Said About President Obama? « Dr. Slogan’s Prescriptions
Pingback: Dad, What Was That Thing You Said About President Obama?
Go to Obama’s site and click on People and then Kids–Read it carefully–if you don’t see shades of brainwashing and communism on the order of the Soviet Union, then you’re probably not old enough to have lived through the cold war. Obama is chilling–it’s frightening to me to see how the schools, the press, and the campaign have acted in concert to brainwash the citizenry.
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You know, you’re not doing much to burnish any reputation as “nice,” Deb.
It was in press probably before he decided to run. Doesn’t matter. This speech will probably be listed as one of the best of the 21st century. Speech critics have already hailed it. It’s a great speech, extremely well-written, well-delivered, and it’s a great story standing alone.
Damn straight our children should be studying great speeches. As Winston Churchill often noted, that’s the way to greatness as a nation.
Why do you anti-Obamites appear to hate America so? Are appearances telling the truth in this case?
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It was in press probably before he decided to run.
Before 2006?
It’s a great speech, extremely well-written, well-delivered, and it’s a great story standing alone.
The 2004 Convention speech? It was effective, but was devoted in significant part to praising John Kerry. That’s not appropriate for a classroom, no matter how good the speech is.
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My 8th grade son is in an advanced English class at a public middle school here in Racine, Wisconsin. I just found out that my son’s new [copyright 2008] Wisconsin – McDougal Littell Literature book has 15 pages covering Barack Obama.
I was shocked – No John McCain, no Hillary Clinton, no George Bush – Just Barack Obama. I’m wondering how it is that Obama’s story gets put into an 8th grade literature book? It would be one thing, if it was just the tidbit about his boyhood days, but 15 pages, and they talk about his “Life of Service”. Honestly, what has Obama really done to be included in this book? Not only that, but on page 847 there is a photo of Obama at the 2004 Democratic Convention with at least 8 Obama signs in the background! Front & center is an http://www.obama2004.com sign.
It was a political speech at a political event by a political candidate. Really, not worthy of the slavering treatment it received.
And I don’t care how well written it was, it was totally inappropriate for that to be studied in school classrooms during an election year. It shows an incredible amount of political bias which does not belong there.
Bush gave a historic speech before a joint session of Congress shortly after 9/11. It truly was one for the history books. I wonder if it’s actually in any of them?
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Hit the speech criticism texts. I think you’ll find Obama’s speech in several of them. It’s a textbook example of a great speech, in its writing, and in its delivery. It’s almost perfectly tailored for the audience; it does it’s purpose stunningly. It shows off the speaker, too. The speech is inspirational, pulling on themes that have reverberated through American culture, dreaming and leadership for 200 years, and making them new and inspirational again. By any measure of rhetorical criticism, it’s a great speech.
Bush’s speech after 9/11 was at a turning point in history. It had very few lines that ring today as good, let alone great. It contained a lot of folderol. It’s historical mainly for what it shows Bush tried to do. It doesn’t soar.
Wholly apart from the politics, Obama’s speech is one for the books, one every speechwriter wishes she or he had done. Bush’s isn’t.
Did you take English in high school? Read those speeches as you would if you were trying to do a report on them for your English teacher, dealing with the themes and ideas, and whether the speech does what it’s intended to do. You don’t think Obama’s speech is better?
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Meh – the speech was delivered well, and showcased Obama as it was intended, but the text itself was A-/B+. As others have pointed out, his rhetoric isn’t spectacular, but it’s rescued by his oratory. And for a watershed speech, it’s eclipsed, in my opinion, by both his race speech and his 2008 DNC speech. Not that those could have been included in the book, but it shows how unexceptional the 2004 speech was.
But here are the real problems, as you yourself state:
It’s almost perfectly tailored for the audience; Exactly. The DNC.
it does it’s purpose stunningly Exactly. Its purpose is to introduce a rising star in the Democratic Party, fire up the Democratic base, and promote John Kerry.
It shows off the speaker, too. Exactly. The Democratic candidate for the Senate and future Democratic candidate for the presidency.
Did you take English in high school?
What a patronizing, arrogant chump.
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I’m not the one uncharitably complaining when children in schools study great literature. Nor am I the one who appears to be wholly unfamiliar with the great failure of students to take serious English courses over the past 30 years.
Come back when you’ve got serious stuff to say about the speech instead of name-calling one-liners, we could probably have a good discussion.
But not until brains get engaged.
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McDougall-Littell (now Holt-McDougall) responded:
(You can see it here: http://educationmatters.us/2008/10/20/grayslake-uses-obama-filled-text-book/#comment-92379)
Imagine that: A company publishing texts for students that makes selections from critically-acclaimed, well-written best-selling books! And on top of that, they use a powerful story of biography as an example of a powerful story of biography!
