Election 2012


Welcome to EdVotes’ Election 2012 page!

With crucial state races, ballot measures, and a presidential election in 2012, the course for American public education will be charted this year.

Our goal is to go beyond sound bites and talking points with research-based information, resources and thoughtful coverage and features from a pro-public education perspective. Find out where the candidates really stand on the issues most important to you, your students, public schools and the middle class. We’ll help you stay informed on the issues and get involved.

Your participation is essential. Join in the conversation by leaving comments, sharing EdVotes content on social media, signing petitions, contacting your legislators and sharing your stories.

EdVotes Election 2012 Candidate Coverage


Compare where the candidates stand on issues of the day. Get the facts, based on the candidates’ public statements and their own websites.

Just The Facts

Every week, we provide candidate quotes — with source citations — on hot topics. Whether it’s saving and creating education jobs, privatizing Social Security or safeguarding educators’ collective bargaining rights, you’ll have what you want to know at your fingertips.

What Else is On the Ballot?

Ballot initiatives and ballot measures affect everything we care about and fight for: our schools, our public services, worker rights, voting rights, our taxes, economic and social justice, and so much more. Click here to find out which states will vote on which issues.

Presidential Dates To Remember

Want to know the presidential primary and caucus dates? When and where are the presidential debates? Where will the parties hold their conventions? Click here to view our “Presidential Dates to Remember” page.

  • Ron White
    Posted May 5th, 2012 at 10:52 pm



    Hum:
    I love reading all the differing views and the stand for education with in them!!! I do wonder about the generalized statements like “the debt that this administration has caused”. Um who exactly is this administration? The man has only been in for one term… Let us not disconnect from the past few terms of office. I do not want to “bash the right” but I too look into the eyes of my students and wonder in amazement at how their world will be effected by these changes in education and the debt that brings cause and contempt to education. Please explain a direction one can take besides a socialist agenda when only the one percent are in financial control? Our economy was based on an agenda where some 15-20% that are philanthropic have financial control. Sorry for my grand statement of “financial control”. In conversation one said to me that the only reason those “back in the day” were philanthropic was that they were older and started to see the need for change. Are these one percent so young that they do not have perspective? How can the one change back to the twenty percent? What is that process called? Everything that is happening has happened in history. Is there a different process? The petty conversation of limited change due to pro-life or any other one note on this convoluted band wagon will not bring needed change. Can we stay in the gestalt or am I as an educator just a note among so many others? I would like to think that the education agenda is of great importance it will affect every person everyday am I wrong? Thank you for any clarity and direction

    Reply
  • J
    Posted March 31st, 2012 at 12:44 pm



    While we continue to fight our own battles locally, our Politicians have gotten together and are taking more and more of our benefits and rights. The NEA should take the lead in uniting all teachers’ unions across the USA and invite all the other unions (police officers, fire fighters, State, Federal, etc.) and include Private middle and low income workers. We can only win if we unite. Our strength lies in numbers and unity. Think about it the next time you hear of children who sleep on a bare floor with no dinner because their parent’s could not afford it and how our government has plenty of money for standardized testing but not enough to provide a healthy lunch for children in schools, provide after school tutors and give pay raises or hire more teachers so there are 2 per class with smaller class sizes (10 students per 2 teachers) and hire more teacher aids, counselors, case workers, police officers in order to provide safe passage for kids to get to and from school and ensure that school busses have an extra adult to help bus drivers so bus drivers can concentrate on the road instead of on the kids and the road. It is a wonderful thing to know that professional athletes such as Tibow can get paid $96 million dollars for a 5 year contract yet teachers are trying to change the world one child at a time and their benefits and salaries are being taken away. People who work in private companies should also be disgusted because they are at the mercy of employers who exploit them. We need to unite. Who will take the lead so our VOICE is heard?

