Change: Obama to extend D.C. voucher program — then kill it in a few years
posted at 7:05 pm on May 6, 2009 by Allahpundit
You’re a real sport, champ. Trillion-dollar federal budget deficits as far as the eye can see and somehow he and the Democrats can’t scrape together a few million to keep this going. Unbelievable.
Contain your surprise at finding The One shafting someone at a special interest’s behest.
President Obama will seek to extend the controversial D.C. school voucher program until all 1,716 participants have graduated from high school, although no new students will be accepted, according to an administration official who has reviewed budget details scheduled for release tomorrow…
The voucher program was created in 2003 and is a Republican favorite, providing low-income students with a maximum $7,500 grant to attend a private or parochial school. All students come from households with incomes below 185 percent of the poverty line, and 8,000 students entered a lottery to participate. But liberal education groups, including the National Education Association, have argued that the experimental program is poorly administered and that voucher recipients have not performed measurably better in their new schools.
In a March 6, 2009 letter to Obama, the NEA president Dennis Van Roekel called the D.C. program “an ongoing threat to public education in the District of Columbia” and urged Obama to “use your voice to help eliminate this threat” by opposing “any efforts to extend this ineffective program.”
Read Reason’s post accompanying the video I posted the other night to see how “ineffective” it is. Or better yet, have a look at the photos Mary Katharine Ham took at today’s rally in D.C. to save the program. For such a supposedly worthless initiative, there sure are a lot of people involved in it who’d like to see it continue.
Kudos to Reason, by the way, for doing such a bang-up job on that vid. I can’t prove that it’s partly responsible for this morning’s Fox & Friends segment, but I know which way I’d bet.
Blowback
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Compassion has a time limit.
ThePrez on May 6, 2009 at 7:08 PM
He’s a hack that will cave at the slightest provocation or exposure. More, please. Now.
Key West Reader on May 6, 2009 at 7:10 PM
Government hates competition
blatantblue on May 6, 2009 at 7:11 PM
A THREAT to public education?
Heh. I love when the left gets itself so worked up in a lather it has no choice but to reveal its true intentions and motivations.
BardMan on May 6, 2009 at 7:11 PM
Well, gotta get that $100 Million in serious deficit reduction from somewhere…
AUINSC on May 6, 2009 at 7:11 PM
I hope Obama wakes up in the morning and sees “hypocrite” in the mirror.
evergreen on May 6, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Like MK’s pics. Sadly, I’ll bet they all voted for BO.
ctmom on May 6, 2009 at 7:13 PM
The real problem is that enrollment in the public schools in DC has declined precipitously in the last few years, and no wonder, and there are those teachers and their union who must be supplied with students, no matter how.
No parent with choices would willingly put their children in the Thug Mills that are the DC public schools.
Dhuka on May 6, 2009 at 7:13 PM
I said this a few days ago, but I swear Obama licks his finger and sticks it in the wind… that’s how his policies are formed.
Unfortunately for us, he often sticks his finger places it shouldn’t go, and thus he has a stinky-pinky!
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Yes, kudos to Reason. Reason.tv is something to keep an eye out for.
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:14 PM
If they hadn’t, they wouldn’t have been surprised. There are many Americans that have voted for Barry, and it is the conservative moment’s job to give them a better choice!
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:15 PM
So the younger brothers and sisters of kids with vouchers have to go to the lousy public schools. What a terrible situation for a parent to have to explain.
Wethal on May 6, 2009 at 7:17 PM
The only threat to education is Obama. Wants to keep em dumb, living in the projects with no hope or change.
izoneguy on May 6, 2009 at 7:19 PM
You know, if the GOP wanted to keep the public focused on this issue, they could offer to match the government’s current pledge of 1,716 kids… making it 3,432 kids (right?)
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:19 PM
They could then ask the DNC to match them… ;)
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Heard they are going to start naming the ghettos after the corresponding feudal lords.
Nancy Heights
Bawney Slums
&c.
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Allahpundit, thanks for keeping on top of this story.
The children of the District deserve HOPE for a better future.
That means they need CHANGE in their public schools.
But, Obama canceled THE ONE best chance to help them.
Because Obama must BOW to the teachers’ unions.
