April 01, 2008
"I Hope Attendance Here Was Not Compulsory"
Alexandria, VA – On the second day of his week-long bio tour, John McCain visited his alma mater, Episcopal High School, to speak today about the importance of education in the formation of a person's character.
Before the 400-plus EHS student body and faculty assembled in the Flippin Field House, McCain emphasized the importance of honor, the honor code and the values that are imparted at the school. McCain also spoke positively of merit pay and school choice, both relatively safe territory for a conservative candidate.
"We should reward the best [teachers] with merit pay, and encourage teachers who have lost their focus on the children they teach to find another line of work," McCain said. He added that the country should encourage "military veterans to enter the teaching profession," because of the values learned in the Armed Forces.
McCain took several audience questions, which focused mostly on the importance of the lessons he learned at Episcopal, the values he took from Episcopal, his greatest academic achievement at Episcopal and who will win the NCAA championship.
The boldest inquiry came from junior Katelyn Halldorson, who asked what exactly the senator was doing at her school.
"I think judging by the amount of press representatives here and also by the integration of your previous political endorsements in your earlier personal narrative, we can see that this isn't completely absent – er political motivation isn't completely absent," she said. "Yet we were told that this isn't a political event. So what exactly is your purpose in being here – not that I don't appreciate the opportunity, but I'd just like some clarification."
"I knew I should have cut this thing off. This meeting is over," McCain joked, before launching into a long description of his biography tour and it's emphasis on "the values and principles that guided me, and I think a lot of this country in the past." He said he also hoped to provide voters with "a vision of how I think we need to address the challenges of the future."
McCain concluded the visit by saying, "I hope that attendance here was not compulsory…I apologize if you were unwillingly in attendance here."
According to one EHS staff member, attendance was required, although it was unclear what the punishment would have been if a student had refused to show.
(NBC/NJ's ADAM AIGNER-TREWORGY)
PS -- The DNC noted that McCain's alma mater now costs $38K annually. The Dems also mention in a memo sent to reporters that McCain's voucher plan would only cover $2K a year. “Apparently, John McCain’s biography tour includes bragging about his own education, but not his 26 years as a Washington Republican putting tax cuts for the rich ahead of efforts to ensure every student a quality education,” says DNC spokesman Damien LaVera in a statement.
WHO DOES MCCAIN LEAVE BEHIND?
McCain Today: “Parents should be able to send their children to the school that best suits their needs just as Cindy and I have been able to do, whether it is a public, private or parochial school. The result will not be the demise of the public school system in America, but competition that will help make public schools accountable and as successful as they should be in a country as great and prosperous as ours.”
FACTS: MCCAIN’S PLAN FALLS SHORT ALL AROUND
2007-08 School Fees For McCain's Boarding School Total More Than $38,000… "The comprehensive fee for the 2007-08 school year is $38,200. This fee includes tuition, room and board, and all non-personal expenses related to EHS-sponsored cultural, recreational, and educational activities. This fee does not include books and personal expenses, which vary by student. Also, there is a $250 technology fee for unlimited access to telephone and high-speed communications lines. The laptop program at Episcopal requires all entering students to purchase or lease a laptop through our designated vendor. The cost is typically less than $2,100." [http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/admissions/faq.html]
…But McCain’s Voucher Program Would Only Cover $2000 Per Year. McCain introduced an amendment authorizing $1.8 billion annually for FY 2001-2003 to provide grants to States to provide vouchers to low-income children to attend another school, including private and religious schools. The amendment allocated $2000 per student per year. [1999 Senate Vote #238 on S.AMDT.1397, 7/30/1999]
And McCain has Opposed Funding For Public Education Open To All
-- McCain Voted Against A Bipartisan Measure Restoring Bush’s Cuts To Education. McCain voted against a bipartisan provision sponsored by Sens. Specter and Harkin that would advance $7 billion from FY2008 funding for health, education and labor appropriations into FY2007 in order to restore many of Bush’s budget cuts to health care, education and job training programs. [2006 Senate Vote #58, 3/16/2006]
-- McCain Voted Against Funding For Provision In No Child Left Behind Aimed At Increasing Achievement Among Disadvantages Students. McCain voted against an amendment to increase funding for No Child Left Behind by providing an additional $1 billion in Title I funding. The provision would have been fully offset by eliminating certain corporate tax breaks. [2006 Senate Vote #64, 3/16/2006]
-- McCain Chose Bush Tax Cuts Over Fully Funding No Child Left Behind. In March 2003, McCain voted against reducing President Bush’s tax cut by $18 billion and splitting it between education and deficit reduction. The amendment to the Fiscal Year 2004 budget resolution would have fully funded the No Child Left Behind Act, providing an additional $8 billion, and reduced tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers. [2003 Senate Vote #60, 3/19/2003; Associated Press, 3/19/03]
-- McCain Voted Against $2.2 Billion For Recruitment and Mentoring For Teachers. McCain voted an amendment that would increase the general estate tax exemption for a couple to $4 million, as well as the family-owned business exemption to $8 million per couple by 2010 and uses projected savings to fund various education programs, including $1.3 billion in grants and loans for repairs for schools in high-needs areas, and $2.2 billion for the recruitment, mentoring and professional development of qualified teachers. [2000 Senate Vote #184, 7/13/2000]
Posted at 02:16 PM
Comments
McCain said. He added that the country should encourage "military veterans to enter the teaching profession," because of the values learned in the Armed Forces.
