NEA wants Paige fired for 'terrorist' comment | Houston Chronicle

[Ediacara]

Feb. 24, 2004, 2:19PM
NEA wants Paige fired for 'terrorist' comment
Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- The National Education Association asked President Bush today to fire Education Secretary Rod Paige for calling the union a "terrorist organization."

Paige, who made the comment in a private meeting with governors Monday, later apologized for a poor choice of words but maintained the union uses "obstructionist scare tactics."

Reg Weaver, president of the union of 2.7 million teachers and other school workers, said today that those members deserve more than "unfair labels and mean-spirited apologies."

"We have heard from thousands of educators who came home from their schools on Monday to hear themselves and their professional organization referred to as 'terrorists' by the top federal education official," Weaver said.

"Our members say that once again this national leader has insulted them, this time beyond repair, with words filled with hatred -- and merely because they raised legitimate concerns about the president's so-called 'No Child Left Behind' law."

More at the Houston Chronicle

[LisaM]

1. I don't think he should be given the protection of a "private" meeting

Isn't it a national governor's conference? In what possible way can that be considered private?

[Politicub]

2. *'s admin never ceases to amaze me

The NEA represents those who teach our children! What kind of person is Paige to call it terrorist organization?

Though distasteful, it was one thing to call someone a terrorist as an insult before 9/11. It is beyond the pale in the post-9/11 world to brand someone a terrorist. Paige should be immediately fired.

If he had a shred of dignity, Paige would have already tendered his resignation. *'s choice to be silent on this (hiding behind his spokesperson), and instead holding a press conference to amend bigotry into the Constitution should tell people volumes about his character.

[Dudley_DUright]

3. Good, I was hoping they would call for his resignation

Paige is an idiot and a phony. He lied about the so called "Houston Education Miracle" and denigrates public education every chance he gets. He should resign immediately.

[SilasSoule]

4. How much coverage is this story gettng?

And why isn't this getting plastered wall-to-wall like every controversial comment that was made by Joycelyn Elders?

I heard nothing on NPR today and nobody at work had heard anything about it.

[Ediacara]

5. the story is just three hours old

and so far just on the Houston Chronicle's page, even though it's an AP article. Maybe by later tonight it'll be on every news site like Paige's "joke" yesterday...

[gristy]

16. 346 news.google hits and growing

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&scoring=d&edition=us&q=paige+nea+terrorist&btnG=Search+News

[Mithras61]

6. I don't know what concerns were raised...

and I fail to see how this could have been a "private" meeting between public officials regarding public policy, but setting all that aside for a moment...

The "No Child Left Behind" Act is one of the stupidest things to come out of this administration in the past three years. It is modeled on the (failed) Texas TAAS (TX Assesment of Academic Skills) program, which has been replaced with the (failing) Texas TAKS (TX Academic Knowledge & Skills) test. I call these programs failed & failing, because what they have primarily done is to reduce the ability of our children to compete with children from other states when it comes time to take the SAT or ACT. Standardized testing of our children has demonstrated repeatedly that this program is causing our school system to not educate our children because they are so busy learning how to pass this useless POS test!

Just to give an example of the sort of nonsense on this test, my son took a practice test about 6 weeks ago. One of the sections on reading comprehension compared coastal TX natives with plains natives from out west of Austin. The test didn't specifically tell the children that the Comanche tatooed themselves using knives & ashes, but did mention that the coastal tribe did this. When my son said that both the coastal tribe & Comanche tatooed themselves, it was marked wrong, because the test didn't provide that bit of info (which happens to be correct, by the way)! Effectively, what the test did was penalize my son for having knowledge beyond what was required!

From everything I've seen about this topic since I moved to Texas, high-stakes testing does more to cause stress and failure in the children that any other single thing that school does. Beyond that, it fails to take into account that high-stakes testing makes some people so nervous that they will fail simply because they can't think clearly under that much pressure. The whole thing about standards and testing for knowledge sounds great until you dig into it. If you had required subjects and to tests that met a reasonable level of difficulty scattered throughout the year, the schools would be much more successful, but that doesn't cause enough children to fail spectacularly!

[Zhade]

38. Penalizing knowledge. That's insane!

NCLB is just another tool for indoctrination.

