DNC chairman’s school visit sparks anger among Portsmouth city officials

Foster's Online ^ | 12-17-2003 | PAT McGOWAN

[HapaxLegamenon]

DNC chairman’s school visit sparks anger among Portsmouth city officials By PAT McGOWAN

Democrat Staff Writer

PORTSMOUTH — Several city officials are furious over the Democratic National Committee chairman’s recent visit to Portsmouth High School, who they feel turned a social studies lesson into a one-sided bashing of President Bush.

After requesting to visit the school, Terry McAuliffe was allowed by Principal Forrest Ransdell to come to teach what the principal believed to be social studies classes on democracy and the political process. However, several city officials are livid over what they say turned into a biased Democratic view of Republican President Bush’s term of office.

During the presentation, McAuliffe told students that due to Bush’s mismanagement of the country, 70 percent of college graduates will not be able to find a job upon graduation. He also told students that if the war in Iraq continues as it has, there could be a reinstatement of the draft.

"He comes into the school and just says what he wants," City Councilor Bill St. Laurent said. "At what point does he stop his politicking to the point of scare tactics? Saying that the draft may come back, and kids cant find jobs, those are scare tactics. He is out trying to get votes. This is taxpayers money, excuse me, but this is my tax dollar and I don’t want to use my tax dollar for his pulpit."

St. Laurent said there should be a measure of checks and balances in such presentations, limiting speakers to a nonpartisan discussion.

"I am just furious. I am not saying that he can come in and bash the president and then the Republicans come in and praise the president," St. Laurent said.

"I don’t have a problem with it as long as they represent each party, be it my side or either," City Councilor Evelyn Marconi said. "I think something just really got out of hand, and I think what happened is he spoke out of turn."

According to school Superintendent Lyonel Tracy, McAuliffe was allowed to speak to the students by Principal Forrest Ransdell as a civic lesson.

"If other representatives contacted us, we would act similarly," Tracy said. "To deprive our kids of the opportunity of seeing democracy in action would be a disservice to them. The trick is that we don’t exploit these kids for their own partisan agendas."

Tracy said Republicans, Democrats, and independents have frequently come to the school to talk to students.

"Unfortunately we don’t always have control over what people say once they are introduced," Tracy said.

Aiming to ease tensions, School Board member Raimond Bowles has asked New Hampshire Republican state chairman Jayne Millerick to also speak to the social studies classes.

"All I have been trying to do is to be a sense of balance," Bowles said. "Our high school students are more than capable of making up their own minds. I have decided from the outset to get a counterpart, a titled Republican official, so that she can respond to the comments of McAuliffe on that day."

It has yet to be confirmed whether Millerick will be allowed admittance to speak by Ransdell.

[Puppage]

He also told students that if the war in Iraq continues as it has, there could be a reinstatement of the draft.

Nice to see the rats get back to what they do best....SCARE TACTICS.

[gunnedah]

These fanatic SOB's will stoop to any kind of low and the person that authorized this should be suspended without pay.
Partisan politics should never be allowed in schools.

[Steve_Seattle]

Anyone in the school district who thought that they could trust Terry McAuliffe to speak at a high school without turning it into a partisan bash-Bush opportunity needs to have his or her head examined.

[Egon]

After requesting to visit the school, Terry McAuliffe was allowed by Principal Forrest Ransdell to come to teach what the principal believed to be social studies classes on democracy and the political process.

I'm assuming the principal must be a Democrat. Otherwise, there's not a chance in hell that he would be surprised. Either that, or he's lying. ...or more likely both.

[Callahan]

Poor Terry's message of doom and gloom isn't going over well with the adult public so he takes his bile straight to the young. Glad to see these school officials speak up.

[Leavemealone]

I guess this principal never heard of Paul Wellstone?

[princess leah]

FIRE that incompetent liberal hack Superintendent! If I were a parent, I'd yank my kids out of there yesterday and encourage everyone I know to do the same...no school, no pay for superintendent!

[jalisco555]

Not only did he use typical Dem scare tactics in an inappropriate forum he showed he's an idiot as well. All he did was create more Republican voters by angering a townful of people.

[UCANSEE2]

Yeah. A "and no partisan politics, or I kick your ass, and you will never speak in any school again", would have sufficed.

Anyone who asks Terry McAuliffe to speak,and doesn't expect the worst, would have to be totally ignorant.

(so, this person being in the education system, and being apparently politically ignorant means....?)

I mean, come on, Terry is known as the SPINMEISTER.

It would be like inviting EMINEM to the school, and surprised if he discusses RAP.

