Most people didn’t even notice when President Obama presented his second annual speech to the nation’s school students. 

How different than before, when some of the president’s detractors created a strange hysteria among parents and teachers alike.

Among the most vocal was Jim Greer, the Republican chairman from Florida:

Jim Greer, chairman of the Florida Republican Party, said the speech is an effort to “spread President Obama’s socialist ideology” and “justify his positions” on health care, the economy and taxes. Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin claimed that “the left has always used kids in public schools as guinea pigs and as junior lobbyists for their social liberal agenda.”  CBS News Online for September 4, 2009

A little later, recognizing that the president’s speech did not live up to his fearful expectations, Greer was insistent that the speech had been changed. When asked by Susan Malvaux of CNN if he had any actual knowledge upon which to base his assertions., he replied:

“No, I don’t. But I would anticipate, based on this President being so vocal and so aggressive about his vision of America, where government is in every aspect of our lives, I believe that the speech that he was gonna give, based on the lesson plans, is different.” Transcript of Sept 7,2009 interview on CNN

One year later, the President was able to present his “back to school” message with the minimum of interference. However we did hear from Jim Greer, who has had an apparent change of heart:

“In the year since I issued a prepared statement regarding President Obama speaking to the nation’s school children, I have learned a great deal about the party I so deeply loved and served,” Greer said in a statement issued Tuesday to media outlets.

“Unfortunately, I found that many within the GOP have racist views, and I apologize to the President for my opposition to his speech last year and my efforts to placate the extremists who dominate our Party today. My children and I look forward to the President’s speech.” CNN Politics, September 14, 2010

This would be more significant, I suppose, if Mr. Greer were still functioning as before as a leader of Republicans in Florida.

However, the year has seen a reversal of fortunes for Mr. Greer, who has been removed from his position of leadership among the Republicans, and, according to the Orlando Sentinel “is facing theft and money laundering charges from his time at the party.”

Still, one wonders if Mr. Greer’s apology is a reference to his own racism and/or willingness to function as the mouthpiece of those whose racism he now admits.

Regardless, Mr. Greer as much as anybody set in motion a cascade of fear-mongering that spoiled a beaultiful opportunity to support a president who was trying to motivate students to dream and reach beyond their circumstances.

So, thank you for your belated apology, Mr. Greer.  At least you are not currently contributing to the ignorance, disinformation, and hysteria of one year ago.  I guess no contribution is better than one that’s negative and unnecessary.