# The text of President Obama's speech to schoolchildren

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-text-of-president-obamas-speech-to-schoolchildren/509212>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 7, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-text-of-president-obamas-speech-to-schoolchildren/509212 "2009-09-07T22:50:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-text-of-president-obamas-speech-to-schoolchildren/509212/21 "2009-09-08T17:08:05Z")

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Having read the speech, there is really nothing to object to. I didn’t see the proposed “loyalty pledge” and I don’t like those kinds of things, so I’m glad that was cut. I don’t know if this speech makes a difference to anybody, because it’s not like nobody ever tells kids to work hard, but it’s a good speech and you can’t really object to the message. I have to say I’m a little impressed with this:

> [@](#):
>
> Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don’t have adults in your life who give you the support that you need.

You don’t usually see a politician acknowledge that kind of thing when speaking to children. It’s different for Obama, who’s written and spoken so much about his parents and his unusual upbringing. I think that’s a good, frank statement and give him some credibility here. And you need some credibility when you’re seen as a cool guy and delivering a square, stay in school message.

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