A group headed by a Raleigh Democratic businessman prominent in the gay community has sent out a Wake County school board campaign mailer urging voters to "vote again Ron Margiotta and the Tea Party agenda."
The front of the mailer charges that board chairman "Ron Margiotta forced the Tea Party agenda on our schools" and says that "on October 11, we can fight back." The wording borders an image of an angry Margiotta standing next to a Raleigh police officer at one of the school board meetings that was disrupted by protesters.
"Wake County School Board Chairman Ron Margiotta is backed by Tea Party radicals with a right-wing agenda that is hurting our public schools," according to the inside of the flier. "This partisan, slash-and-burn agenda is draining resources from our schools and ruining their reputation. The results of Margiotta's agenda have been devastating — our schools' accreditation is now at risk, and $80 million in federal school funding has been jeopardized."
The flier has a comparison box in which it calls Margiotta the "Tea Party Candidate" and Susan Evans the "Common Sense Candidate."
It lists Margiotta as yes on the issue of "pushes radical Tea Party agenda" and no on "protect Wake County schools' accreditation," "opposes cuts in school funding" and "endorsed by Wake County's teachers and school employees." It lists the opposite on those four issues for Evans.
The back of the mailer has slogans such as"Stop the Tea Party," "Protect our schools" and "Vote October 11."
I'll post the mailer when I get a better set of images.
The mailer says it's paid for by Common Sense Matters, listing a Raleigh P.O. Box. It says its donors include the N.C. Futures Action Fund. As a 527 group, Common Sense Matters says it's not authorized by any political party, candidate or committee.
We have more information on Common Sense Matters because the group sent out political mailers in a Charlotte City Council primary to back a Democratic candidate vying to become the city's first openly gay elected official.
According to this Sept. 15 Charlotte Observer article, the IRS filing for the recently formed 527 group is Raleigh businessman Alan King.
King is chief operating officer of a company called Workplace Options. It was the title sponsor of OutRaleigh, a gay rights festival last May organized by the LGBT Center of Raleigh.
Raleigh attorney Michael Weisel, a former statewide Democratic candidate, is the group's secretary.
This flier is the latest effort by liberal groups to target Republican school board candidates in Wake.
You have the website set up this week by Progress North Carolina Action going after Heather Losurdo.
We're still waiting for the first signs this time around from the Wake Citizens for Good Government PAC, which has been actively rebuilding its campaign war chest.
Plus, the Wake County Democratic Party is running its coordinated campaign.
UPDATE
The Sept. 15 Charlotte Observer article also shows that Common Sense Matters received $21,000 from the Fired Up and Ready to Go Action Fund.
The contact person for Fired Up and Ready to Go Action Fund, also a 527, is Scott Falmlen, a Raleigh political consultant and former executive director of the state Democratic Party.
According to its last IRS filing, Fired Up raised $21,700 last year, most from two contributors. One was Falmlen's company, Nexus Strategies. The other was the N.C. Association of Educators, which gave $15,000.
Comments
I'm having trouble understanding....
Fri, 09/30/2011 - 11:45 — Jackson_Tybee... why a reference to the gay communtiy was brought into this article at all?I am sure Workplace Options sponsors many events that aren't gay-related and that the gentleman in question is active with many causes.
What possible relevance does it have in this instance?
"Wake County School Board
Mon, 09/26/2011 - 09:32 — woodstockFUNNY, ISN'T IT...
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 10:50 — ClearThinker....that all of the righties on this blog have no problem propagating lies, more lies, and DAMN lies about anyone they consider the "liberal enemy," but when their adversaries begin to fire back with both barrels, yonder righties like Woodsy and Ajax Piercy squeal and holler like stuck pigs about the "injustice" of it all.
When the Tea Party took over our Wake School Board in 2009, they immediately declared war on anyone and everyone who disagred with them. Well the latest engagement in this ongoing battle is here. If using the same weapons is what it takes to get these clowns the hell off OUR SCHOOL BOARD, then so be it.
You "kindly" folks DO NOT UNDERSTAND...we've had ENOUGH! The voting is ON, and soon...YOU will be OUT!
One more thing, JOHN TEDESCO, if you're reading this, you have no idea how much we can't wait until 2013 to get YOU OFF THAT BOARD!
NO IDEA!
Violins, please, as the righties now chime in with their special brand of hysterical nonsense!
