Historic Choices and New Approaches.Indd

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Volume 8, Issue 2 Historic Choices &NewApproaches

BY mATT sAYles — AssoCIATeD PResss Sen. Barack Obama BY WIN mCNAmee — GeTTY ImAGes Sen. John McCain

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program A Word About Historic Choices and New Approaches Lessons: The 2008 presidential election Change is the mantra, shibboleth and slogan of the 2008 is a time of historic decisions and new presidential election. At once invoking the profound and approaches. History will be made when diminishing to a commonplace catchword. It is change in either an African American is president attitudes carried to the voting booth and party conventions or a female is vice president of the U.S. It is also a turning point in new uses that resulted in a historic campaign: a black man chosen as the of technology by candidates to attract Democratic nominee for president and a female selected as the donors, to communicate their message Republican nominee for vice president. Both parties promise and to organize campaign workers and by change in their speeches, ads and Internet communication. media and citizens to examine financial contributions and to fact check the The issues that matter have changed positions of importance. candidates. The economy replaced involvement in wars on two fronts as the top issue when the economic crisis demanded congressional Level: Low to high Subjects: Social Studies, Government, attention in September and early October. How might Journalism foreclosures, job loss, higher prices on necessities and a “Wall Related Activity: Computer Science, Street bailout” change who voters from “Main Street” choose Women’s Studies, Art, Mathematics on November 4?

The activities and Washington Post articles reprinted in this guide address the significance of Sen. Barack Obama’s acceptance speech on the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech. DeNeen Brown takes a look at how women perceive Gov. Sarah Palin. New approaches to campaigning online are examined through cookies, social networking and privacy concerns. Fact checking of political advertising and speeches is countered with a new study of voters’ receptivity to the facts.

The online guides provided by The Washington Post NIE NIE Online Guide Editor program suggest activities to use with Post articles and editorial — Carol Lange Art Editor — Carol Porter cartoons and the reproducibles that we have created for you. Many of the suggested activities work together to create Contributing to this guide: Steven interdisciplinary segments of a larger project. We have included King, Shepherd Elementary School, a list of past guides that focused on the election process, and we Washington, D.C., provided the “Internet have highlighted activities that are still useful in the classroom. Access: Online Campaigning” activity. Social Studies Dept. Chair Christopher Smith, Centreville (Va.) High School, A reminder to Post INSIDE program teachers: If you plan to use shared his “2008 Presidential Election articles in this guide in the e-replica format more than three Campaign Finances” activity. months after their publication date, remember to bookmark them to use this school year. Send comments about this guide to: Margaret Kaplow, Educational Services Manager, [email protected]

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program

Historic Choices & New Approaches KidsPost Election

Whether John McCain or Barack Obama wins the 2008 presidential Each Tuesday Sept. 16 to Nov. 4, KidsPost election, history has already been made — the Republican Party has will provide kid-friendly coverage of the issues a female nominated for vice president and the Democratic Party has the addressed in this year’s presidential campaign. first African American leading a major-party ticket. Use the following activities with the articles in this guide and in your daily Washington www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/kidspost/ Post to discuss the candidates, the contemporary campaign, issues and election08/ election process. KidsPost Election 2008 Archive of PDFs covering the following topics: Follow the Candidates • What is an “economy”? Give Environment Through the coverage of The examples of goods and services. Economy Washington Post, readers go on the • Why is the economy an important War campaign trail with the candidates. campaign issue? Education Read the articles and study the • What are some reasons for the Healthcare photographs. economic problems in the U.S.? Energy • In what states and towns are the • What are taxes? Why do we pay candidates visiting in the weeks them? Bios of the candidates and a Voters Guide are before Election Day? Why there? • How are U.S. taxes structured? also included. Each page is available at www. • To whom are they speaking? (See the chart.) washingtonpost.com/kidspost in the Election Young, old, wealthy, middle class? • Which candidate’s family-tax 2008 box. On Nov. 4, students may participate Small or large groups? proposal do you prefer? Explain. in an online vote at kidspost.com. • Are they formal or informal in On November 4, students may dress? vote online. The KidsPost page www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/kidspost/ • Are they alone, with their running that day will be a large map of pdf/candidates012908.pdf mate, with family members? the country with the number Getting to Know the Candidates • Are the running mates targeting of electoral votes in each state. The personal side of the major 2008 different states? KidsPost will explain the electoral candidates running to be their party’s • What topics are they addressing? college and how 270 is the magic presidential nominee Although some voters are taking number and why it’s that way. the option to vote early, many They’ll also run a small map that www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/kidspost/ voters say they are undecided. In will be colored in blue and red to pdf/election010208.pdf what ways do students think the show how states are leaning. The Race Is On candidates’ personal appearances After the voting has concluded An explanation of the caucus, primary process are important to helping voters and the results are announced, and party conventions. Includes Q and A about make that important final decision? students are encouraged to color party colors and mascots. In what ways does Post coverage in the states. Using the electoral inform voters about target states, vote count of each state, students plans for voter turnout, and public could keep a running tally of the reaction to candidates’ appearances electoral votes. (Yes, KidsPost is and statements? encouraging kids to stay up past their bed time by using the “But, Understand the Issues, Kids mom and dad, this is HISTORY” Review the “KidsPost Election” line.) sidebar in this guide. Key issues of this election are presented for Know Your World Leaders younger students. The September A matching activity (“Who Do 23 focus on the economy is included You Know?) is provided to put in this guide. Read the article and the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin discuss the charts. Questions for discussion might include: continued on page

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program continued from page could be used for accuracy of Get the Facts reporting what was said. on the Republican Party national Post reporters have an obligation http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact- ticket into perspective. How many to report what each candidate said. checker/ previous and current American and These are NEWS articles. Point The Fact Checker world female leaders do students out to students the articles that Recent and archived check of statements in know? If time allows, students are labeled ANALYSIS. These are articles, debates and campaign advertising. could be asked to explore further to written by a Post reporter with “The Art of Meaningless Spin” stimulates find more current female leaders in experience covering the topic area, discussion of rhetoric. the world. in this case politics, to provide a perspective on the subject. In www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/ Check the Facts addition, a team of reporters politics/interactives/campaign08/issues/ Use The Washington Post’s and researchers provide a FACT Issue Coverage Tracker “The Fact Checker” column by CHECK of statements and political Includes positions of presidential Michael Dobbs to verify the ads. candidates from all political parties on nine accuracy of political advertisements See The Post’s Fact Checker issues. Information from a wide variety and statements. Dobbs uses several examples that were published in of sources. sources (see sidebar “Get the The Post and posted online after Facts”) in a collaborative effort the debates of the vice presidential http://factcheck.org/ to “focus on issues that are most candidates. Students could write FactCheck.org important to voters.” Pinocchios their own fact checker report A “consumer advocate” project of the are awarded to shading of the (based on research) that could be Annenberg Public Policy Center. Monitor facts, significant omissions or posted in the classroom or on a TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and exaggerations, errors and whoppers. Web site created for your class. news releases. Classroom Tools for “Seeing A Geppetto Checkmark is awarded Have students report the Through the Spin” included. to statements that “contain the statements that interested them truth, the whole truth and nothing and what they discovered. Discuss www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/ but the truth.” to what extent a candidate’s PolitiFact You may also find these columns use of misinformation or half- St. Petersburg Times fact check uses truth and accompanying videos online at truths influence their view of the meters: True, Half True, Pants on Fire. Also http://blog.washingtonpost.com/ candidate. Flip-O-Meter. fact-checker/. E-replica users could bookmark these columns for use in Psych Out Political Misinformation www.opensecrets.org/ the classroom. Do people want to hear OpenSecrets.org corrections or have rumors Center for Responsive Politics guide to Check the Facts, 2 debunked? Is good information the campaign finances. Includes presidential During the presidential and antidote to misinformation? For this and congressional races, industry, lobbying, vice presidential debates, both activity, use “The Power of Political PACs and 527 committees. The Historical candidates will state different Misinformation,” a column that Elections section provides data for facts — and the opponent will addresses a recent study of political comparisons. likely disagree with some of the misinformation. assertions. So who is right? Before reading this article, have www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage. As students listen to the debates students write their political leaning cfm?parm1=29 (or candidates’ speeches) and and/or the candidate for whom CQ Politics read Post coverage have them they would vote. View a political Fundraising finance reports of candidates record three statements where ad. Have students write down the and political parties. See Political Toolkit disagreement took place. Do their main idea conveyed in the ad. What for election maps and races to watch. own online research or go to one assertions have been made about of the fact checking Web sites. Transcripts of the debate or speech continued on page

