Greedy Troglodytes Attack Teachers

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/03/14/greedy-troglodytes-attack-teachers/

by Tula Connell, Mar 14, 2008

This is a crosspost from Firedoglake.

What is it about teachers that reactionaries don’t like?

Maybe it’s because an educated electorate poses a threat to those who seek to control the public—”Danger: Educated Union Member” is one of our favorite phrases—and so teachers pose an easy target for the antediluvians among us. (Remember John Stossel’s ABC trash piece, “Stupid in America”?).



The success of teachers’ unions also draws particular ire from the anti-education crowd.
This week, you may have seen full-page ads in USA Today or teevee spots on CNN and Fox attacking teachers. The ads are part of a $1 million advertising assault on teachers’ unions launched days ago.

Two questions emerge.

Who would spend this amount of money trashing teachers? And who stands to make tons of money off this campaign?

The second question is the simplest to answer. The egregiously misnamed Center for Union Facts is the money-making entity pushing the campaign. The organization is another front group by sleaze propagandist Richard Berman. Among Berman’s list of hatchet jobs is a PR campaign through his American Beverage Institute to slam Mothers Against Drunk Driving on behalf of the alcohol industry. Via the Center for Consumer Freedom, Berman wielded a literally toxic campaign for the tuna industry to encourage pregnant women to eat tuna—never mind the mercury. (AFT’s NCLBlog also points out Berman’s attacks on Robert Redford here.) http://www.letsgetitright.org/blog/2008/03/aft_robert_redford_and_the_humane_society.html

FULL story at link.

[LWolf]

1. I'm too tired to deal with any more attacks tonight.

I'm coming off of two eleven hour days in a row. Eleven hours straight, working right through lunch and all breaks. And I didn't get done.

I'll check back in this weekend when I'm fresher, and I'm sure I'll have a pithy response.

[Yogi]

2. My boss hung that page

from USA Today on the bulletin board at our bus garage. We school bus drivers are trying to organize with the Teamsters and the company is fighting hard to stop it. So anything to bash unions they put up. Time will tell if were successful,or if the good guys will win. Vote is March 20.

[Omaha Steve]

3. Let us know how it comes out

I hope it comes out in a high percentage yes.

OS

[Yogi]

4. Me too, Thanks!

It won't be for a lack of trying on our part.