Friday, March 26, 2004.

"I know I'm preaching to the choir, but what's this choir going to do when you return to your work sites?" asked Nat LaCour.

The American Federation of Teachers' executive vice president challenged delegates to the RA to get active in the 2004 presidential election.

He asked each person in the audience to get involved in the election process in three ways:

* Volunteer to help people register to vote, help send mailings and canvas voters;

* Participate in "Get-out-the-vote" activities; and

* Participate in the AFT's first-ever initiative asking each and every member to contribute to a presidential campaign.

The two pillars required to make change are organizing and political action, LaCour said.

The AFT leader said 60 percent of President Bush's tax cuts went to 1 percent of the wealthiest people in the country - "precious dollars" that could have helped to fund public education and pay for education mandates such as No Child Left Behind. LaCour called Bush's cuts a program that "leaves no millionaire behind."

"Our president said he favors accountability for schools," said LaCour. "Accountability doesn't just rest with the classroom, but with the presidential office."