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program continued from page three columns which will be used Get the Facts | continued at intervals to collect data for the the opponent? Discuss the content. same topics in order to compare www.issues2000.org/default.htm Have students viewed the same ad? changes (funding, sources, order) OnTheIssues.org Next provide either a video or in contributions as Election Day Includes many candidates on topics, written statement that provides the nears. You may wish to look at issues; political news, party platforms facts, revealing the misinformation polls at the same intervals to see or half-truth conveyed in the ad if giving in any way may relate to www.fec.gov/ they saw. Are students convinced public sentiment. Federal Election Commission by the facts? You may wish to focus on Campaign Finance Maps, reports and data Read and discuss the article. additional campaign financial data. What did the political scientists For example, candidates’ personal www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/02/ discover in the experiments? Is finance reports, companies video.transcript/index.html this article dismaying to those that contribute to both parties, Biden, Palin Face Off in Debate who believe getting the facts contributions being made to CNN Election Center 2008 replays the is important — and certainly a candidates in key states. Compare vice presidential debate with a transcript function of the media? To what and contrast the information based running parallel to it. Keyword search extent did students’ response to upon the sources. available. the ad and the facts support the research findings? Translate Online Enthusiasm www. Debates.org/pages/debtrans.html to Offline Results Commission on Presidential Debates Follow the Money Changes in technology have Unofficial transcripts of many 2008, 2004, In “2008 Presidential Election taken campaigns from the 2000 and earlier presidential and vice Campaign Finances,” provided front porch (1896, Republican presidential debates by Social Studies Dept. Chair William McKinley) to whistle Christopher Smith, Centreville stops (William Jennings Bryan, www.techPresident.com (Va.) H.S., students are directed McKinley’s opponent, goes techPresident to OpenSecrets.org. The Center to the people on train; 1928, Bi-partisan group blog covering online for Responsive Politics (CRP) Democrat Al Smith’s “Ballyhoo campaigning. Politickr within the site launched OpenSecrets.org Train” has a newsroom on wheels collects the official blog posts, news feeds, following the 1996 elections; with typewriters, telegraph photo streams and video posts of the 2008 CRP was founded in 1983 by U.S. and darkroom) to radio (1930s presidential candidates. Senators Frank Church (D-Idaho) and 1940s) and TV (1960, first and Hugh Scott (R-Pa.). Its goal is televised debate) appearances. to track “the influence of money on In the 2008 campaign, the U.S. politics, and how that money candidates took Howard Dean’s affects policy and citizens’ lives.” pioneering use in 2003 (Web site, Give students “2008 Presidential blog and streaming video) to new Election Campaign Finances.” This levels. In 2007 Hillary Clinton activity focuses on who contributes announced her candidacy on her to presidential campaigns, how Web site. Barack Obama used much is contributed and the his campaign Web site and social possible influence of contributors. networking sites to get donations. Before giving this activity, teachers Give students “Campaigns may wish to explain PACs, 527s Experimenting Online to See What and the function of lobbyists. Works.” This article was published Students may be asked to create before Super Tuesday, exploring a chart to collect data found in the impact of the Internet. Before response to the questions. The reading ask students to list the horizontal column should indicate the date the site was visited; add continued on page

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program continued from page available on the candidates’ Web Presidents sites. ways they “interact” with the After completing the activity and Cleveland, Will and Mark Alvarez candidates through the Internet discussing the article, ask students Yo, Millard Fillmore! (And All Those — news sites, candidates’ Web to write their reaction to the use of Other Presidents You Don’t Know) sites, blogs, advertisements, social the Internet for campaign purposes. Ages 9-12. Millbrook Press (1997) networking sites. Art and word play help students recall • Discuss the use of the Internet Track All Visitors presidential order. before the 2008 election. Another dimension of campaign • In what significant ways has the Internet use is based on the Herbert, Janis Web been transformed in 2007-08 Internet habits of Web users Abraham Lincoln for Kids for campaign use? — news articles read, blogs Ages 7-12. Chicago Review Press (2007) • Do students think the Internet visited, search terms entered — to Reader, storyteller and a president who has had an impact on getting target voters. Read Washington experienced sorrow; 21 activities for readers younger people to register to Post Business section article vote and to become interested in “Candidates’ Web Sites Get to Matuz, Roger and Bill Harris candidates? Ask for examples. Know the Voters” to learn about The Presidents Fact Book • What ways are available to assess “sentiment detection” and the use Ages 12+. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers the impact of the Internet on the of tracking. (2004) Pleasant layout, documents and Super Tuesday results? • What is “marketing” in the photographs add to highlights of political • In what ways would students “use business world? Why is it and personal lives of George Washington the Internet to get actual votes” important to the sale of a to George W. Bush. on Election Day? product? • How does tracking work? Miller, Brandon Marie Explore Innovation • McCain’s eCampaign director George Washington for Kids “Internet Campaigning,” a student states, “Without violating any Ages 7-12. Chicago Review Press (2007) handout found in this guide, privacy concerns, we try to know Personal interests and events; book includes examines the use of the Internet by as much about our users as 21 activities for readers to try to understand candidates as both a savvy means possible.” Do you agree that this the time period better. to rally supporters and possibly is not an invasion of privacy? invade the privacy of citizens. • Is the use of tracking cookies Phillips, Louis Read “A Privacy Shield Against ethical? Ask Me Anything About the Presidents the Campaigns.” Questions for • One advertising executive calls Ages 9-12. Avon (1992) discussion may include: behavioral targeting a “powerful Q and A, answers the question and • Do citizens have a right to marketing tool.” Do you see it as tells you more. privacy? any different than advertising on • Are address, phone number and billboards or the sides of public Rubel, David political party affiliation a matter of transportation? Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Presidents public record? and Their Times • Are there senior citizens and Span 45 Years Ages 9-12. Scholastic (2005 update) others who would welcome contact Post columnist Eugene Robinson Bios, headlines, historical movements, with neighbors? provides a personal glimpse as from Washington to Bill Clinton. • Do you agree with Dakin that well as historic perspective on the Photographs, charts and maps enhance phone calls and a knock at one’s day Sen. Barack Obama accepted the informative text. front door is an invasion of privacy? the presidential nomination of the Give students “Internet Democratic party. Martin Luther Sobel, Sylvan Campaigning.” Steven King, a King, Jr., delivered his I Have Presidential Elections: And social studies teacher at Shepard a Dream speech on August 28, Other Cool Facts Elementary (DCPS), provided this 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial Ages 7-12. Econo-Clad Books (2000) activity that provides a hands-on Elections, presidents’ birthplaces, look at the information that is continued on page media goofs

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program continued from page Before reading “Who Do We Election Resources Think She Is?” do an in-class in D.C. This was 100 years after writing in response to the following Your Vote! Your World! Lincoln signed the Proclamation questions. There are many ways to The Washington Post NIE program will of Emancipation. frame the issue depending on the provide Vote 2008 tabs to teachers to use in • Why does Robinson include preferences of the teacher and the their classrooms. The “election scrapbook” Rep. John Lewis in the purpose of the class. The point is to provides a place to gather information commentary? [In response to have students think and stake out a (registering to vote, roles of the president), this question, you may need to position before they know the story collect your thoughts (agree or disagree explain the references made to and how their position is going with candidates on the issues) and get Freedom Rider, SNCC, March to be confronted by what Brown organized to learn (17 pages of charts, on Washington, and Selma-to- writes. maps and forms). Analyzing Election Montgomery march.] • Should mothers of young children Results provides maps of D.C. and Maryland • Robinson states that Lewis work? and Virginia to record county-by-county supported Clinton out of a “sense • Is the life of someone who works vote results. Contact the NIE program of loyalty and realpolitik.” What hard that much different than a (202) 334-4544. does he mean by “loyalty”? By politician’s life? “realpolitik”? • What does it mean to be a www.youthleadership.net • Why do readers agree when successful woman? Youth Leadership Initiative Robinson writes “nothing in John • If a mother of young children Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) of the Lewis’s biography suggests he works outside the home, is she by University of Virginia Center for Politics knows how to back down”? definition hurting her children by has lessons and resources for teachers. • What is the “great leap” to which spending less time with them? Register for student-only Mock Election he refers? Who are the “people”? • Are women harsher judges of for national and state elections. • To what do “without racial women than men? Participating teachers can request an animus,” “resentment,” “grudges” After students have read DeNeen election toolkit with stickers, temporary and “settle no scores” allude? Brown’s feature, have them revisit tattoos and beads. Political campaign • Why was it important that what they wrote and see if they CD-ROM also available. Clinton be the one to ask that still agree, now disagree, have a “Obama be nominated ‘by more complex answer, or just need www.ciconline.org/cicmagazine-sept08 acclimation’”? to write more. You may wish to Cable in the Classroom • What does Robinson acknowledge add questions about stereotyping, PDFs topics include “Campaign Planning,” in the second-to-last paragraph? making generalizations and sexism. “Light, Camera … Debate,” and “Game • In the next-to-last paragraph, For example: of Politics” Robinson returns to John Lewis • How important are the age, work to bridge the 45 years from status and number of children of King’s I Have a Dream speech to the women interviewed? Obama’s acceptance speech. What • Do students think working is the significance of Lewis and women identify more with Hillary Obama being together in Denver Clinton or Sarah Palin? on August 28, 2008? • Should different questions be asked about Palin than about Examine the Intersection male politicians? of Principle and Practice • To what extent do female Gov. Sarah Palin is the first candidates (consider Clinton, female to be on a Republican Pelosi and Elizabeth Dole) use Party national ticket. What their roles as mothers and/or makes her nomination the same women to their advantage or as as that of Geraldine Ferraro on part of their political package? the Democratic ticket in 1984? Different from that of Ferraro? continued on page 8

