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Bill Clinton Blames Kennedy for No Child Left Behind Flaws

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February 01, 2008 4:39 PM

ABC News' Sarah Amos and Jennifer Parker Report: While stumping for his wife at an Arkansas high school Friday, former President Bill Clinton seemed to blame Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.,  along with President Bush for the failure of the No Child Left Behind Act to live up to its promises.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

"The President made a deal with Senator Kennedy and neither one of them meant to mess it up," Bill Clinton told a crowd of about 400 teachers and students in Texarkana.

"The deal was supposed to be, we will give the schools more money and get rid of two programs that Bill Clinton actually started -- hiring more teachers in the early grades which actually does help performance and help schools with construction needs if they are overcrowded," he said.

"And we will not put anymore money in the after school programs, which does help, and we will raise school performance by telling people their money depends on how their kids do on tests and we are going to give five tests five years in a row, and we will cut the states a check based on how they are doing. And then the law kind of winks at the state of Arkansas and says, 'don't worry about it too much because you get to pick the test and the passing score.' Now think about that you get the worst of all worlds," Clinton said. 

Clinton mentioned Kennedy's association with the No Child Left Behind Act - a federal education law unpopular with public school teachers -- in the same week that the liberal icon passed over his wife to endorse her Democratic rival -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

The former president mentioned Kennedy yesterday while explaining his wife's pledge to radically overhaul the education law.

"I want you to think about this, and I have to say, this was a train wreck that was not intended. No Child Left Behind was supported by George Bush and Senator Ted Kennedy and everybody in between. Why? Because they didn't talk to enough teachers before they did that," Clinton said yesterday at Arizona State University, according to the Associated Press.

But today marks the first time the former president seemed to blame Kennedy for the bill.

In 2001, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., voted for the No Child Left Behind Act, but has since said it was mismanaged and should be replaced.

"I believe that every child should be taught by a qualified teacher and that schools should be accountable to the parents of the children they serve. That is why I supported the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001 and continue to believe in the principles behind the landmark law. When the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) was enacted, I viewed it as a historic promise between the federal government and educators -- schools would be held to higher standards than ever before and the government would make a record investment in those schools to ensure that they would be able to meet the new expectations confronting them," reads a statement from Hillary Clinton on her senate office website.

February 1, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (86)

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There you go again! Inserting you opinion before we hava a chance to form our own. "Clinton seemed to blame Kenneday...." When will you people just report the news and forego the titilation? NCLB had every chance of being something worthwhile until Bush failed to see it properly funded.

Posted by: fillphil | Feb 1, 2008 8:45:11 PM

Do you really want this man as your First Lady?

Posted by: First Lady | Feb 1, 2008 8:53:24 PM

The best way I see the difference between Obama and Clinton is - Obama is a bleeding heart liberal far too the left. Clinton is a moderate slightly to the left but very much of a centerist.
R

Posted by: RR | Feb 1, 2008 9:04:05 PM

When Bill clinton will stop attack???

Posted by: brightofeyes | Feb 1, 2008 9:13:17 PM

In schools,today No Child Left Behind has failed. Children are not being helped by this program, it has taken the control of the class from regular teachers and given it to beauracracy. Under President Clinton, we had better school performance. Sen. Hillary Clinton has the ideas to fix our children's schools,which in part is to give the control back to the teachers. President Clinton has a say in this argument. Ted Kennedy knew President Clinton was going to criticize him. As Ted Kennedy crticized Hillary when he stumped for Obama.

Posted by: Mike | Feb 1, 2008 9:35:03 PM

Bill Clinton and his wife are two shameless individuals that have no business in American politics anymore. In this Washington Post article, they both begged Ted Kennedy for his support, and when he refused to give it to them, they are now stabbing him in the back.

Posted by: Julio | Feb 1, 2008 9:37:07 PM

It is hard to believe a Democrat attacking Ted Kennedy. Bill Clinton should start to attack other Democrats as too liberal and as tax and spenders. I guess if it worked for Rove, it can work for the Clintons.

Posted by: Eric C | Feb 1, 2008 9:44:26 PM

Ted got played by W, so did a lot of people, so did Hilary. I think you see that he made a reasoned judgement with the information that he had at the time and tried to get the best deal possible.

Was he naive? Probably considering how long he has been in Washington, but he was certainly not the best of the Kennedy brothers to begin with.

I am surprised that Obama has not pulled up some dusty video where he condemns NCLB. Here is a question for you Obama people -- Has Obama been Right From Day One on anything other that the Iraq vote? Why shouldn't we assume he just got lucky?

