Critics of the new Wake County school board majority and conservative businessman Art Pope struck the state GOP headquarters today.
A banner was hung up this afternoon in front of the building which read “POPE BOUGHT THIS BUILDING, POPE BOUGHT THE BOARD, 3/23: DO NOT BUY IT." The banner has since been removed.
Critics of the new school board majority have increasingly argued that Pope "bought" the school board through his campaign donations to the county GOP and his support of conservative groups such as Americans for Prosperity, Civitas Institute and the John Locke Foundation.
A press release about the banner from a group using the e-mail address of claudeandart@gmail.com also takes aim at school board chairman Ron Margiotta for being on the board of the Thales Academy, a private school in Apex. It says that Pope "has bought [Margiotta] the power to make decisions regarding our PUBLIC education system."
"Art Pope must be stopped from buying our children's futures and destroy our education system in the name of for-profit private institutions," according to the press release. "While money may buy a school board election, money absolutely CAN NOT be allowed to buy our future."
Tom Fetzer, chairman of the state GOP, called it a "sophomoric attempt to gain attention."
"If they want to get attention for juvenile behavior, let them have at it," Fetzer said in an interview this evening. "This a serious issue and it calls for serious debate."
Comments
Oh man. A lot of people have
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 17:46 — tipsRGOh man. A lot of people have come late to this party, but now they're caught up, and really, REALLY not liking what they're seeing. Pope and Luddy being BFF, the constant charter school pushing, Margiotta's discussing WCPSS business with Thales director Kent Misegades, WakeCARES sleazy relationship with Americans for Prosperity, the distorted view of WCPSS being painted in the comments. Wait until Apex schools have 30+ class sizes...then we'll see how many "lifelong Democrats" stick with WSCA.
"Wait until Apex schools
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 21:33 — Apexter"Wait until Apex schools have 30+ class sizes...then we'll see how many "lifelong Democrats" stick with WSCA."
You'll have to go back in time for that. My son had 36 kids in his pre-Algebra class last year. This year, I hear the count was up around 42.
And I've only been a Democrat since I registered at age 18.
This may surprise some of you
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 10:46 — Voice_of_Reason_I actually do not have a problem with the banner. It's free speech, agree or disagree with the message. I am also glad Mr. Hui carried it with the picture. I do not equate this with vandalism of private property or harrassment of a public official.
It really shows the childish behavior and ignorance of the people who did this. The message is frankly stupid, the Republican Party and/or Mr. Pope only helped get a message of oppossition out. It was not their message, it was the message a lot of frustrated parents of Wake County had. I doubt if the other side had all the money in the world, the election would have has a different outcome. The people of Wake County have been bombarded with pro-WCPSS messages for years from every media source. Most people were apathetic, and didn't vote...IMHO it greatly demeans their voice in the matter. For those that voted, the people spoke loud and clear. This election was clearly about getting rid of the status quo; no empty rhetoric, no ambiguity on the message. For those that didn't get to vote, I feel for you. But it has been the Democrats that have blocked any attempt at getting at-Large elections for the school board. The Republicans wanted them. SO if you want to turn your anger to someone, may I suggest your own party.
Huh?
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 11:08 — Bob_SconceIt would be free speech if they did it on their own property. You have a right to speak as much as you want from public property or your own property, not from mine.
Actually...the Family Court of Wake County
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 12:33 — ncsenate14HURLBURTdoes not allow Free Speech on Personal Property...see signs here http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6196062/
Specifically District Judge Christine Walczyk has ordered the removal of said signs in story from personal property by threat of contempt if violating her direct order. Personal property, check, Free Speech, check...Judge Walcyzk violating the United States Bill of Rights First Amendment rights of said citizen of Freedom of speech. Check. The freedom to speak without censorship and/or limitation is not guaranteed in Wake County by authoritarian, out of control, dictatorial Family Court Judges.
Vandalizing personal property is not acceptable behavior. Freedom of speech is and that which is the cornerstone of our democracy.
The real weapon of mass destruction is the family court industry.
“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
www.ncsenate14.org Join the conversation on the message board for the NC Senate District 14 www.ncsenate14.org/board Case details will be added to the Board as they are forthcoming.
Remember that democrats have controlled for 150 years!
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 08:06 — BitterEXdemocratIts way PAST time for corrupt coniving NC democrackkks be pushed outta the way...
They have RUINED our once great state!
