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Shortage of applicants for contest to have Obama to speak at high school graduation
see-bee-ess ^ | March 2011

Posted on 03/07/2011 9:48:33 PM PST by doug from upland

White House memo notes shortage of applicants for contest to have Obama to speak at high school graduation

The White House is ramping up an effort to promote a nationwide competition to decide which high school wins a commencement speech by President Obama.

An internal White House memo indicates that the White House is facing a shortage of applications less than a week before the deadline.

The competition was extended from the February 25 deadline until Friday, March 11 after few schools met the original application deadline. CBS News has learned a White House Communications Office internal memo dated February 22 noted "a major issue with the Commencement Challenge."

"As of yesterday we had received 14 applications and the deadline is Friday," the memo said. The memo also urged recipients to, "please keep the application number close hold."

A follow-up memo on February 28 reported receipt of 68 applications. Noting the competition among more than 1,000 schools last year, the memo said, "Something isn't working." It called on staffers to ask "friendly congressional, gubernatorial and mayoral offices" to encourage schools to apply.

"We should also make sure the Cabinet is pushing the competition out to their lists," the memo said. The note reiterated, "We do not want the actual application number out there (we didn't release the number of applications we received last year until after the submission period)-so folks should not use it in their pitches."

On Monday, officials declined to cite the number of applications received so far.

The president will travel to the school that is judged to best prepare students for college and careers. The competition is part of Mr. Obama's ultimate goal of making the U.S. the country with the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020.

Officials were unable to explain the reason for the apparent lack of interest, beyond pointing to possible procrastination by school systems.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan told CBS Radio News, "It's a huge opportunity for high schools to tell their story." Asked about the lagging application numbers, Duncan said, "Folks are working hard." He called on schools to "put their best foot forward and join the competition."

Education Department press aide Elizabeth Utrup said the deadline was extended "to provide an ample amount of time to reach out to schools from across the country." Utrup added, "Like last year, we anticipate the overwhelming majority will be submitted near the close of the Challenge."

The White House has posted on-line video appeals from President Obama and a student from last year's winning school, Kalamazoo (Michigan) Central High. Entertainers John Legend and Nick Jonas recorded their own videos for the challenge when they were in Washington for a recent "In Performance at the White House" event.

The exact deadline for schools to apply is 11:59P.M., Eastern Time, March 11. More on the application process is posted here.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: arneduncan; elizabethutrup; graduation; notakers; obama; speaker
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BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Only 14 applicants.
1 posted on 03/07/2011 9:48:39 PM PST by doug from upland
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To: doug from upland
And so it has begun!!

NERO has suddenly feeling pangs of loneliness as the masses begins to avoid him in droves.
Obama is suddenly thinking "Gee so this is what it feels like to be a god without dutiful worshipers!"

2 posted on 03/07/2011 9:51:47 PM PST by prophetic (0Bama = 1 illegal president = 32 illegal, unconstitutional & unnecessary CZARS to do his job!!)
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To: doug from upland
the memo said, "Something isn't working."

No CHIT Sherlock!!!

3 posted on 03/07/2011 9:55:08 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Where do YOU stand in your relationship with God???)
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To: doug from upland

Maybe the teachers’ unions are sending a warning to the Obozo to try harder to keep their unions alive. Maybe another porkulus package with all of the funds, rather than just 95%, going to unions.


4 posted on 03/07/2011 9:55:33 PM PST by hsalaw
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To: doug from upland

And in other news, vampires prefer anyone else but Obama for their nightly feeding ritual..


5 posted on 03/07/2011 9:57:21 PM PST by Soothesayer9
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To: doug from upland
The Worst President in history addressing 11 year olds. REAL popular with the kids!

"Just shoot me!" beg the children!


6 posted on 03/07/2011 9:57:38 PM PST by FormerACLUmember
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To: doug from upland

This story is really a hoot! Just brought a big ole grin to this old fella’s face.


7 posted on 03/07/2011 9:58:52 PM PST by Wpin ("I Have Sworn Upon the Altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny...")
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To: doug from upland

He’s as popular as the Plage..the 0bamic plague..


8 posted on 03/07/2011 9:59:21 PM PST by sheik yerbouty ( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)
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To: prophetic

Nobody is interested in having the White House Commie reading the TOTUS even high school tadpoles...


9 posted on 03/07/2011 10:01:56 PM PST by Stayfree (Find out the truth at RewardForObamasBirthCertificate.com!)
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To: doug from upland

“We want Biteme, send us Biteme!”


10 posted on 03/07/2011 10:04:56 PM PST by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: Stayfree

Where is the application from MauMau High in Kenya?


11 posted on 03/07/2011 10:05:10 PM PST by Pining_4_TX
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To: FormerACLUmember
Yeah, so much for being "The most brilliant man ever to be elected President" when he needs a teleprompter at every public appearance.

Whoever made up that crap about him really needs to be publicly TARRED & FEATHERED!!

Its scenes like these that forcefully makes the point that Obummer is a PUPPET and not a President.

12 posted on 03/07/2011 10:10:41 PM PST by prophetic (0Bama = 1 illegal president = 32 illegal, unconstitutional & unnecessary CZARS to do his job!!)
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To: doug from upland

List of places named after Barack Obama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_Elementary_School#Schools


13 posted on 03/07/2011 10:14:26 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet ("You cannot invade the US There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass." Yamamoto)
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To: doug from upland
Nobody is much interested in any speaker at a high school graduation. The student speakers a little, maybe, but an invited adult, very little. Hurry up, shut up, and sit down.

Why, then, would sensible people want to be put through the added aggravation of having all the extra security to deal with? Not to mention how having POTUS speak is likely to throw the timing off, and in some towns, multiple schools utilize the same facilities on the same day; timing has to be done carefully or you have a huge mess. In other towns, the venues for graduation are limited and not really large enough and they are jamming people in with a shoehorn to accommodate families; why add to the headaches?

That's besides the fact that a lot of people don't wish to hear him nor see him. Some may also not wish to see their or their childrens' special day turned into a three-ring circus.

14 posted on 03/07/2011 10:14:35 PM PST by susannah59
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To: IncPen

If you cannot get the kids to respect you, how will you ever get world leaders to respect. I imagine his remaining time in office is going to be difficult. Even MSM is not going to be able to cover for this imbecile


15 posted on 03/07/2011 10:18:17 PM PST by Nailbiter
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: doug from upland
Oh Me... pick meeee.... ME!...Me!... Pick Me!.... NOT!
17 posted on 03/07/2011 10:21:50 PM PST by Safrguns
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To: doug from upland

Because the last time he spoke, he brought his teleprompter? This idiot sucks.


18 posted on 03/07/2011 10:23:37 PM PST by max americana
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To: doug from upland
A follow-up memo on February 28 reported receipt of 68 applications. Noting the competition among more than 1,000 schools last year, the memo said, "Something isn't working."

Interest is down by more than 93%?

I guess the Yoots didn't like the Change they got.

19 posted on 03/07/2011 10:26:22 PM PST by Uncle Miltie ("And did you exchange a walk on part in a war, for a lead role in a cage?")
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To: doug from upland

Realistically, would you want the POTUS, any POTUS, at your kid’s graduation? The whole security thing along would take from the event, then the POTUS would be the center of attention, not the grads.


20 posted on 03/07/2011 10:29:52 PM PST by EDINVA
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