Reform No Child Left Behind
Obama and Biden believe teachers should not be forced to spend the academic year preparing students to fill in bubbles on standardized tests and he will improve the assessments used to track student progress to measure readiness for college.
Invest in Early Childhood Education
The Obama-Biden comprehensive "Zero to Five" plan will provide critical support to young children and their parents. And they will help states move toward voluntary, universal pre-school.
Make College Affordable to all Americans
Obama and Biden will create a new American Opportunity Tax Credit worth $4,000 in exchange for community service. It will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students.In this video, Senator Barack Obama talks about his plan for education, including reforming No Child Left Behind, supporting teachers and schools, giving tax incentives to college students, and demanding more accountability at all levels:
Poder, a leading Hispanic magazine distributed in the United States, Mexico, Colombia and Chile, presents its analysis of the 2008 election in its latest number and gives a ringing endorsement of presidential candidate Barack Obama. Read the full endorsement:
Throughout his long career in the U.S. Senate, John McCain has been a friend and supporter of Latin America and the Hispanic community in the United States. Despite strong opposition from his party, he co-authored with Ted Kennedy a groundbreaking bill for comprehensive immigration reform that sought compromise, pragmatic solutions to this very complex and emotional issue. McCain has been a staunch free-trader and a consistent champion of deepening commerce and investment links in our hemisphere even as these notions became increasingly unpopular amongst the American electorate. Moreover, he has been a firm ally of democratic governments in the region in the fight against drug-traffickers and terrorist groups that threaten the very fiber of their institutions and societies. However, despite his admirable personal history and distinguished political service, this magazine believes that Barack Obama is the better choice for U.S. president on November 4th; for Latin America, for the Hispanic community, for the United States and for the world.For one thing, the McCain of today seems to have strayed widely from the McCain of old. Of course, electoral pressures have abetted this transformation. But his reversals and hard veers to the right on issues of crucial importance (and that seemed so close to his heart) as immigration and tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are disquieting. The hustle and bustle of the campaign has also exposed facets of his character and temper that, while useful for, and even becoming of, a maverick senator, appear ill-suited for a commander-in-chief in a time of war, economic crisis and political polarization. What is more, his claim to the moral high-ground in campaign tactics (he was on the receiving end of a vile hatchet job by the Bush political machine in the 2000 primaries), has fallen by the wayside. But this magazine's endorsement of Obama is not predicated on McCain's shortcomings. Rather, it rests on three arguments: Obama's virtues for leadership, the symbolism of his presidency, and the benefits it could yield for the U.S. Hispanic community and our hemisphere.That Obama's intellect is first-class, no one can doubt. Few presidents in U.S. history can boast of being Editor of the Harvard Law Review and Professor of Law at the University of Chicago. His outlook is thoughtful, nuanced and open-minded, befitting of fast-paced, uncertain times and a reality that deals in shades of gray. The management of his campaign has been creative, nimble, forward-looking, and as close to flawless (despite its extraordinary length) as any in recent American political history. But what has shone through most in the last few months and the debates is that Obama appears to possess a first-class temperament as well. Obama's demeanor is collected and poised, and he reacts to even the most vitriolic criticism with a smile. In an age of rising fanaticism, his instinctive moderation is a breath of fresh air.The symbolic power of an Obama presidency cannot be underestimated. His election would provide, in a fashion, final closure on some of the darkest chapters in American history, the civil rights movement, and it would also open new horizons of aspiration and possibility for millions. The child of an African father and a white American mother, who spent a formative part of his life in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, Obama is a product of our post-Cold War, interdependent age. His immense popularity abroad (a recent poll by the Economist of 30,000 international readers reveals that 84% of them prefer him over McCain) is a testament to the fact that he is, in a sense, the world's candidate for U.S. president. The boost from his election to America's international stature and its dwindling reserve of soft-power, and thus to its ability to shape global affairs, could prove staggering.The last nationwide survey of Hispanic registered voters conducted by the Pew Center in June and July of this year, showed Obama beating McCain by a 66% to 23% margin. His stands on universal health-care, immigration reform and tax relief for households earning under $200,000 a year, as well as his condition as a minority American, have struck a chord among a group that, despite great strides, remains under-privileged. Today, with the financial crisis in full-force, his support is likely much higher. The countries where these people originally hail from also stand to benefit from an Obama presidency. On the one hand, a dark-skinned, half-African U.S. President would be profoundly unsettling, if not thoroughly destabilizing, for those regimes in the region which, to one extent or another, have reaped political capital from fomenting hatred of "an arrogant, supremacist Empire". One would hope this would help tilt them from irresponsible demagoguery and bluster, to more reasoned policies and action. Furthermore, few have realized that in a context of economic slowdown and even larger Democratic majorities in Congress, which now seems all but certain, only the prestige of a Democratic president can move U.S. policy in the direction of freer trade and greater engagement with Latin America.Admittedly, Obama's greatest drawback is his limited political experience. As the New Yorker's recent endorsement of the Senator from Illinois put it, "We, too, wish he had more of it". But, not to downplay his trackrecord as a lawyer and law-maker, experience can sometimes be a handicap, especially when tainted by a mindset that harks back to a different era. Besides, leadership in a wired, multi-polar era is much more about vision, judgment and the capacity to inspire, than about accumulated knowledge or bureaucratic ability. After all, the latter traits can be outsourced, the former can't. This fall, words from J.F.K.'s presidential nomination acceptance speech ring truer than ever, "It is a time ... for a new generation of leadership -- new men to cope with new problems and new opportunities."