    Reply
    • George
      Posted April 3rd, 2012 at 1:43 am



      It’s time to rid Federal governmental control over education. NCLB doesn’t work. Teachers do not need ineffective measures like test scores to dictate how to teach. Teachers have been trained to teach. It’s time to let them do their jobs! Less Federal governmental control over education is needed, not the opposite. Administrators without teaching experience that bully teachers have no place in education… get rid of them! The Obama administration is growing Federal governmental controls in all phases of American life. Enough, is enough! Spending is unjustified to the tune of trillions of dollars as teaching staffs are reduced, fair work environments for educators are threatened, and educational programs have been cut. Our Nation’s future is under attack. Our freedoms are under attack. Public Education is under attack. There are many State Education Associations fighting to improve agendas in their home states. Return the power to the State governments to educate its citizens and end the useless bickering between the parties in Washington who have failed to do their jobs to improve the role of Public Education in this country. The State Education Associations will be able to negotiate on their home turfs to regain improved relations with their State governments and its citizens. I hope a new leader emerges that deserves the vote of every American in 2012. We, as a nation, have to do better than this!

      Reply
  • George
    Posted March 28th, 2012 at 2:11 pm



    Gasoline prices getting to you? Now, the EPA has identified CO2 as a greenhouse gas. This will make it mandatory for any new electric coal generators to emit 50% less CO2. Well, forget about any new electric coal generators. So, what? Care to see a dramatic increase in your electric bill under the Obama Administration? Gee, I thought President Obama wanted algae to save us…doesn’t algae require photosynthesis to live? That’s: sunlight, water, and Carbon Dioxide! I just can’t understand why everyone keeps telling me to vote for him.

    Reply
    • Gerard
      Posted May 12th, 2012 at 11:29 am



      Vote Republican then, whiner. See where that gets you.

      Reply
  • George
    Posted March 15th, 2012 at 6:21 pm



    Double your fun…the Congressional Budget Office made a slight mistake on Obamacare. Now they tell us that it won’t cost $900 billion. It will cost $1.8 trillion!
    Oh well, business as usual. I would imagine there aren’t any teachers in the CBO since there is no evidence of accountability.

    Reply
  • George
    Posted March 15th, 2012 at 5:04 pm



    Well, if you think you’ve heard it all… our Federal government under the sitting president is now attacking our National bird. That’s right, a hunting permit has been issued to kill bald eagles. There will be nothing sacred left in this country if he is allowed to continue. An explanatory video is at http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/permit-to-kill-an-american-symbol-28621180.html
    Vote for Obama if you want to see the end of the United States of America.

    Reply
  • Greg
    Posted February 14th, 2012 at 1:45 am



    Just the Facts…REALLY? Read the page and tell me that only FACTS are presented. You can’t even tell us how many very poor are in America or define it. The NEA represents the “interests” of teachers – usually in the form of more money. The NEA should be able to use straight up arguments rather than playing gotcha politics. Romney wants to help America get back on its feet by creating jobs through the private sector. Obama wants to do the same by creating more government programs. Both want what’s best for America, but which is the best approach? Which will help schools the most? NEA, please present objective FACTS and give LOGICAL ANALYSIS instead this rubbish. We can just read/watch CNN if we want biased information.

    Reply
    • Jessi
      Posted February 18th, 2012 at 10:13 pm



      @Greg-
      NEA calls these “facts”, but they are really quotes directly from the candidates. The fact is: the candidates said these words, make of them what you will.

      “More than 20 million Americans” who meet the definition of “very poor” may not be an exact number, but it IS both a specific number, AND a clear definition. That is the number of families of four with an annual income of less than $11,057. The “more than” is for all the families that are NOT four people.

      40% of all American children living in poverty SEEMS like a figure that would interest every educator, not to mention anyone else who can see ramifications in their world, even if all their children come to school fed.

      I’m SO happy to know that comfortable and well-fed kids are being taught by teachers who see poverty as a personal problem, not a product of our culture. Sure does make insensitivity, arrogance and disrespect toward those of unlucky birth and parentage MUCH easier to sustain. (Removing my tongue from my cheek, now).

