An Excerpt from "Big Ideas From Boring Old Stump Speeches" Today's throwaway campaign lines often wind up as tomorrow's best programs. By Jonathan Alter | NEWSWEEK Dec. 31, 2007 - Jan. 7, 2008 issue  

"Education is another area ripe for sleeper issues. In early 2007, when he was an asterisk in the polls, Huckabee distinguished himself from the rest of the Republican field in part by discussing the importance of art and music education in the schools. He explained how right-brain development is important not just to enrich the lives of students but to inspire the creativity necessary to help the United States keep its edge in the global economy.

At about the same time, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson sounded the same note in his stump speech as part of his call to end No Child Left Behind. Huckabee's surge has little or nothing to do with this fresh idea, and it won't resurrect Richardson's campaign. But both Clinton and Obama now mention the subject by way of explaining why they think No Child has tilted too far in the direction of testing. It's a strong applause line. Don't be surprised if a lot more money for art and music turns up in an education bill a couple of years from now.

The lesson is that some of what's said in presidential politics really matters, even if the candidate saying it doesn't win."

Arts advocates nationwide applauded Iowa voters for selecting candidates with strong support for the arts.  Arts advocates were very pleased to see that the Iowa Caucus winners, Senator Barack Obama (D) and Governor Mike Huckabee (R), have made extensive policy statements in support of the arts and arts education.  Senator Obama has written two policy briefs outlining his support, and Governor Huckabee has made policy statements and has been extremely vocal for years about his support for improving arts education throughout the country.  Their campaign materials on the arts are available online at www.ArtsVote.org.  Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards also have statements in support of the arts.

At the Arts Forum on Thursday, November 29th Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann challenged the audience to learn more about the Presidential candidates' views on the arts by posing three questions to them on the campaign trail. The primary may be over in NH, but you can still ask these important questions when the candidates come to your state. These questions are:  

1. How will you respond to the needs of individual cultural practitioners and working artists?

2. What policies and platforms will you implement to assure that a vibrant and sustainable creative industry thrives in each of our cities?

3. To what extent will arts education initatives be prioritized in your administration's agenda?