Even middle class families in Baltimore try to avoid the public schools, according to Baltimore native and commentator Dan Diamond. But here’s how he put it in a recent radio hit on WTOP: “Many public schools in Baltimore are so underfunded that families with any money — they try and send their kids to private school.”

Comedian and commentator Jon Stewart made a similar claim on his cable show last week: “If we are spending a trillion dollars to rebuild Afghanistan’s schools, we can’t, you know, put a little taste Baltimore’s way. It’s crazy.” Stewart got cheers, laughter and a big round of applause at that line. Clinton administration alumnus and news anchor George Stephanopoulos said “every single politician” makes a similar promise, “but it doesn’t happen.”