I watched the I watched the John Edwards endorsement of Barack Obama last night during the cocktail hour of an education conference sponsored by ED in '08, an advocacy group founded by the Gates and Broad foundations. I agree with some of ED in '08's policy solutions on education, but I don't agree with their business-centric tone (what's good for business in terms of education isn't necessarily great for children). I especially don't like the way their three "pillars" for education reform -- standards, higher teacher pay, and more hours in the classroom -- overlook the fact that we have a system cleaved in two between rich and poor and black and white. Research shows that socioeconomic and racial integration within classrooms are some of the most effective ways to boost the performance of disadvantaged kids.
Running for president this past year, John Edwards really understood that. And that's one reason why I welcomed him back to the national stage last night with his endorsement speech, in which he spoke quite a bit about America's two education systems. In fact, until I was actually listening to him speak, I hadn't realized how much I'd been missing his presence. Edwards' impassioned delivery even made me reconsider my gut reaction against the Edwards for V.P. idea. He and Obama make an attractive, charismatic, policy-focused pair. They're youthful and energetic -- the ultimate contrast to John McCain. Of course, Edwards is open to the same "elitism" critique that Obama has to dodge, and he doesn't bolster Obama's lack of foreign policy or military experience. Nor has he really proven that he can win the votes of the working class whites Obama needs to pick up. In any case, what are other people thinking about Edwards making a second V.P. run?
--Dana Goldstein
