The obligatory second video of kids singing about Obama
posted at 8:11 am on September 26, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
After the exposure given the creepy hosannas sung to Barack Obama in a New Jersey school this past week, it’s not terribly surprising that people have begun to scour YouTube for any other examples of indoctrination in elementary schools. Several people have e-mailed me this clip, claiming it to be the next in the series, but it’s far more goofy than offensive. Obviously the teacher, “Mr. B”, was giddy enough to write a song about Obama’s election and have his kids sing it the next day, but except for the “Yes yes yes yes yes we can” in the chorus, it mostly avoids glorifying Obama and focuses on kids staying in school so that they can become president. And what’s with the rooster at the end?
Obama is the President!
First African America in history
44th president of the United States
The ground has shifted
The world has changed!CHORUS:
Oooo Im a proud American
Oooo yes yes yes yes YES WE CAN!Im going to study really hard just like Barack
Learning never ever stops
Gonna set my goals HIGH and graduate
You might be looking at the President of 2048!We are a nation of a thousand colors, look at me
Our strength is our diversity
Walking hand in hand we sing
Each a day a little closer to the dream of Dr. King
In my opinion, this is harmless. Obama’s election was historical, and that seems like a reasonable point to teach children in school, especially the day after the election when this was shot. No one’s worshiping Obama in this song.
If I could have offered one suggestion to Mr. B, I think it would have been … more cowbell.
Blowback
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I’ll give you ‘historic,’ but not ‘the ground has shifted.’ What is he, Godzilla?
James on September 26, 2009 at 8:15 AM
Dude, that is horrendous and yes inappropriate.
rob verdi on September 26, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Ask those kids who was the first President and then we can talk historic.
Tom
marinetbryant on September 26, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Will they do the same for the first female president 2012..
the_nile on September 26, 2009 at 8:19 AM
gross
blatantblue on September 26, 2009 at 8:20 AM
In context it’s not.
the_nile on September 26, 2009 at 8:22 AM
I don’t think Dr. King had communism in mind.
njpat on September 26, 2009 at 8:25 AM
It’s harmless if you think liberal indoctrination is OK.
2Brave2Bscared on September 26, 2009 at 8:32 AM
I’m more concerned that these teachers are instilling a sense of appreciation for really bad folkmusic in these kids.
lowandslow on September 26, 2009 at 8:32 AM
I think developing a scale of creepiness is counter productive. This should not be happening. If after his term, history can show that Mr. Obama has had a huge positive impact on the history of our country, then people can write songs and name buildings after him. If his very election is that transformative then sing about the voters.
Cindy Munford on September 26, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Hard not to make a cock joke here…
Imagine the hellstorm that would come if a couple years ago kids in school sang a similar song about Bush at the behest of one of their teachers.
So it’s okay to teach little kids grammar that is improper twice over because “you” is an easy rhyme for a lazy teacher?
ynot4tony2 on September 26, 2009 at 8:33 AM
Will the schools have a song for the first Native American…that would make my grandfather happy.
I hope these videos make parents pay more attention to what is going on at their kids schools.
yoda on September 26, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Yes, there has been an earthquake, and we have yet to fathom the extent of its devastation.
As to all these kiddy songs, where’s CPS when we need ‘em?
TXUS on September 26, 2009 at 8:35 AM
too much of that Biblical stuff
blatantblue on September 26, 2009 at 8:36 AM
Ed,
An accumulation of seemingly “harmless” events with a single theme, at some point becomes a phenomenon.
This is alarming to me.
katy on September 26, 2009 at 8:36 AM
meh…agree with Ed. Harmless and completely within the realm of acceptability.
It is unacceptable to teach kids to worship 0bama, it would be equally unacceptable to erase all mention of him.
Reality is not selective, much to the chagrin of liberals.
donkichi on September 26, 2009 at 8:36 AM
Do we have any evidence that that statement is factual?
This is also teaching kids bad manners, as it is not acceptable to call adults by their first name.
Beaglemom on September 26, 2009 at 8:39 AM
I agree, Ed, this song wasn’t a big deal. Yeah, the lyrics could have been better, but they’re still a rung higher than a lot of pop music, past and present.
The rooster? I read it as a new day thing.
And yes, the girl on the cowbell should have explored the space.
Dusty on September 26, 2009 at 8:40 AM
Actually, I think ALL political indoctrination of children in the school system is wrong; left right and in between. America and society in general has a lot of issues and problems that divide people. We should leave the children out of this in their school years and see if we teach them how to read, write and do math.