Posted by: steve | Feb 1, 2008 9:47:24 PM

Rezko also gave money to one of Hillary's top campaign staffers. Was on the washington post yesterday. Look it up. Anyone remember Hillary's rogue financier from Hong Kong, Hsu? Or, what about Bill's pardons at the end of his term.

Can anyone explain why the bulk of Hillary's support comes from uneducated members of the party?

But even with high school or less, those people could certainly tell us what the definition is is.

Posted by: ed | Feb 1, 2008 9:52:09 PM

That "staffer" is the very popular latino mayor of Los Angeles. You want to trash him while you are trying to win over their votes? I believe that was back in 2001, probably about the same time Barack claims that no one knew of any wrong doings by Rezko...

And to the point of uneducated members of the party for Hillary, I find that offensive. Do you mean the less forunate, like the people John Edwards has been fighting for? I believe you are trying to win over their votes as well. You think you are really making educated points in their mind?

Posted by: J/union | Feb 1, 2008 10:17:23 PM

Everybody's blaming Bill Clinton for the tensions that he brings to Hillary's campaign, and rightfully so. But he has had a willing partner, His wife Hillary. We found out in a civil debate that Obama can get his policies out in the open, not like in past debates where Hillary tried to shout him down every time Obama had someting to say. And just when the Kennedy endorsement seemed to solve the 'Foot in Mouth' disease that the Clintons were suffering from, toning down the negative rhetoric, Bill Clinton attacks Ted Kennedy unjustly by stating that No Child Left Behind was his and Bush's fault. Hypothetical: How many toes do the Clintons have? Better count fast; they seem to shoot off one or two of them each news cycle.

Posted by: ji_john | Feb 1, 2008 10:30:58 PM

What's unfair about pointing out that Ted Kennedy trusted Geo Bush. Ted Kennedy is just as guilty as Hillary thinking that Geo Bush could be trusted about anything. But of course, Obama, the all seeing all knowing , would never have misplaced his trust. Ha !

Posted by: fillphil | Feb 2, 2008 12:24:06 AM

Is there something the matter with mentioning who sponsored a bill?

This must be a new rule I haven't heard about. There seem to be a lot of those this year.

Posted by: Trickster | Feb 2, 2008 1:00:38 AM

Ted Kennedy was the lead author on the No Child Left Behind Act. Bill's audience of teachers will know this. That's why Bill mentioned Kennedy.

Posted by: readytoblowagasket | Feb 2, 2008 1:04:11 AM

Look, the ad goes like this:

I voted for the bankruptcy bill after I took their money, but I'm glad it didn't pass.

I voted for the "Authorization to Use Force in Iraq," but I had no idea George Bush would use it to use force in Iraq. [Crude image of Hillary flipping upside down.]

I supported the Governor in issuing Driver's licenses to illegal immigrants before I concluded it was horrible. [Crude image of Hillary flipping upside down.]

I called Reagan one of my favorite Presidents, a man who played the music beautifully before I attacked a primary opponent who said he changed the direction of the country. [Crude image of Hillary flipping upside down.]

Then, you throw in a shot of her casting her head back in that laugh, and we have President McCain. Unelectable.

Posted by: Drew | Feb 2, 2008 3:00:02 AM

Another thind besides Mr. Bill's meanspirit is the thing about the state making their standards. States used teachers to make those standards. If they are to low as he is suggesting then teachers are to blame. He was speaking to a bunch of teachers?

Posted by: Hank | Feb 2, 2008 3:24:06 AM

Let's not forget when these two left the White House with each having a case of sticky fingers, not to mention his PardonGate episode running concurrent with the moving trucks being stuffed to the gills.

Posted by: Juanito | Feb 2, 2008 3:31:18 AM

All Bill Clinton is doing is showing the spitefulness that was always there. He hates to lose.Hillary won't have to worry about losin because Bill's going to do it for her, and so she becomes his victim again.

Posted by: BTL musings | Feb 2, 2008 3:45:34 AM

Obama has the nerve to say he could get right the first time...can he explain why he PULLED THE WRONG LEVER not once, not twice but 5 TIMES!! Obama supporters YOU SHOULD READ THE FULL ARTICLE not just the HEADLINE!!

Posted by: Ready4Hillary | Feb 2, 2008 3:58:06 AM

Joshua wrote "Are you sure Bill is not referring to "No WOMAN Left behind"????

This symbolizes what I see as the problem with how the media has framed this. Wives are not suppose to have different opinions than their husbands? Look at the other candidates. How many time has Michael Obama differed publicly from her husband? This is a weird form of sexism.

Bill is entitled to support his wife and have his own opinion especially as a former president.

I think it would be refreshing if the other candidates spouses did not do the stepford wife routine in 2008.

Posted by: markjack | Feb 2, 2008 4:01:17 AM

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