Faux & Friends amps up Teh Stupid (re: Texas Board of Education)

[marmar]

from NewsHounds:


Steve Doocy And Texas Board Of Education Right Winger, Cynthia Dunbar, Advance “Textbook” Propaganda!
Reported by Priscilla - March 15, 2010 - Comments (1)

Last week, Fox & Friends reported on the efforts, by the Texas Board of Education, to determine what will be part of the Texas educational curriculum. Their “coverage” consisted of a number of pieces which featured conservative, Christian proponents of the conservative, Christian agenda which seeks to fight against the evil libruls who are trying to corrupt Texas youth with evil librul ideas. At no time did Fox & Friends interview anybody from the other side (read reality based community). When Fox & Friends did allude to vague, undefined concerns, by those on the road to perdition, it only provided an opportunity for their conservative guest to just reinforce the right wing propaganda. Flash forward a week and because the non conservatives on the Board, in protest, walked out of the deliberations, a preliminary vote was taken (final vote in May) and the conservative zealots prevailed. (Or put another way, ignorance won and students will lose). So given the right wing bias of last week’s Fox & Friends, it wasn’t surprising to see Steve Doocy interview Texas School Board member Cynthia Dunbar, a woman whose views dovetail nicely with Michele Bachmann’s. But as the American Taliban (whoops Christian conservatives) “won,” we know that Fox & Friends & Jesus are all very happy.

This morning, Steve Doocy interviewed uber right wing member of the Texas School Board, Cynthia Dunbar. Doocy, acting very perky, asked Ms. Dunbar about the changes and the next step. Doocy’s first question couldn’t have been any more scripted: “Were you one of the law makers who felt that, after the last decade or so, the Texas curriculum and the Texas textbooks had taken a liberal turn to the left?” Not surprisingly, Dunbar agreed. She referenced a “subtle shifting” and how they needed to do a “cleanup” to make sure that they have an “accurate presentation” of history. Doocy then described some of the changes which include teaching American “Exceptionalism” (a concept, promoted by Christian conservatives, that believes that America is favored by God and is above reproach). She talked about how “free enterprise” has supplanted “capitalism” because it conveys a more “positive” impression of the free market –unlike the term “capitalist pig.” (Uh, Cindy, that’s a bit old school?) Doocy wanted to know if she felt that her side made these textbooks more “pro-American.” (Uh, Steve, you were told that the debate was about curriculum, not textbooks) She said that “they are pro-American; but not to the extent that the other side says that we’re whitewashing history.” She claimed that they did an “accurate review” (aided by creationists like evangelical David Barton of Wall Builders!) and they wanted to make sure that “there was a patriotic position that was promoted because America is still the greatest nation on earth.” (I was expecting a rousing chorus of Kate Smith’s “God Bless America!”) Doocy said “there you go” and “Thomas Jefferson is still in and you still talk about the Fourth of July, right” (As Steve was told by the TEA, July 4th and Jefferson were not "out") She said that Jefferson is “still in.” (Along with lots more goodies which weren't mentioned) ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.newshounds.us/2010/03/15/steve_doocy_and_texas_board_of_education_right_winger_cynthia_dunbar_advance_textbook_propaganda.php

[tanyev]

1. I'm guessing that Steve Doocy did not ask Ms. Dunbar about the wingnut losses in the GOP primary?

Voters Spank Far Right in SBOE Elections

Voters made it clear on Tuesday that they are tired of seeing the State Board of Education threaten the future of Texas schoolchildren with unnecessary and divisive “culture war” battles over curriculum and textbooks, the president of the Texas Freedom Network said today.

TFN President Kathy Miller noted that three of five far-right social conservatives lost election contests on Tuesday. A fourth was forced into a runoff. One of the defeated candidates was Don McLeroy, whom the state Senate refused to confirm for a second term as board chair in May 2009.

“Don McLeroy was right when he said this election was a referendum on what the board has done over the past four years,” Miller said. “Voters sent a clear message by rejecting the ringleader of the faction that has repeatedly dragged our public schools into the nation’s divisive culture wars over the past four years. Parents want a state board that focuses on educating their kids, not promoting divisive political and personal agendas.”

The Republican primary between McLeroy and challenger Thomas Ratliff of Mount Pleasant had the highest profile of all the state board contests. In addition to McLeroy’s defeat in District 9, Randy Rives of Odessa lost his race against incumbent Bob Craig of Lubbock in the District 15 Republican primary, and Joan Muenzler lost her District 3 GOP primary against fellow San Antonian Tony Cunningham. Both Rives and Muenzler were backed by far-right groups such as WallBuilders and the Texas Pastor Council.

http://tfninsider.org/2010/03/03/voters-spank-far-right-in-sboe-elections/