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School kids "SHOCK VIDEO" jumps to MSNBC; Brewer suggests it's something "you might see coming from North Korea"

September 24, 2009 5:50 pm ET

From the September 24 edition of MSNBC Live:

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Previously:

School kids "SHOCK VIDEO" quickly jumps from conservative blogs to Fox News

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    • Author by shaggles (September 24, 2009 5:52 pm ET)
        1
      Was there any question this was going to happen?
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    • Author by bintx (September 24, 2009 6:03 pm ET)
      5 1
      No, but I'm not sure I understand what the uproar is all about. If the teachers did this without parental knowledge, then it is the parents' responsibility to call them out for it. If it was done with the parents' knowledge, then they bear responsibility for it.

      What does this have to do with Obama? Did he commission or create this scene? How do we know that it wasn't done by a group of Beckies to try to somehow link it to Obama?

      Totally ridiculous.
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      • Author by puppienrainbows (September 24, 2009 6:12 pm ET)
        1 8
        How would you feel if a similar video of schoolchildren surfaced in 2005, praising then president Bush with chants suggesting he were Jesus, as in this video, praising President Obama? Remember, this is on school property, conducted by school officials, funded by taxpayers.
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        • Author by phredicles (September 24, 2009 6:18 pm ET)
          7 1
          Did you see the movie "Jesus Camp"? No taxpayer funding, but there were kids directed to pray to a cardboard cutout of Bush in that film.

          bintx's question is a legitimate one: How is this Obama's fault, really?
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          • Author by shaggles (September 24, 2009 6:21 pm ET)
            5 1
            Seriously? Isn't there something in the Bible about not praying to idols?
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          • Author by puppienrainbows (September 24, 2009 6:22 pm ET)
            1 7
            It's not President Obama's fault, I didn't say it was. Bintx stated "this is totally ridiculous" and "doesn't understand what the uproar is all about" is what I was responding to. The teachers and staff involved should be fired.
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            • Author by open_mind (September 24, 2009 6:56 pm ET)
                2
              Well this is probably one of the very few areas where we can agree. However, I think it is way too harsh to fire someone over it. The situation is correctable without resorting to that.
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            • Author by kfraz43 (September 24, 2009 7:55 pm ET)
              2 1
              Puppie, my first reaction is to agree with you that it's inappropriate. Then I think back to every single Christmas program my kids have been in at school, and the fact that at least one song references the birth of Jesus.

              I think that there is more contextual propriety in singing a song about a black president, during black history month, than there is in singing a song about a man whom SOME people believe was the "savior of men".

              I think the problem those on the right have is twofold: one, it's not YOUR guy they're singing about, and two: that kind of singing is reserved for religious figures, not inspirational cultural figures. I believe it's borderline, but no more so than singing about Jesus during a school performance.
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          • Author by AnnArcher (September 25, 2009 10:05 am ET)
               
            I don't think it was Obama's direction at all and I do think too many things going on the air today are distorted by the individuals trying to make their own position more strong.

            Some do it intentionally and some are misled and fail to check their facts before hand.

            For example, when I searched online about the Jesus Camp you mention in your post. All I can find says that children prayed FOR George Bush - they prayed that he would appoint righteous (Godly) men and women. I couldnt' find anything saying that the children were praying to him.

            In other words, they did not elevate him above the role of man.

            With that said, I don't see anything so far to say that the children here were elevating Obama above that of a man except I see some comments that the song was a Christian song where Jesus' name was removed and Obama's put in.

            I'm researching that one too. I have never heard that as a Christian song so I'm not inclined to believe that statement is true either but I'll check it out anyway.


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            • Author by puppienrainbows (September 25, 2009 6:54 pm ET)
              1  
              'Jesus loves the little children
              all the children of the world
              red and yellow, black and white
              they are precious in his sight
              Jesus loves the little children of the world.'
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        • Author by liberalXtian (September 24, 2009 6:49 pm ET)
          3 1
          If anything (if you want to look for any hidden religious message) I see it as him acting as Jesus would, not acting as if he were Jesus.

          But, it was not a chant. If it was taken from that chidren's hymn, any relgious inmplications are gone. People are parsing and overanalyzing this simple song to an absurd point. Has anyone tried playing it backwards yet?
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        • Author by DellDolly (September 24, 2009 7:29 pm ET)
          1 1
          No "chants" (hat tip to the previous poster who pointed out that 'chants' was a more inflammatory word that 'captured') happened here. They were young kids, and so many of the lyrics were repititious. I would have no issues with a similar song praising the praiseworthy aspects of President Bush. No comparisons to Jesus were being made. A comparison to Jesus' attitude, that the color of one's skin doesn't determine one's value - you have an issue with that attitude? Really? Is that a position you want to stick with, that being colorblind is a bad thing to instill in our youth? Because it wasn't suggesting Obama is Jesus, but rather suggesting that Obama truly epitomizes that attitude!

