A Survey USA poll taken in Fresno, CA asked respondents four questions about the speech. Overwhelming majorities expressed favorable opinions.

Q: President Obama plans to deliver a national address to school children on the importance of them taking responsibility for their own success in school. Do you think it is appropriate? Or not appropriate? For President Obama to deliver this address?

A: Appropriate 63% Not Appropriate 30% Q: Do you think it would be appropriate? Or not appropriate? For ANY President to deliver this address?

A: Appropriate 64% Not Appropriate 30% Q: If you had a child attending a school that was going to show the address, would you tell your child to pay attention? Would you tell you child to NOT pay attention? Or would you keep your child home?

A: To Pay Attention 78% To NOT Pay Attention 5% Would Keep Child Home 14% Q: Who should decide whether to show President Obama's national address to school children? School districts? Or individual teachers?

A: School Districts 52% Individual Teachers 28%

SUSA asked the same questions of residents in Missouri with almost identical results.

Q: President Obama plans to deliver a national address to school children on the importance of them taking responsibility for their own success in school. Do you think it is appropriate? Or not appropriate? For President Obama to deliver this address?

A: Appropriate 63% Not Appropriate 33% Q: Do you think it would be appropriate? Or not appropriate? For ANY President to deliver this address?

A: Appropriate 65% Not Appropriate 29% Q: If you had a child attending a school that was going to show the address, would you tell your child to pay attention? Would you tell you child to NOT pay attention? Or would you keep your child home?

A: To Pay Attention 70% To NOT Pay Attention 4% Would Keep Child Home 21% Q: Who should decide whether to show President Obama's national address to school children? School districts? Or individual teachers?

A: School Districts 57% Individual Teachers 23%

In each case, twice as many people say the speech is "appropriate" as those who say it is not. In Missouri, nearly three-quarters of respondents say they would want their children to "pay attention" to the president's message on the importance of education. In Fresno, nearly four out of five people say so.

In Missouri, only about one out of five* people would take the extreme step of keeping their children out of school the day of the president's speech. In Fresno, fewer than 3 in 20 would do so.

Empirical data demonstrate that Americans support the idea of the President of the United States encouraging children to stay in school and get an education. This is, by an overwhelming majority, the mainstream view.

However, as with the health-reform debate, the media are amplifying the protestations of a fringe minority, lending them credence by virtue of nothing more than their volume.

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Notes & Observations on the Post-Satirical Age

*Edited to account for my wretched math skills