The following was released yesterday by the Republican National Committee:

OBAMA HAS MADE NO MARK ON EDUCATION POLICY

"In His Eight Years In The State Senate And Two Years In The U.S. Senate, Mr. Obama Hasn't Made A Significant Mark On Education Policy." ("Obama's Annenberg Stint Informs White House Bid," Education Week, 3/7/07)

"Illinois Republican State Sen. Dan Cronin Also Said He Admires Obama, Calling Him A 'Gentleman,' But Cronin Added That He Doesn't Think Obama Accomplished Much In His Eight-Year Tenure As A State Senator." (Terry Moran, Melinda Arons, and Julia Hoppock, "Obama As A State Senator: Does He 'Deserve A Promotion?'" ABCNews.com, 2/25/08)

Illinois State Sen. Dan Cronin: "There were no bold solutions, no effort to stand up to the Chicago public schools or the unions. There really wasn't, and there were opportunities to do so." (Terry Moran, Melinda Arons, and Julia Hoppock, "Obama As A State Senator: Does He 'Deserve A Promotion?'" ABCNews.com, 2/25/08)

OBAMA HAS AN INCONSISTENT AND HYPOCRITICAL APPROACH TO SCHOOL VOUCHERS

Obama Opposed And Condemned School Voucher Programs, Yet Sends His Daughters To Private School With "A Break On The Cost":

While Running For U.S. Senate, Obama Opposed School Vouchers. "Obama defended his opposition to school vouchers, saying they would drain funds from public education." (Christopher Wills, "Gay Rights Produces Further Conflict In Their Senate Debate," The Associated Press, 10/27/04)

When Speaking At An NEA Meeting, Obama "Condemned Voucher Programs." "[Obama] condemned voucher programs, to the delight of the assembled." (Elmer Smith, Op-Ed, "In A Time Of Change, He Could Go All The Way," Philadelphia Daily News, 7/6/07)

However, Obama's Daughters Attend Private School Due To A "Break On The Cost." "Pressed on why he sends his children to private school, Obama said he gets a break on the cost because the school is run by the University of Chicago, where he and his wife work..." (Christopher Wills, "Gay Rights Produces Further Conflict In Their Senate Debate," The Associated Press, 10/27/04)

When Interviewed By The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Obama Softened His Approach On School Vouchers:

"Democratic Presidential Hopeful Barack Obama Said ... That He Is Skeptical Of Private School Voucher Programs, Such As The One In Milwaukee, But Added If Studies Prove The Programs Are Successful, 'You Do What's Best For Kids.'" (Greg J. Borowski, "Obama Addresses State, U.S. Topics," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/13/08)

Obama: "If there was any argument for vouchers it was, alright, let's see if this experiment works and then if it does, then you know, whatever my preconceptions, my attitude is we do what works for the kids." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks To Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial Board, Milwaukee, WI, 2/13/08)

Obama's Campaign Goes Into Damage-Control Mode, Offering Different Interpretation Of Obama's Statement On School Vouchers:

Obama Campaign Goes Into Damage-Control Mode To Appease Teachers Unions. "Well, now the Obama campaign is in damage-control mode because vouchers are one of the most polarizing issues in education reform, and fiercely opposed by the teachers' unions." (Michele McNeil, "Obama's Damage Control On Vouchers," Education Week's "Campaign K-12" Blog, blogs.edweek.org, 2/20/08)

Obama Campaign Offers A Different Interpretation Of Obama's Interview. "Obama's campaign sent out Education Week ... [a] statement, offering a different interpretation of Obama's interview ... with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel." (Michele McNeil, "Obama's Damage Control On Vouchers," Education Week's "Campaign K-12" Blog, blogs.edweek.org, 2/20/08)

Obama Campaign "Repeated His Longstanding Opposition To Vouchers." "According to the campaign, Obama 'repeated his longstanding opposition to vouchers.' Not quite. What Obama did was give a six-minute, thoughtful response indicating he was a skeptic of vouchers, but that he might change his mind if there was research to back it up." (Michele McNeil, "Obama's Damage Control On Vouchers," Education Week's "Campaign K-12" Blog, blogs.edweek.org, 2/20/08)

Parents Of Schoolchildren Will Prefer Obama's Statement Of Support For School Vouchers. "Parents of schoolchildren, in sharp contradistinction to teachers' unions, will prefer Senator Obama's initial statement to the clarification issued by his campaign." (Editorial, "Obama And Vouchers," The New York Sun, 2/25/08)

"The Initial Statement Was Change You Can Believe In. The Follow-Up Message Was The Same Old Interest-Group Democratic Party Politics As Usual." (Editorial, "Obama And Vouchers," The New York Sun, 2/25/08)

OBAMA ORIGINALLY VOTED IN FAVOR OF NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND FOR STATES, NOW BASHES IT

Obama "Preached The Old-Time Religion" Bashing NCLB:

When Addressing The NEA, Obama "Preached The Old-Time Religion" Bashing NCLB. "[O]bama's ovation ... easily matched the ovation that NEA delegates showered on Hillary Clinton. ... [Obama] preached the old-time religion, bashing the Bush administration for overhyped but underfunded education initiatives." (Elmer Smith, Op-Ed, "In A Time Of Change, He Could Go All the Way," Philadelphia Daily News, 7/6/07)

However, As A State Senator, Obama Voted In Favor Of No Child Left Behind. "While still in the Illinois state Legislature, Obama voted for the state board of education to implement No Child Left Behind." (Philip Elliott, "Obama Unveils $18 Billion Education Plan," The Associated Press, 11/20/07)

In 2003 Obama Voted "Yea" For No Child Left Behind In The Illinois State Senate. "AN ACT to implement the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001." (S.B. 878: Senate Floor Third Reading, Passed, 40-9-8, 4/08/03, Obama Voted Yea)

More Articles

« Rep. Broun: The U.S. Treasury Is Going into the Mortgage Business (With YOUR Money) | Main | House Members from Illinois, Indiana Testify Regarding Impact of Rail Mergers »