Candidates On The Issue Of Education

(Updated 09.23.08 with new info)

- John McCain:
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. Teaching creationism should be decided by school districts. (Jun 2007)
. Believes in evolution, but sees the hand of God in nature. (May 2007)
. Against nationally imposed standards & funding strings. (Feb 2000)
. Teach virtues in all schools. (Dec 1999)
. Enlist retirees for tutoring. (Nov 1999)
. Good teachers should earn more than bad lawyers. (Oct 1999)
. Decisions on teaching evolution should be made locally. (Aug 1999)
. Help unqualified teachers find other lines of work. (Jul 1999)
. Supports tax-free savings accounts for education expenses. (Jul 1999)
. Supports “Reading Excellence”; and rewarding good schools. (Jul 1999)
. Supports at-risk programs; homeless ed.; anti-drop-out ed. (Jul 1999)
. Internet access, with filters, at every school & library. (Jun 1999)
. Merit pay & competency testing for teachers. (Jun 1999)
. Ed-ACT Bill: college plans; language proficiency. (May 1999)
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School Choice
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. Place parents & children at the center of education. (Feb 2008)
. We need more choice and competition in education. (Dec 2007)
. Charters, homeschooling, & vouchers are key to success. (Dec 2007)
. Local charters are the best Arizona schools. (Mar 2000)
. Let states decide if they link vouchers to student testing. (Feb 2000)
. Use sugar, oil, and ethanol subsidies to finance vouchers. (Jan 2000)
. Tax breaks for charters - not from public school funds. (Dec 1999)
. Vouchers & charters will improve our school system. (Oct 1999)
. Nationwide test of school vouchers. (Sep 1999)
. $5B program for 3-year test of school vouchers. (Jul 1999)
. Tax-funded vouchers for private schools or charter schools. (Jun 1999)
. Shift policy-making from bureaucrats to parents. (May 1999)
. Vouchers needed where teachers fail. (May 1999)
. Vouchers for any schools; more charter schools. (Jul 1998)
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Voting Record
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. Unrestricted block grants--let states decide spending. (Feb 2000)
. Voted NO on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
. Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
. Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
. Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
. Voted NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
. Voted NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
. Voted YES on declaring memorial prayers and religious symbols OK at schools. (May 1999)
. Voted YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999)
. Voted YES on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
. Voted YES on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
. Voted YES on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996)
. Voted YES on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. (Jul 1994)
. Voted NO on national education standards. (Feb 1994)
. Focus educational resources to help those with greatest need. (Jul 2001)
. Require state standards, regular assessments, and sanctions. (Jul 2001)
. Support Ed-Flex: more flexibility if more accountable. (Jul 2001)
. Rated 45% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education. (Dec 2003)
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http://www.ontheissues.org/John_McCain.htm
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http://www.youtube.com/user/JohnMcCaindotcom
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- Bob Barr:
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. Don't let California home schooling ban spread. (Apr 2008)
. Voted YES on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
. Voted YES on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
. Voted YES on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
. Let schools display the words "God Bless America". (Oct 2001)
. Supports requiring schools to allow prayer. (Jan 2001)
. Supports a Constitutional Amendment for school prayer. (May 1997)
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http://www.ontheissues.org/Bob_Barr.htm
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http://www.youtube.com/user/BobBarr2008
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- Chuck Baldwin:
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. Tax relief for homeschooling, private & religious schools. (May 2008)
. Disband the Department of Education; it's unconstitutional. (May 2008)
. Would be best friend homeschoolers ever had in White House. (May 2008)
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http://www.ontheissues.org/Chuck_Baldwin.htm
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http://www.youtube.com/user/chuckbaldwin2008
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- Ron Paul:
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. School prayer is not a federal issue. (Apr 2008)
. Private funds for arts work better than government funds. (Apr 2008)
. Close Dept. of Education, but don't dismantle public schools. (Dec 2007)
. Encourage homeschooling & private school via tax writeoff. (Dec 2007)
. Don't impeach judges for decisions on legislature prayers. (Sep 2007)
. Present scientific facts that support creationism. (Sep 2007)
. Equal funds for abstinence as contraceptive-based education. (Sep 2007)
. Tax-credited programs for Christian schooling. (Sep 2007)
. Guarantee parity for home school diplomas. (Sep 2007)
. Voted NO on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance. (Jul 2006)
. Voted NO on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. (Mar 2006)
. Voted NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001)
. Voted NO on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
. Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
. Voted YES on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
. Abolish the federal Department of Education. (Dec 2000)
. Sponsored bill for private scholarships to public schools. (Feb 2003)
. Rated 67% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education. (Dec 2003)
. Supports a Constitutional Amendment for school prayer. (May 1997)
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http://www.ontheissues.org/Ron_Paul.htm