Why am I not surprised ...
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 23:19 — essequamvideriby the infantile destructive selfish behavior of those 60's wanna-be's who in public hold lit candles & sing kumbayah, but under the cover of darkness trespass upon private property, to do what they would never do in the light of day, and in front of witnesses.
Yes, money certainly does buy influence and power. It finances organizations, like NC Policy Watch, a liberal/progressive non-profit organization, which is a project of the NC Justice Center. Who is on the board of the NC JC - Orage Quarles, publisher of the N&O, and "Rev Dr" William Barber, head of the State NAACP. And NC Policy Watch fronts The Progressive Pulse, a blog.
It takes MONEY to fund liberal/progressive sites & organizations, who then conveniently supply the quotes to so many N&O stories & blog postings.
Many liberal/progressive non-profit org's are financed with TAXPAYER dollars. Somehow I never seem to hear the liberals/progressives complaining about all of that money spent to further a leftist political agenda.
BTW, I'm still waiting for the John Tedesco profile.
Ditto on the Tedesco profile.
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 07:54 — woodstockDitto on the Tedesco profile.
It's running Sunday. That's
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 10:11 — KeungHui (author)It's running Sunday. That's why I've cut back on the blog posts this week to work on the story.
This is getting a little
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 21:56 — aquaman4life68This is getting a little carried away. People are on edge this day and time, and I just can't believe the intensity that is occuring. Im worried too someone that supports the "status Quo" is going to do somethign very stupid. This does nothing to help the level headed citizen that supports the diversity policy or not. I would want to stay away from anyone like this.
"Im worried too someone that
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 22:16 — Apexter"Im worried too someone that supports the "status Quo" is going to do somethign very stupid."
You're not the only one.
I didn't pay my fee
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 12:32 — g88ky07So no more free speech for me.
What did you expect? There
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 22:17 — user12345What did you expect? There are nine districts ... five are running the show ... there is no input or compromise ... it is just being shoved down people's throats ... so this is what is left to express a different view ... The fact that Art can engineer this with his money and wants to stay hidden won't happen ... the fact that he hides behind proxies like WCSA, JL, AFP, Civitas is sad and shows how ashamed he is to be publically associated with all this ... personally, I would would rather see a boycott of his stores ... maybe some flyer explaining to his customer what the store owner is doing to the school system .....
Just be patient, after the
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 08:00 — woodstockJust be patient, after the next election there will 4 more helping the new BoE members run the show. Perhaps then you will finally understand what is going on here.
FYI: Keep chasing your Art Pope delusion and see where that gets you. If you think it is Pope and not an army of fed up parents and voters -- of all political persuasions --who is driving the change you are seeing, you will never get it.
Woody ... you don't need to
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 08:10 — user12345Woody ... you don't need to defend your boss ...
LOL My boss? Keep living
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 08:22 — woodstockLOL My boss? Keep living that fantasy. It just supports my contention that you are completely and utterly clueless.
Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job!
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 01:00 — Its_the_parents...In your private universe of delusional grandeur, I'm sure your rants make perfect sense to you. But, HAVE YOU NO SHAME? NO SHAME AT ALL? (Historical reference to Joe McCarthy/Ed Murrow: But now it applies to you..irony)
FOR A DECADE...you and your ideologues have RAMMED your cynical policies down OUR throats, policies designed to prop up YOUR real estate values, while pretending to support a "diversity" solution? One that conveniently shipped out "undesirables" from your neighborhood - so you could enjoy "healthy schools" while children were shipped like cattle around the county to satisfy your statistical fraud? GUESS WHAT??? We saw through the FRAUD!!
And now, when the voters have mobilized and stuck a BOOT up your exhaust pipe, now you complain about "injustice"???...You are a true hypocrite!
But you know what? Honestly, Congratulations are due to you...You have managed to get LIFELONG DEMOCRATS to vote for the "other guy". That's right, imbecile, we are waiting for November, Scott Brown was just the beginning...And I campaigned for "O", but your stupidity and hypocrisy will drive everyone away from you...Sayonara L'user12345~!
Sorry, you are way off base.
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 23:24 — loriacSorry, you are way off base. I had no idea who Art Pope was when I voted, and I'm sure most of my neighbors don't know him either. What about when 8 districts were running the show? The more questions I asked, the more I realized it wasn't about the kids. Did I resort to vandalism? No - it's called an election.
