[Tony Harris, Cnn Anchor:] Time for your midday reset! I'm Tony Harris in the CNN NEWSROOM. It's noon in Washington where President Obama is accused of trying to indoctrinate the nation's school students with socialism! It is 11:00 a.m. in Madison, Wisconsin, where chief business correspondent Ali Velshi is talking about the rising jobless rate in America. And it is 9:00 a.m. in Los Angeles where many people are planning to spend the Labor Day weekend fighting a wildfire set by an arsonist. Let's get started. A back-to-school message by President Obama under fire from conservative critics. The White House says the television and Web address next Tuesday is a pep talk about staying in school and doing your best. Some parents applaud the message. Others say they're concerned the president is trying to advance his political agenda.
[Heather Luggett, Parent:] What is it that the president is challenging me to do, and what new ideas is he asking me to think about? And to me, that means that he might be introducing some of his agenda which, as a conservative parent, I don't agree with.
[Robbi Cooper, Parent:] There's times when messages are not politically based. And I think any time that someone talks about education and kids staying in school, there's no other motivation for that.
[Harris:] White House Correspondent Dan Lothian live with more on the backlash over the back-to-school speech. Dan, I've got to ask you, is the White House in any way surprised by this reaction from, let's say, some parents and some school systems?
[Dan Lothian, Cnn White House Correspondent:] Well, they are. I mean, there's essentially been this revolt by the parents and the school systems, and they are quite surprised by it. I was just at a gaggle with Robert Gibbs up in his office, and I asked him about the administration's reaction to what is going on and how strong these feelings were both online, and now we've seen it play out on television as well. And Robert Gibbs said the following. He says, "I think we've reached a little bit of the silly season when the president can't encourage young people to stay in school." And he went on to say that if going to school and speaking to young people is a political message, then someone should tell NBA, of course referencing the fact that the National Basketball Association has a campaign that encourages young people to stay in school. What the administration is also pointing out, that this is not the first president to do something like this. They point to Ronald Reagan doing this, they point to former President Bush as well. As you might recall, back on 911, the president was in school at the time when the attacks occurred. And so, they keep bringing up two other Republican presidents have done similar things, and so this is yet another attempt just of a president going in and speak to young people across the country and encourage them to stay in school Tony.
[Harris:] Hey, Dan, but does Robert Gibbs at least acknowledge that the administration, in some ways, brought some of this on themselves by some of the language in the lesson plan that suggested, hey, students go and figure out ways that you can help the president?
[Lothian:] Well, yes, clearly. I mean, he did not say that today, but other senior administration officials have said that, yes, they do realize that there was some confusion in the language.
[Harris:] Yes.
[Lothian:] And that's why they, you know, tweaked it. And we're still waiting to find out exactly what's going to be said in that speech. We have not seen the advanced copy yet, but we hope to take a look at it. And that's the big issue. Obviously, there will be other things based on the reaction that we've seen now. But again, the White House pointing out that this is just an attempt. The president wanted to go in, talk to young people to stay in school, and perhaps cut down on the dropout rate that you're seeing across the country.
[Harris:] Yes. OK. At the White House, Dan Lothian for us. Dan, appreciate it. Thank you.
[Lothian:] OK, Tony.
[Harris:] So, what do you think? Do us a favor. Go to CNN.comTony, leave us a comment, if you would. Here's what some of you have told us so far. Bob says, "If parents believe that a 20-minute speech will brainwash their children, then they need to go back to school. If a 20-minute speech can brainwash children, then we should have no behavioral or drug problems in our schools. Let the speeches begin." Bill says, "Here's the problem there is a lesson plan which comes with Obama's speech which requires students to make a pledge of service, not to the office of president of the United States, which would be fine, but to President Obama specifically. That is the difference. Imagine what would happen if students were forced to write a letter stating what they should do to help former President Bush during the lead-up to the Iraq War." And Monique says, "As an educator and minister, I cannot believe we have turned back the clock to the McCarthy era. Words such as "socialist'and 'communism" are being used to ignite fear. We are not allowing our children to learn how to disagree without being disagreeable." Once againTony. A more in-depth discussion ahead on the controversy over the president's back-to-school speech. We will talk with a guest from the American Enterprise Institute and the president of the National PTA. That should be pretty hot. The jobless rate for August pushing closer to 10 percent. The Labor Department says companies eliminated 216,000 net jobs in August. That put the unemployment rate at 9.7 percent. Almost 15 million Americans are out of work now. The number of jobs lost since the recession began in December of 2007, closing in on 7.5 million. Now that they've been in power for seven months, a CNNOpinion Research poll suggests Democrats are beginning to take ownership of the recession from Republicans. We asked, "Who's more responsible for current economic problems?" Twenty-seven percent blame Democrats. That's up six percentage points since May. Forty-one percent blame Republicans. That's down a dozen points from the spring. Support for President Obama's economic recovery plan continues to slide. Fifty-two percent back his policies now. That compares to 58 percent in June and 65 percent in March. Companies are lowering the boom on baby boomers during this recession. CNN's Richard Roth now with a look.
