General Clark reveals college plans to MTV NEWS

[wndycty]

Retired General Wesley Clark — the Outkast-quoting war hero and Democratic presidential candidate — wants your vote, and he came to MTV News to tell you why. In an exclusive interview with correspondent Gideon Yago, Clark talked for the first time about his plan to send 1 million more Americans to college by 2008, and became the first candidate to unveil a piece of his campaign platform on MTV.

Clark says he's going to do three things to put college within reach of a million more students:

Make the first two years of college free for the average student. By providing an annual $6,000 grant for tuition and expenses to any student whose family earns up to $100,000, Clark says he'll nearly double the average amount of financial aid available now, and simplify the complex application process that makes it hard to figure out how much aid you can get.

Stop tuition from skyrocketing. Clark says the main reason tuition is going up so fast is state budget deficits due to the Bush tax cuts — so he plans to create a fund to bail out states, so long as they use the money for education.

Help families save more for college. As president, Clark says he'll provide matching funds for low-income families, meaning the government will contribute a dollar for every dollar saved in education accounts.
-snip-

http://www.mtv.com/news/chooseorlose/features/c/clark_wesley/news_feature_120903/

[mikehiggins]

1. The gimmick is this

Since the GOP has shown they have no problems with running up huge deficits by giving away huge chunks of bucks to businesses, and huge tax breaks to the rich, it should be pretty difficult for them to oppose giving a fair break to ordinary AMericans.

They'll still try, of course, and then we'll HAMMER them in the off-year elections to take back the House and Senate.

Want six grand to help your kid go to college? Vote Democratic.

Not a hard sell, sez I.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

2. Powerful stuff

Some great ideas in there, the guy's obviously not just thinking about tanks and troop movements. I have never heard Bush even address College, except to say that Michigan was being racist in its execution of Affirmative Action.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. As one who went to college on scholarship

I hail Clark's plan. I especially like the fact he's going to bail our the states-I wonder how many non-political junkies realize that Bush is the first president in memory NOT to bail out states when they are in financial trouble? Or that, for the first time, ALL the states were in trouble?

In AR, they are talking about increasing sales/property taxes to pay for schools, or adding service taxes. None of these will be popular. When people grumble, I tell them to thank Bush for AR's problems.

[jmcgowanjm]

5. ayeshahaqqiqa, are you an Arkansawyer?

increasing sales/property taxes by $800 million.

Big money in Arkansas.

Or consolidating, which in realpolitic
will mean shutting down communities.

I've seen two towns disintegrate
due to integration firsthand.

And integration plays a major roll
in this latest flap.

Lake View(ironically town next to
Sen Lincoln's plantation) started this
w/ court case of inadequate funding.
Lake View is all black by the way or close to it.

I still think we'll be seeing federal troops
deployed in Arkansas early next year.

[PsychoDad]

4. Sounds good

More lower class folks will be able to attend higher education, and that includes more of the "working poor".

Kudos Mr Clark !

[jmcgowanjm]

6. and same health care that our congressmen have

that's what Clark told our crowd in Springdale AR.

He's got my vote.

[jmcgowanjm]

7. Clark's Health care plan

http://www.texasforclark.com/healthcare.htm

[Killarney]

8. I'm impressed

Those are great ideas.

Of course the hard-core conservatives will say, "Where is this funding going to come from? My taxes! I don't want to pay for everyone else's kid to go to college. Blah blah blah."

But the moderate Republicans might look at this and appreciate it as a great idea.

[webkev]

9. nearly 50% of the "rock the vote" video competition

I know it doesn't mean much..
..but it could show a large majority of the 18 - 25 year old population siding with the General..
Kids are smart.. they want somebody who's going to win..

[VermontDem2004]

13. Which is why I am supporting Dean

But Clark is smart for reaching out, if Gore had the numbers Clinton had when it came to the 18-25 category Gore would have no problem winning that election. That is an important base the democrats MUST not leave behind.

[jmcgowanjm]

10. "Where is this funding going to come from?

The top 1%,eliminating tax cuts, cut Halliburton,
Bechtel, other war profiteers out, import drugs from
Canada, or better yet, pay for drug R&D
and give the stuff away.

Finally, we'll just create $, the way Congress
is doing for IraqInvasion.

[wndycty]

11. Kick

:kick:

[curse10]

12. Sounds like a decent plan

:-)

[MoonRiver]

14. A Rhodes Scholar who achieved his goals through his own efforts,

would certainly understand the need for such a program. This is just one more reason why I support General Clark!

[maddezmom]

15. kick

:kick:

[Terwilliger]

16. isn't this yet another example of something that should go into P&C?

Bombtrack's Bill Maher thread got switched there RIGHT quick.

[phillybri]

17. Excellent plan, perfect place to get the message out....

Well done...

:kick:

[mrgorth]

18. Good stuff

Now give me mandatory vacation time and I'll jump.