EAU CLAIRE, Wis. -- Reaching out to college-age voters Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden pitched the Obama administration's goals for improving the nation's education system and accused the Republican ticket of ignoring the issue entirely.
"Listen to what they say," Biden said of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan in remarks to about 3,000 on the campus of the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. "They hardly mention education at all except in the negative context."
The vice president accused Ryan of teeing up "massive cuts" to early education and Pell grant funding in his budget, and he argued that the GOP ticket would allow commercial banks back into the federal student loan market.
"They want to go back and have the banks be in charge of negotiating and processing your loans, costing the government 60 billion dollars in payment to the banks over the next ten years," Biden told the crowd.
Listing off items like teacher recruitment, student loan repayment caps, and scholarship funding, Biden pledged that "by the year 2020 we are determined that we will once again have the highest percentage of college graduates of any nation in the world.”
Romney, who touched on education policy during a Virginia rally today, and Ryan have focused mainly on policy issues like school choice and accountability for schools. While Ryan's budget addresses changes in education funding, the candidate himself has not laid out specific education cuts.
"During President Obama's disappointing term in office the cost of college has skyrocketed and an increasing number of recent graduates are being forced to move back in with their parents because they can't find a job," Romney spokesman Ryan Williams said. "Vice President Biden is launching more dishonest attacks because he can't defend the Obama administration's abysmal education record and he is incapable of having a serious discussion about education policy. As president, Mitt Romney will work to make college more affordable and accessible for all students, and implement pro-growth policies that will create jobs for them when they graduate."
The recent teachers' strike in Obama's hometown of Chicago has cast a spotlight on education policy in the campaign, although Biden did not mention it in his remarks Thursday.
The vice president received a warm welcome from the mostly younger crowd in Wisconsin, his third trip the state this campaign cycle and his second since Ryan, a Wisconsin native, was picked as Romney's running mate.
He won applause for joking that he's "supposedly an expert on foreign policy," quipping that "an expert is anyone from out of town with a briefcase."
Biden's next campaign trip to a swing state will be a two-day tour of Iowa early next week.


If you leave it up to the Vulture/Voucher team, public education will be a thing of the past, just like the middle class.
Education? They don't need no stinkin education.
Just like they don't need no stinkin facts.
That's right Tony. If they had their way, Medicare would not be the only program converted to vouchers.
Romney proposes to slash Education by 20%.
If you keep us sick and out of work, get rid of our voting rights, and keep us paying through the nose for healthcare so that insurance companies stay in charge of the 99%...
If you take away birth control so woman cannot plan their families...
If we take hit after hit & we lose our safety nets ~ and all the while we're subsidizing more and more tax cuts for the very wealthy and corporations ....
Who will there be left to Educate?
Got it.
@backhouse got a link to that ? i would like to read that i didn't know any candidate proposed to cut education ?
michigan - the 20% overall education cut is what was proposed in the Rep. Ryan budget(s), which Gov. Romney has publicly backed.
It was also proposed by Rep. Boeher in 2010 when he promoted that all non-security related, discretionary budgets be returned to the 2008 levels. (note the politifact reference below has the dollar numbers).
There was discussion of this in politifact a few years ago, where the comment was rated as half-true, but the reason it was only rated as half-true was because the subject matter was specifically Pell Grants, and not the entire across the board cut as was stated in Backhouse's post. Backhouse's comment is actually more accurate that the Pell Grant statement as reviewed.
Link: http ://www .politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/sep/27/david-axelrod/david-axelrod-says-gop-pledge-would-cut-education-/
The Democratic incumbents would give their left arms to have Romney's record, or to have Romney own their record. They'll talk all around this to create confusion which they know is their only option.
Wisconsin voters should certainly know more about how to dig out of a deficit problem than Joe Biden of all people, as their choices in 2010 has resulted in a balanced state budget without laying everybody off. Biden cannot show a record by the Obama administration of solving of problems. There is no such record. Adding $6 Trillion to the National Debt in 3-1/2 years without budging off of the National Unemployment Problem is the record of the Obama administration.
scott-579755
The Democratic incumbents would give their left arms to have Romney's record, or to have Romney own their record. They'll talk all around this to create confusion which they know is their only option.