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program continued from page about the population as a whole. In Readers recently sent her more • Should female candidates expect to English classes, we gear students complaints about a Pat Oliphant be under great scrutiny? Palin near toward using just a couple examples to cartoon than Post coverage of the the end of Clinton’s campaign said, show how something is true or false. In financial crisis. Tom Toles is the Post’s “I think that’s reality, and I think it’s the world outside of literature, things editorial cartoonist so why and how a given, I think people can just accept are much more complex. The women in did Oliphant get into the conversation? that she is going to be under that this feature don’t come from the same Read her column to learn about sharper microscope.” perspective and don’t come to the same this cartoon and The Post’s policy • If students were writing a feature on conclusion. — “against defaming or perpetuating the selection of a woman as the vice This feature can lead to discussion of racial, religious or ethnic stereotypes.” presidential running mate, what focus whether stories that describe women Follow Toles’ cartoons for a week. would they choose? The pregnancy as wanting to vote one way or the What are his topics? His point of view? of a teenager? Privacy expectations other are simplistic. The sample size Have students write a reaction to the of children of public figures? Her is too small to draw any conclusions group of visual commentary or one that position on issues? about women other than (surprise!) stands out. Do they see any breach in Journalism and English students they come in all shapes and sizes, and The Post’s policy? ■ could discuss the composing of they don’t all think the same way. a feature, using description and quotations and how feature writing React to the Political Cartoon ANSWERS. Who Do You Know? both illustrates good examples and The Post ombudsman is the liaison 1. I, 2. A, 3. G, 4. E, 5. C, 6. J, 7. H, falls well short of reaching conclusions between the public and The Post. 8. F, 9. D, 10. B

Answers 2008 Presidential Election Campaign Finances

Banking on Becoming a President 14. Answers will vary. 1. Check Web site for up-to-date data. 15. Republicans tend to give more money for national 2. Check Web site for up-to-date data. defense, which benefits employees of the U.S. 3. Third party candidates do not win presidential military. McCain is a veteran. elections; people feel that they waste their vote on these candidates Expenditures 16. Check Web site for up-to-date data. Answers will vary. Contributions by Geography 17. Check Web site for up-to-date data. 4. Check Web site for 18. Check Web site for up-to-date data. up-to-date data. 19. Broadcast media. Major party 5. Illinois is Obama’s home candidates are able to spend much state. more money on TV ads which allows 6. Check Web site for up-to- them to have “name recognition” date data. among the voters. 7. California has the largest 20. Donations guarantee access to population of any state in the politicians; how much influence union. they have over politicians is debatable. Top Industries 8-11. Check Web site for up-to-date data. 527’s 21. Party building activities, voter registration Contributors drives, issue advocacy 12. Individuals who are employed by these 22. Employees institutions/companies 13. Answers will vary. October 7, 2008 © 2008 THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY Past Post Guides

These Washington Post Newspaper In Education program guides have activities and material that can be used in a study of campaigning, elections and the presidency. All may be downloaded at www.washpost.com/nie/. Select lesson plans. Bullets indicate activities that can be easily used in a study of the 2008 election.

April 8, 2008 Primarily, Images and Issues

Students are encouraged to examine the presidential primary through the candidates, journalists, commentators and editorial cartoonist Tom Toles. • 20 Toles editorial cartoons (candidates, process, tactics and issues) • Policy Position charts • Role Play activity

February 2, 2008 Debate: Face-to-Face Exchanges

Debate is intrinsic to American culture, from debating societies to Lincoln-Douglas debates and televised debates of candidates for president. • Analysis of a Debate • Debate a Current Issue

November 23, 2004 Should the Electoral College Count?

Six weeks after voters have indicated their choice for president and vice president, electors meet to cast their ballots. Through activities in this guide students review why the writers of the U.S. Constitution devised the Electoral College and evaluate if electors are still necessary. • How the Electoral College Works • Distribution of Electoral College Votes (chart and questions) • The Electoral College: History, Present and Future • The Debate About the Electoral College System (Pro-Con activity)

October 20, 2004 What Determines Election Outcomes?

Students examine the influence of the 2000 presidential election results, political parties, issues and campaign advertising. • Analysis of Campaign Advertising (activity) • The Country Where Every Vote Counts (activity) • Whose Vote Really Counts (chart, change date to 2008)

September 27, 2004 Who Has the Right to Vote?

Students examine the right to vote and from whom this right may be taken. • Get Out the Vote (word find) • Voting in America (legal background) • Campaign Committee Challenge (activity) • Dementia and the Voter (article, discussion)

November 5, 2002 Control of Congress

The 2002 election provides the faces and facts from which students can examine American citizens’ involvement in the democratic process, the law-making process, and the power and influence that comes with control of Congress. • From Bill to Law in 5 Easy Steps • Word Study—A Look at Congress • Make Your Choice (activity) Volume 8, Issue 2

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program

Who Do You Know?

Matching. Pair the political leader with a description of her.

_____ 1. Benazir Bhutto A. U.S. Senator from New York and former First Lady; ran to be her party’s nominee for U.S. president

_____ 2. Hillary Rodham Clinton B. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1979-1990)

_____ 3. Elizabeth Dole C. Served as prime minister of India (1966-1977, 1980-1984). She was assassinated by a Sikh extremist.

_____ 4. Vigdis Finnbogadottir D. Former Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs; first African American female to be U.S. Secretary of State

_____ 5. Indira Gandhi E. First democratically elected woman head of state; became president of Iceland in1980

_____ 6. Geraldine Ferraro F. Governor and first female vice presidential nominee of her party (2008)

_____ 7. Golda Meir G. First female Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Labor, U.S. Senator from North Carolina. Wife of a Republican candidate for president; she was the first spouse to have her own full-time campaign travel team, appearing in separate locations from her husband to maximize their contact with citizens and the media.

_____ 8. Sarah Palin H. Prime Minister of Israel (1969-1974) who was born in Russia and lived in the U.S. 1906-1921) and Palestine.

_____ 9. Condoleezza Rice I. Harvard-educated, daughter of a former prime minister; became prime minister of Pakistan in 1988; martyred in Dec. 2007 when running for office

_____10. Margaret Thatcher J. First woman vice presidential candidate on a U.S. national party ticket (1984)

Nominate another prominent female to be added to this list. Include a brief statement of the positions she has held and why she should be considered.

______

______Name ______Date ______

2008 Presidential Election Campaign Finances

Candidates raised more than $1 billion in the 2008 presidential campaign. In addition to the contributions by citizens and the political parties, lobbyists and advocacy groups — Political Action Committees (PACs), 527s and others — will spend millions to influence the opinions of voters.

Use OpenSecrets.org to compile current data on presidential campaign finances. The numbers are based on reports to the Federal Election Commission. To begin, select the Politicians & Elections section. Banking on Becoming a President Click on the candidates’ names under their pictures.

1. How much has Obama raised?

2. How much has McCain raised?

3. Why do you think that the other candidates have raised very little money compared to Obama and McCain?

Contributions by Geography Select Barack Obama. Then click on Geography in the tab.

4. List the four states in which Obama has raised the most money.

5. Why is Illinois one of the top fundraising states for Obama?

On the right side of the Web page “switch to” John McCain. 6. List the four states in which McCain has raised the most money.

7. Why do you think that California is the top fund-raising state for both McCain and Obama?

Top Industries Use the “switch to” feature to toggle between Obama and McCain.

8. Look at the top ten of Obama’s “Top Industries.” For what “issues” might these groups attempt to gain the influence and support of Obama?

9. Look at the top ten of McCain’s “Top Industries.” For what “issues” might these groups attempt to gain the influence and support of McCain?

10. What industries/issues do McCain and Obama have in common?

11. In what industries/issues do they differ? Why? Finances | continued Contributors

12. Where did the money for these contributors come from?

13. How many universities are on Obama’s list? Do you think this influences how the students at these schools are educated in regards to politics/government? Explain your answer.

