A Comparison of Obama and McCain On Public Service



McCain's goals are laudable, but he still seems somewhat vague (he won't say how much his "initiative" would cost, for example). Obama is more specific, digging down into details about doubling the Peace Corps, requiring fifty hours of required community service for middle and high schoolers, offering $4000 toward college for 100 hours of service (as not.Brit notes in the comments)--and putting a $3.5 billion price tag on the project.

A Comparison of Obama and McCain On Public Service

You Want Service Initiatives? We've Got Service Initiatives.

Andrew Romano

Caption: GOP presidential candidate John McCain (left) greets his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, at a forum on national service at Columbia University on Sept. 11. Photo: Stephan Savoia/AP

Sometimes I think all the outrage directed at the MSM is misguided. But sometimes it's warranted.

Case in point: last night. On the seventh anniversary of Sept. 11, both Barack Obama and John McCain went on stage at Columbia University here in New York to discuss the theme of national service. It wasn't the sexiest subject, the candidates didn't even appear together and there was little partisan rancor to feed the press's endless appetite for drama. But as the Washington Post's Michael D. Shear and Jonathan Weisman noted this morning in the lede of their report on the event, both candidates did "pledg[e] to inspire a new commitment to public service." More specifically, they "Promis[ed] National-Security Initiatives"--that is, new policy proposals meant to encourage "service through teaching, the military, the Peace Corps and faith-based volunteering."

Unfortunately, Shear and Weisman didn't bother to tell their readers anything about said policies. Instead, we got McCain "acknowledg[ing] the 'rough"'nature of the campaign and praising Obama's service as a community organizer--something his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, had mocked during her speech to the Republican national convention." We got Obama "not disparag[ing]"--surprise!--"Palin's service as mayor of Wasilla, praising small-town mayors and noting the presence of many at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last month. We got a bit of "lighthearted" banter about whether either candidate would "create a Cabinet-level position on public service -- and then appoint the other to it." But as far as the specifics of their individual service plans--beyond the basic distinction that McCain believes that "the government should not compel service" while Obama believes that "that government and the private sector could work together to augment each other's efforts"--we got nothing.

I sympathize with my MSM colleagues. A policy is a static thing. It doesn't have the twists and turns of a good story. You can't cover a policy proposal day after day. Once announced, it's over. And frankly, most campaign reporters are students of campaigns, not economics or agriculture or health care or international diplomacy. But today, we here at Stumper headquarters thought it'd be worthwhile--as a nod to the hallowed day they were unveiled and the importance of the subject at hand--to provide what the rest of the press hasn't provided: an unfiltered look at Obama and McCain's competing service initiatives. Maybe you'll be bored. Maybe you'll be informed. Maybe you'll be both.

My meta-analysis: McCain's goals are laudable, but he still seems somewhat vague (he won't say how much his "initiative" would cost, for example). Obama is more specific, digging down into details about doubling the Peace Corps, requiring fifty hours of required community service for middle and high schoolers, offering $4000 toward college for 100 hours of service (as not.Brit notes in the comments)--and putting a $3.5 billion price tag on the project.

Anyway, here goes:

John McCain's Service to America Initiative:

Bolster volunteerism with an energetic and comprehensive national service initiative designed to increase opportunities for people willing to serve their communities and their country.

Ensure coordination of all service efforts across the federal government and make certain that all these service programs are effective and on equal footing.

Convene "Volunteerism Summits" so people can share with others the best ideas and most effective programs currently underway in their own communities.

Increase focus of our volunteers on urgent situations such as the high school dropout crisis and job retraining.

Boost opportunities for service overseas to increase understanding and communication among diverse cultures.

Create opportunities for families to spend service opportunities together at home and abroad.

Increase service opportunities for the disabled community.

Coordinate a network of private sector "venture capital" funds matched with government grants to support job retraining or vocational training efforts in high schools and targeted communities where job loss persists.

Allow faith-based organizations to improve their volunteerism numbers by allowing them to hire consistent with the views of the respective organization without risking federal funding.

With Boomers entering the retirement ranks, provide more opportunities to senior Americans by expanding SeniorCorps with a focus on mentoring at risk students, assisting community-based homeland security programs, and overseas teaching of American history to bridge cultural divides.

Develop opportunities for returning veterans to reintegrate immediately through a civilian service opportunity and continue to serve their country upon returning home.

Engage more college students in community service through the Federal Work-Study program; current law only requires seven percent of recipients to perform community service.

Engage Americans in disaster preparedness and response by providing education and training resources for effective community-based efforts.

