Progress North Carolina, a liberal advocacy group, is going after Wake County school board candidate Heather Losurdo.
Progress NC Action has launched this website in which they call Losurdo "the queen of extreme" for various remarks she's posted on Facebook. The group accuses Losurdo's remarks of showing she has "extremist ideas," "anti-public school views" and "hate speech."
One remark they highlight is a Facebook post from Losurdo in which she uses the acronym "LMAO!!!," for "laughing my a-- off," in response to a 2010 post by her husband, Craig Losurdo: "The skunk has replaced the Eagle as the new symbol of the American Presidency. It is half black, half white, and everything it does stinks!"
In another 2010 exchange, Losurdo responds to a photo posted by her husband of a car with the bumper sticker, "Did you vote for Obama? Thanks a lot [expletive]." Another poster asks if the photo shows Heather Losurdo's car.
Heather Losurdo responded, according to the Facebook page: "It's not mine, but if I can find out who does that around here, you're damn skippy it's going on mine."
The website has several other statements that Gerrick Brenner, executive director of Progress NC, calls "racially loaded" and inappropriate for someone who aspires to be a community leader and role model to children.
"I think they really raise questions about her ability and willingness to build consensus to lead diverse communities and her sensitivity to different communities," Brenner said.
Losurdo doesn't deny making the Facebook comments. But she calls it inappropriate and "character assassination" for Progress NC to use statements made by her and her husband from before she was a candidate.
"It's shocking to me that people who disagree with me personally have chosen to attack me through my Facebook postings, and those of my husband," Losurdo said. "He's not the candidate. I am."
She said the remarks about Obama were in "poor taste" and that she regretted having made them.
"It was inappropriate," Losurdo said. "It was a joke. "It has nothing to do with the service that I'll provide to the residents of Wake County."
Losurdo said she can represent all the people in Wake County, including those who disagree with her.
Progress NC is not officially connected with any school board candidate or political party. But the group has been going after Republicans in its various endeavors.
CLARIFICATION
The website was created by Progress NC Action, the group formed by the parent organization to allow it to be involved in political races.
Comments
Very inappropriate behaviour
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 07:24 — stansburyThis woman is toast in my opinion and has exhibited inappropriate behavior. If she's running for office (or was even thinking about it last year) why in the world wouldn't she be more careful about what she posts on the internet? Yes, I know that her husband made the offensive comments, but she was agreeing with him. To me, these posts show very poor judgement, lack of character, and DISRESPECT. How could she expect to work productively with diverse board members or for a diverse student population with these types of comments out there? Not someone who should seek public office. Too bad. Not sure if there are any other Republicans running in this district, but I think this disctrict will go to the Democrats.
Progress NC
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 09:13 — cmalone1For Petes Sake .. This is nothing more than a progressive left wing organization involving itself in a well times political attack.
Are you kidding?
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 20:25 — SatchHHMr. Malone, no offense, but these remarks by H. Losurdo are very pertinent to her character. As a person who aspires to be a community and educational leader, they are relevant to the school board race. We need people with good judgment and character leading our schools, not those with clearly racist tendencies (laughing at the skunk comment, come ON!). Hopefully the good folks in District 3 will see her for what she is - which includes her person before she became a candidate.
Staying above the fray...
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 17:13 — paulastamIs it appropriate for sitting board members, including those that aspire to be state legislators, to be active in this forum given we have some very interesting "banter", back and forth allegations, along with ample name calling (think FSandYOU and Woodstock), etc. at times? I find it highly revealing when Tedesco and Malone do choose to enter the fray (this forum), but it does pose questions about one's stature - especially when a board member publicly speaks against fellow board members in this forum - hardly conjures an image of collaboration and desire for bridging gaps moving forward.
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
Ohhh please. Mr. Malone and
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 18:00 — starsonoursOhhh please. Mr. Malone and Mr. Tedesco are civil posters who at times come on here to discuss topics.They remain civil even when confronted by hate filled flamethrowers who find fault in everything they do.
