Obama song video prompts protests at NJ school

Obama song video prompts protests at NJ school

BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) -- It's an elementary school where students were seen in a video from earlier this year, singing a song in praise of President Barack Obama. Today, protesters outside the school sang some different songs -- including "God Bless America" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." And they chanted slogans denouncing what the called "indoctrination" of schoolchildren. The school is in a diverse suburb near Philadelphia. The video, which was shot during an author's visit in February, was denounced by conservative commentators and others who said the song was too political, and that it followed a pattern of Obama being viewed as an idol rather than a politician. The group of about 70 protesters who gathered across the street from the school today was heckled by a smaller group of counter-protesters. _Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed._