Posted on 03/14/2006 11:29:16 AM PST by SmithL
BEVERLY HILLS - Facing a state audit and possible criminal investigation of the state commission he chaired, movie director Rob Reiner on Monday said his opponents are targeting him for attacks to avoid discussing the merits of the universal preschool initiative he put on the June ballot.
"They will do whatever it takes to knock this thing out," he said in an interview with The Bee. "So they will attack me because they know they can't talk about the initiative."
Opponents responded that they have discussed the shortcomings of Proposition 82, including their argument that raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for preschool for all 4-year-olds could harm the state economy.
"We are not the ones who have called for any investigations," said Joel Fox, the opposition campaign's co-chairman. "That has come from the legislators or the press."
But Reiner pointed out that the opposition campaign's original name was "Stop the Reiner Initiative."
"Stop Reiner!" he exclaimed. "Stop Reiner? Stop Reiner from what? From giving kids preschool?"
For the past three weeks, Reiner has been under fire from lawmakers because the First 5 California commission he chairs spent $23 million in taxpayer money on ads promoting preschool while Reiner was qualifying his "Preschool for All" initiative for the ballot.
Reiner sponsored Proposition 10, the 1998 initiative that created the commission he chairs and raised tobacco taxes to pay for early childhood programs.
"This money generated by Proposition 10 was not a private slush fund for Mr. Reiner to use," said Assemblyman Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks. "It appears that is what has transpired."
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Oh I agree!
I'll have the duck with the mango salsa.
They won't address the merit of his expansion of public schooling down to infants? Well, I will addresss it. Look at Cuba, comrade, and set out on a raft for Utopia right away.
A recent study has already debunked Reiner's claims.
When preschool aged children are subjected to many hours of schooling outside of the home it is actually harmful to their social development.
Children this age are "wired" for free play...not structured skills based learning.
It seems the old practice of one or two days a week for 2 to 3 hrs a day is still the best approach.
They get to meet other kids, play with them...but are still able to maintain that family bond at home.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Oh no! My goo!
He's spewing his nonsense at the California Press Club right now--on the California Channel.
So much spin already. :-/
Weintraub summarizes the event pretty well in his blog--"Reiner just doesn't get it"
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/insider/
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