MikeA on September 26, 2009 at 8:42 AM
The kid with the cowbell at 1:05 is wearing a Michael Vick shirt. I wonder if this was the dream of Dr. King to which the dog refers…
“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood, and bet on Pit Bull fights. I have a dream!”
LeBron on September 26, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Generally agree, but what about Jesus?
Actually, I think that’s what the teacher here is alluding to by having the kids sing, “Barack”.
TXUS on September 26, 2009 at 8:43 AM
Obama
Obama
The apple of his eye
Redistribution
For the people
From the capital
to the steeple
Obama Obama
Let us carry forth with care
Welfare
Healthcare
Lets dare
To take a stand and clean our air
Obama Obama
Planetary warming
Must be stopped today
Obama will heal the oceans
Take us to the moon
And save us from impending doom
blatantblue on September 26, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Obama is not a human
not merely just a man
more of like a demi god
who flies like peter pan
blatantblue on September 26, 2009 at 8:45 AM
obama is not simply
a presidential guy
he is a superior
with an ever watchful eye
blatantblue on September 26, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray Obama my soul to keep
Should I die before I wake
I pray Obama my soul to take
blatantblue on September 26, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Jesus only had one name, just like Matthew, Mark, Luke and John :)
Beaglemom on September 26, 2009 at 8:47 AM
Obama, Obama had an Inauguration Day,
Since then there has been much drama.
How I wish he’d go away.
kingsjester on September 26, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Impossible. Maybe if you stuck to just reading, writing and math you could avoid the political agendas. But once you get into subjects like history, science, philosophy, etc., a particular worldview is going to be presented. There is no neutrality here.
What needs to happen is we need to get the federal government the hell out of the education business. Constitutionally, they have no right to be involved anyway.
2Brave2Bscared on September 26, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Sorry about that, I had just woken up. Bad writing is a natural symptom of diminished caffeine, dontcha know?
LeBron on September 26, 2009 at 8:49 AM
I didn’t see goofy here. All I saw was more indoctrination. Indoctrination is dangerous not “goofy”……
Ozprey on September 26, 2009 at 8:49 AM
Everyday I wake in bed
With thoughts of Obarfy bouncing in my head
Do I pay my tax with leaf or wax?
Play his game in jeans or slacks?
Obama the trickster
with Biden the jester
blatantblue on September 26, 2009 at 8:50 AM
Jesus! That’s enough to make me hurl.
TheSitRep on September 26, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Hey, and there’s more humming for Obama in this song!
I sense a trend.
SagebrushPuppet on September 26, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Beaglemom on September 26, 2009 at 8:47 AM
I thought his last name was Ofnazareth.
Dusty on September 26, 2009 at 8:53 AM
It’s not harmless because it perpetuates an egregious lie, namely that “Our strength is our diversity”.
Buy Danish on September 26, 2009 at 8:53 AM
I agree with nile. The context shifted from harmless to mind massage with this segment
It is way outside what little kids should be singing even without that segment. Use the rule of substitution to see how the ‘ground has shifted’ in what is appropriate to load on little kids:
George Bush is the President!
First White South Texan President in history
43th president of the United States
The ground has shifted
The world has changed!
CHORUS:
Oooo Im a proud American
Oooo yes yes yes yes YES WE CAN!
Im going to study really hard just like Bush
Learning never ever stops
Gonna set my goals HIGH and graduate
You might be looking at the President of 2048!
We are a nation of a thousand colors, look at me
Our strength is our diversity
Walking hand in hand we sing
Each a day a little closer to the dream of Dr. Milton Friedman
In grade school we sang these lyrics:
I am so lucky to be an American
I am so thankful each day of the year
I can vote for my choice
Speak my mind
Raise my voice
Yes I like it he-e-e-re
Big difference
My Grandmother sang to me a song she had to sing in class in Poland to the health of the Emperor (of the Austro Hungarian Empire). We got away from this personalized crap in this nation and the insertion of same into our culture at the level of innocent kiddie sponge brains has to be stopped.
entagor on September 26, 2009 at 8:53 AM
That’s right. If conservatives have no problem with that line (Ed says it’s harmless), then conservatism is dead and liberalism has won.
2Brave2Bscared on September 26, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Jesus is more like a brother to us all, so I’m guessing it’s okay to call him by his first name.
ynot4tony2 on September 26, 2009 at 8:55 AM
I disagree. It might be hard and it might require parents to actually get involved with their kids education (what a concept) but it is NOT impossible. It is only impossible for the current liberal system to do it.
