Education: Public school reform should be a priority, how to do that. Thompson said that the responsibility of fixing education needs to be on the local level. McCain said that choice and competition are the key. Poor teachers should be fired and poor schools should be closed. Sounds like he wants to privatize education. Romney said we have a good model already. Teaching children English is a key to success as is testing based on standards. Better teachers should be payed better (merit pay).

Huckabee, how to stop high Latino dropout rate? Huckabee said many kids fail because they are bored. That we need not just math and English but also music and art. Giuliani reminded everyone that he’s a result of Catholic schools (and Jesus is still kicking himself over it I’m sure). Giuliani is using his example to promote school choice.

Duncan used the name of Jaime Escalante of Stand and Deliver fame. Duncan said that the tenure system needs to be gotten rid of.

Last question: What role do you feel Latinos will play in the development of the U.S. society? Huckabee gave an American dream mini-speech. Duncan said he wants Latinos to become Republican , using Reagan’s intervention in El Salvador as an example. Thompson said that the Latino community defends rights and that they have a strong work ethic. He cited heterosexual marriage and family values. So apparently we’re all homophobes. McCain said we enrich the culture with our food and music and our spirit against countries we left behind like Cuba and Venezuela. Yes, Cuba held up as the big bad wolf, again. Ron Paul said that we all need to unite to return to original constitutional values. Giuliani said that Latinos have risen to great heights, they are leaders of their families and they work hard. He cited Cuban-Americans as the greatest example. Serious gusano ass kissing going on here. The sky’s the limit for Latinos and all people Giuliano said. Romney said that we need all “Americans”. That it’s a shame that so many people have decided to have children without marriage and we need Latino family values to fix that.