14. Click on Time Warner. Read the summary about Time Warner. CNN is a Time Warner company. In your opinion, can media deliver unbiased news and still donate large amounts of money to one candidate?

15. Review McCain’s contributors. Why do you think that members of the U.S. Army overwhelmingly contribute to McCain?

16. Among the top donors for each candidate, how many were in the financial sector? In your opinion, do donation of large amounts of money by these companies contribute to favorable legislation for these companies getting passed by Congress and signed by the President?

Expenditures

17. How much has McCain spent on media?

18. How much has Obama spent on media?

19. What category of media expenditures is the largest for both McCain and Obama?

20. What advantage does this give McCain and Obama over third-party candidates?

527’s Click on “Influence and Lobbying,” then select 527’s and advocacy groups.

21. For what activities do 527’s raise money?

22. From whom do PAC’s collect money? Name ______Date ______

Internet Access: Online Campaigning The Internet is the new way of campaigning in the 21st Century. Ads are posted daily by the candidates, PACs, lobbyists and other organizations in the hopes of influencing the voter. And the candidates themselves have become very efficient in using their supporters to the best of their abilities. In the old days, a person had to go down to the campaign office where he or she would sign up and be given a task to complete. Now, with the advent of the Internet, people don’t even have to leave their homes to be politically active. This is how it’s done. But be careful and mindful. Americans may be losing their privacy in the pursuit of better campaigns. Read a guest commentary by Shaun Dakin entitled “A Privacy Shield Against Campaigns” (The Washington Post, Sept. 13, 2008). Dakin is the chief executive and founder of Citizens for Civil Discourse, a nonprofit group that has launched a National Political Do Not Contact Registry at StopPoliticalCalls.org.

Follow these steps to find out if the candidates are giving out too much information.

1. Log onto www. myBarackObama.com and Internet Check the Access: appropriate Online box of personal Campaigning register. As a teacher, you information listed on this page. may want to register once and let students use this Information Yes No as a way of examining the Name of Voter Web site. Age of Voter 2. After logging into the Voter ID Number site, select Community Phone Number and Contact Voters. Select Neighbor to Neighbor. Choose the button that says “Get Started” in one of two Address categories: Make Calls: A list of numbers will be generated for you to call. 1. As American citizens, we are supposed to have a right to privacy. Do you think this violates a Canvass: Read the canvassing guidelines person’s right to privacy? Why or why not? and resources.

Visit the Resource Center. A list of homes will be generated for you to visit.

Are these acceptable approaches? 2. Do you think it is appropriate that the campaign is using personal information this way? Would you or your parents want to be called by a stranger in your neighborhood for the purposes of hearing about a particular candidate? Visit the official McCain campaign Web site (www.mccain. com). In what ways does this campaign staff gather informa- 3. What other information is contained on the tion on visitors or collect candidates’ Web sites? e-mail addresses to use? Volume 8, Issue 2

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program Campaigns Experimenting Online to See What Works

By Jose Antonio Vargas has been largely fueled by his rock star will vote, the Web is the easiest, not Washington Post Staff Writer status on the Internet, to Sen. Barack to mention cheapest, way to reach Obama, who is only now catching up to supporters. • Originally Published February 3, 2008 fellow Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham To Joe Trippi, who spearheaded Dean’s Super Tuesday isn’t just draining Clinton in national polls but easily online strategy and served as senior campaigns of much-needed money and trumps the former first lady in online adviser to former senator John Edwards challenging their organizational mettle. popularity. before he dropped out of the 2008 race, Feb. 5 also is turning out to be a “big Obama set an online record raising the difference from 2004 cannot be test,” campaign aides say, of the reach more than $28 million in January. overestimated. and power of the Internet. Howard Dean, known as the first Internet “Four years ago, we had pretty “We can only buy so much TV time, candidate, raised $27 million online in primitive tools. We had MeetUp, and we can only physically go to so many 2004 during his whole campaign. that was it. Folks on MeetUp got states, so we need to rely on the Internet But the Web is about more than just together all across the country, but we to get our message out and engage raising money. In many ways, it has at the campaign headquarters didn’t with our supporters,” said Christian become a force multiplier, aides said, know what they did,” Trippi said. “Now, Ferry, deputy campaign manager for more fully integrated in the whole with GoogleMaps, people can pinpoint Republican Sen. John McCain. campaign operation and affecting each of where they are. They can pinpoint their For months, candidates have its facets: fundraising, communications, polling places. They can go online, get posted hundreds of videos on their research and field organizing. It voting lists and hit the ground. And the YouTube channels, created profiles on certainly doesn’t supplant traditional campaign can know all of this.” social networking sites and revamped door-to-door canvassing, as proven by It has been a year of experimentation their Web sites. Independent of the the results in Iowa, New Hampshire and on the Internet, all with one goal in mind: campaigns, supporters have rallied South Carolina, relatively small states translating online enthusiasm to offline online to mobilize, donate money and where on-the-ground organization was results. The rush to find new ways to build buzz around candidates, from long- as crucial as ever. But for Tuesday’s shot Rep. Ron Paul, whose candidacy contests, when a total of 24 states continued ON page 17

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program continued FROM PAGE 16 The lesson for everyone: All the bells paigning, and the experimenting has and whistles, all the innovation, don’t resulted in a few notable hits and misses. use the medium to boost candidates necessarily guarantee an audience. Some tactics worked, such as embedding has resulted in a “free-for-all” in which Success online is a combination of timing, videos in e-mails. Others, such as trying to most campaigns “throw whatever they message and candidate. figure out how to integrate text messaging can on the wall to see what sticks,” said “They’re learning as they go along. into online mobilization, fizzled. Tim Tagaris, who led Sen. Christopher What’s been so striking about the past The rise of social networks, or “soc-nets” J. Dodd‘s new media team before the year is that no candidate, definitely to the Web-savvy, was the big story last year. Connecticut senator dropped out of the no major candidate, . . . looked at the McCain and Obama built McCainSpace race last month. Internet warily. That doesn’t necessarily and MyBarackObama, to contrasting Peter Daou, Clinton’s Internet director, mean everything that they’re doing has results. From the start, McCainSpace said the campaign’s strategy has depended worked,” said Lee Rainie, director of the was viewed as “a total disaster,” as David on the candidate’s needs at a specific Pew Internet and American Life Project. All, a GOP online strategist, wrote last time. Clinton’s early use of YouTube, “What it does mean is that most have March on techPresident, a bipartisan most notably her widely seen “Sopranos” a video strategy, a social networking group blog that covers the ins and outs of spoof, was an effort to show her lighter strategy, a donation strategy. Everyone’s online campaigning. MyBarackObama, side. Tomorrow night, hours before polls trying to do everything, for better or meanwhile, was seen as a success, now open on Tuesday, she will hold a national worse.” with more than 350,000 supporters interactive town hall meeting that will be Michael Turk, who ran President Bush’s signed up. streamed on her Web site. “We can only online operation in 2004 and worked And then there’s Paul, whose “Paulites“ do that online,” Daou said. as a consultant for former senator Fred easily rival the “Deaniacs” of four years Republican Mitt Romney‘s online D. Thompson, is generally disappointed ago. But his considerable online popularity features, including a customized peer- with most of the online operations of notwithstanding, Paul has consistently to-peer robo-call, have been singled out Democrats and Republicans alike. trailed far behind McCain and Romney in for their sophistication. But for most “From the outside looking in, it’s hard primary votes. of last year, more eyes were going to to tell if the campaigns have coherent “Great as it is, the Web isn’t everything. sites for Paul and for Mike Huckabee, online strategies. Yes, the technology’s It has its limitations,” Paul campaign who has a loyal following among out there. But I’m not really sure if the manager Lew Moore said. “Fact is, you Christian evangelical bloggers. Mindy campaigns have moved the ball forward,” still have to turn online activity to offline Finn, Romney’s chief online strategist, he said. Turk doesn’t place blame on activity.” said traffic to Romney’s site last month online advisers, most of whom aren’t Added Ferry of the McCain campaign: — when Romney won Michigan — has prominent in the campaign hierarchy. In “It’s the question everyone always asks, increased tenfold since the site began every operation, he said, “there’s a big right? ‘Can you actually use the Internet in January 2007. “Ultimately, our online difference between what the online team to deliver actual votes?’ Next Tuesday is a popularity comes down to Mitt Romney is trying to do, what it’s capable of doing big voting day, so we’ll have to see.” n himself,” she said. The tools are there. and what’s it’s actually allowed to do.” We’ve built what we can. It’s up to him to One size hasn’t fit all in online cam- excite voters.”

