One thing that hasn't changed

As a long-time democrat, I think the NC Democratic party and candidate Elaine Marshall need to understand that there are number of us educators out there who are upset and saddened by the policies taken by the Obama administration in general and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in particular. Many of us voted, donated time, gave money to the Obama campaign in the last election, and this administration has chosen specific policies that scapegoat teachers and principals for all that is wrong in schools. We had hoped that the Obama administration would set right the misguided testing and accountability policies of the Bush administration, but instead they have only intensified efforts to place testing on a pedestal and as the answer for our problems in the schools. In response to this, I have written many times to the President and the National Democratic party about my concerns and the only thing I have received in return are requests for additional funding support. It is apparent that now that President Obama has become president, he has chosen a course that has created a national culture that has become hostile to teachers specifically, and to educators in general. His applause for heavy-handed actions such as firing all teachers in troubled schools has only served to make teachers and school administrators the targets for blame of school failures. I can assure you that as an individual, the democratic party's desertion of educators through the misguided policies of Secretary Duncan will not be far from my mind in the elections this fall, and in the Presidential election in 2012. I will also continue to spread the word about how democrats have chosen to join with republicans in scapegoating teachers and administrators for school failures. Democrats can boast all they wish about their health care victory, but failure to take notice on how their education policy is hurting one of their large constituent groups is callous and cannot be forgotten. Normally, at this point, I would have totally agreed that Richard Burr needs to be replaced, but if we are going to replace them with someone who is going take the same kind of policy stance in education, we might as well keep the status quo.

at the OCDP. It was my first time going to that particular event and it was a lot of fun.

Many of the speakers, Joe Hackney included, had certainly being doing the circuit of conventions today, and many mentioned that we had the largest crowd they had seen at once of those.

As far as the senate goes I'm trying to withhold final judgment until the debate. A lot for me is riding campaign responsiveness. Mike Nellis of the Elaine Marshall campaign has promised an expansion of their civil rights section on the website a few times, and gave a deadline of by the end of this week. Which he gave on Monday the 5th I believe, so Sunday the 11th is the date that implies to me. Their campaign has been pretty good so far so Sunday the 11th is the date that I'm looking to if they want to win he most responsive campaign award.

Elaine has taken a stand on ENDA more than once, so I think that is an obvious element to add. Possibly mentioning UAFA (which I was happy to see included in the OCDP Convention's resolution support for comprehensive immigration reform) or something like a school bullying act like we have in NC & several other states being nationwide, or add anything else she discussed on Pams House Blend liveblog. And a rainbow flag for the symbolism wouldn't hurt either =p

But at the very least, for me to consider that promise kept, would be the addition of support for ENDA by or on the 11th.

For the Cunningham campaign I'd like to see the support for DADT repeal, which is mentioned 2 or 3 times on his site elsewhere, add to his issues section. Either with its own heading, or at least as a bullet point under one of the issues dealing with the military.

For the Lewis campaign, which talks about LGBT couples in a few different places, I'd like to see that include a specific stance on DOMA repeal one way or another.

The debate is on the 14th, so people need to know where the candidates stand on the issues they are debating, and early voting starts on the 15th if I'm not mistaken, so people definitely need to know where the candidates stand by the time they're voting.

I absolutely agree, Jake, in addition to DADT (which continues to boggle my mind why it still exists in the military). I just absolutely do not see why in the world these are not a done deal with "our" make-up in both congress and the senate. The only explaination is PURE POLITICS. Someone here might have another explaination.

Personally, I see "keeping my job" for our legislators and worrying about backlash is keeping these two extremely important and positive initiatives from being implemented.

Again..just my thoughts.