Dude, I'm afraid Romney really doesn't have much of a record to stand on. Most of the legislation passed during his time in Massachucetts was, in spite of him. Bills he took credit for were not bills he proposed or even lobbied for, so get your facts straight.
Maybe Biden should go after Romney for always stepping on his dick each time he tries to discredit the President of the United States of America in front of our enemies and the rest of the world. It's looked and sounded just as petty and stupid now as it has since January of 2009.
While I'm at it- if Iran nearly has one nuke, and Israel has around 300 of them, what say we have BeBe Netan-yahoo just take care of Iran on his own. Should be a short-lived fight, ans save out tired purse some coin in the process. Actually, why stop there? Between Syria, Egypt, Libya and Iran, they still have 'nearly one nuke' for Israel to contend with.
Yo- Mitt: Why didn't YOU think of this??
@drive-by,
Shhh! No one is supposed to know that Israel has WMD.
...nor are we supposed to know how Israel developed nuclear weapons. After all, they're our bestest buddy!
Are you libtards truly this stupid? I can't believe how blind you people are to what Obama is doing to our country. Obama doesn't need Romney to discredit him to the rest of the world. The fact that he's the weakest "leader" we've ever had is proof enough. Apologizing to these parasites will not help the U.S. Instead of railing on Romney (Whose comments yesterday were spot on), maybe you should rail on the fact that Obama is a patsy for the muslim brotherhood. Maybe you should consider who Obama's friends are (Bill Ayers, Van Jones, etc.). It makes me sick how fat, dumb and happy liberals are. And by the way, nobody had any problem with discrediting the POTUS when George Bush was in office. Yet another double standard from the retarded left.
maybe joe should back rahm and hold up the CPS as the Public Education model for America.
what do you think?
CPS is the ideal system according to our blue State. Rahm suggested the school day be extended so the kids could have a chance at a better education. That was actually a good idea.
So the school day will be extended and the CPS and Teacher's union have chosen to use the extra time to teach RECESS, and art and library time. That will surely give those kids a chance in the competitive world. Math or science might have been better choices.....
The teacher's don't want to be judged on results especially in the inner city schools, where the kids are harder to teach because their young lives are so messed up. So they're negotiating to lower the standards for those kids. They're negotiating to give those kids less of a chance.
This is the Democrat's model for education. Is this what we want for all of our children?
candice -- cps is absolutely the worst model for education. I agree with your assessment. well said.
Candice - as usual, your ignorance is showing. The Chicago school systems is adding arts and recess back into the day but that is not eating up all the time of the expanded school day - just a small portion. Plus, if you had any knowledge of anything you would know that students who have art (in some form) in their education do better overall in school and better in life. Being well-rounded actually counts for a lot in life.
They are doing more in match and science also - clearly you don't know anything but are eager to shout your ignorance at the top of your lungs.
The teachers don't want to be judged SOLELY on test scores. I'm still torn on that point and so are the negotiators.
Perhaps you should butt out of things that don't have anything to do with you and about which your knowledge is lacking - at best - and totally missing in reality.
Obama/Biden 2012
Seeking. I am so sad for you. You are so cranky all the time.
So, you think the Chicago school system is doing a bang up job? Half the kids don't graduate.
Actually I'm a very happy person. I just don't like liars like you.
The Chicago school system is in need of many improvements - I never said it wasn't. However your post was filled with lies. If you choose to discuss something you should actually have your facts straight.
See how that works?
Obama/Biden 2012
Candice, billy bob thumbs up. That and you irritate seeking approval. that itself is worth it.
Hint: Anyone that doesnt agree with Obama or the cult is a stupid liarhead.
A little Andy Rooney wisdom:
A lot of you probably aren't sure whether you're Republicans or Democrats. We have an election coming up shortly, and you ought to find out what you are. I thought it might help if I explained the difference between Republicans and Democrats.
Democrats believe the trouble started with Herbert Hoover, and was worse during the Presidency of Richard Nixon.