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http://www.youtube.com/user/RonPaul2008dotcom
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- Barack Obama:
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. Merit pay ok if based on career instead of a single test. (Apr 2008)
. Evolution & science aren't incompatible with Christian faith. (Apr 2008)
. Supports charter schools; it's important to experiment. (Feb 2008)
. Children's First Agenda: zero to five early education. (Feb 2008)
. $4,000 college tuition for 100 hours' public service a year. (Feb 2008)
. Put billions of dollars into early childhood education. (Jan 2008)
. Need after-school and summer programs with good parenting. (Jan 2008)
. Get parents re-engaged in educating the children. (Dec 2007)
. We need a sense of urgency about improving education system. (Sep 2007)
. Nationwide program to reconstruct crumbling school buildings. (Sep 2007)
. STEP UP: summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged. (Aug 2007)
. We left the money behind for No Child Left Behind. (Aug 2007)
. Pay "master teachers" extra, but with buy-in from teachers. (Aug 2007)
. Sends kids to private school; but wants good schools for all. (Jul 2007)
. Supreme Court was wrong on school anti-integration ruling. (Jul 2007)
. Incentives to hire a million teachers over next decade. (Jun 2007)
. Pay teachers more money & treat them like professionals. (Jun 2007)
. Cut banks out and add $4.5 Billion to college loans. (Mar 2007)
. Public school system status quo is indefensible. (Oct 2006)
. More teacher pay in exchange for more teacher accountability. (Oct 2006)
. Guarantee affordable life-long, top-notch education. (Jun 2006)
. Sex education needed to help children discuss molestation. (Oct 2004)
. Provide decent funding and get rid of anti-intellectualism. (Jul 2004)
. Address the growing achievement gap between students. (May 2004)
. Will add 25,000 teachers in high-need areas. (May 2004)
. Supports charter schools and private investment in schools. (Jul 1998)
. Free public college for any student with B-average. (Jul 1998)
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Voting Record
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. First Senate bill: increase Pell Grant from $4,050 to $5,100. (Aug 2007)
. Sponsored legislations that recruit and reward good teachers. (Sep 2004)
. Voted YES on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
. Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
. Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
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http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm
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http://www.youtube.com/user/BarackObamadotcom
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- Ralph Nader:
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. Abandon standardized testing; focus on teaching civic skills. (Oct 2000)
. Invest in K-12 education; that will reduce poverty. (Jun 2000)
. Teach democratic principles & citizenship in schools. (Feb 2000)
. Kick Channel One & commercialism out of class. (May 1999)
. Focus on civic & consumer education. (Oct 1996)
. Support choice within public schools. (Jun 2000)
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http://www.ontheissues.org/Ralph_Nader.htm
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http://www.youtube.com/user/votenader08
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- Cynthia McKinney:
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. Something wrong with $38B on education & $700B on defense. (Jan 2008)
. No Child Left Behind aimed at dismantling public education. (Jan 2008)
. Our public schools are in a serious state disrepair. (Dec 2007)
. No Child Left Behind is an unfunded mandate. (Dec 2007)
. Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. (Mar 2006)
. Voted YES on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
. Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
. Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
. Voted NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer. (Mar 1994)
. Supported funding for teacher training & other initiatives. (Jul 1999)
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http://www.ontheissues.org/Cynthia_McKinney.htm
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http://www.youtube.com/user/RunCynthiaRun
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http://www.politics1.com/
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Saturday News Update (Politics1):
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McCAIN PICKS PALIN FOR VEEP, CONSERVATIVES PRAISE MOVE; NEW PREZ POLLS.
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McCAIN-PALIN. John McCain used his 72nd birthday on Friday to name Alaska Governor Sarah Palin -- a 44-year-old mother of five -- as his Vice Presidential runningmate. It was a bold political gamble to select Palin as his runningmate. Conservative Republicans quickly praised the choice, saying Palin is an energetic campaigner and political reformer. Religious right leader James Dobson said the selection made it easy for him to now support McCain. Conservatives note Palin is staunchly pro-life, pro-gun rights, pro-tax cuts and pro-oil drilling. The Anchorage Daily News also reported Palin "thinks creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the state's public classrooms." Conservative pundit Pat Buchanan also noted on MSNBC that Palin openly supported his 2000 cultural conservative Presidential run for the GOP nomination: "She's a great choice for the base ... She's a Buchananite." Democrats, by contrast, questioned the wisdom of selecting someone so inexperienced to be just a heartbeat away from the Presidency. They note Palin was formerly mayor of a town of 9,000 residents and is now just 20 months into her first term as Governor. McCain clearly intends the move to help him pick-up support from independent women voters. Untested on the national stage, it is simply too early to tell if Palin will prove on the trail to be a brilliant political pick or another Dan Quayle.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin
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http://www.ontheissues.org/Sarah_Palin.htm
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themastersmilieu/message/906