Now, to the District’s children, Obama says: Let them eat my waffle.
Loxodonta on May 6, 2009 at 7:22 PM
I mean come on, who would want their kid to go to some private school? When they could go to a crime ridden public school. O just doesnt want his girls mingling with the rift raft.
Greed on May 6, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Very well put. Ask Michelle Obama to ‘splain this to her children. Why one black girl can go to a really great school, but her sister has to be relegated to some ghetto Al Gore Universal Global Warming BS school.
Could make for some intense debate. Over arugula and Kobe beef.
Key West Reader on May 6, 2009 at 7:28 PM
And Dijon mustard.
BardMan on May 6, 2009 at 7:30 PM
With dijon mustard.
Loxodonta on May 6, 2009 at 7:30 PM
I never got a good answer from black people, why do you vote Democrat. Don’t you know all they want to do is keep you down? What do you think this is all about?
This test has proved the concept that inner city kids can learn and become productive citizens and all Obama wants to do it shut the program down. All you need do is get them a high quality environment and good teachers. Tell me how shutting down the program is in the best interests of inner city kids everywhere — And why isn’t it being expanded to every city in America. If that is really what the community organizer wanted, but sadly it isn’t.
tarpon on May 6, 2009 at 7:31 PM
The pictures that Mary Katherine Ham has,speak for themselves,and its really unbelievable,that Obama,
as the ‘historical’African American President has
the ‘AUDACITY’ to pull this!
So much for Hope and Change!
canopfor on May 6, 2009 at 7:31 PM
** bows **
Loxodonta on May 6, 2009 at 7:31 PM
Bastard.
Barack Obama doesn’t care about Black people.
bluelightbrigade on May 6, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Yes he does…but only 4 of them.
AUINSC on May 6, 2009 at 7:33 PM
That right there sums the whole thing up….These rotten sons of bitches really need to go……
I say again…can some one please give me an argument against school choice?? There has to be one.
Anyone with a shred of common sense knows competition is GOOD…It allows for the best to rise and the rest to look for a different line of work…or to try harder…
BigWyo on May 6, 2009 at 7:33 PM
In other words, they are afraid the children will be educated rather than indoctrinated. Nothing is more scary to a Lib than a young person who has not been properly “trained”.
There will be none of that!
Guardian on May 6, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Can you imagine the manufactured Outrage if this
stunt was down by the right!
canopfor on May 6, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Carnegie and Rockefeller don’t like this capitulation by their chosen executor.
True_King on May 6, 2009 at 7:34 PM
This was rather easy to predict. When this thing came up several months ago, I told my wife that there was no way Obama would let the kids going to school with his daughters under this program be tossed out of school. It would be too politically damaging. The thing any politician worth his salt would have come up with (wanting to kill the program) is to kill the program but grandfather in kids already there. Viola! Problem solved. From now until the end of time, nobody will be able to accuse Obama of kicking kids out of a school which he chose for his own daughters.
jdp629 on May 6, 2009 at 7:34 PM
The right wouldn’t have to manufacture this outrage if it happened with our own. If Bush had ever done this, we would have disowned him immediately.
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:35 PM
The voucher program is such a “threat” that a lottery system had to be created to deal with all the applicants.
Do people normally flock to threats?
The Dumbest Administration Ever.
Bishop on May 6, 2009 at 7:35 PM
And now we need to fight for those that aren’t yet going to school with his daughters!
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Obama only cares about one person, himself. Everyone else are just props on his stage.
Loxodonta on May 6, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Scare Force One comes to mind… Oh, wait, that wasn’t a [real ???] threat and they were definitely running away from that one…
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:37 PM
If the GOP wants to go on their listening tours, they should go listen to the parents that won’t get to choose their kids’ school… but will be forced to put up with the pathetic excuse for “schools” that the government will continue to fund.
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Here in NYC charter schools are the bane of the teachers union. They just hate that the charter schools out perform public schools. So now they are pushing charter teachers to join the union. Just so they can f them up too.
Greed on May 6, 2009 at 7:41 PM
Pahdon me. Do you have any…. Grey Pupon?
/Black Elitist questioning some other black dude driving an 88 Dodge Dart with a bad brown paint job.
Key West Reader on May 6, 2009 at 7:41 PM
That is a great idea! Yes! Yes! Yes!