I think everyone in the
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 17:48 — woodstockI think everyone in the country has the right to free speech, including elected officials. That you question the appropriateness of that is concerning.
As a reminder, the day before the '09 elections Keith Sutton (an appointed board member) organized a race-baiting rally at the direction of his mentor Rev. Barber to oppose the election of what are now the new board members. That does not sound like an effort to "bridge gaps."
Mr. Malone
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 21:47 — WhalerCaneYou are shooting the messenger here, not the message. If this group had hijacked Ms. Losudo's FB page and posted something like this racist joke on it, you know simular to your FB friends Rino Hunter recent flyer, then you might have a point.
Are you going to equally shoot the messager when the obvious about Ms. Losurdo's FB postings on immigration are pointed out to be the hypocritical rants that they are?
There it is, "racist."
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 07:49 — woodstockThere it is, "racist." Please. You extreme left-wing radicals use that term so much it has lost any meaning. It certainly does not apply here. The Reverends Barbar and Gatewood -- spewers of terms like "white devils" -- have taught you well. They apparently have their marching orders to keep their traps shut during campaign season, but they have dutiful little soldiers like you to continue the race-baiting.
So Woody
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 16:16 — duvalWhat do you think comparing someone who is bi-racial to a skunk is, 1/2 black and 1/2 white... if not racial?? And if you are laughing and agreeing with the joker is that not racist?
If not, then please explain how it is not.
A mere reference to one's
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 16:55 — woodstockA mere reference to one's race does not make something racist. Racism has to do with exerting power over another merely because of one's race. A racist comment would be something more like the insulting "white devils" comment that comes from folks like Rev. Barber, who you left-wing radicals seem to revere.
give me a break
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 20:30 — SatchHHLaughing at a comment such as 1/2 black, 1/2 white and it stinks in reference to Mr. Obama is obviously racist - and the fact that she posted on FB shows that she completely supports the sentiment. The fact that you're defending it is amazing. LMAO is ugly and certainly not in character with the majority of folks in North Raleigh - I hope. It's low class. We need much better than all of this in our leaders.
Do you even know what the
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 21:24 — woodstockDo you even know what the word racist means? Are you saying the skunk reference is racist against both black and white people? That's a rather odd suggestion. That is the only way your convoluted logic makes any sense. I am a mutt like a lot of Americans and I refer to my ethnicity as plaid. Am I being racist against myself? I don't feel threatend in any way by my comments, so...
Hey, if you don't mind, could you share some of the comments you and your fellow left-wingers have made about George Bush. It might help shed some light on your hipocrisy. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Would yu prefer the word Bigot?
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 22:01 — duvalEither way making a joke about ones ethnic heritage is tacky and tasteless and not worthy of defending as you so ademently are trying to do.
She is not the kind of person whom I want in control of making decisions about my school system.
It is neither bigoted nor...
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 22:11 — woodstockIt is neither bigoted nor racist, which was really my only point.
As for you voting for her, you weren't voting for her before this little non-story came out, so...
I get it, you want to bring back the failed status quo policies. So, vote your conscience and the rest of us more rational voters will do the same.
Interesting
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 22:55 — Bob_SconceNotice how nobody is complaining about, or even arguing with, the "and everything he does stinks" part of the joke.
Huh
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 23:23 — Dove314Obama's actions are fair to debate and it is obvious that the Losourdo's would dislike his actions given their party affiliations but linking an opinion about actions to skin color and ethnicity is not.
Yes, I have noticed that.
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 23:03 — woodstockYes, I have noticed that. Interesting indeed.
Political attack? Don't
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 10:13 — virginiadarePolitical attack? Don't you think public postings before she was a candidate which included the use of expletives and indicated she wanted to put a bumper sticker on her car which used an expletive to denigrate the POTUS are relevant regarding her character and prejudices, which could certainly impact the way she would perform as a school board member?