Republicans believe the trouble started with FDR, and is worse than ever right now.
Democrats leave the dishes in the drying rack on the sink overnight.
Republicans put the dishes away every night.
Republicans play tennis
Democrats bowl, unless they're Kennedy Democrats, in which case they play tennis too.
Democrats love television, and watch a lot of it.
Republicans hate television. They watch a lot of it too.
Democrats are baseball fans.
Republicans follow college football.
Democrats buy their food on payday once a week at the supermarket
Republicans go to the grocery store everyday.
Democrats usually write with a pencil.
Republicans use pens.
In the summer, Democrats drink beer.
Republicans drink gin and tonic. In the winter, they drink scotch and soda.
Democrats drink beer.
Republicans think taxes are too high because of the Democrats.
Democrats think taxes are too high because of the Republicans.
Republicans have dinner between seven and eight.
Democrats have supper between five and six.
Democrats drink coffee with cream and sugar, from mugs.
Republicans take theirs black -- with cup and saucer.
Democrats don't seal the envelopes of their Christmas cards, which they sign by hand.
Republicans seal the envelopes of their Christmas cards, which have their names printed on them -- unless they're very rich Republicans, in which case they sign them by hand. If they're very, very rich, they have someone else sign them.
Democrats believe people are basically good but must be saved from themselves by their government.
Republicans believe people are basically bad but they'll be ok if they're left alone.
A lot of Republicans are more like Democrats used to be, and a lot of Democrats are more like Republicans used to be. If you're still not sure what you are, you're probably a Democrat.
i like that , nice post.
Ursula - I do lots of things for both parties. Is that why I'm an Independent????
:=)
seeking -- i am stunned to see that you describe yourself as an independent. everything that i have read of yours would put you on the far left. in fact, i cannot remember your ever saying anything nice about a conservative or bad about a liberal.
billybob Ike is now the far left.
exit -- i disagree. but jfk would probably be a republican today.
Exito - exactly. And, Ronald Reagan would never fit in the GOP of today - he would not be extreme enough for their liking.
I like John Huntsman - he is a man of character and conviction. Oh wait - he wasn't extreme enough for the GOP right???
You're insane if you think JFK would be a Republican. He never hated people because they didn't look just like him. And, he believed in helping those less fortunate. JFK a Republican - not a chance in hell!
Obama/Biden 2012
you democrat hate mantra just does not work. give it a rest.
you are entitled to your delusions but to call half of all Americans hateful is simply beyond belief
Only one exception:
"...Republicans take theirs black -- with cup and saucer."
I don't believe they take ANYTHING black, since about November 2008,...just sayin'.
More liberal lies . Lyan Ryan has never called for cuts to pell grants. limit growth yes. Under Obama Dems have pushed Pell grants to unsustainable rates. Ryan wants to limit its growth and focus it on low-income students by tightening elgibility requirments.
michigan - wrong again! Check it out You just can't post lie after lie and have people buy it!
Obama/Biden 2012
i did susan . sorry
@michigan,
I'm confused.
You begin your post with "More liberal lies."...
...then you defend "Lyan Ryan".
Huh? What?
Independent Bob , i can have it both ways haha. shoot i still think Hillary would have made a better president than Obama.
@michigan,
Ok. Fair enough. Well met!
Hope you find work soon.
Obama/Biden 2012
Hillary/? 2016
@michigan,
Hillary/Rice 2016!?
Talk about having it both ways... ...and the bonus is that they would HAVE to work together as the first female U.S. Prez AND VP.
They would have to set an example for the rest of the world instead of reducing themselves to the partisan bickering that we have now.
hah nice.
You do realize that these are LOANS that have to be paid back don't you? They may be at a very small interest rate but must be paid back or they come after you. I have a buddy whose wages were tapped and his tax refund grabbed by the govt because he didn't pay his student loans.
Wages can be garnished for any debt by anyone. All it requires is a court order. Taxes refunds can be withheld by the feds to pay debts owed to or backed by the federal government. Also, as part of the student loan agreement, you have to agree up front that any loan amount will be not subject to bankruptcy proceedings.