God, I hate that man. My son is going to start kindergarten this year. Fucking b*sh! :grr:

[JailForBush]

7. Well, isn't that special...

When teachers are being ground up by the system, the NEA seldom gives them the time of day. But when someone criticizes the NEA itself, fat-assed union officials across the country come out of hiding to cry foul.

The irony is that many teachers will join the chorus, defending the very union that stabs them and their children in the back.

I'm not defending Paige; he's obviously an asshole. But the man who almost certainly would have been given his position had he survived - the late John Stanford - was even worse, and the NEA did nothing but praise that sick basard.

Incidentally, I'm really sick of people saying it's perverted to call people you don't like terrorists after 9/11. Get a clue - many DU'ers rightly call George Bush a terrorist. Columnists and comedians routinely call everyone you can think of terrorists, mocking Bush's penchant for pinning the label on anyone who doesn't support the U.S.

As a former educator, I think any organization that exploits children as ruthlessly as the NEA deserves to be labeled a terrorist. Rod Paige is a terrorist, too. The NEA and George Bush, Inc. have done far more damage to American than Osama bin Laden.

[comradebillyboy]

10. teachers unions are very weak

i belong to the american federation of teachers and our leadership is sort of spineless. we need someone like john lewis (united mine workers) to kick ass and take names.

teachers and their unions are just too damned accomodating.

[Ediacara]

11. That's not the story according to some....

According to some, the NEA is in league with Bill Gates, George Bush, Osama bin Laden, Greg Nickels, and Gary Locke to do assorted things like control the British crown, keep the metric system down, keep the Martians under wraps, and even keep Atlantis off the maps.

[JailForBush]

13. That kind of idiocy does SO much to boost your credibility.

DinoBoy wrote, "According to some, the NEA is in league with...

Bill Gates - TRUE
George Bush - TRUE, at least to an extent
Osama bin Laden - IDIOCY
Greg Nickels - TRUE
Gary Locke - VERY TRUE

"to do assorted things like control the British crown, keep the metric system down, keep the Martians under wraps, and even keep Atlantis off the maps."

I think we'll let you lay claim to this conspiracy theory. I certainly haven't heard it from any other sources.

[Ediacara]

15. Hey Jail4Bush

Ever seen The Simpsons? You may have heard of it, the most successful animated television series ever, on TV for the last 14 years (it's on channel 13 at 8:00 PM Sundays). The "conspiracy theory" that you haven't heard of from other sources (did you even READ what I WROTE???) is the Stone Cutters Song from The Simpsons.

In any case, do you have actual proof that those listed above are actually in league with eachother and the NEA to do harm to American students? Or is this, like your claim that Gary Locke actually committed REAL crimes and "deserves to be behind bars for the rest of his life," based on nothing but bile and malace?

I'm still awaiting a list of actual CRIMES Gary Locke has committed while in office, and like I said, I'll donate $1,000 to your '05 City Counsel run if you provide me with ACTUAL CRIMES (no spurious nonsense about bad budgets aka stealing, or vague accusations of murder a la John Carlson).

[JailForBush]

18. Somewhere in your rant I spotted an intelligent question or two.

Actual crimes committed by Gary Locke? Gee, where do I begin?

We could start with the football stadium he made taxpayers buy for gazillionaire Paul Allen. The billion-dollar (actually, I think it's MULTI-billion) tax break he gave Boeing is another. The "Accountability" commission he appointed to "punish" children was frightening. Have you checked out Gary Locke's war against the environment?

But why am I doing your homework for you? You obviously live in Seattle, yet you don't appear to have a clue about anything politics. Why is that?

Let me guess - you're going to discount everything I posted because Gary Locke hasn't been convicted in a King County kangaroo court and, therefore, they aren't "ACTUAL CRIMES." In the same spirit, George Bush hasn't committed any ACTUAL CRIMES.

But I'm not the only U.S. citizen who regards him as the greatest traitor in American history, and we all know what the penalty for treason is. God knows, there are a lot of people who have received some frightening sentences under Gary Locke for far less.

And don't even get me started on the ongoing Wenatchee Witch-Hunt, another example of your hero, Gary Locke, missing in action.

[Ediacara]

20. Those aren't crimes

Those are poor policy decisions. You should try focusing on crimes (as in breaking a law), if you want to save any face.

