by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

And he did it in front of a tough crowd, the National Education Association, which opposes the concept.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama today endorsed the idea of merit pay for teachers before an audience hostile to the idea, the giant National Education Association, but he softened the blow by telling the union's national assembly that he would not use "arbitrary tests" to link pay to performance.

"I think there should be ways for us to work with the NEA, with teachers' unions, to figure out a way to measure success," Obama told a crowd of about 9,000 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. "I want to work with teachers. I'm not going to do it too you, I'm going to do it with you."

It was a measure of Democrat Obama's rock-star appeal that he did not draw any hisses with the pronouncement, and even got scattered applause. Obama's endorsement of merit pay for teachers was the first note deviating from the promise-anything tenor of visits by several presidential candidates to the union this week.

Obama also took the opportunity to call for "across the board" pay increases for teachers and added incentives for those who are willing to work in low-performing schools. He re-affiirmed his opposition to No Child Left Behind, saying he would not support it's reauthorization, an issue of major concern to the NEA.

by blogswarm [courtesy of Calitics: Soapblox California - Front Page]

Tonight's party is going to be huge. But not nearly as huge as the rock star treatment Congressman McNerney and Charlie Brown are received. They are getting mobbed in the hallways, huge applause when they speak and many of the conversations involve the potential of a Special Election in the fourth congressional district.

California Democrats are fired up and the appears to be nearly universal agreement that we simply must win these to seats. These two are the toast of the convention and everyone is excited about their people-powered campaigns.

So even if you can't join us tonight, please make a contribution and be part of the movement to win both seats!