NBA superstar LeBron James is bringing in the big progressive guns for his May 16 virtual graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 -- none other than the Obamas. The one-hour special -- "Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020" -- will celebrate high school seniors across the nation who are losing their commencements to COVID-19 social distancing. It will air on network TV, social media and streaming sites May 16 at 5 p.m. PT.
SBNation reports that James personally recruited the former president to participate in his "star-studded" events.
Melissa Rohlin, of Sports Illustrated, explains that James tweeted a promotion for the event Tuesday with a photo of a young Obama along with the laughable phrase: "Most likely to inspire a generation."
Former First Lady Michelle Obama said on Instagram she wants to give the graduates the commencement they deserve, and former President Barack Obama acknowledged his participation on Twitter:
Just how does Obama inspire generations? As a community organizer, he developed a political skill and the ability to deliver soaring oratories. No matter, though, the 44th president in U.S. history is far from an ideal choice to speak to graduating high school seniors. He's already on record for setting a bad example as a prep, openly boasting of it in public appearances and his 1995 memoir, "Dreams From My Father."
Mr. "Inspire a Generation" once told a group of young students at Manchester Central High School: ''I made some bad decisions that I've actually written about. There were times when I, you know, got into drinking, experimented with drugs. There was a whole stretch of time where I didn't really apply myself a lot."
A CBS News story included this gem from the former president whose education is shrouded in controversy:
"Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it. Junkie. Pothead. That's where I'd been headed: the final, fatal role of the young would-be black man."
In his book “Dreams from My Father”, Obama gave another cringe-worthy example of why he's a poor choice by James to participate in the online commencement. Of his high school years, Obama said:
“I kept playing basketball, attended classes sparingly, drank beer heavily, and tried drugs enthusiastically. … If the high didn’t solve whatever it was that was getting you down, it could at least help you laugh at the world’s ongoing folly.”
Obama excuses his past behavior by saying it was done "to ease the pain of his ongoing struggle to define his racial identity."
High school graduates tuning in to the May 16 extravaganza can no doubt count on Obama to speak about his favorite subject: himself. But they won't likely hear about how he used the IRS to punish his political opponents, the Benghazi and Fast and Furious scandals or how he waged the fiercest war on religious liberty in American history.
LGBT pressure groups will be among the progressives pleased with James' commencement lineup. Would-be vice-presidential candidate Megan Rapinoe, a lesbian activist, is also listed among the participants in Bron-Bron's virtual graduation ceremony.
