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Talking point - keep hammering this one home. I might write a LTTE on this as well.
As we all saw, every time Bush was asked about job loss he rambled on about education. He waved around the NCLBA like it was something to be proud of.
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SCHIEFFER: Mr. President, what do you say to someone in this country who has lost his job to someone overseas who's being paid a fraction of what that job paid here in the United States?
BUSH: I'd say, Bob, I've got policies to continue to grow our economy and create the jobs of the 21st century. And here's some help for you to go get an education. Here's some help for you to go to a community college.
We've expanded trade adjustment assistance. We want to help pay for you to gain the skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century.
You know, there's a lot of talk about how to keep the economy growing. We talk about fiscal matters. But perhaps the best way to keep jobs here in America and to keep this economy growing is to make sure our education system works.
I went to Washington to solve problems. And I saw a problem in the public education system in America. They were just shuffling too many kids through the system, year after year, grade after grade, without learning the basics.
And so we said: Let's raise the standards. We're spending more money, but let's raise the standards and measure early and solve problems now, before it's too late.
No, education is how to help the person who's lost a job. Education is how to make sure we've got a workforce that's productive and competitive.
Got four more years, I've got more to do to continue to raise standards, to continue to reward teachers and school districts that are working, to emphasize math and science in the classrooms, to continue to expand Pell Grants to make sure that people have an opportunity to start their career with a college diploma.
And so the person you talked to, I say, here's some help, here's some trade adjustment assistance money for you to go a community college in your neighborhood, a community college which is providing the skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century. And that's what I would say to that person.
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Now, how do you think this made the white-collar college graduate who lost their technical job feel? Telling them they need a SKILL and to go to school?
Tell that to the people with degrees that are working in jobs that they're far overqualified for, because it's the only job they can get.
How do you think that made the blue-collar factory worker who lost their job? That they didn't have a SKILL? That they need to go to college, when they have families to feed and food to put on the table. When that manufacturing job probably paid pretty good and gave that family a comfortable life that met their needs.
I know how they feel, because my husband is a blue-collar worker that has been laid off and has had difficulty finding a new job. You know what? He HAS a skill. He was trained in the Army and has years of on the job training for his skill. When he's working, he makes good money - better than some college graduates and far more than the average American salary.
Bush thumbed his nose at every American that has lost their job in the past four years. He must think they all have rich daddys with connections that can get them into Harvard and give them money to live off of while they're doing it.
Bush INSULTED these people. Keep reminding people about that. If you know someone who has lost their job, tell them. I will tell you one thing, something like that will not go over well in rural areas full of blue-collar workers. They will be offended.
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