I strongly suggest that if anyone is (or if you know of anyone) having issues repaying a student loan, they get in contact with the FAFSA folks before the court order takes place authorizing the garnishment. They will work with you and it won't hurt your credit (or not nearly as much) as a garnishment will.
michigan unemployed
More liberal lies . Lyan Ryan has never called for cuts to pell grants. limit growth yes. Under Obama Dems have pushed Pell grants to unsustainable rates. Ryan wants to limit its growth and focus it on low-income students by tightening eligibility requirements.
Look, you must understand that the budget cuts that will offset the 5 trillion dollar tax cut has to come from some where, and since the Reagan years this mean cuts in,
EDUCATION
all sectors of education they can get there hands on to cut,
early head start, grammar school, high school, and college.
as you just said, More liberal lies. we have seen the gut of American education before under GOP leader ship!!! that has us near bottom in education world wide.
the evidence speaks for it self. Reagan, bush, bush2 less money for education More for war.
we are sick of war and want education.
ALSO I DID SPELL CHECK FOR YOU.see in bold
i guess you were a product of the educational system during GOP leader ship. many miss spelled words didn't the GOP tell you about spell check.
President's "Shoot first and aim later!" comment applies to so many aspects of Romney. Foreign policy, 'nough said. Economic policy, "get rid of all regulations, deal with crooks later" 'cause that worked out so well for us in 2008. Health policy, "Kill Obamacare, replace it later!" and let all kinds of people seriously ill die while we decide what to do next. "Just trust us. Cause we don't let fact checkers get in our way." The only reason Obama isn't leading by double digits already is citizens united. What is incredible to me is that the Supreme Court Justices are stupid enough to be purchased by corporate America without realizing that corporate America will get rid of the entire judicial branch once they own the executive and legislative branch of government. Thomas is the best example of a purchased justice. This will all start once a vulture like Romney is elected President.
ana -- you are certainly out there. most of what you say just simply will no and cannot happen but if you feel better for saying it then be sure to have a nice day.
Education is the enemy of totalitarian governments. In feudal times it was only the elite who were educated. The peasants were kept in the dark and uneducated so as to better control them. Educated people tend to question the actions of absolute rulers whether they be called Czar, Emperor, King, Queen, Dictator, President for Life, Premier or Der Führer. So that fits right in with the right wing agenda to cut funding for education at all levels.
Peasants also rise up and, well King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette can testify what happens when they do.
Hey would you look at this. The liberal Godless racist media is at it again. I don't know what they will do when Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan win by a good percentage in November. Will they hang their head in shame? Will they leave America? (Let's hope! I will help with the plane ticket.) God help us! God bless American again and help us elect a responsible God fearing man who is deserving of our highest office.
Obamas spiking of the UBL football enrages the terrorist. Is Obamas gloating the reason for Amb Stevens being killed?
Maybe if you GOP Lovers had a brain you would recognize that the policies that Romney and Ryan are pushing would seriously degrade our National Security. Here read this and LEARN SOMETHING:
ECONOMIC HORSE SENSE
ARE YOU BEING BRAIN WASHED, DUPED AND MIS-LED?
By: sabibb5524@gmail.com
Also Read details at: https://sites.google.com/site/economictruthyouneedtoknow/home
Bishop Romney:
Vulture Capitalist………Check
Tax Cheat…………........ Check
Draft Dodger………….. Check
Serial Flip-Flopper……. Check
Dog Abuser…………… Check
Jobs Killer……………. Check
13 Cayman Accounts..... Check
5 Swiss Bank Accounts.. Check
GOP, you have your candidate!
Ten reasons why Mitt RoMney is already history:
“Corporations are PEOPLE, my friend!”
“375,000 isn’t a lot of money (to make in one year).”
"The banks are scared to death. They're feeling the same thing that you're feeling."
"I’m not concerned with the very poor... that’s not my focus."
“I’ll bet you $10,000, right here, right now….”
"Don't take money from the government, just ask your parents."
“I’m SEVERELY Conservative!”