MikeA on September 26, 2009 at 8:55 AM
The responses to the question “what do you want to be when you grow up” are going to change dramatically. Doctor, nurse and lawyer will be replaced with czar, union chief, community organizer and census taker.
sherry on September 26, 2009 at 8:56 AM
Was this video shot on school time? In which class, “Spazzing Out 101″?
SagebrushPuppet on September 26, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Agreed. Forced diversity is every bit as unnatural and wrong as intentional exclusion of a specific race.
ynot4tony2 on September 26, 2009 at 8:58 AM
“First White South Texan President in history”
[entagor on September 26, 2009 at 8:53 AM]
Well, yeah, except he wasn’t. Johnson was (and Eisenhower the first from Texas.)
Dusty on September 26, 2009 at 9:00 AM
The songs that I was taught as a child spoke of the greatness of America. Since the appearance of the first video, I have been trying to think of songs that specifically worshiped George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. I keep coming up blank. America – yes; the founding principles – yes; the wonders of this nation – yes; the greatness of its people – yes; worship of its greatest leaders – blank.
In the first video, they had the kids lauding Obama’s wonderful plans. In my history classes, we focused on what the historical individuals accomplished (good or ill), not what they planned. The only exception to that involved Mein Kampf. I’m staying with “creepy”.
ss396 on September 26, 2009 at 9:02 AM
bb…great songs!!!! Need more cowbell!
yoda on September 26, 2009 at 9:03 AM
The only potential problem I have with this kind of Obama role model stuff is that we don’t know whether Obama studied hard. If it turns out that Obama had a lifetime C average, what does that tell kids in school and how will they feel about it afterward.
Dusty on September 26, 2009 at 9:04 AM
It’s stupid, and it fills kids’ heads with mushy ideas of dubious value, including, but not limited to:
- there’s something inherently strengthening about “diversity” (there isn’t)
- race is something meaningful to get really, really excited about (it isn’t)
- the dreams of Martin Luther King are the ones most worth focusing on (they aren’t — I’d say the ideals of the Founding Fathers are worth a bit more attention).
So, sure, this isn’t quite another “hymn to Obama”, but it would still be nice if teachers would stop treating the last election like some kind of American Idol finale.
Kensington on September 26, 2009 at 9:09 AM
As far as I’m concerned, any teacher who has their kids sing crap like this, which involves the glorification of a mere politician, is one step away from pedophilia or child abuse.
At the very least, they should be put in time out so as to collect themselves.
TXUS on September 26, 2009 at 9:10 AM
I think the rooster at the end is representing a new day has come type of thing. Unfurtunatly its a terrible day.
pageram on September 26, 2009 at 9:11 AM
It’s also not at all clear to me that encouraging children to emulate Obama’s value system is actually a good idea.
Kensington on September 26, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Properly, His name would be Jesus bin Joseph al-Nazarini.
ss396 on September 26, 2009 at 9:12 AM
With 57 states including Kenya.
farright on September 26, 2009 at 9:13 AM
I seriously think we need to push for an “American History Month”, and one of the lessons should be the meaning of e pluribus unum which most definitely does not mean “our strength is our diversity”.
Buy Danish on September 26, 2009 at 9:13 AM
Wow,and I thought “Silly Love Songs” had goofy lyrics.
vcferlita on September 26, 2009 at 9:14 AM
[ss396 on September 26, 2009 at 9:02 AM]
I blame that on guitars. Nowadays every teacher is a musician because they can strum four chords. Guitars should be prohibited in schools.
Dusty on September 26, 2009 at 9:14 AM
[Kensington on September 26, 2009 at 9:12 AM]
Yeah, but I was speaking only in relation to this video.
Dusty on September 26, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Image this was after President Bush or any other president got elected and replace the work “Barack” with George and would you say the same thing and those on the left say the same thing?
JeffinSac on September 26, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Ahh…some rich white guy?
Caper29 on September 26, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Bull. Read the comments from the person who did the video. This is another attempt to make this about Black History Month when the ‘author’ states the song “morphed” into that from a tribute solely to Obama as time wore on.
There is also a statement that the kids and teacher simply “brainstormed” the lyrics of the song. I again call BS. Third graders came up with a line like “Our strength is our diversity”? Really?
This was also something not carped together in an afternoon. The teacher states they spent many an end of school day putting this together. Just a few minutes at the end of the day mind you. And the crayon art from the kids belies any attempt to make this seem like a harmless, single afternoon event. The kids making Yes We Can, rainbow pictures? How about the picture of the girl holding the “Jobs, Equal Pay, Peace” picture. That kid came up with that out of the blue on her own? Bologna.