I must've missed that at Pope's Mandatory Minion Training...
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 23:20 — raleighlauraPROXY?? Yes, I've been to more than one WSCA meeting, but I don't know who the JL or AFP is, and I only know Civitas is doing board training. Someone wrote a letter to the editor saying Art Pope's minions are infiltrating the school board, and now this? It's getting plain silly.
How about the status quo folks just wake up and read the election results- the rest of us don't like the status quo and are ready for change. WSCA, I know, isn't in anyone's pocket, and the idea that many reasonable people don't like where we are going should NOT be a news flash, user12345. I'm not a proxy, and it's insulting to be dismissed as part of a political machine that I don't even support.
raleighlaura, Look at it
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 07:37 — CaryCurmudgeonraleighlaura,
Look at it this way, being called a proxy is an upgrade from Matt's usual accusations of being a racist.
I've never met or spoken with Art Pope, and I'm pretty sure no other WSCA steering committee member has either. The busing supporters just can't accept that real people, a majority of them, rejected their policy. Much easier to blame it on some evil conspiracy. I believe if you dig deep enough you'll find some people who believe that Art Pope also manages area 51...
WOW. Are you sure? I
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 17:18 — tipsRGWOW. Are you sure? I remember keeplocalschools.org being proudly funded by the John Locke Foundation, before astroturf groups wised up and didn't proclaim their right-wing affiliations!
WHAT??
Sat, 03/20/2010 - 02:04 — SDR256This is such a crock of bull. Keeplocalschools collected only money from individuals - and didn't collect nearly what would have been required for the goals set forth. No one in keeplocalschools ever knew anything about any political character beyond the local streets before the middle of the election last year, when some movers and shakers started to take notice of what citizens were doing.
And, frankly the steering commitee of keeplocalschools was a bunch of REAL imports - from other countries - who were astounded that their image of investing in the American dream as they saw it was not accurate - because of WCPSS. They have horrifying stories - struggling from nothing, shipping themselves out of their country in a box, - and YET still say that what WCPSS does to families is worse than what they have seen in communist regimes and overtly classist systems. There is even one very prominent member who was a friend and early partner of Lech Walensa. You should hear his take on WCPSS.
Don't pretend to do research. You won't find the real story until you talk to the people involved.
What about the money you
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 08:18 — user12345What about the money you took from him funneled through the GOP? He owns you.
Matt, Put the tin-foil hat
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 09:27 — CaryCurmudgeonMatt,
Put the tin-foil hat back on and await your signal from the mother ship.
These status quo folks are
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 21:01 — changewcpssThese status quo folks are becoming wackier every day. So glad change is happening fast.
I am worried that someone is
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 20:56 — CaryCurmudgeonI am worried that someone is going to get carried away and do something REALLY stupid.
yes, that's what I was
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 23:21 — loriacyes, that's what I was thinking - this is way out of hand. I'm really sorry to hear that John Tedesco's car was vandalized - what in the world.
This is disturbing.
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 20:45 — loriacThis is disturbing.
It is ... to let Art Pope
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 21:16 — user12345It is ... to let Art Pope direct our children's education by proxy is scary.
YES YES YES
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 17:27 — tipsRGYES YES YES
If Dean Debnam or Art Pope
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 21:26 — DrActualFactualIf Dean Debnam or Art Pope donate money to respective Dem/Rep. parties and they use the money for robocalls or negative attack ads it doesn't equate to buying an election. If you get a robocall it doesn't necessarily equate to a vote for that candidate. Attack ads can have positive/negative effects. The election is OVER. Now we move on to governing--the opposition needs to accept this. Creating division will never enhance our schools. The old system failed our students, voters showed their preference for a new direction at the polls.
Matt, You obviously have
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 21:25 — CaryCurmudgeonMatt,
You obviously have no self-esteem based on what you post here. This was an act of vandalism which you apparently think is okay. And things like this tend to escalate quickly. You going to say the same thing when someone gets hurt? Just sick.
Oh Come On
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 21:48 — chaboardI agree that it was wrong and whoever did it shouldn't have. 100% agree.
But..."vandalism"? Good grief. It's a removable banner, not spray paint. "Vandalism" implies some sort of property damage and there doesn't appear to be any more property damage here than there was when Ron was calling the other side "animals".
The kind of verbal escalation you just engaged in is one of the REASONS "things like this tend to escalate quickly".
