First Lady Michelle Obama throws her arms up before she and President Barack Obama read to second graders at Capital City Public Charter School in Washington. The president said he wanted to "get out of the White House'' and come see these kids. Does someone look particularly tired, two weeks in office, on a day when two of his appointees had to withdraw over tax problems? (AP photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
by Mark Silva
What is it about second-graders, and getting out of the White House?
This one wasn't on the White House daily schedule:
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama dropped in at a charter school in Washington this afternoon.
They made the surprise trip between the withdrawal of two high-level Obama administration appointees over the "distraction'' that their unpaid taxes in the past had created for the president today and the president's participation in several Oval Office television network interviews to sell his economic stimulus plan.
"The reason we came to visit, A, we wanted to get out of the White House,'' the president (looking a little weary today in the AP photos by Pablo Martinez Monsivais) told 25 second-grade children seated on the floor at Capital City Public Charter School after reading to them.
The Obamas read "The Moon Over Star" by Dianna Hutts Aston, a book about Neil Armstrong's moon landing.
"B, we wanted to see you guys,'' Obama told the kids. "But C, the other thing we wanted to tell everybody is that this kind of innovative school, the outstanding work that's being done here by the entire staff, and the parents who are so active and involved, is an example of how all our schools should be... ''
The president who asked who wants to be an astronaut. When one boy said he wants to be president, Obama said: "I think you might make it.''
Asked who his own super-heroes are, Obama replied: Spider-Man and Batman.
The president, asked about pets, said, "We had a fish. I've got to admit the fish died." The first lady said: "The girls say we keep killing them."
When one of the girls said she wants to be first lady, the first lady joked: "It doesn't pay much.''
Obama's predecessor, President George W. Bush, had gone to an elementary school on Sept. 11, 2001, to hear some second-graders read. On that fateful day, Bush was selling his No Child Left Behind Act, which he won by year's end.
Obama came peddling another act: An $800-billion-plus economic stimulus that includes money for school improvements.
"Nothing is going to be more important than this,'' he said. "And the recovery and reinvestment act that we've put forward will provide billions of dollars to build schools and help with school construction. It will provide money to train teachers, especially in subjects like math and science that are so critical.''
The school also serves the "reform'' message that Obama's friend and education secretary, Arne Duncan, is selling. It was founded in 2000 by a group of public school parents working with teachers and other education professionals interested in reform. It serves 244 students in Pre-K through 8th Grade, more than half from low-income homes.
The add-on trip ended quietly - back to the Oval Office for those interviews. Time will tell whether Obama wins that act that he's promoting this evening on TV.
(With thanks to Dave Cook of the Christian Science Monitor for observant pool duty.)
Comments
I can only imagine how much worse the mess we're in right now would have gotten if McCain, Palin, Phil Gramm and Rush were in charge of trying to "fix" the very things that eight years of their own failed Repuglican rule caused in the first place.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4egXbhSOhk
Posted by: Hey Joe | February 3, 2009 4:40 PM
Obama gives reporters excuse to write about something other than his corrupt cabinet.
Swamp "reporter" complies.
Surprised?
President Obama pledged to change Washington, and he has. Before Obama, tax cheats got sent to jail. Now, they get appointed to the cabinet.
Posted by: Bruce | February 3, 2009 4:45 PM
I wonder if President Obama has ever visited a school on the West Side of Chicago? If he had, he would understand why so many parents and teachers are opposed to Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education.
Posted by: Paul | February 3, 2009 5:08 PM
President Obama pledged to change Washington, and he has. Before Obama, tax cheats got sent to jail. Now, they get appointed to the cabinet.
Posted by: Bruce | February 3, 2009 4:45 PM
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!
.
http://www.allhatnocattle.net/crybaby-gop3.jpg
Posted by: Allardice | February 3, 2009 5:11 PM
Hey Bruce, at least President Obama isn't reading "My Pet Goat".
Posted by: BC | February 3, 2009 5:11 PM
Leading by example... encourages us to go out in our own communities to make a difference!
In general people who are always speaking negative have bad breath.
Posted by: crazielikafox | February 3, 2009 5:16 PM
"In general people who are always speaking negative have bad breath."
Hey crazuelikafox, is that what that stench is after eight years of nothing but negative talk concerning out former POTUS?
Now you want positivity? Sure, give us something to be positive about, instead of more of the same baloney,
Posted by: Marinus Willett | February 3, 2009 5:33 PM
Good to see them out in the community. Change we can believe in, Inky.
