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

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Cory Booker Brings Reforminess To The Nation

If you had any doubts that the Democratic party is getting all reformy, this should put those to rest:
Newark Mayor Cory Booker is among a raft of Democratic Party leaders chosen to draft the party platform for the next four years, according to a report in the the National Journal.
The four-year tradition involves party leaders drafting a series of priorities or "planks" such as job creation, developing more renewable energy or immigration reform.Those priorities are codified at the national convention, which will be held from Sept. 3-6 in Charlotte, N.C.
Yes, folks, Supermayor will be helping to write the planks on education.

The guy who wants to do away with seniority for teachers.

The guy who welcomed Eli Broad's money into Newark to remake the public schools with a minimum of local input.

The guy who wants more charters and more vouchers, even if they lead to segregation by income, disability, or even race.

The guy who turned Zuck's bucks into a gravy train for his friends.

The guy who said of gutting tenure: "There is no greater urgency in my city," apparently unaware of his city's soaring murder rate.

The guy who got a paid consultant in his first mayoral campaign hired as the superintendent of schools; the same superintendent who overrides the will of the citizens elected by the people to ensure a system of charters replaces public schools in Newark.

The guy who endorsed a report that threw the teachers who serve the most difficult students to educate under a bus.

Yes, folks, that Cory Booker will be helping to write the planks on education. How do you think it will turn out?

Teachers, parents, students, and the rest of you who care about education, get one thing straight: there is a fight going on right now in the Democratic Party for the future of public education. Right now, the hedge fund managers and edu-preneurs and think-tanky types and reformyists are winning. What are you going to do if they get their way and turn against us once and for all? Go to the Republicans? Vote for Nader? Good luck with that.

I know you hate politics; too damn bad. This is a fight for the future of our students, our families, and our profession. When Democrats pull this crap, they need to hear from all of us, loud and clear:

Enough.

Politically savvy teachers are my kryptonite! 

7 comments:

Commuting Teacher said...

Thank you, Duke! I saw this coming for a while now, this man is not what he pretends to be. It's time he was made to answer for his misrepresentations.

The Perimeter Primate said...

And I'd expect he'll get brother Cary to help.

http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/schools-out/Content?oid=2725952

OTE admin said...

I am sure you are well aware of Cory's ties to the right-wing Bradley Foundation. I suspect Obama has similar ties though I can't prove it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdPACwRgw04

Required viewing if you haven't seen it.

Duke said...

Thx for posting that again, Susan. GF kicks serious tail on that vid.

Duke said...

PP, I swear to you, I didn't even know the guy had a brother! Holy cats, what a story. Thx for getting me hip to this!

Anonymous said...

I thought it kind of odd that Booker was picked. After all, Booker has been the recipient of more than half a million dollars from Romney (Bain Capital.) You know in politics you've got to dance with them what brung you.

babsc said...

Randi Weingarten, President of AFT, is a vice-chair of the Platform committee. Let's not forget that!