Indeed, it IS funny. But,
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 10:59 — woodstockIndeed, it IS funny. But, there is no need to respond to your post. You are so out there with your ridiculous far left-wing rhetoric that you only preaching to your own tiny choir of off-key radicals. Your woefully misinformed nutjob comments are as effective as anything I could say in helping to get out the vote to defeat the current crop of Democrat candidates who want to return to failed and discriminatory policies.
I will let you in on a little secret, loonies like you are our secret weapon. Thanks!
That is exactly what I think....
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 11:52 — bpuli9999about loonies like you!
LOL Well, aren't you the
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 12:26 — woodstockLOL Well, aren't you the articulate one.
Soooo
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 08:52 — bluedawgYa'll are upset because this 527 are doing exactly what the Koch Brothers, Art Pope & Co. have done over the past few years.....hypocritical much???
Were you nearly as outraged when.... A Pope funded 527 sent mailers falsely accusing a local General Assembly Member of voting for legislation (when he was not even serving at the time)? What about the overblown "chocolate milk" mailpieces??? What about those Birther emails???
The big difference that should REALLY burn you up is.....The Tea Party was using innuendo & fear. This 527 is just relaying the reality of what Margiotta & Co. are doing to the WCPSS.....it is Margiotta to whom you should direct your anger.
Our local school board
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 20:25 — SDR256But crap, bluedawg, this is our local school board. Surely it shouldn't have been drawn into the toxic national political pond? I'm not pointing fingers, I'm just sayin' unless someone says 'I'm going to be the first one not to do it anymore' we'll get more mudslinging. And what good does that do our kids?
There are two sides to this story. I'm sure the GOP is stretching some truths. I can tell you for sure your post above stretches some truths BIG time.
I've said this all along. The media missed a big story. And, wiseguys, BOTH political parties are missing a huge opportunity. In 2009 the voiceless middle rose up, they connected with a philosophically non-partisan idea because they had had enough with extremes. There has been a lot of slant and spin about that by groups much more powerful and well funded. But the truth is no Koch brothers/Art Pope/boogy man funded that. It was the parents of Wake County. Sure we got a few big checks, but go and look at who donated to WSCA - the big checks were not the bulk of it. It was a bit of a miracle, the landslide of checks in the amount of $10 - $100 that added up.
And the constant 'championship', 'top dog' approach to looking back on the 2009 elections really chaps my buns. At the time there was a groundswell change here locally that was palpable. Why don't our representatives, or political activists really want to tap into that? Its mystifying. Riding around this whole county none of our GPS locators were channeled by the GOP. No one was in control, we were just simply onto an idea that parents wanted more stability and accountability and it resonated - big time. But neither the extreme left or the extreme right really wants to understand that. If we are going to fix this school system, this county, this country this grassroots thing that happened - by the middle - might be a useful thing to understand. It wasn't useful according to current political formulas, but it was pretty incredible. Maybe we need new formulas?
I also not saying the results have been perfect ... but from my own humble opinion its been a step in the right direction. Could have done with less strident extremism, personally, as have a lot of the same 'middle voters' I rode shotgun with in 2009. But the real shame is how the two political parties have just wanted to cannibalize, control, spin and bastardize what the voters and families of this county wanted in 2009. That's not really how any of us want to be regarded, as pawns on someone else's chessboard.
So, who will represent US the reasonable, powerless (except with our votes, btw) but disgruntled middle?
Where is that WCSA courage today?
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 21:59 — bluedawgWCSA has only endorsed 2 candidates this year.....Mansfield & Margiotta....why is that???? I also wonder if there is any "buyer's remorse" from WCSA in regards to Tedesco & Malone.
The current Dem Candidates are not advocating to a return to the past...no matter what the Right is saying. Five races, two endorsements, and the organization has the word "School" in the title and mission.
You are right, WCSA was a formidable force in 2009... and rightly so. Now, they seem to just be either hedging a bet or enabling Margiotta.
Courage - feh
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 23:21 — SDR256Courage. Let's talk about that. Is Courage leaning on a well funded political party and parroting their words? Or is courage getting your kids off to school and giving your husband the thumbs up hoping for another set of paychecks while stealing a few hours to fight for something you believe in? Is courage having coffee and rubbing elbows with 'important people' because you know how to manipulate and those fumes fuel a hole in your soul? Or is courage going out with a dollar in your pocket because the powers that be can no longer use you but you've kept your moral compass and will, however difficult it is, fight for what you really believe?