[Richard Roth, Cnn Correspondent:] This Brooklyn, New York, jobs center is not where Aston Brown thought he'd wind up at the prime of his career. Brown is 56 years old. He spent years working as a sales rep for various industries and thought he was set for life.
[Aston Brown, Job Seeker:] And I believed that when you get to a certain age, you would begin to grow in that job. You have experience, and you would expect maybe to retire in the job. Instead, you are in the field where it is extremely competitive trying to find a job. So, it is a bit frustrating.
[Roth:] Millions of older U.S. workers face the same grim prospects nationwide. The jobless rate for men and women age 55 years and older recently hit seven percent, the highest level on record, with men being hit the hardest. Older workers are heading to job centers across the country, desperate for guidance.
[Elissa Levine, Job Seeker:] Now it's, like, panic city. It's really tough. And the dream thing is to own a little restaurant. Now I would like to work in that business, but I can't get a job because restaurant work, they can hire anybody who doesn't have experience.
[Mike Morris, Job Seeker:] It may be that time when I've got to look into something totally new. And that's sort of like, wow. Does that mean do I go back to school?
[Henry Silverman, New York State Dept. Of Labor:] We see the frustrations. I don't believe that people actually thought they would have to do a resume at the age of 50 or 55. I think that they felt that that was a younger person's deed, and they're not prepared to do it in many cases.
[Roth:] It wasn't like this at all in recessions past. Seniority used to be a valued commodity in the workforce. Labor economists say that's all changed.
[Richard Johnson, The Urban Institute:] Elder workers were much less likely to be laid off than younger workers, and that's because they were protected by their seniority. Seniority is less important than it used to be. They say they value their experience, but they are really concerned about how costly they are and about the expense of hiring older people, training older people.
[Roth:] Economists say as baby boomers age, this jobs crisis could get even more pronounced, especially as more people are forced to put off retirement. Despite the challenges, some older workers at this center are upbeat. They say their years of experience will eventually pay off.
[Levine:] There are good things happening. You just have to tell yourself the good things, because everyone right now is in serious trouble in the whole country. You know, it's not like I'm alone.
[Roth:] Hardly alone. Experts fear there will be many more older workers seeking support before the U.S. jobs picture brightens. Richard Roth, CNN, New York.
[Harris:] Later in the CNN NEWSROOM, we will crunch the new jobless numbers with our resident experts, CNN Chief Business Correspondent Ali Velshi, on the road in Madison, Wisconsin, and "YOUR $$$$$" co-host, Christine Romans, at the business desk in New York. President Obama tries to hit the reset button on health care reform in a speech next week, and members of Congress return to dive back into the debate. Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash with us, live from Washington. Dana, good to see you. You know, a lot of members of Congress are on break, but there are still some action taking place on the health care front. What can you tell us?
[Dana Bash, Cnn Senior Congressional Correspondent:] Well, action taking place as we speak. Those six senators who we talked about for months before the congressional recess there you see the pictures of all of them they are the bipartisan negotiators who are on the Senate Finance Committee. They are having a conference call as we speak. It started at 10:30 Eastern, so we're coming up about an hour and 45 minutes that they're talking. We just got an e-mail that they're actually still on the phone. They are continuing negotiations, trying to come up with a bipartisan compromise, even though signals from the White House, signals from the Democratic leadership in the Senate, are that they do not think that this group is going to be able to actually come up with something by the deadline that they have actually now set for themselves. That deadline is September 15th. So, that's, like, a week and a half from now, Tony.
