Obama was his usual, coolheaded self in front of Congress tonight, but he still managed to say to Republicans: You know you’re being assholes, and I know you're being assholes, and I'm about to get really angry. It felt like a reckoning:
If you come to me with a serious set of proposals, I will be there to listen. My door is always open.
But know this: I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than improve it. I will not stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are. If you misrepresent what's in the plan, we will call you out.
The imperative gives me chills.
Also powerful was his quoting of Ted Kennedy:
"What we face," he wrote, "is above all a moral issue; at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country."
Republicans ears may have perked up at the “M” word, but they undoubtedly resumed plugging their ears and going "na na na" at “social justice.”
Students, working families and just about everyone besides corporate lenders were worried yesterday that Congress’ efforts to make college more affordable would be thwarted by a few senators who put the greed of banks over the needs of students. Fear no more!
The Nelson-Burr Amendment, which would have taken about $3 billion in aid to students and given it to banks in the form of excessive subsidies, failed by a vote of 36-61. See how your senator voted here.
The Senate passed two other amendments on the higher education bill which should give students even more reason to cheer. Sen. Lisa Murkowki’s (you go Alaskan Republicans) amendment to redirect $176 million to the college access partnership grant program passed 73-24. And Ted Kennedy’s amendment to extend need-based Promise grants passed 52-45.
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