SarahB1,
You are correct that there is no law requiring an original to be produced.
However, there is a bill that is in the process. I really am not a "birther" but when there is a question of such great importance and no definitive answer is given it concerns me. I can say that there is no question GWB is a natural born citizen (I am not saying his politics were the best), but there is with Obama. This is just another thing that is keeping our country divided. He promised to be different and transparent and he has been just the opposite. Another example of his hush/no tell policies would be his czars. They do not need Senate approval and therefore are not screened for radical views and actions.
They also cannot be questioned about their knowledge and job duties in the courts unless they resign from their position. They only answer to Obama. And most of them have radical backgrounds. Please, see through the politics and political correctness and look at their actions not their words. The facts are out there, google each of the czars and see what you come up with. This is turning our country upside down and dividing us more than ever before.
Just remember, we are all Americans. We shouldn't rip each other apart for our views (divided we fall). The government is to serve us, not us serve them.

John Mccain was also questioned about his natural born citizenship and he produced his original birth certificate and the case dropped. Obama needs to produce his. Which president didn't produce one?
Nutcase? Well, maybe. But, again if he can't force a state to release his original birth certificate, how will he be able to force Iran to not produce nuclear weapons or persuade a terrorist to not harm any other country or person? The fact is that there is a growing number of Americans who do not trust Obama and his czars. That will not get better if he doesn't come clean and transparant (his own broken campaign promise).

"he is the only president we have had that has not produced one" Really? So George Washington whipped his out when a nutcase demanded one?

SarahB1,
If the President of the United States can't force a state to release the original then how can he deal with the major issues we have going on?
There is a reason it hasn't been released. I admit that it seems crazy to accuse our president of not being a natural born U.S. citizen, but he is the only president we have had that has not produced one. And it isn't crazy to be curious about this issue, since there is no official document available to prove otherwise.

Oh my gosh. I guess I snapped up a few of Janesburg' finest. The "Right" has gone beyond the pale. The President's speech was magnificent, and I read it to each and every one of my classes today! Fire me if you will. God bless America!!!!

Zoom, I never said he "should".

"I suppose the only other explanation is to conclude that today's Republican Party is against kids staying in school, doing their homework, and setting goals. Well, if they want more ignorant..."

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Speaking of ignorant, you take the award.

MikeF I agree exactly. Everyone hears what they want to anyway.

I think it was a great speech and that he did a great job.

The point being that if PARENTS parented their kids, taught them good work ethics and solid morals our country likely would NOT be in the position it's in. Imagine how much WORSE it can get in the next 10 years? It's scary really.

Encourage your kids to learn. Teach them things you know. Instill in them to importance of striving for the best outcome. Be a parent.

Actually RAF, the nutcases would still find something to complain about. Case in point -> cty35799 said "However, one huge red flag to me came when Obama described how his mother would wake him at 4:30 so she could teach him what the Americans were learning. He said he was not fortunate enough to attend certain educational classes that the Americans did and his mother wanted him to be educated the same as the Americans." Yet the speech itself read "...my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday – at 4:30 in the morning." Cty35799's interpretation is twisting the existing words and adding more. All this in an effort to perpetuate the cry for someone to produce a birth certificate. So cty35799, how about you produce yours. After all, why should we believe that you are a citizen without proof? Why not make everyone who wants to post here produce their BC before they can post? After all, we can never be sure they are actually American citizens...

RAF, you're not a typical right wing nut case. Stop defending them...or not.

Why should Obama release ANY speach a week before he actually speaks it? Seriously? The straws, they are being grasped.

Oh, give it up. It's obviously turned into a reason for embarrassment for all the nutcases who pushed this. I suppose the next thing to criticize will be the grade of paper used for the press release. Talk about grasping at straws.
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I suppose the only other explanation is to conclude that today's Republican Party is against kids staying in school, doing their homework, and setting goals. Well, if they want more ignorant Fox News viewers, I'm sure that will fit the bill.

Hornet you missed the point. The white house released other information first, like suggested lessons for teachers, to go with the speech. If the speech was released at the same time the suggested lessons were released there would have been less for people to squabble about.

I am a conservative and voted Mccain/Palin. I was very skeptical of the Obama speech to my elementary and college age children. But after reading it last night I chose to allow them to watch it if the schools chose to show it. I actually thought it was inspirational (probably the only positive thing I have said about Obama). However, one huge red flag to me came when Obama described how his mother would wake him at 4:30 so she could teach him what the Americans were learning. He said he was not fortunate enough to attend certain educational classes that the Americans did and his mother wanted him to be educated the same as the Americans. He never said "the other Americans". He didn't refer to himself as an American, and it really concerns me that the "birthers" have some credibility. It would really solve all the controversy if he would release his official birth certificate.