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program Shaun Dakin A Privacy Shield Against the Campaigns

• Originally Published September 13, 2008 for printing out the list. The last step? While commercial organizations are Log back in and record the results of required by law to respect the privacy While John McCain and Barack your “door-to-door” conversations with rights of consumers, politicians at the Obama have plenty to fight about, voters. federal level and in all but a few states there is at least one thing that they I don’t know about you, but I do not have exempted themselves from these agree on: Voters who interact with their want my neighbors knocking on my laws. More than 160 million phone campaigns have no privacy rights. door asking me whom I’m going to vote numbers have been placed on the What does this mean? for. I certainly do not want my name, National Do Not Call Registry, which It’s simple: Voters do not have the address and phone number printed on a requires commercial organizations right to opt out of unwanted campaign Google map for the world to see. And, to stop calling consumers within 30 communications, either online or off- without a doubt, I do not want anyone days of those consumers listing their line. Voters don’t have the right to calling me at home during dinner. numbers. Political campaigns will call decide who will contact them or how This is an invasion of privacy, because many of those 160 million numbers they will be contacted by the presidential these voters never explicitly gave their with impunity this fall. Why should campaigns. permission to have themselves targeted commercial companies be required by This invasion of the voters’ privacy is in a database that invites their neighbors law to stop invading the privacy of bipartisan. Republicans do it. Democrats to walk “door to door” to try to persuade potential customers while politicians do it. Heck, even Libertarians do it. them to vote for a particular candidate. are allowed to do whatever they wish to This week, I received an e-mail from When I tried to opt out of this tool, reach potential voters? the Obama campaign that had the subject I learned that while I could opt out To answer this question, candidates line: “Your Neighbors.” Intrigued, I of campaign e-mail spam, there was usually cite the First Amendment — the opened the message and learned that the no way that I could quickly, securely right to speak freely as part of the our campaign was launching a sophisticated and comprehensively opt out of voter nation’s vital democratic process. That program called “Neighbor-to-Neighbor” communications that I do not want to might be a legitimate criticism of an that makes “it easier than ever to receive. outright ban but not of a system in connect with potential supporters in John McCain’s Web site is much which voters are given the choice to opt your community by phone or door- the same: It provides no mechanism out of unwelcome communications. to-door.” It continues: “Neighbor-to- for voters to opt out of unwanted Thus, the real reason for their personal Neighbor gives you the option to make communications other than e-mail. exemptions is obvious: Politicians write phone calls or knock on doors — the What can be done? the laws, and politicians like regulation choice is yours.” As a spokesperson for millions of only when it applies to someone else. The choice may be yours, but what voters inundated by political campaigns, The time has come for a Voter about your neighbors, who may not want I have testified this year before the Privacy Bill of Rights built on a single, you to bother them at their homes? Senate Rules Committee in support of straightforward principle: Voters This new program is both tech-cool the Robocall Privacy Act. Our members should have the right to opt out of all and privacy-rights-scary. When I clicked report receiving as many as 15 robocalls direct political communications that through to myBarackObama.com, I a day during election season. Mothers they do not want to receive. Period. n was able to create “walk lists” using a have their babies awakened from naps. Google map showing me exactly where Night-shift workers who sleep during The writer is chief executive and founder potential Obama supporters near me the day can’t get the rest they need. of Citizens for Civil Discourse, a nonprofit live. The Web site provided the names, Seniors and others fear that a health group that has launched the National Po- addresses and phone numbers of these emergency could occur while their litical Do Not Contact Registry at StopPo- targeted neighbors and offered a prompt phone is tied up. liticalCalls.org.

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program Candidates’ Web Sites Get to Know the Voters Presidential Campaigns Tailor, Target Ads Based on Visitors’ Online Habits

By Peter Whoriskey detection,” some companies even boast is directed to a Web browser, and the Washington Post Staff Writer that they can tell whether the blog you name and home address of the target is go to is for or against the Iraq war. unnecessary. • Originally Published August 30, 2008 “During a get-out-the-vote drive, you “Both campaigns are embracing online Any two people interested in whether don’t want to get out the wrong vote,” targeting ad technologies,” said Michael Amanda Beard is dating fellow Olympian said Diane Rinaldo, political advertising Bassik, vice president of interactive Michael Phelps, and who clicked on the director at Yahoo, which has worked with marketing at MSHC Partners, a leading Boston Herald tidbit that raced around both campaigns. With these techniques, Democratic communications firm. “It the Web last week, got the same piece the candidates “can reach who they want sounds scarier, but it’s less intrusive of gossip. to reach without wasting their incredibly than direct mail ever was.” Rumored galpal Amanda Beard on valuable media dollars, and reach them Guessing how a person might vote Phelps: No Thanks! with the right message.” — and whether they might be receptive What was different was the political The advertising techniques, known as to a pitch — has long been part of the ads that appeared — or didn’t — beside “behavioral targeting” and “retargeting,” science of political marketing. the story. have raised alarms from some privacy But the Internet creates many new Readers who had visited Barack advocates, who say no one should ways for campaigns to gather data about Obama’s Web site received as many as unwittingly have their political leanings potential voters, and then to reach out three Obama ads alongside the gossip. analyzed as they use the Web, or be to them. “Help Elect Barack Obama President of tracked for the delivery of political ads. Both presidential campaigns are using the United States” and “Visit the Barack Congress has begun looking into the “retargeting” to send ads to people who Obama Website,” the ads said. use of such techniques for commercial visited their Web sites but who didn’t Readers who hadn’t visited his site advertisers. leave their name or e-mail address. didn’t see a single Obama pitch. “The Web has been hailed for creating To track those visitors even after How did the campaign know which new opportunities for political expression, they’ve left, the site places a small file, readers to send ads to? Although both but there is this dark underside to it,” known as a cookie, on the visitor’s Web the Obama and John McCain campaigns said Jeffrey Chester with the Center for browser. When that person visits another are reluctant to discuss details, the ability Digital Democracy. “Yes, you can reach site, an advertising system can send a to identify sympathetic voters based on everyone — but you can track, target tailored ad after detecting the cookie, their Internet habits, and then to target and profile them as well, and none of this which indicates that the person is a them with ads as they move across the is disclosed.” potential voter for the given candidate. Web, is one of the defining aspects of the Advocates of the practice, which is That’s how the Obama campaign can 2008 presidential campaign. common in commercial marketing, send an ad to a person long after they’ve Digital advertising networks and say its use in the political world is visited the Obama site, even when their large Web companies such as Yahoo comparable to traditional direct-mail mind is on something far afield from and Microsoft are using Web behavior campaign practices. Direct mail efforts, politics — like Phelps and Beard. — which news articles people read, they note, combine voter registration The cookie might even indicate a which blogs they visit or what search and other records to identify targets. user’s interests, allowing the campaign terms they enter — to target voters who They then send tailored pitches to their to further tailor an ad. For example, may be sympathetic to a certain cause. homes. Using a method known as “sentiment By contrast, most of the online targeting continued ON page 20

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continued from page 19

looking at the cookies from McCain’s site reveals that a person who visits looking for information about gas prices is tagged that way. Using that information, the campaign could send the user an ad about McCain’s energy policy. “If you responded to a certain kind of ad, we could hit you with a similarly themed ad at another time,” said Michael Palmer, the eCampaign director for McCain. “Without violating any privacy concerns, we try to know as much about our users as possible.” Identifying potential supporters is also increasingly easier with the Internet, because what a person reads or browses on the Internet can reveal their political leanings. Specific Media, a company that has worked with both sides in the presidential race, combines data about users — some of which it buys and some of which it receives from partners — to create profiles on about 175 million people, according to the company’s senior vice president David Jakubowski. The data it collects includes information about what articles the person has read on some newspaper sites, what blogs and forums the person attends and what other sites are visited. Using sentiment detection, Specific Media can judge whether a blog about the Iraq War or tax cuts is generally in favor or opposed to those policies. That helps them determine the political leanings of a visitor. continued ON page 21

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program continued from page 20 will then end up in a more conservative who never entered the race but was a bucket.” long-rumored possibility. Gathering data on all the Web visits He said that when the company The “buckets” that Yahoo offers to people make, the company can then identifies someone’s party affiliation, the candidates indicate a voter’s interests. present a political campaign with information proves to be nearly 100 There are categories for the Iraq war, “buckets” of voters described as percent accurate. energy and the economy and also Republican or Democrat, conservative Similarly, Yahoo collects information whether they are “Obama-interested” or or liberal, and by what specific issues the about the 140 million unique monthly “McCain-interested.” person — identified by a cookie on their visitors to its sites. The company records “To see the two presidential campaigns browser — may be interested in. what kinds of stories a user has read at using behavioral targeting is very telling “You look at the patterns — you take Yahoo News — one of the most popular of how powerful a marketing tool it known Democrats and say, ‘How do news sites, as well as what search terms is,” said Mike Zaneis, vice president they behave on the Web?’ “ Jakubowski a person has entered in the company’s of policy at the Interactive Advertising said. “One data point doesn’t put you in search engine. Bureau. “There is a growing level of a data bucket. If you read a lot of U.S. Yahoo began a year and a half ago, awareness that there is a certain level of politics, whether it’s blogs or news or creating sets of Web behaviors that tracking going on online. But they may opinion, and you tend to read more of matched any of the potential candidates be surprised how prevalent its use is in the stuff about conservative policies, you — even former vice president Al Gore, political campaigns.” n