[Callahan]

I wouldn't let a slug like McCauliffe anywhere near my kid. However, I would let my kid slug McCauliffe.

[Onelifetogive]

Partisan politics should never be allowed in schools.

If they eliminated "partisan politics" from public schools, that would free-up seven or eight hours a day for topics such as reading, writing and arithmetic. The students then might actually learn something about these topics. Where would the Dims be then??? This will NEVER be allowed to happen!

[RWR8189]

To deprive our kids of the opportunity of seeing democracy in action would be a disservice to them

Exactly how does the chairman of a political party represent democracy?

[OldFriend]

Neither Terry McAuliff or anyone else in the demonrat party represents democracy in action. Quite the contrary.

[Spiff]

A local school district sent busloads of 8th graders to yesterday's anti-Bush hatefest/Howard Dean rally in Sierra Vista, Arizona. At the hatefest, Dean supporters beat up a man carrying a sign questioning Howard Dean's service history.

See this thread for more info.

[theDentist]

"... there could be a reinstatement of the draft."

And who's pushing for a reinstatement? Top Democrats. Who's resisting it? Republicans.

[HardStarboard]

>>>Partisan politics should never be allowed in schools.<<

Tell that to the NEA.

If such a policy was adopted, 75% (and I'm being conservative) of the school teachers wouldn't be allowed in the doors!

[BamaAndy]

The chairman of the Republican party should now be invited in order to straighten out the record with the truth. terry hasn't said a word if he doesn't lie. Outrageous... how dare the superintendent foster this bull on kids. They are taking us to a revolution slowly and surely--we'll have to in order to restore a true constitutional government.

[RWR8189]

I guess I should count myself among the extremely lucky, at my son's high school, both of his history teachers, and this year his economics/government teacher are conservative Republicans. This is a public school in the Chicago burbs.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Didn't they have any local politicians to invite who are also full of feces?

[VOYAGER]

After requesting to visit the school, Terry McAuliffe was allowed by Principal Forrest Ransdell to come to teach what the principal believed to be social studies classes on democracy and the political process.

However, several city officials are livid over what they say turned into a biased Democratic view of Republican President Bush’s term of office.

The second mistake these school officials made was to allow this lying Clinton butt licker on campus.

The third mistake that was made was to force these students to be present when this lying Clinton butt licker opened his lying mouth.

More importantly the first mistake was to believe this lying Clinton butt licker was any different from the main body of the Democrat Liberal America last crowd and would not lie against the truth.

These America last pukes care nothing about what people think of them personally or their party's plan for America as long as they are allowed to spew their filthy lies which they hope will win the election.

[new cruelty]

"... This is taxpayers money, excuse me, but this is my tax dollar and I don’t want to use my tax dollar for his pulpit."

You tell 'em Bill!

Aiming to ease tensions, School Board member Raimond Bowles has asked New Hampshire Republican state chairman Jayne Millerick to also speak to the social studies classes.

There is no doubt that Jayne Millerick will out class mcauliffe.

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[randog]

"Unfortunately we don’t always have control over what people say once they are introduced," Tracy said.

Really? If someone started cussing like a foul-mouthed sailor, the school administration would be powerless to stop him? Bulls***!

[Grut]

I'm assuming the principal must be a Democrat.

Not necessarily. Since he's a school administrator, there's also a good chance he's just an idiot.

[crv16]

This does not surprise me. The HS where this happened is in one of the most liberal cities in New Hampshire -- Portsmouth.

One would think administrators in other parts of the state would not allow this form of blatant politicing.

[Uncle Hal]

Everybody connected to this should be fired, including the principal and the school board. To let this slime bag in their and allow him to indoctrinate these students with this garbage is inexcusable.

[TexasCajun]

Rush is Right!

Terrie is a PUNK and needs a good ole fashion ass-whooping!

[Lancey Howard]

Funny. In most schools, it is the social studies teachers who stand around bashing Republicans. The kids probably thought McAuliffe was just some substitute.

In any event, this crass exploitation of high school kids by the Democrat chairman was disgraceful, and McAuliffe was an idiot not to foresee the backlash. Now the Republicans need to make him and the Democrats pay mightily for their stupidity. I hope the Republican chair Jayne Millerick shows up and teaches the kids in a totally professional and non-partisan way about civics, calmly answering McAuliffe's wild-eyed charges, and drawing as sharp a contrast as possible between civilized Republican behavior and crass Democrat behavior.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

During the presentation, McAuliffe told students that due to Bush’s mismanagement of the country, 70 percent of college graduates will not be able to find a job upon graduation. He also told students that if the war in Iraq continues as it has, there could be a reinstatement of the draft.