And actually I don't live in Seattle, but in Montana.

Anyway, I see that $1,000 rapidly slipping out of your grasp.

And you REALLY SHOULD watch The Simpsons sometime...

[JailForBush]

23. Right, Locke's "policy decisions" versus thousands of people's lives.

When a politican's "policy decisions" (some of them announced with Locke arm-in-arm with Paul Allen) cost the public billions of dollars, ruined public schools and a deteriorating environment, with a few deaths along the way, I consider them criminal, in the broad sense of the word. If you want to play attorney or corporate apologist, that's your business.

[Ediacara]

30. Find the RCW

I'm sure it's online or at the local library. Find a law Locke broke. If you can't, then shut up.

[JailForBush]

31. Wow, I didn't realize you were such a big fan of corporate corruption!

Please cite some things Gary Locke has done to HELP people in this state. If you can't deliver, then shut up.

[Ediacara]

33. Nice deflection!

RCW. It stands for the Revised Code of Washington. It should be easy to find the statuates for "stealing" and "murder" in there.

Come on, don't you want my $1,000 check?

Put up or shut up J4B!

[Cooley Hurd]

25. You lied to me through song!

The Simpsons are on channel 8 here in Albany!;)

[Riptide]

17. Great Simpsons reference!

nt

[JailForBush]

19. Yeah, he's an expert on the Simpsons. I prefer to stick to politics.

I've scarcely turned my TV on in the last couple years.

[Ediacara]

21. I think you should focus on TV

As your pursuits the last couple of years have been rather fruitless...

[JailForBush]

24. Actually, they haven't, but that's another thing you wouldn't know

anything about.

[Ediacara]

29. Let me guess

The Times, P-I, Weekly, Stranger, Muni League, and Seamec just don't like you and refuse to cover all the good things you've accomplished, and instead call you completely unqualified, right?

[JailForBush]

32. It's awfully interesting that someone from MONTANA would know

about the Muni League and Seamec, when the average Seattleite probably doesn't even recognize those names. I think I understand the game you're playing. You might be a real menace if you weren't such an amateur.

[Ediacara]

35. Well, you see this thing we're using

This thing that links all of our computers together, this INTERNET thing... Have you heard of it? Believe it or not, we have internet access in Montana (I know, it's hard to believe).

And again, I am IN Montana, not FROM Montana, and I do know quite a lot about Seattle politics, although being 700 miles away makes it a little more difficult to keep up. But hey, there's this INTERNET thing to help me.

[JailForBush]

36. So you maintain this incredible interest in Seattle politics, yet you

can't understand why people refer to Gary Locke as a "Republican" governor. You're probably a big fan of Terry Bergeson, too. You might change your mind if you knew who bankrolled her first political election campaign. On second thought, you'd probably brand him a hero, then return to the Simpsons.

[Ediacara]

37. Look Buster

I never said I loved Locke (check all the threads), I just said that he hadn't committed any crimes. I've challenged you three seperate times for a list of real crimes (like those you'll find in the RCW) that he's committed, and every time it's just ad hominem from your end.

PUT UP OR SHUT UP J4B.

[JailForBush]

39. Which brings me back to my original point: You're just playing games.

Can you give me citations for all the crimes George W. Bush has committed. How about Henry Kissinger? Donald Dumsfeld?

I say they're CRIMINALS, in the broad sense of the word - the sense people with common sense understand. The word criminal can mean a person who was convicted of a crime OR a person who does something so horrible that it ought to be considered a crime. According to Webster's Dictionary, it can even mean "disgraceful."

To put it in perspective, consider a Seattle-area woman who was sentenced to life in prison under our three-strikes-and-you're-out law for stealing less than $1,000. She's legally a criminal, while Gary Locke isn't. Yet Locke has done infinitely more damage to Washington and its citizens than this woman could ever do.

So you can blow all the hot air you want and try to impress us with your knowledge of the Simpsons, but the only people you're really impressing are yourself and your pal, Gary Locke.

I suppose I could get around your literary correctness by calling Gary Locke an asshole, but, technically, he isn't really shaped like a circle.

P.S. Let me know when you've got those citations listing George Bush's crimes ready. If you can't find them, then shut up.