After seeing some of the winter soldier congressional hearings I would like for McCain to clarify exactly what values the army is teaching under the current administration. I don't believe torture and murder of innocent civilians is considered a positive value for a teacher of todays youth to have.
cstrut | 04.01.08 08:07 PM
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I don't believe torture and murder of innocent civilians is considered a positive value for a teacher of todays youth to have.
The caveat being that you do, of course, believe the "Winter Soldiers" - the same people who wouldn't commit to testifying under oath about what they supposedly witnessed.
combatrob | 04.01.08 08:36 PM
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If you believed the "winter soldier" stories then I suggest you re-attend school starting in 5-K, unless you are refering to a creative writing certificate.
I will say it slow for you: They....were....all...fabricated...lies...even...the one....from....your...hero....John Kerry...about....Vietnam. All....lies.
Hopefully that will make it thru the drug effects so you don't continue to made a bigger fool of yourself.
LogicalSC | 04.01.08 10:01 PM
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where does mcbush mention anything in this article about "winter soldiers?"
tim mcveigh jr. | 04.02.08 12:54 AM
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The truth behind McCain"s "war hero" status has been vehemently rebuked by many detainees held at the same prison camp while he was there. They report the Vietnamese knew Mc's heritage and knew they had a big fish. He was held apart from the others and given better quarters and food. Under threat of torture Mc gave the enemy information contrary to the interest of the U.S. forces. He made 18 films for them denouncing the U.S. troops. His wounds were all received crashing his plane. This election campaign will out the truth and Mc will be seen as the traitor, opportunist he is.
deebee | 04.02.08 01:50 AM
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here he is again JOHN "THE REPUBLICAN" MCCAIN...
(please do not omit this middle name, he should wear this tag proudly as a LAPEL PIN)
MY KIDS also need this $38000 a year education.. and yet they was two kids left behind.
mark mywords | 04.02.08 06:03 AM
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To LogicalSC: Thanks for the mean spirit. It fits you and America well.
thanks | 04.02.08 08:51 AM
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It looks as though at least one of those students is getting a good education.
The assistant principle at my high school was ex-marine. He brought those values into the job. One one them he called his "persuader." It was goalies hockey stick with the blade cut off and 1" holes drilled into the broad side of the stick. He swung that thing with a very odd sense of relish. If he was particularly angry he'd do it on a bare bottom. I think he liked that best.
With the current military folks getting their "training" at Gitmo and Abu Garaib, I suspect that were they allowed as they were in the fifties and sixties they'd come up with some much more ingenious "persuaders." Maybe hoods and electrodes could be employed as well.
Yup, more military in the schools, cool. Then we'd really find out: "is our children learning!"
Henk | 04.02.08 08:59 AM
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"He made 18 films for them denouncing the U.S. troops."
I wonder if they are available to use in campaign ads when we get to the general election?
lmwilker | 04.02.08 11:00 AM
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I hope you lefties really go there. Try to defame McCain, a sitting senator for decades. Please, please let this be your tactic for the election. McCain will then win in a landslide. You are all disgusting. Go back to spending your days in front of a computer screen and let the adults protect this country.
bio mom | 04.02.08 11:05 AM
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bio mom, you're kidding, right? The righties "went there" defaming John Kerry, a sitting senator for more than two decades. When attacked thus, Kerry didn't win in a landslide -- he was defeated. And yes, it was disgusting, as you note. Pot, meet kettle. I suppose in your universe, what happened to Kerry was perfectly okay, but if the same thing were to happen to McCain, it's not. Typical GOP hypocrite. Why don't YOU go back to spending your days in front of whatever screen you do -- probably TV watching soap operas -- and leave the chore of fixing this broken country to the "lefty" adults.
Julia | 04.02.08 12:34 PM
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Not to take away from the horrible experience of being a POW but, John McCain was a Navy pilot. If he never got shot down, he nevver would have set foot in Vietnam. He does not k
mike | 04.02.08 03:16 PM
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bio mom,
The problem is that McCain *isn't* doing anything to protect us, or to support our troops, or to help us bring freedom and stability to other countries or regions. He is instead supporting ill-advised, disastrous policies (escalation in Iraq, tax cuts for the super-rich, potential further military interventions in Iran) that have left, and will continue to leave, our country bankrupt, unstable, and under threat of attack. Even Al-Qaeda's #2 supports our attacking Iran; same goal as McCain. That doesn't bother you at all?
Moreover, no one on the left is maligning McCain's record of military service. However, what we are "maligning" is the fact that despite being a vet, he's failed to support our active-duty or retired troops (see body armor appropriations, GI Bill, etc). What especially bothers me is that the right *falsely* slammed Kerry's record of military service (what Swift Boat Vets did is libel in every sense of the term) and yet McCain is crying foul even as the left is staying AWAY from slamming his record.
Mayur | 04.07.08 09:33 PM
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