“Some of my friends own NASCAR teams.”
“No, no, no… I like (healthcare) mandates. Mandates work!”
“I can relate to black people very well indeed. My ancestors once owned slaves.”
Democrats champion the causes of the poor, the elderly, the sick, the disabled.
Christ championed the causes of the poor, the elderly, the sick, the disabled.
Who does the GOP champion? The wealthy bankers and Wall Streeters.
Didn't Christ throw the money-changers out of the temple
So which Mitt Romney are you gonna vote for? I mean he has so many different positions on every major issues its like he has multiple personalities and he battles them all every time he speaks.
Please don't worry all you GOP lovers, it will be over soon. Soon you will get to hear the Mitt Romney at the debates. Just think you will get to hear him confuse the hell out of you and the rest of the world as he CLARIFIES his many many positions on every issue with meaningless words of knowledge that make no sense at all; and watch the President and Joe Biden stand FIRM on what they believes in; while President Obama and Joe Biden destroy those clowns during the debates.
Hey all you GOP lovin morons listen up: Do ya love Deregulation so Corporations can walk all over you and the rest of us? Do ya love wages plummeting further and losing more income and giving complete control of your health care to Corporations and Insurance Companies? Do ya love to see further Monopolization and watch Competition in the Free Market Place continue to erode while millions of more american jobs go overseas? Hey then you need to vote for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. That is exactly what they are going to do for you and the rest of us.
You left wingers on the poverty dole are truly ignorant when it comes to the economy. Obama's plan in a nut shell: destroy all small business, tax only those that contribute to the system, institute a health care plan only the poor want and stay strong with the Muslim Brotherhood. If this community organizer with his illustrious foreign policy experience as a practicing Muslim in the African countries, Asia and anywhere else he lived is credible, then you too are drinking the kool-aid. If this nut gets back in the Business community will fold like a deck of cards. Small Business and Entrepreneur's keep this country moving. Wake up. Arrogance removes all doubt that one may have wisdom.
ARE DEMOCRATS, THE FBI and THE COUNTRY READY FOR THIS?
HERE IS ANOTHER WAMO COMING OUR WAY—A RIGGED ELECTION AND CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS. ARE YOU READY? BUSH GOT AWAY WITH IT IN 2000....THE ROMNEY'S WOUNDN'T . . . NOT THIS TIME.
ARE DEMOCRATS AND THE FBI READY FOR THIS?
Romney and some of his big donor backers along with some Republican Governors are
planning to rig this election. Their plan includes some of the fraud
tactics tried successfully in Wisconsin, including tampering with
computer records and votes in rural communities and some big cities. DEMOCRATS and the FBI must not take this threat lightly. These people are ruthless dark side operators—they are determined and desperate. THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY, PERIOD—and, though they may shout God to us, they don’t really believe in him or what they say nor do they square their conduct before him as “God fearing” people! Just take a look at their WICKED POLICIES. It’s all a shell game. In November, they are at the very least hoping for a disputed election and a constitutional crisis in which the Supreme Political Court under Republican control would declare Romney winner. BE WARNED AMERICA, AND DEMOCRATS. THESE PEOPLE MEAN BUSINESS. Do you have the back bone to fight them, to fight back, and to win? What are you prepared to do against their dark plot? Romney, in spite of very bad polls believes he will win. Part of Romney’s winning plan has been outsourced to as far away place as India. That means, American electronic voting machines could be hacked into and manipulated from India where Romney has done much of his outsourcing practice. Believe it or not at your own risk! Know for sure that these desperate guys are ruthless, dark side operators. Now is the time to plan to stop them for good!!!
Climb out of your bomb shelter
Ironic that lyin' ry;an says the college grads have to "move back in with their parents" as if he thinks that is a bad thing. He still lives with his parents and has a house right next door to his parent's house where he grew up. He trotted his mother on stage with him not as a prop as everyone assumed but as a crutch because he is out of his league.
The S.S.[stupid ship] TITANIC -2012 version [aka Rmoney/Ryan] due to set sail on November 7th, to never be heard from again-we PRAY.......