Texas Senate rejects creationist nut as State Board of Education chairman

[tj2001]

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2009/05/28/senate_rejects_mcleroy_confirm.html

The Texas Senate on Thursday refused to confirm Don McLeroy as State Board of Education chairman after an impassioned floor debate. The 19 to 11 party-line vote was not enough to get McLeroy across the required two-thirds threshold. Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, abstained from the vote.

McLeroy, a Republican from Bryan, was first elected to the board in 1998 and will remain in that position. But Gov. Rick Perry will now need to appoint another leader from the 15-member board. Critics said McLeroy’s nearly two-year tenure as chairman has been dysfunctional and divisive.

“Education is far too important to be little more than a front in an ideological, political and cultural battle,”said Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin. “Leaders must lead and Dr. McLeroy has proven conclusively that he is less concerned with leading the board than he is with fighting the battle.”

But his supporters said there was an anti-religious tinge to the opposition because McLeroy is a conservative Christian who does not believe in evolution. “There is a certain amount of innuendo in the criticism of Dr. McLeroy,” Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, said. “To a certain degree it’s a slur.”

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For a list of idiotic things this guy said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_McLeroy

[Gman]

1. Thank goodness there was an anti-religious tinge

we don't need anymore nuts like him in Texas.

[rwheeler31]

2. Good

[blogslut]

3. good

:)

[Lithos]

4. Just another reason to turn Texas blue

Texas has too much influence on the educational systems of other states. Appointing a creationist to this position would reach more than just Texas (as if that were not enough)

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Excellent news! k+r, n/t

[depakid]

6. "That little baby born in the manger was the god that created the universe.'"

I wasn't aware that any Christians believed that. Maybe I'm just not up on the latest dogma.

[Still Sensible]

7. It's not a goddamn innuendo, nor a fucking slur

The guy is a nutjob. It is most sad that the whack job had majority support. Unbelievable.

[sonias]

11. Correction on that classification

That nutjob was supported by every Republican in the Senate. That's not so unbelievable. These are Republicans after all. And unfortunately for us, they are the majority of the Texas Senate.

The reason Mr Wing Nut McElroy was not re-appointed to the chair of this board is because of the 11 Democratic Senators that blocked his re-appointment. You need 2/3 for a confirmation vote. So if every one of the 31 Senators are present, you need at least 21 yes votes. We have 12 Democratic Senators and 19 Republicans and it was a 19-11 party line vote. One Democratic Senator sat it out. Lucio is a coward sometimes.

Yea for our Texas Senate Democrats!

:applause:


Sonia

[MrModerate]

8. How's this for a slur: Fuckin' evolution deniers . . .

shouldn't be put in positions of educational authority. They should take their fuckin' fairy tales back to their troglodytic congregations and indulge in some old-fashioned snake handling.

I'd be happy to recommend a few vipers for them to choose from.

Jebus wept.

[ashling]

9. It was not a slur. THIS is a slur

Mcleroy is a narrow minded and theologically warped sack of dog shit ... its also true

[stopbush]

10. "Someone needs to stand up to the experts (in science)"

That's an actual quote from Knuckledragger McLeroy.

[EndersDame]

12. Texas Democrats have balls

I was in high school when they ditched town to help block a move a few years back and helped me to see why dems kick ass and not to vote nader (which i thought would be so hip and anti establishment when i was an hs senior)

[DFW]

13. Considering our minority status, we need it

The sad thing about TX is that the local Republicans are such whackos they ought to have about
7% support, but as education is not exactly a big priority with them, they perpetuate themselves
through ignorance.