          And yeah, we know where it was happening. Duh.
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        • Author by usahay (September 24, 2009 9:48 pm ET)
            1
          I would have objected if kids were praising Bush back then- the guy really had nothing worth praising!
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      • Author by imhooks (September 25, 2009 9:34 am ET)
        1  
        I love how some are bringing up the "Jesus Camp" documentary. As if that was funded by Federal tax money.
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    • Author by Jen7 (September 24, 2009 6:05 pm ET)
      2 1
      This is why I can't stand Contessa Brewer. To even suggest it's something you might see from N. Korea is absolutely ridiculous.

      What is wrong with people? I feel like I'm in lala land, surrounded by Glenn Beck's.

      Wow.
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      • Author by shaggles (September 24, 2009 6:09 pm ET)
        3  
        I seem to remember someone using that N. Korea line when the Prez gave his speech to the schools.
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      • Author by bintx (September 24, 2009 6:10 pm ET)
        3 1
        So do I and I'm really getting sick of it.

        After reading the Salon story on Beck, it just confirmed what I already knew. This man doesn't believe ANY of the BS he shovels . . . if he could call the wife of his good friend ON THE AIR and TAUNT her about her recent miscarriage just because the friend worked at a rival station and had higher ratings, he would do ANYTHING. He's scum.
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    • Author by IRONY 101 (September 24, 2009 6:14 pm ET)
      6 1
      Say goodbye to American heroes...unless you get shot up in Iraq or Afghanistan. Wasn't this song a tribute to our first African American President during Black History Month? Let's keep things in perspective, folks...
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      • Author by Jen7 (September 24, 2009 6:16 pm ET)
        3 1
        Right, thank you.
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      • Author by puppienrainbows (September 24, 2009 6:25 pm ET)
        2 8
        The 'song' suggests substituting Obama for Jesus. There is no place in the school system for that type of activity.
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        • Author by NewBee (September 24, 2009 6:33 pm ET)
          3 2
          The 'song' suggests substituting Obama for Jesus
          That doesn't even make sense. Obama is real and Jesus is imaginary.
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        • Author by Marker (September 24, 2009 6:35 pm ET)
          1  
          Get real troll.
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        • Author by open_mind (September 24, 2009 7:01 pm ET)
          2 1
          I think that is a valid point. I would think with the right-wing constantly accusing the left of believing Obama is indeed our "Messiah", we really should try to distance ourselves from that kind of talk.

          There is a verse that is strikingly familiar to a Christian children's song with the President's name substituted for Jesus. I think that is way over the top.
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        • Author by snoopy (September 24, 2009 7:22 pm ET)
          1  
          Well what a great idea! From now on, whenever a teacher does something conservative like make my kid pledge alliegance to the flag, I'm gonna demand that teacher be fired! Or how about coaches making my kid pray before a game? Fired! Especially if it's religious based! Fired! Out with them all, and soon, there won't be any teachers left...
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          • Author by Kelley (September 25, 2009 4:55 am ET)
            2  
            "something conservative like make my kid pledge alliegance to the flag"

            And here I thought when you pledged allegiance to the flag you were being just an American.


            This country is just about defeated from within.
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        • Author by Oklad (September 24, 2009 8:58 pm ET)
            1
          "The 'song' suggests substituting Obama for Jesus."
          Oh I get it ... Kinda like substituting Jesus for reality in some circles?... Good point.. </snark>
          .
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    • Author by WhatImlost (September 24, 2009 6:24 pm ET)
      3 1
      I would at least like to thank MSNBC for blurring out the childrens faces unlike FOX which did not seem to blur anything to protect the children's identities.
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      • Author by patrioticKate (September 25, 2009 5:08 pm ET)
        1  
        Maybe the teacher should of been protecting her children but instead she decided to "Make" them sing a silly song, that SHE KNEW would be controversial. Anybody in there right mind- Liberal or Conservative-know you need some common sense when it comes to our beloved children.
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    • Author by care12berry1820 (September 24, 2009 7:56 pm ET)
        1
      What is the point? I dont think anythng about it. I love Obama and think he is the greatest and if I could make up a song about him, I just might do it and I am a 63 year old white woman. Dont we have enough problems in this country without bringing up this crap?
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    • Author by patrioticKate (September 24, 2009 8:22 pm ET)
      3 1
      First let me say that I think the school could of found a better person to sing about for "African American History". Pres. Obama is a part of "Now" not part of the past. Pres. Obama has not even made a place for himself in History yet: except for being a Black elected President. There is much more to being a President then just being elected. Before we start singing his praises maybe we should see what he does FOR our Country.
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    • Author by mustardman (September 24, 2009 9:12 pm ET)
      2 1
      Is Brewer smarter than a sack of hammers? We report, you decide.
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    • Author by Digital Jedi (September 25, 2009 1:07 am ET)
      2 1
      This happened in February? That should be: "We report. Who cares?"
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    • Author by Digital Jedi (September 25, 2009 1:07 am ET)
      1 1
      This happened in February? That should be: "We report. Who cares?"
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      • Author by Digital Jedi (September 25, 2009 1:08 am ET)
        2 1
        When it double posts like this, does that mean it's twice as funny? [sigh]
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    • Author by royksoppmelody (September 25, 2009 6:38 pm ET)
        1
      apparently there was a religious song that these kids sang as part of the larger performance, yet no one is complaining about kids being forced to sing religious songs. People are only complaining about kids singing songs that honor blacks on black history month
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