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Another bold move by Obama in a recent series of bold moves. Where was this type of "change" back in 2009? In an election year, this is political suicide imo, but I do applaud him for taking a stand however unpopular it may be. He's finally growing a spine, but it may all be for nothing.

<<<well intended perhaps but totally misdirected.

the lack of educational achievement in the african american community has more to do with the lack of a male role model in the household, children being raised by a single mother often with multiple children, dumping of children with grand parents who are either unwilling or unable to tend for children, and children being raised in abject poverty.

focus on education must come from HOME. active engaged parents nurturing growing minds and demanding excellence and achievement. certainly governmental agencies can assist, but more often than not these programs will fail in the face of parental indifference or neglect.>>>

Well, how do you KNOW that this program isn't going to work on exactly what you are describing?

Let's presume what you are saying is correct. Now you have a single parent household supporting the family. Even moreso, you have a likely single parent working more than 40 hours (in more than one job) to support said family because that parent is often not working in a high paying position.

Perhaps this program will explore tutors or means of education for both the parent and child, or afterschool and late school programs.

Or maybe it does nothing and is a complete waste.

The point is the creation and actual start of the program to address a very really problem should be the least of the concerns. What it does for implementation should be.

As an aside, at least you and I can agree, unlike many of the far right wingers that permeate this board, is that answer is NOT "well, she should not have had the child in the first place."

<<<I've said nothing about "liberal" waste -- I think there's plenty, PLENTY of waste on both sides, I think we agree on that one. PEPFAR likely benefited a ton of different people, even if they were not American. That being said, I am not a fan of government programs that are organized to only help one specific race. That's prohibited by the Constitution in my mind and serves to distinguish it from the other examples you bring up. >>>

From the actual analysis of societal benefit, would Americans, as a whole, benefit from a program designed to reduce and treat AIDS in the world or one to study and increase the ability to educate a group that continues to lag behind its counterparts?

And I am not sure yet that we have seen that this agency will solely benefit one race at the exclusion of others, as discussed in Bakke.

You may be right, I may be crazy.

<<<dj,

Do you not think this could've been better off left to organizations like the NAACP and the United Negro College Fund to meddle with?

Obama pretty much just lost the hispanic vote with this proposition imo. Not to mention the many disenfranchised white vote.>>>

Given the right wing's stance on Immigration, the only way Obama looses the Hispanic vote is by bombing Mexico or Romney holding his nose and muttering Rubio.

The NAACP has done virtually nothing for education other than blame the government for the fault of the educational predicament that blacks are in.

The UNCF is solid, but doesn't really do enough to support the younger blacks who are falling behind (actually, does nothing).

dj,

Then wouldn't the sensible thing for Obama to do is to work with the NAACP instead of taking matters into this own hand like with this racially divisive and sensitive program. Better yet, how about cracking the whip on the DOE to do more to help all struggling kids? A sub-division under the DOE like this that emphasizes black kids alone and leaving out other struggling students, namely the hispanics is just plain wrong however strong the spin is to justify it.

Obama's intention may be sound, but perception is everything. I just don't see this being well received by the vast majority of Americans. Oh is the Romney camp going to have a field day over this. You know it's coming.

And we can all agree that this is likely just further govt waste that need not be.

I am curious how many programs are already out there that recieve federal dollars to address the same problem.

I didnt do any research but if anyone knows I would appreciate the info.