WASHINGTON — The furor that blew up over President Barack Obama's start-of-school speech to the nation's students – challenging them to work hard, earn good grades and stay in school – typifies the country's widening rift over politics and social issues.

It's certainly an unwelcome distraction as the president prepares to address both houses of Congress and the nation Wednesday about his embattled attempt to overhaul the health care system, which has taken a hammering from Republicans and some middle-of-the-road Democrats. The U.S. is the only major industrialized country with a national health care plan.

Dating back to his campaign for president, radical Obama opponents have tried to paint him as a ``socialist.''

Since winning the White House, the attacks have continued over his moves to prevent a national economic collapse and invigorate the tumbling economy with a $787 billion stimulus.

It might, therefore, not surprise that far right critics now charge that Obama would use his remarks on Tuesday to indoctrinate youngsters and press his alleged ``socialist'' agenda.

Fox News Channel commentators Michelle Malkin and Glenn Beck have been prominent in attacking the speech. Florida Republican party chairman Jim Greer said he was "absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology.''

Even Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, a moderate and potential presidential contender in 2012, said Obama's speech was "uninvited'' and raises questions of content and motive.

Many school districts have decided not to show Obama's speech, partly in response to concerns from parents.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan called that "just silly'' during a Sunday television interview.

He said the text of the speech would be on the White House Web site Monday and that watching the address was voluntary.

Opponents to the president's beginning-of-term message latched on a lesson plan, since amended, that the department sent out asking students to write to the president about what they could do to help him meet his "goal of having the highest percent of college graduates by 2020. He's drawn a line in the sand in that,'' Duncan said in a Sunday television interview.