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR By Shankar Vedantam The Power of Political Misinformation

• Originally Published September 15, 2008 up, intense efforts are underway to political scientist John Bullock at debunk rumors and misinformation. Yale University, volunteers were ave you seen the photo of Nearly all these efforts rest on the given various items of political Republican vice presidential assumption that good information is misinformation from real life. One H nominee Sarah Palin the antidote to misinformation. group of volunteers was shown a brandishing a rifle while wearing a But a series of new experiments transcript of an ad created by NARAL U.S. flag bikini? Have you read the e- show that misinformation can exercise Pro-Choice America that accused mail saying Democratic presidential a ghostly influence on people’s minds John G. Roberts Jr., President Bush’s nominee Barack Obama was sworn into after it has been debunked — even nominee to the Supreme Court at the the U.S. Senate with his hand placed among people who recognize it as time, of “supporting violent fringe on the Koran? Both are fabricated misinformation. In some cases, groups and a convicted clinic bomber.” — and are among the hottest pieces of correcting misinformation serves to misinformation in circulation. increase the power of bad information. As the presidential campaign heats In experiments conducted by continued ON page 23

BY LEWIS SCOTT FOR THE WASHINGTON POST Studies showed misinformation could be damaging even after being debunked among those predisposed to buy into the bad information to begin with.

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continued from page 22 words, made the misinformation worse. A variety of psychological A similar “backfire effect” also experiments have shown influenced conservatives told that political misinformation about Bush administration primarily works by feeding assertions that tax cuts into people’s preexisting increase federal revenue. One views. People who did group was offered a refutation not like Roberts to begin by prominent economists with, then, ought to have that included current and been most receptive to the former Bush administration damaging allegation, and officials. About 35 percent of this is exactly what Bullock conservatives told about the found. Democrats were far Bush claim believed it; 67 more likely than Republicans percent of those provided with to disapprove of Roberts both assertion and refutation after hearing the allegation. believed that tax cuts increase Bullock then showed revenue. september 15, 2008 volunteers a refutation In a paper approaching of the ad by abortion- publication, Nyhan, a PhD rights supporters. He also told the were misinformed about the Koran student at Duke University, and Reifler, volunteers that the advocacy group incident, 78 percent disapproved at Georgia State University, suggest had withdrawn the ad. Although 56 afterward. Upon hearing the refutation, that Republicans might be especially percent of Democrats had originally Democratic disapproval dropped back prone to the backfire effect because disapproved of Roberts before hearing only to 68 percent — showing that conservatives may have more rigid the misinformation, 80 percent of misinformation continued to affect the views than liberals: Upon hearing a Democrats disapproved of the Supreme attitudes of Democrats even after they refutation, conservatives might “argue Court nominee afterward. Upon knew the information was false. back” against the refutation in their hearing the refutation, Democratic Bullock and others have also shown minds, thereby strengthening their disapproval of Roberts dropped only to that some refutations can strengthen belief in the misinformation. Nyhan 72 percent. misinformation, especially among and Reifler did not see the same Republican disapproval of Roberts conservatives. “backfire effect” when liberals were rose after hearing the misinformation Political scientists Brendan Nyhan given misinformation and a refutation but vanished upon hearing the correct and Jason Reifler provided two about the Bush administration’s stance information. The damaging charge, in groups of volunteers with the Bush on stem cell research. other words, continued to have an administration’s prewar claims that Bullock, Nyhan and Reifler are all effect even after it was debunked Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Democrats. among precisely those people One group was given a refutation — Reifler questioned attempts to predisposed to buy the bad information the comprehensive 2004 Duelfer report debunk rumors and misinformation on in the first place. that concluded that Iraq did not have the campaign trail, especially among Bullock found a similar effect when weapons of mass destruction before the conservatives: “Sarah Palin says she it came to misinformation about United States invaded in 2003. Thirty- was against the Bridge to Nowhere,” abuses at the U.S. detention facility four percent of conservatives told only he said, referring to the pork-barrel at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Volunteers about the Bush administration’s claims project Palin once supported before were shown a Newsweek report that thought Iraq had hidden or destroyed she reversed herself. “Sending those suggested a Koran had been flushed its weapons before the U.S. invasion, corrections to committed Republicans down a toilet, followed by a retraction but 64 percent of conservatives who is not going to be effective, and they by the magazine. Where 56 percent heard both claim and refutation in fact may come to believe even more of Democrats had disapproved of thought that Iraq really did have the strongly that she was always against detainee treatment before they weapons. The refutation, in other the Bridge to Nowhere.” n

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program Eugene Robinson So Many Miles From Selma

DENVER — “I cried on Monday when recent New York Times-CBS News poll happening? Michelle spoke,” Rep. John Lewis told found that 16 percent of white voters When Clinton came to the convention me Wednesday at the Pepsi Center, “and feared an Obama administration would floor during Wednesday’s roll call and I know that on Thursday night at the “favor blacks over whites.” Obama has asked that Obama be nominated “by stadium I’ll cry again.” taken great pains to reassure voters that acclamation,” I got a lump in my throat. Lewis, as every schoolchild should know, as president he would act without racial I knew that it wouldn’t be official until is one of the few lions of the civil rights animus or resentment — that he bears no Obama had given his acceptance speech, movement still with us. As a Freedom grudges and intends to settle no scores. according to party rules, but there was Rider, he was pummeled by white Alabama His success to date has depended largely something about the word “acclamation” mobs in 1961. As chairman of the Student on his ability to be seen as a candidate that hit me. It implied an acceptance of Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, he who happens to be black rather than as leadership, a recognition of merit. African spoke alongside Martin Luther King Jr. “a black candidate.” Americans have been an integral part of at the March on Washington in 1963. Still, this is an amazing, unbelievable this nation since its birth and certainly His pate is scarred from a brutal beating moment. don’t need anyone’s validation. Still, it administered by Alabama state troopers Wandering around the convention hall, feels as if this obvious historical fact has at the Edmund Pettus Bridge during I kept running into people with a kind of finally been acknowledged in a way that the first Selma-to-Montgomery march in “pinch me, I’m dreaming” look in their many of us felt we’d never witness in our 1965. Lewis has earned the right to shed eyes. I saw Spike Lee, who seems to be lifetimes. tears of amazement and joy. everywhere; in a television interview A black man is running as the A Democrat who represents Atlanta, earlier in the week, he grandiloquently Democratic nominee for president of the Lewis fretted for months over whom to divided American history into two United States. Can you believe that? endorse in the primaries. Last October, epochs, “B.B.” and “A.B.” — Before Whether Obama wins or loses in he joined much of the black political Barack and After Barack. November is important, to say the least; establishment in backing Hillary Clinton I saw New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, this feels like one of those potential — out of a sense of loyalty and realpolitik. who was hoping he’d have the chance turning-point moments for our nation, But as it became clear that Barack Obama to witness Obama’s acceptance speech full of both peril and possibility. The might actually win the nomination, Lewis before rushing home to prepare for the campaign won’t really even begin seemed increasingly agonized over the likely landfall of the evil-looking storm in earnest until next week, after the choice he had made. It wasn’t just that named Gustav. I met black delegates from Republicans have held their convention. he was catching hell from his African Florida, California and various points in The debates are still to come; events American constituents; nothing in John between, and they all said basically the surely will intrude; the polls will start Lewis’s biography suggests he even same thing: Do you believe this is to mean something; and what looks now knows how to back down. Rather, he like a squeaker of an election could turn began to feel that he was on the wrong into a landslide either way. side of history. But let’s not let this moment pass “Something is happening in America, without fully appreciating what we’ve just and people are prepared and ready to seen. All Americans, regardless of race or make that great leap,” he said in mid- party, should think of John Lewis bleeding February. Two weeks later, he switched on that Alabama bridge — and then think his endorsement to Obama. of him at Invesco Field, watching a black We haven’t heard much about race man accept his party’s nomination. during the Democratic convention. That’s Tears are entirely appropriate. clearly by design, and in terms of Obama’s HARAZ N. GHANBARI — ASSOCIATED PRESS PRESTON KERES — THE WASHINGTON POST prospects it’s probably a good thing. A Rep. John Lewis Sen. Barack Obama — August 29, 2008