Use AmeriCorps and SeniorCorps volunteers as tutors and mentors to address the high school dropout crisis in America.

Create a realistic teaching certification requirement for outstanding individuals with years of service and work so they have the opportunity to tutor or teach without jumping through unreasonable bureaucratic hoops.

Strengthen the teaching of American history and civics education through volunteers in our communities and schools who are able to tutor and teach with a teaching certificate equivalency.

Encourage national service to address the great challenges of our time, including combating climate change, extending health care, improving our schools and strengthening America overseas by showing the world the best of our nation.

Expand AmeriCorps to 250,000 slots and double the size of the Peace Corps.

Integrate service-learning into our schools and universities to enable students to graduate college with as many as 17 weeks of service experience under their belts.

Provide new service opportunities for working Americans and retirees.

Expand service initiatives that engage disadvantaged young people and advance their education.

Expand the capacity of nonprofits to innovate and expand successful programs across the country.

Enable more Americans to serve in the armed forces.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: September, 2008; Election 2008; National Service; Speaking Out

When this story was posted in September 2008, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Peace Corps Suspends Program in Bolivia Turmoil began in Bolivia three weeks ago sparked by President Evo Morales' pledge to redistribute wealth from the east to the country's poorer highlands. Peace Corps has withdrawn all volunteers from the country because of "growing instability." Morales has thrown out US Ambassador Philip Goldberg accusing the American government of inciting the violence. This is not the first controversy surrounding Goldberg's tenure as US ambassador to Bolivia.

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September 1, 2008: This Month's Top Stories Eric Green writes: 2008 Election helps US Image Worldwide 28 Aug Tschetter meets with President Arroyo in Philippines 29 Aug Hill's new approach is an unsung success story 29 Aug Jackie Theriot served as PCV in Togo 25 Aug Therese Abalo became beekeeper to join Peace Corps 24 Aug Obituary for Pauline Birky-Kreutzer 23 Aug Peace Corps to Pare Ranks of Volunteers 22 Aug George Packer writes play about Iraqi occupation 22 Aug Martin Puryear retrospective at the National Gallery of Art 22 Aug Elaine Chao heads final 2008 Olympic delegation 21 Aug J R Bullington writes: Reinvigorate the Peace Corps 19 Aug Faith Van Gilder returns to Botswana 18 Aug Bill Owens still turning suburbs into art 18 Aug Amy Smith hosts International Development Design Summit 17 Aug McCain calls for greater volunteerism 17 Aug Sarah Chayes writes: Afghans don't support insurgency 16 Aug Maurice Albertson remembers origins of Peace Corps 15 Aug John Perkins "hit man" is now documentary movie 15 Aug Brian Connors helps local farmers in Malawi 13 Aug Dr. Peter Davenport no stranger to rural health issues 13 Aug Jeremiah Johnson tells story of HIV termination 8 Aug New: More Stories from July and August 2008

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PCVs Evacuated from Georgia The Peace Corps has announced that all Volunteers and trainees serving in the Republic of Georgia are safe and they have been temporarily relocated to neighboring Armenia. Read the analysis by one RPCV on how Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili believed that he could launch a lightning assault on South Ossetia and reclaim the republic without substantial grief from Moscow and that Saakashvili's statements once the war began demonstrated that he expected real Western help in confronting Russia.

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August 6, 2008: This Month's Top Stories PC in Budget Crunch may cut PCVs by 5% 5 Aug Garamendi first to announce run for governor in 2010 2 Aug Bob and Pat Parish receive president’s award 31 Jul Sam Brownback removes block on Kathleen Stephens 31 Jul Peace Corps Removes Ban on HIV-Positive Volunteers 31 Jul RPCVs organize online for Obama 31 Jul Peace group awards perfect rating to Sam Farr 29 Jul How Hill used back channels to negotiate Korean agreement 27 Jul Voter surge may hurt Shays 26 Jul Matthew A. Hamilton writes: A Shadow on Ararat 25 Jul Gates says Tools of inspiration are indispensable 15 Jul An interview with Composer Gabriela Lena Frank 13 Jul Ginny Farmer to swim in Olympics for American Samoa 11 Jul Dodd is possible vice presidential candidate 11 Jul Carl Pope supports the Pickens Plan 8 Jul George Packer writes: Obama’s Iraq Problem 7 Jul An Interview with PCOL 4 Jul Ifugao hopes for tourism boost after Campbell Trial 3 Jul Peace Corps To Quit Kiribati 3 Jul Tony Hall asks: Where is moral outrage over food crisis? 3 Jul Wofford raises awareness about global poverty 2 Jul New: More Stories from June and July 2008

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