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Drudge banners: "IOU" and links to this LA Times story on the budget crisis in California. And the U.S. says North Korea does not appear to be readying a missile launch in this Bloomberg story is also highlighed on Drudge. ... READ MORE

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The Huffington Post banners: "Obama's first major military operation underway in Afghanistan" and links to this AP story. Unemployment to hit a 9.6 percent, a 26 year high, according to this AP report, highlighted on the HuffPo. And Jesse Berney ... READ MORE

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Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) appeared to open the door to the Obama administration making more demands Israel in the peace process while in the country, writes Paul. And new polling shows that support for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is ... READ MORE

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July 8, 2008

Obama, Urging Students to Stay in School, Name Drops Lil Wayne

@ 3:08 pm by Walter Alarkon

Lil Wayne

Barack Obama urged students to stay in school at a campaign event in Georgia by telling them that they wouldn't play pro basketball or become the next Lil Wayne.

Obama made his remarks in response to a question about setting a universal drop-out age to better prepare students for the job market.

Obama encouraged states to pass their own limits to require students to stay in school up to a certain age. Then he said he understood the problems that teenagers can face when looking for careers without a high school diploma.

"You can't find a job unless you are a really, really good basketball player, which most of you brothers are not," said Obama, who won high school basketball state championship. "I know you think you are, but you're not. You are overrated in your mind. You will not play in the NBA. You are probably not that good a rapper. Maybe you are the next Lil Wayne, but probably not, in which case you need to stay in school."

Obama also agreed with the questioner about the need for U.S. students to learn other languages.

"We live in a global economy," he said. "And, you know, I don't understand when people are going around worrying about, 'We need to have English-only.' They want to pass a law, 'We want English-only.'"

Obama continued: "Now, I agree that immigrants should learn English. I agree with that. But understand this. Instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English — they'll learn English — you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish. You should be thinking about, how can you child become bilingual? We should have every child speaking more than one language."

"You know, it's embarrassing when Europeans come over here, they all speak English, they speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe, and all we can say, 'Merci beaucoup.' Right?"

(Lil Wayne image by Ryan Dombal, via Creative Commons.)

10 Comments »

The Hill welcomes comment from anyone and will almost always post it whether it is favorable or critical, as long as it is substantive and advances debate.
  1. [...] think. He's just a pissed off old geezer comin' right at ya. He doesn't claim to venerate Lil' Wayne and then put down kids who aspire to live the life Lil' Wayne boasts about. [...]

    Pingback by The Column » Blog Archive » Jesse Jackson Has A Point! — July 10, 2008 @ 12:48 pm

  2. [...] Obama: "You are probably not that good a rapper. Maybe you are the next Lil Wayne, but probably not, in which case you need to stay in school." [...]

    Pingback by Obama on Lil’ Wayne | Litwack.org — July 10, 2008 @ 8:05 pm

  3. i said how long did barock obama stay in school

    Comment by jasmine — September 16, 2008 @ 3:55 pm

  4. i think he is right cuz u need school 4 2many things n u need 2 speak more than one language in ur life

    Comment by angel — September 17, 2008 @ 11:42 am

  5. i think obama is right about the lanuage and
    stayin in school …… VOTE Obama =p

    Comment by Adrian Torres — September 17, 2008 @ 11:42 am

  6. i think he is right cuz u need school 4 2many things n u need 2 speak more than one language in ur life GO OBAMA

    Comment by angel acevedo — September 17, 2008 @ 11:43 am

  7. I think Obama is right about staying in school and ppl should speak more than one language because at most jobs you are required to speak at least two laguages and plus you will have a better chance at gettting a good paying job

    Comment by A_R — September 17, 2008 @ 11:49 am

  8. im not feelin it but oh well

    Comment by javaris — September 17, 2008 @ 11:53 am

  9. i think every should do what obama says

    Comment by treasure — September 17, 2008 @ 11:54 am

  10. i think obama right stay in school because there are lotz of language u have to speak in life….

    Comment by ariana — September 17, 2008 @ 11:56 am

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