Let’s not beat around the bush. Texas State Board of Education member Ken Mercer, R-San Antonio, has problems with the truth. During yesterday’s debate with his District 5 opponent in the March 2 Republican Primary, Tim Tuggey of Austin, Mercer once again mischaracterized the facts about the social studies curriculum writing teams and how those teams were put together:
“There was not one single PTA in the state contacted. Not one single Chamber of Commerce was contacted. That’s why when the committees came out, there were zero moms and dads and zero businesspeople on there. And then we had conservative educators come forth and had the courage and guts to testify in written and oral testimony. The conservative historians in classrooms were also shut out of the process. So yeah there’s a problem in the process. We’re going to fix that.”
So Mercer thinks that every one of the 102 members of the curriculum teams is childless? None is a businessperson? Including those appointed by fellow board member David Bradley? Telling the truth is always a good policy — but especially when the alternative is to make a claim that’s clearly absurd and easily refuted by the facts.
Oh, and conservatives have been shut out of the process? Really?
The truth is that the curriculum teams are made up entirely of people nominated by state board members. Of the 102 curriculum writers, 67 were nominated by Republican board members. That two-thirds ratio mirrors the board’s partisan breakdown — Republicans outnumber Democrats 10-5. And none of those 67 Republican-nominated curriculum writers is conservative?
But here’s the real kicker: Mercer didn’t nominate even one of the curriculum writers. Not one.
In fact, Mercer and two others of the board’s biggest complainers about the allegedly “leftist” bias of the social studies standards — Terri Leo, R-Spring, and Cynthia Dunbar, R-Richmond — simply couldn’t be bothered to nominate anyone to serve on the writing teams. If they were so concerned about the supposed lack of participation by parents, businesspeople and political conservatives, why in the world didn’t they nominate any? Did Mercer contact any PTA in his district? Did he contact any Chamber of Commerce office?
This much is clear: Mercer and the rest of the board’s far-right faction aren’t interested in crafting good education policies. They’re on the board to throw bombs and push ideological agendas — and smearing volunteers who help write sound curriculum standards is just part of their game.
I saw a portion of that debate. I don’t think Mercer will survive the primary.
One down, and ? to go.
( I only saw some of part 3 of the debate, so apologies if I am mistaken.)
Mr. Tuggey is a corporate who…attorney, yet he couldn’t dig up the fact that Mercer didn’t care enough to name anyone to the curriculum panel? I’m less than impressed with his preparation techniques. Somebody oughta point him to this site.
Mercer is a classic sociopath.
He feels no guilt or embarrassment about lying and has actually rationalized lying. Pathological liars are dangerous people. People like this pass lie detectors with flying colors even though they are lying through their teeth.
http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html
Profile of the Sociopath
This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths.
* Glibness and Superficial Charm
*Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
*Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as “their right.”
*Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.
*Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
*Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.
*Incapacity for Love
*Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.
*Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others’ feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.
Please, please, let Mercer and McLeroy crash and burn in the primaries. And let Rebecca Osborne or Marsha Farney beat Brian Russell – I’m just worried that they will split the non-crazy vote.
It is distressing that current members of the State Board of Education like Ken Mercer have used this elected position to further a personal and religious agenda. Their focus is not on educating the future generations of Texans. When I’m elected, I will work to return the SBOE to its core objective, which is to ensure that our neighborhood schools are the envy of the nation.
Right you are Rebecca.
Public schools in Texas and throughout this nation sure could use a legitimate “envy” or two, or seven, or 350,000. My local public schools in a state outside of Texas wear that envy button proudly and get lots of “oohs” and “ahs” from educators and parents throughout the nation. However, my children have attended these great schools for years now, and I have a real fear that even they are starting to tumble down for various reasons that have nothing to do with Jesus and a whole lot to do with nitwit elected officials who have little or no wisdom and will for maintaining the high quality of our local schools. Once again, even here (1000 miles from Texas), the problem is not experienced educators. The problem is incumbent politicians who have no appreciation for education.
Even you Tea Party folks can understand that one. You know. Nitwit incumbent politicians. Rebeccca Bell-Metereau is neither a nitwit nor an incumbent politician. You go gal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We cannot let the Republicans win this one. They have had their chance and blew it. There are no more moderate Republicans. Tuggey will be just as bad as mercer. I am also a candidate for the SBOE District 5. One of us 4 (Rebecca Bell-Metereau, Daniel Boone, Josiah Ingels, or myself–Robert Bohmfalk) needs to win in the fall. The Republicans are spending over $100,000 on this voluntary unpaid position. They have gone to the “Dark Side” and are on the wrong side of History.
Seen this lunacy?:
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/education-board-candidate-faces-claim-he-s-soft-233632.html
I’ve decided to open a new line of tin-foil hats.
One for every occasion.
The Texas tin-foil ten-gallon…
Ben. I have an inscrutable response to your cited lunacy.
When I was growing up in the early 1960s, the Gulf service station at the end of my street had an employee whose nickname was “Doorknob.” That’s all I’m gonna say.
The fact that Tim Tuggey’s law firm has CUFI as a client is extremely troublesome; Methinks we might have yet another stealth fundamentalist trying to get themselves elected.
Regardless, the Democrats need to get their game faces on and determine who is going to be the candidate to get behind, now! Already, one very capable candidate has pulled out and backed Ms. Bell-Metereau.