Backlash Growing Over Obama School Speech

WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House is dismissing the furor over
President Barack Obama's plan for a televised back-to-school speech
to the nation's students.
Presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs says he thinks "we've
reached a little bit of the silly season" when the president can't
even tell kids to study hard and stay in school. Gibbs says the
president just wants to give students "a little encouragement as
they start the school year."
Some conservative critics accuse Obama of trying to promote a
political agenda, and say his Tuesday speech will inject the
federal government too far into public school business.
Minnesota's Republican governor, Tim Pawlenty, says it raises
questions of content and motive.
Many school districts have decided not to show the speech,
partly in response to concerns from parents.
The president of the American Federation of Teachers is
defending Obama, telling a New York radio show that he should use
his "bully pulpit" to talk about the importance of education and
"inspire kids."