WSCA has always been - said this a bunch of times - wake county moms & dads. We've been hit by the economy bluedawg. We got no Koch brothers, Goodmon etc. - get it? The political parties are just trying to distract "us dumb voters" for something shiny that they want - power. Power to say they won. Power to play with our tax dollars. Power to play 'top dog'.
You know most average people are distracted. We're freaking tired and worn out.
Doesn't mean we don't exist. Doesn't mean we're not sick to death of the bickering. Doesn't mean what we are working for isn't right. Doesn't mean we've lost courage. Courage. Don't freaking tell the average people, the moms and dads if this county about courage dawg. FEH.
There are plenty of groups who endorsed
Mon, 09/26/2011 - 05:32 — bluedawgand do not give money....for example, the Sierra Club & municipal candidates.
I did not say the expectation is for WCSA to give money; however, their endorsement is meaningful. A WCSA Board Member told me at a School Board candidate meet & greet that WCSA only endorsed Margiotta so that they will have a seat at the table after the election. WCSA can give their endorsements without $$$$. Those hard working parents (also hit by the economy) who live in the other districts might want to know where WCSA stands on the candidates running.
Of course, that was just one WCSA Board Member....if you have a better insight as to an organization called Wake Community School Alliance has not given any guidance to parents in 3 of the 5 races - please share.
Amen SDR
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 21:16 — VillageMentalityWell Said....
Wait, the NCAE gave $15,000
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 20:55 — woodstockWait, the NCAE gave $15,000 to a Democrat political consultant!!!
I wonder what NCAE members think of that? Is this a backdoor way for NCAE to get involved in politics?
I'm going to investigate your claim a little further...
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 23:28 — VillageMentalitybefore I believe your assertions...
However, I do know that the NCAE has always been Democratically influenced/controlled by virtue of its endorsements and a good deal of the politically charged emails it sends to its membership. NCAE has been sending inflated, exaggerated and/or intentioanlly misleading propaganda, for example, education job losses, and targeting republican politicians as the culprits.
They aren't my assertions.
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 11:03 — woodstockThey aren't my assertions. They are facts from IRS documents. The NCAE has found a backdoor way to endorse and fund political candidates.
And why is that a...
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 11:52 — bpuli9999bad thing, if true?
How many is this Keung?
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 19:40 — AgentPierceHey Keung, how many bizarro fringe left-wing smear groups is this that you have promoted via your blog? 5-6-10? I've lost count and we still have 2 weeks to go.
Apparently the only criteria to be promoted by you in your N&O blog is to be smearing a Conservative candidate. Is that correct?
Thats a lot of left-wing smear groups for one "registered unaffiliated" little N&O reporter to be promoting.
"Agent Pierce" is better than all of us?
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 10:30 — paulastamAgent Pierce describes T. Keung Hui as a "little N&O reporter". I would think being a journalist for one of the largest newspapers in NC is more than reputable yet Agent Pierce mocks the gentleman for his occupation. Heaven forbid what AgentPierce would have to say about our kids' teachers and teacher assistants!! Is this Agent Pierce some CEO making millions of dollars a year while employees get pay cuts, etc? Agent Pierce appears to look down on the rest of us common folks!
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
Boy-o-boy, do you ever have it right.
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 21:01 — woodstockBoy-o-boy, do you ever have it right. Poor Keung must have been given some very firm marching orders. He's working overtime to crank this crap out.
Puh-Lease
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 19:20 — VillageMentalityEnough of this crap already. Left or right these knucklehead organizations are preying on fears and race..... There is NO common sense to ANY of this.
Why would a gay rights inspired organization have anything to do with WCPSS? Anybody hear Margiotta OR Tedesco say anything NEGATIVE about gay folks? Didn't think so. So why enter the fray?
This is all getting so ridiculous.
Wait a minute Village Mentality...
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 10:39 — paulastamIsn't the local (NC) GOP, which Ronnie M and Tedesco so blindly follow, working to further restrict the rights of "gay folks"?
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
But sadly
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 07:13 — nancync"ridiculous" works with some people who have blinders on.
That's who they are trying to appeal to, the ones who cannot see the forest for the trees, the ones who can't think for themselves, the ones who vote on single track issues.
There are many voters who only look at one issue and if a candidate is not for that issue, they vote against them.
Sad isn't it?