A Recap of CLASP’s Live Tweet of the First 2012 Presidential Debate
Like the rest of the country, CLASP was closely following the first Presidential debate the other night. We were happy to see so much discussion of job training and getting the economy back on track. And then there were quips and misinformation - and omission of important topics all together - that made us not so happy. Because there are still two debates and a vice presidential debate left, here's a re-cap of the @CLASP_DC Twitter feed with our reactions to what got mentioned in the first debate - and what we're still waiting to see the candidates address in the remaining #debates.
The ‘Pre-Game Show'
No surprise that #Debate trending. 20 mins now!
Getting ready for the #debate. Make sure to follow #TalkPoverty! #p2
The @CLASP_DC war room is via Skype and in office - ready to go! pic.twitter.com/qA4LAylA
The debate started off with the economy, and candidates came out strong:
#Debate off to a good start: skills development and job training already mentioned... #TalkPoverty #wkdev #workers
How will workers get these skills if #Pell Grants and #workforce are cut? #Debate #TalkPoverty
Smart investments in #education and training can rebuild the American #workforce and create jobs #Debate #wkdev
President Obama said that he wants to create 2 million more slots in our community colleges so that people can get trained for the jobs that are out there right now.
RT @Aedukefield: @CLASP_DC 2M more slots in cmty colleges will help keep US competitive & get students good jobs w/ family-supporting wages.
And then Governor Romney said: My number-one principal is, there will be no tax cut that adds to the deficit. I want to underline that: no tax cut that adds to the deficit.
How do you not add to the #deficit with a tax cut? You cut spending on programs... #Debate #TalkPoverty
Back to jobs...
Some workers can't make their own "pathways" to jobs/training. Less than 20% of black, Latino youth are employed. Need community efforts
Even those w/jobs struggle: abt 1/4 of jobs pay < pov-level wages, many can only get P-T or series of temp jobs bit.ly/O9ZTuy #Debate
And on to deficit reduction...
Speaking of #Deficit reduction, need balanced approach that includes new revenue | #Debate #TalkPoverty
Must protect low-income children and families from budget cuts as we have done in the past
"State flexibility" often code 4 blockgranting. Often leads 2 cuts &states freq. don't use existing flexibility bit.ly/ihoW90 #Debate
RT @HNMatthews: Need balanced approach to #deficit that raises revenue & protects programs for low- and middle-income families.#talkpoverty
Corporate taxes, yes let's discuss... #Debate #Talkpoverty
Budgets DO reflect choices... and priorities #Debate #TalkPoverty
We then became frustrated to see many important issues left off the table during the economic discussion. Where was talk about child care assistance for working parents? Or discussion of the quality of the jobs being created?
The debate moved on from the economy and deficit reduction to health care. We were excited to see the candidates talk about how to expand health care access.
#Medicaid very efficient already. Much cheaper than private insurance. Can't squeeze without hurting people. #Debate #TalkPoverty
RT @taxjustice: Everything you need to know about the various Ryan Budgets in one place: ow.ly/ecuCV #debates
#ACA a major opportunity for human services agencies to modernize systems, reduce admin costs bit.ly/q1pO5U #Debate #TalkPoverty
When parents are covered by #ACA, child outcomes improve. #ObamaCare #Debate #TalkPoverty
During the healthcare segment, CLASP Director of Child Care and Early Education Hannah Matthews (@HNMatthews) tweeted on how children benefit from an improved healthcare system and then raised an important point: where were children mentioned in the debate?! Why was there no attention on kids and how we can get them and our country's future workforce off to a strong start?
RT: @HNMatthews: Kids do well when their parents have health coverage. #ACA good for families. #obamacare
Important to #debate health care. Must also make sure workers have #paidsickdays so they can visit Dr! #TalkPoverty #RU4PaidSickDays
RT @HNMatthews: Closing in on the first hour. Where are #children in the natl #debate? #Childcare #education relevant to convo on economy. #talkpoverty
Last month, when Jim Lehrer announced the debate topics, we looked forward to how each candidate would lay out a vision for the role of government. We at CLASP think the government plays a major role in helping expand opportunity and lifting families out of poverty. Here's what we tweeted during the ‘role of government' segment of the debate.
On to the role of government... #Debate #TalkPoverty
Gov't isn't enemy. By working together we can do what we can't do separately. #Debate #TalkPoverty
More on appreciating public investments bit.ly/Puy18O #Debate #Government #TalkPoverty
Prgms like #FoodStamps help families have food to eat, make ends meet. Rhetoric doesnt help ppl. Public investments do #Debate #TalkPoverty
Pos-sec ed is prime path to middle class. 9 million+ low-income students rely on #PellGrants to afford education. Don't cut Pell! #Debate
Community colleges key to developing competitive workforce. Public benefits can help students earn degrees bit.ly/RDWLvH #Debate
Gov't has important role to play - can help reduce #poverty & advance #opportunity bit.ly/yo7hSR #talkpoverty
So, there are two more presidential debates and a vice presidential debate to go. That's a lot of opportunity for each candidate to address poverty, rising income inequality, child poverty and more. We've laid out four issues that deserve some real attention. We'll be watching to see if they get it. Please follow with us @CLASP_DC.