Not so hard!!!!!!!!!!
That Bush Administration is so rough!!!!!!!!
- Joe Besser, Prototype Modern Liberal
Posted on 07/28/2004 11:52:20 AM PDT by FlyLow
Boston (CNSNews.com) - More than five months after Education Secretary Rod Paige compared the National Education Association to a "terrorist organization," the union is still steaming over the remark for which Paige immediately apologized.
The union's executive director, John I. Wilson, mentioned Paige's remark during a "Take Back America" rally for liberal activists on Tuesday. The event was organized by the Campaign for America's Future.
Wilson encouraged the hundreds of liberals in attendance to join with the NEA and liberal groups such as MoveOn.org and the Campaign for America's Future to organize "house parties" on Sept. 22 with a focus on education.
"This administration has been so mean-spirited about what they believe in for education and exclusionary in meeting with those who really have the ears and heart of teachers," Wilson told CNSNews.com after the rally. "You can't ignore the National Education Association and its 2.7 million members and think that the teachers of America are going to follow you."
Even before Wilson spoke to attendees, Robert L. Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America's Future, cited the Paige remark to elicit a reaction from the crowd.
It took Paige only a matter of hours on Feb. 23 to apologize for the remark, yet the NEA and opponents of President Bush have continued to talk about it. MoveOn.org even issued a petition calling on Paige to resign.
In recent weeks, NAACP Chairman Julian Bond has used similar language in referring to Republicans, comparing them to the terrorist Taliban who once ruled Afghanistan. Bond's comments, however, went largely unnoticed.
During his address at Tuesday's rally, Wilson chastised the Bush administration for not pouring enough federal money into schools and teacher salaries. Afterward, he dismissed Republican claims that Bush advocated for more education spending.
"When you go back and look at what George Bush proposed for funding," Wilson said, "it's about half or one-quarter of what ended up being funded because of the influence of Democrats and moderate Republicans."
Bush has overseen a massive increase in spending - more than $15 billion - yet he continues to be attacked for not providing enough under the No Child Left Behind Act. Some states have left millions unspent, according to one Massachusetts study.
As for working with a future Republican administration, Wilson said the NEA would be open to the possibility, even though the union has now aligned itself with MoveOn.org, a group designed to discredit Republicans and Republican policies.
"There are a lot of Republican friends we have in Congress and the U.S. Senate we've endorsed because we know education has to be bipartisan," Wilson said.
bipartisan is just another name for nothing left to lose.
W signs Uncle Teddy's edumacation bill and this is the thanks he gets. I guess appeasment really doesn't work.
"This administration has been so mean-spirited about what they believe in for education and exclusionary in meeting with those who really have the ears and heart of teachers," Wilson told CNSNews.com after the rally. "You can't ignore the National Education Association and its 2.7 million members and think that the teachers of America are going to follow you."
The NEA does NOT have the ears and heart of the teachers. They have sytematically forced teachers who do not want to be a part of the union to join by making agreements with school administrations.
The front page of the Wall Street Journal has an article titled "Nonunion Teacher Groups Cost NEA Membership and Clout." Rival nonunion groups total 250,000 vs the NEA 2.7 million, I was pleasantly surprised ar that number. 18 states have these groups - mostly rural and suburban area.
I was telling my neighbors (with school aged children) about the NEA showing Farenheit 9/11 at their Conference and they were shocked. Most parents have their head in the sand about this group- sad.
BTW, 6% of the DNC delegates are NEA members.
And education is all about self esteem isn't it? Let's just throw more money at it.
That's the problem with a lot of Washington Republicans. They are so afraid of offending anyone, and they have to be so PC, they will apologize after saying something that is true.
The NEA is a terrorist organization. Why apologize for speaking the truth?
Arnold called California Democrats GIRLIE MEN, and he did not apologize for saying it. If Republicans would act like MEN instead of wimps, the party would get a lot more respect.
Is anyone selling tee shirts that say "Mean Spirited" on the front? And if so, where can I get one?
THE NEA does not want to be ACCOUNTABLE for their teaching skills. They are lazy and uncaring about students, more concerned with their 401K's and who's bringing the cake this week for so and so's birthday party in teacher's lounge than giving the student's what they need. I want accountability of what they are teaching, less time to rant their communist agenda to students.
Not so hard!!!!!!!!!!
That Bush Administration is so rough!!!!!!!!
- Joe Besser, Prototype Modern Liberal
I never thought of my boss wanting me to be competent and do my job as being "mean spirited".
No child left behind is the best thing that could happen to our failing educational system.
Well, the NEA hurts students with their emphasis on indoctrination over education.
It's Bush's fault for allowing H.R. 1 (No Child Left Behind Act of 2001) to pass in the Senate. 87 Yea, 10 Nay and 3 Not Voting. NEA should to take a field trip to Washington D.C. to see how bills are passed. When I hear the teachers bashing Bush, I will show them my HR 1 document. If you don't like the bill, blame your Senators!
....the dems platform mentions "rigourous new incentives and tests for NEW teachers"
I guess existing teachers are exempt?
the whole problem IS the NEA.
Union protectionism at taxpayers expense. They are more worried about their piece of the pie than quality education. This is where I draw my line with unions when they become monopoly fat cats.
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