Why the high rate of black high school dropouts?

Biden: They already start behind. The gap widens because we don’t start school earlier, help single moms with the help they need. Refers to the findings of a recent study that found mothers who didn’t speak enough to their children had smaller vocabularies and never catch up in school. (Bloggers are muttering.)

Bill Richardson: Free meals in school.

Edwards: When young black men believe they’ll either die or go to prison and go to crappy schools, it’s a problem. Raise minimum wage, help workers unionize, etc.

Obama: Teachers need to go to the schools that need them the most. More money to afterschool programs. Can’t leave the money behind like they did with No Child Left Behind. Too many of us think it’s acceptable for these children not to achieve. (”Why, that would be the ‘bigotry of low expectations,’ wouldn’t it?” I said to the law professor.)

Kucinich: 1 to 2 trillion on this war is money taken away from the education of our children. Cut 15% from the Pentagon.

Gravel: We can take more than that from the Pentagon budget.

Dodd: Me, too. Walked the walk, I’m committed to these issues. America’s children must have the equal opportunity to guarantee success.

Hillary: I really do believe it takes a village to raise a child. (Wingnut bloggers snicker.) Fought for children all her life. Not a more important issue. But can’t separate that from the economic issues.