Loxodonta on May 6, 2009 at 7:42 PM
The second that happens, is the second Charter Schools go down the toilet!
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Well, I give him a little bit more credit. I think he cares about Michelle and the 2 girls too.
AUINSC on May 6, 2009 at 7:43 PM
Well, thank you… If only they’d figure this out.
This is a big tent idea that will also appeal to the base… duh!!!
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:43 PM
The amount spent per student in DC is $14,000. At $7,500 the kids are getting at least twice the education at half the price. This is a disgrace. When I was in DC for the tea party I noticed that the NEA has some awfully nice real estate for an organization that is supposed to be about the children.
TXMomof3 on May 6, 2009 at 7:44 PM
The right would`nt have to….
Upstater85 on May 6,2009 at 7:35PM.
Upstater85: I should of clarified,that the right would never
do this,and ya,if Bush pulled this,the Republica
n Party would take care of its own!!!:)
canopfor on May 6, 2009 at 7:46 PM
With all due respect. If any GOP member comes into this town on a “listening tour”? He might have an audience of.. eh.. maybe 3?
I’m a card carrying Republican since 1979. But I will not listen to any more life long career politicians of any stripe. All of these a$$hole politicians need to listen to us. I’m going independent. I took my name off of John McCain’s list and I’m gat danged sick and tired of these career based, self serving politicians. Term Limits.
Obama is just a politician and he is letting his own constituents down… not gently, but violently.
Career politicians have no place in this United States. Especially now.
Key West Reader on May 6, 2009 at 7:49 PM
That’s pretty much the same story everywhere…Wonder how long it’s gonna take for Obllahhma to put them out of business…
BigWyo on May 6, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Not dumb. If you keep people ignorant, uneducated and dependent on handouts from you then you have a guaranteed voter base. Anything that helps move those voters from that environment is a threat and must be eliminated.
Oldnuke on May 6, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Hey, I don’t disagree with you. My point is that the Voucher Program is something that people actually do care about… I don’t care if the GOP, D’s or Indies do it. But elected officials should start fighting for empowering ideas they should have already been fighting for.
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Generosity is a good characteristic.
Loxodonta on May 6, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Well, the voters would… Look at Specter. The party (rightfully) never kicked him out, but the voters sure did!
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 7:53 PM
I kinda go with dumb too…never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity…and all that. Just a short term sellout to the NEA, with no thought at all to the consequences, methinks.
AUINSC on May 6, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Must suck when the kids at school are asking Sasha and Malia why their dad is such a butt head?
2nd Ammendment Mother on May 6, 2009 at 7:55 PM
You have a point, and a good one. I vacillate between them being plain stupid and evilly intelligent.
Oldnuke on May 6, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Imagine, Fox the terrorist station, demanding that minorities, blacks even, become better educated.
Conservatives have fought hard for “blacks” to become better educated…and we have been stopped at every attempt by the liberals.
How the blacks embrace the people who keep them “down” is a mystery to me.
right2bright on May 6, 2009 at 7:59 PM
How about some kudo’s for Glenn Beck, who’s been covering this story for 2 months and has had the same mother and children on his program that Reason used in his video at least 3 times before that video was released? Or how about the fact that Beck has set up a site for contributions to help all of these families in D.C.?
Glenn Beck also dedicated his entire 1 hour broadcast on Good Friday, with almost a half hour of on air time for the mother and children in said video.
Or do we only give Beck airtime at HA when you want to make fun of him Allah?
Knucklehead on May 6, 2009 at 8:00 PM
I struggle with it myself sometimes too.
AUINSC on May 6, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Yes kudos to Beck!
Did you see him and ACORN today? Thoughts?
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 8:05 PM
Maybe it’s the difference between cunning and wise…
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 8:07 PM
How, in God’s green earth, could somebody utter this sentence with a straight face?
Public “education” serves two purposes 1) to churn out cogs for the corporate and government machinery of America, 2) to create good little consumers.
rockhead on May 6, 2009 at 8:08 PM
I wonder this daily with the progressive talking points.
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 8:11 PM
ABSOLUTE SCUM
WisCon on May 6, 2009 at 8:11 PM
Didn’t see it, was in a meeting, but I know that he was having that ACORN turd on that loves to talk over people. I’ll watch the replay later tonight.
