Within minutes of the completion of President Obama's historic address to Congress on health care, Second District Congressman Brett Guthrie had emailed his response to his constituents.  And, not surprisingly, he was against it.

As I listened to the President’s speech, I was encouraged by his willingness to work together and optimistic of his acknowledgment that medical malpractice reform should be addressed.

However, the President continues to look towards a plan focused around a government-run health care system. Americans need specific solutions and I was disappointed I did not hear those laid out this evening.

We must continue to look towards sensible reforms and steer away from the public option that would force millions of Americans out of their current health care plan and continue to drive our deficit to record levels.

Was Congressman Guthrie really listening, as he claims?  It seems doubtful to us.

Because if he had really been paying attention to the President, he would have heard a plan not "focused around a government-run health care system," but one in which a public option would be offered to those not already covered by private insurance.  As the President said:

An additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange...It would only be an option for those who don't have insurance.  No one would be forced to choose it, and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance.  In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5 percent of Americans would sign up.

Did you catch those key points, Congressman?  "Only for those who don't have insurance...less than 5 percent of Americans would sign up."  Clearly not the "focus" of the broader plan.

If he had really been listening, the Congressman would have known that there was no talk of a plan that would "force millions of Americans out of their current health care plan."  Instead he would have heard the President state repeatedly that if you're currently insured and happy with what you've got, you can keep it:

If you are among the hundreds of millions of Americans who already have health insurance through your job, or Medicare, or Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have. Let me repeat this:  Nothing in our plan requires you to change what you have.

And if he had truly been paying attention, Congressman Guthrie would know that the President's plan would not "continue to drive our deficit to record levels" because it would largely be paid for by finding savings within the existing wasteful system, and, most importantly:

I will not sign it if it adds one dime to the deficit, now or in the future, period.  And to prove that I'm serious, there will be a provision in this plan that requires us to come forward with more spending cuts if the savings we promised don't materialize.

So if Congressman Guthrie was really listening to the President, it sure doesn't show in his response.  It's almost as if the email was written before the speech was given.  Or maybe it was written during the speech.  Perhaps the Congressman was among the many Republican lawmakers who were rudely and disrespectfully tapping away at their Blackberries during the address.

At least he refrained from heckling the President, unlike South Carolina's Joe Wilson.  In today's world of increasingly over-the-top Republican shenanigans, we're grateful for that much.

We've just learned that Painted Stone Elementary will not be showing President Obama's Tuesday address to students in the classrooms.  Apparently they're bowing to pressure from some parents threatening to keep their kids home rather than subject them to such "radical" ideas as staying in school and working hard.

Instead, students wishing to view the speech will need written permission to leave class and view the address in the library.

One local mom has written to let us know that she will be joining her kids at the school for lunch and will accompany them to the library to view the President's address.  We think that's a fantastic idea and wanted to get the word out to any other parents who would like to do the same.

As this dedicated mom writes:

"I'm not looking to cause a big scene on Tuesday, but I'd love to have a rational response heard and shared by others in our community."

We couldn't agree more.

We don't know if Painted Stone is the only school taking this approach.  But if you're a parent with children in a school that's also capitulating their authority to the radical fringe, we urge you to do what that school is unwilling to do:  teach your kids to respect the office of the President of United States, even if you don't agree with that President's views.  That's the very essence of democracy.