Governor seeks halt to 'false' teacher ads

SACRAMENTO - Attorneys for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday demanded that radio stations immediately stop airing what they called "false" ads by the state's powerful teachers' union critical of the governor's education plans.

But the request appeared to have come one day too late. The ad in question, which accuses Schwarzenegger of cutting "school funding by billions," stopped running Tuesday, according to the California Teachers Association.

In its place, a broader coalition of education officials unveiled a spot Wednesday that criticizes Schwarzenegger for not keeping "his word to our students."

On Wednesday, Schwarzenegger took to the airwaves in a half-dozen radio interviews. He was asked each time about CTA's original ad that had been airing on more than 50 radio stations statewide since Jan. 18.

The governor is offering schools $2.9 billion more than last year in his proposed budget, but that's $2.3 billion less than schools anticipated under a deal struck last year.

Schwarzenegger said he predicted such opposition when he first proposed his far-reaching plans to revamp state government, including incentives for teachers and state workers and how boundaries of political districts are drawn.

"They will try to destroy my character, but I don't care because I was sent here to fix the problem and it's going to be a battle," he said in an interview on KFBK-AM Sacramento. "It makes no difference what they say."

But the pointed letter from the governor's lawyers Wednesday had a distinctly different tone.

"It's one thing to appreciate another side's view and enjoy the rough and tumble of politics," said Marty Wilson, a spokesman for the governor's political committee, the California Recovery Team, which sent the letter to radio station managers. "But it's quite another thing to run ads that mischaracterize the governor's intentions and the governor's record on education funding."

The letter from Thomas Hiltachk, an attorney for the governor's California Recovery Team says, "if the California Teachers Association cannot substantiate its claims (and it will not be able to), then you should demand that the ad be modified. If they refuse, you should refuse to run the ad."

Radio station managers were not immediately available Wednesday, but KCBS in San Francisco, for instance, said it had not yet received the letter.

A CTA spokeswoman said the union would stand by its claims even if the ads were still on the air. Schools are not receiving the amount of money they are guaranteed under the voter-approved minimum-funding guarantee, Proposition 98, and "that is a cut," said Sandra Jackson.

Jackson cited a recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California that found that 51 percent of Californians disapprove of the governor's approach to education.

Of course the teachers union is lying. They don't need facts that are contrary to their agenda. They've always been more interested in indoctrination than in education.

Nevertheless, they should be allowed to run their ads. Lying is an integral part of the political process. It is up to the voters to decide who they want to believe.

Teacher unions will always say they don't get enough money. It doesn't matter how much they get it will never be enough. There is strength in numbers and the more teachers that get employed the bigger the voting bloc.

Welcome to American politics, Mr. Schwarzennegger

4 posted on 02/10/2005 12:35:13 PM PST by Lekker 1 (A government policy to rob Peter to pay Paul can be assured of the support of Paul [G.B. Shaw])

Nevertheless, they should be allowed to run their ads. Lying is an integral part of the political process. It is up to the voters to decide who they want to believe.

Since it takes MONEY to buy ad time, the average shmuck(ette) will only hear one side. Seeing no challenge, (s)he will assume it must be true.

5 posted on 02/10/2005 12:37:01 PM PST by newgeezer (Just my opinion, of course. Your mileage may vary.)

I thought the conservative movement in general, and Governor S in particular, were very adept at raising money. I'm sure we can match the teacher's union without much difficulty.

7 posted on 02/10/2005 1:14:05 PM PST by JesseJane (KERRY: I have had conversations with leaders, yes, recently.That's not your business, it's mine.)

That's how we ended up funding Stem Cell Research. Michael J Fox used his celebrity to mislead people into believing if they voted for it, it would help people like him, and Chris Reeves.. But the joke and the cost, was on us. No, it's not okay to lie.

8 posted on 02/10/2005 1:19:54 PM PST by JesseJane (KERRY: I have had conversations with leaders, yes, recently.That's not your business, it's mine.)

The various state teachers' unions seem to hit daily lows in deceit, manipulation and propaganda.

Why don't they have a contest to see how low they can go?

But they can always go back to the legislatures and demand more money for their unlimited advertising budgets -- to demand more money.

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