How bad was it?
Knucklehead on May 6, 2009 at 8:11 PM
Change — and then change again — you can believe in.
I’m never sure what any particular announcement from Obama really means. The expiration dates come and go so swiftly, it’s hard to keep up.
cruadin on May 6, 2009 at 8:13 PM
Every darn Republican Representative and Senator should have been at that protest. Where was Michael Steele? It was handed to them on a silver platter.
huckleberryfriend on May 6, 2009 at 8:14 PM
The guy was complete scum… I almost couldn’t finish watching it… Beck didn’t get him to confess to nada! It was really scary. If this guy has ANY contacts with Obama, there is no doubt that they are Obama’s new brownshirts – forget Obama-corp.
When you do get to see it, here’s one of the questions I would have asked had I been Beck. Company A had 1 bad employee in 1 state, and you’ve had a lot more in multiple states AND you get taxpayer money unlike company A. if I we don’t trust company A, why on God’s Green Earth should we trust you?
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 8:17 PM
Like I said above. This is a big tent idea that also appeals to the base. No more of this enlarging the tent by kicking people out… Stick with what works for all Americans!
Upstater85 on May 6, 2009 at 8:18 PM
THis is his idea of a great way to shut up the parents who worry he’ll change his mind about the future of their own children already in the program. I hope they go full tilt boogie on doing what’s right for all kids in DC.
SarahW on May 6, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Liberals like Obama always say they support public schools, but if they can afford it, they hardly ever send their kids to those schools. No siree, they might be good enough for the masses, but not for the elite.
Terrye on May 6, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Those would be libertarian talking points.
Is there any evidence that the progressives are actually unhappy with public “education” in America? They are the ones who defend the DC public school system. They are the ones who helped usher in modern schooling in America in the early 1900s.
Do a little reading about the history of the public schooling in America. Google John Taylor Gatto, if you care to learn more.
rockhead on May 6, 2009 at 8:27 PM
This is so he won’t look bad at his daughters’ school.
He was going to kick the kids on this program out of there, now he’s magnanimously letting them stay till graduation.
Whatta guy.
Alana on May 6, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Shine the light on the coakroach and it scurries away. He just doesn’t want to see the publicity get any bigger. He is the scum of the earth.
tessa on May 6, 2009 at 8:38 PM
And what would be their rationale for killing it in a few years? The school system in DC sucks and this program cost wise is a pittance.
Blake on May 6, 2009 at 8:42 PM
Is this not evil? Can i say that word?
Jamson64 on May 6, 2009 at 8:46 PM
Blake on May 6, 2009 at 8:42 PM
They want to kill it because it works. The teachers’s unions do not want the world to see how they don’t work. This shine a light on their incompetance.
tessa on May 6, 2009 at 8:56 PM
President Barack Obama will continue the District of Columbia school voucher program until current participants graduate from high school, then he’ll eliminate the opportunity for a better education for those seeking eligibility during his tenure. The President’s message to students yearning for the chance at a better life? Step to the back of the bus …
Donald Douglas on May 6, 2009 at 8:58 PM
Maybe if the DC school district parents UNIONIZED and kicked some bucks to the DNC, the Democrats might find it in their hearts to save the program. Of course they’d have to screw the teacher’s union, but those numbnuts would still throw their PAC money to the DNC.
GarandFan on May 6, 2009 at 9:03 PM
You have a point, and a good one. I vacillate between them being plain stupid and evilly intelligent.
Oldnuke on May 6, 2009 at 7:58 PM
That’s ok, the left had the same problem with Dubya: Evil Genius who orchestrated 911 yet so dumb he could barely speak.
Bishop on May 6, 2009 at 9:08 PM
The real problem here is that (I’ll wager) virtually all of the beneficiaries of this program voted for Obama…and despite this, will do it again and again…so, they have already forfeited their voice. Unless they are willing to publicly denounce Obama and refuse to support him, they don’t deserve this program. If they have done that, I haven’t heard it.