[Harris:] Wow.
[Bash:] But nevertheless, they are still working. And I think the key is those Republicans insist that they are still committed to getting a compromise, and they are on the call right now. There's one Republican, though, we should mention, Olympia Snowe, who is a part of that group, who, as we just reported a couple of days ago, she is in separate talks with the White House. The White House actually reached out to them, according to a couple of sources familiar reached out to her, rather, according to a couple of sources familiar with those conversations, about an idea that she put on the table a long time ago, that controversial issue of a public option.
[Harris:] Yes.
[Bash:] What she wants to do is put market reforms in place and hold off on that public option, only have that as a so-called trigger if market reforms don't increase competition and lower health care costs.
[Harris:] OK. And Dana, that's the Senate story. But things are far from settled in the House as well.
[Bash:] Right.
[Harris:] If you would, tell us about the time you spent recently with an undecided Democrat. And I gather you came away with some great access and insights.
[Bash:] I did. You know, I went to see a freshman Democrat yesterday who left for summer recess five weeks ago, as you said, undecided about the House health care bill. He still is undecided. And, you know, we wanted to spend some time with him away from the town hall fury. And he was quietly meeting with constituents. And also, he delivered a tough message for the president. Here's something you haven't seen during the summer of angry town halls...
[Susan Burton, Business Owner:] Welcome so much for coming to my home.
[Rep. Gerry Connolly , Virginia:] Oh, my pleasure.
[Burton:] Really appreciate it.
[Bash:] ... a health care house call. Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly at Susan Burton's table, invited to hear her explain why she may have to cut health coverage for workers at her small business.
[Burton:] A thousand for full family coverage, so that's the one we went with. That's outrageous for a group.
[Bash:] Connolly, a freshman, wants to back health care reform, but is wary because his Virginia district is fairly conservative. Afterwards, the congressman lamented that deep concern he heard here about the current health care system has been drowned out. [on camera]: Why is public opinion turning against public health care reform if you have stories like that?
[Connolly:] Well, partly, we have had a steady drumbeat of the negative playing on people's fears and anxieties, and to some extent that's clearly taken hold. This is the bill. This is the bill.
[Bash:] In a car ride through his district, Connolly blamed his own party, especially the president, for losing control of the debate.
[Connolly:] I think the White House, candidly, underestimated the passion on the other side. I think we underestimated the ability of the opposition to really initially frame the issue in outlandish ways.
[Bash:] Connolly goes back to his district office to see Democratic groups scrambling to reframe the debate and get his vote.
[Unidentified Female:] That was the whole point of us getting people elected.
[Bash:] Members of a local union there to lobby him in one room, and, in another, volunteers from the president's political group, Organizing For America, deliver a box of petitions, and bring emotional stories of preexisting conditions that make insurance unaffordable.
[Unidentified Female:] And I had to resign from my job because of my health issues.
[Bash:] Connolly says those meetings are effective, but back in this car this Democrat with conservative constituents says what he really needs is better leadership from the president.
[Connolly:] We need Obama to maybe put aside the cool, cerebral part of himself. We need a more passionate Obama who can directly articulate to Americans why we need health care.
[Bash:] Now, Congressman Connolly, like many other Democrats from conservative districts, think his party's health care proposal taxes too much and doesn't do enough to cut health care costs long term. And, Tony, he told me that he really hopes the president will start engaging in the details that divide his own party. He said he wants him to "roll up his sleeves and cut a deal."
[Harris:] Yes. It is but it is hard. I tell you, the more that we stay entrenched in this story, the more difficult it is. And we'll see where it goes next week. Dana, appreciate it. Thank you.
[Bash:] Thanks, Tony.
[Harris:] The largest wildfire in Los Angeles County's history intentionally set, and now a homicide case. Two firefighters died battling the fire, and at one point more than 10,000 residents were told to flee the flames. About 232 square miles have burned since it erupted August 26th. So, the latest jobless numbers don't look so good. I'm going to talk to members of the CNNMoney team about where we're headed from here.