[Ediacara]

41. OH COME OFF IT! (deflection part 2)

What crimes has Bush committed?

Cocaine use
Absent without leave from the National Guard
Vote fraud
Invasion of a sovereign nation without provocation

I didn't even have to look up the RCW!

See how easy it is?

You're right, the story of the Seattle victom of 3-strikes is tragic, but you're constructing a strawman.

PUT UP OR SHUT UP!

[JailForBush]

42. LOL! Bush hasn't been convicted.

You can accuse him of using cocaine, going AWOL, campaign corruption and an illegal invasion (among many other things), but he hasn't been convicted.

Actually, the same is undoubtedly true of Gary Locke. Frankly, I think just about every state and King County politician in Washington State is guilty of violating our Open Meetings Act, or whatever it's called. And I'm sure a good attorney could nail Locke on racketeering charges.

Vote fraud? Ha! You really don't have a clue about Washington State elections, do you?

"I didn't even have to look up the RCW!"

Neither did I!

"See how easy it is?"

Told you so.

I PUT UP. NOW SHUT UP!

[Ediacara]

43. You did nothing!

I never said that Locke had to be convicted (go back and look), just that the crimes had to have been committed. There is a preponderance of evidence on each of the four crimes that I listed demonstrating that Bush committed them, yet you still can't list one actual CRIME Locke has committed.

And about the vote fraud in Washington.... you lost because people didn't vote for you, not because the COC rigged it....

PUT UP OR SHUT UP!

[JailForBush]

44. I hate to change the subject from your pal Gary Locke and the Simpsons,

but you really ought to do something about your "signature." Notice that my signature publcizes some good causes and websites every time I post. Every time you post, you treat visitors to some aerial photos of your vegetable garden, or whatever.

Creating a website would give you an opportunity to really learn something about Washington State politics. On the other hand, if your friend, Gary Locke, doesn't want you to help me expose the truth, you could make a website that promotes Gary Locke.

You could explain why people shouldn't call Gary Locke a "criminal," "crook" or even an "asshole," even if he's hurt more people than the Green River Killer.

But if you want to stick to aerial photos, it's your choice!

[Ediacara]

45. wow

So I guess I'll just rip that check up!

And feel free to call Locke an asshole every chance you get, but believe you me, he's not a criminal, and everyone bothering to read this thread can see that.

By the way, subject-change-o-matic..... My sig line photos are thin sections of various volcanic rocks. I would think that as a former educator you'd appreciate learning something.

[JailForBush]

46. Gee, thanks - Gary Locke's an asshole!

"And feel free to call Locke an asshole every chance you get, but believe you me, he's not a criminal, and everyone bothering to read this thread can see that."

Gary Locke IS a criminal in the broad sense of the term, and anyone who reads this thread can decide for themselves whether they want to follow my common sense use of the word or your corporate attorney-style manipulation. (Clinton didnd't REALLLY have sex with that woman, and Gary Locke isn't REALLY a crook!)

But before they declare that Locke isn't a criminal, they might want to reflect on how such a decision might reflect on George Bush, who hasn't been convicted of any crimes, either.

"My sig line photos are thin sections of various volcanic rocks. I would think that as a former educator you'd appreciate learning something."

I studied volcanic rocks in college. I even worked on volcanoes. But I come here to engage in political discussions. You're just interested in watching the Simpsons, defending your pal Gary Locke and posting silly pictures of volcanic rocks.

All that does SO much to boost your credibility regarding political debates.

[Ediacara]

47. What crimes has he committed?

I doubt anyone would call writing a bad budget a crime. So name a crime buddy.

And what does my sig line have to do with my credibility in a political debate? Is that not, just another in a long string of ad hominem attacks I've had to endure while "debating" you this evening?

I'd think having links to complete nutjob websites would be more a detriment, but to each his own I guess....

[JailForBush]

48. Thanks sfor the continuing laughs!

"I doubt anyone would call writing a bad budget a crime."

I doubt that any sane Washingtonian who has a clue about politics would accuse Gary Locke of nothing more than "writing a bad budget." What a hoot!

"And what does my sig line have to do with my credibility in a political debate?"