That is ridiculous. Obama is
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 11:17 — woodstockThat is ridiculous. Obama is clearly an enormously inexperienced incompetent whose ill-considered policies have destroyed our economy. Criticisms of him simply show good judgment.
Her stance is that much more
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 14:29 — NoRalNerdHer stance is that much more puzzling now. It's clear from your statement that Losurdo and Obama have a LOT in common. She just hasn't gotten the chance to "destroy our economy".
Hmm...
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 12:42 — Dove314Criticize his actions all you want. Criticizing the color of his skin or his ancestry instead of his actions does not demonstrate good judgement.
LOL How was his skin color
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 18:44 — woodstockLOL How was his skin color "criticized?" That's just silly. You are really reaching... This is a complete non issue.
Lighten Up
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 16:54 — lawyerjohnSo laughing at your husband's remarks on FB is hardly criticizing skin color or ancestry. Why do I think if we dug a bit on your past we'd find some horrendous Bush comments somewhere. Does that make you have poor judgement too? It's called freedom of speech. Seems the criticisms were of his actions, they all stink.
Exactly, Dove. And I
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 14:51 — virginiadareExactly, Dove. And I personally don't want people who think it is cute to use expletives in the public sphere around my children or representing our school system.
Then you won't want
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 20:39 — VillageMentalityHoward Dean, Rahm Emmanuel or Joe Biden in you or children's company.....
Losurdo doesn't strike me as Board material and she has woman upped to her "inappropriate" Facebook activity, but really?
We have gone over the deep end on political correctness. There are folks of all colors, creeds, faith persuasions et al, who laugh at dirty, racist, sexist,. ageist, gender, religious jokes ALL THE TIME for crying out loud. Even Politicians.
And ANYONE who attempts deny this is either a liar or not willing to look at the reality of humanity.
This NC Progress group sounds pretty silly and benign. If they think that maligning a person for their words exclusively without looking at their potential for the good of all then they're not really credible.
She apologised. Move on please.
Hmm..
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 19:05 — Dove314With teens, expletives are a "teachable moment" so that is not a concern for me. But the "joking" around skin color -- that is an issue for me. Some here may not like that it is an issue for me and that's fine as it is not offensive if they dislike my comments and sensibilities while not making snide asides about my ethnicity. It is ironic some try to defend HL's insulting FB posts by hurling further insults.
works both ways
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 10:01 — EBDarcyWill you be back to criticize the next conservative right wing organization that launchs a political attack?
Ok I will take the bait
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 10:35 — cmalone1What right wing group has attacked the Democrat candidates? I will review their work and comment.
gee, Mr. Malone, did we
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 13:27 — xmarkspot62gee, Mr. Malone, did we somehow miss your vehement denouncing of this anonymous flier?
http://www.wral.com/news/education/wake_county_schools/story/10127862/
the only statement I heard from a Board member was your pal Tedesco, who basically said such a flier wasn't necessary because the Republicans are going to win anyway
http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/09/14/1488130/state-board-of-elections-looks.html
pathetic!
Thanks for the link.
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 15:30 — cmalone1Yeah ok so you have a point that the left was attacked. But you have yet to confirm whom or what that came from. We have seen tons of political attacks from individuals against us. So what. You havent shown me a avowed right wing organization that came out and made any such attack that you can conclusively trace back the attack too. Nice try.
His facebook name was Rino Hunter
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 21:58 — WhalerCaneJohn T was a FB friend. I believe you were. Super Tata was until yours truely pointed out to a friend of his that was a very bad idea. Rino Hunter has since disapeared from FB.
Great job avoiding my point
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 16:27 — xmarkspot62Great job avoiding my point -- that no one on the Republican side has denounced the flier. What a politician you are!
What is there to denounce?
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 07:52 — woodstockWhat is there to denounce? Please explain. Everything in the flier is the truth.
