Obama Strong-Arms His Right Wing Agenda

[Anna Nicole Palin]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32116686...shington_post/

Obama to schools: Change or miss out on cash

President strong-arms educators by linking $4-billion package to reform

updated 3:33 a.m. ET, Fri., July 24, 2009
WASHINGTON - President Obama is leaning hard on the nation's schools, using the promise of more than $4 billion in federal aid — and the threat of withholding it — to strong-arm the education establishment to accept more charter schools and performance pay for teachers.

The pressure campaign has been underway for months as Education Secretary Arne Duncan travels the country delivering a blunt message to state officials who have resisted change for decades: Embrace reform or risk being shut out.

"What we're saying here is, if you can't decide to change these practices, we're not going to use precious dollars that we want to see creating better results; we're not going to send those dollars there," Obama said in an Oval Office interview Wednesday. "And we're counting on the fact that, ultimately, this is an incentive, this is a challenge for people who do want to change."

On Friday, Obama will officially announce the "Race to the Top," a competition for $4.35 billion in grants. He wants states to use funds to ease limits on charter schools, tie teacher pay to student achievement and move for the first time toward common academic standards. It is part of a broader effort to improve school achievement with a $100 billion increase in education funding, more money for community colleges and an increase in Pell Grants for college students.

[Baron Von Raschke]

His arm sure didn't look very strong at the all star game.

Originally Posted by Baron Von Raschke

His arm sure didn't look very strong at the all star game.

I'm tempted to bump your change thread. You should admit, you sorta like this.

[Baron Von Raschke]

Originally Posted by Louis Rich

I'm tempted to bump your change thread. You should admit, you sorta like this.

Go for it.