      Reply
    • George
      Posted April 3rd, 2012 at 3:16 pm



      Another round of “objectivity” and “non-bias” sponsored by our dues sponsored website EducationVotes:
      EducationVotes reports boldly that “… of the 5 companies with the most employees donating to Romney, all 5 are banks or financial service firms.” Wow, is that damning?!
      So, lets search the EdVotes website for “Obama Campaign Contributors” and see what we find… “Nothing Found Sorry, but nothing matched your search criteria.” Well, I expected to see some financial institutions that the president bailed-out with our money, but I guess EdVotes over-looked that one. Would that have been just as damning? Perhaps, if the NEA employees we pay for hurry-up and read this, you’ll be luckier finding some info when you check later. Ya know, it’s hurry-up and fix-it time before November… full speed. Oh, give an example of that… I like this one: “In a last-ditch effort to “fix” America before the November elections, President Barack Obama, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, and certain members of Congress have orchestrated a gamble of global proportions . . .
      A gamble that has INTENTIONALLY destroyed the value of the dollar and eliminated yields on safe investments, leaving most Americans feeling betrayed.”
      Aaron DeHoog,
      Financial Publisher
      Newsmax and Moneynews

      Oh, another EdVotes comment points to the “shameful” amount of money spent by Romney on TV campaign ads. Don’t they realize how much the Obama camp has in its war chest and what they’ll be doing with it before November?
      Yes, things are looking bleak. A final thought in from Doug Patton, “…the secret of Barack Obama’s hopes for re-election: pander to the ignorant who buy the lies of the left and would not have a clue how to survive without a nanny-state to take care of them.” Now, that’s scary. After giving up a vote, they’ll be easy to throw “under-the-bus” (well, lets hope not a school bus).
      Is it wrong to ask for some objectivity here? Gosh, it isn’t NBC news…but, possibly an understudy of it. EdVotes should look at both sides equally, and stop grand-standing for the Democrats.

      Reply
    • Ken Melley
      Posted May 9th, 2012 at 4:33 pm



      …and just how will Romney create jobs? He tends to avoid specific or general plans for creating jobs. Leave it to the private sector, he says. Are they not the ones who have created this mess. The so called job creators have had the Bush tax cut given them in 2003 and have just lined their pockets. Give me a break, Romney and his gang of supporters will tear your heart out for a buck.

      Reply
  • Steve
    Posted February 12th, 2012 at 12:49 am



    If you do not like what the NEA is about or what it does….don’t join. Education is in the state it is today due to the idiotic No Child Left Behind.

    Reply
    • Greg
      Posted February 14th, 2012 at 1:54 am



      Steve, I wish we had the choice not to join. Actually, that’s what all the hub bub was about in Wisconsin. The governor and legislators wanted to allow teachers to join the union if they wanted in, or not join if they didn’t want in. The shame is that this is AMERICA where we fight for LIBERTY. Where is the freedom when a Union (sorry… an association) takes your money without consent and spends it on causes your disagree with?
      BTW, NCLB has SOME very good parts including the requirement for teachers to be experts in their field. I believe this aspect has lead to better instruction in my school district. I just wish politicians would do what’s right and figure out how to fix laws instead of constantly supporting so called “interest groups”.

      Reply
    • George Emery
      Posted February 18th, 2012 at 2:26 pm



      Steve,
      My dear fellow, I believe your intentions are good, but don’t discourage membership in our organization. There is only strength in numbers. A rope is only as strong as its individual fibers, etc. The NEA would not exist without its educator membership… hard working, dedicated, individuals like us. And, remember, that has nothing to do with political affiliations, even though our PAC committee would have us believe so. Each of us should have one strong conviction; the total dedication to the education of our students. That is something we can strive to achieve without worrying about what each of us do in a voting booth. I think our PAC has taken our ability to think and reason on our own for granted and have championed candidates based on weak principles. For example , John McCain was tossed by our PAC committee for the simple fact that he declined an interview/questionnaire from the PAC. For that reason, all support was given to his opponent. All members were informed to vote for the opponent… does that sound rational in a presidential election? Surely, individual members of the NEA couldn’t watch the debates, media, websites, etc. to make-up their own minds as to which candidate would be their choice. I think the PAC needs broader guidelines to follow if they are going out-on-a-limb to tell the membership to think one way. After all, we are educators. Tell us how to teach better. Not how to vote. And, therein, lies our strength in numbers… helping one another to better educate our students through our professional association; the NEA!

      Reply
  • Janeen Axtell
    Posted February 11th, 2012 at 4:23 pm



    This is the first time that I have visited this site, and I can honestly say that I am surprised by the comments that are posted here. I would have thought that educators would be fairly united regarding the concerns of education.