The moral of the story is...never deal with a RAT. He will always be a RAT...

[lorrainer]

And they won't let the kids have any kind of religious expression in schools....doesn't this qualify as promoting some sort of satanism?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I have decided from the outset to get a counterpart, a titled Republican official, so that she can respond to the comments of McAuliffe on that day."

This oughta be good, now that the Patriot Act, Homeland Security, Medicare Drug Benefits, and McClown-Swinegold are the law of the land. Conservative students, plug your ears once more, please...

[Fenris6]

Somebody tell the High School:

This is now an excellent opportunity to teach how Athens fell to demagogues and sophists. Thanks again Terry :)

[danneskjold]

Tracy said Republicans, Democrats, and independents have frequently come to the school to talk to students.

"Unfortunately we don’t always have control over what people say once they are introduced," Tracy said.

Wonder how long it would take them to "control" what someone was saying if the discussion was on Christianity...

[jocon307]

"70 percent of college graduates will not be able to find a job upon graduation."

SEVENTY? This is such a preposterous number it's not even worth getting upset about. Nobody would beleive this. Even during the Great Depression unemployement was no where near 70%.

This party isn't having a crack-up, they are into full blown implosion.

It's so fun!

[JusPasenThru]

This just in: McAwful is a buttmuncher. Film at 11.

[X-USAF]

Young, impressionable minds might.

Elsewise, why do you think that liberalism flourishes in the college/university enviroment?

[Bringbackthedraft]

Back when I was a kid they told us that Dewey would add saturday to the school week. Seems nothing has changed in their MO.

[fly_so_free]

Uhhhh, got news for ya- The DNC chairman is not the only one using scare tactics at school. The schools themselves, tell kids these type of things and try to scare them.

My neighbor's 18 year old son is an example. He thinks he's going to be drafted any day now, and says he won't be able to go to college,or, find a good job. He's a walking ad for the DNC. He spouts their jargon like a broken record.

I keep trying to talk to him and help him to think for himself. I ask him who told him he's going to be drafted, or can't go to college or find a good job, and he always says "someone at school", or "somebody who came to the school" told him this.

Naturally, he goes to public school.

[arasina]

Dump the principal. He's not doing his job if he allows political propaganda to be a part of the school curriculum.

[JayNorth]

I'm assuming the principal must be a Democrat. Otherwise, there's not a chance in hell that he would be surprised. Either that, or he's lying. ...or more likely both.

Democrat = Lying

[DUMBGRUNT]

"Tracy said Republicans, Democrats, and independents have frequently come to the school to talk to students."

I would like to see a list of who and when.

[SwinneySwitch]

Why not invite RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie if they want to be fair?

http://www.rnc.org/Newsroom/Speeches/GillespieNH031203.htm

[weegee]

Aiming to ease tensions, School Board member Raimond Bowles has asked New Hampshire Republican state chairman Jayne Millerick to also speak to the social studies classes.

Why didn't they invite the head of the GOP instead of a state chairman?

[CyberAnt]

"we don’t always have control over what people say once they are introduced"

YES YOU DO! The principal should TELL THE SPEAKERS what their limitations are .. not assume the speaking will be fair and balanced.

[weegee]

Tell him that the next time a left winger comes to campus and says "question authority, challenge the president" he should extend that "question authority" to question the motives of those commanding him to question it. Many are communists.

May sound harsh but much of the "anti(American)war" movement was socialist sponsored. Some participants may have been red dupes, unaware of the backing agencies, but that was their own fool fault.

[weegee]

Let John F****n Kerry speech in his "colorful" tongue and just see if the microphone doesn't get shut off...

[Tempest]

"During the presentation, McAuliffe told students that due to Bush’s mismanagement of the country, 70 percent of college graduates will not be able to find a job upon graduation. He also told students that if the war in Iraq continues as it has, there could be a reinstatement of the draft. "

*Ahem* Yep. . . there is no differene between a Republican and a Democrat. . .< /sarcasm>

[weegee]

Maybe this was the Paul Wellstone Pep Rally Part II. Did they have a balloon drop this time?

[fightu4it]

"After requesting to visit the school, Terry McAuliffe was allowed by Principal Forrest Ransdell to come to teach what the principal believed to be social studies classes on democracy and the political process."

I thought that schools, if they felt the need, invited people to speak. They should have been somewhat concerned when the leader of a political party requests to speak to a bunch of impressionable kids.

What is Principal Ransdell's personal political view? Does it happen to meld with McAuliffe's?