Romney Promises to Cut Big Bird's Funding

Todd Pitt/USA Today

Watch out, Big Bird!  Mitt's out to get you.  During the debates October 3, Romney told moderator Jim Lehrer, “I’m sorry Jim. I’m gonna stop the subsidy to PBS. I’m gonna stop other things. I like PBS, I like Big Bird, I actually like you too.” He then made mention that he didn't want to borrow any more money from China to fund non-essential programs.  What a surprise!  This from the guy who thinks that when people expect food, health care, and housing, it identifies them as having a victim's mentality.



It seems Romney doesn't understand that an extremely small portion of Sesame Street's funding comes from the Federal Government.  Most of the budget comes from charitable donations, corporate funding and underwriting, and its licensed products.  Don't worry, folks!  We won't need that extra money from China.

The saddest part about Romney's comment is his ignorance of the impact it has on early learning and preparing children for school.  We need more non-essential expenditures like Sesame Street because our nation's test results do not measure up in global results.  In fact, some third wold nations score higher in math and science than American students.  The tax cuts that Romney touts as the answer to our nation's woes will only cause education to suffer more than it already does.  If this nation wastes the potential of students who live in poverty, it causes great harm to building an essential well-educated work force for the future.

Romney's privileged life has blinded him to the plight of a large percentage of people who are unemployed or underemployed and can't make ends meet.  Stop picking on Big Bird, Mr. Romney!  Spend a few nights on the streets of big cities if you want to face the reality of people who are losing hope.  For that matter, spend a few nights in many of our nation's small towns, and you'll experience hardship and decay second-hand.