    While I can say that I don’t agree with EVERYTHING that NEA does, I am very thankful for the national level support from NEA.

    I have seen many comments regarding President Obama and the lack of support for him. I am honestly disappointed because, after listening to the Republican presidential candidates, I feel that education will be in MUCH worse shape if they are elected. In Kansas, we have a very conservative legislature that is completely dismantling education. Our class sizes have grown, and our budgets have been cut. Our salaries have been frozen. The Republican legislature in Kansas wants to destroy public education and “privatize” it. If these Kansas “priorities” were to go to a national level, we would see the complete destruction of public education as we know it!

    I hope that those of you who are Obama haters will take some time to evaluate the potential impact of the decisions by BOTH parties and not just listen to the fear-mongering that has become so prevalent in our media!

    Reply
    • Patricia Speer
      Posted May 14th, 2012 at 11:34 am



      You are right – teachers of America have never been able to agree or oganize into one voice about any issue. I thought that when the Republicans slashed financial support to public schools that finally we would unite against this attack. Support has been better, but like any orgainization it will never be l00%. I must give the Republican party credit because they are able to convince people to vote against their own self interest.

      Reply
  • Sonya
    Posted February 10th, 2012 at 9:26 pm



    I too am NOT voting Obama for many, many reasons. He has fooled teachers into thinking he supports us, but clearly he does not. I appreciate NEAs efforts and support, although I don’t always agree. But, that’s the way it is, we all are on different pages on the same issues.

    Reply
    • Solar22
      Posted February 11th, 2012 at 12:31 pm



      Sonya, if you vote fo a Republican and you’re an educator, you’re either a bigot or an idiot. You must be a Sarah Palin teabagger who can see Russia from your front porch. I’m a proud union member in the KEA and NEA and I support the President and Mr. Duncan and what their doing for education. I’ve taught and coached three sports in high school for 30 years. The best years in my career was when Bill Clinton was in the White House. Today would be as good were it not for Republican obstrustionism.

      Reply
    • Janeen Axtell
      Posted February 11th, 2012 at 4:27 pm



      Sonja,

      Why do you say that President Obama does NOT support teachers?

      IMO, he has stood on the side of educators numerous times and has tried to push legislation that would have refurbished older schools.

      The Payroll tax cut that he has been pushing is also beneficial to those of us who live on a teacher’s salary. Are you really happy about the thought of your paycheck being reduced by 2% in March?

      Reply
  • Gene
    Posted February 10th, 2012 at 5:21 pm



    Where is the “President: where he stands on the issues” page?
    Or is this going to be another “right bashing waste of my time” page?

    Reply
  • Patti
    Posted February 10th, 2012 at 2:12 pm



    How is it possible that none of the endorsed candidates are pro-life? How can say that we are doing what’s best for children and consistantly support pro-choice candidates? Seems a little ironic to me.

    Reply
    • Janeen Axtell
      Posted February 11th, 2012 at 4:30 pm



      It seems to me that Education and Pro-Life, Pro-Choice matters are completely separate.

      Education deals with the lives of children who are already born and living in our world. The abortion issue deals with the unborn.

      Let’s not cloud our concerns with education by mixing in the abortion issue that draws so many raw emotions!

      Reply
    • George Emery
      Posted February 18th, 2012 at 1:20 pm



      I agree with Patti. How do pro abortion and contraceptive policies have to do with support for public education? You are all worried about job security… it doesn’t take a masters degree. If there are no children, no teachers are needed. These issues seem to put bargaining rights on the back burner in a hurry. I think focus on what is really happening in our society is being white-washed (non-racial slur) by our NEA. The economy does not support traditional marriages and pro-creation due to loss of jobs and incomes. And, any pro-creation is not supported by government mandated agendas that push abortion and contraceptive measures. Additionally, Mexico should educate its own. Classroom size would see a dramatic decrease in size if the unnecessary “born here/citizenship here” law was abolished. Oh, sorry. Is that the off-set to the decline in classroom population due to national abortion and contraceptive mandates? Better leave that one alone.

