President Obama's student loans' speech is just a way to divert attention away from the three controversies, so say House Republicans
So, like last summer, President Obama is trying to work with Congress on a way to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1st of this year (from 3.4 to 6.8%). The president is trying to be, you know, presidential.
What did Indiana Republican Representative Luke Messer have to say about this? Just the following:
"It's not only a distraction from issues like Benghazi and the IRS and Department of Justice, but it's a distraction from the fact that the real threat to college-age students in America today is not a few more dollars on their student loan, it's the fact that the explosive growth of debt, the fact that the jobs in this economy for young people entering the marketplace have been the people probably most hurt by the Obama policies."
Minnesota Republican Representative John Kline added:
"It's time for the president to stop politicizing the student loan issue. The president and House Republicans agree on the need for a long-term market-based plan that will take politicians out of the business of setting student loan interest rates."
Syracuse Orange mascot-in-waiting and current House Speaker John Boehner called the president's speech "misguided and deeply disappointing."
So, what is the president supposed to do exactly? Take his entire administration on a cruise while Congressional Republicans figure out what conspiracy theories to flood the airwaves with next? Is he supposed to just sit in his office reading My Pet Goat and other children's books until Congressional Republicans give him a call and say, "Okay, Mr. President, you may start working again."? Who's the president again?
These House Republicans' behavior reminds me of a stubborn, perhaps "special" child in elementary school, who goes about the school year in the following manner:
Setting: 3rd grade math class in Liberal, Kansas
1st week of class
Teacher Sandra Bottomkiss: "Okay, we're going to work on our addition this week. So, bust out those books, but not the calculators. Let's try to do these problems without calculators."
Student Russ Rockhead: "Addition! Let's work on addition! Good, good, good. This is what we're supposed to be doing. Addition, addition, addition!"
Bottomkiss: "Yes, that's very good, Russ. I like your enthusiasm."
2nd week of class
Bottomkiss: "Now we're going to work on subtraction. Again, I'd prefer that you didn't use your calculators for these problems. Let's try to do this without those devices."
Rockhead: "Addition! We should still be working on addition! No subtraction! Addition, addition, addition!"
Bottomkiss: "Sorry, Russ, but we have to move on with the curriculum."
Rockhead: "I said addition!"
Bottomkiss: ::sighs::
3rd week of class
Bottomkiss: "Hello again class. I hope your weekends went well, and I hope you're ready for some more difficult problems. This week, we're going to focus our attention on multiplication problems. For the basic ones, I don't want you using your calculators, but will allow you to use them for the slightly more difficult ones."
Rockhead: "This is not what we should be talking about! I said we should be talking about addition! Why are you trying to focus our attention elsewhere? That's not right!"
Bottomkiss: "Russ, you're going to have to accept the fact that we don't focus on one area of the book the entire school year. How would we be able to maximize our learning potential if we didn't try to expand our horizons by learning more?"
Rockhead: "Whatever. You're just trying to distract us! I see what you're trying to do. I've got my eyes on you, Ms. Bottomkiss!"
Bottomkiss: "Very good. Okay, now back to the textbook..."
4th week of class
Bottomkiss: "Well, we've gone through addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Does anyone know what we'll be focusing our attention on this week? Yes, Russ..."
Rockhead: "Addition!"
Bottomkiss: "No, that was the first week of class. Do you remember that?"
Rockhead: "Yeah, so?"
Bottomkiss: "Yeah, well, we've moved beyond that. I tried teaching you addition, but I am paid to do my job up here, so while I'm sorry it doesn't seem as if you've mastered addition, I have to move on with things."
Rockhead: "You shouldn't have a job! You should be fired! Teaching is only about addition! Math is only about addition! The fact you're trying to teach us other stuff means, I don't know what it means, but it means you're up to no good!"
Bottomkiss: "I'm sorry, Russ. I've tried, tried, and tried, but am going to have to send you to the principal's office and ask that you be part of another class - a special one."
Rockhead: "Addition, addition, addition!"