Quit trying to dumb down textbooks and curricula, please.
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When did Lincoln become a Democrat? Are you a Mormon, doing political party registrations for the dead, or something?
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Because Holt McDougal wants to eliminate any mistaken impression that the company or its customers endorse or support a specific political campaign, all Obama references are being removed from subsequent editions of Holt McDougal Literature including the most recently published McDougal Littell Literature Florida and California editions, copyright 2009.
That’s great, Ed – thanks for that. They recognized the validity of the complaints and solved the problem. End of story.
Nor am I the one who appears to be wholly unfamiliar with the great failure of students to take serious English courses over the past 30 years.
Har – you’re being contaminated by conservative ideals. We are the first line of defense on English courses. Unfortunately, there are very few conservatives in the field of education, so we don’t have much leverage. The moment arm is too long.
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I am going to teach from this book when school begins and I taught from parts of it last year. It is truly wonderful. I helped pilot it and it was by far the best textbook series we looked at. I had chosen this book before I even knew that an autobiographical chapter from “Dreams from My Father” was included. This deals with a young man coming to grips with the reality of his father whom he had idealized. It is very compelling reading. (Pages 830- 843)
There is also his keynote speech “Out of Many, One” which teaches form, purpose, and tone.
This material was added before Obama was running for office. I am sure it was chosen because it is very well written. It is too bad that politics have become so polarizing and hateful. Surely we can learn from everyone.
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That was in the book prior to Obama running for ANY office, or before he ran for Prez? Because I contend that unless Republican politicians were given equal treatment, this was profoundly inappropriate.
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Way before. See publishers note
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Not for any office.
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I believe he is your president now.
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Way before. See publishers note
That would be so far from the truth as to constitute a deliberate lie. Who gave a speech at the July 2004 DNC convention and was hailed as a leading candidate for the 2008 presidential election? Senatorial candidate Barack Obama, of course, who was elected in November 2004. Since the editors clearly state that they made their selection in 2005, it was well after he emerged on the national stage.
Not to mention that you ignored ND’s request for clarification, so as to preserve your weak argument. I can see that you maintain very high standards of integrity.
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Um, Lynn, if his 2004 convention speech is in the book, how can you say that it was before he ran for any office? He was a state Senator at that point, soon to be US Senator. He turned out to be our most liberal Senator, further to the left than Bernie Sanders, the avowed Socialist.
He’s now in the process of dismantling capitalism with his ruinous economic policies, and beclowning himself on the world stage with his continuous apology tours. He has reached out to murderous dictators, while alienating our traditional allies. Believe me. A. LOT. of people have a problem with him. School books should stay out of politics.
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There is also his keynote speech “Out of Many, One” which teaches form, purpose, and tone.
Oh, it teaches a lot more than that:
Sure seems to mention this “John Kerry” fellow a lot. But I’m sure that the typical 8th grade reader won’t take home any political message from that.
It is too bad that politics have become so polarizing and hateful.
What was it that he said? “…this long political darkness?” That’s not very nice. Looks like you’ve got the “polarizing and hateful” covered.
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Way before he ran for president. It’s a great speech. It would be a sin to exclude such a great speech simply because the guy’s a Democrat. We don’t exclude Ronald Reagan speeches because he was a Republican. We don’t take the Gettysburg Address out of history or literature texts because Lincoln was a Republican. Any historic and/or great speech should be fodder for students of rhetoric (now usually in English or literature) to study.
He had opposition in that race — it was not certain he’d be elected to the U.S. Senate.
But so what if he won? We study the Lincoln-Douglas debates, winner and loser — it’s great rhetoric, worthy of study.
That’s highly inaccurate. The journal that offered that rating noted that Obama had missed several of the votes they counted for ratings, and that skewed his rating.
Of course, we may want to note that John McCain couldn’t be rated on that scale, because he missed more votes than all but two other senators — one who had a stroke and missed more than half of the term while in rehab, and another who died.
At least Obama got to the floor to vote. I’ll wager you can’t name one of those votes without looking it up, and I’ll wager that of the votes rated, you can’t tell us how you’d vote different from the liberals on more than two or three.
Why are you so hell bent on trying to denigrate a great man?
I’ll also wager you can’t define socialism without looking it up, and I’ll wager that even with looking it up you can’t name one policy of Obama’s that would qualify as “socialist” under the von Mises definition (and I pick von Mises because he’s the Zeus of anti-socialists).
You toss Limbaugh labels around as if you know what they mean (they mean nothing), and as if they offered any light on the matter.