Throughout his long career in the U.S. Senate, John McCain has been a friend and supporter of Latin America and the Hispanic community in the United States. Despite strong opposition from his party, he co-authored with Ted Kennedy a groundbreaking bill for comprehensive immigration reform that sought compromise, pragmatic solutions to this very complex and emotional issue. McCain has been a staunch free-trader and a consistent champion of deepening commerce and investment links in our hemisphere even as these notions became increasingly unpopular amongst the American electorate. Moreover, he has been a firm ally of democratic governments in the region in the fight against drug-traffickers and terrorist groups that threaten the very fiber of their institutions and societies. However, despite his admirable personal history and distinguished political service, this magazine believes that Barack Obama is the better choice for U.S. president on November 4th; for Latin America, for the Hispanic community, for the United States and for the world.
For one thing, the McCain of today seems to have strayed widely from the McCain of old. Of course, electoral pressures have abetted this transformation. But his reversals and hard veers to the right on issues of crucial importance (and that seemed so close to his heart) as immigration and tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are disquieting. The hustle and bustle of the campaign has also exposed facets of his character and temper that, while useful for, and even becoming of, a maverick senator, appear ill-suited for a commander-in-chief in a time of war, economic crisis and political polarization. What is more, his claim to the moral high-ground in campaign tactics (he was on the receiving end of a vile hatchet job by the Bush political machine in the 2000 primaries), has fallen by the wayside. But this magazine's endorsement of Obama is not predicated on McCain's shortcomings. Rather, it rests on three arguments: Obama's virtues for leadership, the symbolism of his presidency, and the benefits it could yield for the U.S. Hispanic community and our hemisphere.
That Obama's intellect is first-class, no one can doubt. Few presidents in U.S. history can boast of being Editor of the Harvard Law Review and Professor of Law at the University of Chicago. His outlook is thoughtful, nuanced and open-minded, befitting of fast-paced, uncertain times and a reality that deals in shades of gray. The management of his campaign has been creative, nimble, forward-looking, and as close to flawless (despite its extraordinary length) as any in recent American political history. But what has shone through most in the last few months and the debates is that Obama appears to possess a first-class temperament as well. Obama's demeanor is collected and poised, and he reacts to even the most vitriolic criticism with a smile. In an age of rising fanaticism, his instinctive moderation is a breath of fresh air.
The symbolic power of an Obama presidency cannot be underestimated. His election would provide, in a fashion, final closure on some of the darkest chapters in American history, the civil rights movement, and it would also open new horizons of aspiration and possibility for millions. The child of an African father and a white American mother, who spent a formative part of his life in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, Obama is a product of our post-Cold War, interdependent age. His immense popularity abroad (a recent poll by the Economist of 30,000 international readers reveals that 84% of them prefer him over McCain) is a testament to the fact that he is, in a sense, the world's candidate for U.S. president. The boost from his election to America's international stature and its dwindling reserve of soft-power, and thus to its ability to shape global affairs, could prove staggering.