      Reply
      • Lisa
        Posted March 15th, 2012 at 10:15 am



        George, did you know that abortion has been legal for almost an entire generation? You sound like you think if we don’t abolish it, ALL pregnancies will be terminated, and there will be no more kids and humanity will die. The End. This is why men should really stay out of women’s issues, please. Just so you know, and can tell your buddies: Women do NOT get pregnant, mysteriously discover it 5 months later, panic, and abort. You will be surprised to find out we know within days of conception, usually. Then we usually keep it, unless there is some real threat to our lives, or our baby’s lives, or our family’s well-being.
        Just so you know, most of us who are pro-choice don’t actually exercise that option.
        God, you are the reason people don’t respect educators. Please stop.

        Reply
      • Emily
        Posted May 7th, 2012 at 1:17 pm



        How do you think we should establish citizenship for Americans?

        Reply
  • George Emery
    Posted January 28th, 2012 at 12:20 pm



    Sirs:
    As to ‘Mainers take their elections seriously…” I would hope all those organizations listed would put their energy into getting people interested in political reform and voter registration prior to an election day. I am only shocked to think that allowing same day voter registration in Maine is viewed as a wonderful thing. To get folks off-the-streets, who know nothing of candidates and political events, to register and vote on an election day is one reason our country is in such deep political and economic turmoil. Great job Maine Education Association! Maybe your prior, now unemployed, students owe much to you for your efforts.

    Reply
  • Nancy Fay
    Posted January 20th, 2012 at 11:22 pm



    I am so tired of the NEA and the WEA telling how to vote and taking my dues to support issues I do not endorse. Use my money to help the professional needs of being a teacher, not a the leftist political machine…I do not support Obama, Patty Murray and the other democratic spend thrifts……….I was a democrat for 40+ years but no more…

    Reply
    • Joanne
      Posted January 29th, 2012 at 10:31 am



      …and I’m so tired of people like you who can’t see the big picture. How ridiculous that you can’t see that the NEA is trying to support you.

      Reply
      • George
        Posted February 21st, 2012 at 12:27 pm



        Joanne,
        Do you mean “the big picture” is the scene in China where the teacher was tossed-off the job and made to clean bathrooms for complaining about the severe and abusive treatment special skills children were given during their gymnastic or dance training by a socialist form of government? Can you imagine, as a child, being told there wasn’t a future for you except if you were chosen by the government to “fit” into a mold cast for you. Employment for Special Education teachers wouldn’t exist. Are we at “the big picture” yet? What agenda is the NEA PAC pushing and what agendas are sneaking into our political landscape. What appears to be a simplistic argument for one element of society is but a plan for another agenda. An interesting case in point is a Obama’s “Catholic Plan” on YouTube worth watching. Is that “the big picture” you’re suggesting the NEA PAC has nothing to do with? I think when our association tells us concepts about our jobs and effective teaching methods, especially, models shared by fellow educators… I agree with you. How could anyone not see the value of being an NEA member represented by the association. However, it leaves a question in many of our minds as to the operations and opinions expressed by our PAC as noted by other members in their comments. Teaching is one thing; voting is another. Certainly, we wouldn’t expect to see socialism creep into our democratic society leaving “the big picture” missed by many voters.

        Reply
    • Mike
      Posted January 29th, 2012 at 2:42 pm



      I totally agree with you. There are many things that go into deciding for whom to vote. A candidate’s opinion on educational issues should be one item and not the only one as VEA and NEA are saying. Furthermore, I resent my dues going to a PAC. I also feel that the retired teacher who is against Citizen’s United should be against VEA and NEA pacts too for they are part of all of this. Think of who is best for the whole country and what the country needs before we cast a vote. Expanding debt and government is not what made our country great!

      Reply
      • treed
        Posted January 30th, 2012 at 8:35 am



        Your NEA and VEA dues dollars do not go to a PAC. That is a common misconception, but both the NEA and VEA PACs are entirely funded through voluntary donations and receive no money from dues.

