Education Secretary Rod Paige called the nation's largest educrat union a "terrorist organization" during the White House's meeting with governors today.
Governors from both major parties confirmed his remarks
about so-called National Education Association, which vehemently opposes school choice, pay based on merit, teacher accountability and other education reforms.
"He was making a joke, probably not a very good one," said Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat. "Of course he immediately divorced the NEA from ordinary teachers, who he said he supports."
"He was implying that the NEA has not been one of the
organizations that has been working with the administration to try to solve 'No Child Left Behind,'" said Missouri Gov. Bob Holden, a Democrat.
President Bush was not present at the time Paige made the
remark.
'Bad Joke' or 'Hate Speech'?
Reg Weaver, head of the anti-Republican union, called the comment "pathetic" and "not a laughing matter."
The secretary later told the Associated Press that his
remark was "a bad joke; it was an inappropriate choice of
words."
"As one who grew up on the receiving end of insensitive
remarks, I should have chosen my words better," said Paige, the nation's first black secretary of education.
He said he had made clear to the governors that he was referring
to the union, not its members.
"It's certainly not appropriate to use those kinds of comments
for 2.7 million members who are trying to do the best they can to
make sure that all children have access to a quality education,"
he said.
Terry McAuliffe, chairman of Democratic National Committee,
accused Paige of using "the most vile and disgusting form of hate speech, comparing those who teach America's children to terrorists."
Editor's note:
FREE e-mail alerts from NewsMax.com – click here now!
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Bush Administration
School Choice
Print Page 
Forward Page 