When Bush spoke to students, Democrats investigated, held hearings.
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http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinio...

After taking a peak over at "Faux News", I am sooo thanking the lord that we don't live in the Elmbrook School Dist. I wonder how that community and those parents feel about their Superintendant this morning. He's not doing those children any favors by making such a riduculous politial statement. Way to go Gibson.

RetiredAirForce: Just curious...do you think ALL speeches should be released prior to the actual presentation? Should all gov't officials? Should all military leaders? Should all Nobel Prize winners? Should all CEO/CFOs? Should the minister put out his/her sermon prior to Sunday morning? (Maybe one would feel they wouldn't have to go, or will know to carry rotten tomatoes with them to the narthex?) Or, was it that the speech was to children under 18? Can you elucidate why speeches should be released prior to presentation? I want to better understand what criteria should be used. Aren't we grown up enough to expect the best, not always the worst?

If his speech was released at the same time the other information was released there more than likely would not have been any issue. Yes, there is always going to be extremes on both sides that oppose just to oppose, but this could have been handled, by all, much better.

Well said, SEL1985. Those who oppose the message to be presented are those who live in fear of their own shadows because they failed to learn what was offered freely to them when they were in the classroom. Let's hope they also listen with more open minds to the message of this speech! Engaging children by encouraging political participation, as well as, encouraging working hard and critical thinking should be considered a crucial part of their education for the future welfare of our country.

Past Presidents have done the exact same thing...reaching out to our Children to encourage them to stay in school and obtain an education. America is no longer #1 in anything related to education. The Europeans and Japanese are out pacing us, and the key to economic and global success in the next 50 years, is having an intelligent and educated work force. I think it's great to have role model President to encourage kids to stay in school and work hard. Nothing partisan about that.

Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,3441...

Seventeen of the nation's 50 largest cities had high school graduation rates lower than 50 percent, with the lowest graduation rates reported in Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland, according to a report released Tuesday. (April 2008)

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Elsewhere in the news now:

CNN: Laura Bush praises Obama, bemoans excessive partisanship

...Former first lady Laura Bush praised the performance of her husband's successor Monday, breaking with many Republicans in telling CNN that she thinks President Obama is doing a good job under tough circumstances.

"I think there is a place for the president ... to talk to schoolchildren and encourage" them, she said. Parents should follow his example and "encourage their own children to stay in school and to study hard and to try to achieve the dream that they have."

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LA Times: ...Even more telling, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich ... has come round on this one.

In interviews on Fox News and on the "Today" show, Gingrich called the White House "smart" for releasing the transcript Monday (see earlier Ticket post) and called on students everywhere to listen up.

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Wish Michael Steele could step up and agree with these other well respected Republican voices...

Hate to say it, but in 5-10 years, we're all going to be paying towards unemployment for these non-graduates (even while we're retired!). (Talk about needing socialized health care, housing, food, energy...!) Why not encourage them to stay in school?

I doubt, based on some of freebird's previous comments, that he is being sarcastic...

If I'm wrong, mea culpa!

Except for the very young or the very naive student, telling a student that something is verboten is the same as telling them to rush home and watch it on YouTube. It could be the far right have done a service for their children, despite their best efforts.

I wonder if the children during Lincoln's time were told not to listen to the Gettysburg Address? Our children certainly quote it enough today (not that this school speech is the same caliber--to be quoted 100 year from now).

I wonder if there will ever be a way to not have politics directing every movement of our leaders...local or national. (I can dream sweet dreams, can't I? Right now it's a bad dream. I hope it never becomes a nightmare.)

I would hope they were being sarcastic. I got your sarcasim SarahB...

Our country is in big trouble if there is an uproar over our President speaking to our children, trying to give them a pep talk and positive influences! Some kids don't have that in their lives, which is very sad!

momof1- I think (and really, really hope) they were being sarcastic. If not, God help us all!

NVgrf and Freebird~
Have you even read the speech? It is a pep talk to our nations children. If you read it and don't agree with what is says (telling kids to stay focused and positive) I would be confused. What will a little positive reinforcement do? It might just make one child see that they are worth something, and if it does then it is worth our kids time to see it. I see nothing wrong with it, and hope my child enjoys the speech.

... care to elaborate? Your impassioned and well-thought out argument for impeachment leaves no doubt of your political acumen nor of your exceptional intelligence.

we need to start the impeachment process

I have never read such subtle and subversive brain-washing techniques. Who does this guy think he is trying to motivate our children to do better in school and develop an appreciation for education? If you read the speech backwards you will discover that it was taken from the center two pages of the Communist Manifesto. Does he think we are stupid or something!?