        Reply
        • George Emery
          Posted February 18th, 2012 at 1:51 pm



          Well, Treed… I’m a Life-long member and I’m happy for your input in clarifying where the NEA Pac monies come from… over-the-years, I had always put my donations “to the cause of furthering education” in-the-can. But, I would think doing that in the present would be difficult since I can’t agree with political stances taken by the PAC of the NEA.
          Anyway, since you are “in the know” about such things, I was wondering if you knew if this website is paid for by my dues, or PAC monies. And, if by PAC monies, are lists of monetary supporters available to the membership? Certainly, it would be interesting to see a donor list as this might enable many of us to rationalize positions taken by the NEA PAC. I would imagine dues would pay for the nea.org website and NEA Today, but I could be wrong.
          Thanks for any further enlightenment in these realms of thought.

          Reply
          • treed
            Posted February 23rd, 2012 at 9:11 am



            We do not release a list of individual donors to the PAC as we do not have any large donors, but I can give you some information about who our donors are. The NEA Fund only solicits donations from NEA members and staff and their families. Our maximum donation per year is $10,000 and we have very few people who donate anything close to that amount. The vast majority of PAC funds come from educators in amounts of $20 per month or less. Also, we do not receive donations from corporations.

            Talking about NEA online properties, the NEA Fund website is paid for with PAC money, all other websites, including EdVotes, are paid for out of dues dollars.

            Reply
            • George
              Posted February 28th, 2012 at 12:36 am



              Tweed,
              Thank you for the information about contributions to the NEA, and about the payment for the NEA website. The only “shocker” here seems to be that our dues pay for the EdVotes website. That being the case, I find it hard to believe so much support is given to the Democratic Party’s agenda to re-elect President Obama. It seems other dues paying members in this forum have expressed support for the Republican Party’s goals by expressing them here only to be referred to as an “idiot” or “bigot” to quote one comment, for holding such views. I would think that the presence of such a degrading comment left on a dues supported site, doesn’t represent a place for unbiased views. All members should have the right to express opinions here without personal attacks for their beliefs. And, unfortunately, internet bullying does not belong here as site commenting policy suggests. The fact it exists here shows an evident flaw in the site’s existence. Obviously, we all don’t agree with the present administration’s actions or views. I, totally, disagree with the President’s notion, for example, that everybody should attend college. Does that make me an idiot, or someone who understands that all students should be able to choose their own paths based upon their interests, goals, and abilities? Apologize to our enemies, who’ve killed fellow Americans… we need a change. If our dues pays for this site, and it has to be so biased, then it should be dumped.

        • steve poole
          Posted May 3rd, 2012 at 8:32 am



          So even if what you are saying is fact (i’m still verifying) what right does education votes have to post an Educators for Obama sign in a public school.

          Reply
    • Cathy
      Posted February 4th, 2012 at 10:26 am



      You need to get your facts straight. None of your NEA / WEA dues money goes to political action. There is a separate, voluntary fund for political action contributions. Who would stand up for great public schools for EVERY child if the NEA didn’t?! Certainly NOT the politicans!!

      Reply
      • Gene
        Posted February 10th, 2012 at 5:16 pm



        Then I would say that more consideration needs to be taken electing your officials.

        Reply
      • George
        Posted March 14th, 2012 at 1:09 am



        I guess you didn’t read Treed’s comment that “EdVotes, are paid for out of dues dollars.”
        Now, the “political action” suggested on the EdVotes site seems to be to re-elect Obama as president in 2012. This contradicts your view that “None of your NEA / WEA dues money goes to political action.”
        Furthermore, you as an intelligent person, should be one to understand the frustration experienced by those members who realize their dues are being spent to support a political socialist agenda they do not believe in as Americans and educators. And, thank goodness for the sake of the country there are quite a few of us.
        I just don’t get it. When educators look into the eyes of their students, isn’t it unnerving to realize those innocents will have to repay the trillions of dollars in debt created by the current administration?

        Reply
      • Charlie
        Posted May 2nd, 2012 at 10:20 pm



        Whether or not my dues go to PAC’s or not, the union is still trying to tell me who to vote for. The last I knew this was a free country and I could vote for who I wanted to. I choose not to vote for Obama because I think he is leading the country down the road to socialism. Some of his education policies have been ok, and I could agree with them, but on the whole, he is not right for the position of President.

        Reply
  • Anthony B Barrette
    Posted January 19th, 2012 at 9:32 pm



    This should be a great website & I intend to use it.

    Reply
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