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President to speak directly to the nation's students Tuesday at noon

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The controversy over President Obama's plan to deliver a televised back-to-school speech to the nation's students on Tuesday could be considered the grand finale to the 2009 "Silly Season.''

"Silly season'' is a journalism term for the slow news period of summer when events that might not even be news at a busier time, make headlines. A silly season a few summers ago featured a small rock found in Antarctica that became worldwide news when it was declared that it came from Mars and was definitive proof of life on the planet.

"I think we've reached a little bit of the silly season when the president of the United States can't tell kids to study hard and stay in school,'' presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. "I think both political parties agree that the dropout rate is something that threatens our long-term economic success.''

Conservative critics charge Obama is trying to push a political agenda.

Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a potential presidential candidate, described Obama's speech is "uninvited'' and questioned his motives.

Well, another governor New Jersey's Jon Corzine, Friday came to Obama defense.

"If talking with students about the need to work hard and stay in school is a political agenda, then I'm for President Obama's agenda, Corzine said. "Having the president speaking directly to students throughout the nation is an historic opportunity to provide encouragement and ask our young people to take responsibility for their future. There is nothing more important than educating our students and helping them to achieve their potential in school and life.''

Corzine, who is seeking re-election, noted that his administration increased investments in education by more than $1.8 billion.

"I am sure the president will have an inspiring message and I look forward to hearing him on Tuesday," he said.