Obama speech doesn't turn Boulder students into zombies

News that President Barack Obama would deliver a speech to the nation's schoolchildren caused plenty of parents (and talk-show hosts) (and cable-TV pundits) to freak out -- so much so that the event itself couldn't help being an anticlimax. Obama's text was about as controversial as an endorsement of motherhood,...

By Michael Roberts

September 9, 2009

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News that President Barack Obama would deliver a speech to the nation's schoolchildren caused plenty of parents (and talk-show hosts) (and cable-TV pundits) to freak out -- so much so that the event itself couldn't help being an anticlimax. Obama's text was about as controversial as an endorsement of motherhood, and students at Foothill Elementary captured in the Boulder Daily Camera video above reacted to it with mild boredom. Now can we go back to dealing with some real issues? Please?

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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