Nelva Sosa-Slagle. (File photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)

EDINBURG, Aug. 15 - Five days after his 49th birthday, President Obama launched a two-city trip to Texas with the goal of teaching the most important lesson in life: learn, excel and collaborate.

It began when the Air Force One landed in Austin before 11:45 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 9. Accompanied by former Dallas Mayor and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Obama walked down the stairs to shake hands with well-wishers. One of them was Governor Rick Perry who had rejected to apply for Race To The Top funding and attempted to give him a letter on border security in an awkward moment.

To observers, this was another ploy magnified by campaigns, the media and his opponent’s absence despite of the explanations provided by the White House spokesperson Bill Burton and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White himself. Nevertheless, some supporters were extremely disappointed with the latter’s decision to the point of one asserting: “He (White) is taking our vote for granted in a state he plans to govern!”

This sentiment diminished somewhat as President Obama arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel for a DNC luncheon fundraiser. In the presence of party leaders, donors, politicians and activists, he was introduced by Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate Linda Chavez-Thompson, the daughter of immigrants, a cotton field laborer and a non-college graduate with a record of practical leadership. Her remarks in conjunction with his ‘let’s move forward’ speech had former gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez among others focused, raised approximately one million dollars, and set the stage for the substance of the lesson.

After being introduced by doctoral candidate Rian Carkhum at the University of Texas at Austin Gregory Gymnasium, he cited the United States as ranking 12th globally in higher educational attainment to stress (1) the linkage between education and economics in policymaking, (2) the role of the federal government, and (3) his three-pong strategy for reforming the system. This included the need for an affordable education, preparedness of students for the workforce, and completion of a degree. For leaders at any level, this would entail achieving the goal of 8 million more college graduates by 2020 as an investment in human capital.

This resonated well for many of the nearly 4,000 students, city officials, state legislators and special guests embraced President Obama warmly by nodding, smiling, hugging and shaking hands with him before he departed to Dallas for a DSCC fundraiser at the home of Russell Budd. Two who had met with him privately expanded on his closing remarks: “Education and opportunity go hand in hand if Texans adopt a long-term view without sacrificing quality. This is the lesson the president wants us to learn.”

Nelva Sosa-Slagle is a founder member of the South Texas Democrats For Obama group and a resident of Edinburg, Texas.

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