Shut up, shut up, shut up! Chris Stigall edition

​President Barack Obama plans to speak to high school students nationwide Tuesday in a speech simulcast in U.S. classrooms. The message: Stay in school. Work hard. Oh, and stay in school.

Pretty much what you’d expect, right? And pretty much unimpeachable as a reasonable concept. You tell your teenage kid to have a good day, then send her off to school, confident in the knowledge that today, the president of the United States will help you convey the idea that success starts with education.

But wait — Obama is president of a crass talkocracy, so, thanks to calls and e-mails from “concerned parents” inflamed by right-wing broadcasters and columnists, districts in several states, including Independence here in the metro, have said the address won’t reach kids in their schools.

Our local flaming pundit: Chris Stigall, quoted by The New York Times this week (with a line that made it as far away as Australia):

And Chris Stigall, a Kansas City talk show host, said, “I wouldn’t let my next-door neighbor talk to my kid alone; I’m sure as hell not letting Barack Obama talk to him alone.”

Thanks, Chris, for keeping KC on the dipshit watch list.

Update: The Kansas City, Missouri, School District will have it both ways, according to a press release that reads, in part:

More than 25 of the District’s 54 schools will show the president’s live back to school message during their school day. Students who do not want to view the president’s message will attend class.

 

“Freedom of choice is a hallmark of this country, and the District does not want to simply dismiss the desires of our community members regarding this event,” said Dr. John Covington, Superintendent. “Our schools were given the option of participating in this event, and we’ll support those that choose to host a viewing of President Obama’s message. However, we want to also ensure that no student misses out on vital classroom instruction.”