The last nationwide survey of Hispanic registered voters conducted by the Pew Center in June and July of this year, showed Obama beating McCain by a 66% to 23% margin. His stands on universal health-care, immigration reform and tax relief for households earning under $200,000 a year, as well as his condition as a minority American, have struck a chord among a group that, despite great strides, remains under-privileged. Today, with the financial crisis in full-force, his support is likely much higher. The countries where these people originally hail from also stand to benefit from an Obama presidency. On the one hand, a dark-skinned, half-African U.S. President would be profoundly unsettling, if not thoroughly destabilizing, for those regimes in the region which, to one extent or another, have reaped political capital from fomenting hatred of "an arrogant, supremacist Empire". One would hope this would help tilt them from irresponsible demagoguery and bluster, to more reasoned policies and action. Furthermore, few have realized that in a context of economic slowdown and even larger Democratic majorities in Congress, which now seems all but certain, only the prestige of a Democratic president can move U.S. policy in the direction of freer trade and greater engagement with Latin America.
Admittedly, Obama's greatest drawback is his limited political experience. As the New Yorker's recent endorsement of the Senator from Illinois put it, "We, too, wish he had more of it". But, not to downplay his trackrecord as a lawyer and law-maker, experience can sometimes be a handicap, especially when tainted by a mindset that harks back to a different era. Besides, leadership in a wired, multi-polar era is much more about vision, judgment and the capacity to inspire, than about accumulated knowledge or bureaucratic ability. After all, the latter traits can be outsourced, the former can't. This fall, words from J.F.K.'s presidential nomination acceptance speech ring truer than ever, "It is a time ... for a new generation of leadership -- new men to cope with new problems and new opportunities."
Senator Barack Obama has been actively involved with different constituencies throughout his career. As a state senator, he worked closely with Latino/Hispanic voters all over Illinois sponsoring important legislation to raise wages and improve living standards for working families. As a United States senator, Barack fought for sensible immigration reform to secure our borders and give priority to immigrant families instead of corporate interests. In this recently released video, Barack talks about the meaning of the American dream and what it means to hard-working immigrant families all over the country. And he does it in perfect Spanish… watch the video with English subtitles:
As part of our efforts to reach out to and engage as many of these voters as possible, our website now has an expanded Spanish-language section that includes a “get to know the candidates” section, an “issues” section, a blog that’s updated daily, and other tools for Spanish-speaking voters interested in learning more, volunteering, making a contribution, or registering to vote. If you know someone in your community who would benefit from this valuable Spanish-language resource – a friend, an uncle, or a neighbor – let them know about our Spanish site.
Supporters across the country are calling friends, family, and even strangers to talk about Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the final days before the election.
With early vote well under way in critical battleground states like Ohio and Florida, we have a small window of time to talk with hundreds of thousands of Latino voters who will help determine the next President of the United States.
Get stated calling Latino voters by selecting the state you'd like to call on the map below. If you live in a battleground state that is not available on the map, you can get a list of voters in your community to call here. Once you've logged into the calling campaign, you'll immediately be provided a simple script and targeted list of voters to call.
Select the state you'd like to call above and login to begin reaching out to Latino voters. Every conversation you have could bring us one vote closer to victory.
Check out a phonebanking tutorial in Spanish from the Spanish Blog, which is updated daily.
Like my parents, we all will do anything for our families…and you can do something for your family right now: Vote. You don’t have to wait until Election Day, you can vote early, today through October 31st. With Barack Obama and the democrats, real change is within our grasp. Affordable health care, investing in jobs here at home, and a college education that’s affordable for every family.
We have to deal with the underlying foreclosure crisis which especially affects the Hispanic community…what that means is that we should work with the banks holding the mortgages so that people can stay in their homes. I called for a three-month moratorium on foreclosures to give people a little bit of breathing room.
I think immigration has to be solved. It’s an example of an issue we keep on playing politics with…it divides the country at a time when the country needs to be brought together…we are going to prioritize comprehensive immigration reform, we are going to make sure that we have stronger borders and we are cracking down on employers who are hiring undocumented workers illegally, but we are also going to provide a pathway to citizenship for those undocumented workers who are already here. That ‘s the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do. And it’s something that we have to prioritize so that we can be a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.
