I will protect your pensions. Nothing about your pension is going to change when I am governor. - Chris Christie, "An Open Letter to the Teachers of NJ" October, 2009

Monday, April 2, 2012

War On Teachers=War On Women, Jersey Style

Josh Henne points out how Governor Christie seems to have a problem with women:
March is Women’s History Month. Unfortunately, it’s worth noting that Gov. Chris Christie’s own public history with women — through both word and deed — is pockmarked with marginalization, mockery and even malice.
It’s been this way right from the start. In 2010, with the stroke of a pen, Gov. Christie eliminated a $7.4 million budget line that provided basic reproductive health services. This money helped support critical care and cancer screenings for more than 135,000 patients. It covered clinical breast exams and Pap tests. When cutting this line item, Christie said it was necessary for “fiscal discipline.” Yet, research shows family planning saves taxpayers approximately $3.75 for every $1 that’s invested. So, when Christie eliminated the funding, it myopically meant New Jersey taxpayers could essentially be on the hook for an additional $28 million in Medicaid spending.
Read the whole thing. I'd only add that Christie's War on Teachers is clearly an outgrowth of this misogynistic bent. You don't think it's merely a coincidence that he keeps going after the only public sector union whose membership is three-quarters women, do you?

Believe it.

8 comments:

Lisa said...

Considering that our governor has not demonized, criticized, and shown such utter disrespect for the law enforcement profession and its union as it has for the teaching profession and its union, I think it's interesting and relevant to note that, although I hope this changes in my children's lifetime, the law enforcement profession is still predominately men and the teaching profession is still primarily women.

Additionally, in Wisconsin, a Republican led state making national headlines, also taking its cues from the same Republican governors' playbook s our own gov, revoked collective bargaining for teachers unions only and not the police and firefighters union (also a predominantly male profession). I should note that a Wisconsin court struck down that law last week as being discriminatory for the very reason that it didn't apply to all public sector unions.

I wonder if the current flight of women from Republicans as shown in all polls over the past month has taken, or will take hold in NJ. Since 53% of the voting electorate are women, it's very difficult for a candidate to win without the women's voting bloc.

Things that make you go hmmmmm...

Anonymous said...

Once again....the Jazzman site gives the greatest boost to the education reform movement of any web entity in NJ by hate-mongering and casting the NJEA in the worst possible light. You are so insular in your jargon and so blind to man-on-the-street reality about NJ's failing inner city schools that Chris Christie probably underwrites your whole effort as a means to show the worst of NJ teachers. The same three people will pat you on the back, and the hundreds of others will be appalled at the revelation of the coarse behavior of the union "professionals."

Remember when the NJEA used to be "For the Children". That was good propaganda. Left in the dust and trampled on by Jazzman et al.

Who was that teachers union guy that said "When kids start to pay union dues I'll care about them?" Not exact quote...who was that guy, Duke?

Anonymous said...

Anon troll, your desperation is genuinely funny. Do you think anyone - especially Duke - would buy this feeble attempt at reverse psychology? Sorry, educators are typically a sharper lot than, say, former night-life editors.

Snore city, troll. Maybe you should hit up your pals at ALEC for some better talking points.

Anonymous said...

At this point, the troll is just engaging in some rather obvious and crude teacher baiting, very similar to the tactics of Joe McCarthy. He wants to judge all NJ schools based on inner city schools. Never mind that overall and on average, NJ schools rank in the top tier of schools in the US.

A Nonny Mouse said...

Not to mention that the failing inner city schools ARE NOT populated by overwhelming numbers of "bad teachers"...

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure what posting a picture of a (I assume) teacher with a Moe Howard haircut holding foul-mouthed, crudely-made sign does to forward the cause of New Jersey's teachers. The word "professional" comes to mind.

Anonymous said...

Troll, I picture you with a "Larry" haircut and a "Moe" personality. You are right about the language though- it's a mistake if she is a teacher. We mustn't stoop to the level of certain elected officials.
And try to hide your sexism (or homophobia based on crude stereotypes?) --you only prove Duke's point! Do you comment on male haircuts?

Anonymous said...

Something tells me it's not the first time this particular troll has been caught making borderline sexist comments about a female educator's hair. Is it, DB?