Obama pledges to fix education system for urban youth.

[calteacherguy]

By SHIRLEY RAGSDALE • DES MOINES REGISTER STAFF WRITER • November 25, 2007


Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s vision for urban America rang true to the Des Moines residents who crowded into the North High School small gym this afternoon.

“I think Obama is very articulate and he had the message I came to hear,” said Elsie Saina of Urbandale. “I liked his message on health care and education. I was impressed with his willingness to try to unite the country. That’s pretty important.”

Saina and more than 500 others gave the Illinois senator a standing ovation when he entered the room and repeatedly cheered and applauded his talking points on health care, education and bringing change to Washington, D.C.

Terry Black of Des Moines came to the event, even though he said he was wary about politicians in general. He said he has felt let down by other candidates and elected officials who have “led our nation astray.”

“I just don’t believe them anymore,” Black said. “Obama seems different. I got to shake his hand and I liked what he said. He seems so sincere, like Americans should be able to trust him.”

Black’s impression agrees with a recent ABC News poll that said 31 percent of likely Democratic caucusgoers found Obama an honest and trustworthy candidate, a higher rating than fellow candidates John Edwards at 20 percent and Hillary Clinton at 15 percent.

Obama told the crowd if he were elected president he wants to “fix the education system to give (urban youngsters) a fighting chance” by investing in early childhood education, encouraging teachers by giving them higher pay and getting more people into higher education through a college tax credit. The job wouldn’t be complete, Obama said, unless mothers and fathers did their part.

“I don’t care how much money we spend on education; if parents won’t parent our kids we won’t succeed,” Obama said. “Here’s the bargain: I’ll do my part, but parents must turn off the TV, put away the video games and go meet the teachers.”

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071125/NEWS/71125020/0/caucus