Posted by: Flo | February 3, 2009 5:38 PM
I read the article and enjoyed it. Then I read the comments and got disgusted at all the negativity from people who are sore losers.
Posted by: vicki | February 3, 2009 5:41 PM
I will pray for the new First Couple. Michelle looks great by the way :) Barack not so much lol.
Posted by: lisa | February 3, 2009 5:42 PM
I didn't vote for him, but I have to say he really looks tired.
Posted by: vla | February 3, 2009 6:31 PM
I did vote for him, and he looks tired and rattled.
He needs to suck it up and kick it in gear.
Posted by: C.Morris✈ | February 3, 2009 7:15 PM
Since this is an "outstanding" and "innovative" school why aren't the Obamas sending their children there?
Amy Carter attended public school in DC.
The Obamas are spending $60,000 for the private education of their daughters...unless the taxpayers are funding the cost?!!?
Are any of the senators, congressmen, newspaper and tv reporters sending their children to DC schools?
Or is it only the heavily taxed, hard working, pay your taxes middle class that has to send their children to the public school because the government has yet to allow school choice for families that can't afford private school education.
Demand school choice from your legislaltors.
Posted by: Nelly | February 3, 2009 7:44 PM
The Obamas did not create the situation in D.C.-and maybe they can fix the home rule situation. Maybe not. There is so much to fix after 28 years of Republican rampaging through our coffers both public and private.
Glad to see them visiting the kids.
Posted by: Good on the Obamas! | February 3, 2009 9:30 PM
Of course he's tired. He inherited a complete disaster from his predecessor and been working his butt off since taking office.
Maybe the whiners would be happy if he just went on vacation 40% of his time like W did for the first 8 months in office before 9/11.
Posted by: Bubba ✔ | February 3, 2009 10:19 PM
Nellie- the Obama children have always attended private schools. Unfair to the kids to use them to send some kind of political message.
My kids attend parochial school, and I believe this is a valid choice in our country?
Obama's can well afford, and do, pay for their children to attend Sidwell Friends.
If you lived in DC and could afford it, I'd bet you'd go private too.
Posted by: MichieMich | February 4, 2009 8:12 AM
MichieMich--sorry your'e sending your kids someplace CRAZY MAKING.
Watch Bill Maher's Religulous.
Get a clue. The Obamas ROCK!
Posted by: Geraldine "Hussein" Too | February 4, 2009 8:52 AM
No matter what Obama says or does someone is going to whine about it.
Let he who thinks they can do a better job, speak up now.
He inherited a country on the verge of economic collapse, and engaged in two economic wars.
Obama is working hard for the American people. It's a big job.
I think it's great the Obama's took some time to visit the second graders. Education is important. Think way back to when you were in the second grade and imagine the President visiting your class.
What would it have meant to you?.
Posted by: MrUniteUs | February 4, 2009 9:42 AM
He looks like he wishes he were back in 2d grade again, rather than dealing with all the idiots.
For most people, 2d grade was a fun time.
However imperfectly remembered.
Posted by: ornery | February 4, 2009 5:45 PM
I thought they'd be reading from Orwell's Animal Farm.
Posted by: Alz | February 5, 2009 12:04 AM
Bruce - Hello! Change? Yes, now tax dodgers get DISappointed, OK? Get positive.
Posted by: Peter Heneker | February 5, 2009 4:56 AM
Democrats created this financial meltdown. It's their baby and let them deal with it. They wanted to lower credit, income and down payment requirements so dead beats could buy home they couldn't afford. Their chickens have come home to roost.
Posted by: Tyrone | February 5, 2009 8:58 PM
Wow! Obama finally said something I can totally agree with! I want him out of the White House too!
Posted by: Sharon | February 6, 2009 10:21 PM
i am sorry about the last comment i just dont like the gas prices u are doing go obama but do better ok
Posted by: jessica | June 4, 2009 10:57 PM
This president is a joke. He's a thief, a socialist/ marxist and he's trying to take over this country. I guess, you Kool Aid drinkers that defend him want every inch of your lives controlled and want to give your paycheck to the Federal government. You go ahead and do that but, don't expect me to. I'm going to be fighting this looser and I'm not mad that the Republicans lost the election, they didn't work for it. But I will never vote for a murderer and that's what Obama is. He is robbing us, our children and our grandchildren. He wants to rule this country by making all of us dependent on big government. He's a crook.
Posted by: Linda Van | June 16, 2009 11:11 PM