AUINSC on May 6, 2009 at 9:11 PM
AUINSC on May 6, 2009 at 9:11 PM
If they have younger siblings and can’t get them in the schools they may raise their voices. Maybe those that graduate will want it for their own. Anyway, all of it is sickening. Gazillions of dollars for the public school troughs, with so little results.
tessa on May 6, 2009 at 9:15 PM
This has nothing to do with kids education or realizing that he made a mistake taking away an excellent program. He knows about the backlash from BLACK families in the program who voted for him. He is letting them back in to keep their votes. Those who are not in the program won’t know any better and are guaranteed to vote for him again. The plan is to cut the program after he is elected for his second term.
The citizens of the US are nothing but tools to be used to gain and keep more power. He only cares about himself and I hate him for it.
Spectreman on May 6, 2009 at 9:19 PM
But, the left had virtually no material to work with…aside from their own fevered hallucinations. Obama’s really doing this stuff. Tough sometimes to tell if he really is evil or a moron…but the moron signs are very strong with him.
AUINSC on May 6, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Obama is the perfect example of a malignant narcissist. His mother and father both abandoned him at one time or another so he was unable to form any core or the ability to trust. He is a chameleon who will change his persona to achieve his goals, ie: ability to spiel the communist mantra while in the presense of Ayers. Able to hang around and tolerate Wright. It is because he is totally empty inside. He stands for nothing and has a hollow core. Those that he deems to be above him, he will grovel in their midst for approval ie: bowing to the Saudi King. Obama is so transparent.
tessa on May 6, 2009 at 9:27 PM
If there is not enough funding both for these vouchers and public schools, then why not end government run schools and instead give every child one of these vouchers. What do you know, I must be a crazy extremeist to have such a thought.
Resolute on May 6, 2009 at 9:33 PM
If only this teen would get pregnant, flunk out of school and get hooked on crack–then, and only then, would the Dems “care” about her.
PattyJ on May 6, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Obama doesn’t like black people. why won’t he let his girls go to school with poor people?
cpr on May 6, 2009 at 10:38 PM
How about conservatives making this a cause, starting a non-profit and offering scholarships through a similar lottery? Make this a very public effort with publicity through talk radio if no MSM will carry it. This would do 2 things: 1) show the DC citizens that they don’t have to be dependent upon the government, and 2) show DC citizens that conservatives care.
AZfederalist on May 6, 2009 at 11:18 PM
Barry Obama hates black people.
/Kanye F*cktard
omnipotent on May 7, 2009 at 12:01 AM
That mom makes me want to cry. How hard it must be to know what your kids need in order to have a better life and not be able to give it to them.
AZfederalist’s idea is excellent and I hope it gains traction.
O yeah, and Obama is a hypocritical and dangerous tool.
LASue on May 7, 2009 at 2:01 AM
Obama: Poll Dancer.
profitsbeard on May 7, 2009 at 2:23 AM
No, puppet dancer. To the master, George Soros. Soros is behind the Spanish Inquisition of our interrogation methods. Look behind every Obama Rock and you’ll see Soros.
Rattner? Soros. Soros employees in every key area of government.
I wish something could be done about him.
eaglesdontflock on May 7, 2009 at 2:41 AM
All of the black children in DC are equal (special). Some are more equal (special) than others.
And SOME are even MORE equal (special) (i.e., Sasha & Maleah -however you spell that stupid name).
stenwin77 on May 7, 2009 at 7:09 AM
The comments on the link are disturbing. Some are thanking Obama for saving the program…O couldn’t risk losing their votes until next term, I guess. He has to keep them believing he is their personal savior. Too bad for those other kids who will not have the chance their kids have.
Also, the libs on the site are screeching about the religious nature of the schools being attended, rather than the CHOICE factor. I thought liberals were all for choice? heh. Guess that only applies to those who want to mutilate their kids in their most vulnerable state, just not what school they want to send their kids to.
Above all, this is about liberals wanting to ideologically control and shape entire generations. They have had this for so long, and BILLIONS of dollars pumped into these schools with union control and ZERO impetus to change. These people lament their situation, yet, refuse to compete side by side with other schools. It’s insane. The NEA and public school system needs to FAIL.
Mommypundit on May 7, 2009 at 7:47 AM
The program is ineffective in conferring any advantage on the union.
Kralizec on May 7, 2009 at 7:56 AM
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