Vouchers & Charterization Proposals Not Necessarily "DOA" In NCLB Or The '08 Campaign
Back a few weeks ago when the Bush administration proposed a new voucher initiative and a controversial charterization option for low performing public schools regardless of state caps, the Democratic response often included the descriptor "dead on arrival." But as this edspresso post reminds us (The Scarlet H), the traditional Democratic position on vouchers is both awkward and not necessarily monolithic.
I haven't had a chance to confirm the claim that former VP Gore has spoken so symapthetically on vouchers -- if you know where the quote is from, fill me in -- but it's almost irrelevant at this point. Unlike six years ago, most Dems have voted not only for charter funding but also for vouchers (for DC, for Katrina victims). And, as I've pointed out several times, media favorite Barack Obama has refused to rule them out in past interviews.
UPDATE: Here's a link to the interview, from 2000, where Tim Russert grills Gore on the voucher issue. It's not a very pretty moment for Gore (or Russert, pretending he doesn't have a view and is just asking questions). BTW, I'm told that Obama's kids go to the private U of Chicago Lab School.