Well, I suppose picturess of volcanic rocks might boost your standing with any visitors who are affiliated with the U.S. Geological Survey, but pictures of rocks, combined with your affection for the Simpsons and Gary Locke make you appear a little over the top, if you know what I mean.

[Ediacara]

49. THEN WHAT HAS LOCKE DONE!?

The worst thing that you've listed so far is writing bad budgets.

Vacuous claims about people who happened to have died while he was governor equalling murder are absurd.

WHAT CRIMES HAS LOCKE COMMITTED!!!???

BTW, although I highly doubt you've "worked on volcanoes" since you misindetified the photos as "aerial photos or something," but I'll give you kudos for know what the USGS is.

And another thing..... don't you think YOUR websites are a little over the top? I mean honestly, have you even seen them?

[JailForBush]

50. What has Locke done?

BINGO! You're finally getting it!

That's the same question thousands of Washington State teachers, workers and taxpayers have been asking for years. What HAS that rascal done?

Victims of the Wenatchee Witch-Hunt would like to know what Gary Locke has done, too!

[Ediacara]

51. change-the-subject-o-rama

You know full well what I was asking. RCW citations if you really want the check.

PUT UP OR SHUT UP!

[maryallen]

12. I'm so glad you're a "former educator" ...

I wouldn't want you spewing hatred and venom on my children.

Teachers are among the finest people in this country.

Perhaps you've had a bad experience with NEA, but all teachers have not. Your sweeping generalizations are uncalled for and your persistent attempts to denigrate the profession and its union are reprehensible.

[JailForBush]

14. For crying out, does anyone here have a clue?

maryallen wrote, "I wouldn't want you spewing hatred and venom on my children."

I mostly worked with preschoolers to third graders. I didn't talk politics in the classroom. DUH...

"Teachers are among the finest people in this country."

That isn't saying much in a country that's defined by its stupidity and moral cowardice.

"Perhaps you've had a bad experience with NEA, but all teachers have not. Your sweeping generalizations are uncalled for and your persistent attempts to denigrate the profession and its union are reprehensible."

Many teachers are too stupid to realize that they've been stabbed in the back by their own union. Neverthless, there are many thousands who don't revere the NEA the way Republicans revere corporations.

As for my "sweeping generalizations," I suppose I should also stop labeling all Nazis and terrorists "evil." Lord knows, I wouldn't want to denigrate them.

[GOPGoindown]

28. Hey Jail4Bush...

Congratulations on your 100th post since Rod Paige put his foot in his mouth and revealed his ignorance. And thank you for being a former educator.

We are the Union!

[JailForBush]

34. "We are the union"?

You mean teachers get paid $100,000+ a year to hide in their offices, planning ways to stab their colleagues in the back and screw children?

That's news to me.

[NewJerseyDem]

8. That's not needed

I would like him to resign because he is a horrible education secretary. But, this comment isn't a reason for him to leave his job. He said something stupid and I don't think that it is helpful if every time some politician says something stupid they have to be attacked so much. That doesn't help anyone. He has apologized, it should be reported, and everyone should move on.

[SilasSoule]

9. Bush's Secretary of Education is comparing the Teachers Union

to people who blow up and fly airplanes into buildings, and you're requesting we move on? Sorry, but I will not.

The apology showed his true disdain and contempt for the NEA even more. It was a half-assed attempt with a couple of extra added salvo's that he didn't fire in his original speech.

[Brucey]

22. Typical of the Bush* administration...

Do they go over this in meetings, or what? "Okay, listen up... anyone who doesn't agree with us is a terrorist. Got that? Or, uhmm, a terrorist organization. Or a terrorist-related program activity. Okay? Oh, who brings the donuts next time? And don't forget the colored pie chart...we gotta let America know how we're keeping 'em safe. Okay, meeting adjourned."

[proud patriot]

26. YEAH!

:D

[bushisanidiot]

27. George (AWOL) W. Bush is a Terrorist

he has done nothing but spread fear in the hearts and minds of americans since he invaded the white house.

[0007]

40. Just one more nail in junior's coffin

[Chicago Democrat]

52. Paige is a No Good Lying Scalawag

Son of a motherless syphilitic she-goat no-brained embarrassment.

Where does the Bush administration find these back stabbing, brainless, turncoat Black Republicans devils? What planet do they live on? Do all 6 of them work for the Bush Administration?