Election 2008 

Where do the 2008 Presidential candidates stand on education policy and community colleges? The information compiled below provides a brief summary of each candidate's views and statements regarding community colleges. It is not intended to be a comprehensive overview of each campaign. For additional information on each candidate, please visit their Web site using the links provided below.

Senator Barack Obama and
Senator Joe Biden

www.barackobama.com
www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_joe.php

Key Higher-Education Stances:
(from the Chronicle of Higher Education's Campaign U. blog)
Raise the maximum Pell Grant to $5,400, cut private banks out of the federal student-loan system and have students borrow directly from the U.S. Education Department, allow the use of race in college-admissions decisions. Click here to view the education page on the Obama Web site.

2008 Democratic Party Platform:
"We believe that the nation’s universities, community colleges, and other institutions of higher learning must foster among their graduates the skills needed to enhance economic competitiveness. We will work with institutions of higher learning to produce highly skilled graduates in science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines who will become innovative workers prepared for the 21st century economy.

At community colleges and training programs across the country, we will invest in short-term accelerated training and technical certifications for the unemployed and under-employed to speed their transition to careers in high-demand occupations and emerging industries. We will reward successful community colleges with grants so they can continue their good work. We support education delivery that makes it possible for non-traditional students to receive support and encouragement to obtain a college education, including Internet, distance education, and night and weekend programs."

Click here to view the Democratic Party's platform on Higher Education. To view the entire platform, click here.

Articles/Resources:

• November 5, 2008 -- CNN, "Obama Elected President" Barack Obama won the popular vote and redrew the great divide between red states and blue states. According to exit polls, Obama was favored over McCain among women voters (56 percent to 43 percent); voters under 30 (66 percent to 32 percent); African-American voters (95 percent to 4 percent); Latino voters (66 percent to 32 percent); first-time voters (68 percent to 31 percent); and voters making less than $100,000 a year (55 percent to 43 percent).
• November 5, 2008 -- CNN, "Obama pays tribute to McCain"
• October 14, 2008 --  USA Today, "Where they stand: McCain, Obama split on education"
• October 1, 2008 - - The Raleigh News & Observer, "Obama Affirms College Policy"
• September, 26, 2008 -- The Chronicle of Higher Education, "Hear the Cry: 'No Group Left Behind'"
• September 20, 2008 -- The Associated Press,  "For Ole Miss, Debate Marks School's Progress"
• September 17, 2008 -- The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "OPINION: Educated Work Force Essential" by Barack Obama, Guest Columnist
• September 15, 2008 --  Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, "Perspectives: Challenges in Higher Education for the Next President"
• September 12, 2008 -- The Chronicle of Higher Education, "An Education on Higher Education for the Next President"
• September 9, 2008 -- CNN.com,  "Obama Dishes Out Tough Talk on Education"
• September 9, 2008 -- OpenCongress.org, "Obama and McCain on Education"
• August 29, 2008 -- The New York Times, "On the Democratic Convention: Let’s Talk About Education"
• August 28, 2008 - - Capella Univesity Blog "The Other 85 Percent", Where do Obama and McCain Stand on Education?, by Michael J. Offerman, EdD
• June 17, 2008 -- Associated Press, Obama promises tuition tax credit, by Nedra Pickler
• May 28, 2008 -- Obama remarks in Denver, CO
• April 8, 2008 -- The Higher Ed Watch Blog, Where They Stand: Barack Obama on Higher Ed, by Christina Satkowski

Statements About Community Colleges:
November 7, 2007 -- Obama remarks in Bettendorf, IA, Reclaiming the American Dream

Community Colleges Visited:

Obama:
Bellevue Community College, Seattle, WA
Butler County Community College, El Dorado, IA
Clinton Community College, Clinton, IA
Community College of Beaver County, Beaver County, PA
Danville Area Community College, Danville, IL
Des Moines Area Community College, Anken, IA
Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, NC
Hocking College, Nelsonville, OH
Iowa Central Community College, Fort Dodge, IA
Iowa Lakes Community College, Emmetsburg, IA
Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs, IA
Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA
Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville, PA
Lewis and Clark Community College, Decatur, IL
Marshalltown Community College, Marshalltown, IA
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
Northcentral Technical College, Wausau, WI
Northeast Iowa Community College, Calmar & Peosta, IA campuses
Richland Community College, Dallas, TX
Santa Barbara Community College, Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, NM
Southeastern Community College (West Burlington campus), Burlington, IA
Wayne County Community College, Wayne, MI

Biden:
Nashua Community College, Nashua, NH

Senator John McCain and
Governor Sarah Palin

www.johnmccain.com
www.johnmccain.com/about/governorpalin.htm

Key Higher-Education Stances:
(from the Chronicle of Higher Education's Campaign U. blog)
Require more disclosure of academic earmarks in federal appropriations bills, expand educational benefits for military veterans, allow federal money for research on human embryonic stem cells. Click here to view the education page on the McCain Web site.

2008 Republican Party Platform:
"Community colleges are central to the future of higher education, especially as they build bridges between the world of work and the classroom. Many of our returning veterans find community colleges to be welcoming environments where they can develop specific skills for use in the civilian workforce. As the first responders to economic development and retraining of workers, these schools fulfill our national commitment of an affordable and readily accessible education for all."

Click here to view the Republican Party's platform on Higher Education. To view the entire platform, click here.

Articles/Resources:

• November 5, 2008 -- CNN, "McCain Concedes" Sen. John McCain conceded the 2008 presidential election to Democratic rival Barack Obama late Tuesday, congratulating him on a historic victory and pledging to work with him in the months ahead. "We have come to an end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly," McCain said.
• November 5, 2008 -- CNN, "Obama pays tribute to McCain"
• October 14, 2008 --  USA Today, "Where they stand: McCain, Obama split on education"
• September, 26, 2008 -- The Chronicle of Higher Education, "Hear the Cry: 'No Group Left Behind'"
• September 20, 2008 -- The Associated Press,  "For Ole Miss, Debate Marks School's Progress"
• September 15, 2008 --  Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, "Perspectives: Challenges in Higher Education for the Next President"
• September 12, 2008 -- The Chronicle of Higher Education, "An Education on Higher Education for the Next President"
• September 9, 2008 -- OpenCongress.org, "Obama and McCain on Education"
• September 2, 2008 -- Inside Higher Ed, "Palin on Higher Ed, Earmarks and Science"
• August 28, 2008 -- Capella Univesity Blog "The Other 85 Percent", Where do Obama and McCain Stand on Education?, by Michael J. Offerman, EdD
• June 3, 2008 -- McCain remarks in New Orleans, LA
• April 15, 2008 -- The Chronicle of Higher Education's Campaign U. blog, McCain Advocates Student-Loan Protections, Ending Earmarks in Economic Plan

Statements About Community Colleges:
April 15, 2008 -- McCain economic plan, Bolstering Job Security and Assisting Displaced Workers

Community Colleges Visited:

McCain:
Alabama Southern Community College (Thomasville campus), Thomasville, AL
Austin Community College, Austin, TX
Big Sandy Community and Technical College, Paintsville, KY
Burlington County College, Pemberton, NJ
East Mississippi Community College, SCooba, MS
Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Open Campus, Jacksonville, FL
Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, MI
Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville, PA
Marshalltown Community College, Marshalltown, IA
Miami Dade College, Miami, FL
Mid-Plains Community College, North Platte, NE
Pitt Community College, Greenville, NC

Palin:
Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, MI