Oh, we are already at
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 22:38 — CaryCurmudgeonOh, we are already at vandalism. Two weekends ago, while John Tedesco was hosting a bowling outing for under-priveliged kids, his car was vandalized in the parking lot. It was covered with stickers and the word "racist" was written all over it.
Most of the neighborhood schools opponents are going out of their way to paint Tedesco as the evil boogeyman.
If someone put a banner like that on NAACP headquarters the FBI would be flying in agents right now. Hate is hate, whether it is directed at an individual, an organization or a political party. I'm no saint and I've said my share of hateful things. But I would be worried about individuals on the "other side" if today's roles were reversed.
WHAT??!!
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 23:14 — louiselee44Two weekends ago, while John Tedesco was hosting a bowling outing for under-priveliged kids, his car was vandalized in the parking lot. It was covered with stickers and the word "racist" was written all over it.
Are you serious? I had not heard about this. Frightening indeed. To say that things have gotten waaaaay out of hand is an understatement.
How come N&O did not report this?
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 08:44 — MomknowsbestThis is the first time I'm hearing this. We were supposed to go to the Bowling event in support of JT. This is sad that people resort to such malicious acts.
So...
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 09:47 — Bob_SconceIIRC, Keung mentioned it on this blog, although not in a distinct blog post.
Personally, I'd rather not have this stuff show up in the newspaper -- it does lead to escalation; the next stunt will try to top the previous one. And, that's not good for anybody.
I remember it getting
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 10:30 — jenmanI remember it getting mentioned here too, but I thought I read where it was just flyers on his car. I had no idea about the other stuff.
I remember flyers only...
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 12:09 — supportwcpssCould someone confirm all the other stuff...
This is what Tedesco posted
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 13:47 — jeannie84This is what Tedesco posted on his Facebook page after the fundraising event. He only mentions rally posters being on his car:
Sorry if I let my frustratiosn sound off guys - after my car got covered in protest ralley posters and my job at BBBS helping kids got called into question today along with my ability to represent my organization well from those in the public who are trying to slander me as racist - well it just wore on me a bit. Sorry just worn down a bit today.
So Joe...
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 15:39 — chaboard...even Tedesco's own account does not seem to support your claim. Do you have any credible sources or are you intentionally trying to escalate tensions?
A lot of gullible people in this thread are already convinced it happened and ratcheting up their anger levels just because you said it...that's pretty much how escalating hate works.
"escalating hate"
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 17:33 — g88ky07that's exactly what your side has been doing since October! Actually now it seems like more of a carnival ride. Del's Army, vigils where you bring your own vigil stick, press releases every 4 minutes to let others know when the toilets have been cleaned, sheets hanging on buildings, Art Pope's the devil chants...
Yep, just like a carnival ride!
Slow day, Charlie? Some of
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 15:58 — CaryCurmudgeonSlow day, Charlie? Some of us don't just read blogs to get information. You can go get your own sources, I really don't care.
Apparently you and Matt are of a like mind, all is fair as long as someone who is conservative is the victim. Whatever works for you.
Bite Me Joe
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 23:30 — chaboardI made my disapproval of the action clear and unequivocal in my very first statement. You trying to claim I think it is "fair" is a deliberate lie. But you don't really care about trivial things like truth....you never have.
Does this mean I won't be
Fri, 03/19/2010 - 08:27 — CaryCurmudgeonDoes this mean I won't be getting a Christmas card from you this year?
because they'd much rather
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 08:49 — AngelaWbecause they'd much rather report candlelight vigils
I agree "vandalism" haha...
Wed, 03/17/2010 - 22:09 — user12345I agree "vandalism" haha... I am guessing they are uncovering the real plot and plotter and it scares them ...
I hope you realize
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 08:57 — ApexRes98I hope you realize that you are part of the problem. The idiocy you spout here is just what an unstable person would need to justify their actions. You know 95% of what you say is completely wrong. You're only stirring the pot.
I can't believe the vandalism to John's vehicle occurred two weeks ago and there hasn't been a peep about it in the media. Still can't decide about that N&O renewal slip hanging on the fridge....
User, you are one sick person
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 08:45 — MomknowsbestSick! Sick! Sick!
HAHA??? Like I said, sick.
Thu, 03/18/2010 - 07:31 — CaryCurmudgeonHAHA??? Like I said, sick.