Hat tip: InstaPundit. Edited for brevity.
Several city officials are furious over the Democratic National Committee chairman’s recent visit to Portsmouth High School, who they feel turned a social studies lesson into a one-sided bashing of President Bush. After requesting to visit the school, Terry McAuliffe was allowed by Principal Forrest Ransdell to come to teach what the principal believed to be social studies classes on democracy and the political process. However, several city officials are livid over what they say turned into a biased Democratic view of Republican President Bush’s term of office. During the presentation, McAuliffe told students that due to Bush’s mismanagement of the country, 70 percent of college graduates will not be able to find a job upon graduation. He also told students that if the war in Iraq continues as it has, there could be a reinstatement of the draft. "He comes into the school and just says what he wants," City Councilor Bill St. Laurent said. "At what point does he stop his politicking to the point of scare tactics? Saying that the draft may come back, and kids cant find jobs, those are scare tactics. He is out trying to get votes. This is taxpayers money, excuse me, but this is my tax dollar and I don’t want to use my tax dollar for his pulpit. I am just furious. I am not saying that he can come in and bash the president and then the Republicans come in and praise the president," St. Laurent said.
| Any Publicans around lately? |
According to school Superintendent Lyonel Tracy, McAuliffe was allowed to speak to the students by Principal Forrest Ransdell as a civic lesson. "If other representatives contacted us, we would act similarly," Tracy said. "To deprive our kids of the opportunity of seeing democracy in action would be a disservice to them. The trick is that we don’t exploit these kids for their own partisan agendas." Tracy said Republicans, Democrats, and independents have frequently come to the school to talk to students. "Unfortunately we don’t always have control over what people say once they are introduced," Tracy said.
Aiming to ease tensions, School Board member Raimond Bowles has asked New Hampshire Republican state chairman Jayne Millerick to also speak to the social studies classes. "All I have been trying to do is to be a sense of balance," Bowles said. "Our high school students are more than capable of making up their own minds. I have decided from the outset to get a counterpart, a titled Republican official, so that she can respond to the comments of McAuliffe on that day." It has yet to be confirmed whether Millerick will be allowed admittance to speak by Ransdell.
Granted, the man has a First Amendment right to say what’s on his mind, even if the situation may not be appropriate. I would expect Millerick be offered the invitation to ensure balance, and I hope he is more tactful than Terry, who bravely continues to lead the DNC into a death spiral. |