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By DeNeen L.Brown Washington Post Foreign Service But wait. In her circumstances — five children, one a baby with Down syndrome, one a pregnant, unmarried • OriginallyPublished September 12, 2008 teenager — would we want to be vice president? We Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s nomination as the Republican gather at the playground or in office cubicles and question vice presidential candidate has stirred the hypocrite her choices, knowing that to do so is sexist, the very within us. Women judging women. thing so many women have fought against. “We We watch the polls while examining her never have these conversations about men,” stockings. We listen to her speech while said Kavita N. Ramdas, president and calculating how many bobby pins hold up CEO of the Global Fund for Women, her hairdo. We parse her record while which promotes women’s rights commenting on the shade of her lipstick. worldwide. We measure our child-rearing skills against Still, women are debating, hers. She’s a hockey mom. We are soccer (or partly because Palin herself swimming or softball) moms. We can give a injected motherhood into the pretty good PTA pep talk, and nobody asked campaign. us to be vice president. continued ON page 26

BY BRIAN SNYDER — REUTERS

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continued FROM page 25 of us do: measure ourselves against other women, contrast our lives to For Sherma Farray, a Frederick theirs, compare our careers with her mother of three young children, the meteoric rise. Would we choose as she internal argument went like this: “How did? Could we do what she’s doing? is she going to run for vice president How does she do it? with five kids? . . . Then I said to myself, But there is another component to ‘She is doing it already in Alaska, she the conversation. Palin has burst onto can do it in the White House.’ Then the political scene from a state far I saw the picture of that baby, and I away, geographically and culturally. thought, ‘She is going to need a lot of Suddenly she has become the symbol help.’ The vice president goes all over. of Everywoman, the working mother Makes big decisions. Then she will have who broke the glass ceiling that so a grandbaby on the way. That’s a big many women have tossed stones at. responsibility.” Standing on their shoulders, she has Finally, Farray concluded, “I just emerged on the other side. cannot see myself sitting around the Now many women are trying to meeting table when my family is going square Palin’s sudden status as the to need attention.” most famous female politician since Maureen Carrington, a 40-year-old Hillary Clinton with her political mother of three who runs a business views about women. On some level, CAROLYN KASTER — ASSOCIATED PRESS from her Silver Spring home, came we despise ourselves for judging the down on the other side of the question. first GOP vice presidential nominee in Arlington, sees Palin’s candidacy “This lady seems to be a powerhouse. among us. On another, we feel entitled unraveling everything her generation I don’t think there’s anything she can’t to scrutinize her choices because she fought for. “She wants to impose her do” — including raising children and would like to dictate many of ours. views about reproductive rights on holding the nation’s second-highest “It’s ironic that the party that tends everybody. She has this idea that … office. to be less supportive of women has God says even with incest or a genetic Like many women, Carrington managed to get a woman in as their defect, you have to have this child. I admires and identifies with Palin. “I’m vice presidential candidate,” said Linda certainly wouldn’t want to have that not a member of the NRA,” she said, M. Hahn, 49, a Potomac mother of four imposed on women. It doesn’t affect “but I’ve had to do a lot by myself. I ranging in age from 8 to 25. “But her me. I’m way over reproductive age. This learned to be independent. I get up at 5 private views and her voting views hurt is not my question. This is a question a.m. every day. I work my tail off like a women. It’s like she doesn’t make sense of women who are poor … and under lot of women. I see that in her. I think to me.” the thumb of male dominance. All of a she works her tail off.” But why should she have to? “We sudden, they get pregnant and have to Heather Maurano, 35, is excited would never dream that a male candidate have this child. It’s about poor people. by Palin. “I’m a mom of three small would have to reflect the fears and … Those are the women I’m speaking daughters,” said Maurano, who lives in worries of all men,” Ramdas says. “So for.” Silver Spring. “I think it is great to have now it’s Sarah Palin. Before that, it While many women celebrate Palin’s a role model for them. At this point, I’m was Hillary Clinton. What will she do decision to have a baby with Down staying home with them. I respect the for women? How will she represent syndrome, and her daughter’s decision fact she is doing it all, and it’s great.” women?” She says the term “women’s to keep her baby and marry her So it appears that we have a issues” is misleading: “It is as if we don’t boyfriend, as living proof of her anti- superwoman running for vice president, care about war and peace. Or we don’t abortion position, others see a moral soaring above other mothers who are care about education. Or we don’t care gap between her commitment to “family trying to balance work and family. Pro about the environment.” values” and the projected picture of her or con, the discussion about Palin’s Still, women’s rights are at the core family. choices is a process of comparison for of the election for some women. Nancy women, because that’s what so many Bagwell, 65, a retired nurse who lives continued ON page 27

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program continued FROM PAGE 26 I wonder whether she will reform her Three women sat in an Indian position on that.” restaurant in Gaithersburg last week, “She does have a child who is about to So while we probe Palin’s conservatism, talking business, talking about Palin. have a child,” said Tonda Bean, a Silver we also question how she could expose “The fact she has a pregnant teenage Spring mother of two, who stays home her daughter to national scrutiny, daughter when preaching abstinence, with her daughters, 11 and 15. “There and wonder whether somebody else’s why is that okay?” asked Laura is attention that could have been paid. pregnant daughter would be similarly Levengard, a personal trainer who has … The research I’ve read says you can embraced by a religious right that has two children. circumvent some problems if you are not hesitated to criticize other famous “Some would say putting herself in the with them enough. You can keep them unwed mothers, real (teenage pop star public eye was not fair to her daughter,” out of certain activity.” Jamie Lynn Spears) or imagined (TV Linda Hahn said. “That subjects her In view of Bristol Palin‘s pregnancy at sitcom character Murphy Brown). daughter to public shame.” 17, Bean is concerned by Sarah Palin’s “If it was the other way around, and it “Why does a 17-year-old have to be stance favoring abstinence-only sex was Barack Obama’s daughter,” Farray married?” Levengard wondered. education. “What is missing,” Bean said, said, “you would not hear the end of “is to tell them about contraceptives. it.” continued ON page 28

BY SCOTT OLSON -– GETTY IMAGES U.S. presidential nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) (2nd R) joins Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her family, daughter Piper (3rd R), Willow (4th R), husband Todd (center back) holding baby Trig, Bristol (2nd L) and her boyfriend Levi Johnston, and Track Palin (L) at the Republican National Convention on September 3, 2008, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program continued from page 27 Palin has reignited the never-resolved mommy wars — not the old ones between mothers who stay home and those who work, The conversation turned inward and became an examination but the ones inside every mother who has a choice. Should a of their own lives. woman nourish her personal ambitions to succeed at her career “I’ve always done what I wanted to do: stayed home while trying to raise a family? Was it selfish or superhuman of and watched the kids Monday through Friday and run my Palin to go back to work almost immediately after her son’s business on the weekend,” Levengard said, recalling her birth? Was it fair to her constituents, the residents of Alaska? former occupation. “I think you can do it all.” After all, most mothers remember barely functioning from lack Then she told a story about mentioning to her brother that of sleep when they had new babies. Is it anybody’s business? she had an out-of-town business opportunity. Her brother’s “The recent debate about Sarah Palin’s choice to go back to response caught her off guard: “But who will watch the work three days after her fifth baby was born (and what that kids?” means for the ‘little’ people’s parental leave rights) … have got “The same question wouldn’t be asked of your husband,” me thinking about selfishness,” a mother said on Urbanmamas. said Hahn, who has a business training company. “Who’s com. “When do we cross the line between caring for ourselves going to watch the kids?” (whether that be reading a good book or furthering our career) “The personal choice we make — our choices are because and giving our children appropriate attention? Must good our lives are what they are,” said Sylvia Henderson, another parenting be about entirely sublimating our own interests to business owner. “That’s life. We choose to be married or single. focus every moment on our progeny? I think most of our We choose to have kids or not. They are personal choices I’ve behavior rides the line, not entirely healthy for our kids, but had to make whether someone likes them or not. My personal not entirely servicing our sanity either.” choices are made to feel comfortable with me. In my skin. I Jill Miller Zimon, 46, mother of three and a contributing resent the fact we have to explain our choices.” editor at BlogHer.com, wants to know how Palin rides that But we want Palin to explain hers. line. On Urbanmamas.com, a Web site for mothers, one posting “There is no evidence in how she does the juggling,” Zimon absolved us of our curiosity: “It’s ok to judge the mothering said. “ … There’s no way to know how she does it all. We don’t decisions of a vice presidential candidate,” this mother wrote, know how she juggles. I want to know, because I juggle. … I “as it opens a window to her decision-making process (and after would love to see inside Sarah Palin’s house because I know all, we’re supposed to judge her as she’s a politician and we get what my house looks like at 6:15 in the morning when I’m to vote).” trying to get my kids off to school.” Then she raised The Question: “Would you run for a major We think about this as we fly from our downtown office office while your children were young?” to pick up the kid from day care, fry up some chicken, fold a load of laundry, clear the dining room table, wash the dishes, scrub the frying pan, get the kid to bed, finish our office work by midnight and drag the body to bed. And get up to do it all again another day. Can women do it all? Levengard has decided: “We can do it all.” Hahn disagreed. While other mothers hurried off to get their children from school, she and Levengard remained at the table, picking over the question of Palin and the election and the choices women make. “You literally can’t do everything,” Hahn said. “We can say we can do it all. We’ve had to say that to break in and have careers. But in reality at a certain point, no matter how smart or intelligent you are, you max out. There are only so many hours in a day.” Levengard pressed her point: “Did you ever not feed your kids dinner [or] bail on the fundraiser? “No,” BY JOE RAEDLE — GETTY IMAGES Hahn said, “but sometimes they had crummy U.S. presidential nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) (L) stands with Republican dinners.” n U.S. vice presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program The Power of Political Cartoons

