Michael Barone

Conservatives Take Cheap Shot at Obama for School Visit

February 5, 2009 RSS Feed Print

By Michael Barone, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

Barack Obama has had some whacks from conservatives for leaving the White House to visit a D.C. public school Tuesday. But before taking this cheap shot—why shouldn't Obama visit a school every once in a while?—they should take note of which school he chose to visit. It's the Capital City Public Charter School. That's right: a charter school. About 25 percent of D.C. public school students are enrolled in charter schools, and they are proving far better than most standard D.C. public schools. Obama has had good things to say about charter schools in the past. I take his visit as a vote of confidence in charter schools.

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For 8 long years Bush received cheap shots from these tax dodging windbags and their ignorant base.

Rick of PA 4:43PM February 05, 2009

All this was was a photo op. How about dealing with the real matters at hand My President?

Larry of CA 1:25PM February 05, 2009

Look, anyone can figure out what to do when told a crisis is brewing. Just get up, say "Children, something important has come up. I'm really sorry, but I have to go. I don't think I'll be able to be back today."

Then walk away. Then, if it turns out it had been a freak accident (which, alas, it wasn't), he could come back.

A *parent* should know how to do that, much less a governor, or a President.

That he did not do that suggests strongly that he didn't realize what being President really means.

LongHairedWeirdo of WA 1:24PM February 05, 2009

Michael Barone

Michael Barone

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Michael Barone is a senior writer for U.S.News & World Report and principal coauthor of The Almanac of American Politics. He has written for many publications—including the Economist and the New York Times.

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