Monday, December 15, 2008

Way better than David Gregory w/Pat Quinn and Lisa Madigan: Berkowitz backpacks w/Mary Mitchell, who takes the voucher backpack and offers it to Obama

Mary Mitchell: If it takes [school] vouchers to jump start the education system, then I’m all for it and I think that’s something that Barack Obama ought to look at.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, if [Obama] were here, you would tell him that, right?
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Mary Mitchell: …Now, [Cook County Board President] Todd Stroger happens to be symbolic of everything that is wrong with Cook County government.
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Tonight's Chicago edition of "Public Affairs," features Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell discussing the meaning of Barack Obama's election as President, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger vs. Cmsr. Forrest Claypool, minimum wages, school vouchers and much, much more. Go here for a more detailed description of topics discussed on tonight's show, as well as background information about Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell (appearing Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays).

The show airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and on cable in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV-10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery. The show also will air in Rockford and surrounding areas this Thursday night at 8:00 pm on Cable Ch. 17.
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You can watch the show with Mary Mitchell here .

Did Barack Obama become President because he appeared on “Public Affairs,” five times during 2001-2004? For more about President-Elect Obama and his TV appearances on “Public Affairs,” go here to watch the fastest five minute video on the web.
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Jeff Berkowitz: …I assure you good quality teachers would flow to those areas, flow to those schools where [teachers] were paid the most not by how long they had been in that school but by who were the best teachers. So, with competition and free markets—

Mary Mitchell, Chicago Sun-Times columnist: I am on the same page, I am on the same page with you—

Jeff Berkowitz: But, you have to figure out a way to get competition and innovation and purchasing power to the minority parents. You have to empower the parents

Mary Mitchell: If it takes—

Jeff Berkowitz: Not the teachers, the parents—

Mary Mitchell: If it takes [school] vouchers to jump start the education system, then I’m all for it and I think that’s something that Barack Obama ought to look at.

Jeff Berkowitz: And, if he were here, you would tell him that, right?

Mary Mitchell: Of course, I would.
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Mary Mitchell: …Now, [Cook County Board President] Todd Stroger happens to be symbolic of everything that is wrong with Cook County government. One, because of the process of how he got his job in the first place; Two, he was seen as unqualified and just put on the ticket because he was able—you know, the Democratic supporters were able to do that and three, he didn’t really want the job in the first place. There was no energy coming form Todd, so he has become the face of a dysfunctional government. Cook County hasn’t functioned in a very long time.

Jeff Berkowitz: So…if the choice in [February], 2010, if the choice is between Todd Stroger [who is African-American] and Forrest Claypool [who is white] in the Democratic Primary for Cook County Board President, are you telling me minorities and, in particular, African-Americans, should be supporting Forrest Claypool? [Ed. Note: Barack Obama declined to endorse anyone when his good friend, Forrest Claypool, known as a reformer, ran against Todd Stroger’s father, John Stroger—known as a non-reformer, for Cook County Board President in the March, 2006 Democratic Primary]

Mary Mitchell: I think they might; people are upset. They are upset when they can’t go to the Cook County Hospital, John Stroger Hospital now, and get their medications or have to wait for days to get a prescription filled.
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The show with Mary Mitchell was taped on December 7, 2008.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. *************************************************************
"Public Affairs," is a weekly political interview show airing in Chicago on CANTV, in the Chicago metro area, Aurora and Rockford on Comcast and also often on the Illinois Channel. You can watch the shows, including archived shows going back to 2005, here.
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include shows with Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell, State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont), Cook County Commissioner and possible 5th CD Dem. Primary candidate Mike Quigley (D-Lakeview), State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and Cook County Cmsr. and Obama Media Team Member Forrest Claypool and much more.
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