That flier should be enlarged and bronzed
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 20:47 — FSandYOUthen placed on every street corner for all to see. That was/is the best campaign piece to be produced in my 10 years in this county and may be one of the all-time best anywhere.
A job well done.
?
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 16:53 — Bob_SconceYou asked him to criticize the next conservative right wing organization that launchs a political attack. What organization do you want him to criticize?
In any case, why should the flier be denounced? Sure, it has a number of facts wrong--Evans, Kushner and Martin are NOT on the board, for example. But, it appropriately points out that voting against them (and Hill and Sutton) is a rejection of the NAACP's attacks on the district. Barber filed his complaints and got arrested and wrote his "letter while waiting to be booked" and held his march for the purpose of influincing this election. There's no better way to stick a finger in his eye than to defeat his candidates.
Bob, you disappoint. I had
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 17:09 — xmarkspot62Bob, you disappoint. I had to look twice to make sure that comment wasn't from Woodstock (sounds like him; sorry, but it does)
The flier should be denounced because it is malicious and blatantly untrue. The connection you (and others here) want to make between the Democratic candidates and Rev. Barber is totally contrived and intended to spark unfounded fear. Jesse Helms would have been proud.
So...
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 18:40 — Bob_SconceThere's no getting around the fact that Barber's actions were intended to be political and were intended to hurt the board majority. Why file a complaint with AdvanceEd, after all? He knew that his actions would reverberate through this election. And, it seems clear that there are people voting in this election -- perhaps even candidates running -- who would not be if Barber had not been involved.
I don't mean that he selected the candidates or even that he's trying to get out the vote (although, it would not surprise me if the NAACP were trying to get out the vote). But, his activities were intended to resonate through this election.
To that end, I think it's just as legitimate to vote against Barber by voting against Kushner and Martin as it is to express disapproval for Art Pope by voting against Ron Margiotta. Sure, Barber's connection isn't quite as direct, but it's just as intentional.
It's about Barber's politics, not his race.
Bob
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 21:56 — WhalerCaneYou are better than this one bubba.
As to Advanced Ed, you are smart. The whole accrediation issue was about governance, and majorities blowing off of their code of ethics in how they make decisions. It was always about that they were violating their own policies and ethics code in ramming down decisions without any basis in pedilogical research and sound business practices.
That aside, what was really stupid was recklessly thumbing our noses at them to make a poltical point and risk accrediation which would have harmed our students.
That is simular to beating up the NC School Board Association, dropping them, then later adding them back and nominating Prickett for Board Member of the year. It does not compute.
Hmm...
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 07:31 — Bob_SconceYou have delicately side-stepped my AdvanceEd point, which was about Barber's motives for filing the complaint, not about the propriety of the investigation itself.
We've hashed and re-hashed the accreditation issue. My view is that AdvanceEd overstepped: Wake accredits its high schools, not the district as a whole, and only the AdvanceEd district accreditation standards apply to board actions -- the school accreditation standard only address school-specific governance. The entire investigation process and report were highly subjective -- the approach was "We don't like some of the things the board did. Now, let's find some connection, no matter how tenuous, back to our standards." Besides, there's no evidence of any real harm from loss of accreditation, apart from AdvanceEd's own self-serving assertions of its importance.
That said, I thought that they were wrong to buck the process -- most people think accreditation is worthwhile. It was dumb to buck that broad perception, no matter how misinformed.
I don't recall any beating up of the NCSBA. We dropped them, but I thought it was more from "we get no value here." That, apparantly, ended up being incorrect, but I'm at least glad to see them undo a mistake instead of resolutely sticking to the wrong position out of foolish consistency.
Except AdvancED's own
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 06:18 — jeffrey1Except AdvancED's own website states that they don't look at issues of governance when only the schools are accredited (like Wake), and not the district.
