Advocacy for children's issues is a go-to political device in every presidential campaign. But never, perhaps, more than this one as both Sen. Hillary Clinton (with the Children's Defense Fund) and Barack Obama (with community organizing) have had personal experiences that touch on the matter.
So who is best equipped to aid children? Well, not surprisingly, both.
The Children's Defense Fund recently released its yearly report card. And in it, Clinton received a rating of 70 percent for her votes on ten key legislative issues. Obama, scored slightly lower at 60. But each Senator, representatives of CDF note, were hurt not by philosophical disagreements but congressional absenteeism. Obama missed four report card votes, Clinton three.
"Both of them have a pretty good reputation," said Ed Shelleby, a spokesman for the organization. "Obviously Senator Clinton use to work here 35 years ago and was a board member as well. Obama also has had a pretty good history of child advocacy, so he has a good score as well."
Clinton and Obama's potential general election opponent did not receive such high merits. Sen. John McCain was rated the worst legislature in the Senate in regards to children's issues, having been given a paltry grade of ten percent.
"Some was absenteeism," said Shelleby, "some of it was votes." McCain did miss eight of the ten votes the Children Defense Fund considered.
Among the votes considered by CDF include: increasing minimum wage, increasing funding for education for children with disabilities, protecting children from unsafe medications (Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act), and extending health coverage to children (The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act).
Below are the past grades the Children's Defense Fund has given to each candidate:
2005 (released in '06 for votes in '05)
Sen. Clinton: 100 %
Sen. Obama: 100 %
Sen. McCain: 22 %
2006 (released in '07 for votes in '06)
Sen. Clinton: 90 %
Sen. Obama: 100 %
Sen. McCain: 10 %