I would agree that this is more ‘harmless’ than the others, but this, taken with the others shows a trend. This isn’t simply harmless. It’s disturbing.
catmman on September 26, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Note
no caucasian kids –was this arranged? just askin’
the Cesar Chavez photo –a communist hero thrust on 3rd graders?
the little “Huelga” bird logo inside one of those cute crayon letters
JPlunket on September 26, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Well, if their imbecilic teachers have been braying this in their faces since Kindergarten, it could be part of their unconscious belief system by third grade.
Kensington on September 26, 2009 at 9:25 AM
But what if he ends up being just a terrible president. And I don’t mean for conservatives but for everyone. Why glorify him because of the election?
Cindy Munford on September 26, 2009 at 9:28 AM
9 out of 10 of them will probably answer “Martin Luther King.”
Kensington on September 26, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Historical perspective requires an attention span of more than two seconds.
Kensington on September 26, 2009 at 9:31 AM
I agree with most posters in this sense: dismissing this as “harmless” is extraordinarily forgiving of us in view of how the Left would view any teacher-organized hymn to George Bush, no matter how shoddy.
Yes, his election was historic. He’s the first Marxist president. This is a more improbable accomplishment with far greater implications than the fact of his race.
rrpjr on September 26, 2009 at 9:31 AM
If they really wanted to get this right, the kid with the book should have been holding “Rules for Radicals.”
Kensington on September 26, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Kensington on September 26, 2009 at 9:25 AM
Touche’
Kensington on September 26, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Double touche’
catmman on September 26, 2009 at 9:34 AM
The “Huelga” bird is at 2:17 mark
so we have cute li’l stars, ‘n hearts,’n smiley faces
then we get the bird, which is somehow important enough to have been drawn once, erased, then re-drawn
odd
JPlunket on September 26, 2009 at 9:35 AM
[catmman on September 26, 2009 at 9:19 AM]
I didn’t read the entry. So, the guy’s a lying sack with a guitar. Who’d have guessed?
Dusty on September 26, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Definitely needs More Cowbell.
5u93rm4n on September 26, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Home schooling is looking really really good lately. I am glad I don’t have to deal with this.
Cindy Munford on September 26, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Why glorify him because of the election?
[Cindy Munford on September 26, 2009 at 9:28 AM]
I, for one, am proud that we have shown that we do not discriminate in having white and black crappy presidents.
Dusty on September 26, 2009 at 9:46 AM
I figure the first trans gendered president won’t invoke all this folksy tripe when they write songs in grammar school to honer him/her.
Hitech or Disco, I wonder?
Hening on September 26, 2009 at 9:48 AM
But could you put that to music?
Cindy Munford on September 26, 2009 at 9:49 AM
This instructor utilized English Language Development study time to teach poor grammar and subliminal associative attachment to Leftist politics. There’s no excuse for this man to have ignored Dr. King’s dream for us all to be judged by the quality of our character. Where’s that expressed in their chant?
“The ground has shifted, the world has changed.
So so much work left to do.” Haven’t yet studied the Constitution, yet ready to make shredding it your life’s work? Didn’t do you homework? Walking out on your responsibilities, procrastinating while feeling good in chorus?
Let’s have a go:
Together we walk, you and I.
With so much to do, let us try.
or
Together we walk, you and I.
Beyond all the talk, grow up and smile.
or
Together we walk, you and I.
Stand up really tall, and learn to not cry.
maverick muse on September 26, 2009 at 9:50 AM
This one is less dumb than the other one, but the platitudes in song to Dear Leader being foisted upon juveniles have got to stop. I can’t recall a single example of Presidents in the past who got this kind of treatment while they were in office, let alone in their first months in office.
Not the kids’ fault, obviously. It’s just that some teachers are too emotionally invested in the cult of personality that it bleeds into their lessons.
Red Cloud on September 26, 2009 at 9:52 AM
[Cindy Munford on September 26, 2009 at 9:49 AM]
I’d be happy to. Anyone know how to play the cowbell?
Dusty on September 26, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Except for a large group of foreigners that wish to destroy our nation and kill us, and people in this country legal or not that want free stuff, Obama is a failure already. The big giddy celebration is that someone with dark skin was elected and we should feel a quickening of relief from all the guilt. That can’t last long since millions make a living off of that guilt. I wonder if all those kids qualify for Affirmative Action, free legal school and working for Acorn? That’s what they are really celebrating and that’s what their hero represents.
Cowbell please.