By Deborah Howell Washington Post Ombudsman • Originally Published September 28, 2008 Political cartoonists distill their opinions on power and culture into art and commentary with the sharp points of their pens. They can make readers gleeful — or angry. Readers deserve to know more about this breed for whom being fair is not a virtue. The timing is apropos because a Pat Oliphant cartoon posted on washingtonpost.com Sept. 9 is still generating angry e-mails. The cartoon showed Sarah Palin speaking in tongues, John McCain saying she has a “direct line” to God and God saying that he couldn’t understand her “dam’ right wing … gibberish.” More than 750 readers from around the country — more than I heard from about the financial crisis — told me they were mightily offended. Many were Pentecostals, whose worship can include speaking in tongues; complaints also came from mainline Christians and from Charles Martin, a Buddhist in Boulder, Colo., who said “it offends me.” september 12, 2008 McCain and Palin are certainly fair game, but most of those offended by the cartoon felt it mocked all Pentecostals. Most cartoonists don’t go out of their way to lambaste religion. But the pope is a frequent editorial cartoon character, as are God and St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. Many of Oliphant’s peers think that he is the best political cartoonist in the country and the most profound contemporary influence on other cartoonists. Before Oliphant, an Australian, came to work in the United States in 1964, most cartoons were vertical and serious; his were horizontal and funny. Oliphant’s cartoons are sold by Universal Press Syndicate, whose sales materials say: “No one is safe from the acid brush of Pat Oliphant. … A master of what he calls ‘confrontational art,’ Oliphant spares neither the liberal nor conservative, sinner nor saint.” Oliphant, 73, delights in controversy and told me that he draws only about what annoys him or “gets my blood boiling. That’s the point in cartooning — to draw attention to situations you don’t agree with. It’s kept

continued ON page 30 september 25, 2008

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program continued from page 29 me alive,” he said from his home in Santa Fe, N.M. He’s a political liberal, as are many, though not all, of the better-known political cartoonists. “Cartooning should challenge the status quo,” Oliphant said. “Whoever is in power draws the antagonism of editorial cartoonists.” So what happens when a new set of politicians takes power? “Then you search for their feet of clay.” Jack Ohman, editorial cartoonist at the Oregonian, said that cartoonists are “iconoclasts. You’re looking at a profession barely within journalism, let alone any other profession. They’re people who are distrustful of those in power and powerful institutions. We have an obligation to be explicable; we don’t have an obligation to be fair.”

Ohman thinks that The Post’s Tom Toles is september 28, 2008 “the most original cartoonist working by far. His drawing looks so different from everyone the life of an artist. Change needs to come from artists and else. He has his own style, great tone, and he draws deceptively dead-on caricatures. He’s not screaming at you all the time.” writers. Not the state.” Toles said that his best ideas come from “a point that needs Most complainers thought that the Oliphant cartoon to be made. I try to see what is out of whack, what’s not right, appeared in print. It didn’t. I showed it to several Post and attack that. Not every cartoon can be fair. I don’t expect editors. While it was clever in some ways, most editors — readers to see them as fair.” However, it’s “not my agenda to including me — would not have run it. The Post has a policy run up against taste issues, especially if it’s not germane or it’s against defaming or perpetuating racial, religious or ethnic a hot-button issue that generates more heat than light.” stereotypes. That was why The Post did not run the Danish He has three or four ideas every day and runs them past cartoons about the prophet Muhammad. Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt. Hiatt gives him some Oliphant wasn’t surprised that it didn’t run in print. “Many guidance, but Toles decides what he will draw, which is true publications are too timid” to run some of his work, he said, of most of the best cartoonists. Hiatt hasn’t vetoed a cartoon but “the Web is giving us more of a solid venue.” since Toles came to The Post in 2002, replacing the venerable Hiatt and his deputy, Jackson Diehl, decide what cartoons Herblock. are run in Saturday’s Drawing Board on the op-ed page. Ann Telnaes started in print and is a pioneer in animated The online world is different. Syndicated cartoons are not editorial cartoons; she does three a week for washingtonpost. chosen at washingtonpost.com; they are posted through an com. Her cartoons use the voices of the people they’re automatic feed, said the Web site’s executive editor, Jim Brady. skewering, and the audio drives her cartooning. “We’re “I have always opted for the approach that we should not limit supposed to criticize people in power,” she said. She, too, is a the cartoonist’s freedom of speech. We prefer to present the liberal, but sees “a lot of young ones coming up who are right cartoon and allow the reader the choice to read or to express or moderate.” their own freedom of speech if they’re bothered or offended Scott Stantis of the Birmingham News is conservative and by it.” libertarian; he draws daily political cartoons as well as the One cartoon aside, I deeply appreciate editorial cartoonists; comic strip “Prickly City,” which runs in The Post. “For me, they are powerful molders of opinion — with either a laugh or being a conservative-libertarian makes the most sense for a sock in the gut. n

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program

Academic Content Standards

This lesson addresses academic content standards of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Maryland Virginia Washington, D.C.

Government: The student will Civics and Economics: The student Social Studies, Government: demonstrate an understanding of the will demonstrate knowledge of Students evaluate issues regarding historical development and current citizenship and the rights, duties, and campaigns for national, state status of the fundamental concepts responsibilities of citizens by and local elective offices. (12.6, and processes of authority, power, d) examining the responsibilities of Elections and the Political Process) and influence, with particular citizenship, including registering 3. Evaluate the roles of polls, emphasis on the democratic skills and voting, communicating with campaign advertising, and the and attitudes necessary to become government officials, participating in controversies over campaign responsible citizens. (Standard 1, political campaigns, keeping informed funding. Political Systems) about current issues, and respecting 4. Describe the means that citizens differing opinions in a diverse society. use to participate in the political Selection of National and Maryland state e) evaluating how civic and social duties process (voting campaigning, leaders: Electoral College and address community needs and serve lobbying ...). election/appointment processes the public good (CE.3d, e) (1.1.2, Assessment limits) Social Studies, Government: Students The student will explain roles and Civics and Economics: The student will evaluate and take and defend analyze strategies individuals or demonstrate knowledge of the political positions on the influence of the groups may use to initiate change in process at the local, state, and national media on American Political Life. governmental policy and institutions levels of government by (12.7, Elections and the Political • Political parties, interest groups, a) describing the functions of political Process) lobbyists, candidates, citizens, parties. 1. Discuss the meaning and and the impact of the media on b) comparing the similarities and importance of a free and elections, elected officials and differences of political parties. responsible press. public opinion. c) analyzing campaigns for elective 2. Describe the roles of broadcast, e) Evaluate the reliability and office, with emphasis on the role of the print, and electronic media, the influence of the media on media. including the Internet, as means elections, elected officials and d) examining the role of campaign of communication in American public opinion contributions and costs. (CE.5a-d) politics f) Describe the roles of political 3. Explain how public officials use parties in the United States U.S. Government: The student will the media to communicate with and how they influence elections, demonstrate knowledge of local, state the citizenry and to shape public elected officials and public and national elections by opinion. opinion a) describing the organization, role, and g) Describe how citizens, constituencies of political parties; candidates and campaign b) describing the nomination and financing influence the political election process; process in the United States c) examining campaign funding and i) Analyze how citizens make spending; d) analyzing the influence of informed decisions regarding media coverage, campaign advertising, candidates, issues and policies and public opinion polls (GOVT. 6) (1.1.4)

The Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum Standards of Learning currently in effect for Virginia Learning Standards for DCPS are found Content Standards can be found online at Public Schools can be found online at www.pen. online at www.k12.dc.us/dcps/Standards/ http://mdk12.org/mspp/vsc/index.html. k12.va.us/VDOE/Superintendent/Sols/home.shtml. standardsHome.htm.