El Mundo, a leading Spanish-language newspaper in Las Vegas, endorsed presidential candidate Barack Obama last week. The newspaper’s editorial board reminds its readers that John McCain has been inconsistent on immigration reform. Senator McCain backtracked on immigration reform to avoid alienating the right-wing fringe constituencies that back his flailing campaign. Read the paper's endorsment:
After more than a year and a half of campaigning, the time has come in which every American citizen has to make a decision regarding which candidate they wish to lead the destiny of the most powerful country in the world, the United States, a country which is now going through a slightly embarrassing situation due to the economic crisis, which will sooner or later reach a more stable level, for the good of its citizens and all industries. However, this doesn't set aside the national political situation, where every one of its citizens must cast its vote, one of the most sacred rights in the country, which will decide who will be the next president. In the last eighteen months, only two of the sixteen original candidates, and although many don't agree with either of them, there is little else to do but to choose whichever ticket may best benefit America. El Mundo has reached the conclusion that the ticket headed by Senators Barack Obama and Joseph Biden is the most convenient, and you may well ask what our reasoning is. Well, because it's what we decided after listening to the press conferences, the speeches, the debates, their policies regarding the different issues discussed on a national level, such as education, health insurance, the future of Social Security, deposits of nuclear waste, and the relationships with the other countries in the world. And especially on immigration, one of the issues which most interests the Hispanic population, an issue which has been discussed in very few occasions, due to its complexities, and for which no acceptable solution has been found. The immigration issue is said to only affect those eleven million undocumented immigrants that are believed live in the country, when in reality it affects many more than those eleven million, because these eleven have relationships with no less than 15 million legal residents who already have the right to vote. This is what's in play for the contenders, which more it’s expected that more than ten million Hispanics will cast their votes this November 4. A large fraction of these lives in four of the five states that will be decisive in November, and to this date, Obama is the one who still wants to seek a resolution to obtain a comprehensive immigration reform, and this in itself makes the Democratic candidate deserving of a vote. We won't mention the flaws of Obama's opponent, but what we can say here is that he, along with Senator Kennedy, presented a proposal that was rejected by most Republicans in the Senate, before changing its mind, and deciding to no longer support it. Also, during the vote for the DREAM Act, he left the floor in order not to vote, once again showing that with his acts, he draws ever further from the Hispanic vote. Those who closely follow the issues affecting the nation strongly agree that Senator John McCain is and will continue to be a hero—but this will not give him the presidency. With everything shown here and after a thorough analysis, El Mundo's editorial staff has decided to support the candidacy of Barack Obama and Joseph Biden, and asks its readers to vote for this ticket, so that in January 20 they will be the ones occupying the two highest seats in the world, and so that they can from the White House control the destiny of the most powerful nation in the universe, and so that they can once again make the United States respected across the globe.
Great and lasting political movements are built on a plurality of voices –when everyone comes together to demand better wages for their families, decent schools, clean energy, affordable and quality health care, better roads and bridges, and a foreign policy that keeps us safe at home and abroad in dangerous times. Spanish-speaking Latinos all over the United States and are a key part of our movement for change, and this why we have thousands of volunteers in all 50 states reaching out to Latino voters who are also worried about the economy, their jobs, health care, immigration, education, and the failed foreign and economic policies of the Bush-McCain team. As part of our efforts to reach out to and engage many of these voters, our website includes a Spanish-language section that includes a “get to know the candidates” section, an “issues” section, a Blog that’s updated daily, and other tools for Spanish-speaking voters interested in volunteering, making a contribution, or registering to vote. If you know someone in your community who would benefit from this valuable Spanish-language resource – a friend, an uncle, or a neighbor –, make them aware of our Spanish site. Send them the link, give them a call, or boot up their computer and show them how it works. Help us engage this key voting bloc so that we can carry the day together this November 4th. And practice your Spanish while you are at it! ¡Sí se puede!
The Latina community in the U.S. has suffered disproportionately during our nation’s economic crisis. Latinas make only 53 cents for each dollar that men earn and one third of Latinas lack health insurance. Tonight Latinas will gather across the country to watch the Vice Presidential debate at dozens of Latina VP debate watching parties. They will gather with Barack Obama supporters and undecided friends, family members and neighbors to discuss why Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the best ticket for Latinas and their families. Each debate watching party will kick off with a national conference call with actress Eva Longoria, as well as Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union, and Congresswomen Linda Sánchez and Hilda Solís. After the debate concludes, attendees will have a chance to sign up to help with voter registration efforts in states where registration deadlines are fast approaching. Sign up now to attend a Latina Debate Watching Party. Here’s what Congresswoman Hilda Solís had to say:
Latinas are excited about the candidacy of Senators Obama and Biden because they know that on the issues that matter to us, such as equal pay, access to quality and affordable education and health care for all, they will continue to fight with us to bring about the change we need. The hundreds of Latina debate watching parties happening around the country tonight are a testament to the support the Obama-Biden ticket has from Latinas across the country.
And Congresswoman Linda Sánchez:
When it comes to the issues women and families care about, the differences couldn’t be greater between Barack Obama and Joe Biden, who stand up for women and families, and John McCain and Sarah Palin who offer American families more of the same failed policies that have sent our economy into the worst crisis since the Great Depression.
