No Hope for DC Kids

When Obama was elected, The Refugee had a hope that at least one point of common ground could be found with the new administration: school reform in the form of school choice and vouchers. Unfortunately, it is becoming increasing clear, though not surprising, that our Bower-in-Chief is kow-towing to politics, not principles.

Deroy Murdock, writing for NationalReviewOnline publishes this devastatingly effective rebuke of Obama catering to unions that fund him rather than the children he (ostensibly) serves.

With young black kids themselves begging for vouchers, why would reputedly pro-poor, pro-black Democrats kill this popular and effective school-choice program?

Follow the money: Teachers’ unions’ paid $55,794,440 in political donations between 1990 and 2008, 96 percent of it to Democrats. Senator John Ensign’s (R – Nevada) March 10 amendment to rescue DC’s vouchers failed 39-58. Among 57 Democrats voting, 54 (or 95 percent) opposed DC vouchers.

As the late Albert Shanker, former American Federation of Teachers president, once said: “When school children start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children.”

As long as the Democrats are a wholly-owned subsidary of the unions, and teachers specifically, only the audacious will have hope.

Hat Tip: RealClearPolitics.com

Education Posted by Boulder Refugee at April 10, 2009 12:33 PM