This is just politics as usual. The Republicans opposed the speech simply because Obama is a Democrat, not because of the content of the speech itself. This is evident because the complaints started even before a draft of the speech was issued. George W. Bush also gave a speech adressed at schoolchildren when he was in office. It got less airplay in the media, but some democrats complained that his speech was politically motivated also. The controversy over Obama's speech is nothing new - just everyday partisan politics. The Republicans are just better at getting their faithful in a tizzy using scare tactics - "What if little Johnny comes home a socialist" becuase he listened to an Obama speech on the importance of education. Too funny.