Gibbs, On Air Force One, Strikes Back Against Education Speech Critics

Published December 24, 2015

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs spoke to reporters on Air Force One as President Obama flew from Washington to Cincinnati, Ohio, for a Labor Day speech to the AFL-CIO.

Gibbs frequently speaks to reporters on such flights. He rarely does so on-camera. He did today. He wasn't asked about Tuesday's education speech, but came ready with withering denunciations for critics who have alleged political motives lurk behind the remark.

The White House released the president's speech to the public at noon EDT. It's posted on this blog. It is very unusual for the the White House to pre-release presidential remarks. It did so to quell what remains of the controversy.

On Sunday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Tennessee GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander, predicted Obama's remarks would be politically benign and, quite possibly, inspirational.

Gibbs, in his remarks below, did not address last week's decision by the Education Department to delete from its suggested lesson plan that teachers encourage students to write a letter to themselves about "what they can do to help the president." The White House helped the Education Department draft the suggested lesson plan and played a role in excising that sentence.

Here is Gibbs from Air Force One, according to the transcript provided by the traveling White House pool reporter:

"I think it's a sad, sad day that the political back and forth has intruded on anyone speaking to schoolchildren and teachers and parents about the responsibilities that they have as we enter a new school year.

"If one kid in one school hears one message and goes from being a D-student to a C-student, then the speech is worth it. If one kid decides not to drop out of school, then the speech is worth it.

"Right now, nearly 3 in 10 kids in school will not walk across the stage and get a high school diploma. If anybody thinks that's the recipe for long term economic growth, I've got news for them. It's a sad state of affairs.

"That many in this country politically would rather start an animal house food fight rather than inspire kids to stay in school, to work hard, to engage parents to stay involved and to ensure that the millions of teachers that are making great sacrifices continue to be the best in the world, it's a sad state of affairs."

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gibbs-on-air-force-one-strikes-back-against-education-speech-critics