Campaigning on Education: Democrats Target GOP, Tea Party

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., answers questions from women's group leaders at his campaign...

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., answers questions from women's group leaders at his campaign headquarters, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010 in Denver. Across the country Democratic candidates are targeting their opponents' education policies, hoping to sway independent voters away from the GOP.

(John Moore/Getty Images)

Republicans Say Democrats Attacks Are "Baseless"

The president's comments are a direct response to House Republicans' "Pledge to America," the GOP legislative agenda for the next Congress. In the pledge, released last month, Republicans outlined their intention to bring federal spending levels back down to where they were prior to the $787 billion Recovery Act and the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program for Wall Street.

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Republicans, however, argue they have not proposed how much they would spend on education.

"The president and his party are resorting to baseless claims in order to distract the public's attention from their fiscal recklessness and inability to even propose a budget this year. Republicans are focused on doing what's right for our children – that begins by stopping Washington's out-of-control spending spree," Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., the top Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee, said in a statement.

"Instead of having an honest discussion about bringing fiscal responsibility back to Washington, D.C.," Kline said, "the president is setting up a straw man with his claims about education funding."