The National Education Association will not endorse President Bush for re-election, saying he does not deserve to be called the "education president."
"George Bush may be called many names - some of them flattering and true - but he cannot truthfully be called the `education president,' " said Keith Geiger, NEA president and chairman of the organization's political action committee."He does not warrant the NEA seal of approval" said Geiger at a Thursday news conference at the teachers' union's headquarters.
The giant teacher organization has an endorsement process that starts with deciding whether to endorse the incumbent president for re-election. If it does not, as in this case, the NEA starts interviewing other potential candidates in a process that could lead to endorsement next year.
While the group has supported political candidates in both parties, the large majority of those endorsed have been Democrats. Jimmy Carter was the only incumbent president ever endorsed by NEA, a spokesperson said.
Geiger said Bush has not met the standards he set for himself when he said he wanted to be known as the "education president."
"NEA has enthusiastically embraced the six national goals for education adopted by the nation's governors and endorsed by President Bush," Geiger said.
"President Bush, however, has consistently advocated cutting and redistributing resources for federal education, nutrition, health care and other programs that advance the national education goals."
One program the NEA has particularly attacked is the administration's proposal to provide vouchers to parents so they can send students to schools of their choice.