President Obama announcement of his plan to make
community college free has knocked repugicans back on their heels as
the president continues to dominate the political landscape.
The president announced what he called one of his
most important State Of The Union proposals which he referred to as
helping every American afford a higher education. The president said
that in this country we expect everybody to get a fair shot, and in
exchange you work hard. The president stressed that our education system
is the backbone of a system that allows people to get a fair shot and
get ahead.
Obama said that investment in education is a hallmark of America. According to the White House
the president’s proposal is based on students maintaining good grades
in exchange for having their tuition eliminated for two years,
“Enhancing Student Responsibility and Cutting the Cost of College for
All Americans: Students who attend at least half-time, maintain a 2.5
GPA while in college, and make steady progress toward completing their
program will have their tuition eliminated. These students will be able
to earn half of the academic credit they need for a four-year degree or
earn a certificate or two-year degree to prepare them for a good job.”
The president said the he wanted to bring the cost
of community college down to zero. He said, “I want to make it free.
Community colleges should be free to those willing to work for it.” The
president said that free tuition would have be earned, because, “There
are no free rides in America….This is not a blank check. This is not a
free lunch.” Obama wants two years of community college to become as
free and universal as high school is today.
President Obama has painted repugicans into a
corner. By stressing all-American values like hard work, and economic
opportunity for all the president has created a situation where repugican opposition to his proposal makes them look like they are
opposing the values that the U.S. was built upon.
Politically, this is another big win for the
president. The political conversation isn’t about what the new repugican controlled Congress is doing. The conversation is centered
around the president’s bold ideas for education. The reaction to Obama’s
proposal from a John Boehner spokesman was telling, “With no details or information on the cost, this seems more like a talking point than a plan.”
The repugicans have nothing. They are going to attack
the plan based on cost. John Boehner and Mitch McConnell are going to
look the American people in the eye and tell them that some Americans
deserve a shot at the American dream while others do not.
At a time when the Democratic president is supposed
to be reeling, President Obama went to red state Tennessee and proposed a
plan that will have immense appeal and popularity in both red and blue
states. The president invaded repugican turf and unleashed a policy
earthquake that was based on an idea that came from a wingnut
state.
President Obama is making repugicans march to his
agenda as John Boehner and Mitch McConnell can’t compete with the power
contained in a forward thinking presidency.
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