Hening on September 26, 2009 at 9:53 AM
“Our strength is our diversity” is opposite, contrary to our motto: e pluribus unum. It takes a perverted corruption to not notice that “our strength is our diversity” challenges the concept of unity, making diversity preeminent.
maverick muse on September 26, 2009 at 9:57 AM
How about we just take that a step further then, shall we? How about we just do not have public schools altogether, since its a communist tenant anyways? Sure would clear up a lot of debate about what we should and shouldn’t be teaching children in school.
NeverLiberal on September 26, 2009 at 9:59 AM
“The ground has shifted. The world has changed.”
No more history, boys and girls. You were all born yesterday; all that matters began with Obama. Whatever you hear of the past has shifted. Why bother learning something that changed? Make of ignorant bliss what you will, just do as you’re told by your union teacher. Or you be quiet and get out of the way.
maverick muse on September 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Oh please… It’s only “harmless” because this administration and everything we’ve seen from the Democrat leadership this year is so insanely offensive, this seems “harmless” by comparison. All you need to do is imagine this is a song about Bush to realize how wrong this still is.
RightWinged on September 26, 2009 at 10:06 AM
I played about five seconds of that and a part of me died inside.
Pcoop on September 26, 2009 at 10:08 AM
This stuff is why I think homeschooling is a good idea if a family can manage it.
Socialist indoctrination and worship of a state leader is just plain creepy.
hachiban on September 26, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Boy, am I eating my words about home schooling now. I hope more videos come out and we find out what is being taught to our kids and how our tax money is being spent in public schools.
yoda on September 26, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Yes, it’s shameless indoctination but not nearly as creepy as the mmm mmm mmm song.
RandyChandler on September 26, 2009 at 10:11 AM
You will, though. Just give it another 20-30 years as these kids (and others in classrooms around the country) move into business and politics.
ss396 on September 26, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Go to 1:48 in the clip.
The voice-over of Martin Luther King Jr. has him saying “thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”
The kids are sort of saying it–it’s clear that some sort of edit happens right at that point.
So, why the edit at that point? To blur the mention of God in a direct quote?
Is it no longer politically correct to accurately quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a public school?
Niere on September 26, 2009 at 10:15 AM
I would love to ask the teacher if the U.S. has had any other moments of ground shifting & world changing? I bet this election was the first.
Cindy Munford on September 26, 2009 at 10:15 AM
That’s true. Those first pay check conversions to conservatism are probably fewer and fewer.
Cindy Munford on September 26, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Ed, lets wait until the guy actually accomplishes something. We are setting these kids up for serious psychological damage if/when Obama turns out to be the worst president in history. This teacher has indoctrinated them into thinking they are actually adopting a way of thought based on rational and patriotism. The damage to their self esteem would be great and they will doubt their judgment for years to come.
csdeven on September 26, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Okay, about this historic president…
1. he is bi-racial not black
And, as MM said last year,
It’s not the color of his skin, it is the color of his politics.
uber-con on September 26, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Brilliant!
Just like the one about hod G_d’s name is “Andy”
Or, the song about the visually impaired bear named “Gladly”
massrighty on September 26, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Then you are a racist. No sarcasm, there. EVERY person elected to the office makes history, regardless of their skin color.
Blarg the Destroyer on September 26, 2009 at 10:25 AM
hod = how
massrighty on September 26, 2009 at 10:26 AM
What would they have been singing if McCain had won?
Probably not singing at all and that’s all you need to know to understand why this is offensive even for the best of motives.
PackerBronco on September 26, 2009 at 10:28 AM
How exactly is our strength our diversity? What does skin color have anything to do with a nation’s strength?
Monica on September 26, 2009 at 10:33 AM
This is such a common Fallacy in Liberal thinking.
UNITY, is our strength. Diversity is our power source. E pluribus unum, is not just a cute phrase on our coins. It’s what has made this nation great, and only now can we see decline as this ideal is worn away by liberal minds.
-Wasteland Man.
WastelandMan on September 26, 2009 at 10:35 AM
This is no worse than the Hitler Jugend signing the praises of “unser Fuhrer, I admit. From what little I know about those days, I seem to recall that some of the songs of that genre were pretty mild, too. Others were not.
We can’t afford to let this sort of crap slip by just because it’s “less offensive” than another hymn to Osama Obama. Water drops, in sufficient quantity, can wear away stone, you know.
To mix metaphors, we are only seeing the tip of a very ugly and dangerous iceberg.
MrScribbler on September 26, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Heh, I went over to youtube and watched it there. I flagged it for child abuse.
Blarg the Destroyer on September 26, 2009 at 10:40 AM
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