Bottomkiss: "Exactly. Okay, now let's go see Principal Ballbuster and get this whole thing situated."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/05/31/gop-injects-scandals-into-discussion-of-student-loans/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/obama-student-loans_n_3366093.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
What did Indiana Republican Representative Luke Messer have to say about this? Just the following:
"It's not only a distraction from issues like Benghazi and the IRS and Department of Justice, but it's a distraction from the fact that the real threat to college-age students in America today is not a few more dollars on their student loan, it's the fact that the explosive growth of debt, the fact that the jobs in this economy for young people entering the marketplace have been the people probably most hurt by the Obama policies."
Minnesota Republican Representative John Kline added:
"It's time for the president to stop politicizing the student loan issue. The president and House Republicans agree on the need for a long-term market-based plan that will take politicians out of the business of setting student loan interest rates."
Syracuse Orange mascot-in-waiting and current House Speaker John Boehner called the president's speech "misguided and deeply disappointing."
So, what is the president supposed to do exactly? Take his entire administration on a cruise while Congressional Republicans figure out what conspiracy theories to flood the airwaves with next? Is he supposed to just sit in his office reading My Pet Goat and other children's books until Congressional Republicans give him a call and say, "Okay, Mr. President, you may start working again."? Who's the president again?
These House Republicans' behavior reminds me of a stubborn, perhaps "special" child in elementary school, who goes about the school year in the following manner:
Setting: 3rd grade math class in Liberal, Kansas
1st week of class
Teacher Sandra Bottomkiss: "Okay, we're going to work on our addition this week. So, bust out those books, but not the calculators. Let's try to do these problems without calculators."
Student Russ Rockhead: "Addition! Let's work on addition! Good, good, good. This is what we're supposed to be doing. Addition, addition, addition!"
Bottomkiss: "Yes, that's very good, Russ. I like your enthusiasm."
2nd week of class
Bottomkiss: "Now we're going to work on subtraction. Again, I'd prefer that you didn't use your calculators for these problems. Let's try to do this without those devices."
Rockhead: "Addition! We should still be working on addition! No subtraction! Addition, addition, addition!"
Bottomkiss: "Sorry, Russ, but we have to move on with the curriculum."
Rockhead: "I said addition!"
Bottomkiss: ::sighs::
3rd week of class
Bottomkiss: "Hello again class. I hope your weekends went well, and I hope you're ready for some more difficult problems. This week, we're going to focus our attention on multiplication problems. For the basic ones, I don't want you using your calculators, but will allow you to use them for the slightly more difficult ones."
Rockhead: "This is not what we should be talking about! I said we should be talking about addition! Why are you trying to focus our attention elsewhere? That's not right!"
Bottomkiss: "Russ, you're going to have to accept the fact that we don't focus on one area of the book the entire school year. How would we be able to maximize our learning potential if we didn't try to expand our horizons by learning more?"
Rockhead: "Whatever. You're just trying to distract us! I see what you're trying to do. I've got my eyes on you, Ms. Bottomkiss!"
Bottomkiss: "Very good. Okay, now back to the textbook..."
4th week of class
Bottomkiss: "Well, we've gone through addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Does anyone know what we'll be focusing our attention on this week? Yes, Russ..."
Rockhead: "Addition!"
Bottomkiss: "No, that was the first week of class. Do you remember that?"
Rockhead: "Yeah, so?"
Bottomkiss: "Yeah, well, we've moved beyond that. I tried teaching you addition, but I am paid to do my job up here, so while I'm sorry it doesn't seem as if you've mastered addition, I have to move on with things."
Rockhead: "You shouldn't have a job! You should be fired! Teaching is only about addition! Math is only about addition! The fact you're trying to teach us other stuff means, I don't know what it means, but it means you're up to no good!"
Bottomkiss: "I'm sorry, Russ. I've tried, tried, and tried, but am going to have to send you to the principal's office and ask that you be part of another class - a special one."
Rockhead: "Addition, addition, addition!"
Bottomkiss: "Exactly. Okay, now let's go see Principal Ballbuster and get this whole thing situated."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/05/31/gop-injects-scandals-into-discussion-of-student-loans/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/obama-student-loans_n_3366093.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
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