You omitted Susan Evans who
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 20:35 — DrActualFactualYou omitted Susan Evans who hangs with the GSIW/Rev. Barber/Y. Brannon crowd along with Kushner and Martin. You seem to be saying that neither candidate in District 8 is suitable because they have both associated with folks that people associate with damaging Wake's educational system. Whereas I've seen Mrs. Evans working the Rev. Barber propaganda circuit, I have yet to see Ron M. working with Pope.
Um...
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 20:46 — Bob_SconceActually, I do think Margiotta's suitable. I don't have any problem with getting support from Art Pope. I was just pointing out that if it's ok to go after Margiotta because of Pope, then it's equally ok to go after his opponent because of Barber.
I guess the Polling data has sunk in
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 08:41 — Jeff_morseI guess the Polling data has sunk in and the Dems/N&O must be affraid of Losurdo. The WSCA must be part of the Hill Campaign. Not sure why they would be attacking with a Candidate that has less than the Margin of error.
If you really have data,
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 14:31 — NoRalNerdIf you really have data, please share. As well as the source of your data.
Otherwise, you're just another one on the lunatic fringe.
WSCA lost focus a long time
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 08:58 — woodstockWSCA lost focus a long time ago. Trying to make sense of their actions is a effort in futility. They've become completely irrelevant. They just don't get it... ditto for the Bigger Picture, GSIW and all the other radical fringe organizations.
The voting public clearly supports the changes the new board, and the Supertintendent they hired, are enacting and they will vote accordingly on Oct. 11.
?
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 09:05 — Bob_SconceNow WSCA is a "radical fringe organization"? If that were true, who endorse Margiotta?
I think you're right about the public generally supporting the new board and the new Superinendent, and they should. So, I hope Margiotta wins his race. But, Losurdo is not a member of the majority. I think most people want somebody on the board who will use their brain (implying that they actually have one) and not just vote blindly with her buddies.
WHERE IS LOSURDO on the question of needing additional funding?
The last we heard, she gave the idiotic "well, I think there's more waste there" answer. Hardly the sort of brain use that I expect from a board member.
Yes, WSCA, a once inclusive
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 09:17 — woodstockYes, WSCA, a once inclusive organization, is now a fringe radical group that has lost it's stature and has become irrelevant. They recklessly endorsed a candidate that has zero chance of winning, but that could be a spoiler, allowing Hill to retain his seat.
You say they endorsed Margiotta... I heard it was only after they could not find anyone stupid enough to go up against him. I have seen nothing to indicate that they stand by that since their tepid and perfunctory press release. Have they contributed to his campaign? I see no evidence of that either.
You can't have it both ways
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 14:53 — SDR256lol. So, in doing virtually the same thing for Ron as WSCA has done for Jennifer - endorsement - I guess your logic would say that WSCA is 'running' Ron's campaign as they are 'running' Jennifer's, as your previous posts suggest. Don't worry. WSCA isn't running Ron's campaign. I know you were worried about that. And we're not running Jennifer's either.
Also as a correction, WSCA never actively looked for a candidate in D8. That was a convenient rumor that 'you heard' from Ron's pet sidekick and pumped it for all it was worth.
Its true that WSCA is not collecting money as an organization this time around. We're not as involved in all districts as we were. We believe that D3 is critical, and a special case for us because Jennifer is such an outstanding candidate that was a founding member and advisor of our group, and we believe strongly that the contrast between her excellence and the dismal alternatives is worth highlighting. So we are asking all donations to go cdirectly to her campaign from individual members. Same as last time, in small denominations out of family grocery budgets.
Laugh all you want to woodstock. You are only humiliating the very middle voters your party so craves. Meanwhile, they aren't blind or stupid and see you and your candidate for what you have revealed about yourselves - extreme and hateful. I bet you push that 'like' button on Heather's klassy facebook posts every time.
That is a nice story, maybe
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 19:13 — woodstockThat is a nice story, good luck selling it. LOL
Don't have to
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 21:20 — SDR256Not selling anything. Just correcting lies with the truth.