America is now run by the Ivy League.

<p>Any one know what Chelsea Clinton's stats were when she was accepted to Stanford?</p>

<p>Although helping to pay for other children helps those who are chosen, it does not help to address the major issues in the District's public school system. If they see how deficient the public school system is and how those deficiencies directly affect the children that is when you will see major changes take place.</p>

<p>Obama's has explicitly stated that he thinks his daughters should be considered "pretty privileged".</p>

<p>hamptomjp, the Obama's worked hard for their placement in society and were given no shortcuts to receive the educations they did(that seems to be what you are implying). Alot is already expected from Obama since he is after all the president, so that means serving every citizen not just a select few that he happens to come in contact with. Instead public schools should be reformed and held to higher standards so less fortunate people can realize their dreams.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Any one know what Chelsea Clinton's stats were when she was accepted to Stanford?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I heard they actually bumped her SATs down from a 400 to a 200 for spelling her name wrong.</p>

<p>
[quote]
If they truly believed in equal opportunity for all, they would have placed their children into the Washington, D.C. public school system.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Seriously? You want them to make a statement by subjecting their own children to the crappy DC public school system when they could actually get an education at a private school? Despite the conservative notion that the president should be "one of us," every single president has been privileged, including those, like Obama, who espouse equal opportunity. As John Stewart once said, </p>

<p>"Isn't ELITE good? If you're not smarter than me then what the freak are you doing running the country?"</p>

<p>Le Roi Marquis, My apologies for giving you the impression that the Obama's have not worked hard. Of course they have worked hard. My point is that the ivy League Schools have given preference to students that do not have the same opportunity that the wealthier high school students have enjoyed. Obama and Michelle benefited from the fact that their backgrounds were filled with struggle. Their children, on the other hand, have the world waiting to fill their every desire. I think the Obama's should allow another struggling family that feels that they have no hope or opportunity the same opportunity to benefit from an Ivy League education.</p>

<p>Who cares about struggling families when admitting the Obama girls will boost whatever school's African-American percentage?</p>

<p>Let's be realistic here.</p>

<p>Obama has said that his kids should not be accepted to a college because they are black (URM) -he knows they have had many advantages.
Of course, they need to go to the school that meets their needs (quality, security)-but they can be taught to respect others-I have seen the girls helping out at Soup kitchens and community service projects. A public school advocate, I would send my kids to a private school if I were in their situation. And this is college confidential-isn't most of the focus on getting into "elite, private colleges?"</p>

<p>Why would they consider security?</p>

<p>They are driven around in cars surrounded by people with rifles.</p>

<p>School security is nothing for them</p>

<p>William & Mary has two in the cabinet. Sec of Defense Bob Gates and Chair of Economic Advisers, Christine Rohmer. What about the other Sr Advisers? (Undergrad only)</p>

<p>clinton's daughter went to stanford</p>

<p>
[quote]
I believe that they will utilize their legacy/elitism to get their children into a top school. If they truly believed in equal opportunity for all, they would have placed their children into the Washington, D.C. public school system. By doing so, they may have been able to make some dramatically needed changes within that system for the betterment of all children in the area. Talk is cheap. This is coming from a public school educator in the NY area.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That's absurd.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Their children's education should not be a political football just to make a social statement.</p></li>
<li><p>The school they are in is well versed in handling security and special needs of high-ranking diplomatic families. It would be an extraordinary burden on any public school to have to ensure the safety of such high profile students. </p></li>
<li><p>Obama's influence is far better suited to broad policy changes, not token demonstrations through a couple kids. That would be like a president raised in Connecticut and at Harvard and Yale putting a cowboy hat on and calling himself a... oh wait... :)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>The choice they made was wise for both the sake of public schools and their children.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Seriously? You want them to make a statement by subjecting their own children to the crappy DC public school system when they could actually get an education at a private school? Despite the conservative notion that the president should be "one of us," every single president has been privileged, including those, like Obama, who espouse equal opportunity. As John Stewart once said,</p>

<p>"Isn't ELITE good? If you're not smarter than me then what the freak are you doing running the country?"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Are you mentioning just DC's public school system as bad, or public schools in general? You're second statement saying that they could "actually get an education" from a private school sends the message that you think private school > public school.</p>

<p>Also, elitism != intelligence. If someone's intelligent, to me, they're well-rounded — academically gifted, amazing work ethic, personable, "genuine" (idk how else to describe it), and modest. If someone's given opportunities, they should use them to their full benefit, but if they have any intentions of running for office, they should experience some low level job at least once in their life. I want someone who's qualified, innovative, and who understands where most of us are coming from. I don't want a sympathetic hippie — i want someone who knows the economy works (who doesn't spout of endless political rhetoric), and thus most closely understands what will help the country.</p>

<p>what's new? the ivy league and the elite have always run this country. that explains why things are as bad as they are.</p>

<p>Hillary is awesome–so intelligent and composed. America isn’t ready for a confident leader of the world who happens to also be female. Obama is doing a great job. Although people want change in theory they get scared when things move too quickly. Where his children go to college is nobody’s business. Obviously they will attend a good university since both of their parents are intelligent and well-educated. I love the values Michelle Obama is instilling in her children–reading, doing chores, eating healthy but with a 90%/10% rule so things aren’t too rigid. It reminds me of the way I grew up; I try to instill these same values in my own children (although the 90%/10% rule is too difficult since we love out potato chips, fries, etc.). People are too curious about other people’s lives; have you ever thought about the fact that you are missing out on your own life while you are concentrating on everyone else’s? I admit it–I’m guilty too so pardon the judgement.</p>

<p>Paula Abdul is running for Governor of Alaska. I’m pretty sure she went to Princeton.</p>

<p>Didn’t Obama start in Occidental College? I think too many people forget that he went there for undergrad.</p>

<p>He did start at Occidental which, according to Obama himself, had some sort of transfer agreement with Columbia. It was the early 1980s and still the dark ages at CU. Women were still barred from attending Columbia, save through Barnard, and all transfers, like our President, were barred from living on campus.</p>

<p>He doesn’t have a lot to say about Columbia in his writings - he mentions studying a lot, being very involved in seminar courses, and racist grafitti on the walls in the restrooms. It’s not clear whether or not he ever found his place on campus. He has, however, brought a handful of Columbians into the administration.</p>

<p>During Columbia’s 2009 commencement season almost every single class day speaker was from the Obama administration - Hillary Clinton at Barnard, Eric Holder at Columbia College, Phillipe Reines (Office of Secretary of State) at Columbia GS, and a, here’s the exception, a Boeing executive at the engineering school.</p>

<p>It makes you wonder; in respect to seats of power, is Columbia the new Yale?</p>