Oh, yeah — boosting America’s position among other nations is a “clown tour.” Which form of America-hatred affects you, communism, fascism, anarchism, or just plain stupid?
I’m sure it galls Obama haters that he’s so good overseas, that he can wrangle concessions out of Putin with just six months under his belt as president.
We Americans celebrate good things whoever is president.
Where are you from, again?
You’re joking. Name an ally who has been alienated.
I’m sure every member of al Quaeda, Indonesian terrorists of all stripes, and predatory bankers hate him. That’s a lot.
But there are a lot more people who like him and aren’t as crabby as you.
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For that matter, name a “murderous dictator” to whom Obama “reached out,” especially one who wasn’t on a previous president’s list of favorite foreign heads of state.
For the purposes of the book we’re discussing here, the issue isn’t how many people like or don’t like Obama. The issue is that there have been just a tiny handful of presidents and great generals in U.S. history who can give a stemwinding speech like Obama.
It’s a book of speeches and biography, not a book of politicians to vote for.
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I said school books should stay out of politics, not history. I can assure you that if a middle school textbook had Sarah Palin’s 2008 convention speech in it, you would be more than a little peeved. And I would find it rather inappropriate, myself.
Why are you so hell bent on trying to denigrate a great man?
There is absolutely nothing great about Obama but he does tell a great many lies, (go ahead and challenge me to name a few) and has a great many people fooled, but that number has been decreasing in case you haven’t noticed.
As for Obama’s Socialist policies?…Government control over banks, the automotive industry, and the health care industry, and massive redistribution of wealth, doesn’t seem a wee bit socialist to you, by ANY definition of Socialism? Please.
I’m sure it galls Obama haters that he’s so good overseas, that he can wrangle concessions out of Putin with just six months under his belt as president.
Bwahahahaha!
Concessions?! I don’t know why I’m laughing…Obama has done an incredible amount of damage in a very short period of time, but that koolaid you’re drinking must taste good, for you to say such a thing.
Obama’s missile deal with Putin/Medvedev is very beneficial to Russian ambitions and realpolitik, but not so much in our best interest. For America to voluntarily to reduce its nuclear superiority in a world where nukes are proliferating in unstable or outlaw regimes is absolute madness.
You’re joking. Name an ally who has been alienated.
Hmmmmmm…think think think…Israel?
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gxVThPpibfICcoETmf07CNqP3X7A
No, Obama’s performance on the world stage has been mortifying. He’s apologized for America on how many continents now? I’ve lost count. He bowed, yes, literally bowed before the king of Saudi Arabia. He reached out to the murderous regime in Iran even as they slaughtered protesters in the wake of its sham election. He has reached out to the Marxists thugs in Latin America, Chavez, Castro, Ortega, but threw the good people of Honduras under the bus for deposing their Chavez wannabe thug leader, Zelaya, who was Democratically elected, but also Democratically deposed for crimes against the Honduran Constitution. The Obama administration has put pressure on the government of Honduras to reinstate the Marxist fruitcake, against the will of the majority of the people.
Chavez has been in contact with the State Dept. asking for help on Zelaya’s behalf. Could you imagine him doing that with Condi Rice? I can’t. I also couldn’t picture the Bush administration or a McCain administration taking the Marxist side of this conflict. I suppose you’ll want a definition of ‘Marxist’, now.
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It’s a great speech. It would be a sin to exclude such a great speech simply because the guy’s a Democrat. We don’t exclude Ronald Reagan speeches because he was a Republican.
You’re. Kidding. Right? A nakedly partisan campaign speech calling for support and votes for a candidate is completely different than a policy speech delivered by a member of either party. Which is what the point has been from the outset – that it was as partisan a speech as it possibly could be, delivered in as partisan a forum as there exists.
So either you can’t follow the discussion, or you’re completely dishonest. My bet is that you can’t follow the discussion AND you’re completely dishonest, but that we won’t see the depths of your dishonesty until you finally clue in. But the way things are trending, we won’t see those depths for some time.
It’s a book of speeches and biography, not a book of politicians to vote for.
Exactly. Now look at the excerpts I quoted above. It’s a speech that belongs in a book of politicians to vote for.
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Perhaps society needs to go further and actively promote birth control and more active rewards for moving in the direction of middle class values of delayed parenthood, two parent families, and a more traditional lifestyle. ,
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This man has the audacity to prey on our dreams and desires. 1 year into his presidency do we have hope ? Has anything he has promised been even remotely been discussed, let alone accomplished. You are just a Uncle Tom to your corporate Wall Street masters, Mr O. Don’t bring your whitey agenda any where near my consciousness.
B. Ma
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